An Lingrong's Rebirth: Red

Early the next morning, the news of the Queen's death came. The Emperor was standing in front of Concubine Wan, letting her kneel down and put on his court robes.

Su Peisheng was still standing there bowing, until the emperor nodded, then he stood up and accompanied the emperor to the morning court.

Concubine Wan bowed behind the emperor and saw him off. After watching him leave, she dressed herself again, found an excuse to sleep a little longer, and quietly left Yongshou Palace.

It was still early at this time, and she walked quickly along the palace wall and soon arrived near the cold palace.

When the gatekeeper of the cold palace saw that it was Concubine Wan who came, he immediately opened the door and let her in, allowing her to go find Shen Meizhuang who lived in the cold palace.

"Sister Mei."

"I've told you so many times, just call me by my name, don't call me like that." Shen Meizhuang sat at the table, looking at the sky outside through the window, wrapped in thick clothes. When she heard Concubine Wan's call, she turned to look, "Concubine Wan, what is the reason for you to come here today?"

"Sister Mei, please don't call me like that. You should know that I don't want to enter the palace and become a noble lady like Wan."

"Are you willing to enter the palace? Your sister told me the same thing at the beginning, but she went into the palace right away. I was very happy at that time because I thought we could finally be one sister.

Regardless of whether we can gain the emperor's favor or not, we will not be too lonely as long as we have each other to accompany us in this deep palace.

Now, I didn’t expect that things have changed and even you have entered the harem, but your sister has disappeared.”

"My eldest sister is not missing. The emperor discovered her trick of faking her death, and she has been brought back to Ningguta again."

Shen Meizhuang's expression changed slightly, but she didn't care about Zhen Huan as much as she did when she first entered the palace. Her worry flashed away.

"Helping you enter the palace is all that our Shen family can do. Lady Wan, I'm afraid you still have to do it yourself for your elder sister's matter."

Shen Meizhuang counted the beads, she turned her head to look out the window, the worry in her eyes had disappeared, "I am in the cold palace, there is no way to contact the outside world, you are at least a noble, it should not be that difficult to pass a message to the outside world."

When this matter was mentioned, Concubine Wan shook her head. She did not have any real power at all now. The people around her were not the emperor's but other concubines. Her every move was under surveillance. If she came to see Shen Meiyu today, she was afraid that it would be known tomorrow.

"Sister Mei, I know you have a way to contact Lord Shen. Please help us two sisters again. We are willing to work like cows and horses for you, no matter what."

Shen Meizhuang still shook her head, "If I had a way, why would I suffer in the cold palace? I have no clothes or charcoal in winter. If you hadn't sent me some occasionally, I'm afraid I would have frozen to death here.

You can only think of a solution on your own. If you really have no one to turn to, go and ask the emperor. I heard that the emperor loves you the most and will definitely not refuse your request."

"The emperor doesn't care about my opinion at all. I just mentioned it briefly yesterday and the emperor was unhappy. I wanted to threaten him with medicine, but I didn't dare to touch the emperor's bottom line and provoke him to deal with my elder sister more harshly, so I gave up.

Finally, I can only express my gratitude and ask the Emperor to consider our old friendship and let my elder sister go.

But the emperor still disagreed. He only cared about his throne and power. In his eyes, the lives of others were no more important than those of ants. "

Shen Meizhuang just nodded but did not respond. Concubine Wan cried pitifully alone, but she could only stop gradually. She sat opposite Shen Meizhuang, but was blinded by the cold wind from the vent and could not help but shiver her shoulders.

"Sister Mei..."

"I've said before, I don't like this title," Shen Meizhuang glanced at Concubine Wan, "The emperor is soft-hearted, what family background and status do you have, and you still want to threaten him?

If you were the former Concubine Hua, the Emperor would be wary of you. Or if you were the current Concubine Sheng, you could discuss this with the Emperor.

But you are just a little noble who can only come to see me secretly. The emperor says that he will promote you, but nothing has changed, right?

After all, your sister is still in Ningguta, and life there is hard enough. In order to keep you stable, the emperor will never let anything happen to her, so you can rest assured.

It's a pity that I'm trapped in the cold palace and can't pass on the message for you. If you can pass the message out of the palace, please tell my father in my name and ask him to help... Zhen Huan."

