The Legend of Zhen Huan: Year after year, we share the spring breeze

Chapter 107 Flower Appreciation Party

In Yonghe Palace, Shen Meizhuang was half lying on the couch, and Su Ye was massaging her calves.

"Empress, these are freshly fried walnut kernels." Caiyue placed a plate of amber walnut kernels next to Shen Meizhuang.

Shen Meizhuang picked up a piece and put it in her mouth while eating while laughing and saying, "Rong'er insisted that I eat this thing, saying that it is good for the dragon fetus and can make it smarter. I don't know if it's true!"

Caiyue nodded confidently: "It must be true, everything Miss Wen said is right!"

Su Ye beside him also nodded in agreement: "I don't know whether it can make the dragon fetus smarter, but walnuts are warm in nature and sweet in taste. They can strengthen the stomach and replenish blood, moisten the lungs and relieve coughs, calm the mind and help sleep, and moisturize the skin and blacken the hair. It will be beneficial for the queen to eat more!"

After the master and his servants exchanged a few words, An Lingrong came over. Seeing Su Ye massaging, she consciously went to massage the other leg.

Shen Meizhuang is now eight months pregnant. Her ankles and calves are swollen and she looks like she has gained weight.

An Lingrong felt a little distressed: "Sister, is it getting harder and harder?"

"Except for feeling heavy and getting up more frequently at night, everything else is fine!"

Since she became pregnant, she has been well taken care of. Su Ye takes care of all things. What to eat and how much to eat, what to do and how long to work are all arranged by Su Ye. Zhen Huan and An Lingrong often come to comfort and accompany her. In addition to the emperor's favor, she often goes to the empress dowager's palace. The people in the palace respect her very much, so her life is quite comfortable.

"By the way, Madam Shen should be able to enter the palace to accompany you, right?"

Shen Meizhuang sighed and said, "There's an epidemic raging outside the palace right now. My father has to lead the troops to maintain order, and my mother has teamed up with the ladies of some aristocratic families to provide porridge and medicine to the sick every day. I'm afraid I won't be able to enter the palace for the time being. Let's just wait a little longer!"

"Madam Shen is so righteous!" After praising Madam Shen, An Lingrong whispered, "Sister, let Madam Shen prepare some wet nurses!"

It is better to be safe than sorry. It never hurts to be prepared.

"Okay!" When it comes to children, you can never be too cautious!

An Lingrong silently thought to herself, shouldn't Zhen Huan be pregnant by now? "Sister Zhen hasn't had her period in a few days, right?"

Shen Meizhuang counted the days, "It's been five or six days. The Queen is recuperating now, and Concubine Hua is in charge of the harem. It's not appropriate for her to come to Yonghe Palace all the time!"

At this time, Caiyue entered the palace to report, "Your Majesty, Aunt Huichun, who is beside the Empress, has come to convey the Empress's oral instructions, saying that the Empress invites all the concubines in the six palaces to gather in Jingren Palace tomorrow to appreciate the flowers."

"Is my sister going?"

"It's really boring to stay in the palace all day. I might as well go enjoy some flowers. Su Ye said that I should walk more recently so that I can suffer less when giving birth tomorrow!" Now that the weather is warmer, the sun is shining and the spring breeze is gentle, Shen Meizhuang also wants to go out for a walk.

Jingren Palace uses fire-fired heating as its main method of heating in winter. This heating method uses circulating flues built under the palace floor, using the hot air generated by the fire to heat the ground, thus achieving the desired heating effect.

Therefore, the flowers in Jingren Palace are the first to bloom among the six palaces in the east and west.

After the emperor left the palace, it became quiet. The queen also felt bored, so she invited the concubines to come and appreciate the flowers together.

When Shen Meizhuang and An Lingrong arrived, Jingren Palace was already bustling with activity. Fang Chunyi was like a butterfly flying among the flowers, laughing constantly.

Across the garden, peonies, herbaceous peonies, camellias, and other flowers burst forth in dazzling splendor on this beautiful spring day. Red like fire, pink like clouds, white like snow—the vibrant blossoms unfold like a vibrant painting. Some in full bloom, others in bud, each exuding an enchanting fragrance, attracting countless bees and butterflies to gather nectar and pollinate. The beautiful flowers also accentuate the beauty of the concubines.

But An Lingrong had no mood to appreciate the flowers, because there was a big show going on today!

"Su Ye and Cai Yue, you must stay with your sister and cannot leave her side. Don't go to crowded places, lest they bump into your sister!" An Lingrong solemnly instructed Su Ye and Cai Yue.

"Yes!" Seeing her serious expression, Su Ye and Cai Yue did not dare to take it lightly.

