SFS Chapter 239 Wan Wan
Chapter 239 Wan Wan
After leaving the Yangxin Palace, Shen Meizhuang couldn't wait to grab An Lingrong's hand, her expression anxious: "Rong'er, let's go to Suiyuxuan!"
An Lingrong broke free from Shen Meizhuang's hand, gently helped her tighten her cloak, and said slowly, "Sister, I won't go!"
Shen Meizhuang asked in astonishment: "Why?"
"She and I have nothing more to say to each other!" An Lingrong turned her head away, a hint of sadness in her tone.
"You..." Shen Meizhuang hesitated to speak, her brows tightly furrowed.
"Sister, go quickly. I'll wait for you at Yonghe Palace!" After saying this, An Lingrong turned around and walked in the opposite direction, with Yu Lin following closely behind her.
Wei Lin spoke cautiously: "My Lady, what's the method?"
An Lingrong took out a piece of paper and handed it to him. "This is the method, but you have to implement it in detail."
"I will definitely live up to your Majesty's trust!" Wei Lin's voice trembled. He lifted up his robe and knelt directly in the snow.
"Don't forget what you said!"
"Yes!"
When she returned to Yonghe Palace, the decree to make her a concubine had already spread throughout the six palaces.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty, on your promotion to the position of concubine." The servants in the palace knelt respectfully in front of her and said in unison.
"Okay! There will be a reward later!" An Lingrong was not interested and was a little listless. She just responded casually and walked into the hall on her own.
Shen Meizhuang, wearing a cloak and a hat covering her head, braved the heavy snow and arrived at Suiyuxuan. At this time, the door had already opened a narrow gap.
The yard was very quiet, with only the rustling sound of falling snowflakes being clearly audible.
Outside the palace, Huanbi's eyes were red and swollen, and tears still stained her face. Seeing Shen Meizhuang, she hurried over, her voice choking with sobs: "This servant pays respects to the Empress!"
Shen Meizhuang asked anxiously, "Where's Huan'er? How is she?"
"The queen is in the bedroom, she has been crying, please go and comfort her!"
Arriving at the bedroom, Zhen Huan was lying on the bed with her eyes closed, her face as pale as paper, her brow furrowed. Soon, a single tear slipped quietly from the corner of her eye and slowly flowed down her cheek.
Shen Meizhuang's heart felt like it was stabbed by a sharp knife, the pain making her breath stagnate. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she reached out and gently wiped away Zhen Huan's tears.
Zhen Huan felt someone around, but still didn't open her eyes. She just tilted her head slightly, as if she was avoiding something.
"Huan'er." Shen Meizhuang called softly.
Hearing the familiar voice, Zhen Huan suddenly opened her eyes. Seeing the person in front of her, the emotions that she had been suppressing suddenly burst out. She could no longer hold back and threw herself into Shen Meiyu's arms and burst into tears.
"Cry, cry!" Shen Meizhuang stroked Zhen Huan's hair and comforted her softly.
Zhen Huan raised her head after crying enough, her eyes red and swollen like two ripe peaches: "Sister Mei, how did you get in?"
"Rong'er's idea!"
"Where is she?" A hint of anticipation flashed in Zhen Huan's eyes.
Shen Meizhuang stopped talking and just sighed softly.
Zhen Huan understood what Shen Meizhuang meant, and tears began to fall uncontrollably, "She's very disappointed in me, isn't she?"
"In order to prevent what happened today, she thought of many ways, but, alas... no matter what, you have to take care of the baby in your belly!" Shen Meizhuang's voice was full of heartache and helplessness.
"I know, I know!" Zhen Huan nodded repeatedly, her tears soaking Shen Meizhuang's clothes.
Shen Meizhuang looked at Zhen Huan with concern: "Don't overthink it. The most important thing is to take good care of the baby. Everything will be fine once the emperor calms down."
Zhen Huan sat there in despair, the confusion and pain in her eyes tinging the cold palace with sorrow. She clutched the corner of her clothes tightly and asked again, "Sister Mei, do you think the Emperor really has no affection for me?"
Shen Meizhuang felt a pang of bitterness at the sight of Zhen Huan, and a sense of disappointment. She couldn't help but raise her voice, "At this point, you're still asking this question?"
"Your Majesty and I, with so much affection and so much sweetness, don't you have even a shred of true love?"
Seeing Zhen Huan's face pale, like a piece of shaky thin paper, Shen Meizhuang couldn't help but lower her voice: "Huan'er, don't be confused anymore, how much is the emperor's friendship worth?
Look at Concubine Duan, she was so miserable because of them, did the emperor ever truly pity her? And Concubine Jing, she has been lonely in this palace for many years, has the emperor ever given her true warmth? As for me, I have long been heartbroken by the emperor's coldness. And Rong'er, has she ever received a single ounce of true love from the emperor?
Shen Meizhuang gently grasped Zhen Huan's slightly trembling hand, looking at her firmly, and continued, "You are about to give birth. The child is your hope. In the future, with the child by your side, and with us sisters by your side, we can enjoy flowers, drink tea, play cards, and sing together. You can still live a happy life. Isn't such a life good? Why torture yourself so much for the emperor's illusory love?"
She exerted more and more force in her hands, as if she wanted to pass her strength and courage to Zhen Huan through these hands, so that she could break free from the quagmire of pain.
"But I can't accept it. He's been so nice to me, is he just lying to me? I want to hear him say with my own ears that he has no feelings for me at all!"
"You..." Shen Meizhuang was speechless. Only now did she understand why Rong'er was unwilling to come!
"Huan'er, I know you're upset, but you need to wake up! Whether it's true or false, you should see through it now. Why do you insist on hearing his heartless words with your own ears? It only adds to your sadness."
Zhen Huan's tears fell onto the brocade quilt, and she murmured, "Forget it, forget it, Wanwan. In the emperor's mind, I am just a substitute for Queen Chunyuan!"
"It doesn't matter. We have to look forward!"
"Sister Mei, I will think about it carefully!"
Shen Meizhuang nodded, stood up and called Jinxi: "Jinxi, how is the food and clothing supply at Suiyuxuan now?"
Jin Xi bowed slightly and replied, "My lady, the supplies are quite complete. The newly appointed head steward of the Imperial Household Department seems sensible and has been very polite to our Sui Yu Xuan. He even specifically instructed us to inform the eunuch outside the door if we need anything."
Shen Meizhuang felt relieved and called Su Ye again to ask about Zhen Huan's health.
Su Ye's eyes flickered as she replied vaguely, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. Concubine Wan's pregnancy is in good condition."
Shen Meizhuang was so smart that she noticed Su Ye's abnormality at first sight. She calmly found an excuse and called Su Ye out of the hall.
As soon as they were alone, Shen Meizhuang grabbed Su Ye's arm and lowered her voice: "How is Huan'er? Don't hide it from me!"
Su Ye's eyes were filled with worry. "Your Majesty, Concubine Wan was frightened today, and her fetal movements are very uneasy. I just took your pulse and found signs of premature labor. I'm afraid you'll give birth in the next few days!"
Shen Meizhuang's expression suddenly changed: "What? Is there any other way to stabilize it?"
Su Ye shook her head helplessly: "I will do my best to protect the fetus, but my lady, we must make preparations early, just in case!"
Shen Meizhuang took a deep breath and said, "Okay! Go back and take good care of Huan'er first. I'll make the arrangements."