latelenovela Chapter 159 Provocation
Chapter 159 Provocation
The master and servant smiled at each other. After walking around for a while, they felt a little hot and came to the Fubi Pavilion to rest.
Located northeast of the Imperial Garden, the Fubi Pavilion is built on a single-arch stone bridge. The bridge spans a rectangular pool filled with water drawn from the moat. A stone spout carved into the wall reveals duckweed in the water, hence the name Fubi Pavilion.
An Lingrong leaned on the railing and looked down. Dozens of golden carp swam gracefully, splashing water from time to time. The setting sun cast a shimmering light on the lake, making the fish scales gleam. She was delighted and ordered, "Liu Zhu, ask the eunuch in charge for some fish food!"
Liu Zhu responded, and just as he turned around, he pointed in a direction and said, "Look, young master."
An Lingrong looked over and saw Xia Dongchun holding Sang'er's hand and coming towards them not far away.
"Liu Zhu, run!"
The two quickly changed direction and prepared to leave.
"Sister, please stay!" Xia Dongchun said.
Seeing that she was blocking the way, An Lingrong had no choice but to stand still and keep a distance of ten feet from her.
The east and west sides of the Fubi Pavilion were flanked by carved stone balustrades, which also served as the bridge's railings. On the north and south sides, two steps were set between the stone balustrades, marking the pavilion's entrance and exit. Xia Dongchun took a step forward, and she retreated a step, the two of them playing a game. As they neared the grassy plains, An Lingrong asked directly, "Sister Xia, what's up?"
Xia Dongchun forced a smile and said, "Now I'm pregnant, and I haven't even heard my sister congratulate me!"
"Congratulations, Sister Xia! I have something else to do, so I'll go ahead."
"Wait a minute, sister!"
An Lingrong was already getting impatient: "Sister Xia, what else do you want?"
"Why hasn't my sister returned to the Yanxi Palace recently? I'm bored during my pregnancy and want to chat with her."
An Lingrong replied, "Haha, Sister Xia is of noble birth. I'm afraid we won't get along. Sister has always been close to the Empress, and now that the Empress is personally taking care of your pregnancy, Sister, why don't you go and keep the Empress company?"
Xia Dongchun smiled awkwardly and said, "The Empress is not feeling well, and I can't bother her all the time. I heard that my sister lives in Yonghe Palace. Could you take me to meet Concubine Hui?"
Why do you want to go find Sister Mei? Do you want her to blame the miscarriage?
"Sister Xia, do you have something to ask Concubine Hui?"
"I heard that Concubine Hui is working hard in managing the six palaces, and I wanted to pay my respects to her!"
"Empress Hui is busy handling the trivial matters of the six palaces and may not have time to see you, sister. Sister Xia, rest assured and take care of your pregnancy. When you give birth to the royal heir in the future, Empress Hui will definitely come to see you in person!"
Listening to An Lingrong's words, Xia Dongchun's eyes darkened even more. "I have offended Concubine Hui before, and I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to her. I have prepared gifts, and I would like to ask my sister to say something good on my behalf. I will certainly not treat my sister unfairly!"
An Lingrong carefully studied Xia Dongchun's expression, her brows furrowed slightly. Her face was devoid of any trace of joy; her eyes were filled with fear and uneasiness. Her face was thickly powdered, and she looked rather listless.
The Queen's prescription can keep the dragon fetus for six months. Wouldn't it be good to take advantage of this time to gain more favor from the Emperor? She is so anxious and insists on getting close to Sister Mei. Isn't she afraid that they will find out?
"Sister Xia, you're too polite. Concubine Hui no longer remembers the past. I will convey your kindness. The weather is hot, so Sister Xia, please return to the palace early. I have something else to do, so I'll take my leave now!"
An Lingrong really didn't want to stay with her. If she was hit by a scam and there was no surveillance here, she wouldn't be able to explain herself even if she had a lot of mouths all over her body.
Just as I was about to take a step forward, I saw a bright figure in the distance.
This was truly a godsend. An Lingrong's mind raced, and after a moment she came up with an idea.
Seeing An Lingrong standing still, Xia Dongchun followed her gaze and immediately turned her head. Her face turned pale as paper and she said in a trembling voice, "It's Concubine Hua. Let's go!"
Looking at her frightened eyes, An Lingrong felt a little disdainful. This kind of person bullies the weak and fears the strong, but it would be easy to tame her. A sharp lesson would make her remember it for the rest of her life.
But she didn't show it at all, and comforted her, "Sister Xia, now that you're pregnant, the Emperor loves you very much. Why should you still be afraid of Concubine Hua? Besides, she no longer has the power to assist in managing the six palaces, and the Emperor's favor towards her is not as great as before!"
After saying this, she sighed deliberately: "Alas, ever since being caned by Concubine Hua, my body has been weak. I feel listless all day long and can't lift my spirits. You and I are both in the same boat. Sister Xia's health must not be good either. This pregnancy must have been difficult."
These words touched Xia Dongchun's heart. Thinking of the humiliation and pain he had suffered, his hatred towards Nian Shilan became stronger.
If it weren't for Nian Shilan, how could she have lived in that dark, hellish cold palace? There, she couldn't even reach a ray of light, like a mouse trapped in darkness, lost all hope and life. The Empress took advantage of the situation by forcing her to take Xiji Pills, leaving her body in a state of profound decay. Now, having just been diagnosed with pregnancy, she was showing signs of miscarriage, further solidifying her resentment towards Concubine Hua.
An Lingrong coldly observed Xia Dongchun's expression from the side, the corners of her mouth slightly raised, revealing a barely perceptible smile, and continued, "Sister Xia is a precious person, even the Empress Dowager loves her so much. Others must also take good care of Sister Xia. Otherwise, if Sister Xia gets into trouble, the Emperor and Empress will definitely not let her off easily!"
Go find Concubine Hua to scam you, don’t look for me!
Her voice was soft and gentle, like a spring breeze brushing past her ears, but her tone carried a firm and reassuring strength, as if she was trying to comfort Xia Dongchun's fragile heart.
"The Emperor and Empress will not let me off easily, the Emperor and Empress will not let me off easily..."
These words, like a poison, lingered in Xia Dongchun's mind. A thought crossed her mind, and her eyebrows rose unconsciously. Blaming the miscarriage on Concubine Hua would be a good option. After all, the pain and suffering she endured lay at the root of Concubine Hua. This way, she could punish Concubine Hua, vent her anger, and resolve her current predicament.
An Lingrong was keenly aware of the changes in Xia Dongchun's heart, and she knew that what she had just said had touched her heartstrings.
On the other side, Concubine Hua was getting closer and closer.
An Lingrong raised her voice, "Sister Xia, you're still able to come out and stroll around the garden while pregnant. This shows how safe your pregnancy is. You're truly blessed. But not everyone has this blessing of pregnancy. I'm so envious!"