The situation in the court changed in the blink of an eye, but Shi Ning'an, staying in the inner courtyard, had nothing much to do. In the middle, in order to show her appreciation, the Empress Dowager summoned Shi Ning'an into the palace and bestowed a large number of rewards on her.
However, on her way out, she was summoned by Concubine Xian to the Changchun Palace.
The former court was in turmoil, and the harem was also unstable. Now there had been a major reshuffle in the harem, and the position of the queen was still vacant. The affairs of the six palaces had been handed over to Concubine Xian, so she was the most powerful person in the palace.
Concubine Xian had no children and was as gentle as dough. She had none of the sharpness of a high - ranking concubine. She pulled Shi Ning'an to chat about daily life.
From time to time, palace servants would come to her to ask about matters in the palace.
Frowning, Concubine Xian sighed to Shi Ning'an, "I've been entrusted with a crucial task in a time of crisis. How could I understand all these... It's a pity that the Emperor is in poor health. Now that I'm the highest - ranking concubine, I have to set an example. I've never done these things before, but now I have to learn them one by one."
Shi Ning'an didn't quite understand why Concubine Xian was so amiable to her. She didn't dare to say much and only talked about some insignificant things.
After a while, a palace servant came to report, "Your Ladyship, the young lady is back."
Concubine Xian immediately raised her eyebrows and smiled. She said to Shi Ning'an with a smile, "My maternal family has entered the capital. The Emperor has specially allowed my niece to enter the palace to pay her respects."
Concubine Xian's maternal family was the He family, the Earls of Changwu. Although there was a character "wu" (martial) in the title, the He family had been civil officials for generations. They had been in Jizhou for many years and didn't often return to the capital. There was also a He family in the capital, but they were from a different branch, having passed the five - generation limit.
This time, due to the major reshuffle in the court, the Earl of Changwu had been transferred to the capital and appointed as the Minister of Rites. Naturally, his family had also entered the capital. This young lady was He Mengzhen, the eldest legitimate daughter of the He family.
He Mengzhen looked very childish. Seeing that Shi Ning'an was good - looking, she pulled her and chattered a lot.
Concubine Xian looked at her lovingly and finally got to the point, "My niece grew up in Jizhou and is not familiar with the capital. I've been living in seclusion since I entered the palace, and I don't know what to do for the moment. Since the Empress Dowager summoned you into the palace today, I was thinking that I'd like to ask the Princess to do me a favor and take good care of her on a daily basis."
So that was it.
Although He Mengzhen's entry into the capital was somewhat similar to her own back then, it was not entirely the same. She had come to the capital alone back then. Her home was not like a home, and her relatives were not like real relatives. But He Mengzhen had come with her whole family. Her father was an earl, and her aunt was the most powerful concubine in the palace. How could they be compared?
When she returned to the mansion, Princess Zhaoming, seeing Shi Ning'an's confusion, couldn't help but laugh, "Everyone in the palace has a very shrewd mind. You think Concubine Xian is gentle on the surface and doesn't even put on airs. Who knows if it's not her deliberate show of weakness? Without any children, she still managed to sit on the concubine's position. It's true that the Emperor pitied her for losing two sons, but more importantly, she has great means."
Shi Ning'an was even more confused.
Princess Zhaoming continued, "Don't worry, silly girl. Now that the Emperor has recovered, the imperial consort selection will surely be carried out in full swing. It's scheduled for the sixth day of the fourth lunar month. The Crown Prince already has two side concubines, but the position of the Crown Princess is still vacant. The Tang family doesn't have a suitable candidate, and neither does our Rong family. We must find a suitable one, right?"
Shi Ning'an's eyes lit up. "Do you mean He Mengzhen, aunt?"
Princess Zhaoming nodded. "Yes. Miss He is the Empress Dowager's favorite candidate for the Crown Princess. Concubine Xian's move is also an attempt to win her over, so as to prevent her niece from being restricted after entering the Eastern Palace in the future."
After all, there were already two side concubines in the Eastern Palace, and their family backgrounds were not low. The He family had just entered the capital. Even though they were in high positions, their foundation was not stable. If He Mengzhen entered the Eastern Palace without even a sister to talk to, it would be a good thing if she could have a good relationship with the family members of those close to the Crown Prince.
Shi Ning'an finally understood and nodded.
Princess Zhaoming stroked her hand. "Don't worry. I've met that Miss He once. She's a kind - hearted girl. You just need to take her out more often. If there are banquets, accompany her and give her some advice."
Shi Ning'an naturally nodded repeatedly, indicating that she understood.
Princess Zhaoming added, "In the future, after you get married, although your sister - in - law will be the mistress of the Rong family, considering A Sui's status, you will also have to socialize. These things are inevitable."
Shi Ning'an didn't care about these things. She thought that Miss He was easy to get along with, so she immediately sent an invitation, asking her and Zheng Chi to go shopping in the shops together.
He Mengzhen had only been in the capital for a short time, but there were many noble ladies inviting her. The He family's status had risen, and many families were waiting to curry favor with them. However, she had been taught by her elders and didn't dare to accept every invitation. Staying at home bored, she was not as happy as when she was in Jizhou. Finally, she received the invitation from Shi Ning'an of the Rong family, and she felt relieved.
Immediately, she made a series of arrangements, fully showing her status as the eldest legitimate daughter of the He family. On the day of the appointment, a magnificent carriage escorted her all the way to the prosperous street in the east of the city.
Shi Ning'an and Zheng Chi were already waiting for her in the Heming Teahouse.
He Mengzhen was a girl who loved to laugh. She pulled the two of them and called them "sister" one after another. Her calls made Zheng Chi smile from ear to ear. She even said that He Mengzhen was just like her long - lost sister.
