PDLP Chapter 306 Bamboo Breath
Chapter 306 Bamboo Breath
After finishing the gossip, An Lingrong brought up another matter: "Sister, there is something important that I need you to do now."
Shen Meizhuang raised her eyebrows slightly and asked softly, "What's the matter?"
"Zhu Xi has two maids serving her. No matter what method you use, whether it's coercion or bribery, make them our servants. Also, make sure they don't know each other is ours. This way, the intelligence we gather can be mutually verified."
Although Shen Meizhuang didn't know what she was going to do, she nodded in agreement: "Okay!"
Listening to her words, Zhen Huan lowered her voice and asked, "Are you planning to use Zhuxi to do something bad to the Queen Mother? This requires careful planning."
An Lingrong rolled her eyes. "Sister Zhen, am I really that crazy in your eyes? She's the Emperor's biological mother. I wouldn't dare to do anything to her even if I had the guts to do it!"
As soon as these words came out, the corners of Zhen Huan and Shen Meizhuang's mouths twitched slightly, and they looked at each other, their eyes clearly saying: I don't see why you don't dare!
An Lingrong seemed to see through their thoughts and added, "How the Emperor treats the Empress Dowager is his business, but if anyone harms the Empress Dowager, the Emperor will not sit idly by. Even if the Empress Dowager wants to kill me, I still have some sense of propriety!"
"Then why did you bribe Zhuxi's maid?"
"The Queen Mother also knows that if she dies, the Queen's position will be in jeopardy, so she will definitely leave something behind to protect the Queen. That thing can only be given to Zhu Xi, so that she can use it to restrain the Emperor at a critical moment. We can't let that thing fall into the hands of the Emperor or the Queen, so we must plant a spy next to Zhu Xi beforehand."
Shen Meizhuang nodded, "I understand. Although Zhu Xi is a capable person around the Queen Mother, she is still a slave after all. Her maidservant's status is even lower. This matter is not difficult to handle."
After saying this, An Lingrong turned her gaze to Zhen Huan again. "Sister Zhen, I invited Concubine Duan to the gate of Jingren Palace today. She is still very useful to us, and she also wants to establish a friendly relationship with us. From now on, I will trouble you to maintain our friendship with her. You can just be a pair of 'fake sisters' with her."
Zhen Huan looked puzzled, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, and asked, "Plastic sisters?"
An Lingrong curled her lips slightly. "It's the kind of sisterhood that appears to be deep, but is actually very fragile and can be broken at the slightest touch."
Zhen Huan suddenly understood and nodded gently in response, "Oh! I understand. I'm good at this. Just leave it to me!"
After arranging everything, An Lingrong lay back, propped herself up with her arms, and said, "When the Queen Mother passes away, things will change in the harem. Oh, I'm looking forward to it!"
As dusk fell, the Forbidden City was enveloped in a faint veil of night. Shen Meizhuang and An Lingrong prepared to return to Yonghe Palace. Longyue and the Sixth Prince also arrived at the palace to bid farewell to Zhen Huan.
Zhen Huan leaned forward slightly and gently smoothed the hair by Longyue's ear, saying softly, "Longyue, are you enjoying yourself here today?"
Longyue tilted her childish face upwards, her eyes sparkling as she nodded vigorously, "The flowers in Empress Xi's palace are very beautiful, Wanwan likes them!"
"Well, in that case, would you please come here often to play in the future?"
"Okay! But Wanwan wants to be with mother." Longyue responded happily, her voice as clear as a silver bell.
"So good." Zhen Huan's eyes were full of attachment and reluctance.
Shen Meizhuang saw this and turned to An Lingrong and said, "Rong'er, the Emperor has gone to Xianfu Palace. You and Wanwan should stay here tonight. Let me have a day of peace and quiet."
An Lingrong was about to cry: "Sister, are you really tired of me?"
Seeing this, Shen Meizhuang smiled gently, reached out her hand, and tapped her forehead, scolding her, "I'm not annoying you at all. Look at Huan'er, she's almost crying. Let Wanwan sleep with her for one night. Tomorrow, you can use the excuse of feeling unwell as an excuse to not go to Jingren Palace to pay your respects. I'll come pick you up when I'm done."
"All right!"
After washing up and changing clothes, An Lingrong gently supported her body with one arm, and gently patted Longyue with the other hand again and again.
Her eyes lowered, her lips parted as she hummed an unknown tune. Her face, illuminated by the dim candlelight, seemed even more tranquil and serene. Soon, her eyelids grew heavy, her body stopped stirring, and she slowly sank into a sweet dream.
Gazing at the sleeping Longyue, An Lingrong raised the corners of her mouth slightly, revealing a smug smile, and raised her head towards Zhen Huan.
Zhen Huan sat on the edge of the bed, her eyes never leaving them.
"Sister Zhen, how are you going to sleep tonight?"
"The three of us sleep together!"
"But this bed is too small for you."
"How could that be? She's so small, how much space can she take up!"
"She spins in circles in her sleep!"
"Spin in circles?" Zhen Huan was a little speechless. After a moment, she asked, "Did I learn this from you?"
An Lingrong pretended to think for a moment: "Hmm... probably."
"you……"
"So you sleep with her or with me, choose!"
How to choose? The palms and backs of my hands are all made of flesh!
Looking at her conflicted expression, An Lingrong gave a wicked smile.
"I'll ask Sister Mei to change me to a bigger bed tomorrow."
After the nanny took Longyue away, the two lay together and talked, and the air around them seemed to become softer because of the silence.
Zhen Huan was the first to break the silence, her voice tinged with relief and emotion: "Rong'er, you've done an excellent job raising Longyue. I can see it clearly. She's very attached to you. The look on her face just now would have made anyone aware of how important you are to her."
Upon hearing this, An Lingrong leaned slightly to the side, a playful smile curling up at the corner of her mouth. She whispered, "What's wrong? Sister Zhen, are you jealous?"
Zhen Huan said seriously, "I am a little jealous, but I want to thank you more. I originally thought that Longyue would not recognize me!"
"You are her biological mother. Even though you are not around, I want her to know that you exist. It is a good thing to have someone who loves her more."
Zhen Huan's eyes flickered with emotion. She grabbed An Lingrong's hand and said, "Although I gave birth to her, from the time she was pregnant to her birth, the effort you put in was no less than that of me, her biological mother."
An Lingrong's smile widened: "Then just think of it as you giving birth to a daughter for me!"
"Haha, that's correct!" Zhen Huan was also amused.
After saying this, the two looked at each other and smiled. In these smiles, there was their shared love for Longyue, as well as the friendship between them that had grown stronger after going through all the ups and downs.