Chapter 44

Chapter 44: Blending Huanyi Incense People lack imagination when it comes to things they have never seen, experienced, or heard of. Just as Nian Shilan and the Empress, no matter how clever, could only guess that Sun Miaoqing had been reborn, without ever considering that this person had traveled from the 21st century. Similarly, Nian Shilan would never imagine that one person could hear another's innermost thoughts. Even if such a notion crossed her mind, she would only think that person was skilled at reading expressions. And An Lingrong was precisely such a person. Thus, Nian Shilan did not dwell on it further. An Lingrong stammered nervously, "Changzai Gong... Changzai Gong often... often tells this concubine about... about Your Highness..." She had never expected this turn of events and was completely unprepared. Now, in her nervousness, she could not fabricate a convincing excuse. What should she do? Speak, Lingrong, don't be nervous, speak! If you don't speak now, you'll be exposed! An Lingrong cheered herself on inwardly. 【Truly born of humble origins, even answering a question is so halting, unable to conceal her lowly upbringing. No wonder the Emperor treats you like a little pet—a cat, a dog, or a plaything.】 In the Emperor's eyes, did she not even count as a person? An Lingrong felt even more insignificant. 【However, holding such a poor hand of cards yet managing to overturn the entire harem single-handedly is no ordinary feat.】 【Could it be that Sun Miaoqing sees An Lingrong as useful and deliberately slandered me in front of her, trying to win her over? Yet this An Lingrong is inherently rebellious and instead came to Yikun Palace?】 Since Consort Hua had already thought up a reason for her, then— Sorry, Sun Miaoqing! "Changzai Gong often insinuates that Your Highness... Your Highness has a strong personality and advises this concubine to keep my distance. But these days, coming to Yikun Palace to pay respects, I've observed... Your Highness may seem domineering, yet you are genuinely sincere and true to your nature. This concubine comes from a lowly background and dares not presume to climb high, but I am willing to serve Your Highness with utmost loyalty." An Lingrong feared that Consort Hua would detect her lie, her hands trembling uncontrollably. She now felt somewhat relieved. Relieved that her humble origins meant Her Highness would likely only see her as unfit for grand occasions, without suspecting anything else. 【Indeed, nothing escapes my discerning eye!】 【I knew it was that wretched Sun Miaoqing!】 An Lingrong breathed a slight sigh of relief. 【I am not like that wretch Zhen Huan, who says one thing to your face and another behind your back, trampling on others' sincerity.】 Nian Shilan recalled how An Lingrong, upon gaining favor, had gifted Zhen Huan a set of clothes, only for Zhen Huan to directly give them to Huanbi. 【Clearly a clever and perceptive person, yet she tramples on a sister's goodwill. No wonder Little Bird later betrayed her.】 【Since the An family is now willing to offer this sincerity to me, I am naturally capable of accepting it.】 Nian Shilan smoothed the handkerchief in her hand. "In a few days, the Emperor will summon you. When that time comes, I will have the Imperial Household Department send two maidservants to you." Sun Miaoqing, that liar! She even said that after the New Year, she would put in a good word for me in front of the Emperor to have him summon me. So she was just taking credit again! An Lingrong once again felt grateful she had chosen the right person. Speaking of sending maidservants, Nian Shilan's mind turned to Baojuan and the classic scene. 【If Baojuan is sent away, who will she say 'Baojuan, my voice' to?】 【No, without Baojuan, Gua Liu's medicine might not have been successfully administered to her.】 Voice? Medicine? An Lingrong shuddered with dread: someone intended to poison her. Gua Liu? This name... could it be... a stable hand? Baojuan is the Empress's person, could this Gua Liu also be the Empress's? [How could being like someone else be a blessing? Being oneself is the most precious. The An family is naturally gifted with a beautiful voice; there's really no need to imitate Chunyuan. What a pity, for the sake of vying for favor, all the women in the harem have lost themselves.] [Baojuan...] [Are those people in the barrage illiterate?] Those people in the barrage? And where is this "barrage" from? Consort Hua's thoughts were too erratic; An Lingrong couldn't keep up at all. [Where does Baojuan get "from jade, from woman"? She's "from jade, from bird"?] An Lingrong was somewhat confused: From jade, from woman? What is this about? [Baojuan, Baoque—who is so wicked as to assign bird servants to the Bird Consort?] Finally able to follow one sentence, An Lingrong nodded