Chapter 49

Chapter 49: Attending the Emperor, Thinking of Consort Hua This time, An Lingrong receiving favor was not recommended by the Empress, and the Flower House would most likely not send flowers either. Yet tonight was the perfect opportunity for An Xiaoniao and Miao Frog Seed to become enemies. Sun Miaoqing could not miss it. "How can I get the flowers delivered to her?" Lvzhu offered her mistress a plan, suggesting that Liang Duorui go to the Flower House and send two pots of flowers to An Lingrong. Sun Miaoqing thought it feasible! "Mistress, you’ve finally returned." As soon as An Lingrong entered the door, Baojuan eagerly said, "I couldn’t find you, I was so worried." "Why were you looking for me?" Since learning that Baojuan might be problematic, An Lingrong had kept an eye on her—neither getting close nor offending her, waiting for Consort Hua’s people to arrive. She sat on the soft stool and casually picked up the teacup on the table, noticing two pots of Jade Terrace Golden Cup beside it. "Didn’t the Flower House always say they didn’t have these precious Jade Terrace Golden Cups? Why did they send so many today?" "Congratulations, Mistress, congratulations! The Jing Shi Fang has sent word that tonight, you will attend the Emperor." An Lingrong watched Baojuan’s joy as if she herself were the one going to attend the Emperor. If not for Consort Hua’s Xinsheng, seeing her share in her own happiness like this would have made An Lingrong regard her as a loyal servant and trust her completely. But now that she knew, it felt disgusting. An Lingrong felt none of the joy and excitement she had in her previous life upon hearing this news, her expression utterly calm. "I see." Baojuan truly had some foolishness about her. Thinking An Lingrong’s reaction was simply her nature, she continued cheerfully: "Today is a good day for you, Mistress. As soon as the news came, the servants from the Flower House sent over so many fresh flowers." Fresh flowers… As the tea barely wet her lips, An Lingrong thought that since the Emperor didn’t even know who she was, his sudden choice of her must have been because Consort Hua had paved the way for her today. Before Yu Ying'er received another title, she had secured her favor, ensuring she wouldn’t truly be overshadowed by a palace maid. But she thought, even if she was timid, insecure, and sensitive, she wouldn’t be so frightened by the Emperor’s appearance during her first time receiving favor that she’d cry. Matters of the bedchamber were highly private, and those not involved could hardly know the full picture. It was normal for Consort Hua not to know everything. So what exactly was the reason the Emperor returned her intact? An Lingrong remembered Consort Hua mentioning in her heart: The Emperor said, "Am I not fierce?" Was she really that scared? A faint fragrance drifted into her nose, and An Lingrong’s eyelids twitched: Jade Terrace Golden Cup! The leaves and flowers of the Jade Terrace Golden Cup were poisonous. If one accidentally ingested its sap, it could cause chills and coldness. How pitiful that after playing with eagles for so many years, she was pecked in the eye by an eagle at the critical moment. What a joke. For a moment, she grew agitated, and the teacup lid in her hand fell into the tea, splashing hot water onto her hand. A dark figure quietly slipped away outside the window. Sun Miaoqing had been worried that something might change and had specifically sent Lvzhu to keep an eye on things. Learning that she had knocked over the teacup lid, with no difference from her reaction in her previous life, she quietly waited for the return intact and for Miao Frog Seed’s midnight singing to incur the Empress Dowager’s displeasure. When the time came, the Phoenix and Luan Spring Favor Carriage arrived at Yanxi Palace to take An Lingrong to the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Undressing, bathing, and being rolled up, An Lingrong was carried by the palace servants to the Dragon Bed in the Hall of Mental Cultivation. It was strange. Even though she was just a newly entered Promise who had never seen much of the world, An Lingrong found herself unusually calm. She hadn’t drunk the tea beneath the flowers, hadn’t trembled, hadn’t been afraid. While waiting for the Emperor on the Dragon Couch, she felt no anticipation. The only person who came to mind wasn't the Emperor, but Consort Hua. Consort Hua didn't love the Emperor as much as the rumors in the harem suggested, yet she still needed his favor. She herself was the same. So were all the women in the harem. Were they competing for the Emperor's affection? Not exactly. They were competing for the immense benefits that came with the Emperor's favor, because along with the Emperor's grace came promotions in rank, increased wealth and status, and the respect and high regard of others. It was a case of one person's success benefiting the entire family. An Lingrong's current life experience wasn't enough to see through this clearly, but her attentiveness and sensitivity allowed her to vaguely sense it in advance. She thought that what she wanted now might not necessarily have to come from the Emperor. After all, in her previous life, she hadn't truly been favored at this point either. A shadow flickered across the Yellow Gauze Canopy, and word came from outside that the Emperor was approaching. Her heart still beat inexplicably faster. When the man in yellow sleepwear, who had treated her as a plaything her whole life, sat down by the bed, fingering his prayer beads. She still trembled. "What's wrong?" The Emperor reached out to pull back the blanket, saying the same words Consort Hua had once said, "I'm not that scary." The Consort was right, he wasn't scary, but he was ugly. Not only ugly, but also old, older than her own father. "This concubine... this concubine is afraid." "Didn't the matrons teach you the rules for attending the Emperor?" Meeting the Emperor face-to-face for the first time, silently criticizing him for the first time, deceiving the Emperor for the first time—An Lingrong's nervousness was real, and so was her fear. Trembling, she nodded with an unusually rapid frequency, unable to speak. The Emperor felt disappointed. "I don't like forcing things. We'll try another day." He stood up and called for Su Peisheng, instructing him to fetch Yu Ying'er. A weight lifted from An Lingrong's heart: she hadn't competed with the Consort for favor. Return the Jade Intact to Zhao remained, but Midnight Singing did not occur. Nian Shilan had already warned Yu Ying'er: singing for the Emperor was fine, but if she howled for no reason in the middle of the night, her tongue would definitely be ripped out. She didn't dare to sing. When the Phoenix and Luan Spring Favor Carriage passed by the Sedan Chair, Yu Ying'er remained quiet. The eunuchs carrying the sedan chair thought the task was unlucky, but An Lingrong was calm. This time, she didn't cry. Because she knew that the favor meant for her was on its way. And now, with Consort Hua's knowledge of the future, she was certain she could avert the tragedies of her past life! She would definitely have the chance to bring her mother and Aunt Xiao to the capital for a better life! The next day, at Jingren Palace. Consort Qi was chatting with the Empress. "It really must be hard for Consort Hua~" These days, the Empress paid less attention to harem affairs. Usually, she either read books or practiced calligraphy. In her spare time, she tended to flowers and plants, basked in the sun, and felt at ease. With fewer expectations of the Emperor, her Head Wind hadn't flared up. Her Monthly Affairs, which had nearly ceased, had returned. After focusing more on herself, news from the harem reached her slower than others. Hearing Consort Qi mention Consort Hua, the Empress thought Nian Shilan had once again silently committed a grave mistake. Her hand watering the flowers paused. "What has she done now?" Seeing the Empress's interest piqued, Consort Qi told her about the previous day's events. "Consort Hua usually wishes she could tie the Emperor to her own palace. Finally willing to let go, she gave An such a great favor, but An proved useless." Consort Qi covered her mouth and laughed. "It spread all over the harem early this morning, causing quite a stir." The Empress scooped a ladle of water, glancing sideways at Consort Qi, "Is it that amusing?"