An Lingrong's Rebirth: Red

Upon hearing that Zhen Huan had come to Chengqian Palace, Lingrong had to be extremely alert to respond.

She subconsciously adjusted her clothes and makeup, and drew her eyebrows specially. She didn't feel completely relieved until she felt that she would not be at a disadvantage to Zhen Huan today.

Zhen Huan waited for a long time, and as soon as she saw Ling Rong, she immediately knelt down and saluted, without any sign of displeasure.

"No need to be so polite, Concubine Zhen. I was feeling unwell this morning and kept Concubine Zhen waiting for a long time."

"Your Highness is in a precious health now, and it is not excessive for me to wait for you." Zhen Huan smiled happily. She handed Ling Rong a hairpin that looked very precious.

Ling Rong glanced at the hairpin but did not take it immediately. She vaguely thought of the hairpin given by the Queen Mother, as if whoever took it would be unlucky.

Who knows if Zhen Huan's hairpin is also mixed with bad luck? Who knows what bad things will happen if she takes it.

Zhen Huan stood there somewhat awkwardly, but fortunately Zhao Shui was smart and took the hairpin.

"Then thank you for the gift from Concubine Zhen." There was no sign of happiness on Ling Rong's face. She thanked him dryly and didn't even bother to ask Zhen Huan to sit down.

"But the gift is too precious, Changzai should keep it for himself."

When Zhaoshui heard that he had to return the item, he immediately handed the hairpin to Liuzhu.

But Liu Zhu refused to take it back. The two of them pushed and pulled for the hairpin for a long time, and it seemed that she cared more about it than her two masters.

"Your Excellency, do you think this hairpin is unworthy of your majesty?" Zhen Huan smiled slightly. She sat down by herself and smoothed the wrinkles on her clothes with her palm. "This was originally given by the Emperor. It is of high quality and most suitable for your current status and position."

When Lingrong heard her secretly proclaiming her favor, she couldn't help but want to give her a cold face.

She had always felt that she was inferior to Zhen Huan in every way, and now that her heart was blatantly touched, she could hardly suppress her jealousy.

"Zhen Changzai was once a concubine, so she was very favored. No wonder she was able to get these exquisite things.

But it was given by the Emperor after all, and I can’t take away someone else’s love.”

When Zhaoshui heard Lingrong say this, he moved more quickly and put the hairpin back into Liuzhu's hand.

"Although it was given by the Emperor, I have never worn it before, so your Excellency need not worry."

"Zhao Shui, please accept it." Ling Rong also knew that she couldn't refuse this gift. "What else does Zhen Changzai want besides sending some gifts?"

Zhen Huan pursed her lips, looked at Ling Rong's belly, and spoke hesitantly, "Your Excellency has a good relationship with Sister Mei. Now Sister Mei is still in the Old Summer Palace. Can you ask the Emperor to plead for mercy..."

Lingrong never expected that Zhen Huan came this time just for Shen Meizhuang who was still in the Old Summer Palace.

But she is now in the emperor's favor, why doesn't she ask the emperor to ask her sister Mei to come back?

I'm afraid he came to find me because he knew the emperor would be furious.

You, who are favored, are afraid, but I, who am not favored, am not afraid?

"It has not even been a month since Concubine Hui's miscarriage. The Emperor must have known that she needed to rest, so he did not send anyone to bring her back."

Zhen Huan shook her head. She wiped the tears from her eyes with a handkerchief, looking very pitiful. "The child in Mei's belly is really a bad omen. The emperor is unhappy and deliberately did not bring Mei back."

"Zhen Changzai, you and I are both the emperor's concubines. If we speculate on the emperor's intentions like this, we may bring disaster upon ourselves."

Zhen Huan's tearful attack had no effect on Ling Rong at all. She did not have the confidence like Zhen Huan to expose the emperor's thoughts just by opening her mouth.

"But Sister Mei is far away in the Old Summer Palace. Without a reliable imperial physician to take care of her, I'm afraid she won't be able to recover."

"That's true," Ling Rong thought for a moment. She herself was deeply troubled by the lack of a reliable imperial physician, and even having a baby was a worry. "I remember that the imperial physician Wen who was by Concubine Zhen's side was very capable. Why not send him over to look after Concubine Hui from time to time?"

Upon hearing that her imperial physician was going to be transferred away, Zhen Huan's grief seemed to deepen. She shook her head, feeling rather helpless, "I lost my child unexpectedly, and my body has already developed a chronic illness.

It was only because the Emperor took into consideration that Doctor Wen knew my health best that he transferred him back to the Imperial Medical Bureau.

It is not easy to transfer him to Yuanmingyuan now. "

"If Concubine Zhen is willing to give up, I can try to persuade the emperor to agree to transfer Doctor Wen to Yuanmingyuan."