In the end, Shen Meizhuang did not call out "Huan'er". The two of them had now reached the point where they would feel resentful whenever they talked about their relationship. She even felt a little annoyed when she heard the name "Sister Mei".

It just so happens that Concubine Wan and Zhen Huan are sisters and look very similar. Shen Meizhuang doesn't want to see this face and can only urge Concubine Wan to leave again and again.

"Sister, I will definitely find a way to rescue you from the cold palace.

The emperor has been taking medicine for some time. His health is getting worse and worse. It won't be long before he dies. When that happens, we will have our revenge."

Shen Meizhuang nodded. She had never thought that Zhen Huan and Zhen Yurao would be so bold. Their schemes against the emperor were almost open, but the emperor believed in their methods and took medicine every day.

Even though Concubine Wan personally tried to persuade him, the Emperor refused to stop.

This medicine is extremely toxic. If the emperor faints again, even the Golden Immortal will not be able to save the emperor's life.

“Just follow the plan slowly, don’t be too anxious, or the emperor might become suspicious of you.

At the same time, you must also find a way out for yourself. Even if your entire palace is filled with spies from the emperor and other palaces, you must find a way to bribe a few of them to work for you.

You won't be able to survive long in this harem relying on yourself.

If the emperor really dies, I am only worried that you will be asked to be buried with him."

"I would not hesitate to be buried with the dog emperor. My parents died of injustice because of the dog emperor's distrust. If I can't kill him, I will never be at peace with my conscience."

"The emperor is indeed the culprit, but you should not forget that Guaerjia also played a big role in this, and was even the real culprit who directly caused the death of your parents."

Shen Meizhuang had just said a few words when she felt that it would not be good to provoke Concubine Wan's hatred, so she stopped talking.

"I know this very well. I have made plans and am just waiting for the noble lady Qi to come to me."

"If you want to do it, I will never stop you, but you have to be prepared and don't get yourself involved."

Concubine Wan just nodded, said to Shen Meiyu, "I understand," and left.

Shen Meizhuang was quite worried. Zhen Yurao had been raised in seclusion and suffered in Ningguta for a long time. She had little contact with the affairs of the mansion. Her scheming and tactics were far inferior to those of the women who had lived in the deep palace for a long time.

But everyone has their own destiny. Zhen Huan was able to let her sister enter the palace without worry. She must be a smart person and would not end up in the same situation as herself.

Shen Meizhuang sighed. Now that her child and Shichu were gone, if she could be reincarnated, she was afraid that she would have no chance to be with them.

After Concubine Wan left, Ling Rong was also sent to the cold palace. Now that she is a noble concubine, no one will stop her.

Shen Meizhuang watched Ling Rong coming towards her, and she subconsciously wanted to cover her face, but found that it was futile, so she put her hands down. However, she was still too embarrassed to face Ling Rong, so she had to turn her face away.

Ling Rong was not in a hurry to talk to her, but just told Zhao Shui to light the charcoal fire he brought to warm up the cold room.

Mu Jin cleaned the table and chair for Ling Rong so that she could sit down with peace of mind.

Ling Rong held the hand warmer and sat opposite Shen Meiyu. The two looked at each other silently and did not speak for a long time.

It was not until Zhaoshui lit the charcoal fire and boiled a pot of hot tea and brought it over that Shen Meizhuang took it and then looked at Lingrong.

"My Lady Concubine Sheng, why have you condescended to come to this cold palace?"

"If I hadn't come to this cold palace, I'm afraid I would never see my sister again in my life." Ling Rong pushed the tea to Shen Meizhuang, and she picked up her own cup and gently touched the cup in front of Shen Meizhuang, "My sister faked her death that day, and she really hid it from many people in the palace."

"But now it seems that I couldn't hide it from Concubine Sheng."

"I know this is an accident. If it weren't for Concubine Wan, I would never have thought that a person who deserved to die would be living in the cold palace."

Of course what Lingrong said was false. She just wanted to further sow discord between Concubine Wan and Shen Meizhuang. After all, she knew about Shen Meizhuang's fake death before anyone else.

"Sister, since you faked your death, you should leave the palace. Why do you want to stay in the cold palace and suffer endless suffering?"

Shen Meizhuang did not serve tea. She sneered and looked up, "Noble Concubine Sheng should understand that if everything could be done as I wish, I should be in the palace with my child right now.

