ebookland Chapter 314 Blocking Arrows
Chapter 314 Blocking Arrows
The crescent moon gradually rose higher, and the soft light gently pushed aside the heavy night that shrouded the Forbidden City, gently dyeing this majestic and solemn world into a hazy silver-white.
Moonlight meandered through the window, silently creeping onto the ground. The carvings on the window lattice were like loyal guards, trying to block the moonlight's footsteps, but only left behind the outlines of shadows of varying depths and shapes on the ground.
In the bedroom, candles burned all night, emitting a dim glow in the silent night. Suddenly, without warning, a slight "crackling" sound broke out, shattering the original silence.
An Lingrong slowly opened her eyes, a faint light flickering in the darkness. She first gathered her composure, then slowly shifted her gaze to the person beside her. With a hint of tentativeness, she gently called out, "Your Majesty?"
Yongzheng had his eyes closed peacefully, his face calm, his breathing even and steady, and he did not respond to her call.
An Lingrong frowned slightly, raised her voice a little, and called out again, "Your Majesty!"
There was still only deathly silence in the bedroom responding to her.
She then breathed a sigh of relief and felt relieved.
Then she gently rose, drew aside the curtain, and walked to the outer hall. She took down a delicate box from the antique display case, unearthed its contents, opened the compartment, and pulled out a mung bean-sized pill. Without hesitation, she placed the pill in her mouth and swallowed it. Then, just as she had done the moment she arrived, she quietly returned to her bed, lay down, and slowly closed her eyes.
It was still dark when Yongzheng woke up on time. As he just sat up, An Lingrong seemed to sense something in her sleep. She opened her eyes drowsily and saw that Yongzheng had gotten up, so she also hurriedly stood up.
"Your Majesty, I will help you change your clothes." An Lingrong said softly, her voice still lazily, as if she had not yet woken up.
Yongzheng nodded slightly, and An Lingrong took the court robes and helped him put them on.
Seeing her awkward and clumsy movements, Yongzheng did not urge her. After she finished dressing, Yongzheng took her hand and patted it gently: "Okay, you rest for a while, wait for me tonight."
"Yes!" An Lingrong raised her eyes and her gaze met Yongzheng's. There seemed to be stars twinkling in her eyes, full of attachment and affection. She looked as if the only person in the world who could enter her eyes and move her heartstrings was this person in front of her.
Yongzheng left the Yanx Palace contentedly.
In the following days, Yongzheng would call An Lingrong's name card every now and then. She became the most favored concubine in the harem, and rewards were sent to the Yanx Palace like water. Her place also became the most popular place after the Yongshou Palace.
In Yonghe Palace.
An Lingrong sat on the edge of the couch, a pair of dark circles under her eyes particularly eye-catching on her slightly pale face. She bent her arms, gently supporting her cheeks with her slender fingers, and fell into a vortex of contemplation.
She wondered in her heart whether her previous displays of coquettishness or weakness in front of Yongzheng had been too much, causing Yongzheng to have a different illusion and mistakenly take her somewhat deliberate flattery as sincerity.
She frowned slightly, a hint of worry flashing in her eyes. What if she played too much?
Seeing her little face as wrinkled as rice paper, Shen Meizhuang laughed secretly in her heart. She took the account book and tapped her forehead lightly: "What are you thinking about? You look so absent-minded."
An Lingrong was brought back to her senses by this. She drooped her head, looking listless, and said in a tone full of grievance, "Sister, I'm so tired. Every day, I can't sleep well at night, and I have to spend all day trying to deal with the emperor. Look at me, haven't I lost weight?"
As he spoke, he pointed to his cheek.
After hearing this, Shen Meizhuang put down the account book and moved closer, carefully examining her face. She nodded slightly and said, "Well, you seem to have lost some weight. I'll ask the kitchen to stew some tonic for you so you can take good care of yourself."
An Lingrong only sighed upon hearing this and said quietly, "Tonics can nourish the body, but not the heart!"
"Then what do you want to do?"
"Can I pretend to be sick?"
Shen Meizhuang raised her chin and said with a hint of teasing, "If you were sick, the emperor might be more diligent in visiting you!"
An Lingrong was speechless: "..."
What a annoying little goblin!
Seeing her like this, Shen Meizhuang smiled gently and said, "Okay, I'll ask the kitchen to make more of your favorite dishes later, okay?"
"it is good!"
Looking at Shen Meizhuang's peaceful face, An Lingrong's heart moved. She stood up and walked over to her side. She reached out and gently hugged her arm, shaking it slightly while coquettishly saying, "Sister, I want to eat lotus root starch and osmanthus sugar cake."
"Hey, don't you dislike eating this?" Shen Meizhuang tilted her head slightly and looked at her carefully.
"I want to eat now." An Lingrong pouted, with a stubborn childish look in her eyes.
"Okay, I'll do it for you!"
“Make more.”
"it is good!"
Shen Meizhuang responded and went to the small kitchen.
A quarter of an hour later, Shen Meizhuang walked into the hall carrying a plate of exquisite lotus root powder and osmanthus sugar cake, with a few beads of sweat on her face.
"Try it!"
An Lingrong took it and first sniffed it carefully. The elegant fragrance of osmanthus and the sweet fragrance of lotus root powder were intertwined together. Then she gently took a small bite and the delicate taste danced on the tip of her tongue.
Her lips moved slightly, and a satisfied expression appeared on her face. Her eyes, which were originally a little sad, were now illuminated by this sweetness, with a hint of smart brilliance. She mumbled incoherently, "Delicious."
Watching her movements, Shen Meizhuang showed a gentle smile on her face. She picked up a handkerchief to wipe the residue from the corner of her mouth, and then ordered: "Cai Xing, go and deliver a plate to Yongshou Palace."
Cai Xing thought for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, Concubine Xi is in the Yangxin Palace right now. Do you want to send her there?"
"Forget it, let's wait until she gets back!"
"No, sister, it won't taste good if it gets cold. Caixing, you go deliver it in person and say it's for the emperor!" An Lingrong shouted anxiously.
Shen Meizhuang finally understood why An Lingrong insisted on her making the snacks. She raised her hand and angrily said, "You little girl, you even dare to plot against me! I must beat you today!"
An Lingrong, however, was not afraid at all. Instead, she leaned forward and said with a playful smile, "Sister, you can hit me, but you have to help me today!"
"Alas, every day I have to deal with palace affairs, take care of Sixth Prince and Longyue, worry about Huan'er's pregnancy, and play with you. How can I have time to serve the emperor?"
"I have to get up before five every day to wait on him, and I have to rack my brains to say something to make him happy, for fear that I will make him think too much. I am really too tired, and my hair has been falling out in clumps these days. But I can't share this love with others, right? I will send Longyue and Liudan to Xianfu Palace later, so please help me! Sister~"
Shen Meizhuang sighed helplessly: "You! Alas... It's as if we are competing for favor. Aren't you afraid of being laughed at by everyone in the palace?"
An Lingrong, however, was nonchalant: "Just laugh. Whoever laughs the loudest is the stupidest."