Shi Ning'an was more introverted. She just sat there drinking tea, watching the two of them laughing and playing.
After a while, He Mengzhen felt that they had become close sisters. Then she picked up the teacup and said a little sadly, "Aunt said that it would be extremely difficult to get out of the palace once you enter. Moreover... Everything in the palace is already arranged. According to my aunt, if I'm selected, I'll have to enter the palace in July..."
Hearing these words, Shi Ning'an also felt a sense of uneasiness in her heart. Tang Chutong had known her fate early on and had been prepared to enter the palace as the Crown Princess. Even so, she had been depressed and uneasy at that time. How much worse would it be for He Mengzhen, who was being forced into this situation?
Fortunately, Zheng Chi was always optimistic. She said some comforting words and made He Mengzhen laugh again.
After drinking tea, the three girls went to the shops. They actually didn't lack clothes and jewelry, but it was quite interesting for the three of them to chatter together.
They stopped in front of a cloth store.
The thin girl walking out of the cloth store made all three of them fall silent.
The girl seemed unconscious. Her eyes were sunken, and her cheeks were extremely thin. Even with thick makeup, the tiredness on her face couldn't be hidden.
A walking corpse?
Shi Ning'an inexplicably thought of these words.
The girl showed a little reaction only when she saw Shi Ning'an. Her eyes showed hatred.
The girl beside her was Wei Xia. She glared at Shi Ning'an fiercely and then pulled the thin girl out of the store.
Zheng Chi was in a daze for a long time and then stammered, "Ning'an, is that... Shi Qingmei?"
Shi Ning'an gave a soft "yes" and then looked back at Shi Qingmei. In just a few days, Shi Qingmei seemed to have aged dozens of years. She was no longer the bright, gentle, and dignified No. 1 talented girl in the capital.
Although she had been prepared to push Shi Qingmei into the mud, Shi Ning'an was full of curiosity at this moment. Shi Qingmei had her own pride and was not a person who would admit defeat easily. She should either stay at home and not go out or be very generous.
Moreover, no matter how widespread the rumors had been last time, the Wei family had deliberately ignored them and still treated the marriage with the Shi family as usual. After all, the rumors were just rumors. Since Shi Qingmei could endure it and still be with Wei Hongmiao, why had she ended up in such a situation?
Shi Ning'an had clearly seen despair in Shi Qingmei's eyes just now.
He Mengzhen then curiously asked, "Who are those two people?"
Shi Ning'an sized her up for a moment but didn't say anything.
Zheng Chi laughed. "That used to be the No. 1 talented girl in the capital, Shi Qingmei. And the one wearing a veil, don't you recognize her? She's the younger sister of the most prestigious General Weifeng, Wei Xia."
He Mengzhen thought for a while. "I seem to have met her once. But is Shi Qingmei really the No. 1 talented girl? She looks... "
She turned her head and looked at Shi Ning'an with a smile. "She's not as good - looking as Sister Ning'an."
A talented girl didn't necessarily have to be good - looking, but since there was the word "No. 1" in front, she must be both talented and beautiful. Shi Qingmei's current appearance really didn't match her reputation as the No. 1 talented girl.
Zheng Chi spat. "They say that a person's appearance reflects their heart. That woman is extremely vicious. You haven't heard about it. She's just an adopted daughter of the Shi family and has lost her reputation. She even wanted to compete with the Shi family's biological daughter for General Weifeng and actually poisoned the Shi family's daughter to death."
He Mengzhen showed a surprised look and didn't say anything more.
Shi Ning'an had something on her mind. She always felt that Shi Qingmei's lifeless appearance was very strange.
Zheng Chi continued, "I heard that General Weifeng's father is in poor health, and his mother is eager to have a grandson. Their wedding is scheduled for the early part of the fifth lunar month."
Shi Ning'an was surprised. "So soon? But judging from Shi Qingmei's appearance just now, she doesn't seem to be able to let Mrs. Wei have a grandson right away."
Zheng Chi shrugged. "Who knows?"
Shi Ning'an was silent. When she got back, she still felt a little uneasy, so she told Rong Sui about this.
Although Rong Sui had recovered, he had lost too much blood and couldn't train. He just stayed at home, reading some books or playing chess with Xia Anhai.
After being tossed around by Rong Sui, Xia Anhai felt a bit overwhelmed. Thinking that he had completed the task assigned by his parents, he bid farewell to his aunt early and set off on his journey.
Mrs. Xia was quite reluctant to part with him. She tried to persuade him to stay, asking him to wait until April and travel with them.
However, Xia Anhai shook his head, saying that he was going to Huai'an to visit a friend and then return to Wuyun.
So Rong Sui was really bored now. At night, he would pull a few servants to practice martial arts. The servants were afraid that something might happen to him, so they couldn't put their full strength into it. This made Rong Sui so angry that he stayed in the room sulking alone.
When Shi Ning'an came, Rong Ping was extremely happy. He quickly welcomed her in, poured her tea, and even deliberately closed the door. Then he went to guard at the door himself.
Rong Sui was quite puzzled. When he heard his cousin tell him what had happened today, he rubbed his chin for a while and nodded seriously, "It seems that Wei Hongmiao is quite responsible. He's going to marry Shi Qingmei so soon. He has to make a clean break to avoid future troubles."
Shi Ning'an asked in confusion, "What do you mean by 'make a clean break' and 'avoid future troubles'?"
Rong Sui smiled slightly and pulled her into his arms. "We're going to be separated for half a year. Isn't that 'future troubles'? I should have the same courage as Wei Hongmiao and marry you earlier."
Shi Ning'an felt that this conversation with him was just like talking at cross - purposes.
But Rong Sui didn't let her say anything more. He hugged her and kissed her.