jdhmnovel Chapter 210 The Legend of Zhen Huan, Consort Qi 23
Chapter 210 The Legend of Zhen Huan, Consort Qi 23
In the dilapidated meditation room, two young women sat facing each other: on one side was the elegant and dignified Shen Meizhuang, and on the other was Zhen Huan, dressed in a gray cotton robe.
The meditation room was simply furnished, with only a few rays of sunlight filtering through the window adding a touch of warmth to the otherwise desolate space.
The two spoke in hushed tones, their words revealing both the warmth and anxiety of their long-awaited reunion.
Shen Meizhuang and Zhen Huan had a long private conversation. Finally, Zhen Huan couldn't help but ask, "Meizhuang, how did you get out? The palace is heavily guarded; how could you escape so easily?"
Shen Meizhuang's eyes flickered, and she lowered her voice as if afraid of being overheard: "Huan'er, since you have already noticed, I will no longer hide it from you. I had Wen Shichu give Princess Longyue some medicine to make her feverish, and I also bribed the monks in Baohua Palace. Under the pretext of performing a ritual for the deceased, I was able to leave the palace to see you."
Upon hearing this, Zhen Huan's face turned deathly pale. Princess Longyue was her own daughter; how could she not be extremely anxious? She asked urgently, "How is Princess Longyue? Is she alright?"
Shen Meizhuang quickly reassured her, "Don't worry, Longyue is fine. Wen Shichu has been taking care of her the whole time, and her fever should break today."
Hearing that Wen Shichu was taking care of Princess Longyue, Zhen Huan finally felt relieved. She knew that Wen Shichu's medical skills were superb, and Princess Longyue would definitely be fine in his care.
However, Shen Meizhuang must have gone to great lengths to leave the palace for something more urgent. Zhen Huan frowned and asked, "Why did you take such a risk? What could have happened?"
Shen Meizhuang remained silent for a moment before finally making up her mind and saying, "It's your father. He's critically ill in Ningguta, and your sister... is disfigured."
Zhen Huan was struck dumb, covering her mouth and shaking her head in disbelief: "Father has always been in good health, how could he suddenly become so ill? And my sister... how could she be disfigured?"
Shen Meizhuang sighed, "Although my uncle was exiled to Ningguta, he has always been in good health. I hesitated for a long time, wondering whether I should tell you. Telling you would only make you more sad. But after thinking it over, I was really worried about my uncle's safety, so I risked coming here."
Zhen Huan was in a state of turmoil. She had chosen to fake her death and live in Jiangnan after Prince Guo returned, because her father was healthy. Now that her father was seriously ill, what should she do? She felt more helpless and guilty than ever before.
Shen Meizhuang grasped Zhen Huan's hand, her tone heavy: "The problem is, if all of this is fate, then so be it; but if it is man-made, then that is truly terrifying."
Zhen Huan felt a chill run down her spine, already guessing who was behind it all. Shen Meizhuang pointed it out directly: "I'm afraid it's the Empress's doing."
Zhen Huan smiled bitterly, her eyes filled with helplessness and resentment: "I didn't expect that even after so much time has passed, the Empress still wouldn't let me go."
Zhen Huan was under immense pressure. The Empress's relentless pressure was driving her to the brink of collapse. She murmured, "The Zhen family has already been exiled to Ningguta, and I have also left the palace to become a nun. Why does the Empress still insist on pressuring me so relentlessly?"
Shen Meizhuang looked at Zhen Huan with sympathy and worry in her eyes. She analyzed softly, "The next person the Empress will deal with is probably you."
After Shen Meizhuang left, Zhen Huan sat alone in the meditation room, her heart unable to find peace for a long time.
That night, she learned that she was pregnant, and her heart was filled with mixed feelings. When Jinxi found out, her face showed joy. She had watched Zhen Huan leave the palace in sorrow and now live under the emperor's surveillance. She had always hoped that Zhen Huan could have someone to rely on. Now that she had Prince Guo's child, perhaps Zhen Huan could leave this miserable Ganlu Temple.
However, Zhen Huan waited in vain for Prince Guo's return, and she became increasingly anxious and her face grew more and more haggard. When the people sent by the Emperor saw this, they were worried that something had happened to Zhen Huan, so they asked Jinxi to go and invite the imperial physician. Naturally, the imperial physicians would not treat a deposed concubine. When Wen Shichu learned of this, he volunteered to go.
