allonlinenovel Chapter 266 1 year later
Chapter 266 1 year later
When the pure and flawless camellia flowers bloom layer by layer, spring has reached its final chapter.
The restless summer always seems long and boring. The scenery of the Old Summer Palace is expanded every year, but there seems to be no change.
Autumn always brings a sense of comfort. The sky becomes a deep blue and high, and the clouds become white and light. But its pace is so fast that before we can fully appreciate its beauty, one ordinary morning, a slightly cold wind whistles by. Perhaps it's just the time to sneeze. When we look around, we realize that autumn has already gone away.
Winter in the Forbidden City is a polarizing experience. Masters, clad in their ornate winter attire, lazily recline on couches, flipping through scrolls or quietly chatting with those around them, their carved wooden doors seeming to shut out the entire winter chill. Servant servants shiver in the bitter wind, their hands and feet numb from the cold, yet they still forge ahead to complete their duties. Their figures seem so small and helpless beneath the winter palace walls, they can only silently endure the cold, hoping that this long, harsh winter will soon pass.
When the fireworks on New Year's Eve burst into life again, people suddenly realized how time flies by so quickly. A year has slipped away without anyone noticing.
Yes, no matter how people lament the fleeting passage of time, time, like a resolute traveler, never stops. It relentlessly carries everything in the world with it, rushing along, leaving behind all the events of the past year in the long river of time behind.
The situation in the harem has undergone new changes this year.
The three new people who entered the palace were all promoted in rank. Concubine Zhen was promoted to Concubine Zhen, Concubine Kang became Concubine Kang, and Concubine Mu became Concubine Mu. It seemed that they were all promoted, but their levels of favor were very different.
Concubine Zhen was undoubtedly the most favored among them. Yongzheng was always passionate about her. Together with Concubine Qi, she firmly sat on the throne of the most favored concubines in the Forbidden City.
On the other hand, although Kang Changzai and Mu Guiren were also promoted, Yongzheng's enthusiasm for them had long faded. Although they had positions, they rarely received the emperor's favor and could only live quietly in this lonely palace.
An Lingrong and Shen Meizhuang, however, were different. They lived in seclusion and rarely ventured into Yongzheng's presence. It was as if the turmoil of the harem's struggle for favor had nothing to do with them. In their own little world, they lived a relatively peaceful life, contented with their lot.
As a result, the entire harem fell into a strange calm.
Time passes drop by drop, and in the blink of an eye, spring becomes more and more beautiful and flowers bloom.
In Yonghe Palace.
Longyue, now two and a half years old, has become increasingly charming and adorable. Her delicate little face resembles a peach blossom in early spring, rosy and radiant. Her large, round eyes are clear and bright, and her eyelashes are long and curled, fluttering like tiny stars.
An Lingrong carefully dressed her in a tender pink dress embroidered with small crabapple flower patterns, which made her look even more cute.
Seeing Shen Meizhuang standing aside waiting, An Lingrong asked, "Sister, have you made all the arrangements?"
Shen Meizhuang nodded: "Don't worry!"
"Let's go then!"
The two of them only brought Su Ye and Cai Yue. Shen Meizhuang personally held Long Yue and walked slowly forward.
A gentle breeze caresses my face, bringing a touch of freshness and comfort. It seems to carry the rich fragrance of spring blossoms and the fresh scent of newly green leaves, caressing my skin gently. I can't help but squint my eyes, lost in this gentle caress.
Longyue lay obediently on Shen Meizhuang's shoulder, her big watery eyes looking around curiously. After a while, she turned her head and asked softly, "Mother, where are we going?"
An Lingrong twitched the corners of her mouth slightly, revealing a gentle smile, and replied, "Mother, can you take me out to play?"
Hearing that they could go out and play, Longyue nodded excitedly, but soon blinked in confusion and asked, "Then why don't you bring your brother and sister with you?"
An Lingrong patiently explained, "Today, I'll only take Longyue out. Next time, I'll bring my brother and sister along."
After hearing this, Longyue was a little disappointed, but still responded happily: "Okay!" Then she hugged Shen Meizhuang's neck tightly.
A moment later, the two arrived at the place that they were once most familiar with: Suiyuxuan.
When Xiao Luzi heard the noise, he quickly opened the door a crack. After the two of them went in, he stuck his head out and looked around. Seeing that there was indeed no one around, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
The yard was in a state of disrepair, with weeds of varying shades of yellow and green growing wildly, stubbornly occupying every inch of land and completely covering the once tidy ground of the courtyard.
The once exquisite flowerbeds are now scattered with broken bricks and soil, and occasionally a few wildflowers can be seen stubbornly blooming amidst the desolation. Although the flowers are thin, they add a faint sense of life to this dead place.
Several tall crabapple trees, like solitary beauties, stand gracefully in this dilapidated courtyard. Their branches are in full bloom with intricate and gorgeous blossoms, layers of tender pink petals. A gentle breeze rustles the petals, emitting a faint fragrance, as if telling of the courtyard's former prosperity, or perhaps defending this courtyard's last touch of brightness.
Shen Meizhuang and An Lingrong walked into the main hall. Everywhere they looked was emptiness and loneliness. The objects of the past had disappeared, leaving only dust spread everywhere, silently telling the vicissitudes of time.
Fortunately, Xiao Luzi was smart and had cleaned the main hall early, restoring it to a somewhat clean appearance, so that they did not feel too sad about the desolate scene.
The two sat at the table. Su Ye and Cai Yue had already placed the side dishes and wine jugs they brought on the table.
Although there were only two of them, they had three sets of bowls and chopsticks.
Shen Meizhuang picked up the wine pot and poured three glasses of wine.
"I wish Sister Zhen eternal youth and a youthful appearance."
"I wish Huan'er peace, happiness, and a smooth life."
After they finished speaking, they said together, "I wish us good luck in spring, peace in summer, peace in autumn, and happiness in winter."
This was the first blessing they said to Zhen Huan on her birthday, but when they said it again now, they shed tears.
Longyue, who was standing by, watched their series of actions with her big round eyes. Although the little girl didn't quite understand the deep meaning of their actions, she knew that they were sad, so she took out her handkerchief obediently, stood on tiptoe, and tried to wipe the tears from their faces.
"Wanwan is so good."
The two were looking at each other in silence when they suddenly heard heavy footsteps.