An Lingrong's Rebirth: Red

"Noble Concubine Sheng is the smartest, no wonder she can sit in a high position." Shen Meizhuang's tone was still cold, "Since you know everything, why bother to come to me... If you want the prescription, I won't give it to you."

"Sister, you have wronged me," Ling Rong smiled in a consoling manner, "Sister, you must have thought that I wanted the prescription in order to save the Emperor."

Shen Meizhuang looked back, her expression seemed to be saying, isn't it?

"I just want to know what kind of medicine it is. Sister should know that my Hongyu is not yet grown up and is not big enough to sit in that position. If the drug is too toxic, I should have considered it earlier."

"You are quite straightforward. You are not afraid that I will tell others about these things."

"Sister is also very straightforward. She didn't hide such a serious matter as harming the emperor from me."

Shen Meizhuang looked at An Lingrong's smiling face and was dazed for a moment. She couldn't understand why An Lingrong wanted to harm the emperor. After all, she had always been favored since she entered the palace, and the emperor had never done anything to let her down.

Could it be that An Lingrong had never really had true feelings for the Emperor? Her goal had always been to climb up the social ladder, just like Cao Qinmo who was beside Concubine Hua.

Shen Meizhuang knew that there was nothing wrong with this, but seeing that An Lingrong was actually such a cold-hearted person, she also had some vague worries in her heart.

He was worried that he was just a pawn and that An Lingrong's purpose was far from that simple.

"Since you are afraid of getting yourself into trouble, I won't ask any more questions," Ling Rong said as she stood up, "I have no intention of harming anyone, but I won't stop you from doing what you do.

For me, I just want to live a better life. When the emperor is around, I will rely on him. When the emperor is not around, I can only rely on myself.

Sister, please don't think I'm spineless, but in the deep palace, for someone like me, spine is not enough to feed myself.

Not long after I entered the palace, I was punished by Zhen Huan and the Emperor. I knelt on the snowy night to pray for blessings, and I lost my child and damaged my body.

Therefore, I can't expect anything from these two people, and I am already kind by not kicking them when they are down."

"As a person like me, what right do I have to blame you?" Shen Meizhuang shook her head. She didn't quite understand what An Lingrong did, but she also knew that her actions were even more unacceptable.

Lingrong was too heartless and I was too devoted, neither of us was at fault.

“But you already know too much, and I will never tell you what the prescription is.

But since you call me sister, I will say one more thing to you. Be prepared. The Fifth Prince is also a good prince. I believe you can build a good relationship with him."

Shen Meizhuang's words almost made it clear that the emperor's days were numbered.

Lingrong knew that she would not be able to wait until Hongyu grew up, so she could only sigh and continue to choose the fifth prince Hongzhou.

"Then sister, please be patient for a while longer," Lingrong called Zhaoshui in and placed the things she brought on the table, "These charcoal fires are enough for half a month. By then, it will be spring and flowers will be blooming. It won't be cold anymore.

I will send someone to visit you in the future. If you want to see me, just let the people below know."

Shen Meizhuang did not keep Lingrong for long. She stood at the door and finally waved to Lingrong's back.

The heavy door of the cold palace slowly closed. This time Ling Rong did not look back, and she naturally did not see Shen Meizhuang waving at her.

"Your Majesty, the Yangxin Palace has sent Eunuch Su to the Chengqian Palace. The Empress's body has been in Ji'an for six days. Now the Emperor wants you to go over and discuss the follow-up matters."

"What's the point of asking me to go to such a matter?" Lingrong glanced at Zhaoshui. "I'm afraid the emperor doesn't want to bury the queen according to the etiquette of the queen, and he is trying to make me speak up and be the bad guy."

"Wouldn't this affect your Majesty's reputation?" Zhaoshui supported Lingrong as they walked slowly along the palace road. The two paused for a moment, then turned and walked towards the Yangxin Palace. "Your Majesty, it's better for us not to help with this matter."

"In front of the emperor, there is no room for us to refuse. If the emperor wants us to help him, he must naturally give us corresponding benefits."

Ling Rong saw Su Peisheng waiting at the intersection from a distance. She raised her hand to signal Su Peisheng to stand up. "Eunuch Su, what does the emperor want to do today?"

