sjar Chapter 121 Tea
Chapter 121 Tea
"Sister Wanpin, I'll let you deliver this milk and water chestnut flour cake to Zhongcui Palace."
In front of Zhen Huan, Concubine Ke straightened the crooked cakes in the food box one by one and made a malicious announcement.
"Kepin, Concubine Chun is ill. If you have anything to say, come to me!"
Zhen Huan looked at her angrily.
"Sisters truly love each other deeply! I'm so envious and will definitely make Sister Wanpin's wish come true."
Concubine Ke patted her face with a smile.
"I have something to do at Zhongcui Palace. You two should stay here and serve Concubine Wan well so that she can repent."
"Yes, Madam, I will serve Madam Wan well."
Concubine Ke walked away with her people in a swagger.
Ever since the big mess at the palace banquet, the Imperial Garden has become a deserted place.
The rockery she chose is even more hidden.
Even if Zhen Huan reported it to the Empress, she would deny it to death.
The dragon fetus in her belly is her best amulet.
Zhen Huan, who was kneeling on the ground, had obviously thought of this as well, and she drooped her eyelids weakly.
Aunt Jinxi once said that it was common for low-ranking concubines in the late emperor's harem to curse at each other, and no one was willing to intervene to stop them.
She could only swallow the grievance with tears.
Not far away, Concubine Ke opened the food box and made a "gurgle" sound, as if she was hungry.
"You! Come here! Deliver this food box to Zhongcui Palace, and don't let anyone remember your face."
She called on an unfamiliar palace maid to give her instructions.
His hands didn't stop moving, and he poke the milk and water chestnut flour cake that was not meant for him into pieces.
When Xiangyun from Zhongcui Palace heard that Suiyuxuan had delivered some pastries, she sent them into the inner room without checking them.
"My lady, Concubine Wan has sent you some delicious milk and water chestnut flour cakes. Would you like some?"
Fang Jiachun waved his hand weakly.
"Xiangyun, I have no appetite. You can take it and share it."
Xiangyun advised with some disapproval.
"My lady, this was sent here by Concubine Wan. If anyone knew about it, it would affect the friendship between you two."
Fang Jiachun, who had a splitting headache, didn't want to say anything more and simply covered her head with the quilt to express her refusal.
It's as if a tightly wrapped blanket can keep out cold, slippery snakes.
Xiangyun sighed silently.
Ever since the young lady woke up, she has never smiled again and has been cold and indifferent to people.
Xiangyun didn't want to let Concubine Wan down, so she placed the food box on the long table in the inner room.
I'll take it out when the young master is hungry.
Xiangyun, who was busy outside, did not notice a faint "squeaking" sound coming from the shadow of the long table in the inner room.
The sun sets, the moon rises, and night falls. Screams of collapse are heard in the main hall of Zhongcui Palace.
Half an hour later, Xiangyun, full of regret, threw the food box into the kitchen with a dark face.
The lights in Chuxiu Palace were on until dawn, and the same was true in Suiyuxuan over there.
After Zhen Huan and Bai Zhi, the master and servant, supported each other back to Sui Yuxuan, Zhen Huan, who had been practicing a few calligraphy pieces in the study to calm her mind, developed a high fever in the first half of the night.
Cui Jinxi and Liu Zhu were busy taking care of their master. Bai Zhi endured the discomfort and went to the Imperial Hospital to grab an old doctor on duty.
Everyone waited until dawn, and Zhen Huan's high fever finally subsided.
"Aunt Jinxi, please ask for leave from Jingren Palace on my behalf."
Zhen Huan struggled to get up.
Cui Jinxi put a pillow behind her back and asked with concern.
"Master, would you like some porridge? Bai Zhi has warmed up a large pot in the small kitchen."
Zhen Huan shook her head blankly and calmly told what happened in the Imperial Garden yesterday.
"Aunt Jinxi, what did I do wrong?"
"Your Majesty, you did nothing wrong. It's just that you are in the harem, without favor and without children, which is a mistake."
