Chapter 46

Chapter 46: Zhen Huan Chronicles, An Ling Rong

“Of course!” Little Teapot sounded full of confidence.

“I’ll give Consort Hua a child.” Li Si Qi’s smile cooled a little. “And I’ll give the Empress a child too. Fair and just. “Consort Hua couldn’t keep her child. Now we’ll see what methods the Empress has, and whether she can keep hers.” “Mistress, it won’t be the same.” “How won’t it be the same?” “If the Empress is pregnant, the Emperor and the Empress Dowager will definitely protect her child.” Little Teapot said it plainly. “With the three biggest powers in the palace working together, how could they fail to protect a child?” “Hard to say.” Li Si Qi smiled. “You never know. The Empress has done too many evil things. Who knows what kind of retribution might show up.” “Mistress really loves a show and doesn’t mind if it gets even bigger.” Little Teapot laughed along. “Perfect timing, then. Let’s see if the Empress can bear the hatred of all the concubines in the palace.” “I guarantee there’ll be plenty of good drama.” Suddenly thinking of something else, Li Si Qi asked at once, “I forgot to ask you these past few days. How are Long Ke Duo and his concubine Li Si’er doing?” “Dead.” Little Teapot said. “The Emperor poisoned them. Including the child Li Si’er gave birth to – not a single one survived.” “That dog of an Emperor really is ruthless. The Empress Dowager still doesn’t know, right?” “Of course she doesn’t. No one in Kang Shou Palace dares to tell her.” “Find a chance later and let the Empress Dowager know.” “Mistress, if the Empress Dowager finds out, won’t she hate the Emperor even more?” “So what if she hates him?” Li Si Qi said. “That mother and son love each other and tear each other apart all the time. What’s there to be afraid of?” “No problem!”… Yi Kun Palace. “Your Majesty, the child – our child!” Consort Hua cried until she could not stop. Clutching the Emperor, she wailed, “Give the child back to me, give her back to me! She’s my child, my child…” “Shi Lan!” Tears flashed in the Emperor’s eyes as he held her tightly. Even though this was the delivery room, even though it was a filthy place, even though the smell was hard to bear… None of it mattered compared to the sobs in his arms. At that moment, the Emperor thought for the first time about deposing the Empress. There was no need to investigate. Anyone with eyes could tell the Empress had done it. “Your Majesty, my child… why did my child leave me? Your Majesty…” “Shi Lan, you’re still young. We’ll have children again.” “No! I want this child! Your Majesty, I want this child!” “We will.” The Emperor’s voice softened. “She’ll come back to your side. You can’t bear to part with her, and she can’t bear to part with you either.” “Will she? Really?” Consort Hua sobbed. “Will she blame me? Will she hate me? Waaah…”… Consort Hua kept crying. She had just given birth, and then she had been hit by a storm of joy and grief. Before long, she slipped into a deep sleep. Only then did the Emperor finally let out a breath. He told Nanny Jiang and Song Zhi to take good care of Consort Hua. Exhausted in body and mind, he left Yi Kun Palace and went straight back to the Imperial Study. Sui Yu Pavilion. Zhen Huan and Shen Mei Zhuang sat facing each other in silence. After a long while, Zhen Huan said softly, “Sister Mei, I was wrong.” She apologized to Shen Mei Zhuang. “I always thought Her Majesty the Empress was a good person, and that the arrogant Consort Hua was the villain.

“Now I finally see it clearly. Consort Hua isn’t a good person, but her cruelty is out in the open. Everyone can see how bad she is, and she bullies whoever she wants. “But…”

“The Empress is different, right?” Shen Mei Zhuang gave a bitter laugh. “Her Majesty the Empress is hypocritical. If you don’t know her true face, you’ll naturally think she has the heart of a bodhisattva. “Who would’ve thought she’s no bodhisattva at all? When she strikes, she shows no mercy.” “When I heard her son died young, I even felt sorry for her.” Zhen Huan sighed. “When Noble Lady Cao told us to be careful of the Empress, I even wondered if she had misunderstood the Empress, the way you did before…” “How could it be a misunderstanding?” Shen Mei Zhuang glanced at her. “Noble Lady Cao explained it clearly.

