The crabapple tree is fragrant in the tent, and the bright moon is in my arms

The Fengyi Palace was brightly lit by candlelight, the walls were inlaid with firefly-like luminous pearls, and the screen ornaments were all decorated with phoenix patterns and gold threads.

The Queen looked at these and reached out her hand to touch the moon-shaped vase with mandarin ducks playing in the water and the phoenix crown stacked with jewels that His Majesty had given her when they got married.

Xun Qiu: "My queen, please be at ease... You are pregnant with the heir of the dragon, so you need to be at peace."

"Why, you also want to persuade me to be the mother of the country and have the bearing of a mother of the nation."

Baocui touched the phoenix crown with her fingertips and said, "Have you seen the Chuntang Palace that His Majesty renovated for her?"

Xun Qiu shook his head and hesitated: "The Creator said... there are not many green trees and jade forests in the outer courtyard, but the inside can be called... a pearl palace."

The Queen laughed out loud: "What a beautiful palace, how can she still look down on my Fengyi Palace? How good is a favorite concubine, to please His Majesty, and everything is sent to her!"

"I heard that the beams are made of cloud-top sandalwood. Are night-shining pearls rare? Your Majesty gave her crystal jade disks as lamps! Even pearls are only fit to be used as curtains for her bedroom. This phoenix crown of mine cannot even compare to her radiance!"

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, please be at ease..."

Xun Qiu had sweat on his forehead and repeated the sentence dryly.

The Queen pushed the Phoenix Coronet out, calmed her breathing, and sat on the couch: "Your Majesty gave her a title that was her name, and the word 'pure' was also your Majesty's evaluation of her. She is almost riding on my head, and your Majesty still thinks she is the most kind and pure. She is really a demon concubine born into the world. My life... is really miserable."

The queen of a country is not as beautiful as her, nor as favored as her. The only thing that is worse than her is the dragon heir in her belly.

Xun Qiu: "Mother, your Majesty... Concubine Zhao has no children and is always sick. Your Majesty can dote on her, so you don't have to worry too much."

"An eyesore, do you understand? I find her an eyesore!" The queen's eyes darkened, with a hint of viciousness.

"Fang Fei colluded with her and became a noble concubine. Can she abandon Zhao Guiren, who is a big tree?"

"Your Majesty, you still have Concubine Ning and Concubine Rui. Even if things don't work out, there will always be new people entering the palace. Does His Majesty really want to favor Concubine Zhao the most and hold her in his arms forever?"

The queen tightly grasped the sandalwood Buddhist beads on her wrist and asked, "Who gave Concubine Zhao that cup of poisoned wine?"

Xun Qiu: "I can't find out. All the people in the imperial kitchen are dead. Your Majesty... You have to hire more people now. Many of your former spies have been executed by His Majesty. Your eyes in the Hall of Supreme Harmony... are gone too..."

"So much less?" The Queen frowned. "Your Majesty is unpredictable now. He doesn't always tell me something like before. The newly selected servants in the Ministry of Internal Affairs are always powerful. You can do whatever you want."

Xun Qiu: “Yes.”

"Give money to those who seek wealth, and a bright future to those who seek advancement. Make sure to keep them well hidden by your Majesty's side. I'm tired of the old ones, they're all useless!"

Xun Qiu handed over the pregnancy-preserving medicine and said, "I'll get it done right away."

"Is there any movement there, Hua Yan?"

"The person who delivered the meal said that Hua Ying had eaten all of it, and her maid washed her pants in the backyard, and there was blood on them, so she must have had her period."

The queen was a little disappointed: "What a disappointing belly."

"Just now, the queen went to the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and Hua's maid came over."

Xun Qiu said respectfully: "Hua promised that she would do everything the Queen ordered, and only hoped for peace. His Majesty came to Yanxi Palace last night, but did not stay overnight. Concubine Gao was whipped and I am afraid she will need to recuperate for a long time, and... after His Majesty left, she saw Miss Gao running out of the room."

"Whip?" The Queen paused. "Miss Gao Er?"

"Yes, Your Majesty did go to the Yanxi Palace last night, but I don't know what happened. Hua promised to live with the imperial concubine, so he shouldn't dare to make up stories."

"Has Miss Gao Er left the palace?"

"Normally, she could have stayed with the imperial concubine for a few days, so she left the palace long ago."