"Thank you, Auntie. I'd like some plain porridge. Could you please bring me a bowl?"
Zhen Huan shook off her previous dejection and gave orders in a stern voice.
After breakfast, Liu Zhu brought back the news that Concubine Chun of Zhongcui Palace was attacked by snakes and rats.
"Master, Miss Xiangyun of Zhongcui Palace has spread the word. Concubine Chun has been frightened and needs to rest. She will not be receiving guests for the time being."
"I know."
Zhen Huan took another serious swipe at Concubine Ke.
"Aunt Jinxi, Sister Mei likes to eat yam cake with jujube paste. Please send one over in person."
"And remember to tell Sister Tongmei that I'll go see her when I feel better."
When Shen Meizhuang heard that Zhen Huan had a high fever, she insisted on coming to Sui Yuxuan despite Cai Xing's dissuasion.
"Huan'er, have you become estranged from your sister? Why didn't you send anyone to Chuxiu Palace to inform me when you had a high fever?"
As soon as she came in, she placed her hand on Zhen Huan's forehead.
"Have you summoned the imperial physician?"
"Have you taken the fever-reducing medicine?"
"How do you feel now?"
Zhen Huan chuckled, "Sister Mei, you asked so many questions, which one should I answer?"
When Shen Meizhuang saw that her forehead was not so hot, she sat down on the edge of the bed with relief and tapped her forehead.
"Huan'er, you're driving me crazy. How can you still be in the mood to joke?"
"Don't worry, Sister Mei. Huan'er has already seen the imperial physician and taken the medicine."
"Everything is fine now that I see my sister."
"Sister is really my medicine."
Zhen Huan said half-truthfully.
Shen Meizhuang held her hand back and advised her with concern.
"Huan'er, you don't have to force yourself to smile and make your sister happy."
"Sister, Huan'er, I..."
Before Zhen Huan could finish her words, tears started streaming down her face.
Shen Meizhuang hurriedly pulled out her handkerchief and whispered comforting words.
"Huan'er, I know you've been wronged and are angry with the Emperor."
"But sister also knows that you can't bear to leave the emperor."
"Don't worry, I will definitely help you intercede with the Emperor."
Zhen Huan shook her head. "Sister, I don't want to think about anything else right now. I just want to spend more time with you."
"Okay, from now on, sister will come to Suiyuxuan to accompany you every day."
"Sister Mei, you're pregnant, how can I ask you to come all the way here? I'll go to Chuxiu Palace to find you."
Shen Meizhuang couldn't persuade her, so she agreed to pay her respects every day, and the two of them returned to Chuxiu Palace together.
From that day on, Concubine Wan and Concubine Hui spent almost every day together.
As usual, the emperor came to the harem to visit the pregnant concubines. As soon as he stepped into the gate of Chuxiu Palace, he heard a soft and delicate voice.
"Zhao, Qian, Sun, Li, Zhou, Wu, Zheng, Wang, Feng, Chen, Chu, Wei... Yu, Ren, Yuan, Liu, Feng, Bao, Shi, Tang."
"Huan'er, thank you so much for reading to the young prince. I asked someone to make your favorite lotus root starch and osmanthus sugar cake. Come and take a rest."
Shen Meizhuang placed the plate on the low table next to Zhen Huan.
Zhen Huan, turning sideways, saw a flash of bright yellow clothing outside the palace, and she smiled and refused as if nothing had happened.
"Sister Mei, I've only just read it once. Mr. Liu used to say, 'Read a book a hundred times and its meaning will become clear.' I'm not saying I'll read it a hundred times, but I'll definitely read it three times."
"Okay, okay! Huan'er, you've always had your own set of beliefs since you were little. I'll wait for you to finish reading."
Being with Huan'er every day recently reminded Shen Meizhuang of the happy times when she lived in her grandparents' house.
When Zhen Huan finished reading it for the third time, Shen Meizhuang gave her another cup of tea.
"Would I be so lucky as to have a cup of tea?"
A mellow male voice came from outside the door.