Chapter 73

Chapter 73: Zhen Huan Chronicles, An Ling Rong

“Noble Consort Hua, the palace authority is in your hands. There cannot be any more accidents,” the Empress Dowager said first, coming down on her hard. Her tone was extremely stern. “The Empress’s imperial pregnancy is the most important. I do not want to hear of anything bad happening in the palace again. Next month is the Bestowal of Gold Festival, and a palace banquet must be held. I am leaving it to you to prepare. Do not disappoint me!”

“Yes. I obey,” Noble Consort Hua answered gently, rising to bow.

“I know you are a good one.” The Empress Dowager’s voice softened again, and she showed a helpless expression. “Too many bad things happened this year. I hope you put your heart into managing the harem. Do not let people laugh at us again. Can you do that?”

“I can!” Noble Consort Hua replied happily. “I will not disappoint you.”

The Empress Dowager nodded in satisfaction. “I know you are busy. You may go back first.”

“Yes, I obey!” After eating a date the Empress Dowager gave her, Noble Consort Hua left beaming.

As she passed Li Si Qi, she did not forget to glance at her. Then she walked out of Kang Shou Palace with light, cheerful steps. Li Si Qi sat upright, looking respectful, with a hint of nervousness. The Empress Dowager watched her without a change in expression.

Though this was not the first time she had met the woman before her, she had never taken her seriously. There was even a time when she treated her like a dead person.

“Consort Xin!”

“I am here.”

“How are the Sixth Prince and Wen Ning?”

“In reply to the Empress Dowager, the Sixth Prince and Wen Ning are both very well.” Li Si Qi explained softly, “The weather has turned cold, so I did not dare bring them here to disturb you.”

“No matter.” The Empress Dowager waved it off.

If the Empress had not conceived, she would have had a little interest in the twins. But now, in her eyes, even the most precious royal twins could not compare to the piece of flesh in the Empress’s belly. If the Empress gave birth to a legitimate son, then even the twin prince would have to yield. The legitimate son should be honored above all.

This time the Empress Dowager had no desire to see the twins. “When it is New Year’s Eve, bring the children here to pay respects.”

“Yes. I obey.”

Li Si Qi guessed the Empress Dowager’s thoughts. That was exactly what she wanted.

“As the birth mother of the Sixth Prince and Wen Ning, you should spend more effort taking good care of the children.” The Empress Dowager’s face changed in an instant, turning cold. “Noble Consort Hua has many things to handle. She has also never raised a child herself. In the future, do not casually send the Sixth Prince and Wen Ning to Yi Kun Palace. If anything happens, you will regret it too late. If you do not have enough hands around you to care for them, I can give you a few people.”

“In reply to the Empress Dowager, the Internal Affairs Office has already staffed Yong Shou Palace fully.”

“If you do not want it, I will not force you.”

“The Empress Dowager has misunderstood.” Li Si Qi flashed the Empress Dowager a bright smile. “Of course I want the people by your side to help care for the children. But if we add more hands to Yong Shou Palace, the number of attendants would exceed what my rank allows.”

“You are the mistress of a palace. What does it matter if you add a few more?” The Empress Dowager’s calm tone carried force. “And they are people I am giving you. You do not need to worry about anything. Take them back and arrange them.”

“Yes. Thank you for the Empress Dowager’s great favor!”

“No matter what, you are the twins’ birth mother. The royal house certainly will not treat you unfairly…”

… A short while later, Li Si Qi left Kang Shou Palace with four senior palace maids. The consorts quickly learned the news. Everyone soon understood that the Empress Dowager was forcefully inserting herself into Yong Shou Palace. She was trying to take control of the twins.

The crowd could not help pitying unlucky Consort Xin. It seemed that even after giving birth to twins, her days were still not easy. She had barely finished her confinement before Noble Consort Hua rushed to raise the children. Before the children even reached their first birthday, the Empress Dowager had sent people over again.

In the future, the twins… Imperial Study. When the Emperor heard, he frowned. Thinking of the two adorable children, he could not help sighing. “Mother means well, but… with too many people, I fear it will become chaotic.”

The Emperor had grown up in the palace. How could he not understand the twists and turns of the harem?

“Do not worry, Your Majesty. Consort Xin will surely arrange things properly,” Su Pei Sheng replied with a smile. “For servants, the most important thing is to serve their masters well. If they fail, punish them however they should be punished.”

“Mhm.” The Emperor flicked the beads in his hand a few times and ordered, “Su Pei Sheng, go to my private treasury and choose a few fine things for Consort Xin, the Sixth Prince, and Wen Ning. Deliver the rewards personally.”

“Yes!” Su Pei Sheng immediately understood.

The Emperor was backing the masters of Yong Shou Palace…. Imperial Garden. Zhen Huan and Shen Mei Zhuang strolled together.

“Huan’er, have you made any plans?” Shen Mei Zhuang asked softly. “You should think of a way to regain favor. Days without favor are hard.”

“Sister Mei, I know,” Zhen Huan replied quietly.

She looked wilted and listless, as if she had no interest in competing for favor.

“You have been unbanned for several days now,” Shen Mei Zhuang said, puzzled. “Why have you not tried to seek favor?”

“I… I just feel a little unused to it,” Zhen Huan said, looking even more downcast. “Even if I am favored, so what? One word from the Emperor can take everything away. Sister Mei, I do not like days like this, where I cannot control anything. When he is happy, he can spoil us to the skies. When he is unhappy, he throws us into the mud and lets the servants bully us.”

“Huan’er, the harem is like this.” Shen Mei Zhuang sighed softly. “Actually… forget it. There is no point bringing up the past. I only know that being favored at least lets you live more comfortably. If you are not favored, you can only endure. And it is not just about clothes and food. Winter is coming, and charcoal will be a big problem. Even if we can use silver to buy it, once or twice is fine. But if it happens too often, I fear that even with silver, we will not be able to buy it.”

“I understand your good intentions, Sister Mei.” Zhen Huan looked bored and drained. “I will think about it.”

“Good.” Shen Mei Zhuang nodded, and did not say more.

On the surface, the two seemed no different from before. But both of them knew it was impossible to speak any true feelings to the other. Everything stopped at the right point. They were just about to go to the pavilion to rest.

Unexpectedly, someone was already there. But they did not mean to avoid her.

“Noble Lady Cao!”

“Noble Lady Hui, Attendant Zhen!”

The three exchanged greetings. Then they sat down together.

“I wanted to come out and catch my breath. I did not expect you two to be here as well.” Noble Lady Cao smiled warmly. “Luckily the weather is not too cold yet. In another half month or a month, no one will come stroll in the Imperial Garden anymore.”

“The weather has turned cold, and everyone dislikes going out,” Noble Lady Hui replied with a gentle smile. “It is already winter now. The Imperial Garden has no scenery worth admiring. If it were not to clear my mind, I would not come.”

“Yes. Being cooped up in the palace all day, you still need to come out and walk now and then,” Noble Lady Cao agreed, nodding. She looked at Zhen Huan, her gaze flickering. “Attendant Zhen, you are finally unbanned. Next month you can attend the Bestowal of Gold Festival with us. Then you must dress beautifully. The Emperor will surely notice you.”

“Noble Lady Cao is joking,” Zhen Huan said, her smile a little stiff.

Especially when she heard the words “Attendant Zhen,” it felt painfully harsh.

“I am not joking.” Noble Lady Cao shook her head lightly. “Attendant Zhen, your looks are outstanding. The Emperor has always liked you. It is only natural for you to be favored.”