The Empress of Zhen Huan Reborn

The emperor and Nian Shilan chatted for a while and then returned to Changle Palace together. That night, the emperor naturally stayed in Nian Shilan's bedroom. At night, Nian Shilan quietly got off the bed while the emperor was sleeping and came to the window. She looked at the bright moon outside the window, with a lot of thoughts in her mind.

"Empress, it's so late, why aren't you asleep yet?" Song Zhi heard the noise in the bedroom, and quietly came in. She saw Nian Shilan sitting in front of the window, staring out in a daze, so she walked up to her and asked in a low voice.

Nian Shilan looked back at Songzhi and said calmly, "I can't sleep, you go down first."

Songzhi glanced at the emperor who was still sleeping on the couch, and left. Nian Shilan stood alone in front of the window with cold eyes. She knew that the death of the queen mother was just the beginning, and the problems she would face next would only become more difficult. But she was not afraid, because she was no longer the fool who only wanted the emperor's love in her previous life. Nian Shilan now knew very well that what she wanted in this life was power, and she wanted to climb to the pinnacle of power step by step. Only in this way could she protect everything she cared about.

After enjoying the breeze for a while and her thoughts became much clearer, Nian Shilan carefully returned to the couch again and fell asleep with her back to the emperor.

In the middle of the night, Nian Shilan suddenly had a nightmare. In the dream, the emperor believed the slander and executed the entire Nian family.

Nian Shilan twisted her body uneasily, murmuring: "No...no..."

The emperor was awakened by Nian Shilan's voice. He turned around and saw Nian Shilan sleeping very uneasily, with cold sweat all over her head, and she kept muttering: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty... Don't..."

The emperor didn't know what Nian Shilan was dreaming about, but seeing that Nian Shilan was so uneasy, he had to gently wake her up, saying, "Shilan, it's okay, Shilan, it was all a dream."

The moment Nian Shilan was awakened by the emperor, her eyes were somewhat empty, and for a moment she could not tell whether it was reality or still in a dream.

The emperor looked at Nian Shilan and said gently, "Lan'er, what's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?"

When Nian Shilan saw the emperor and thought of the dream just now, she threw herself into the emperor's arms without hesitation and said in a wronged voice: "Your Majesty, I had a dream. In the dream, the emperor no longer wanted me."

The emperor touched Nian Shilan's hair with amusement when he heard this, and coaxed her gently: "Silly girl, I am right beside you, I will not abandon you."

Nian Shilan continued aggrievedly, "The dream just now was too real. I dreamed that the emperor was tired of me. I was pregnant, but the emperor didn't want to see me again. Not only did he banish me to the cold palace, he also ordered my brother and his family to be executed. I was really scared and worried."

When the emperor heard what Nian Shilan said, he paused, then continued, "Lan'er, don't worry, you are now my queen and the mother of the Qing Dynasty. As long as you don't do anything crazy and vicious, I promise I will never abandon you."

When Nian Shilan heard the emperor's words, she raised her head, looked at him with red eyes like a little rabbit, and asked with uncertainty in her tone: "Is your Majesty serious? Does your Majesty like me?"

The emperor looked at Nian Shilan and couldn't help but say, "I like you, you are my wife."

Upon hearing this, Nian Shilan leaned contentedly on the emperor's chest again, without saying another word.

The atmosphere in the palace was quiet for a while before the emperor spoke: "It's getting late, Shilan, I will accompany you, go to bed early."

Nian Shilan nodded, and fell asleep in the emperor's arms after a while. But the emperor couldn't fall asleep for a long time. He thought of what Nian Shilan had just said to him, and couldn't help wondering if Nian Shilan knew something.

The emperor tossed and turned, and for the next few hours he was still thinking, and before he knew it it was time to go to court.

Su Peisheng entered the bedroom cautiously, wanting to wake up the emperor, but as soon as he entered the room, he saw the emperor leaning on the couch without pajamas.

Su Peisheng was startled for a moment, then reminded quietly: "Your Majesty, it's time to go to court."

The emperor was interrupted from his thoughts by Su Peisheng's sudden words. He lowered his eyes to glance at Nian Shilan who was still sleeping soundly. The emperor got up from the bed, allowed Su Peisheng to change into court clothes for him, and left Changle Palace with heavy steps.

After the emperor left Changle Palace, Nian Shilan opened her eyes and looked in the direction the emperor left, seeming thoughtful.

After the Emperor left Changle Palace, he looked at Su Peisheng and asked, "Has anyone been gossiping about the Queen recently?"

After Su Peisheng heard the emperor's question, he thought about it for a moment, then shook his head affirmatively and said, "In reply to your Majesty, there has been no close contact between the concubines and the Empress in private in recent times."

The emperor thought for a moment and then said, "Yesterday, the Queen and I went to the Queen Mother's palace. Was there anything unusual after the Queen came out?"

Su Peisheng thought for a moment and replied, "Your Majesty, the Empress heard your conversation with the Empress Dowager behind the screen in Shoukang Palace yesterday."

The emperor's face froze when he heard this, and he asked anxiously, "What did the queen hear?"

Su Peisheng naturally noticed that the emperor looked unhappy, and said carefully: "The Queen heard about the Queen's previous pregnancy and Huan Yixiang's matter."

When the emperor heard Su Peisheng's words, he became even more panicked and asked, "What was the queen's expression at that time? Did she say anything?"

Su Peisheng thought about what Nian Shilan had said to him yesterday, and relayed it to the emperor in detail, "The Empress's expression did not change at all, as if she did not believe the Queen Mother's words. Before Your Majesty came out, the Empress said to me with disdain that the Queen Mother was a liar. If the Emperor really tampered with the Huan Yi Xiang, how could the Empress be pregnant with Princess Yaoguang?"

When the emperor heard Su Peisheng mention Princess Yaoguang, he felt a little relieved. Yes, no matter what, Shilan now has her own children, and she may not believe what the empress dowager said.

Although the emperor comforted himself in his heart, he still did not dare to relax, and ordered Su Peisheng: "Send someone to keep a close eye on the queen in the near future to see if she has any abnormalities."

Su Peisheng responded, and the emperor said nothing more.

(Su Peisheng: Oh, now I know I’m panicking and scared. What was I thinking about before? (￣_,￣ ))

After the emperor left the court, he summoned Zhang Tingyu to the Qinzheng Palace and said, "I heard today that Nian Gengyao and his men have successfully transported the grain and grass to the border area."

Zhang Tingyu cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, this is indeed the case."