The Empress Arrives: Rebirth of Concubine Hua

Chapter 463 There Must Be a Hidden Secret
Zhou Ninghai quickly slapped himself twice and said.

"My Lord, please forgive me! I was just being foolish!"

An Changzai took Zhen Changzai's hand and said.

"Well, sister, why do you blame me? It was my younger sister who didn't ask me to pass on the message.
The younger sister thought that this was a place she was used to.
My sister secretly feels that this place is like her home in the palace.
Why do you need a servant to pass on the message when you are going back to your own home?
I didn't expect that it was the younger sister who was so reckless and made the elder sister so angry.

Next time my sister comes, I will ask you to let me know in advance."

At this time, Zhen Changzai was not sure whether An Changzai had heard what the master and servant said, but she could only suppress her temper. She rolled her eyes, took An Changzai's hand affectionately and sat down.

"What are you talking about, sister? I am so happy that my sister treats this place as her own home.

You, me, and sister Mei, the three of us entered the palace together, and we are like real sisters.

Although my place is small, as long as you don't mind, it will be your home in the palace."

An Changzai pulled her hand away, took the half-embroidered embroidery frame from Baojuan and showed it to Zhen Changzai to see the pattern.

In this way, An Changzai and Zhen Changzai embroidered patterns absent-mindedly for a long time, and only returned to their own places at lunch time.

As soon as An Changyi left, Zhen Changzai's face fell. She had just pretended to chat with An Changzai casually, but she couldn't tell anything. An Changzai was still the same as usual, responding enthusiastically to Zhen Changzai's every word and answering every question.

And An Changzai, who had left Zhen Changzai, didn't look much better.

Baojuan looked at An Changzai's expression and spoke cautiously.

"My Lord, please don't be angry. It's not worth getting angry about something like this."

An Chang showed a sneer on his gentle little face.

"It's really not worth it for me to be angry about her. I know that she and Concubine Shen have been close friends since they were young.
I am just a "sister" who showed up halfway, how can it be as close as the friendship we have had since childhood?

But it's not my fault that she's out of favor, so she shouldn't be suspicious of me and look down on me behind my back."

Baojuan bit her lip and said.

"To be honest, you and Zhen Chang have been in the palace together for two years now.

I feel that Concubine Zhen’s temper has changed because she is out of favor.

She wasn't such a mean person before, and she was more or less sincere towards you."

An Changzai picked up the embroidery frame in her hand, looked at it for a while, and suddenly picked up the scissors on the table, slashed the embroidery frame fiercely, and then tore it into pieces.

Baojuan was startled and wanted to stop it but was frightened by An Changzai's eyes.

An Changzai looked at the pile of rags at his feet and said angrily.

"How can she be sincere to me? She just saw that my family background was not as good as hers.

She just gave me some things that she didn't like. Now she sees that I am favored.
And she had never served him in the emperor's bed until now, and her true colors were revealed in a moment of desperation!

I think she and Concubine Shen are not really true sisters!
I now believe what Concubine Hua said. There are no true sisters in the palace.

They are just petty scheming for fame and fortune!"

Baojuan squatted down and picked up the rags bit by bit, saying.

"Don't be upset, young lady. With her personality, she deserves not to be favored.

I heard from the maids at the Queen's place that there are several daughters of the rich in the court.

They are all very pretty and beautiful. Although this year is not the year for talent shows,
But the Empress had already asked the Emperor for his opinion, and was interested in choosing a favorite from among these adults to enter the palace. Once the newcomer entered the palace, she would have nothing to do.

Not to mention the Empress, as the mother of the country, her position is unshakable.

As for Concubine Hua, everyone had witnessed how favored the Emperor was to her, so naturally nothing happened to her.

As for the remaining ladies and mistresses, I will take care of them. As long as they do not deviate from the rules,
Then they would take turns to serve the emperor as before, but they would give more chances to the newcomers.

The only one is Zhen Changzai. She has never served the emperor in bed since she entered the palace. By the time the emperor has a new lover,
Do you think she still has a chance to win the emperor's favor? So just sit tight and watch.

What I heard today is just passing clouds. When you are higher in status than her, won’t you still have the final say? "

An Changzai sighed and pulled up Baojuan, who was squatting on the ground picking up rags.

"Baojuan, even though you were assigned to the Ministry of Internal Affairs after I entered the palace, you are the one who understands my thoughts the best now.

But it is not easy to get promoted. You see, Concubine Xin is pregnant, but the emperor did not promote her.

Besides, Xin Chang usually serves the emperor more often than I do, but it’s just like this.”

Baojuan said.

"My lady, there has never been a rule in the palace to promote concubines when they are pregnant.

How do you know that Chang Xin cannot gain status by relying on her son?
There are only two princes and one princess in the palace now.
If Xin Chang works hard and gives birth to another prince,
The emperor will definitely promote her if this prince works harder.
If she pleases the emperor, it is possible that Concubine Xin will be promoted to concubine.

There is only one concubine, Concubine Duan, in the palace now, and our emperor’s harem is a little empty.

You have been serving the Emperor for quite some time. How about I ask you for a folk remedy to try?"

An Changzai's eyes dimmed and he smiled bitterly.

"I know my body well. If I could get pregnant, I would have been pregnant a long time ago."

Every time An Changzai finished sleeping with the Queen, Ulanara would ask Huichun to bring her a bowl of "tonic" ginseng soup. This was also the customary soup that the Queen Mother would send to all the women in the harem after they finished sleeping with the Queen Mother.

Everyone was just grateful to the Queen Mother for her consideration for the concubines, but only Changzai An knew that a large amount of contraceptive medicine was put into the ginseng soup.

As for the Huanyi incense that the Queen gave to Concubine Duan, which Concubine Duan had been using, An Changzai knew after just a quick sniff that it was mixed with a large amount of musk.

Musk is a powerful weapon that can harm the fetus and the body. Others cannot smell it because the Huan Yi incense is blended with the strong-smelling ambergris as a primer, which suppresses the smell of musk.

But before An Changzai became rich, his father was a spice merchant roaming the streets. An Changzai has been proficient in mixing various spices since he was a child.

So every time An Changzai saw Concubine Duan, she would keep her distance and never get close to her.

Only An Changzai knew that the Queen was far from being as easy-going and kind as she appeared.

But An Changzai would not tell anyone about these things, not even Baojuan, whom she called her "confidant".

An Changzai sat in her room for a long time. She used to think that the discord between Concubine Hua and the Queen was due to a dispute over fame and status.

Now, considering what Concubine Hua said and did, An Changzai felt that there must be something hidden.

It is said that Princess Kangle, born to Concubine Jing, was saved by Concubine Hua. Moreover, Concubine Hua ruled the palace with ruthless methods, but it has never been heard that she murdered anyone.

This time, Concubine Xin caught a cold while she was pregnant. I heard that Concubine Hua asked Lord Xiao Wen to help reduce her fever.

An Chang was thinking that perhaps he should go to Qingliang Palace where Concubine Hua currently lived.

The rain that had been accumulating outside all day began to fall lightly.