jdhmnovel Chapter 230 The Legend of Zhen Huan, Consort Qi 43
Chapter 230 The Legend of Zhen Huan, Consort Qi 43
Amidst the power struggles of the imperial harem, Zhen Huan became increasingly aware of her isolated and helpless situation. She knew that in order to gain a foothold in this complex environment, she had to expand her own power.
So, taking advantage of the Emperor's visit to Yongshou Palace, she pleaded for Shen Meizhuang.
At this time, under the care of Consort Duan, Princess Longyue was growing up healthy and happy.
Shen Meizhuang had been confined to her quarters for almost half a year. In order to save face for the Shen family, the Emperor lifted her confinement, but did not restore her rank. Shen Meizhuang is still the lowest-ranking concubine.
In the Broken Jade Pavilion, Cai Xing, her face beaming with joy, ran into the side hall and excitedly shouted, "My lady, my lady, hurry and receive the imperial decree! Eunuch Xia, who serves the Emperor, has arrived!"
Shen Meizhuang put down the needlework she was doing, puzzled. She only knew that the Emperor had a chief eunuch, Su Peisheng, but she didn't remember having a eunuch named Xia.
Cai Xing quickly explained, "He is Eunuch Su's apprentice. Eunuch Su retired from the palace, and Eunuch Xia took over his position."
"My lady, let's get ready quickly. Maybe the Emperor has calmed down and lifted our confinement." Caiyue said as she straightened Shen Meizhuang's clothes.
But they really had nothing to pack. Shen Meizhuang's clothes hadn't been changed in more than half a year, so Caiyue could only try her best to smooth out the wrinkles.
When the three arrived at the courtyard of Suiyu Pavilion, Xia Zhongyi's son, Xia Zi, was standing there with a smug look on his face.
Looking back, when his master Su Peisheng was still alive, he was just a lowly eunuch. Back then, Suiyuxuan was always bustling with activity, but now everything has changed.
Caiyue asked, "Eunuch Xia, does His Majesty have any decrees?" As she spoke, she handed over a purse.
Xia Zhongyi accepted the document with a calm expression and announced loudly, "Convey the Emperor's decree!" Shen Meizhuang, along with Caiyue and Caixing, hurriedly knelt down in the direction of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
"I agree to Shen's request. Although it may seem like it could harm her offspring, the six-month confinement shows she has shown remorse. Considering her sincerity, I hereby release her from confinement. I hope she will not repeat the same mistake." Xia Zhongyi read aloud.
“Rise, Miss Shen. I have delivered His Majesty’s decree,” Xia Zhongyi continued.
"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty." Shen Meizhuang bowed deeply towards the Hall of Mental Cultivation, her face filled with joy. The lifting of her confinement was a crucial turning point for her.
After Xia Zhongyi left, Caixing said happily, "Congratulations, Your Highness! Once the Emperor knows how good Your Highness is, you will surely regain his favor."
Although Shen Meizhuang was happy, she quickly calmed down. She still harbored resentment towards the Emperor, but she also understood that without his favor, she would forever remain a concubine.
"Alright, the lifting of the restrictions on Suiyu Pavilion is a good thing. Let's go back to the palace first," Shen Meizhuang said with a smile.
After the news spread, Zhen Huan sent a palace maid to Suiyu Pavilion at noon to deliver something to Shen Meizhuang.
However, this young palace maid was quite ambitious, and the palace maids and eunuchs of Yongshou Palace were now somewhat restless.
When Jinxi was around, she could keep everyone in check, but Xiaoyunzi was mainly responsible for gathering information and other matters, and couldn't help much with management.
Huanbi was arrogant and looked down on others, and her subordinates all followed suit. After all, Yongshou Palace was currently the most favored palace.
As soon as the young palace maid arrived at Suiyu Pavilion, she emphasized that Consort Xuan was very kind and compassionate and had pleaded for Shen Meizhuang, asking Shen Meizhuang not to forget this kindness. Upon hearing this, Shen Meizhuang's expression immediately turned ugly.
After the maid left, Caiyue couldn't help but complain, "Hmph, the maids of Yongshou Palace are so arrogant, they look down on everyone."
Shen Meizhuang sat at the head of the table with a sullen face and said softly, "After all, I am just a lowly concubine now."
"My lady, why be discouraged? Once you regain the emperor's favor, you will surely be promoted to the rank of concubine or imperial consort," Caixing comforted her.
"Alright, be careful, walls have ears. Things are different now than before, so you all need to be cautious in your actions," Shen Meizhuang cautioned.
……
The somber atmosphere at Suiyuxuan did not diminish the lively atmosphere at Yongshou Palace in the slightest.
It has been almost two months since Prince Guo married his primary wife, Meng Jingxian. Huanbi, as a princess bestowed upon Prince Guo by the Emperor, is now marrying into Prince Guo's mansion.
Huanbi wore a pink wedding robe, because a princess was not entitled to wear bright red, nor did she have a grand wedding or a lavish dowry.
However, in order to give Huanbi enough dignity, Zhen Huan asked the Emperor for a favor, allowing Huanbi to change her name to Zhen Yuyin, become the goddaughter of the Zhen family, marry out of Yongshou Palace, and even added a dowry for her, and personally saw her off.
"Now, you've finally made it through the tough times." Zhen Huan's face was full of bitterness.
Huanbi hesitated, then said, "Sister, I know these things were taken from you, but..."
"Alright, I know it's impossible for us to be together. I just hope you can live a good life together. Meng Jingxian is the primary consort, you must respect her and not make enemies with her. I can't help you much in this deep palace, you'll have to rely on yourself from now on." Zhen Huan looked at Huan Bi and said earnestly.
"Don't worry, sister." Huanbi didn't say anything more, but nodded solemnly.
Zhen Huan picked up the bridal veil and gently covered Huan Bi's face with it. With the help of the nanny, Huan Bi sat in the sedan chair.
The sedan chair swayed and walked away into the distance. Zhen Huan's eyes were filled with tears. With Huan Bi's marriage, the last bit of affection between her and the prince had completely dissipated.
Zhen Yurao stood silently beside Zhen Huan. She could sense the tacit understanding between Huanbi and her sister. Her mother had also told her that Huanbi was her half-sister.
Huanbi is now married, but her own marriage is still nowhere in sight, and the Emperor has not yet issued an edict to pardon her father's crimes. Her father is still suffering in Ningguta.
Zhen Huan certainly wanted to find an opportunity to plead for her father, but too many things had happened since she became pregnant, and the Emperor's affection for her had gradually faded. Now was clearly not a good time.
She felt the best opportunity was to wait until the twins turned one year old, and then, using the fact that the prince and princess's maternal family was still considered criminals and that it wouldn't sound good to others, she could ask the emperor to pardon their father.
"Let's go in," Zhen Huan said, taking Zhen Yu Rao's hand.
She was hoping to use scar-reducing gel to fade the scars on Zhen Yu Rao's face, but unfortunately, the formula for this scar-reducing gel was probably only known to the Empress and An Ling Rong, and these two were her mortal enemies, so it was probably impossible for her to get the formula.
Moreover, the imperial physicians at the Imperial Hospital said that even with scar-reducing gel, it couldn't completely eliminate the scars; it could only lighten them. Zhen Huan couldn't think of any other solution for the time being, so she had to abandon the idea.