A Crossover of Film and Television: Miao Miao's Life Transmigration

Chapter 213 The Legend of Zhen Huan, Consort Qi 26

Consort Duan's words were like a sharp knife, piercing straight into Zhen Huan's heart. She looked at Princess Longyue hiding behind Consort Duan, her eyes filled with fear and resistance, and felt a complex mix of emotions.

Consort Duan's tears and Princess Longyue's innocent remarks made the atmosphere in Yongshou Palace heavy and awkward.

"I used to long for a child, someone to laugh and play with on my lap. But after raising Longyue, I finally felt truly alive." Consort Duan said, wiping away tears. Her voice choked with emotion, and her genuine feelings caught everyone present off guard.

Longyue obediently picked up a handkerchief, stood on tiptoe, and tried her best to wipe away Consort Duan's tears. Her tender voice was filled with heartache: "Mother, don't cry. Longyue will be a good girl."

Consort Duan, however, used a feigned retreat to advance, gently pushing away Princess Longyue's hand, her tone tinged with helplessness and bitterness: "Silly child, what's with all this talk about 'mother'? This Consort Xuan is your real mother."

Princess Longyue was pushed forward by Consort Duan and was momentarily stunned, not knowing what to do. Seeing this, Shen Meizhuang quickly stepped forward and said softly, "Good child, this is your real mother, quickly call her Mother."

Zhen Huan was overwhelmed with joy at being reunited with Princess Longyue and did not notice the change in Longyue's emotions.

However, Longyue suddenly burst into tears, ran behind Consort Duan, grabbed her clothes tightly, and cried out in a sob, "Mother doesn't want me anymore, Mother doesn't want me anymore..."

Consort Duan knelt down, gently stroked Longyue's little face, took the handkerchief from Jixiang, and tenderly wiped away her tears, softly comforting her, "Longyue, be good, how could Mother not want you? Longyue, don't cry..."

The deep bond between Consort Duan and Princess Longyue pierced Zhen Huan's heart. Shen Meizhuang tried to take Princess Longyue's hand, but Princess Longyue shook her off.

Longyue innocently said, "You're a bad person. You're the one who hurt me. That's why I've been feeling unwell for days. Mother, let's hurry, the bad guy is coming."

Upon hearing this, Shen Meizhuang's expression instantly froze, her smile became extremely unnatural, a hint of guilt flashed in her eyes, and she lowered her head.

She did indeed drug Longyue in order to leave the palace to see Zhen Huan, but she didn't expect Longyue to remember it so clearly.

"Sister, Longyue is still young, don't take it to heart." Consort Duan's smile was meaningful, and her tone carried an undeniable firmness.

She pulled Longyue to a place where Shen Meizhuang couldn't see her, as if declaring her absolute control over Longyue.

The atmosphere inside the hall became unusually tense. Consort Duan had long suspected that Princess Longyue had been drugged, and Zhen Huan was also fully aware of it.

Just then, Shen Meizhuang's personal maid, Caiyue, entered and respectfully said, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has woken up from her afternoon nap."

Caiyue's appearance broke the tense atmosphere, and Shen Meizhuang quickly said, "I know, is the sedan chair ready?"

"This servant has already led the sedan chair and is waiting outside Yongshou Palace," Caiyue said before leaving.

Shen Meizhuang turned to Zhen Huan and saw that her face was full of sorrow and tears were streaming down her cheeks. She couldn't bear it and said softly, "You haven't gone to pay your respects to the Empress Dowager yet. Why don't you come with me today?"

Zhen Huan was in a state of turmoil, but she nodded and said, "Okay."

Seeing this, Consort Duan said, "Yes, it's good that you sisters go together, so you can look out for each other. I'll head back now." With that, she turned to leave.

Longyue ran to Consort Duan's side, her nose red and tears streaming down her face. She cried out in a sob, "Mother, don't go."

Consort Duan squatted down, looked at Longyue at eye level, and gently comforted her: "Longyue, be good. From now on, Longyue will stay in Yongshou Palace and keep your dear mother company."

Longyue clung tightly to Consort Duan's robes, crying out, "No, no! Why did Mother abandon me as soon as Consort Xuan returned? Why did she call Consort Xuan back? I don't want Consort Xuan back!"

Consort Duan glanced at Zhen Huan, her tone tinged with reproach: "Longyue, how could you say such things?" She stood up and explained to Zhen Huan, "Sister, I never taught Longyue to say such things. It's just that His Majesty forbade me from mentioning you in front of Longyue, so..."

Zhen Huan forced a smile and said, "How could I blame my sister? I was originally a deposed concubine, so it's only natural that the Emperor doesn't mention me in front of the princess."

