mtl008 Chapter 428: Spring Plowing
Chapter 428: Spring Plowing
"Sister Nian, please don't be impatient. Listen to me carefully."
An Lingrong gently patted Concubine Hua's hand and explained in a soft voice.
"The Imperial Household Department is involved in all matters related to going out to the palace, weddings, and funerals. For the sake of peace and happiness, Sister Nian, please refrain from openly clashing with Prince Guo for the time being."
Anle was Concubine Hua's weakness. When An Lingrong mentioned it, she nodded heavily and made the promise.
"Lingrong, don't worry. For Anle's sake, I will act cautiously and will never act rashly."
"I also think that Rugu Hanjin and Louyue Kaiyun should strengthen their guard. I will arrange for the patrols nearby."
"Sister Nian is right. We do need to strengthen the defenses of our residence. Last year's Farming Festival was held at the Xinghuachun Pavilion, and this year will surely be no exception. Not only will clan members be there, but also important officials from the imperial court. The garden will undoubtedly be crowded, so we must keep the child close to us."
An Lingrong is still frightened by Hongzhan's fall into the water.
The injured Xiao Linzi would patrol Louyue Kaiyun every day to check if there were any bad guys sneaking in.
"Lingrong, I will take good care of Anle."
Concubine Hua nodded again.
When she first became pregnant, she was more confused and afraid.
After being comforted by Lingrong, she gave birth to Anle with hope.
When her daughter cried for the first time, Concubine Hua's heart was deeply touched.
So this is the satisfaction of having a blood-related child!
As Anle grew older, Concubine Hua felt more and more that it was not her who was taking care of Anle. Instead, she needed the child's company to relieve the loneliness in the deep palace.
Peace and happiness are her life, and Concubine Hua will never allow anyone to harm her child.
When she mentioned spring plowing, she thought of something more important.
"Is Hongzhan going to follow the emperor to farm this time?"
"Sister Nian, the emperor hasn't said anything yet, so he should be taking Hongzhan with him."
After An Lingrong regained consciousness, she took advantage of her fear and asked the emperor for Xiao Wuzi. From then on, he was responsible for protecting Hongzhan's safety.
Hongyao will enter the Shangshufang at the end of the year, and then the two brothers can learn martial arts together.
The two talked for a while before An Lingrong left Ru Gu Hanjin.
On the way back, palace maids passing by came to pay their respects from time to time. When she saw one of the palace maids who looked familiar, she couldn't help but pursed her lips.
Huanbi was so brave that she even asked the maidservant to observe her.
An Lingrong held Baoque's hand and gently touched it, then winked at her.
Bao Que, having received a signal from his master, immediately spoke out to persuade him.
"Master, please don't be angry. Concubine Hua originally..."
The palace maid kneeling on the ground pricked up her ears and listened hard, but she could only hear the first half of the sentence.
However, based on what she heard, she could guess that Concubine Shu had just been offended by Ru Gu Hanjin, so she had to go back and report.
After walking a distance, Baoque's eyes became serious and he asked in a low voice.
"Master, do you need me to teach that ignorant maid a lesson?"
An Lingrong walked forward lightly and spoke softly.
"No need, let's go back quickly. The Eighth Prince and Princess Zhaohua are waiting for me to have breakfast."
Huanbi is very cunning and can kill herself without her having to do anything.
When they reached Jiuzhou Yanqing, Xiao Xiazi happened to be leading people out, and he walked forward with a smile.
"Your servant pays homage to Her Majesty Shu Guifei. May Your Majesty be blessed with good fortune!"
An Lingrong raised her hand politely.
"Eunuch Xia, please excuse me. You're out and about so early in the morning. Is there something wrong?"
"Your Highness, the Emperor said the fermented rice cakes made by the Imperial Kitchen today are delicious, and I asked this servant to bring some to you and the young masters."
Xiao Xiazi respectfully explained the purpose of his visit.
When An Lingrong heard what Xiao Xia Zi said, she knew that the emperor had heard about her being left behind by Concubine Hua.
She pretended to be ignorant and put on a smile, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. Hongyao once tasted it from your place before and has never forgotten it. Today he is in for a treat."
"Since we've met here, how about having one of the servants take care of the lunch boxes?"
"Your Majesty, the Emperor has ordered this servant to personally deliver it to Louyue Kaiyun. I dare not be lazy."
Xiao Xiazi declined with a smile.
An Lingrong understood that he had something to say.
"Then I'll have to trouble Eunuch Xia."
She gently tapped Baoque's hand, indicating that she should make arrangements later.
An Lingrong has always been brooding over Hongzhan's fall into the water, but apart from the emperor's words "I have my own ideas", there has been no other news.
After sending away his attendants, Xiao Xiazi reported in a low voice.
"Your Majesty, I overheard Xiao Dongzi say that Su Peisheng secretly dealt with several elderly people in the garden. After careful investigation, I found out that those people came from Shoukang Palace."
"Those people were dealt with while you were unconscious."
"I dare to speculate that someone has pointed the finger of blame on the late Empress Dowager. Your Majesty, please be vigilant against those with ill intentions."
"Okay, I understand. Thank you for your hard work. There's no need to investigate further."
An Lingrong asked Baoque to send Xiao Xiazi out, and naturally a purse was a reward.
Sitting in the main seat, she went over everything that had happened in her mind and felt that the most suspicious person was Prince Guo.
He not only knew everything about the relationship between the emperor and his son, but also knew the layout of the garden. It was not difficult for him to arrange a group of people to come in in advance.
An Lingrong sat in the main hall for half an hour, then called Xiao Linzi to her side and whispered a few instructions to him.
On the second day of the second month, the emperor led his clan members and important ministers to begin the sacrificial ceremony, and Hongzhan also stopped classes to follow him.
"Mother, I also want to follow my father and my sixth brother to farm."
Hongyao came close to An Lingrong and said enviously.
"Be good, Hongyao! You'll be able to go to Xinghuachun Pavilion to farm by this time next year. If you really want to farm, you can ask Aunt Baoge for advice."
An Lingrong remembered that Baoge had grown vegetables before and was one of the few people in Yongshou Palace who knew about farming.
There were people busy farming on both sides of Xinghuachun Pavilion and Louyue Kaiyun. Compared to Hongyao's pure farming, the others were extremely busy.
The emperor, who was anxious to have an heir, listened to An Lingrong's advice and stayed overnight with all the concubines who entered the garden.
After finishing his farm work every day, Prince Guo would bathe, change his clothes, and go to Ciyun Puhu to pray for the dowager concubine and her unborn child until late at night, regardless of the weather.
When the emperor stayed at Louyue Kaiyun again, he expressed his feelings to An Lingrong.
"Yunli has been wandering among the mountains and rivers since he opened his government office. I originally thought he was unstable. I didn't expect that he could calm down this time to pray for blessings."
"It's not in vain that Concubine Shu gave birth to him..."
After the emperor finished praising Prince Guo, An Lingrong smiled and continued.
"Your Majesty, Prince Guo is so filial, and your advice to him is well worth it."