The Empress Arrives: Rebirth of Concubine Hua

Yinzhen felt warmed in his heart. His own mother had ignored his reputation as an emperor and insisted on doing such a thing.

Instead, it was the Empress Dowager, who had never had any children, who could see through his thoughts.

Yinzhen did not grow up under the care of Empress Dowager De and was not close to her.

Moreover, when the previous emperor was alive, even the Fourteenth Prince, who was just a little kid at the time, could say things like "stay away from my mother", which made Yinzhen feel resentful.

The Empress Dowager was very kind to Yinzhen when he was still the fourth prince.

Isn’t this better than your own mother?

Yinzhen stood up, walked to the Empress Dowager, lifted his clothes, and knelt on one knee.

"I will carefully consider what the Empress Dowager said. Since the Empress Dowager is tired,

My son will send someone to take you back to rest."

The concubines who had just sat back down hurriedly followed the emperor and knelt down again.

The Empress Dowager sighed as she looked at the dark masses of heads in the hall.

She stretched out her hands to support Yinzhen and said.

"Emperor, you are the emperor of the Qing Dynasty, and I am not your biological mother.

You don't have to kneel down. Get up! My daughter is weak.

Tell them to get up, too."

Yinzhen knelt without moving and just said.

"My son is the emperor, but you are also his mother.

Filial piety is the most important of all virtues. As a ruler, I should set an example for all the people in the world.

Your Majesty is tired today, please go back to the palace and rest first."

The Queen Mother sighed, stood up and said.

"After the midnight hour, all the past events of the past year should be over.

I wish the emperor a peaceful and prosperous era!"

Yinzhen said respectfully.

"I will definitely live up to the Empress's wishes! Farewell, Empress~"

The Empress Dowager then slowly returned to her Cining Palace.

Yinzhen knelt until the Empress Dowager left the hall, then he stood up, relaxed his body, and spoke to the people who were still kneeling in the hall.

"Everyone, get up. Tonight is a night banquet, and I think you are all like me.
I am no longer in the mood to stay up all night, so let's go back to our respective palaces.

When we get up early tomorrow, it will be a new year again."

Everyone received the treasures bestowed by Yinzhen according to their own status, thanked him one by one and left.

But Zhen Changzai quietly turned around to look at Yinzhen who was still sitting at the top. His expression was unfathomable at this moment.

Yinzhen felt a pair of eyes looking at him, so he followed that gaze.

Zhen Chang turned around in panic, pretending nothing had happened.

Concubine Shen was waiting outside the palace, but Concubine Zhen did not come out for a long time.

After waiting for a long time for Zhen Changzai, Shen Guiren suddenly appeared in front of Zhen Changzai and said angrily.

"What are you looking at, Huan'er? You look so serious! You don't even know I'm standing here waiting for you!"

Zhen Changzai came back to her senses and waited for Liu Zhu to put on the cloak for her and tie the ribbon into a beautiful pattern.

Zhen Changzai looked at Shen Guiren with a smile.

"Why don't you go back, sister?"

Concubine Shen looked at Concubine Zhen with a reproachful and resentful look.

"I said you were worried, and you really were worried.

Tell me the truth, what are you thinking about so intently?

I am waiting here specifically to walk back with you.

I want to talk to you."

Zhen Changzai put her hands in the hand warmer and walked forward while speaking.

"Since my sister is waiting for me, let's go quickly.

By the way, where is my sister's hand warmer?"

Concubine Shen also walked forward with Concubine Zhen and said with a smile.

"I was surprised when you mentioned my hand warming.

Do you remember that when we were little, I was the most afraid of the cold. I always didn't like to move in winter, but you were naughty.
I always like to crunch the snow into balls and stuff them into my clothes.

I was so angry at that time!
But now it is strange, it has snowed in the past few days,
I should feel colder.

But I always feel like I'm burning inside, so I like to wear cooler clothes.

Look, isn't my dress much thinner than yours?"

Zhen Changzai looked in the direction Concubine Shen said, and saw that Concubine Shen was only wearing a not-too-thick padded jacket over her cotton clothes.

"Sister, why is this happening? You don't even want a cloak, aren't you afraid of catching a cold?
My sister is willful and doesn't want to wear warm clothes. Could it be that the servants around her are also useless?

If he gets sick from the cold, the emperor will be very sad!"

Concubine Shen covered her mouth and chuckled.

"You, if I hadn't reminded you, you wouldn't have noticed.

So, what are you thinking about today? You always seem absent-minded.

By the way, at that time I saw Lingrong seemed to be waiting for you,

But for some reason, she wandered around twice and then left.

These days I have been busy helping Concubine Hua arrange the palace banquet.

I didn't even have the chance to ask you, what happened between you and Lingrong?
You usually go to pay respects to the Queen Mother, but I see that you two don't go together?"

When Zhen Changzai saw that Concubine Shen had finally asked this question, she suppressed her emotions and smiled as usual.

"If someone asks me, I may not tell them, but you are my sister.
I will tell you everything I know, and I will tell you everything I know!"

Concubine Shen stretched out her hand and pointed a finger at the forehead of Concubine Zhen, who was walking side by side with her.

"Stop talking so much! You are a concubine from a noble family,
Where did you learn such smooth talk?

You should be careful. If you are favored by the emperor someday,
Don't be so reckless and speak without restraint anymore!"

Zhen Chang curled his lips indifferently, stuck out his tongue, and said in a low voice.

"Sister, your words are so scary~ I am so scared~"

Concubine Shen said helplessly.

"It's New Year's Day, and you don't mind being so shy. Why do you keep saying these depressing things?"

Zhen Changzai sighed and said.

"When I left my sister that day, I blamed myself all the time.

I shouldn't have been angry with my sister. I thought, my sister doesn't want me anymore."

Concubine Shen said helplessly.

"What are you thinking? We are as close as sisters, how could I really be angry with you?
But I also have to say a few words to you. You are getting more and more irritable now. You can't be talked to or touched.

If this continues, it's not a good sign.

Look at Lingrong. I'm going to say something you don't like to hear. She looks a little timid.
In fact, it is very stable. You should also learn it well.

This will prevent you from getting worse and worse in the future and getting into trouble someday!"

Zhen Changzai nonchalantly came close to Shen Guiren and warmed her arm with her warm hands.

"I have my sister to take care of me, so what can I suffer?
I am not favored, and I will not quarrel with others.

Even if someone wants to find trouble with me, they have to be able to do so.

Sister, am I right?"

Concubine Shen looked at the sly smile on Zhen Chang's delicate little face, shook her head and said.

"Yes, yes, you are right. But you haven't told me yet.

What is going on between you and Lingrong?"

Zhen Changzai avoided answering and instead asked Concubine Shen.

"Sister, you have been feeling hot these days, have you asked the imperial physician to check it out?
If nothing happens, that would be the best.

If there is something wrong with your body, you should treat it as soon as possible."

Shen Guiren said.

"Well, I'm busy following Concubine Hua all day long, so how can I have time to see the imperial physician?
Now in the first month of the year, women cannot do needlework or practice medicine.

After the New Year, I will ask the imperial physician to come and take a good look at me.

I secretly thought that maybe I was too tired these days."

Zhen Changzai curled her lips, found another topic, and chatted with Shen Guiren in a casual manner, heading back to the palace. (End of this chapter)