The Empress Arrives: Rebirth of Concubine Hua

Chapter 154: Good Luck to the Queen
Ulanara and Empress Dowager De sat opposite each other, and Ulanara said.

"I never thought that I would be the master of the harem. I still feel dazed today~"

In Empress Dowager De's palace, a little palace maid was shaking a wind wheel beside an ice basin to cool her down. The wind wheel made a "creaking" sound when it turned.

Zhu Xi stepped forward and waved away the young palace maid, then took over the work in her hands.

Empress Dowager De held the teacup with her hands painted with kohlrabi, but she did not drink. Instead, she opened the lid of the teacup and let the hot steam fumigate her face. There was not a single wrinkle on her well-maintained face. She put the teacup back on the small table when she could no longer feel the steam coming out of the teacup.

After saying that, Ulanara sat quietly. She knew that she could not disturb Empress Dowager De at this time.

"I never thought that I would have to retire at the age of 42. I remember that the Empress is only 25 years old this year, right? I think she is one year younger than the Emperor?"

Ulanara smiled respectfully.

"The Empress Dowager has a good memory."

Empress Dowager De said again.

"That Hua Fei, I remember she was no more than 18 years old, just like a flower, so it's inevitable that the emperor dotes on her. I see, you don't have to bother with her, and you don't have to pay any attention to her."

Ulanara smiled.

"Why did the Empress Dowager suddenly mention her? I am only here to pay my respects to you today."

Empress Dowager De stared into Ulanara's eyes and laughed.

"You are the girl who grew up under my care, and you are my niece. You and I are naturally connected. And I have also heard that when she was in the palace, Nian was domineering and often looked down on everyone. I think you were also unable to do a lot when you were managing the palace."

Ulanara covered her clenched right hand with the handkerchief in her left hand and nodded.

"Your Majesty, you are wise. But at that time, the Emperor liked her, and I had to tolerate her in every way for the Emperor's pleasure. But now that the Emperor has ascended the throne, I heard that her brother Nian Gengyao from her mother's family has made great contributions. I am afraid that the two siblings will rise to prominence and become a big problem."

Empress Dowager De waved her hand and said.

"What are you afraid of? As long as I am here, I will never let her relatives from the Nian family abuse their power. You just need to sit in your position as the Empress of the Central Palace. However, I will never have the chance to be the Empress in this lifetime. Even the Empress Dowager doesn't have much fun. You must never go to the same step as me."

Ulanara knew that Empress Dowager Nianhulu was about the same age as Empress Dowager De, and the way Empress Dowager De looked at the Empress Dowager was similar to the comparison between her own position and that of Nian Shilan.

"What about the Empress Dowager and Concubine Hua?"

Ulanara hesitated.

Queen Mother De did not respond to her, but spoke to Zhu Xi.

"Zhuxi, go see if the emperor has finished his court session and ask him to come over."

Then he turned and said to Ulanara.

"You go back first. I have my own plans."

Nian Shilan didn't have to serve the emperor these days and was enjoying the peace and quiet. On this day, she was leisurely strolling in the imperial garden.

When he met Nian Zhilan who was also coming with a eunuch and a palace maid, Nian Shilan sat on a stone bench in the garden, waiting for her to come closer.

"I greet Her Majesty Hua Fei, may Your Majesty be blessed~"

When Nian Zhilan met Nian Shilan, she bowed respectfully. The eunuchs and palace maids beside her also bowed their heads and followed suit.

Nian Shilan did not make things difficult for Nian Zhilan and said nonchalantly.

"Get up. I haven't seen Yu Changzai these days. Is Changzai doing well?"

Nian Zhilan continued to speak respectfully.

"Thanks to Concubine Hua, the Emperor only came to my Tingyu Pavilion and sat for a while before leaving."

Nian Shilan laughed when she heard this.

"From what Noble Lady Yu said, it seems like she is blaming me."

Nian Zhilan looked up, but saw no smile in Nian Shilan's eyes, so she fell to her knees.

"Please forgive me, Concubine Hua. That is not what I meant."

Nian Shilan was about to speak when a eunuch suddenly spoke loudly.

"The Emperor has arrived~!"

Nian Shilan turned around and saw Yinzhen striding towards her.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you. May your Majesty be blessed with good fortune."

Nian Shilan stood up and bowed respectfully, keeping her eyes down and not looking at Yinzhen.

This is the first time that Nian Shilan has met Yinzhen in more than half a month, Yinzhen said lightly.

