Chapter 40

Chapter 40: Zhen Huan Chronicles, An Ling Rong

“With Your Majesty’s status, wouldn’t it be easy to deal with her?”

Jian Qiu smiled. “The Empress Dowager wants Your Majesty to raise the dragon-phoenix twins. As long as Your Majesty has that intention, Concubine Xin will only be able to obey you.”

“I have no interest in raising someone else’s child.” Disgust flickered in the Empress’s eyes. “The legitimate son can only be my Hong Hui. No one is allowed to steal the status of ‘legitimate son.’ So what if they’re dragon-phoenix twins? I don’t care. I only care about Hong Hui.”

“If Your Majesty doesn’t want to, then you don’t want to.” Jian Qiu dropped the topic. “As long as Your Majesty sits securely on the Empress’s throne, that’s enough.”

“For now, don’t bother with the people in Yan Xi Palace.” The Empress rubbed her aching forehead. “Deal with them a little later. Have people keep watch on Yi Kun Palace. Consort Hua should be giving birth in the next few days as well.”

“Don’t worry, Your Majesty. Our people are already in Yi Kun Palace. The moment there’s any movement, they’ll act.”

“Yan Xi Palace already failed. Yi Kun Palace absolutely cannot fail again.”

“Yes!”

… Yi Kun Palace.

“That old hag of an Empress really doesn’t put His Majesty in her eyes at all.” Consort Hua stroked her swollen belly, coldness hanging at the corners of her mouth. “His Majesty promoted An Ling Rong on the spot, and she still wanted to block it. As if she’s even worthy.”

“Everyone saw what the Empress was trying to do.” Song Zhi smiled. “That’s why the other ladies all looked at the Empress so strangely. Back then, the Empress said it herself: whoever gave birth to a child, she would ask His Majesty to promote that consort’s rank. I don’t know if the Empress forgot she ever said that. She really slapped her own face.”

“Any old hand who came in from the manor knows exactly what kind of thing that old hag is.” Consort Hua gave a snort. “She only knows how to talk sweetly, but in reality she won’t give anyone a single benefit. This time, those newcomers should finally see her true face. I want to see whether that old hag still has the nerve to keep saying those disgusting lines.”

“The Empress losing face is the same as losing authority. No one will believe her anymore.”

“Don’t underestimate her.” Consort Hua rolled her eyes. “That vicious woman loves plotting schemes. See that? Consort Qi and her son are still her people, and she’s already played them into ruin.”

“It’s only because Consort Qi and the Third Prince are too stupid. With an ending like that, they deserved it.”

… Sui Yu Xuan. The two-sister team sat together again, whispering.

“An Ling Rong’s luck is really good.” Zhen Huan’s face was full of envy. “Not only twins, but the most auspicious kind-dragon-phoenix twins. She won’t have to worry for the rest of her life. What a lucky fate.”

“Huan’er is right. Her luck is good, and her fate is good.” Shen Mei Zhuang looked a little downcast. “Among the newcomers who entered the palace with us, almost everyone got pregnant. We were unlucky and accidentally lost our children. Noble Lady Yu had the worst luck-she lost her child and her life together. Only the ladies in Yan Xi Palace were lucky. They kept their pregnancies, and An Ling Rong even gave birth to dragon-phoenix twins first. All we can do is envy them.”

“But it’s strange when you think about it. An Ling Rong is only the daughter of an eighth-rank official. How could she have such good luck?” Zhen Huan frowned. “The tragedy at Yi Mei Garden at the end of last year-her injuries seemed pretty serious. How could her fetus possibly have been saved? Sister Mei, don’t you think it’s strange?”

“What’s strange about it?” Shen Mei Zhuang did not find it surprising. “Huan’er, don’t forget-An Ling Rong really has no family backing, but Noble Lady Tian in Yan Xi Palace is different. Everyone knows the Fu Cha Clan is a great Manchu banner clan, and Noble Lady Tian is the legitimate daughter of the Fu Cha Clan. And Attendant Jing’s natal family isn’t ordinary either. With those two helping her, it’s not strange that An Ling Rong could keep the pregnancy.”

