Legend of Zhen Huan: Zhen Huan is reborn

093 Sisters' Dissension

(Shuangrui Hall)

Wen Shichu carefully examined Shen Meizhuang's pulse and Shen Meizhuang politely escorted him out of the palace gate.

"Doctor Wen was in a hurry today. He didn't even have time to rest and enjoy a cup of tea." Shen Meizhuang said gently.

"My lord, you are too polite. I feel really bad for this because Concubine Xi's medicine is simmering on the stove, and I am afraid that the palace servants may not be diligent and miss the time, thus reducing the effectiveness of the medicine." Wen Shichu responded respectfully, his eyes full of commitment to his duty.

"Is Concubine Xi feeling unwell?" Shen Meizhuang looked concerned when she heard this.

"Your Majesty is in good health and there is nothing wrong with her." Wen Shichu explained with a smile, "It's just that the Fairy Jade Girl Powder that Empress Xi is using needs to be carefully mixed and applied. The eunuchs have heavy hands and feet and may not be able to do it well, so I need to supervise it personally to avoid any mistakes."

"So that's how it is. I thought it was an urgent matter." Shen Meizhuang chuckled, with a bit of relief in her words, "Now Concubine Xi is in favor, the emperor is very kind, and the Seventh Prince is by her side. There is really no need to borrow external things to enhance her status. The palace is full of people and things, and the front door has been very busy recently. As a sister, I have to be careful at all times to avoid unnecessary trouble. My Lord, you are rushing to add another touch of color to this flourishing situation. It is really thoughtful."

After saying this, Shen Meizhuang's tone inadvertently brought out a hint of subtlety.

"My Lord, you are too kind. I am very worried." Wen Shichu bowed quickly, his expression showing a hint of confusion and uneasiness. "I am just doing my duty as a doctor. I have no other intentions."

Shen Meizhuang sighed softly, with a complicated look in her eyes: "Don't mind, sir. I have been upset recently, and my words may be inappropriate. I hope you can forgive me. But I know the warmth and coldness of the palace, and people's hearts are changeable. I only hope that you can keep your original intention and live up to the kindness of a doctor."

There was a hint of self-mockery and helplessness in her words, but they also revealed her expectations for Wen Shichu.

"It is my humble servant's duty to develop good medicines for the ladies in the palace, just as I have always been committed to carefully diagnosing your pulse and preparing medicines for you. Although I don't mind contributing my little bit to make things icing on the cake, my more sincere wish in my heart is that you and Concubine Xi can be healthy and never need my help." Wen Shichu said sincerely with a firm look in his eyes.

When Shen Meizhuang heard this, a warm feeling surged in her heart, mixed with a hint of imperceptible loss.

"It would be our great honor if Lord Wen could treat me and Sister Xi with the same care and concern, without any distinction between us." She spoke softly, her voice full of expectation.

"Empress Xi and the young lady are both noble and extraordinary in my heart. They are people who need careful care. I will treat them equally and do my best." Wen Shichu's answer was firm and gentle.

Shen Meizhuang nodded slightly, and then ordered: "Caiyue, send Lord Wen off for me."

Caiyue responded and then stepped forward to lead Wen Shichu.

"My lord, please walk slowly and take care of yourself." Shen Meizhuang watched Wen Shichu's back getting farther and farther away, feeling mixed emotions.

-

Zhen Huan approached lightly and said with concern: "Sister, it's windy, why are you standing here? What if you catch a cold?"

Shen Meizhuang smiled slightly, with a bit of indifference and teasing in her tone: "Sister, it's rare today. You are not busy accompanying the emperor, nor are you in a hurry to go to Concubine Hua to please her. How can you have time to come to my remote place?"

"Sister, please listen to me and don't get angry with me first." Zhen Huan whispered softly, trying to pull Shen Meizhuang's sleeve, but saw her gently turn her body and avoid her hand.

Zhen Huan's hand hung awkwardly in the air, then she withdrew it awkwardly, with a hint of loss in her eyes.

"I don't mean to blame you, but I've been feeling restless and tired lately." Shen Meizhuang's voice was soft, but it carried a subtle detachment. "I really need to rest for a while. I have to pay my respects to the Queen Mother later. If you have something on your mind, we can talk another day."

After saying this, Shen Meizhuang wanted to turn around and go back inside again. Seeing this, Zhen Huan hurriedly stepped forward, gently placed her hands on Shen Meizhuang's shoulders, and said sincerely: "Sister, this matter concerns our sisterhood, and even more so the situation in the palace. I really can't help but speak out. Please give me a quarter of an hour to let me explain clearly, okay?"

"Sister, even if you are angry, please allow me to explain. Is the sisterhood we have had for so many years so fragile in your heart?" Seeing a trace of reluctance in Shen Meiyu's expression, Zhen Huan took the opportunity to plead with her softly, and at the same time, she stretched out her hand with a smile, and gently but firmly took Shen Meiyu's hand.

Shen Meizhuang looked into Zhen Huan's eyes that were full of sincerity, and the anger and alienation in her heart dissipated a little.

She sighed softly, and her tone softened a lot: "Forget it, since you are so persistent, I will listen to what you have to say."

After saying this, Shen Meizhuang turned around and motioned for Zhen Huan to follow her into the room.

-

The two walked side by side, crossed the threshold, and entered the familiar yet slightly unfamiliar space.

The room was quiet, with only the occasional chirping of birds outside the window and the light footsteps of two people.

The two walked to the couch and sat down slowly. The distance between them was shortened a little because of this simple action.

Upon seeing this, the personal maids understood what was meant and retreated out of the door one after another. Their movements were light and silent, and it seemed that even the air became quieter with their departure.