The bitter taste of the medicine residue remained on the tip of the queen's tongue. She took a bite of the candied fruit and said, "Let the news spread outside the city. Who cares about the truth of last night? Concubine Gao is only under house arrest, so let her sister never get married."

Xun Qiu lowered her head and said, "Your Majesty, if His Majesty were to take Miss Gao Er..."

"If Your Majesty liked it, you would have kept it long ago. Your Majesty is trying to warn the Gao family. Don't you understand?"

The Queen laughed a few times, her eyes thoughtful, "I originally wanted to let Concubine Fang serve Concubine Qi, but if something happened to Concubine Qi's child... it would be a pity..."

Your Majesty actually lets Concubine Ling and Rui Chang serve you.

"Rui Changzai serves in front of you, I'm afraid it will be difficult for her to receive your favor." Xun Qiu said, "But Ning Changzai has also been favored by His Majesty, and Hua Daiying is also a beautiful woman. They will definitely be able to win over His Majesty and share some of Zhao Guiren's favor."

"Then let them rely on their own abilities and just deliver the pregnancy medicine."

The Queen looked at the Phoenix Coronet that was placed high up, which was shining with a dark golden light. She said sternly, "It is impossible that her Chuntang Palace is protected by Your Majesty so that not even a fly can fly in. Find a way to send our people in!"

"Yes."

The queen was tired and waved her hand: "Go down."

"Your Majesty, there is one more thing. Meng Da Ying seems to be a little strange. Someone in her palace said..."

-

In the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Zhu Dingyuan looked at the memorial and asked, "Is there any news from Chuntang Palace?"

"Your Majesty, you have asked three times. Noble Lady Zhao woke up once in the morning, and Concubine Fang went to visit her. Now Noble Lady Zhao is asleep again."

Huang Quan bent over and said, "Your Excellency is already weak, and you were poisoned. The remaining poison has just been cleared, so you are rather sleepy."

"Yes." Zhu Dingyuan circled the wrong words in the memorial with a red pen and frowned again: "If she wakes up, you must tell me."

Huang Quan looked at the pile of memorials, and in his heart he urged him to hurry up and deal with government affairs, but he had a smile on his face: "Xiao Xiazi is guarding, Your Majesty, don't worry."

Zhu Dingyuan looked at the memorials in front of him, sighed, and moved his lips: "Why are there so many..."

He wants to see Yue'er.

-

Chuntang Palace.

Xiao Xiazi was standing outside the hall. He Quan came out from inside with a cold look on his face: "Young Master, please rest. Eunuch Xiao Xia, come in and have a cup of hot tea."

Xiao Xiazi's eyes turned into crescents as he smiled. "Hey, Chief Steward Quan, it's not cold for me to stand here. His Majesty's order is for me to guard Chuntang Palace. If the young lady wakes up, I will go back and report it immediately."

He Quan glanced at his legs and said, "The eunuch must be a very fast runner, otherwise I would bother you with this little errand."

"Hmm?" Xiao Xiazi touched his nose and signaled the eunuchs around him to move away.

He Quan placed the golden melon seeds in his palm: "Eunuch Xiaoxia is a man in front of the palace, please say a few good words for the young lady."

"That won't work." Xiao Xiazi lowered her voice and said, "Lord He, His Majesty wants to make me a concubine and give me a two-character title. Concubine Qi will return to the palace to hold the canonization ceremony. All six palaces will be promoted. The Queen wants Concubine Fang to serve Concubine Qi, but His Majesty has appointed Concubine Ling and Concubine Rui."

He grabbed the golden melon seeds and spoke very quickly.

He Quan took back most of it without leaving a trace: "Which two words?"

"Zhao Chun."

Xiao Xiazi looked at the two golden melon seeds in his palm, feeling a little aggrieved: "... Miss Zhao is so generous!"

He Quan leaves.

He turned to the eunuchs around him, with reluctance in his eyes: "The young master is kind and considerate of us servants. Here... the young master gave it to you to improve the food tonight."

"Thank you, Eunuch Xiaoxia! Thank you, Miss Zhao!"

Xiao Xiazi carefully put the last golden melon seed into his purse, looking at the cold winter sky with red eyes.

Lord He's life is probably not going to be easy.

It's really frugal.