jdhmnovel Chapter 362: Farewell Promise
Chapter 362: Farewell Promise
"Zhou Ninghai, there is a side hall in the back hall for people to rest. Help the prince over there quickly."
After being reminded by An Lingrong, Concubine Hua reluctantly spoke.
The floor tiles are very cold nowadays, and lying on the ground will definitely hurt.
She wanted to watch more of the excitement, but An Lingrong reminded her quietly, "Empress Hua, today is the last day of the wake. The Emperor will come over later to read the eulogy."
"You are right to remind me. I will have someone inform the emperor right away."
One of the two people who were mourning for the emperor was injured and the other fainted. This time he should personally experience the pain of her kneeling for half an hour.
An Lingrong noticed that Concubine Hua had a strange expression on her face, and while everyone's attention was still on the unconscious Prince Guo, she pinched her hard.
"hiss......"
Concubine Hua couldn't help but cry out in pain.
An Lingrong quickly helped her up and whispered something quickly.
"The Emperor is at the door."
Then she raised her voice again, "Sister Guifei, what's wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell?"
Concubine Hua, with tears in her eyes, shook her head, turned around and took the lead in paying her respects.
"I, my concubine, see you, Your Majesty."
"Just now, Prince Guo fainted while keeping vigil. I have already sent for the imperial physician."
"I ran into Songzhi when I came here, and heard what she said."
The emperor glanced around the hall and saw the exhaustion of the empress, concubines, ministers and their relatives.
"Noble Concubine Hua, you are not feeling well. Please follow me to the back to rest for a while."
It was indeed hard to keep vigil for the Empress Dowager, and even Hongli and Prince Guo, two grown men, couldn't endure it.
The emperor sent Su Peisheng to the side palace to guard Prince Guo, and signaled Nian Shilan to follow him.
"Noble Concubine Nian, the Empress Dowager's wake has lasted for almost a month. Thank you for your hard work."
"Your Majesty, I don't find it tiring. Keeping vigil for the Empress Dowager is what we, the younger generation, should do."
Concubine Hua pointed to the side hall and said, "I heard that Prince Guo likes to travel to famous rivers and mountains, but his body is too weak. He can't even compare to the old lady of the Fucha family."
"Perhaps he suffered too much outside. Prince Guo had a serious illness before the New Year, and he may not have recovered yet."
The emperor, whose health was the worst among all his brothers, tried to save his brother's reputation.
Seeing that Concubine Hua still had something to say, she quickly changed the subject.
"I called you here to give you something."
"This time, the vigil at Shoukang Palace has been truly arduous. Please prepare a suitable reward for the concubines, princes, princesses, clan members, and wives of the various families who participated in the vigil."
Concubine Hua looked up at the emperor in surprise, thinking that he was quite willing to do so this time.
Unexpectedly, the emperor added another sentence.
"When we purged the Imperial Household Department, we seized a lot of stuff. You can distribute it accordingly."
"I understand."
Concubine Hua responded gently.
The emperor still likes to speak in a roundabout way as always.
As soon as the arduous wake was over, Concubine Hua followed An Lingrong back to Yongshou Palace to pick up Anle.
As soon as she entered the main hall, she told An Lingrong about the emperor's request for rewards.
"Lingrong, what do you think the Emperor means? I don't think he seems very willing."
"Sister Nian, as the saying goes, thunder, lightning, rain and dew are all grace from the emperor. As long as it is a reward from the palace, no matter what it is, it is a great honor."
An Lingrong explained in a soft voice.
"The Emperor has always practiced frugality. Do you understand?"
Concubine Hua nodded heavily. After all, the emperor still couldn't bear to let her go.
"I have something else to do in the palace, so I'll take Anle back first."
"It's been tiring observing the mourning period this time. The greetings will begin in three days. Lingrong, you should take this opportunity to rest a bit."
"Thank you, Sister Nian, for your consideration."
Getting up early every day to rush to Shoukang Palace is really torturous.
When An Lingrong woke up, it was already bright outside the window, and she was so startled that she jumped up.
Then he thought that the wake was over and lay back down with peace of mind.
"Bao Que, what time is it?"
"My Lord, it's not even Si hour yet, you should get some more sleep. The Sixth Prince knows you've been working so hard, so he's taking the Eighth Prince and the Princess to study in the East Side Hall."
Baoque really feels sorry for his master.
The Empress and the young masters had been crying in Shoukang Palace. They had put on several layers of knee pads, but their knees were still red and swollen.
"Bao Que, you have slept long enough. Please help me get up."
An Lingrong came out from behind the curtain leisurely.
This was the first time she slept until dawn since entering the palace, and it looked like the sun was coming out outside.
"It's a nice, clear day today, let's ask the kitchen to make some more snacks."
An Lingrong gave the order with a smile.
I don’t know if there will be such a leisurely and good time in the future.
"Master, Bao Ge has been busy here since early morning with his men. The fragrance from the small kitchen has never ceased."
They all wanted to nourish their masters.
However, when to eat meat depends on the Yangxin Palace in front. Nanny Suo said that the mourning period in the palace is determined by the emperor.
Baoque decided that since the emperor's diet had changed, they should also change it a few days later.
It was a rare day of leisure, and An Lingrong walked around Yongshou Palace. When she was about to go to the study to practice calligraphy, Xiao Linzi came to report.
"Master, the Fourth Prince's concubine Yu requests an audience."
"Please invite someone in."
An Lingrong wanted to know why Yu Ying'er was standing in front of the Yongshou Palace in broad daylight.
After getting permission from the Empress, Yu Ying'er asked the accompanying eunuchs and palace maids to wait outside the door.
She took a deep breath and walked into the Yongshou Palace, which she had long wanted to see.
The golden glazed tiles sparkle in the sun, and against the backdrop of the vermilion palace walls, they highlight the royal nobility.
As the rumors spread among the palace people, Concubine Shu was indeed deeply favored by the Emperor.
After Yu Ying'er stepped into the main hall, she didn't dare to look around.
She bowed her head respectfully.
"I, your servant, pay my respects to Her Majesty the Imperial Concubine Shu. May Her Majesty be blessed with good health and happiness."
"You're pregnant, so don't be so polite. Come and sit down."
An Lingrong smiled and pointed to the couch next to her.
"The small kitchen made some pastries today. Take a look at which ones suit your taste and use more."
"When I first became pregnant, I just wanted to eat some delicious snacks."
"Thank you for your consideration, ma'am."
Yu Ying'er took a piece of osmanthus cake closest to her.
As soon as she put the soft pastry, which was sweet but not greasy and had the fragrance of osmanthus, into her mouth, she quickened her chewing speed.
Seeing that she liked it, An Lingrong pushed the plate of osmanthus cake in front of her to her and poured her a cup of osmanthus honey.
Yu Ying'er smiled and finished two small plates of osmanthus cake and a cup of osmanthus honey.
"My lady, I am sorry for my impoliteness."
"You're taking supplements for two people now, so you really need to eat more. But it's best to follow your doctor's advice for your diet later on."
An Lingrong generously shared her experience during pregnancy.
"Is there something you need to see me today?"
"Your Majesty, I have already gone to the Yangxin Palace to bid farewell to the Fourth Prince. I have come to the harem to thank the two noble concubines for their care."
Yu Ying'er gently touched her belly, exuding tenderness all over her body.
"Your Majesty, for the sake of this child, I swear that the Fourth Prince will never be able to set foot in the palace again in this lifetime."