The door closed gently, making a subtle and steady sound, isolating the noise and chaos of the outside world, leaving only two people in the room, sitting face to face, ready to listen and talk.

Zhen Huan looked around and was surprised to see that there was indeed no one in Shen Meizhuang's palace. She then asked with concern, "Sister, why is your palace so deserted? Where have all the servants gone?"

Shen Meizhuang smiled lightly, with a bit of helplessness and self-mockery in her tone: "Today is the day when the palace distributes summer clothes. I sympathize with their hard work, so I let them all go to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to get clothes. It's not like your palace, where you have a big family and a big business, and everyone is vying to serve. Even the eunuch Huang who is in charge of the Ministry of Internal Affairs came to deliver clothes to the servants in person, for fear that they would be treated poorly."

"I understand, sister, what you said was not out of your desire for the emperor's favor. In fact, you said it because you are concerned about the restoration of Concubine Hua." Zhen Huan asked softly.

Shen Meizhuang sighed, her tone revealing a bit of complexity and confusion. She slowly asked, "Okay, then let me ask you, was it really you who proposed to the Emperor that Concubine Hua be restored to the throne?"

"It is true that I mentioned the matter of Hua Fei's restoration to the throne to His Majesty, but sister, please listen to me carefully. I was helpless. Who would be willing to personally push the enemy who almost caused me to lose my flesh and blood to a high position again?"

Shen Meizhuang looked at Zhen Huan in disbelief: "Is it really you?"

"Sister, please put yourself in my shoes. If I hadn't been forced into a desperate situation, I would never have been willing to take this difficult path. What you can't tolerate, the pain and suffering I endure are no less than yours."

"How can I tolerate such suffering so easily?"

Zhen Huan's words were full of helplessness and bitterness. She tried to make Shen Meizhuang understand her difficulties and choices.

"So, what is your reason?" Shen Meizhuang asked.

"Sister, please think carefully. In order to appease Nian Gengyao's anger, the emperor will restore Nian Shilan's status sooner or later. At least she will be the title of Hua Fei. If the situation forces it, it is not impossible to promote her to the title of Guifei. Even if sister is deeply favored by the Queen Mother today, it may be difficult for her to stop it alone in the future.

Instead of doing this, I should take on this responsibility, so that when the emperor gives her a higher title because of me, he will feel more helpless and guilty. The more these emotions accumulate, the more stable my position will be." Zhen Huan said slowly.

"Even though you have analyzed it so thoroughly, I am still confused. She is Hua Fei today, so wouldn't it be easy for her to be promoted to Gui Fei tomorrow? Although you have been cautious and planned carefully, she may not do as you wish. Every step she takes falls into your calculations!" Shen Meizhuang said worriedly.

"That's true. I don't know since when I became so calculating and my heart became selfish and cold. I know very well that I am no longer that pure and kind woman, but the reason why I do this is actually because of difficulties and reasons that are difficult to express immediately." Zhen Huan answered helplessly and deeply.

"Forget it, forget it. You always have your stance, and I have my confusion. There's no point in talking any more if we don't agree. Since you don't take this matter to heart, I don't need to worry about you anymore. Just leave." Shen Meizhuang sighed.

When Zhen Huan heard this, thousands of words surged in her heart, but it seemed as if something was blocking her and she couldn't speak.

"Sister, please trust me for once because we grew up together." This was all she could ask earnestly in the end.

A barely perceptible lingering look flashed across Shen Meizhuang's eyes, and she whispered, "Huan'er, I have been inseparable from you since childhood. I know that I am not as talented as you, and my appearance is also slightly inferior to yours, so I have determined to cultivate my moral character and strive to be gentle and virtuous.

You are good at dancing, so I studied the piano and never lost to you. After entering the palace, we relied on each other. Even though the emperor no longer favors me, I have never been jealous of you. "

She suddenly stared at Zhen Huan, with a faint smile on her lips, but it seemed to hide a bit of bitterness: "However, I don't know why, now when I look at you, I always feel that the distance between us is getting farther and farther.

You have the love of Doctor Wen, the favor of the Emperor, your father is also highly valued by the Emperor, and now you have the Seventh Prince. You seem to have everything, but I seem to have nothing. "

Her voice gradually became low, almost drowned out by the sound of the wind around her: "All I have is this endless emptiness and loneliness."

"I recall the time I spent with my sister when we were children. We would put folded paper boats into the water together. My nanny always said that if the paper boat floated far, I would marry far away, and if it floated near, I would marry near.

But my sister insisted that we should sail the same distance, hoping to marry into the same family, preferably a family of two brothers, so that we can accompany each other every day. "Zhen Huan looked up at Shen Meizhuang, and their eyes could not help but slightly reddened, "But now, although we see each other every day, our hearts seem to be drifting further and further apart. Sister, are you really going to become so estranged from me?"

Shen Meizhuang shook her head slightly, with a hint of helplessness and relief in her tone: "All good things must come to an end, so how can there be any saying of estrangement or not estrangement?"

She slowly lowered her eyelids and sighed, "You can go back. If you have nothing to do, you don't have to come here specially."

Zhen Huan turned away helplessly after hearing this, and said softly but firmly: "You will understand me one day."

Shen Meizhuang slightly turned her head to avoid Zhen Huan's gaze, and a complex smile appeared on the corner of her mouth, with a bit of emotion and sigh: "Maybe."

"Since my sister doesn't like to be disturbed, I will come to visit her when my wish comes true." Zhen Huan spoke softly. After she finished speaking, she glanced at Shen Meiyu, only to see that she was still immersed in her emotions and didn't want to meet her eyes.

Although Zhen Huan felt reluctant, she also knew that it was not appropriate to say too much at this moment, so she turned around gently and left slowly with a hint of loneliness and determination.