The Empress Arrives: Rebirth of Concubine Hua

Chapter 270 Zhen An Becomes Good Friends
An agreed and walked into Zhen Changzai's room with a smile. He saw the brocade box in Huanbi's hand, which contained two strings of pink tourmaline beads.

Huanbi held the beads in her hand and bowed to An Da Ying with a smile, then was about to leave, but An Da Ying spoke.

"Today, the Queen asked us to choose the rewards we like.

I still find this string of beads pleasing to the eye.

After all, Sister Zhen’s position is higher than mine, so she was chosen first.

The Queen also gave me two strings of beads.

It just doesn’t look as good as this.”

Huanbi replied.

"Master An has good taste."

When Zhen Changzai heard this, she waved to Huanbi who was about to leave and said with a smile.

"Huanbi, since Sister An likes it, you can take the pearls first.

Ask Sister An to pick a bunch that she likes.

It is also the reason why I am in a relationship with Sister An."

Huanbi opened her mouth, but finally just said "yes" and held the brocade box in front of An Da Ying.

An agreed and waved his hands hurriedly to refuse.

"No, no, no, Sister Zhen, that's not what I meant.

How can a younger sister take away the love of her elder sister?

I just admire the beauty of this string of beads.

Sister, please ask Huanbi to put it away quickly."

Zhen Changzai smiled and pressed down An's shaking hands, saying.

"Sister An, please don't be polite. In this palace, besides me and Sister Mei, you are the only one who has some contact with me."

Zhen Changzai grabbed a string of beads from the brocade box in Huanbi's hand and put it on An Da Ying's left wrist without saying a word.

An agreed but couldn't refuse, so he had to accept it.

She gently stroked the beads with her other hand, feeling the slight coolness coming from the beads, which was refreshing in this early spring season.

An Da Ying thought that she had never seen such good things, whether she was at home or in the palace.

She held Zhen Changzai's hands, expressing her gratitude.

"Sister Zhen has been so kind to me since we first met. I really can't repay you enough.

I have been in the palace for so long, but I have never been favored, nor have I made friends with anyone.

Now I suddenly have the chance to be close to my sister, and I have also received such a precious item.
"Sister's heart"

An Da Ying suddenly shed two tears, and her pretty face looked so sad and adorable.

Zhen Changzai took another string of beads and put it on her right wrist. She raised her hand and gave An Da Ying a playful smile.

"Sister, your words are really too kind. It's just a string of beads.

You see, I kept some myself too.

From now on, when you see this string of beads, you should think of:
You are not alone in the palace.

Sister Mei and I have been good friends since childhood. When Sister Mei is free tomorrow,

We went to her Cun Ju Tang to drink tea together.
You will have one more sister. "

The two of them held hands and went to drink tea and talk affectionately.

Huanbi looked at the empty brocade box in her hand, glanced in the direction where Zhen Changzai and An Da Ying were sitting, and put the empty box away.

Cui Jinxi stood beside Concubine Wan and watched her practicing calligraphy in small characters.

"My lord, your handwriting is really good."

Cui Jinxi praised Concubine Wan's calligraphy while grinding.

Concubine Wan reached out to dip the brush in ink, but the purple wolf-hair brush somehow slipped out of her hand and rolled onto the clean paper.

Even though Cui Jinxi was quick to pick up the brush, she still couldn't avoid leaving deep and shallow marks of ink on the paper where Concubine Wan was writing.

Cui Jinxi quickly put down her brush and looked at Concubine Wan's clothes to see if there was any ink on them. She carefully looked at Concubine Wan's cuffs and collar, and felt relieved. She ordered someone to bring water to clean Concubine Wan's hands.

Lady Wan just frowned when the brush rolled down, and then smiled.

"Forget it. Today is not a good day for practicing calligraphy. Even this brush won't obey."

She dipped her hands, which were stained with a little ink, into a copper basin of water mixed with essential oil for hands and a few petals floating in it.

It looks good and smells pleasant.

Cui Jinxi helped Concubine Wan wash her hands, and then carefully applied hand cream for her. She instructed Luo Yu to put the four treasures of the study in order.

Luo Yu quietly tidied up the desk, but she became more and more dissatisfied with Cui Jinxi.

I was clearly the one serving Concubine Wan first, but why was it that as soon as Cui Jinxi arrived, she began to order me around?

We are all servants of the young master, so who is nobler than who?

One day, I will have to get Cui Jinxi away from the young master.

It seems that the young lady trusts Cui Jinxi more and more, and I really don’t know why.

Concubine Wan was unaware of these little schemes among the servants. She watched Cui Jinxi do everything for her properly, and suddenly felt that Cui Jinxi was like an older sister taking care of her younger sister.

Concubine Wan shook her head and drove this ridiculous idea out of her mind.

Cui Jinxi did not miss this little action of Concubine Wan, and hurriedly leaned over to ask.

"My lady, were you feeling unwell just now? I saw you shook your head."

Concubine Wan's smile was as gentle as water and as bright as a blooming flower. Cui Jinxi was stunned for a moment and couldn't help but say.

"My lady is so beautiful. I have only seen you from afar before, but now that I am serving you personally, I realize that I can never get enough of your beauty."

Concubine Wan laughed even more happily.

"You are too partial to me. There are so many ladies in the palace, and there are countless beautiful ladies.

Everyone said that Concubine Hua's beauty was better than that of all the Manchu, Mongolian and eight banners combined.

I know that my appearance is only pretty, how can I be so beautiful that people can't take their eyes off me?"

Cui Jinxi also said with a smile.

"My lady is right. Concubine Hua is a beautiful lady, plump and elegant, like a graceful peony that makes people yearn for her.

But my lady, your beauty is natural and unadorned, otherwise why would you be in this palace?

Apart from Concubine Hua, you are the one most favored by the Emperor."

Concubine Wan's eyes narrowed as she smiled, but suddenly her expression straightened. Cui Jinxi was wondering why, then she heard Concubine Wan say.

“Although I also like to hear flattery, you must never say it again, especially in front of outsiders.

If this were to reach the ears of the Empress or Concubine Hua, it would be a disaster in vain.

The emperor is the Son of Heaven. Whoever he wants to favor can take advantage of the situation and be proud for a few days.

But you see, those concubines who were once favored but are no longer favored can be bullied by everyone in the palace.

Even the eunuchs who ran errands in the Imperial Household Department would not be respectful to the unfavored lady.

I seem to be favored now, but who knows what will happen in the future.
If that day ever comes, I don’t know how I would cope with it.”

As Concubine Wan spoke, she walked to the desk.

Luo Yu followed her instructions and kept the "Peach Blossom Spring" that she was reciting, instead of throwing it away as waste paper.

On the paper with marks of varying depths left by the brush was a picture of a paradise.

Concubine Wan gently stroked the dried ink on the paper and talked to herself.

"Is there really such a paradise in the world? Men farm and women weave, and the scenery is picturesque.

The old man is kind and the child is innocent. Is this just Mr. Tao's fantasy?

He was called Mr. Wu Liu because he had nothing to express his feelings on ordinary days.

Cui Jinxi said.

"My Lord, are you homesick?"