0p0 Chapter 183 An Lingrong
Chapter 183 An Lingrong
Thinking about it carefully, the Queen Mother's actions did not stand up to scrutiny. If she really handed over Hongxuan, she would be surrounded by wolves. What's more, when she calmed down and thought about it, she felt horrified. She had no intention of really handing over Hongxuan, but she just thought of it naturally when she left Shoukang Palace.
I was in Shoukang Palace in the morning without realizing it. I stayed there for an hour and a half without realizing it. When I returned to the palace, it was almost noon.
Recalling the Queen Mother's appearance, it was clear that she was in a state of excitement from being immersed in such spices for a long time.
Jiang Ruyin exerted some strength and knitted her brows hard:
It's unclear whether this madness was intentional on the part of the Queen Mother or if the Empress had other plans. Previously, the Queen Mother had seemed hopeless, but now she was walking briskly, and even after soaking in these spices for so long, she showed no signs of fatigue. She should have noticed something was amiss. Jiang Ruyin believed she understood the Queen Mother and her niece perfectly. One, heartbroken, spent the rest of her life in the inner palace cultivating her family; the other, heartbroken, exploited the Queen Mother and her elder sister, ultimately exhausting the Emperor's patience and returning to the inner palace.
If the Empress Dowager knew that her life was coming to an end, she would have gathered all her energy to make plans, and the Empress would have naturally been able to return to the Forbidden City.
The more Jiang Ruyin thought about it, the more interesting this aunt and niece seemed to her. Perhaps this was a shared heritage.
Hmm...that's not right!
Lin Jie easily detected the spices in his body, but no imperial physician dared to tell the Empress Dowager anything.
Jiang Ruyin suddenly understood.
What about the emperor? Did he know about this? Did he allow it?
Jiang Ruyin became confused again.
At this time, the Yanxi Palace
The tea had a faint fragrance, which was now seven-tenths cool and the fragrance had faded, but An Lingrong's nose was still lingering with that aroma.
Outside the window, the wind blew a few yellow leaves, spinning them in the air, making a rustling sound.
An Lingrong sat quietly at the table, her bangs combed to reveal her smooth forehead. Her originally slender eyebrows were now slightly furrowed, as if there were a thousand knots that could not be untied.
Her hands unconsciously tormented the handkerchief, her fingers gently stroking the smooth material, but her eyes stared blankly ahead, her mind following Jiang Ruyin.
Recalling the moment when Jiang Ruyin stepped into the room, An Lingrong's heart skipped a beat, a hint of surprise flashed across her eyes, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously rose slightly. She hurriedly stood up to greet her, and the hem of her skirt seemed to carry a bit of eager joy.
Jiang Ruyin always has a smile on her face, but in reality, she is cold and aloof to the bone. She is like the moon in the sky, neither too close nor too far away. People who seem to smile lightly are actually the hardest to win over.
She had originally thought of reminiscing about the past with Jiang Ruyin and telling her about the difficulties and grievances she had faced these days. However, before she could pour out her thoughts, Jiang Ruyin spoke hurriedly, as if she had many important things to do, and turned to leave.
At that moment, the smile on An Lingrong's face froze before it could fully blossom, replaced by a hint of loneliness and bitterness. She opened her mouth, wanting to keep her, but she was afraid that Jiang Ruyin knew and wouldn't say anything, and deliberately bringing it up would make her seem too hypocritical. In the end, she couldn't utter a word of persuasion, and could only watch Jiang Ruyin's back gradually fade away.
At that moment, An Lingrong's heart was a whirlwind of emotions, a tangled mess. She feared Jiang Ruyin would blame her. After all, the past might have left a lingering grudge in her heart. The thought of those resentful words made her heart ache as if an invisible hand were clutching at her. But then she thought, if Jiang Ruyin just left without saying anything, would that mean that in her heart, she was just an insignificant person, not worth her time and energy to criticize? This indifference made An Lingrong feel like she was sinking into an icy cellar, a chill spreading from her heart.
She slowly stood up and walked to the window, leaning against the frame as she gazed at the empty courtyard. The wind ruffled her hair, but she was oblivious. Her frail figure seemed even more lonely in the somewhat chilly room. She bit her lower lip, her heart filled with regret. She was glad that Jiang Ruyin still remembered her and had come, but she also hated herself for being so incompetent, unable to stop her hurried steps. She could only let the glimmer of warmth that had just ignited quickly dissipate, leaving her alone in the silence, slowly consumed by complex emotions.
If Jiang Ruyin knew about this, she would probably hold her forehead and smile bitterly three times.
An Lingrong is probably such a person!
If you're a sister, you must take pains to coax, accompany, and amuse her, ensuring she doesn't embarrass herself, doesn't let her words fall flat on her face, and prevents her from letting her indulge in uncontrolled thoughts. With her attentiveness and a skill at her disposal, she can be of great use. The saying "trust those you employ, and don't employ those you doubt" doesn't apply to this kind of person. If you don't constantly "suspect" and stay close to her, she'll be eaten to the bone.
Only by being 70% close and leaving 30% wiggle room for oneself can she gain some rationality. This distance cannot be that of equals, leaving room for wiggle room, but must be that of a certain dignity and inequality between superiors and inferiors.
An Lingrong was too pale and shallow, not because of her character but because of her background. Her father's conviction and her mother's temper left her like a fish caught on shore, her powerless struggle only hastening her own demise. This shallow and powerless background made her completely exposed, and she also demanded a certain degree of intimacy from others, even superficially.
If they are of the same level, they are not suitable. Girls like Shen Meizhuang and Zhen Huan are from wealthy backgrounds and have been spoiled, so they are the least likely to confide in each other easily; if they are people like Nian Shilan, the pressure they put on her is too great and she might have a rebellious mentality like Cao Qinmo; Concubine Duan is not suitable either. Concubine Duan is not the type to confide in each other easily. Every time she appears, she will pull people into her circle with just a few words. Concubine Duan is the type who is least suitable for someone with An Lingrong's personality; Concubine Jing is also not suitable, because she is too humble and lacks dignity.
Only the Queen and Jiang Ruyin can control her.
All because of distance and majesty.
One is the queen, with a snake heart and a Buddha mouth; the other is the one with power and children, looking down on the harem. This is majesty.
One is the daughter of a duke, the other is the daughter of a merchant. This is the distance.
What makes her feel close to others and brings them closer naturally is that her identity cannot be solved but her background can.
Only by being in a high position and making others feel awe, and then using coercion, kindness, inducement, etc., and adding the inherent closeness of the heart, can a delicate balance be achieved and peaceful coexistence be achieved.
But Jiang Ruyin has one shortcoming compared to the Queen: the Queen used coercion and kindness, while Jiang Ruyin used kindness and inducement to make An Lingrong willing to take the bait.
Therefore, the Queen can fully tap into An Lingrong's potential, but Jiang Ruyin cannot use An Lingrong as a knife as she pleases.
Fortunately, Jiang Ruyin likes to watch from the sidelines.