If An Lingrong was reborn before the draft

"You go and copy it. I'm going to take a nap. Songzhi, it's too bright in the palace. Go and turn off two more lights." Concubine Hua said expressionlessly.

When Shen Meizhuang heard that Concubine Hua was going to extinguish two more lights, she knew that she was finished. This was not just a superficial effort, but a deliberate punishment. She only thought that this was Concubine Hua's method, and she didn't know that this was just an appetizer, and the main event was yet to come.

Helpless, Shen Meizhuang could only walk behind the table and pick up the pen to copy again. After copying this time, her arms were so tired that she could hardly lift them. She walked to the beaded curtain and bowed. Songzhi was massaging the legs of Concubine Hua who closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep. She did not dare to call Songzhi out loud, for fear that Concubine Hua would punish her for not knowing etiquette again, so she could only be so formal.

It wasn't until Concubine Hua saw that it was almost time that she opened her eyes and saw her, and asked, "Have you finished copying?"

"I know my handwriting is not good, so I copied it twice. Please take a look, Your Majesty." Shen Meizhuang said respectfully.

Concubine Hua looked at her for a long time. She could tell that Shen Meiyu was very tired. The respect in her tone also revealed a hint of desperateness. "It's getting late. You should go back first. I will tell you after I finish reading it." Song Zhi then turned around and took the page of the book from Shen Meiyu's hand.

"Yes, I'll take my leave." Shen Meizhuang was a little surprised when she heard this. She thought Concubine Hua would punish or humiliate her.

After leaving the Yikun Palace, Caiyue could not help but complain, "Empress Hua is clearly making things difficult for the young lady. There are so many words in the Analects of Confucius, and she deliberately turned the lights so dim. It's not enough for her to finish writing it once, she has to copy it twice. The young lady's eyes are red from staying up all night." Caiyue is a biological child of the Shen family and has always been with Meizhuang. Seeing Meizhuang being bullied like this, she felt distressed.

"What can I do? She is Concubine Hua, what can I do to her?" Shen Meizhuang was also in pain, beating her arm as she walked. Caiyue also helped her massage her arm.

"Can't the young lady tell the emperor?" Caiyue felt that with the emperor's love for his young lady, he would definitely not let her be bullied like this.

"She asked me to copy the Analects of Women to teach etiquette and set an example for the six palaces. Even if the emperor is helping me, he will not do anything to Concubine Hua. What's more, General Nian, Concubine Hua's family, has made great military achievements. The emperor will not do anything to Concubine Hua for General Nian's sake. Since it will be fruitless, there is no need to waste time and make people laugh at her." Shen Meizhuang saw clearly that Concubine Hua had the capital to be domineering.

"Alas, I also feel sorry for the young lady," Caiyue knew that what Shen Meizhuang said was true, but she still felt sorry for the young lady.

"Okay, I'm not sleepy anymore. Hey, this place is close to the Thousand Carp Pond, please accompany me for a walk. I heard that the emperor added lights there, and the red fish are most beautiful at night." Shen Meizhuang took Caiyue to the Thousand Carp Pond.

Lingrong didn't want to step forward now, but she remembered that in her previous life, Shen Meiyu almost lost her life because of this matter. After hesitating for a long time, she went to the Yangxin Palace in the afternoon to deliver soup to the emperor. This was the first time she took the initiative to find the emperor after Zhen Huan became favored. The emperor also thought that it was Lingrong who was competing for favor and was very pleased. Naturally, he let Lingrong stay in the Yangxin Palace at night.

"There's not much fish food left, Xiao Shi, go get some more." Shen Meizhuang was no longer sleepy so she fed the fish with great interest.

Just when the two were enjoying watching the fish, Songzhi came over with a lantern. She coughed and said, "So the young lady is here. It's easy for me to find her."

"Aunt, why are you out so late at night? Does the Empress have any instructions?" Shen Meizhuang asked.

"The Queen said that Huizhou had some good ink as tribute, and she wanted to give it to you, but you left so quickly," Songzhi replied. She came here following the steps of Xiao Shi, and now it was just the right time to pick up the moon.

When Shen Meizhuang heard this, she ordered, "Then let Caiyue go with aunt," and then she took the fish food from Caiyue's hand and fed the fish.

"Young master, are you here alone?" Caiyue asked in confusion.

"It's okay, just go and come back soon." Shen Meizhuang replied without much concern.