Consort Duan nodded, her tone soothing: "Sister, don't belittle yourself. The Emperor still dotes on you. Longyue is just young and doesn't understand. Sister, don't be angry with Longyue." She turned to Longyue and said softly, "Come, Longyue, quickly apologize to your dear mother."

Longyue stepped forward timidly and whispered, "Your Highness, please don't be angry. I know I was wrong and I will never say that again. Please don't play with bad people. I was so upset back then."

Zhen Huan was shocked by Long Yue's words. She looked around and finally her gaze fell on Shen Meizhuang.

Shen Meizhuang noticed Zhen Huan's gaze and became increasingly uneasy, almost unable to stay there any longer.

Zhen Huan took a deep breath and said with difficulty, "I am currently pregnant and really don't have time to take care of Longyue. So before I give birth, I have to entrust Longyue to my sister's care. I wonder if my sister would be willing to take on this task."

Upon hearing Zhen Huan's words, Consort Duan's eyes flashed with a cold glint. She glanced at Shen Meizhuang, who had her head bowed, and sneered inwardly: "You two sisters are quite something. One of you defied the Emperor and left without a word; the other drugged Princess Longyue, who hasn't recovered yet, and now you're talking about raising her? Don't worry, after you give birth, you won't have the chance to raise Longyue anymore."

Consort Duan remained gentle and said softly, "What are you saying, sister? I treat Longyue as my own daughter, and it is only right that I take care of her." She turned to Longyue, her tone filled with affection, "Longyue, let's go back to Yanqing Palace. Sister, you should also go and pay your respects to the Empress Dowager."

Princess Longyue ran eagerly toward Consort Duan, her gaze never lingering on Zhen Huan. Consort Duan took Princess Longyue's hand and slowly left Yongshou Palace.

After Consort Duan and Princess Longyue left, Shen Meizhuang held Zhen Huan's hand, her voice full of guilt and self-reproach: "Huan'er, will you blame me? I shouldn't have drugged Princess Longyue back then, and now Princess Longyue sees me as a wolf."

Zhen Huan naturally blamed Shen Meizhuang, but now that she had just returned to the palace, Shen Meizhuang was her only ally.

She forced a smile and gently comforted her, "What nonsense are you talking about, Sister Mei? How could I blame you? Longyue is just still young, Sister Mei, please don't take it to heart. Besides, things were urgent back then, and Sister Mei had no other choice."

In Chuxiu Palace, Wen Yuan looked at Feng Ruozhao and Consort Xin who had come to see her and chuckled to herself. These two were really bored and spent their days inquiring about these trivial matters in the harem.

"I just found out that Consort Duan took Princess Longyue to Yongshou Palace. After they left, Princess Longyue's eyes were red, clearly she had been crying. I just don't know what happened?" Consort Xin said with great interest, as if she had discovered some incredible secret.

Feng Ruozhao turned her gaze to Wen Yuan, her tone tinged with a hint of probing: "Sister, is there any news?"

Wen Yuan chuckled and winked at Jing Fu. Jing Fu understood, turned and went out, and returned shortly after, whispering, "Princess Longyue said she didn't want Consort Xuan to be her mother, and also said that Consort Hui was a bad person."

"Is Consort Hui a bad person?" Consort Xin muttered to herself, as if she had thought of something.

A knowing glint flashed in Feng Ruozhao's eyes as she whispered her analysis: "Recently, didn't Princess Longyue have a fever? Consort Hui left the palace for Ganlu Temple, and then the Emperor also went to Ganlu Temple. After that, Consort Xuan returned to the palace smoothly. There must be some connection between these events."

Consort Xin suddenly realized, her tone laced with sarcasm: "Doesn't that mean that Consort Hui drugged Princess Longyue in order to leave the palace? I never imagined that Consort Hui, who looks so gentle, could be so vicious."

Feng Ruozhao nodded and continued, "What did Consort Duan say to Princess Longyue that made Princess Longyue say that Consort Hui was a bad person? It seems that Consort Duan is no pushover either."

Wen Yuan rolled her eyes, a sly glint in them, and gave a malicious smile: "What do you think the Emperor will do if this were revealed to him?"

Upon hearing this, Feng Ruozhao's eyes lit up, and she laughed, "Sister is really clever. At that time, the Emperor's impression of Consort Hui will definitely be even worse. I heard that when Princess Longyue was sick, it was Imperial Physician Wen who treated her. Couldn't Imperial Physician Wen have seen it?"

Wen Yuan clapped her hands lightly, her tone slightly teasing: "Then go ahead, Xiao Lengzi, I'm leaving this to you. You know what to do, right?"

Upon hearing this, Jing An immediately summoned Xiao Lengzi. Xiao Lengzi bowed respectfully and replied in a low voice, "Yes, Your Majesty, this servant understands."

Wen Yuan nodded in satisfaction, a hint of coldness flashing in her eyes.