"It's about the Empress," Su Peisheng observed his surroundings carefully, "The Emperor is in good spirits, so the Empress doesn't need to worry too much.

But today, I'm afraid that the queen will not want to do it, but... it's really hard to refuse."

"What if I refuse?" Ling Rong stopped and said, "Eunuch Su, can you tell me in advance what the emperor wants me to do?"

"It's okay to tell Her Majesty about this," Su Peisheng said without hesitation, "The Queen's death is indeed strange, and the Emperor wants Her Majesty to find out that this matter is related to Concubine Tian.

The physical evidence and witnesses are all ready, and you just need to go through the motions."

Ling Rong stopped and looked at Su Peisheng with a frown on her face. "Is this matter really related to Concubine Tian?"

"Your Majesty, there are some things I cannot tell you directly. I can only tell you that Concubine Tian did send someone to Jingren Palace. There is nothing wrong with Concubine Tian taking the blame.

Just ask me this question, and don't ask the emperor again.

The emperor only wants to hear your agreement, or to give a better idea. If your majesty questions the emperor's decision, I'm afraid you will not only fail to escape this incident, but also have to bear the emperor's wrath."

"Eunuch Su is thoughtful. Since this is what the emperor wants, it is okay for me to agree to it." Ling Rong nodded slightly, signaling Su Peisheng to continue leading the way.

Su Peisheng seemed to want to say something, but in the end he just led Ling Rong forward with his head down, "Madam, after you go in, I will ask someone to send your sedan chair here, in case the emperor finds something wrong and asks where you came from again."

"It's hard for you to be so thoughtful, so I'll do as you wish."

Ling Rong didn't say much. She nodded to Su Peisheng and went into the Yangxin Palace.

The emperor was reviewing memorials at his desk. When he saw Lingrong coming over, he just asked her to grind ink for him and didn't talk about business right away.

Ling Rong had no choice but to go to the emperor, pick up the ink stick and grind ink for him. Only after the emperor had finished reviewing the pile of memorials at hand was she able to stop and rest for a while.

Just as she was about to sit down, the emperor put down his red brush and called Ling Rong over again.

Lingrong sighed in her heart and could only respond and go to the emperor's side. However, the emperor must have taken the wrong medicine today, and he actually pulled Lingrong to sit in his arms and sighed deeply.

"Your Majesty must be tired, why not let me massage your shoulders for you."

"I feel very relaxed holding you like this," the emperor was unwilling to let go of Ling Rong. He put his pearl on Ling Rong's face, "You have been managing the six palaces for so long, your complexion has become much worse, are you too tired?"

“When I first took over, I was indeed a little tired, but now that I have mastered everything, I have a chance to catch my breath.”

Seeing that the emperor was unwilling to let go, Lingrong could only follow his wishes and lean on him. The two of them showed affection and concern for each other for a long time before gradually getting to the point.

"The queen has passed away now. The seventh day will pass soon. It's time to bury her in peace."

Ling Rong nodded, "Because the Empress passed away, the Emperor has stopped attending court for six days. According to etiquette, it is time to bury her."

"I think it is appropriate to bury her according to the etiquette of a noble concubine."

When Lingrong heard the emperor's words, she was confused for a moment, and she subconsciously repeated the word "Imperial Concubine".

"What, you feel bad?"

Lingrong blinked her eyes. The queen was indeed not a good person. Even if she could not be buried as the queen, Lingrong would not feel that it was a humiliation to her.

"I am just a little surprised, but after thinking carefully about what the Queen has done, I can understand the Emperor's thoughts."

"I'm glad you know. I was worried that you would persuade me not to do this."

Ling Rong shook her head, and finally broke free from the emperor's embrace, standing aside to pour tea for the emperor, "I am just worried that if the emperor does this, will the ministers make a complaint?

The ministers of the previous dynasty quoted from classics and spoke in a very logical manner. I am afraid that the emperor will find it difficult to refuse. "

"I have already made up my mind. Whether they are willing or not, it cannot affect my decision."

"Since the emperor has made up his mind, I will not worry too much." Ling Rong tactfully stopped asking questions and put down the teapot. "Then should the funeral regulations also follow the regulations of the imperial concubine, or should they be raised a little higher?"

