ebookland Chapter 302 Showing Weakness
Chapter 302 Showing Weakness
Longyue blinked her large eyes, a look of childlike innocence and understanding in them. She took a small step forward, approached Zhen Huan, and stretched out her small hand to gently wipe away the tears that were about to fall from her eyes. "Mother said that you left the palace because you prayed that all children like Wanwan would grow up safely. That's why you didn't accompany Wanwan. Wanwan also likes you!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Longyue stood on tiptoe again, leaned forward, and gently approached Zhen Huan's face. She closed her eyes, pouted her pink lips, and placed a soft kiss on Zhen Huan's cheek.
Zhen Huan hugged Longyue tightly, feeling the warmth from her small body. After a long moment, she finally let go of Longyue, looked into her eyes, and said, "Longyue, Empress Xi will make it up to you in the future. Would you like to come here often?"
Long Yue's eyes sparkled, as if they contained countless stars. She tilted her head and thought for a moment before asking crisply, "Yes, but can my brother and sister come with us? I want to play with them."
Zhen Huan raised her lips into a gentle smile and gently stroked Long Yue's hair, "Of course."
"Then I have to go back home tonight. I can't sleep without my mother telling me stories!"
"Okay! Let's make a deal."
"it is good!"
After saying this, An Lingrong thought for a moment and then said, "Sister Zhen, you haven't paid your respects to the Queen Mother since returning to the palace, right?"
"I'll go soon!" Zhen Huan nodded: "Xiao Yunzi has already told me what happened to you in the Cining Palace last time!"
When this matter was mentioned, a hint of anger appeared in Zhen Huan's eyes.
"The Empress Dowager has probably already come to her senses about what happened last time and knows that I set a trap for her. However, the Emperor has already issued an order forbidding me from going to the Cining Palace, so she can't touch me for the time being. So when you go to pay your respects this time, she's afraid she'll do everything she can to make things difficult for you. Do you want Sister Mei to go with you so she can look after you?"
Zhen Huan looked calm: "Let's not do that! If we go together, it will seem more like a demonstration. After all, I'm back and pregnant with the heir, so the Queen Mother can't do anything to me."
An Lingrong seemed to be thinking about something, and after a moment she said, "Then you should show weakness in front of the Queen Mother, retreat in order to advance, and avoid a direct conflict."
"I know what to do!" Zhen Huan nodded slightly, and a sharp light suddenly flashed in her eyes.
She stood up and said, "Jinxi, help me change my clothes!"
An Lingrong pondered for a moment, then beckoned Huanbi to come closer, instructing her, "Huanbi, go to Cining Palace with your sister. If anything seems amiss, report back immediately. Also, Sister Zhen is pregnant, so be extra careful. On your way, even if it means taking a longer detour, be sure to avoid Chuxiu Palace."
Seeing her serious expression, Huanbi did not dare to take it lightly, "Yes, I will remember it!"
After changing clothes, Zhen Huan said gently: "Rong'er, you rest here for a while and wait for me to come back!"
An Lingrong nodded.
Zhen Huan sat in the sedan chair, her fingers tapping unconsciously on the armrests, her face showing a gloomy expression.
As soon as we entered the Cining Palace, a maid came into the hall to report.
The Queen Mother was half lying on the bed with her eyes closed. After listening to the report, her eyebrows moved slightly, but she did not say anything.
Zhen Huan stood outside the palace and waited quietly. She knew that this was a warning from the Queen Mother, so she was not in a hurry and continued to stand there with dignity.
If you have the guts, let me stand for a day.
Inside the room, Zhu Xi pondered for a moment before softly speaking to the Empress Dowager, "Empress Dowager, Concubine Xi is pregnant. If anything goes wrong, it will be difficult to explain to the Emperor."
After hearing this, the Queen Mother slowly opened her eyes and uttered a few words: "Let her in."
Upon hearing the news, Zhen Huan slowly entered the palace, respectfully lifted her skirt, and knelt on the ground, saying softly, "Your servant pays homage to the Queen Mother. May the Queen Mother be in good health and blessed for eternity."
"Are you back?" The Queen Mother asked calmly without even raising her eyelids, her tone as if Zhen Huan had just gone on a long journey.
"Yes. I pray for the Empress Dowager every day in Ganlu Temple, and may the Buddha bless her with good health. I have also hand-copied the Diamond Sutra, offered it before the Buddha, and consecrated it, and presented it to the Empress Dowager. I hope the Empress Dowager will not despise it!"
Huanbi behind him respectfully raised a book above her head.
Zhuxi received the signal, took the scripture, opened it and placed it in front of the empress dowager.
The Empress Dowager glanced at her calmly and said, "Concubine Xi is very thoughtful. Are you used to living in Yongshou Palace?"
"Yongshou Palace is too luxurious, and I feel very uneasy."
“Although it’s luxurious, it’s nothing if the emperor wants to pamper you!”
"I am terrified."
Seeing Zhen Huan's submissive expression, the Queen Mother snorted coldly, "No wonder the Emperor still can't stop thinking about her even after being in Ganlu Temple for so long. She's really learned the art of seducing the Emperor."
Zhen Huan replied calmly, "I was a criminal. The Emperor, mindful of our past friendship, came to Ganlu Temple to visit me. I was deeply grateful. I never expected that I would become pregnant. The Emperor, concerned that the prince would be of royal blood, could not bear to see him living in exile, so he showed me special pity."
The Empress Dowager stared at Zhen Huan with a sharp gaze, "Then tell me honestly, was the Emperor's visit to Ganlu Temple a chance encounter between you and the Emperor, or was it a deliberate scheme orchestrated by you and Concubine Wen to regain His Majesty's favor?"
"I dare not. This matter has nothing to do with Concubine Wen. I have been in Ganlu Temple, chanting scriptures and praying day and night. I have never dared to have any false thoughts. I only hope to wash away my sins and live the rest of my life in peace. Concubine Wen went to Ganlu Temple only to retrieve something. She heard that I was ill, so she went to visit me. After returning to the palace, the emperor pressed her, and she was forced to reveal my recent situation. That's how the emperor went to Ganlu Temple."
After saying this, Zhen Huan's shoulders trembled slightly, as if she was trying hard to suppress the sadness and fear in her heart.
The Queen Mother was silent for a long time, as if pondering the truth of Zhen Huan's words. After a moment, she slowly spoke: "In that case, I have wronged you and Concubine Wen!"
"The Empress Dowager and the Emperor are mother and son, and everything is done with the Emperor in mind. I, the concubine, will not have to worry about that."
The Queen Mother narrowed her eyes slightly and asked with a scrutinizing tone, "Back then, you insisted on leaving the palace to cultivate, even abandoning your newborn daughter. Why are you willing to reconcile with the Emperor now?"
Zhen Huan took a deep breath, a trace of reminiscence and pain flashing in her eyes. She slowly said, "Your Majesty is the ruler of a country, not my husband. When I insisted on leaving the palace that day, I was truly disheartened, believing that Your Majesty had no feelings for me anymore. During my time in Ganlu Temple, I was accompanied by the ancient Buddha and the green lamp every day, my heart filled with despair for the past.
But when the Emperor personally visited me at Ganlu Temple, I realized he still harbored feelings for me. Now that I've been fortunate enough to return to the palace, I have no other desires but to cherish this lost and regained connection, to serve the Emperor and the Empress Dowager with peace of mind, to atone for past mistakes, and to secure a peaceful life for the Princess and her unborn child.
(A question for my fellow book lovers: Is it true that there are no advertisements in this book now?)