“She could give birth because of Consort Hua. Consort Hua really does like tormenting people, but she didn’t mistreat Noble Lady Cao. “Concubine Li had no favor and no child, yet she could still be made a concubine – because of Consort Hua. “Don’t forget: when Noble Lady Xin gave birth to the First Princess, she was only an Attendant when she first entered the palace. “And Consort Qi is the Empress’s person. Who in the palace doesn’t know that? “Huan’er, don’t forget why Consort Qi was demoted to a commoner and froze to death in the Cold Palace.” “Sister Mei, you mean…”

“It’s not what I mean.” Shen Mei Zhuang’s smile was full of bitterness. “Noble Lady Cao already gave us the answer.”

… Zhen Huan’s heart felt stifled. After she saw Shen Mei Zhuang out, she took Huan Bi to the Imperial Garden. Out of habit, she walked to the stretch of path Jin Xi usually swept, but she did not see her anywhere.

“Huan Bi, go look for Jin Xi.” Zhen Huan’s face showed worry. “See if something happened to her.”

“If Mistress is here alone, this servant won’t feel at ease.” Huan Bi spoke sweetly, but she did not want to go find Cui Jin Xi at all. She did not like that her elder sister valued Cui Jin Xi, and she wanted even less for Cui Jin Xi to take a place in her elder sister’s heart.

“It’s fine. I’ll just sit here for a while.” Zhen Huan wanted to calm down alone. “Go take a look. See if Jin Xi needs help. “If she does, then give her a hand.” “Yes!” Huan Bi obeyed, even though she did not want to. Not long after Huan Bi left, a figure appeared not far away. “Yun Li pays his respects to Noble Lady Wan.” A familiar voice, carrying a hint of joy, came from somewhere ahead. “Your Highness!” Zhen Huan hurriedly stood and returned the greeting. “Noble Lady Wan need not be so formal.” Prince Guo stepped forward two paces and still reached out as if to steady her. “Your Highness…” Zhen Huan felt uneasy. The urge to leave rose in her, yet she did not want to flee so awkwardly. “Yun Li did not mean to disturb you.” Prince Guo saw her hesitation and struggle, and he explained with a gentle smile. “I was passing by and saw Noble Lady Wan without anyone beside her.

“This place is rather secluded. I couldn’t help worrying you might be startled.”

“Thank you for Your Highness’s concern.” Warmth rose in Zhen Huan’s heart. “Your Highness need not worry. Huan Bi went to check on Jin Xi. She should be back soon.”

“No matter what, it isn’t proper for Noble Lady Wan to be alone here.” Prince Guo looked around. “It’s all flowers and trees here, thick grass and brush. It’s easy for venomous insects and snakes to hide. “For your safety, Yun Li will stay with you and wait a while. Please don’t take offense.” “Of course not.” Zhen Huan’s face turned a little pale. Ever since the tragedy in Yi Mei Garden, she feared poisonous snakes from the bottom of her heart. In her panic, she could not help edging closer to Prince Guo, while still looking left and right. “At a time like this… are there still snakes?” “Not necessarily.” Prince Guo replied softly. His tone carried comfort. “Noble Lady Wan need not panic. Yun Li will not let you be frightened.” “Thank you.” Zhen Huan felt a little more at ease. When her eyes met Prince Guo’s gentle, bright gaze, she could not help being drawn in. The two of them stared at each other, as if forgetting everything. No one knew how much time passed before Zhen Huan suddenly came back to herself. It was as if all her blood rushed to her face. Her cheeks reddened at once. “I… I’ll go back first!” Zhen Huan’s mind was turning to mush as she tried to turn and run. She could not face the man before her. “Noble Lady Wan, calm down.” Prince Guo grabbed her in an instant, his tone helpless. “You can’t leave like this.” “You…!” His touch nearly scared Zhen Huan out of her wits. Her face turned pale as she trembled, “Your Highness, please let go!”