The Empress of Zhen Huan Reborn

When An Lingrong heard the emperor suddenly mention her father, she thought her father had caused some disaster again. When she was about to apologize, Shen Meizhuang beside her gently held her hand. After An Lingrong heard what the emperor said, she smiled happily: "My father is incompetent and I hope he won't cause trouble to the emperor. As for me, my mother, I am just a woman in the women's house. The emperor really overpraises me."

The emperor said nonchalantly, "Don't belittle yourself. When I see you being so quiet and well-behaved, I know your mother must be an extraordinary woman."

After dinner, An Lingrong left Chengqian Palace on the pretext of something. The emperor played with the Sixth Prince for a while, then looked at Shen Meizhuang and said, "The Fifth Prince and the Seventh Prince were poisoned a few days ago. I am worried and will go to Yikun Palace to check on them. You should rest early."

Shen Meizhuang was not displeased at all when she heard the emperor's words. She took the emperor's coat from Su Peisheng and put it on the emperor. She said with concern, "Your Majesty, even though the weather is hot, it is still a little chilly in the morning and evening. Don't catch a cold."

The emperor patted Shen Meizhuang's hand, then turned and left Chengqian Palace.

On the way to Yiku Palace, the emperor suddenly heard a graceful sound of a piano coming from not far away, sometimes as thin as a gossamer, sometimes ethereal and vague. The simple and beautiful sound of the piano seemed like the sound of nature, sweeping away the fatigue and irritability in people's hearts.

The emperor suddenly stopped, and a hint of curiosity flashed across his calm eyes. At this moment, the sound of the piano passed by the emperor's ears like a breeze, and the melody gradually became lower, as if it contained endless sorrow and sadness. This sad emotion swept over like a tide, instantly drowning the emperor's heart.

The emperor couldn't help but take a step forward and walk towards the direction where the piano sound came from.

The emperor walked to the corner and saw a woman in plain white sitting in the imperial garden, stroking the strings of a zither. Her expression was focused and gentle, as if she had poured all her emotions into the music. The emperor stood quietly by, listening to this moving melody, and his heart could not help but resonate with it.

When the song was finished, the emperor asked softly, "Why is this song so sad?"

The woman raised her head, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, then she regained her composure and replied, "I just played as I felt like, I didn't intend to express any sorrow or resentment."

The emperor looked at the woman with some surprise in his eyes, but then he thought of what happened a few days ago and asked in a stern tone: "Why are you here?"

When the woman heard what the emperor said, she knelt down and said in a low voice, "I just had nothing to do and couldn't sleep, so I thought of playing a song in the Imperial Garden."

The emperor looked at the woman's pitiful appearance and finally softened his heart. "Do you know that you were wrong for your behavior a few days ago?"

When the woman heard the emperor's tone soften, she raised her head quickly, her big watery eyes full of regret, "I know I was wrong, I hope the emperor will forgive me."

The emperor raised his hand and motioned the woman to get up, "Forget it, don't do this again in the future." The woman thanked him and stood aside with her head down.

After a moment's silence, the emperor spoke again, "It's late at night, you should go back and rest early." After that, he turned and left, leaving the woman standing there alone.

Looking at the emperor's departing back, the woman bit her lip lightly, a complicated look flashed in her eyes. She thought that since the emperor had forgiven her, he would rest in her bedroom today, but the emperor just said a few words and turned away again. A hint of unwillingness flashed in the woman's eyes.

After the emperor walked away, a young palace maid came out from the rockery in the distance, put her coat on the woman, and comforted her softly, "My lady, it's late at night. Let's go back to the palace. Since the emperor has forgiven you, he will summon you to sleep with him soon."

The woman looked at the little palace maid with some disappointment and said, "Yu'er, is it possible for me to regain the emperor's favor?"

When Yu'er heard the woman's words, she quickly spoke to comfort her, "You are the Concubine Chun appointed by the Emperor himself. The Emperor is just annoyed by what you did a few days ago. Don't be discouraged, sooner or later, the Emperor will see the good in you."

Yes, the one who played the piano in the Imperial Garden was Fang Chunyi. During her entire confinement period, the Emperor never visited her again, nor did he send her any supplements to comfort her. After Fang Chunyi finished her confinement period, she learned that Ulanara Yixiu had been executed by the Emperor, so she became more active and kept an eye on the Emperor's movements. Tonight, she came to the Imperial Garden early to wait for the Emperor, trying to regain his favor for her.

But today, seeing that the emperor did not return to the palace with her, she was a little disappointed. But after hearing Yu'er's words and remembering the emperor's indulgence towards her in the past, Fang Chunyi clenched her fists and secretly made up her mind. She must regain the emperor's favor and not let others take away everything that belongs to her. So, she began to dress herself up more attentively, learn various talents, and try to attract the emperor's attention.

Days passed one by one, and before the emperor took his concubines to the Old Summer Palace to escape the summer heat, he held a grand banquet in the palace.

The concubines competed with each other on this day, and all of them dressed up very beautifully. Even Concubine Duan, who used to be plain, wore a plum blossom pattern gauze robe, paired with a floor-length plum blossom skirt. The emperor couldn't help but be a little surprised when he saw it.

"I haven't seen Concubine Duan for a long time. Are you feeling better now?" the emperor asked with a smile.

Concubine Duan looked at the emperor, bowed slightly and said, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am feeling much better now."

The emperor nodded and motioned for the concubines in the audience to sit down.

The banquet was filled with singing and dancing. Fang Chunyi carefully prepared a beautiful dance and performed it for everyone. Her dancing was light and agile, like a fairy descending from the earth, which attracted praises from the guests present.

The emperor also noticed Fang Chunyi's performance, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

After the banquet, the emperor summoned Fang Chunyi to sleep with him. Fang Chunyi was secretly delighted, as she had finally waited for this opportunity.

That night, she tried her best to please the emperor. The emperor was very satisfied with Fang Chunyi's performance, and from then on, he loved Fang Chunyi even more.

As the summer heat was approaching, the emperor set off with his concubines to the Summer Palace in the Mountain Resort.

Before leaving, the Ministry of Internal Affairs presented the prepared list to Nian Shilan.

Nian Shilan looked at Huang Guiquan from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and raised her eyebrows, "What do you mean?"

Huang Guiquan smiled flatteringly and said, "Your Majesty, the list of concubines who are spending the summer in Yuanmingyuan is all here. Please take a look, Your Majesty."