Rather than suffer here and be looked down upon by you."

"Sister, if I really despised you, why would I call you sister?" Ling Rong put down the teacup, glanced at the charcoal fire, gestured to add water and charcoal, and then left.

Zhaoshui stoked the charcoal fire in the stove, added two pieces, then called Mu Jin to go out and close the doors and windows.

After the doors and windows were closed, the temperature in the room slowly rose. Although Shen Meizhuang could still feel the breeze from the window, it was no longer as cold.

"What on earth is the purpose of Concubine Sheng's visit here? It shouldn't be as simple as just visiting me."

"I just heard that you were here, and thought that life in the cold palace was not easy, so I brought people to take a look and bring you some clothes and charcoal to help you have a better winter."

Hearing Ling Rong's words, Shen Meizhuang's expression finally changed. "I was once grounded, and you brought me charcoal fire like this. That winter was even colder than today. This time, you came too late."

Shen Meizhuang raised her hand to wipe her tears. She had no handkerchief in her hand, so she could only wipe her tears with her sleeves. Lingrong took out a silk handkerchief from her sleeve, on which was embroidered Shen Meizhuang's favorite chrysanthemum.

Shen Meizhuang touched the lifelike embroidered chrysanthemum and said, "The flower does not bloom among the hundreds of flowers, but stands alone by the sparse fence, and its interest is endless. I would rather die with fragrance on the branch than be blown away by the north wind."

"Sister, you still like this poem so much." Ling Rong also pretended to be sad. She pressed her handkerchief against the corners of her eyes. "Now the north wind is howling. How can it not make my sister sad?"

Shen Meizhuang shook her head, folded the handkerchief in her hand, and returned it to Ling Rong, "Sister, how could such a handkerchief appear in a place like the Cold Palace?

Especially with embroidery skills like this, who else in the palace can embroider it except you? You should take it back, lest the emperor finds out and implicates you."

Ling Rong was not actually worried that the handkerchief she embroidered would be discovered by the emperor, but since Shen Meizhuang was so thoughtful, she did not refuse and directly took the handkerchief back.

"Sister, you were so cold just now, but now you care about me." Ling Rong sighed and looked at Shen Meizhuang with a resentful look, "I brought some food and clothes with me. These things will be consumed. Please don't refuse me."

After Lingrong finished speaking, she stood up to say goodbye. Shen Meizhuang wanted to stop her and ask her something, but she failed to stop her. It was not until three days later that Lingrong came again to bring charcoal and food.

Shen Meizhuang's attitude was still lukewarm, but Lingrong didn't mind. She just wanted to find out the prescription of the medicine in Concubine Wan's hand. No matter how cold Shen Meizhuang's attitude was, with more contact and more chatting, she would eventually reveal some information.

So, when Lingrong came over for the third time, Shen Meizhuang took the initiative to speak, insisting that Lingrong tell her purpose no matter what.

"Sister, I just came to see you, what could be my purpose?"

“You are now Concubine Sheng, and you must have a deep relationship with the emperor. The only problem the emperor is facing now is taking medicine.

Sister, do you want to know the formula of the medicine or where it comes from?"

"Sister doesn't seem surprised at all. I know this has something to do with you."

Shen Meizhuang shook her head and sneered, she touched the scalding hot teacup in her hand, "The first day you came here, you mentioned Concubine Wan, I guessed it was because of this matter.

However, the emperor already knew the twists and turns of this matter, so it doesn't matter even if he tells you.

But I guess, with your means, you already know all these things. That's why I asked you if you want to know what the prescription is."

"Sister, your guess is correct, but since you asked me this, I'm afraid you don't want to tell me."

"You're right. I won't tell you about this." Shen Meizhuang's face turned completely cold. She pushed the teacup over, and the tea flowed towards Lingrong, forcing Lingrong to step back to avoid getting her dress stained by the tea.

"The emperor chose the medicine himself, so you'd better not interfere. You have finally become the imperial concubine, don't lose your position because of some trivial matters."

Ling Rong nodded, as if she knew of Shen Meizhuang's kindness, "Sister, if I'm not mistaken, the emperor's prescription is from Doctor Wen's family.

Doctor Wen died, and the entire family was wiped out. My sister must have hated the emperor so much that she used Doctor Wen's medicine to offer him medicine, which can be regarded as her revenge in person."