The Empress of Zhen Huan Reborn

The emperor looked at Nian Shilan's girlish attitude and said lovingly, "You are my mother's now. You are pregnant, but you still like to be so petty."

When Nian Shilan heard the emperor mention her unborn child, she gently reached out her hand and stroked her belly, saying to the emperor, "It's a pity that my brother is not in the capital now. Otherwise, if he knew that I was pregnant again, he would be overjoyed and burn incense and pray to Buddha every day, praying that the child in my belly is still a little princess."

The emperor listened to Nian Shilan's words and said something ambiguous: "You are not your brother, how do you know that he wants a niece, not a nephew."

When Nian Shilan heard the emperor's words, her heart skipped a beat, but she tried to regain her composure on the surface, as if she had not heard the deep meaning in the emperor's words. She smiled and said, "Your Majesty doesn't understand my brother at all. My brother loves the princess the most. Your Majesty doesn't know that when Nian Fu and Nian Xing were just born, my brother knew that his daughter's dream was shattered, and he was drunk for several days."

The emperor said "Oh?" with interest, and then said casually: "If your brother likes daughters, why not have another one with your sister-in-law?"

Nian Shilan thought of something and shook her head sadly, saying, "Brother will not have any more children."

The emperor was very puzzled when he heard what Nian Shilan said, "How come your brother will not have any more children? Your eldest brother-in-law is now in his prime."

Nian Shilan smiled bitterly, "It's all fate. My brother felt sorry for me because I was alone in the capital. I had to take care of the Nian Mansion and take care of those two naughty boys Nian Fu and Nian Xing, so he didn't let me have another child. But then my brother was injured on the battlefield. When my sister-in-law was chatting with me, I learned that my brother's injury was quite serious and there was no hope for him to have children in the future."

Nian Shilan had never mentioned these things to the emperor before. Nian Gengyao and Nian Shilan had always been very strong-willed in front of the emperor. They had never bothered to speak about these things. If they complained in front of the emperor or others about the difficulties and dangers they had experienced on the battlefield, they always felt that it would be a disgrace to their family of military generals.

But now Nian Shilan doesn't think so. If the emperor doesn't know what the Nian family lost while making contributions on the battlefield, how can the emperor feel guilty? If the emperor doesn't have the slightest guilt towards the Nian family, then the emperor will surely be endlessly calculating and wary of the Nian family.

The emperor was indeed shocked when he heard what Nian Shilan said. He had never known these things. All he knew was that Nian Gengyao had suffered some hidden illnesses from fighting on the battlefield before, but Nian Gengyao never said anything and the emperor did not insist on inquiring about it. Now that he heard Nian Shilan say that Nian Gengyao would have no hope of having children in the future, the emperor could not calm down for a long time.

Nian Shilan knew that she couldn't mention it again after she said it, lest the emperor become suspicious, so she pretended to be sleepy and yawned again.

The emperor tightened his arms around Nian Shilan again, then said softly, "It's getting late. If you're sleepy, go to bed early."

After Nian Shilan fell asleep, the emperor tossed and turned on the couch, thinking back to what Nian Shilan had just said, "My brother was injured on the battlefield, and there is no hope for him to have an heir in the future."

The emperor was thinking about such a big thing, why didn't Nian Gengyao mention it to him? If he wanted to take credit for it, let alone the honor of the noble family, he could even be made a prince.

In ancient times, people still valued having many children and being blessed. Nian Gengyao only had two sons, which was disadvantageous to the Nian family in many ways. If these two sons could really have a promising future, it would be fine. But if they were just playboys who only knew how to eat, drink and have fun, then the Nian family would decline and fall without the emperor having to make any plans.

The next day, when it was time for the emperor to attend court, the emperor got up early and left his bedroom in Changle Palace without waiting for Su Peisheng to come in and call him.

Su Peisheng was a little surprised when he saw this and asked, "Your Majesty, why are you up so early?"

The emperor looked at Su Peisheng and said, "Go and find out who murdered Concubine Xi's personal maid Liu Zhu and Concubine Duan's personal maid Jixiang."

After receiving the order, Su Peisheng accompanied the emperor to the Yangxin Palace for court.

(Su Peisheng: It’s me again. It’s been a few days since this happened. How can I investigate? Your wives are fighting each other, and finally it’s me who is at stake?

Emperor: Concubine Su, I see that you have been too idle recently, and you dare to talk back to me.

After the emperor went to court, Su Peisheng immediately arranged for his men to split into two groups to investigate the matter of Liu Zhu and Jixiang.

At Suiyuxuan, when Zhen Huan took Huanbi to pay respects to Nian Shilan, Liuzhu was finally succumbed to the poison of the Seven-Star Begonia and died. When she was dying, it was just as Wen Shichu and Yun'er said, with a smile on her lips, as if she was having a beautiful dream.

When Zhen Huan brought Huanbi back to Sui Yuxuan, she learned the bad news about Liu Zhu. Zhen Huan could not bear the blow and fainted.

Huanbi quickly supported Zhen Huan and said to Xiao Yunzi in panic, "Hurry up and help the queen back to the palace."

When Huanbi and Xiao Yunzi dragged Zhen Huan to the palace gate, Zhen Huan suddenly woke up and said, "I want to see Liu Zhu. I don't believe it! It's impossible!"

Xiao Yunzi also comforted with tears in her eyes: "Your Majesty, please accept my condolences. I have just consulted Doctor Wen, but Miss Liuzhu is gone."

Zhen Huan couldn't accept this news and stumbled towards Liu Zhu's room. Xiao Yunzi and Huanbi had no choice but to follow Zhen Huan.

When Zhen Huan entered the room, she saw Liu Zhu lying motionless on the bed. Zhen Huan burst into tears and shouted at the top of her lungs, "Liu Zhu, wake up, Liu Zhu, get up."

No matter how Zhen Huan called out to Liu Zhu, there was still no sign of Liu Zhu waking up. Zhen Huan was heartbroken and reached out her hand to feel Liu Zhu's breath. In that instant, Zhen Huan fell to the ground and Liu Zhu was really gone.

Zhen Huan roared without caring about her image, like a wounded animal, and the sound made people feel very sad.

Huanbi was standing aside and crying. Since childhood, Huanbi and Liuzhu had grown up together with Zhen Huan, and had taken care of and served Zhen Huan together.

Thinking back to when the three of them had just entered the palace, Liu Zhu was always chattering away, and everything was so beautiful at that time. But now, after only a few years in the palace, they are now separated from Liu Zhu.

Zhen Huan and Huanbi remained silent for a long time. They stayed by Liu Zhu's side and couldn't stop crying.

According to the palace rules, when a palace maid dies, the Empress must be informed.

So after Xiao Yunzi passed on the message, Nian Shilan could no longer sit still and stood up to walk towards Suiyuxuan.