NCCnovel Chapter 535 Garden Duet
Chapter 535 Garden Duet
"Your Majesty! This concubine truly wishes to have a talk with Your Majesty!"
Seeing that An Lingrong was only looking at her with a half-smile, but remained noncommittal, Chun Changzai was also a little anxious.
The reason she dared to say these words to An Lingrong within the Jingren Palace was that she was betting that An Lingrong would give her a "chance".
What I just said was almost a desperate gamble!
If he didn't get a response from An Lingrong, and his words were overheard by the Empress's men...
Chun Changzai couldn't even imagine what he would encounter!
However, she now has no other choice.
Either way, it's death; it's just a matter of choosing between sticking your neck out or sticking it out.
"Hehe, today is a beautiful day with a gentle breeze. If Consort Chun is in the mood, why not come with me to the Imperial Garden for a stroll?"
An Lingrong knew, of course, that Chun Chang was probably up to something behind his seemingly respectful demeanor.
However, An Lingrong was not worried at all that Chun Changzai could drag her down with her.
On the contrary, An Lingrong also wanted to see if Consort Chun had made any new progress after being treated by the Empress and then being rejected by her.
"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!"
Thinking that she would never get a response from An Lingrong, Chun Changzai felt a growing sense of despair.
I never thought that there would be no way out!
An Lingrong actually invited me to the Imperial Garden!
For Chun Changzai, this was undoubtedly heavenly music.
Overwhelmed by the immense surprise, Chun Changzai didn't even consider why An Lingrong, knowing she had unspoken ulterior motives, didn't invite her to her palace but instead sent her to tour the Imperial Garden.
At this moment, Chun Changzai had no time to consider much and simply followed An Lingrong toward the Imperial Garden on instinct.
……
On the way to the Imperial Garden, Fangruo frowned involuntarily as she looked at Chun Changzai, who was following closely behind them.
"Little Master..."
Facing her master, Fangruo hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back.
Although An Lingrong had previously signaled to her to calm down and indicated that she already had a plan in mind.
Fangruo, however, believed that Chun Changzai clearly harbored ill intentions.
Perhaps, Consort Chun deliberately approached An Lingrong because she was acting on the Empress's orders!
However, Fangruo dared not say these words directly to her master.
Even though An Lingrong trusted her and treated her with the utmost courtesy, Fang Ruo always kept in mind the difference between master and servant after the previous unexpected incident.
Although she wanted to remind An Lingrong, she was also worried about overstepping her bounds, so she became extremely anxious.
"Auntie, look, the flowers in front are blooming so beautifully!"
An Lingrong seemed oblivious to Fang Ruo's unusual expression, and instead pulled her along to admire the plants in the Imperial Garden.
"Oh, Your Majesty!"
Seeing this, Fang Ruo's worries deepened, so she hurriedly said to An Lingrong, "That young mistress is still following behind you!"
Fang Ruo's original intention was to ask An Lingrong how she planned to treat Chun Changzai.
After all, Chun Changzai told An Lingrong that she planned to pay her respects to her privately, which clearly meant she wanted to speak privately.
An Lingrong did not give a clear answer, but she still led the other party to the Imperial Garden.
This Imperial Garden is unlike other places. Not only is it interconnected, but palace maids and eunuchs often walk around, so it's not a good place to talk!
An Lingrong was naturally aware of Fang Ruo's concerns.
She had, of course, considered all the pros and cons before deciding to hold their conversation in the Imperial Garden.
Fangruo was worried that with so many people around, whatever the two said would likely be amplified and exaggerated by those with ulterior motives, and then relayed to the Empress and others.
However, An Lingrong did not shy away from this point.
The Empress is unlikely to be very affectionate towards him now.
Just like with Zhen Huan, even though the Empress wished she could get rid of her as soon as possible, she would never take action unless she was certain that she could kill her with one blow.
Making a hasty move could only result in losing the initiative.
With the Empress's shrewdness, she naturally wouldn't stoop to such a thing.
As for Chun Changzai?
An Lingrong could tell that the other party had ulterior motives.
Regardless of whether it was to betray their former master and seek another way out, or whether it was all just a series of schemes from beginning to end.
An Lingrong remained fearless.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, it was Chun Changzai who first came to him. Even after being rejected, Chun Changzai persisted and relentlessly tried to talk to him.
Even if the other party turns against her later, An Lingrong has plenty of ways to turn the tables.
Chun Changzai's skill level was not enough to make An Lingrong feel any sense of crisis.
However, these words could not be spoken aloud, so An Lingrong only gave Fangruo a reassuring look.
"Miss!"
Just as the mistress and servant were talking, Consort Chun, who had been following closely behind An Lingrong, was not willing to be ignored. She mustered her courage and stepped forward, saying, "I have something important to report!"
An Lingrong remained silent, simply looking down at Chun Changzai from her elevated position.
After a long while, when Chun Changzai could no longer withstand the invisible pressure, An Lingrong finally responded slowly.
"Is such that……"
Having received An Lingrong's approval, Chun Changzai breathed a sigh of relief and became even more energized. She quickly said to An Lingrong, "It's about Consort Qi!"
Previously, in an attempt to please the Empress and curry favor with the Empress Dowager, Consort Qi spoke rudely to Shen Meizhuang in front of her.
Unexpectedly, this move touched the Empress Dowager's sore spot, not only bringing bitter consequences upon himself, but also dragging the Empress, the person he originally wanted to please, into prison as well.
Although Consort Chun was already on the fringes of the Empress's camp, she was also a clever person. She always listened and observed a lot, and naturally, she kept these things firmly in her mind.
The reason Chun Changzai has found An Lingrong is because he believes that the "information" he has will be a good stepping stone!
"Consort Qi, believing she has the support of the Guarjia clan and the protection of the Empress, has become increasingly disrespectful to the other ladies... However, according to the information I have received, the Empress still intends to protect Consort Qi!"
Chun Changzai spoke in a very soft voice, his gaze constantly darting around.
Her manner made her appear both guilty and wary of strangers who might appear from any direction at any moment.
Chun Chang's words were half true and half false, containing both information he had gathered from his daily observations and fabrications he had embellished.
She knew An Lingrong's cunning and knew that if she fabricated lies, she would not only fail to gain her trust, but might also make things worse.
However, if you tell the truth about everything, you will not only lose the initiative, but you may also lose your value as someone who can be "used".
Therefore, after weighing the options, Chun Changzai chose to tell An Lingrong a mix of truth and falsehood, hoping to gain her trust and find a way out for herself.