After admiring the flowers for a while, the Queen asked Shen Meizhuang and Noble Lady Fucha to sit down and rest. As soon as they sat down, Concubine Jing and Noble Lady Zhen Huanxin came over.

After Zhen Huan and Concubine Xin paid their respects, Shen Meizhuang also stood up. Although she and Concubine Jing now had the same rank, Shen Meizhuang had always respected Concubine Jing and had been taken care of by her when they lived together, so she also paid her respects to her.

But Noble Lady Fucha didn't even stand up.

"Sister Fucha is well!"

Fucha Guiren seemed unaware of Zhen Huan's greeting. She took the powder handed to her by the maid and started to touch up her makeup as if no one was around.

Zhen Huan didn't mind and continued, "Sister Fucha's makeup is as sweet as dew, it doesn't seem to be the kind used in the palace every day!" After saying that, she glanced at An Lingrong behind Shen Meiyu.

An Lingrong sniffed the air carefully and found that the powder was fine, so she shook her head slightly at Zhen Huan.

"Lady Wan's nose is really sharp!" Speaking of perfumed powder, Lady Fucha knew it was time to show off. "This is something the Emperor had the Imperial Household Department make specifically for me. It won't harm the fetus and it moisturizes the skin."

In this palace, the only one who was given spices by the Imperial Household Department under the Emperor's personal order was Concubine Hua. Now she has them too. Does this mean that her status in the Emperor's heart is about to catch up with Concubine Hua's?

After saying that, he looked at Shen Meizhuang beside him and said, "Why, doesn't Concubine Hui have one?"

Shen Meizhuang covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief. Ever since she became pregnant, An Lingrong no longer allowed her to use perfume. Even the commonly used rouge required her to approve it before using it. "The Emperor loves his younger sister. How can I be as lucky as his younger sister?"

Noble Lady Fucha became even more proud!

"It's really great stuff. The emperor is so considerate to my sister." Zhen Huan only said what she liked to hear.

As expected, these words greatly pleased Noble Lady Fucha, "If Noble Lady Wan likes it, I will give you some!"

"How can I accept something that the emperor made specially for my sister?" Zhen Huan refused with a smile.

"That's true. After all, it's a token of the Emperor's love for me. Since Concubine Wan is so polite, I won't force you to accept it!" Concubine Fucha didn't really want to give it as a gift, but when she saw Zhen Huan refused, she immediately took the opportunity to back off.

Concubine Xin was always outspoken. "Since it's a gift from the Emperor, please keep it well. It's best to set it up on an altar. You said you put it on your face and it's exposed to the wind and sun, and it will melt the Emperor's gift."

After these words were spoken, even the dignified Shen Meizhuang couldn't hide the smile on her face. She is worthy of being called Xinbaji.

"Empress Hui, Concubine Wen, the Yaohuang peonies over there are in full bloom, let's go and take a look! Everyone has been pregnant before, and I can't stand her frivolous look." After saying that, she pulled Zhen Huan away, leaving Noble Lady Fucha with a blushing face.

An Lingrong was feeling uncomfortable trying to hold back her laughter, so she supported Shen Meiyu and followed.

After a while, a fat Persian cat jumped out of the hall, ran into the flowers and disappeared.

This scene seemed familiar no matter how she looked at it. An Lingrong looked up and glanced around, and found that Fang Chunyi, who had been moving around in the yard, was gone!

When the Queen saw Shen Meizhuang approaching, holding her belly, she asked with concern, "Is Huipin's due date approaching?"

"Your Majesty, there are still two months left." Shen Meizhuang answered respectfully.

The Queen smiled brightly, "Well, Huipin is a blessed woman. Previously, you were unable to handle the affairs of the six palaces because of your pregnancy. When you give birth to an heir, you will be able to help Huafei."

Concubine Hua said bitterly, "Giving birth to an imperial heir is not that simple. If you are blessed, you will not be afraid of waiting. If you are unlucky, even a moment of delay will make it impossible. There are still two months left, so let's talk about it after the baby is born!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Zhen Huan, Shen Meizhuang and An Lingrong all changed their expressions. This was a naked curse!

The three of them looked at Hua Fei at the same time, and Hua Fei was not to be outdone, so she also looked straight at the three of them.

If eye contact could fight, they would have fought for hundreds of rounds!

The Queen smiled and said, "Two months will pass in a flash. I have already ordered the Imperial Household Department to prepare all necessary supplies. The imperial physician, the female doctor, the nanny, and the wet nurse are all ready. You can rest assured and prepare for the birth."

"Thank you, Queen!"

At this time, the Queen picked a peony flower and played with it in her hand. "It is a blessing for my sister to have Huipin to assist her. I am even more blessed. I can enjoy my leisure time."

The concubines all bowed in unison, "The Empress is blessed with great fortune."