Ling Rong looked at Zhen Huan sincerely. To show her sincerity, she even reached out and grabbed Zhen Huan's hands. "I will definitely help you with this matter."

Zhen Huan was slightly stunned. She lightly broke free from Ling Rong's hands, her tearful eyes filled with confusion, "Why don't you want to plead for Sister Mei directly? The grudge between you and me should not be blamed on Sister Mei."

"Why do you say that, Concubine Zhen?" Ling Rong wiped her palms gently with her handkerchief, "You have a good relationship with Concubine Hui, so you can just ask for mercy from the Emperor.

As for me, I will write a letter to Concubine Hui and discuss together whether and when to plead for her.

She is still in her first trimester, and if she rushes around, it might hurt her body. I don't want to ask for mercy at this time, what's wrong with that?"

"But there is no reliable imperial physician in the Old Summer Palace. If Sister Mei doesn't take good care of herself, it may affect her offspring."

"So," Ling Rong's voice could not help but rise when she mentioned offspring, "isn't it the best of both worlds to send Imperial Doctor Wen to Yuanmingyuan to take care of Concubine Hui?"

Zhen Huan looked at Ling Rong steadily. She stroked the rim of the teacup and didn't know how to start talking for a moment.

Now she only has the naive Chun Changzai to help her in the palace. Without Shen Meizhuang's help, she would be like losing her right-hand man.

If Shen Meizhuang is unable to return to the palace for a long time, how can she compete with the Queen?

Now if she wants to escape from the quagmire controlled by the queen, she must get pregnant.

Doctor Wen is an indispensable person to help him take care of his body, so how can he be sent to the Old Summer Palace?

There must be a better way to rescue Sister Mei.

"Zhen Changzai is favored by the emperor, and I believe that if we sincerely plead, the emperor will relent.

You see, I am pregnant now, but the Emperor has not sent anyone to see me. I am afraid that even if I want to ask for mercy, I will not be able to see the Emperor."

Lingrong spared no effort to persuade Zhen Huan, asking her to gamble with her favor and see if she could bring Shen Meiyu back.

Don't be reluctant to give up your favor, Zhen Huan.

It was you who caused your sister Mei to be unable to return to the palace, so of course you have to do everything you can to rescue her.

Zhen Huan saw that she couldn't convince An Lingrong, so she didn't want to stay any longer. But before leaving, she didn't forget to tell Lingrong to take good care of herself and be careful not to drink anything she shouldn't.

Lingrong actually agreed to these words, and even personally escorted her out of Chengqian Palace, doing her utmost to save face.

Ling Rong didn't want to take the hairpin with her, so she simply put it in the storehouse and let it gather dust.

She had wanted to give this despised thing to a servant like Zhen Huan did. But this rule was obviously not something a palace maid could use, and giving it to Zhaoshui would almost be like asking for her life.

But it can be kept for Zhaoshui. When she is old enough to leave the palace, she can use it at will.

Lingrong seemed to suddenly become interested. She ordered Zhaoshui to sort out the things in the storehouse.

As expected, many of the gifts we received had been tampered with.

Things like clothes fumigated with musk and sachets filled with aconite would be difficult to discover if Zhaoshui had not learned about them on purpose.

"My lady, this is the orchid sent from the flower room. It is very beautiful. Do you want to put it in the room?" The new arrival Ding Dong walked in holding the flowers. The cool fragrance was fresh and pleasant, and it was refreshing at first smell.

"Put it in the hall first. I am getting heavier now, and it is not good for me to be in contact with these flowers all the time."

"There is nothing wrong with this Hanlan. It can regulate qi and nourish the body. Long-term use will benefit the qi. My lady, there is no need to worry too much."

After hearing Ding Dong's words, Ling Rong looked at her a little longer. Since she could explain the medicinal use of this flower, it was obvious that she was not one of those palace maids who knew nothing.

But she knew too much, which was a bit suspicious.

"I didn't expect you knew something about medicine."

"My family has been practicing medicine for generations. I have been exposed to it since I was a child, so I know a little bit." Ding Dong fiddled with the flowers and sprinkled some water on them before continuing to explain to Ling Rong, "It's a pity that there is no male heir in the family, so there is no one to inherit my father's legacy."

"I can't do anything else, but when you are 25 years old, I will ask the emperor to let you leave the palace." Ling Rong smiled brightly, "Then find someone who is close to you and inherit your father's legacy."

Zhaoshui finally packed her things. As soon as she entered the door, she heard the young lady talking about a live-in son-in-law.

"Oh, who has Ding Dong taken a fancy to? He is begging the young master to find him a son-in-law."

