They are all concubines, so of course they choose the future emperor.

Jiang Wanyue held her lower back with one hand and read the booklet written by Butler Cao with the other.

"This Commander Zhu is really... I've never seen such a person before. He eats and cooks the same thing every day, and he always arrives at the yamen at the perfect time, three quarters past the hour of the yin."

If she didn't know what kind of person Butler Cao was, she would have thought that what was written in the booklet was false.

Xiuchun didn't understand what was going on and didn't respond.

Jiang Wanyue put the booklet down, rubbed his temple, and sat down awkwardly.

Xiuchun hurried to help her.

"You are already pregnant, so don't worry about the outside world. The most important thing is to take good care of the baby. I don't understand why you keep staring at Commander Zhu? Even if you find out the secret he is hiding, you may not be able to win him over!"

Xiuchun was very puzzled.

"Our prince is in a good situation now, and the emperor trusts him. There is no need to win over Commander Zhu, right?"

Jiang Wanyue sat down and sighed.

"I'm just worried."

"worry about what?"

"I am worried that the King of Qi will become desperate."

Jiang Wanyue frowned.

Although in her previous life, the King of Qi and his family forced the emperor to abdicate two years later, many things have changed since she was reborn to the previous time. Who knows if the King of Qi will launch the move in advance?

She couldn't help feeling uneasy.

After Xiuchun persuaded her for a while, Jiang Wanyue's brows finally relaxed a little.

"I'm a little hungry, go to the kitchenette and get some food!"

"Okay, the princess sent some blood swallows yesterday. They should be almost done by now. I will go and take a look."

Xiuchun said this and left quickly.

Soon, she came in with a cup of bird's nest.

Jiang Wanyue took the bowl, stirred it with a spoon, and suddenly asked.

"Were these blood swallows only delivered to us, or do other people have them too?"

"Only you and Aunt Guan have it."

Xiuchun replied.

Jiang Wanyue frowned and asked again: "How much is left?"

"Not much in total, maybe three or two left?"

"Send it to Sister Cui! Just say it's for the Second Miss. Didn't she catch a cold a few days ago? It's a good way to replenish her body."

Xiuchun was a little reluctant.

"You are pregnant with the young master! You need nourishment more than others! The second young lady just caught a cold because she wanted to stay cool. She is already well. There is no need to send such a precious blood swallow to her, right?"

Jiang Wanyue put down the cup and bowl, raised her head and looked at Xiuchun.

She didn't say anything, but Xiuchun was suddenly startled and fell to her knees.

"I have overstepped my authority. Please punish me, Auntie."

Jiang Wanyue sighed and pulled her up.

"I know you care about me and the child. Even if everything has been peaceful in the mansion for the past few months, we can't let our guard down."

Xiuchun felt a little ashamed and nodded repeatedly.

"The servant knows."

"It's just some blood swallows. No matter how precious they are, they will be available in the future. Besides, Dr. Zeng comes to see me every day and always says that the little one in my belly is healthy and lively. Why should I take supplements? Look, I've gained a lot of weight."

Jiang Wanyue pulled at the hem of her clothes and sighed as she looked at her bulging belly.

"I don't think you're fat! Isn't this the case for all pregnant women?" Xiuchun advised, "You'll lose weight quickly after giving birth."

Jiang Wanyue couldn't help laughing.

"I hope so. But there is too much blood swallow in this cup. I can't finish it. Come on, have a sip too."

Xiuchun waved her hands repeatedly: "How can that be possible? This is for you and the young master to nourish your body, how can a servant drink it?"

"If you don't drink it, it will all be poured out. Isn't it a waste?" Jiang Wanyue scooped a spoonful and handed it to Xiuchun's mouth, urging her, "Hurry up! My hands are sore."

Xiuchun had no choice but to open her mouth, take a sip, and then smack her taste.

“It seems to be no different from ordinary bird’s nest.”

Jiang Wanyue also took a sip.

There really isn't much difference.

Jiang Wanyue didn't want to drink anymore after taking two sips, so she picked up the white jade cake on the table and started eating.

After eating a small piece of cake, Jiang Wanyue touched her stomach with satisfaction, waved to Mi'er, Xing'er and the others, and shared the remaining blood swallows with them.

In fact, the portion of blood swallow was not large, and each person only got one bite, but everyone was very happy.

The production of blood swallows is scarce, and only a small amount is obtained every three years. All of it is tributed to the palace. Not to mention the little maids, even some wives of officials have no chance to eat it.

Jiang Wanyue ate it when she was a child.

It was a reward from the palace when her grandmother was still alive.

So, although blood swallows are precious to her, she is not curious about them.

Xiuchun warned them: "The reward from Auntie is Auntie's grace, so don't tell anyone about it, or else you will arouse jealousy and bring trouble to Auntie."

Several maids nodded repeatedly and promised not to say anything nonsense.

Xiuchun took the remaining blood swallows to Nianyun Pavilion and said what Jiang Wanyue had instructed.

Cui Yan refused to accept it at first.

Xiuchun said, "Our aunt treats you like her own sister. If the concubine refuses to accept you, then isn't that treating our aunt as an outsider?"

Cui Yan had no choice but to accept this.

She gave a wry smile.

"You are as eloquent as your aunt. Okay, I'll take it, and you can report to your boss."

Xiuchun smiled, bent her knees, and put the things on the table.

Turning her gaze, she saw some paper ingots and some items used for memorial services beside the table, and she couldn't help but be slightly surprised.

But she didn't ask anything, and after paying her respects, she left.

When they returned to Wutong Courtyard, Xiuchun told everyone about this and added one more sentence at the end.

"The Ghost Festival is coming soon. I think the lady prepared it for the second young master."

Jiang Wanyue frowned.

"It shouldn't be. Didn't they light a perpetual lamp for the Second Young Master last year? The monks in the temple are very concerned about it. Logically, there is no need to do this again. It may be prepared for General Cui."

General Cui, Cui Yan's elder brother, was posthumously awarded the fifth-rank General Ningyuan for his contribution in saving Prince Jing.

Xiuchun thought about it and felt that it was very likely.

"The concubine is also pitiful. Her parents were not around when she was young, and she only had this one brother. Unexpectedly, this only brother died before getting married. Alas... I heard that General Cui treated the concubine very well. Although they lived in poverty, the concubine did not have to work since she was young. General Cui raised her as a lady from a noble family."

Jiang Wanyue looked at her: "How do you know so much?"

"My godmother told me." Xiuchun blinked her eyes. "My godmother said that she watched the Cui brothers and sisters grow up almost from childhood. She has known them since they were eight or nine years old."

Something flashed through Jiang Wanyue's mind.

"Eight or nine years old? They should be able to remember things by then, right? Didn't they tell me where their parents were from and what they looked like?"

Xiuchun shook her head.

"My godmother didn't say, but they must have passed away, right? Otherwise, why would they travel thousands of miles to live at the border? My godmother said that when she first met them, they were robbed, and all their money and travel permits were gone. Later, the concubine fell ill and had a high fever. General Cui asked for help everywhere to save his sister, and finally came to my godmother. That's how they met."

"But later, although the concubine's illness was cured, because of the long-term fever, there was something wrong with her brain and she couldn't remember her childhood. It was also because of this that General Cui treated the concubine so well."

Jiang Wanyue's pupils trembled.

It can't be such a coincidence, right?