vstars Chapter 128 Forming Cliques
Chapter 128 Forming Cliques
The result was determined. Zhen Huan went to Zhongcui Palace to find Shen Meizhuang.
"Sister Mei told me to look for her so hard." The voice came before the person arrived, and Lou Yong'er stood up to pay her respects.
Before she could finish her words, Zhen Huan had already helped Lou Yong'er up.
"Yong'er has become estranged from me." Zhen Huan smiled and pulled Lou Yong'er to sit on the couch.
Shen Meizhuang sat down on the plum blossom stool that Lan Li had just moved in.
Looking around, my eyes fell on the pots of brightly colored flowers.
Zhen Huan's eyes flashed with a gleam of light, "Yong'er has also begun to cultivate her sentiments after giving birth. Look at this unbridled and brilliant Qiuju, her temperament is similar to Yong'er's. She is not much different from the one in Sister Mei's palace in the past."
Shen Meizhuang also became interested. "It looks elegant even in a jade hall, and it shines even in a thatched cottage. Yong'er's taste is becoming more and more refined."
Lou Yong'er glanced at Zhen Huan, "Noble Lady Gong saw that I was feeling depressed after giving birth, so she personally went to the flower room every month to pick out fashionable flowers for me."
Shen Meizhuang nodded repeatedly, "Noble Lady Gong doesn't like to go out much, but she pays attention to every detail. She is a rare and precious woman."
"Oh." Zhen Huan laughed with an ambiguous smile, "Even at the Chongyang Palace banquet, I already had my eye on Concubine Gong."
She changed the subject, "But you have to be careful too. Flowers and plants, and other fragrant objects are the most vulnerable to tampering. It's better to be safe than sorry."
Shen Meizhuang nodded repeatedly upon hearing this, "Huan'er is right. Have you asked the imperial physician to see it?"
Lou Yong'er's left hand was covered by Zhen Huan. She resisted the urge to pull her hand away. Lou Yong'er smiled and said, "Doctor Wei checked me. It's nothing."
"That's good," Zhen Huan breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Shen Meizhuang. "I'm a little bit missing the lotus root starch and osmanthus sugar cakes in Sister Mei's palace. Could you please invite me over for a visit?"
Shen Meizhuang was unwilling to do so. She turned around and looked at Lou Yong'er, and then she heard Zhen Huan say, "Yong'er, take care of yourself. I will come back to see you."
Shen Meizhuang was slightly startled, and immediately followed her words.
On the way, Zhen Huan looked at Shen Meizhuang curiously, "Sister Mei used to be reluctant to interact with Lou Yong'er, so why did you come to Zhongcui Palace on your own initiative today? Could it be that Huan'er is really angry? Then Huan'er will be really sad."
Shen Meizhuang's cheeks flushed. "Huan'er, please stop teasing me. I didn't like Yong'er's previous behavior, but she has helped me a lot after all, and she has never hurt us. Now she is much calmer, so I come to see her when I have nothing to do."
Zhen Huan sighed softly, "Sister Mei, there are actually many things you don't know. For example, just now, who did Noble Lady Gong get close to?"
"Well, it was Concubine Fang who arranged for Duolan, who was with her, to marry back to Mongolia. After that, she went to Yongshou Palace from time to time. She also had a few words with Lingrong at the palace banquet some time ago."
"Yes, Concubine Gong has always been close to those around Concubine Fang. Why would she come and sell Yong'er out of the blue? Those pots of flowers were many rare varieties, and Concubine Gong wasn't a favored person. She just took them so easily and gave them to Yong'er as a gift. I don't believe there's anything strange about this."
Seeing Zhen Huan's confident expression, Shen Meizhuang chuckled softly, "Huan'er, you've been on Penglai Island and you've become too paranoid. Previously, Noble Concubine Hua issued an order forbidding the growth of chrysanthemums in the Yikun Palace, but due to Noble Concubine Hua's influence, the flower room dared not send the chrysanthemums elsewhere. When Noble Lady Gong asked for them, they were so eager to give them all to her."
Zhen Huan's face showed hesitation. Shen Meizhuang pulled her hand and said, "Huan'er, I know you had some friction with Concubine Fang in the past, but she never actively persecuted us. Besides, Lingrong's temperament has changed a lot after she suffered a great disaster. Don't you think the way it is now is good?"
Zhen Huan paused, "Sister Mei, don't forget how Concubine Hua treated us in the past."
"Of course I won't forget this." Shen Meizhuang's expression was solemn and there was real hatred in her eyes.
"By the way, Huan'er, you just said there was something I didn't know?"
Staring at the familiar features of the person in front of her, Zhen Huan shook her head, not looking into Shen Meizhuang's eyes, "Nothing."
Seeing Zhen Huan's absent-mindedness, Shen Meizhuang chose not to press the issue. "Alright, if you have any hopes, don't keep them to yourself. I'm always on your side. I don't know why you distanced yourself from Lou Yong'er before, but just now I saw that you seemed to be trying to win her over. Huan'er, tell me the truth, are you planning to fight for power next?"
Zhen Huan felt nervous. Was her behavior so obvious?
Shen Meizhuang seemed to see what Zhen Huan was thinking and said helplessly, "Huan'er, we have known each other since childhood, so of course I understand you."
"Alright." Zhen Huan breathed a sigh of relief. "Because the most important thing right now is to overthrow Concubine Hua. Now is the time to use people."
"Sister Mei, do you understand me?"
Shen Meizhuang felt relieved and smiled reassuringly, "I understand you. Let's go, I always have your favorite lotus root starch and osmanthus sugar cake ready."
......
......
Time passed quickly, and the next year arrived, the day for the five-yearly beauty pageant that the emperor had previously postponed.
Concubine Hua fell ill due to the sudden death of her brother, and Concubine Duan also claimed to be ill. After Jiang Ruyin took over all the palace affairs, she summoned the imperial physician every few days. So the emperor ordered Concubine Jing to assist, and Jiang Ruyin's burden was suddenly lightened a lot.
He came out of Shoukang Palace with a heavy heart, and without time to return to the palace to rest, his sedan chair went straight to Yangxin Palace.
As soon as he saw Jiang Ruyin's expression, Su Peisheng almost crawled on his knees to tell Jiang Ruyin what had happened, and then asked Xiao Xiazi to invite Chen Xun.
The emperor looked towards the door with a complicated expression.
During these days, firstly, Zhen Huan and Shen Meizhuang were serving by his side like Ehuang and Nvying; secondly, Zhen Huan looked and behaved more like Chun Yuan and she had solved a big problem for him; thirdly, he felt ashamed to face Jiang Ruyin, so he even kept the decree to appoint Zhen Huan as his concubine secret, intending to wait until Zhen Huan became pregnant again before issuing it.
The next moment, he almost burst into tears and hurriedly stepped forward to support Jiang Ruyin.
Su Peisheng appeared and respectfully brought a bowl of ginger soup, saying, "I have sent someone to call the imperial physician. Your Majesty, please drink a bowl of ginger soup to warm yourself up first."
Jiang Ruyin still didn't understand why until Su Peisheng handed her a mirror again. Then Jiang Ruyin realized that her face had turned pale, her lips had no trace of human color, and her lifeless eyes revealed a morbid decadence.
Jiang Ruyin was also shocked, "What happened to me?"
The emperor was speechless and just hugged Jiang Ruyin. The two of them squeezed into the same bed. His warm big palm covered Jiang Ruyin's cold and stiff hands.
Then he fed her half a bowl of food one spoonful at a time without saying a word. Until Chen Xun came, Jiang Ruyin blushed and wanted to go, but the emperor refused.