amaotonovel Chapter 148 The Spirit is Always There
Chapter 148 The Spirit is Always There
"Wan Chang Zai?" The emperor said calmly, "I sent the commander of the guards, but Wan Chang Zai's affairs are the harem's affairs, so give it to Concubine Fang."
Su Peisheng didn't even dare to raise his head and presented himself to Jiang Ruyin.
Jiang Ruyin looked at the thick stack of letters, her eyelids twitching, and she joked, "Then I'll have to hide for a while."
Jiang Ruyin opened the first letter and read only a few lines before putting it down. She then picked up an envelope that was placed aside.
Soon, Jiang Ruyin smiled slightly, "The two concubines are pregnant, but I haven't congratulated the emperor yet. Concubine Wan is now more than two months pregnant."
"Oh?" The emperor glanced at Concubine Guo who was standing there in a daze.
Guo Changzai hurriedly said, "I am already three months pregnant."
"Well, that's a good thing." The emperor said this, playing chess with himself, holding the white chess piece in one hand and the black chess piece in the other.
"It wasn't all good news. Concubine Wan had been ill for a long time and had passed out. A palace maid beside her had bumped into a guard's blade and was bleeding profusely. Furthermore, Concubine Wan was imprisoned in the Suiyu Pavilion, and no imperial physician dared to go. Fortunately, Imperial Physician Wen arrived in time, and Concubine Wan is much better now, but the palace maid has lost her life."
The emperor threw the black piece onto the chessboard. A few white jade pieces rolled down with a ticking sound, and the chess game that was about to end was suddenly broken.
"I only confined Concubine Wan to her house, but I didn't stop people from treating her! Also, why is it this Doctor Wen again?" The emperor's voice was filled with anger.
Guo Changzai seemed to be thinking about something.
Jiang Ruyin reached out and covered the back of the emperor's hand, soothing him gently, "Your Majesty, the best plan for now is to let Concubine Wan recover first. As for Doctor Wen, I think he just heard about the incident with the palace maid who got into trouble with the knife."
Wei Lin came to the Old Summer Palace with Concubine Lou, so naturally there was only Wen Shichu.
Seeing that Jiang Ruyin's words had eased the emperor's expression, Guo Changzai quickly echoed, "Yes, Your Majesty, the heir is the most important."
The emperor still frowned, "After all, Concubine Zhen is a concubine. Let the imperial physician take good care of her. Others should not go to Suiyuxuan."
Upon hearing this, Guo Changzai couldn't help but sit back on the embroidered cushion and cover her bulging belly with her hands.
Jiang Ruyin casually flipped through the stack of letters and presented them to the emperor. "These are letters written by Concubine Wan to His Majesty. They are filled with deep affection. Please take a look, Your Majesty."
The emperor pulled out the last letter, glanced at it from top to bottom, and sighed deeply, "If I had known this would happen, I wouldn't have done it in the first place!"
"Concubine Fang, please accompany me for a walk. You, go back to the palace." The emperor pointed at Concubine Guo and left with Jiang Ruyin.
Su Peisheng followed.
Seeing that no one was around, Concubine Guo swallowed her saliva and quickly glanced at the letter paper lying on the table:
Your Majesty,
"I, your concubine Zhen Huan, have lived in seclusion in the Suiyu Pavilion. As time passes, my longing for you grows ever deeper. I first met your majesty in the Imperial Gardens, the light of the flowers and the shadow of the moon acting as our matchmaker. Your majesty's love was profound, and my heart was captivated. I felt I had found my lifelong support, a harmonious marriage to look forward to."
Yet now I am trapped here, the summer cicadas chirping outside my pavilion all day long, a stark reminder of my loneliness. The cold nights drag on, and I find sleepless alone on my pillow. Every time I think of the joys I once enjoyed with your majesty, my tears wet my quilt. Your Majesty has not visited me for so long, and I fear deeply, fearing your grace has faded, leaving me alone in this lonely palace.
Although I am seriously ill, my longing for you has not diminished in the slightest. I hope that Your Majesty will remember our past friendship and visit Suiyuxuan so that I can see your face and enjoy your grace again. Then, even if I die, I will have no regrets.
