The Empress Arrives: Rebirth of Concubine Hua

Chapter 129 Laba Enters the Palace
On the day of Laba Festival, the regular dishes and Laba porridge awarded by the palace were delivered to the residences of the princes and nobles early in the morning. Yinzhen also brought Ulanara, Nian Shilan and Qi Yuebin into the palace early in the morning.

Ulanara took Nian Shilan and Qi Yuebin to pay their respects to the empress. The empress continued to sit in a dignified manner, smiled and praised the women in Prince Yong's mansion, then let them go to pay their respects to Prince Yong's biological mother, Concubine De.

When Nian Shilan and Qi Yuebin followed Ulanara into Yonghe Palace, Concubine De had just finished breakfast and was drinking tea.

The three of them greeted each other, and Concubine De gave them a seat. Today, she didn't embarrass anyone, but just said calmly.

"After today, it will be the New Year. Have you settled the affairs in the mansion?"

Ulanara stood up and replied respectfully.

"Reporting to my mother, all the affairs in the mansion are carried out according to the rules set by our ancestors. This year, I have Concubine Hua to help me, which saves me a lot of effort."

Defei paused while drinking tea, put the teacup on the table, and slowly looked at Ulanara.

"Good boy, please sit down. I guess there are a few new people in the mansion this year, and you are too busy to handle it?"

Ulanara thanked him, sat down again and said with a smile.

"Mother, you are too kind. No matter how many people there are in the mansion, they only have food, clothing, shelter and transportation. Besides, I have always been in charge of the household affairs and I am not flustered. It's just that the prince sympathizes with me and is afraid that I will be tired, so he specially gave Concubine Hua the power to assist in the household affairs, and also let Concubine Hua learn the talent of managing the household affairs."

The protagonist they were talking about, Nian Shilan, was leisurely sipping her tea. No one spoke directly to her, so she pretended not to hear anything.

As expected, Concubine De did not look at Nian Shilan, but still looked at Ulanara and sighed.

"This is because you and your wife are in harmony, and Yinzhen loves you. If this is the case, you should take this opportunity to take good care of yourself and try to have a legitimate son as soon as possible, so that I can rest assured."

Ulanara felt a pain in her heart.

Her son Honghui died young, but because she was injured when giving birth to Honghui, and Yinzhen did not live with her in the past few years, it was not easy for her to have another child.

However, she had kept the fact of her poor health a secret from everyone, not even Concubine De, causing Concubine De to mistakenly believe that she was still sad for Honghui and did not want to have a child.

Ulanara lowered her head for a moment, then looked up at Concubine De with a gentle smile.

"What mother said is true. The prince and I have always been harmonious. It's just that I was unlucky and didn't raise the eldest prince well. The prince and I are very sad. I will take good care of myself and not let mother worry. Fortunately, since Concubine Hua came into the mansion, the prince has been staying with Concubine Hua and has gradually become happy. I am very happy. If Concubine Hua can give birth to a child one day, I think the prince will also be happy."

Nian Shilan had a sneer on her lips. Ulanara was always like this, and would turn the topic to her in just a few words.

It seems that I have become a thorn in her side.

But think about it, since Nian Shilan entered the palace, whenever he clashed with the Ulanara family, he had never been at a disadvantage. If it were Nian Shilan in his previous life, he would also want to eliminate such a person.

Concubine De looked at Qi Yuebin with a kind smile on her face.

"Qi seems to be a good person. It's your first time in the palace, are you used to it?"

Qi Yuebin stood up, bowed, then lowered his head and replied respectfully.

"Reporting to the Empress Defei, although I am new to the palace, the prince and his wife are caring, and Concubine Hua is attentive and has bought many things for me. I feel as comfortable in the palace as I do at home."

Concubine De smiled and motioned Qi Yuebin to sit down.

"Sit down, good boy."

Then he looked at Nian Shilan and said with a smile.

"A few days ago, Yinzhen suddenly asked the emperor to grant you a title, and I thought that you are the most favored one in the palace. Today, I found out that my son has even given you the power to assist in the household affairs, which shows that you are indeed favored in the palace. But you have been married for a year, and I heard that my son often stays with you. When will you give me a little grandson?"

Nian Shilan stood up slowly, bowed slowly, and replied. "I don't deserve it. I was naughty when I was young, and I fell off a horse and injured my body. The doctor said it was not easy to get pregnant. After entering the palace, although the prince loved me and we were often together, I was powerless to have children. I could only take care of myself and hope to have a son as soon as possible. After the prince gave me the power to assist in the household affairs, he also told me privately. The wife has a lot of daily affairs, and I have to help her well so that she can get air conditioning and recuperate. The prince also hopes that the wife can give birth to a prince as soon as possible to comfort the emperor and the queen. The prince also said that there are two pregnant concubines in the palace. But I am a concubine. No matter how many children I give birth to, it is impossible to compare with the wife's children. In addition, I am not old yet, and I still have time to recuperate, so I am told not to be anxious."

After Nian Shilan finished speaking, she raised her head and looked at Concubine De with a smile on her face that was extremely sincere.

Concubine De stared into Nian Shilan's eyes and smiled.

"As expected of a daughter of a general, you speak so frankly and clearly. I said one sentence and you talked so much. You are obviously very articulate."

Nian Shilan softened her tone and smiled softly.

"Your Highness, you are too kind. I am not good at speaking, and I will need to ask Madam for advice in the future."

Concubine De smiled, but the smile did not reach her eyes.

"Why should Concubine Hua be so modest? In my opinion, you are probably the most talkative one in Prince Yong's mansion, including the princesses and concubines. But I still want to advise you that women should be gentle and obedient, and not think it is beautiful to argue. I hope Concubine Hua will take care of herself."

Nian Shilan bowed again and lowered his head in response.

"Yes. I will remember your majesty's teachings."

The young eunuch shouted outside the palace.

"Your Highness, the Emperor and the Empress are hosting a banquet in the Palace of Heavenly Purity. Please do not be late."

Defei asked someone to reply that she understood, and then she sat for a while before getting up and taking a few people to attend the banquet.

Nian Shilan was too lazy to entertain anyone at the banquet. She had attended too many such palace banquets in her previous life.

Just endless New Year greetings, endless string and wind music, endless beautiful dancers, endless flattery. It's so boring.

Halfway through the banquet, Nian Shilan whispered to Songzhi, asking her to accompany her to change clothes.

When Nian Shilan was about to return to the banquet, a small figure walked out from the corner. Nian Shilan was startled, but did not say a word, just held Songzhi's arm tightly.

The little figure laughed.

"Sister Lan, don't you recognize me? I'm Seventeen."

Nian Shilan then breathed a sigh of relief and took a closer look, and it was indeed Seventeen.

"Seventeen, why are you here? You scared me."

Yinli greeted Nian Shilan and said.

"Don't be afraid, Sister Lan. I saw that the adults were all drinking and chatting, which was boring, so I sneaked out to relax. I didn't expect to run into Sister Lan by chance. Seventeen hasn't seen Sister Lan for quite a while. I showed up in excitement and scared Sister Lan instead. Seventeen apologizes to Sister Lan and begs for forgiveness."

Nian Shilan stepped forward and supported Yinli.

"You little rascal. Hurry up and get up. I only said that you scared me, but I didn't say it was your fault. Don't misunderstand me."

After he finished speaking, he took Yinli back to the table.

After the banquet was finally over, as soon as Nian Shilan returned to the palace, she heard that something had happened to the Shu family.

(End of this chapter)