emphatically in her heart: Truly wicked! Songzhi finally brought over the incense burner, "Your Highness—" Nian Shilan gently waved her fingers, letting the delicate smoke waft into her nose as she carefully savored it. An Lingrong felt like an examinee, nervously awaiting the results. "The scent seems somewhat lacking." "Your Highness, please forgive this concubine. I do not know the formula for the incense in Your Highness's palace and could only rely on intuition. If I were to use the original incense for blending, it should not be wrong." Speaking of her area of expertise, An Lingrong appeared less nervous. "Moreover, the She Xiang used in Your Highness's palace incense is from the musk deer, found only on the Great Snow Mountain of the Northwest. Its potency is at least ten times stronger than other She Xiang, making it extremely precious. Although this concubine has the intention, I truly lack the means." It's only natural that it couldn't be made without the raw materials. When Nian Shilan heard "found only on the Great Snow Mountain of the Northwest," she smiled, then suddenly a bolt of lightning flashed through her mind, followed by a thunderous realization. [Musk deer!] [Found only on the Great Snow Mountain of the Northwest!] An Lingrong thought Consort Hua would be shocked by the "potency at least ten times stronger," but for some reason, Her Highness kept repeating "musk deer" and "Great Snow Mountain of the Northwest" in her mind. Songzhi noticed her mistress's complexion wasn't good, "Your Highness..." Nian Shilan didn't want to speak. She gave a look, and Songzhi escorted An Lingrong out, going along to fetch the incense. When she returned, Songzhi saw her mistress's eyes were red. "Your Highness, are you alright?" Nian Shilan's tears rolled down, "How could he bear it? How dare he?" In truth, she had known all these so-called truths, having observed the entire situation so many times after her death in her previous life. But no matter how much she knew, it couldn't compare to the shock of hearing someone clearly say it aloud. Songzhi cautiously asked, "Who is Your Highness speaking of?" Brother was fighting desperately for him in the Northwest, capturing tribes and goods, presenting the finest items as tribute to him, yet he used them to harm her. He actually used the items Brother presented as tribute to harm her! If Brother were to find out, how guilty he would feel. "Emperor, you have made Shilan suffer so—" Nian Shilan suddenly awoke, sitting dazedly on the bed. The Emperor treated An Lingrong as a pawn, a plaything—hadn't he done the same to her? Very well, a heart already dead had been scalded once more with boiling water. Dead through and through. "Your Highness is awake?" Songzhi hurriedly drew aside the gauze curtain, "Your Highness, why are you crying? Did you have a nightmare?" "I dreamed of a state funeral, and wept for joy." Songzhi: "..." This servant heard nothing. Nian Shilan proudly raised her head, lifting a hand to wipe away her tears. That dog emperor isn't worthy of a single drop of her tears! On the night An Lingrong said she would blend incense for Nian Shilan, the Emperor stayed at Yikun Palace, and he came for three consecutive nights. Perhaps it was his lingering presence, or perhaps it was the act of serving him against the revulsion in her heart, but ever since then, Nian Shilan had been plagued by nightmares. And they were not just any nightmares—they were all scenes of herself crashing into a wall. The sorrow from her past life in those few days had seeped into this life, leaving her heart eerily silent. The Emperor even began to suspect he had lost the ability to hear her Xinsheng. When he asked her the reason, she only said her monthly courses were about to come, affecting her mood. For the past two days, her Green Head Plaque had been removed, and the Emperor had not come. Songzhi attended to Nian Shilan as she washed and dressed. "Your Highness, why have you been rising earlier each day these past few days?" "To get up early and go pay respects to the Empress." Nian Shilan did not enjoy reading. Troubled in her heart, she wanted to find someone to distract her. She could not lower herself to seek out Imperial consorts and concubines of lower rank than herself, so she could only go to the Empress. Besides, the Empress now was not as detestable as before. It was only fitting to show her some respect. Dressed in a purple sleeping robe, Nian Shilan sat before the bronze mirror. "Didn’t the Empress send me a set of clothes two days ago? Bring them for me to wear." "Yes, Your Highness." Two palace maids held up the clothes. Nian Shilan glanced at them and immediately furrowed her brows: That old woman, the Empress—every time she praised her a little, her scheming intentions became immediately apparent.