The Empress Arrives: Rebirth of Concubine Hua

Chapter 255: Annual Rewards
After midnight, the new year passed and the old year was replaced. For Nian Shilan, this boring palace banquet could finally come to an end.

Yinzhen drank the last glass of wine with the concubines and returned to the Yangxin Palace to rest first.

After a short rest, he had to follow the rules of his ancestors and start writing in front of the windows in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, worship his ancestors in the Hall of Ancestors, worship Confucius and the King of Medicine in the east and west wings of the Palace of Heavenly Purity, pay his respects to the two Empress Dowagers, and finally get up early on the first day of the new year to accept congratulations from all civil and military officials.

Fortunately, Yinzhen was still young and strong, and did not feel tired.

On the first day of the first lunar month in the fourth year of Yongzheng's reign, snow fell again in the capital.

The ground was covered with snow, and it looked white everywhere.

Only the red walls and yellow tiles of the Forbidden City look exceptionally solemn and magnificent against the backdrop of snow-white.

Celebrating the New Year in the palace is different from celebrating it in the common people. A lot of money from the masters' rewards alone is spent like water.

Songzhi had already prepared many red envelopes for Nian Shilan to reward the servants.

In the previous life, Nian Shilan was extravagant and the silver he gave to others as rewards was wrapped in gold paper.

In this life, although Nian Shilan also prepared a red envelope as a reward, she just asked Songzhi to put some silver in the red envelope in a proper way.

First of all, her monthly salary is limited.

Secondly, her money was all useful and there was no need to spend it at a time like this.

Songzhi brought a tray of red envelopes and walked to Nian Shilan. Seeing Nian Shilan teasing Hongli lazily, Songzhi put the tray aside, smiled and waved to the servants in the hall. Everyone understood, gathered together, knelt down and said in unison.

"Your servant wishes the master and the Fourth Prince a happy new year. May the master be blessed with health and happiness, and may the Fourth Prince be safe and sound."

Nian Shilan smiled happily, and looking at Hongli who was already grinning in her arms, she said happily.

"Get up. I know it was Songzhi who asked you to pay New Year's greetings to me.

Songzhi is a very clever girl. She knows that I have prepared a red envelope.

So I thought of coaxing her away from me."

Songzhi pretended to be innocent, but she couldn't hide the joy on her face.

"My master, you have wronged me. This was Xiao Linzi's idea, and I was just following it.

Why do you blame me for coaxing your red envelope? Master, why don't you give Xiao Linzi a good beating to vent your anger."

Xiao Linzi almost jumped up when he heard this.

"Master, don't listen to Sister Songzhi's nonsense. I dare not coax you for your money."

Nian Shilan knew that the servants were just trying to amuse themselves, so she said with a smile.

"Well, can I forget about you? I know you work hard to serve me.

Especially since I got pregnant last year, you have been worried every day.

I have seen all of this.

Songzhi, go and get the other red envelope from my bedroom.

You guys are following me, so naturally you should be more respectable than others."

Songzhi went to Nian Shilan's bedroom happily and brought out a tray of red envelopes. Everyone in Yikun Palace received a red envelope and was extremely happy.

In the Xianfu Palace, Zhen Changzai sat in the room in a daze. She had been a Changzai since she entered the palace, with only five taels of silver as a monthly allowance.

Without financial support from my family, life would be very difficult.

She heard Huanbi coming back from the imperial kitchen with food, complaining about the heavy snow, the slippery ground, and her shoes and socks getting wet.

I also heard Huanbi speaking in an envious tone about how everyone in Yikun Palace had been rewarded, and how the servants were very proud of themselves when they were doing their jobs, with smiles lingering on their faces.

Zhen Chang felt unhappy.

After sitting for a while, seeing that there was nothing to do, Zhen Changzai got up and walked towards Concubine Shen's room.

The snow in the courtyard was already deep. Seeing that Zhen Changzai was going to Shen Guiren's place, Zhou Ninghai worked hard to clear a clear path.

Zhen Changzai followed the path cleared by Zhou Ninghai and walked to the door of Concubine Shen.

Because of the cold weather, Concubine Shen's door was closed and there was no one guarding the corridor.

I guess Concubine Shen is considerate of the servants and let them go and rest.

Zhen Changzai raised her hand and was about to knock on the door when she heard the clear voice of Concubine Shen from inside the room.

"You don't know how worried I was yesterday. I was afraid Huan'er would anger Concubine Li and cause a quarrel.

Fortunately, the emperor did not pursue the matter too much, and the matter was over."

Caiyue's voice came from inside the door again.

"Don't worry, young master. Young master Zhen is smart and will not put herself in danger."

Liu Zhu, who was following Zhen Changzai, looked at her and asked with her mouth whether she should knock on the door. Zhen Changzai shook her head.

I only heard Concubine Shen in the room say again.

"I used to think Huan'er was smart, but I didn't know why.

Since entering the palace, her temper has become more and more strong.

I'm really afraid that she will offend her master someday, and I won't be able to save her."

Caiyue spoke after a long while.

"Then you should get promoted to a higher position. As long as your position is higher, you can protect Miss Zhen.

I see that Concubine Hua is very kind to you now, maybe you can sincerely follow Concubine Hua."

Concubine Shen sighed and said.

"Let's talk about it later. Huan'er has always felt that Concubine Hua is arrogant and dislikes her from the bottom of her heart.

I don’t know either. She had never had any interaction with Concubine Hua before, so why was she so stubborn?

But since Huan'er doesn't like it, I'll just learn how to take care of trivial matters."

When Zhen Changzai heard this, she knew that Concubine Shen was also thinking about her, so she signaled Liu Zhu to knock on the door.

The master and servant who were still talking in the room heard it and hurried to open the door. Zhen Chang said with a smile as he walked into the room.

"Sister Mei, it's New Year's Day, why are you staying alone in your room?

There is no servant waiting in the corridor, isn't it boring?"

Lady Shen sat on the chair without getting up and said with a smile.

"Who said I was alone? Aren't you here?
It's New Year's Day, so I'll let my servants take a break.

It's snowing so heavily today, but the emperor is still in the front court accepting congratulations from all officials.

Anyway, we have nothing to worry about in the harem, so why not be more tolerant."

Zhen Changzai picked up a chair and sat down, looking around at the furnishings in Shen Guiren's room, and saw that it was all newly replaced huanghuali wood furniture.

sighed.

"Sister is now rich, this yellow rosewood is worth a lot of money."

Caiyue came over with a cup of tea, presented it to Zhen Changzai, and said with a smile.

"Ms. Zhen, you don't know that all the furniture made of huanghuali wood was replaced by Empress Hua.

Concubine Hua said that the people who followed her on missions must not be shabby from the inside out.

Look, I changed it for our young master overnight before New Year’s Eve.”

Concubine Shen said with a smile.

"You are the one who talks too much. Go and do your own thing. I will talk to Huan'er."

Caiyue held Liuzhu's hand and laughed.

"Come on, let the young masters talk, I will take you to see the flowers I drew."

Liu Zhu Dao.

"You can't sew in the first month of the lunar year, and you still want me to do needlework?"

Caiyue was helpless, smiled and shook her head, then reached out and touched Liuzhu's forehead.

"You, you, do you really need me to explain it to you? We haven't sat together properly for a long time, so I'm sure you have a lot of personal things to say.

What are you and I doing here? I might as well take you to my room, where I have hidden some delicious fruits."

Liu Zhu suddenly realized and happily followed Cai Yue down.