Wen Shichu changed into casual clothes and came to Qingliangtai. Qingliangtai was increasingly desolate, and its former prosperity was long gone.
After examining Zhen Huan's pulse, he was shocked to discover that she was pregnant. However, out of affection for Zhen Huan, Wen Shichu chose to conceal the truth and willingly became her support.
With the persuasion of Huanbi and Jinxi, Zhen Huan finally decided to return to the palace. Although she was being watched by the Emperor's men, as long as she revealed a little information and took advantage of the fact that Jinxi and Su Peisheng were from the same hometown, her return to the palace might be possible.
In the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Su Peisheng received a message from Jinxi and was overjoyed. He had thought there was no possibility of him and Jinxi ever meeting again, but he never expected that Jinxi would reciprocate his feelings.
However, getting Consort Wan back to the palace was no easy task. The Emperor's most favored concubine was Consort Jin, and there were many obstacles to Consort Wan's return. Nevertheless, Su Peisheng decided to take advantage of the Emperor's trust in him and try to make the matter happen.
On the second day of the second lunar month, when the dragon raises its head, Su Peisheng led the emperor to Ganlu Temple. Everything fell into place, and the emperor and Zhen Huan reunited, rekindling their old feelings.
When Wen Yuan learned of this, she sneered inwardly. She had long been disillusioned with the Emperor and used the Illusionary Soul Pill to serve him in bed. She despised the Emperor's behavior.
"Isn't the Emperor afraid of retribution for committing such immoral acts in a temple?" Wen Yuan thought to herself, her eyes full of sarcasm.
After the second day of the second lunar month, the Emperor intended to let Zhen Huan return to the palace. Wen Yuan pretended to agree, but she had other plans in mind. Only by letting Zhen Huan reach the top and then fall hard could she be heartbroken. Wen Yuan's perverse sense of humor became more and more intense.
“Since Your Majesty is so inclined, why not find a suitable time to bring Consort Wan back to the palace?” Wen Yuan said gently, but a hint of coldness flashed in her eyes.
The Emperor took Wen Yuan's hand and said with satisfaction, "Wen Yuan understands my heart best. However, I'm afraid the Empress Dowager, the Empress, and the officials of the previous dynasty will have some objections."
Wen Yuan chuckled lightly, her tone relaxed: "The Emperor is the ruler of the world, how can he be dictated by others? Since the Emperor has made up his mind, it would be better to make arrangements as soon as possible and bring Consort Wan back to the palace directly, catching them off guard. Even if someone objects, it will be too late."
The Emperor was surprised by Wen Yuan's suggestion. After careful consideration, he felt that the method was feasible.
However, he still had concerns: "In this way, the ceremony for Consort Wan's return to the palace will not be grand. I promised her that I would return to the palace in a grand manner."
Wen Yuan tilted her head, feigning innocence, and said, "After Consort Wan returned to the Emperor's side, she had all the riches and honors she deserved. Why bother with these empty formalities? Your Majesty, don't you agree?"
Upon hearing this, the Emperor felt enlightened and smiled, saying, "Wen Yuan is absolutely right. It's getting late, let's get some rest."
The following day, the Emperor adopted Wen Yuan's suggestion and decided to bring Zhen Huan back to the palace directly. He went to Shou Kang Palace to explain the matter to the Empress Dowager.
After hearing this, the Empress Dowager pondered. She had always worried that Yixiu was weak and powerless in the harem and could not compete with Consort Jin. If Zhen Huan returned to the palace, she could take away Consort Jin's favor, and Yixiu could sit back and watch the two fight.
The Empress Dowager readily agreed, and the Emperor immediately issued an edict ordering the Imperial Household Department to arrange for Consort Wan's return to the palace.
When Yixiu learned of this, she was the last one left. She rushed to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to see the Emperor, her heart filled with resentment and unwillingness. She never expected that Zhen Huan would have such means, still able to seduce the Emperor back after being away from the palace for many years.
Yi Xiu thought to herself with resentment: "I have been too careless all these years, and I have given Zhen Huan an opportunity to take advantage of me."