"Sister Zhaoshui, why do you only listen to half of what others say?" Ding Dong stamped his feet in anger. "My lady, please take care of her."

Lingrong was amused by the two people. She shook her head and refused to get involved in what happened between them.

Zhaoshui was a steady person, but sometimes he would say joking words in order to build a good relationship with the palace servants.

During this period of time, the new maids were very convinced by the water. I think it was because the Ministry of Internal Affairs had trained them well, unlike Huanbi in Yongshou Palace, who acted like a master all day long.

"Okay, you two go get some mung bean soup. You won't be able to drink it in a few days."

Ding Dong sighed and ran out of the door first. His personality was very similar to Bao Que's.

The smile on Lingrong's face disappeared immediately. Although the palace maids were all from bannermen families, those who served these noble ladies had very poor origins.

Ding Dong's family has been practicing medicine for generations, so his family background is not bad. Even his daughter can learn some medical skills, so he must value her very much.

It was also because of this that Ling Rong always felt that Ding Dong might have been bribed by someone a long time ago and was not a completely clean person.

"Look at the water, keep an eye on Ding Dong." Ling Rong glanced at the pot of orchid, feeling a little nervous, "I always feel like something is going to go wrong... I won't take the pregnancy medicine these days."

"Yes, young lady." Zhaoshui also knew that this matter was of great importance, and she obeyed Lingrong's orders very well. "It's a pity that I am not good at medicine, and I can't take good care of you now."

Ling Rong didn't care too much. She patted her wet hands and said a few words of comfort, "Okay, go drink the mung bean soup. It will be gone in a few days."

After a few more days, the weather finally turned cooler and I started sweating all over when I stopped moving.

This pregnancy was going well. Apart from the initial chest tightness and shortness of breath, there was no sign of vomiting.

Even Concubine Jing said that Lingrong's baby would definitely be a well-behaved child, and it was obvious that she would be very popular.

Lingrong knew that Jingpin had been hoping to have a child for years.

Now that she is pregnant, Jingpin is happier than her own mother, and she would send her some hand-embroidered bellybands from time to time.

In addition to Concubine Jing, even Concubine Duan often sent some bellybands and clothes for children.

Lingrong felt that she had no friendship with her, and it was hard not to suspect that Concubine Duan's behavior was because she wanted the child in her belly.

It seems that the emperor's indifference to him has made this sickly person have some ideas.

It’s a pity that even if she couldn’t raise the child with her, she would never let Concubine Duan, such a sickly woman, succeed.

This emperor is so hateful. What he said is worse than the white smoke from the medicine pot. He is not even noticeable.

"Zhao Shui, are you and Wei Lin still familiar with each other now?"

"My lady, I have visited Doctor Wei several times and brought back some medical books to study.

He was a very smooth person, and when he heard that there was a chance for him to be promoted to become a formal imperial physician, he was willing to serve the young master.

Do you want to ask him to come over and check your pulse in the next few days?"

Lingrong had not taken the pregnancy-maintaining medicine these days because she was on guard against Ding Dong, and now she really had no idea how the baby in her belly was doing.

However, Ling Rong did not dare to believe Wei Lin just like that. After thinking it over, she asked Zhao Shui to invite He Anming first, and then ask Wei Lin to come the next day.

It would be better to just invite all the doctors in the Imperial Medical Bureau. Unless someone bribes all of them, someone else will always be able to find out some clues.

"Doctor Wei, do we still need to have private contact with him?"

"Just keep in touch. We need a reliable imperial physician." Ling Rong sighed. She felt that her headache was horrible. Why was her new life more difficult than her previous one?

I had never been able to get pregnant in my previous life, and I finally had a child, but it took all my efforts to keep the baby alive for a few months.

Even if Zhen Huan didn't do anything, she couldn't keep the child.

Now that the Queen and Zhen Huan have joined forces, it has become particularly difficult to preserve the pregnancy.

The Chengqian Palace has been very peaceful these past few days, as if there has never been a vicious person in the palace who likes to abort human fetuses.

The calmer the situation, the more worried Lingrong became. He Anming couldn't help but sigh while taking her pulse, and repeatedly warned Lingrong not to worry too much.

"My dear An, if you continue to worry, you may really need to drink pregnancy medicine all day long to keep the baby.

But worrying is useless. If you trust me, I will do everything I can to keep your baby safe."

Lingrong frowned. This man watched Concubine Tian's pregnancy every day, but she still got miscarried because of the Queen's scheme.

He even said that he wanted to save his baby. That's really outrageous.

"My lady, the Empress sent me a blessed quilt. Aunt Jianqiu said it was a ceiling brocade with yellow lotus and octagonal flowers. It's very beautiful."