“Sister Mei makes sense.” Zhen Huan smiled awkwardly. “The Fu Cha Clan is a major banner surname. Even the Empress fears them.”

“The Empress…” Shen Mei Zhuang knit her brows, her tone carrying doubt. “Huan’er, why do you think the Empress wanted to stop An Ling Rong from being promoted? His Majesty already issued the decree, yet she still tried to block it. I don’t think the Empress is the kind of person who’s broad-minded.”

“The Empress’s reason was that An Ling Rong’s family background is too low!” Zhen Huan’s expression was hard to read as she spoke softly. “It’s true, but who doesn’t know that giving birth to imperial dragon-phoenix twins is enough to make up for that? Yet the Empress still refused to let An Ling Rong be promoted. Clearly, she doesn’t want her to have a high rank. At the rank of Concubine, she would be the mistress of a palace and could keep the children by her side…”

“Huan’er, you mean…” Shen Mei Zhuang’s eyes widened in shock. “Th-this… how is that possible?”

“It’s hard to say.” Zhen Huan gave a bitter smile. “Everyone knows An Ling Rong’s family background isn’t high, and she herself isn’t a scheming person. The Empress has no sons under her knee, so it wouldn’t be strange for her to have that idea. Besides, An Ling Rong gave birth to dragon-phoenix twins. It’s both a blessing and an auspicious sign. Tell me-wouldn’t the Empress be tempted?”

“Yes, the Empress has no reason not to be tempted.” Shen Mei Zhuang nodded in agreement. “It’s just a pity His Majesty probably won’t allow it. If His Majesty allowed it, he probably wouldn’t have promoted An Ling Rong’s rank in the first place. Why wouldn’t His Majesty agree? If the dragon-phoenix twins were raised by the Empress, they could even count as legitimate-born…”

“I can’t see through it for now.” Zhen Huan shook her head. “We just entered the palace. We don’t understand these old hands in the palace well enough yet. If we want to know, we can only ask someone.”

Shen Mei Zhuang pressed at once, “You mean Noble Lady Cao?”

“Yes. Find an opportunity and talk to her.” Without realizing it, Zhen Huan’s gaze sharpened. “Noble Lady Cao’s rank isn’t high, but she’s very smart. I believe she can see through some things, including the Empress.”

“Then you arrange it, Huan’er.” Shen Mei Zhuang did not object. “Don’t make it too deliberate. Even if others know we were talking together, they won’t suspect anything.”

“Don’t worry, Sister Mei. I’ll arrange it properly.”

… That night. As soon as the Empress fell asleep, her whole body sank into a nightmare. No matter how she screamed and shouted, no matter how she struggled and kicked, it seemed useless, because the people outside could not hear a single sound. She looked no different from her usual deep sleep, so she endured the nightmare for the entire night, until dawn.

It was as if everything was finally released. The instant her awareness returned, the Empress could not help letting out a faint sound. Hui Chun, who was keeping watch outside, hurried in when she heard it. “Your Majesty, are you getting up?”

“Hui Chun!” Her hoarse voice startled both mistress and servant. “Hui Chun, what’s wrong with me?”

“Your Majesty!” The moment Hui Chun lifted the bed curtain, shock rose on her face. “Your Majesty, y-you… are you sick?”

She looked exactly like someone who had been ill for a long time-pale and bloodless, with eyes that had gone dull, as though she had suffered some terrible torment.

“Sick?” The scenes from the nightmare flashed before her eyes in an instant, and the Empress began trembling uncontrollably. “Hong Hui… my Hong Hui…”

“Your Majesty!” Jian Qiu rushed in at that moment. Seeing her mistress as if she had become a different person, she panicked. “Your Majesty, what happened to you?”

“Jian Qiu, those bastard whelps dared bully my Hong Hui!” A violent strength erupted from the Empress. She clutched Jian Qiu’s hands, shrieking harshly, “Jian Qiu, I want those bastard whelps’ souls shattered! I want them to have no chance to become ghosts!”