The Empress of Zhen Huan Reborn

After Zhang Tingyu entered the palace, he bowed and reported to the emperor, "Your Majesty, I have sent people to closely monitor the situation over the past few days and found that Nian Gengyao was indeed distributing porridge to the victims in your name."

When the emperor heard Zhang Tingyu's words, he was surprised for a moment, "Really?" Then he was delighted.

Zhang Tingyu bowed and said, "It is true."

Then he assured the emperor again: "When I passed by the gate of the Forbidden City just now, I saw many refugees kneeling outside the palace gate. I went to ask them and they said they came to thank the emperor for his grace."

After hearing this, the emperor slapped the table excitedly, with a smile on his face: "Great, this Nian Gengyao really didn't disappoint me!"

Zhang Tingyu saw that the emperor was happy. Although he didn't understand why Nian Gengyao did this, he still said truthfully: "I also asked someone to wait in front of his house to investigate. Recently, apart from attending court and distributing porridge, Nian Gengyao has been staying in his house with his wife and children. He has not made private friends with the ministers in the palace, and his house is usually closed to visitors."

The emperor was very happy when he heard it.

Seeing that his report was complete and the emperor had no other instructions, Zhang Tingyu bowed and withdrew, leaving the emperor alone sitting at the table in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, thinking carefully.

The emperor recovered from his joy and began to become suspicious again, wondering whether Nian Gengyao had some other purpose in doing this.

But what puzzled the emperor was that if Nian Gengyao really had other purposes, it should be done in his own name.

Now he was using the emperor's name, which was obviously to gain a good reputation for the emperor! Moreover, Nian Gengyao no longer interacted with court officials in private.

The emperor couldn't figure it out, so he decided to spend some more time and observe Nian Gengyao's performance.

Thinking of Nian Shilan's proposal just now, he went to Shoukang Palace and prepared to discuss it with the Queen Mother.

When the emperor came out of Shoukang Palace, he informed the six palaces that the empress dowager was so heartbroken that she was bedridden because she was reluctant to let Princess Chaogui marry far away in Junggar. It was almost the end of the year, so it was decided that Princess Chaogui would marry after the empress dowager recovered.

After the Emperor left the Empress Dowager's palace, she ordered Zhu Xi to bring Nian Shilan over.

Nian Shilan saw Aunt Zhuxi waiting for her in the palace with her head bowed, and sighed inwardly, saying, "Please report back, Aunt. I will wash up and go to Shoukang Palace to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager."

Zhu Xi took the order and retreated, returning to Shoukang Palace first.

Nian Shilan changed into a plain dress, put on a little makeup, and wore only an ordinary hairpin on her head. She was supported by Songzhi and left the palace. She got on the sedan chair and walked towards the Empress Dowager's Shoukang Palace.

After entering Shoukang Palace, Concubine Hua unhurriedly bowed to the Queen Mother and said: "Your Highness, I pay my respects to you, Queen Mother."

The Queen Mother glanced at Nian Shilan, with no expression of joy or anger on her face, and said, "Get up." Then she ordered Zhu Xi to give Nian Shilan a seat.

Nian Shilan glanced at the Queen Mother, sat down obediently, and waited for the Queen Mother to ask questions. When the Queen Mother called her here this time, Nian Shilan knew why, so she was not panicked at all.

The Queen Mother looked at Concubine Hua and said with a faint smile, "I heard that Princess Chaogui will marry Jungar next year. Was it your suggestion?"

After hearing this, Concubine Hua said calmly, "Reporting to the Queen Mother, I dare not lie to her. It was indeed I who brought up this matter."

When the Queen Mother heard Concubine Hua's answer, she said in a slightly serious tone, "Do you know that the harem is not allowed to interfere in government affairs?"

When Concubine Hua heard the Queen Mother's words, she raised her head in surprise and knelt down quickly: "Queen Mother, I don't understand what you mean? Isn't it a trivial matter for the harem to prepare the dowry for the princess's marriage? How can it be related to the previous dynasty?"

The Queen Mother looked at Concubine Hua's puzzled expression and wondered if she had misunderstood. So she asked directly, "Did you ask the Emperor to let your brother lead the army to recapture Junggar?"

When Concubine Hua heard what the Queen Mother said, she was even more surprised and asked in confusion: "Why do we have to go to war? Besides, my brother's old illness has not yet healed, so he is not suitable for going to war."

When the Queen Mother heard what Concubine Hua said, she felt relieved. "Are you telling the truth?"

Concubine Hua said quickly, "The Queen Mother is wise. I dare not lie to her and deceive her."

When the Queen Mother heard what Concubine Hua said, a smile appeared on her face. "You should get up. Don't blame me for being harsh. I am really afraid that if there is a witch concubine in the harem, it will cause chaos in the government."

After hearing this, Concubine Hua remained expressionless, nodded and said, "The Queen Mother is right."

The Queen Mother actually had some doubts in her mind. According to the reports from her spies in the palace, Nian Shilan and Chao Gui were not familiar with each other. She didn't know why Nian Shilan would delay the wedding date for Chao Gui.

Nian Shilan also understood the Queen Mother's doubts about her, so she spoke first: "Don't blame me for being nosy, Queen Mother. As a woman, I am blessed to have the opportunity to serve the Emperor, so I know how precious this mutual affection is. I understand that Chao Gui is marrying far away, so I want to do my best to find a suitable husband for Chao Gui."

Nian Shilan sighed again when she said this, "I am not in good health and have never had the blessing of giving birth. Princess Wen Yi has grown up under my care. I feel sad when I think that she will be asked to marry in the future. I just hope that what I did today, if I have a child or Princess Wen Yi encounters such a thing in the future, there will be someone who can try their best to persuade them, then I will feel at ease."

The Queen Mother looked at Concubine Hua. When she talked about how she was not blessed with the chance to give birth, the pain in her eyes was unpretentious. The Queen Mother thought of the child that she and the Emperor had conspired to get rid of before, and she felt a little sad in her heart, after all, he was her grandson.

The empress dowager thought of what Concubine Hua had just mentioned about Princess Wen Yi. She is currently being raised by her biological mother, Concubine Cao. It would not be a bad idea to give her a foster mother of noble status. She is just a girl, so it is okay for Nian Shilan to raise her.

Thinking of this, the Queen Mother spoke slowly: "I will go and convey the imperial decree in a moment. Princess Wen Yi will be brought to your side to be raised. Concubine Cao's status is still too low, and it is not good for the princess's status either."

Hearing the Queen Mother's words, Concubine Hua was slightly stunned. She didn't need it, but she knew that the Queen Mother's order could not be disobeyed, so she had to pretend to be ecstatic and said, "Really? Can I really do it? I thank the Queen Mother, and I will definitely take good care of Princess Wen Yi."

When the Queen Mother saw Concubine Hua’s excited expression, she smiled and shook her head, saying nothing more.

Seeing that there was nothing else to do, Nian Shilan said, "Since there is nothing else to do, I will not disturb the Queen Mother's afternoon nap. I will take my leave."

The Queen Mother nodded and signaled Nian Shilan to return to the palace.

Not long after Nian Shilan returned to the palace, news came from the harem that the Queen Mother had ordered Concubine Hua to raise Wen Yi.