"The Queen advocated frugality during her lifetime. She certainly doesn't want me to be too extravagant. I'll just follow the rule of... around three thousand taels."

Lingrong replied with a "yes" and poured herself a cup of tea and sat aside. The emperor's dislike for the queen had reached the point where he could not hide it. If the funeral regulations of three thousand taels were made public, it would probably give people a reason to criticize him.

In the end, the responsibility for this matter would inevitably fall on herself. Ling Rong cursed in her heart, but there was no point in asking more questions, so she changed the subject and asked what else the emperor wanted her to come over.

"Su Peisheng should have told Rong'er about it on the way." The emperor seemed to be in a difficult position to speak, and did not repeat the facts that Lingrong already knew. "It's been so long, what do you think about it?"

"I have one thing I don't understand," Ling Rong did not agree immediately, "Your Majesty could have asked Eunuch Su to do this, but why did you have to go through me?

Aren't you worried that my nonsense might be heard by Fu Cha and affect the majesty of the emperor?"

"I decided to hand this matter over to you. Naturally, I trust you. I also intend to promote An Linglang to a higher position. I just don't know...what Rong'er thinks."

However, Lingrong still didn't quite understand why the emperor asked her to do this. Could it be that he wanted to kill Concubine Tian and wanted her to take the blame for the accusation?

It seems that promoting Ling Lang is the emperor's compensation to Ling Rong, but correspondingly, it will also make Fu Cha keep an eye on Ling Lang. It is not sure whether this compensation should be called compensation or a trap.

"I don't care about Ling Lang's affairs." Ling Rong smiled and picked up the tea. She took a sip slowly to calm herself down. After her emotions calmed down, she spoke again, "Your Majesty, I have the power to assist in the six palaces. I should have investigated the cause of the Queen's death. So even if Your Majesty didn't order me to do so, I would have investigated it.

The evidence has been prepared, and I am just going through the motions. I am very happy to be able to share the emperor's worries."

"You have this thought, which is enough to prove that I am not wrong about you." The emperor smiled a little, and swung the beads in his hand, "You and the fifth prince seem to have a good relationship."

"My relationship with the Fifth Prince is OK, but I have good relationships with other princesses and princes. Your Majesty, please don't think that I am biased.

If even the emperor feels this way, Youning and Hongyu will be so sad."

"I didn't say you were biased, but you brought up Youning and Hongyu now. It's obvious that you have something to hide."

Lingrong also had a smile on her face. She knew better than the emperor that with the character of the Fifth Prince, it was impossible for him to be truly friendly with her. Now he had no choice but to accept her favor.

"Your Majesty, the Fifth Prince's behavior is really strange, and I can only care about him a little bit in his daily life.

But I can also understand that he was already sad about the death of Concubine Yu, and the fact that he was unable to see his biological mother off caused great harm to his heart, which led to him often asking his servants to act out some funeral scenes to vent his sadness.

Such strange behavior frightened me, so I seldom communicated with him in private, which made the Fifth Prince even more gloomy. "

Ling Rong sighed, and raised her eyes as if blaming herself. In the emperor's eyes, she was holding back the tears in her eyes, really like a loving mother.

Perhaps because of raising two children, the emperor thought about himself. If he could also be raised by his mother, then when his mother passed away, she would not curse him, but would only be reluctant to leave like she was to the Fourteenth Prince.

If I were cared for and treated by my mother like the fourteenth brother, I would be as sad and crazy as Hong Zhou and do things that others could not understand.

“Although he is older, he is just a child to us.

If you take better care of him and show him more love and care, he will surely change his bad habits."

"I understand. I would ask Youning and Hongyu to spend more time with him. But Hongyu is old now. Is it wrong to keep him in the palace like this..."

"Hongshi and Hongzhou are indeed old, and it is time for them to discuss marriage, but the queen just passed away, and I am not in the mood to consider it yet.

You can worry about it for me and find a few suitable candidates, and... don't forget Hongshi."

"I understand," Ling Rong received another task while speaking, "I will first deal with the matter of Concubine Tian, ​​and then find women with good character for the Third and Fifth Princes. Then it will be up to the Emperor to decide who they should choose as wives."