Sincerely presented by Zhen Huan.
......
Tall bamboos sway in the breeze, their shadows swaying like rippling green waves. Lotus flowers bloom in the pond, their crimson skirts and green canopies gleaming in the sunlight, their fragrance growing ever more fragrant as it travels further, attracting bees and butterflies.
The emperor was in a very good mood after the walk, and sent Jiang Ruyin back to Shangxia Tianguang. Zhao Ling agreed to serve by her side and happily opened a few letters and read them.
During the day, Concubine Hua and Concubine Fang were by her side, and at night, Ling promised to serve her attentively. Concubine Guo seemed to be in a stable pregnancy. At five months pregnant, her belly was as big as a basket. The imperial physician said it was twins, and the emperor was even more proud.
A few days later, Zhen Huan's health gradually improved, and another letter was delivered to the Qinzheng Palace.
The emperor watched Zhen Huan speak with tears in her eyes, from the first time they met to her seclusion in Suiyu Pavilion, all of which were filled with resentment for not being able to get the love she wanted, which made the emperor feel deeply moved.
Turning to the next page made the emperor frown:
Your Majesty, your concubine, Zhen Huan, weeps and bows in humiliation. I know my sins are grave, my heart blinded by greed, and I have committed grave errors. I cannot face asking for Your Majesty's forgiveness. Every time I think of my past actions, I feel terrified and uneasy. I only wish to repent in this palace alone.
Yet, now pregnant with the heir of the Dragon Prince, the pain of my past miscarriage remains etched in my memory, and I fear a repeat of the same fate with this pregnancy. Recalling the gentle and virtuous Concubine Fang, whose care for the Sixth Prince and Concubine Qian is vivid in my mind, she radiates such loving care and thoughtfulness. I boldly request Your Majesty's permission to dispatch Concubine Fang to care for my unborn child, to ensure its well-being and the continued success of the royal bloodline.
I, your humble servant, bow down to you with great trepidation, and hope that Your Majesty will have mercy on me.
Respectfully Presented by Zhen Huan
Slamming the letter on the table, the emperor snorted coldly, "What are you talking about!"
He lifted the chin of Ling Ying, who was brewing tea with her head down.
"Tell me, if you were pregnant, who would you want to take care of your baby?"
Ling Da Ying was caught off guard by having her chin pinched. She lowered her head and didn't look at the emperor. "I dare not say much. If I am lucky enough to bear an imperial heir, I will definitely not ask any of the ladies to take care of me."
The emperor raised an eyebrow, "Why?"
"All the ladies are prudent, gentle, virtuous, and each has their own merits. They will naturally take good care of me in every way. If I ask for care from one of them, wouldn't that mean I am speaking ill of the others? What's more, pregnant women are inevitably delicate. Making this lady suffer is one thing, and making the others worry is another. Therefore, I dare not and will not say so." Ling agreed and told the story.
The emperor loosened his grip, clapped his hands, and praised, "You are the most obedient. I was wronged by agreeing to a position. From now on, you will be my spirit."
Ling Changzai hurriedly stood up and kowtowed, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. I will do my best to serve you and the ladies in the palace."
Ling Chang retreated to the side and continued to make tea.
The emperor didn't even pick up his pen, but called Su Peisheng over. "There hasn't been a small banquet in the palace for a long time. Ask Concubine Hua and Concubine Fang to host a dinner together. Concubine Wan's baby will be handed over to Concubine Duan."
After returning to Quyuan Hefeng, Ling Changzai finally had a sip of tea.
Meng ran out happily, "Congratulations, my lady! Congratulations, my lady! You've been promoted!"
Ling Chang chuckled softly, her red lips parted, the corners of her mouth slightly raised, and a smile spread across her face softly and lively like a stream breaking through the ice in spring.
"It's not a big deal. Take some silver and share it with the palace servants. Have fun."
Meng Huan agreed with a smile.
"There seems to be a small banquet in the garden soon. Please help me find that cloud-blue dress."
Meng Huan turned around to look for it, "Okay! Oh, right, the master sent a letter home, and I left it on your dressing table."
Ling Chang's smile froze, and a look of hesitation flashed across his eyes.