The Empress Arrives: Rebirth of Concubine Hua

Chapter 256 Helpless
On the table in front of Lady Shen stood a small mother-of-pearl lacquer plate, the inside of which was carved with a pattern of the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea.

A small lambskin towel was placed at the bottom of the lacquer tray. The tray was filled with golden melon seeds, and several exquisite fruits were placed around the tray.

Zhen Changzai took a look and did not hide her envy.

"My sister's mother's family is prominent, so she doesn't have to rely on that little monthly allowance to live.
Now she is helping Concubine Hua to manage the six palaces, and she also has the emperor's favor.

It's really enviable."

Lady Shen saw Zhen Chang's mischievous face and knew that she was deliberately teasing her.

Concubine Shen reached out and grabbed a handful of golden melon seeds, smiled and pretended to stuff them into Zhen Changzai's hand, saying.

"Come, come, it's New Year's Day, I'll give you something good.

So that you don't have to act so uselessly."

Zhen Changzai stretched out his hand to refuse, but he couldn't help laughing.

"Alright, alright, sister, I was just joking with you, why are you giving me a tip?

When you become a royal concubine someday, I will accept your reward with great respect."

The two of them joked and laughed for a while, and then Zhen Changzai carefully took the golden melon seeds from Shen Guiren's hand and put them back on the lacquer plate.

Zhen Changzai took a handkerchief and wiped the sweat on the tip of her nose, her tone sounding both angry and coquettish.

“Sister is just a noble now, so she has to be estranged from her younger sister.

Why bother giving out gold as a reward? It's annoying."

Lady Shen had just been laughing and joking with Lady Zhen, and was sweating a little. She poured herself some tea and also poured a cup in front of Lady Zhen.

"You were the one who wanted to alienate me first, and you said so many sour words as soon as you came.

Humph, it’s not annoying at all.”

Zhen Changzai covered her mouth and laughed cunningly. She and Shen Guiren had been playing like this since they were young, and she knew that Shen Guiren was a person who would never hesitate to take revenge.

She didn't care. She leisurely took the tea, took a sip, and then spoke.

"Today is boring, I am sitting in the house and don't know what to do.

Thinking that I haven't seen my sister for a few days, I came to chat with her."

Shen Guiren said.

"That's right. I was thinking about going to your room in a while, but you came here first.

When the whole palace came to pay respects to the two queen dowagers,
Seeing you lower your head and behave yourself, I felt relieved.

You don't know that I was worried about you at the palace banquet yesterday."

Zhen Changzai lazily supported her head with her hands, tilted her head to look at Shen Guiren, with a pure look of a young girl on her face.

"I know my sister is worried about me. What is there to be afraid of? I am of such a low position.

To pay respects to the Queen Mother, just stand at the end and bow properly.

Nothing will go wrong.”

Concubine Shen also imitated Concubine Zhen, supported her head with her hands and said with her head tilted.

"How could I not know your temper? You have been fearless since you were a child.

If you hadn't been bound by the rules in the palace, you would have been the same as before and couldn't tolerate any flaws.

When you paid your respects to Concubine Hua today, I could see that
You are still not convinced in your heart, and I don’t know if Concubine Hua can see it.

But given her position, I don't think she would seriously make things difficult for you.

I see that she is not as competitive and jealous as the rumors say.
But our emperor, after seeing her, always showed his love for her."

Zhen Changzai felt tired from holding his hands, so he sat up straight and picked up some fruits from the plate to eat.

After swallowing the last bite of fruit and taking a sip of tea to moisten his throat, he spoke.

"There is no one else in the palace who has such a beautiful face as hers.

I always think she is too beautiful, but the emperor likes her very much.

Li Bai once said, how long will it be good to use your beauty to please others?

If I were the emperor, I would still prefer gentle and dignified women like your sister."

Lady Shen blushed, and then spoke with a tone of embarrassment and anger.

"You, you are still the same as before, saying whatever you want to say. This is in the palace, you dare not say this in front of others.

If others hear it, it will inevitably bring trouble.

When the time comes, even I, a humble nobleman, won’t be able to save you.”

As the two were chatting, there was a knock on the door.

Concubine Shen raised her voice and said.

"Come in."

Zhou Ninghai pushed open the door, came in bent over, patted the snow off his body, and said.

"Just now, Eunuch Su sent someone to say that the emperor had given food to each palace.

My lady, you are dining with Lady Shen today.

Or are you going back to eat?"

Zhen Chang is on the road.

"This is my first year celebrating the New Year in the palace, and my sister is the only one I know well.

Of course I will go with my sister. Go and bring the food and spread it in my sister's room.

We can enjoy ourselves and not have to serve the Emperor, Empress, and other ladies. This is much easier."

"Yes."

Zhou Ninghai responded and left to arrange the meal.

According to custom, New Year's Eve is the day for the female members of the harem to feast, and the first day of the new year is the day for the royal family to enter the palace to attend the feast.

All the banquet preparations were taken care of by someone in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Concubine Shen was happy to have some free time and spent a leisurely year with Zhen Chang.

Noble Lady Fucha was bossing around in the Yanx Palace, pointing and criticizing the palace maids who had come to deliver the regular dishes. An Da Ying, who lived with her, leaned against the door timidly and looked in. She turned around and was about to close the door when she heard Noble Lady Fucha's triumphant voice behind her.

"What's wrong with An agreeing? Are you planning to close the door and go to bed so early?

I look at the sky and it seems to be only noon.

Oh~ By the way, An agreed that his rank was low, so as per the rules, there were only four dishes.

But no matter how few dishes there are, it is still a gift from the emperor.

An promised to finish it.

An Da Ying paused and turned her back to Noble Lady Fucha, but she did not look back in the end. She just closed the door after entering.

When Noble Lady Fucha saw that her punch had hit cotton, she felt bored and no longer paid attention to An Da Ying.

Baojuan, An's personal maid who agreed to her appointment, pouted and said angrily.

"My lady, you are too kind-hearted. Ever since you moved into the Yanxi Palace, you have been bullied by Noble Lady Fucha every day.

You never said a word in reply, are you really not angry at all?"

An agreed and lowered his eyes, looking at the lunch in front of him.

Today is the first day of the Lunar New Year, and there are a few dishes on the table that are not usually served to her.

She had only seen dishes like the Crystal Eight Treasure Duck, Roasted Shrimp, Fried Mandarin Duck Tripe, and Beef with Tangerine Peel at palace banquets.

"Who made me of such a low rank? How can I, a lowly concubine, dare to compete with you?

Baojuan, look at these dishes, I can only see them during the Chinese New Year.

Tell me, what ability do I have to argue with Noble Lady Fucha?

I have no one to rely on in this palace, and I must be careful at every step in order to survive.

You don’t know, my heart is empty every day.”

Baojuan was silent for a moment, then began to serve the food to Andan.

"My dear, don't be sad. It's not appropriate to shed tears during the New Year.

I'll get you some more food, please eat more.

This fills my stomach and my heart is no longer empty. "

An agreed to stop talking and ate his meal leisurely.

Baojuan couldn't see the thoughts flashing in An Da Ying's eyes as he lowered his head.