"Get up. How come you two sisters have time to be together today?" When Nian Zhilan saw Yinzhen, she was so excited that she immediately rushed to answer.

"In reply to the emperor, I was strolling in the imperial garden and ran into my sister. I was talking to her."

Yinzhen said.

"You're too talkative. I'm asking Concubine Hua, what have you learned from Concubine Yu's rules?"

Nian Zhilan was stunned for a moment. The eunuch behind her raised his head and then quickly lowered it again.

At just this one glance, Nian Shilan's heart skipped a beat. It was Zhou Ninghai, whom she had been looking for for a long time. Unexpectedly, he has now become Nian Zhilan's personal eunuch.

Nian Shilan sorted out her thoughts briefly, lowered her eyes and spoke.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. Yu Changzai is my sister. If there is anything she cannot do, I will definitely teach her when I come down."

This time it was Nian Zhilan's turn to be shocked that Nian Shilan would plead for her.

But on second thought, Nian Shilan must be afraid that she would anger the emperor and cause the emperor to vent his anger on the Nian family, so she spoke up for herself.

Yinzhen looked at Nian Shilan for a long time and said.

"I am going to Empress Dowager De's Yonghe Palace and passing by here. Would Concubine Hua like to go with me?"

Nian Shilan didn't want to see Empress Dowager De, but since the emperor had invited her in front of everyone, she decided to go.

"I haven't seen the Queen Mother for several days. So I will respectfully obey your command."

After Yinzhen and Nian Shilan left the imperial garden, Nian Zhilan slowly walked back with the eunuchs and palace maids.

Along the way, Zhou Ninghai was secretly wondering why it was the first time he met Concubine Hua, but it felt like he had seen her somewhere before? There was even a frightening yet familiar aura from her.

Zhou Ninghai was a eunuch who had recently been assigned to Tingyuxuan. It was only yesterday that he found his brother, Zhou Anhai, who had been castrated together with him.

Zhou Anhai only said that he had been serving in the Qiandi for these years, but his brother refused to explain why he had a limp. Zhou Ninghai had a mystery in his mind.

When Yinzhen brought Nian Shilan to Empress Dowager De's Yonghe Palace, Empress Dowager De was sitting on the couch waiting.

"Your son greets the Empress Dowager, may the Empress Dowager be well and safe."

When Yinzhen saluted, Nian Shilan also saluted.

"I pay my respects to the Empress Dowager. May the Empress Dowager be well and at peace."

Empress Dowager De had been feeling uneasy since the eunuch announced that "Empress Hua has arrived."

I asked Zhuxi to invite the emperor, so why did the emperor bring her? Didn’t he say that the emperor hadn’t visited her Yikun Palace for more than half a month?

Empress Dowager De looked surprised and said.

"Get up. The emperor is busy with government affairs. I asked someone to invite you here. I am sorry to have delayed your time."

Yinzhen just said.

"You are too kind, Madam. It is my duty to serve you. I wonder if you have been eating well these days? Have you been sleeping well?"

Queen Mother De sighed.

"The emperor has no legitimate son, and I have been unable to sleep or eat peacefully."

Yinzhen was silent for a moment, then smiled.

"You are worrying too much, Empress Dowager. The Third Prince has already been included in the Imperial Book of Rites and is being raised by the Empress. How can he not be considered my legitimate son?"

Queen Dowager De looked at Nian Shilan.

"Hua Fei, you have been with the emperor for two years since you entered the palace and now the palace, but you don't have a son or daughter. This is your fault."

Nian Shilan knelt down hurriedly and replied with her eyes lowered.

"Please forgive me, Queen Mother. I am incapable. It's just that the Queen Mother was worried about the legitimate son. I am a concubine, so I don't have to give birth. So I always want to let nature take its course."

Yinzhen looked at Nian Shilan, and then remembered what An San had reported, that Nian Shilan was secretly drinking contraceptive pills, and he couldn't help feeling depressed.

Empress Dowager De didn't want to embarrass Nian Shilan in front of Yinzhen, so she said.

"Get up. I am just complaining a little. If you are not feeling well, you should remind the emperor to visit other concubines more often."

Zhu Xi stepped forward and helped Nian Shilan up. Nian Shilan stood up and replied with his head down.

"What the Empress Dowager said is true. However, I thought that the concubines in the palace are all old people in the palace. I wanted to take advantage of the upcoming triennial election to pick a few new people for the emperor. But the late emperor passed away not long ago, and the mourning period has not yet passed. I wonder what the Empress Dowager and the emperor mean?"

(End of this chapter)