Peach Blossom.

"What did you say?" Chen Ji felt like there was something wrong with his ears.

Tao Ye smiled slightly, a very awkward smile, and tried hard to explain: "It's my period... it's not convenient..."

"What a coincidence?" Chen Ji felt unbelievable.

Tao Ye pursed her lips again and whispered, "It's a bit of a coincidence..."

Chen Ji's smile froze on his face. He suddenly felt that the flickering light of the red candle was very uncomfortable for his eyes, and the layered curtains blocked the fresh air, making him feel uncomfortable all over.

He looked at Tao Ye again, as if he felt there was something wrong here.

Tao Ye hurriedly reached out and held Chen Ji's hand, smiled gently, and said to Chen Ji like a spoiled child: "Don't care about this day and night... Can't you just talk to me?"

Chen Ji was confused, but Tao Ye's hands seemed very soft, and her bright smile was very pleasant. He slowly relaxed and nodded with a smile.

Tao Ye hung her head, showing a curious look: "I saw a few ministers wearing different official uniforms today. I seem to have never seen them before. Who are they?"

"Are you talking about Envoy Qiuchi?"

"Qiuchi?" Tao Ye didn't remember hearing about this place before. "Where is that?"

Chen Ji smiled and patiently said, "Qiuchi is between Chen and Wei. In the previous Qi Dynasty, there was no contact with Qiuchi. During the years when Qi's emperors changed frequently, Wei had been expanding and annexing the surrounding small countries. When Chen replaced Qi, Wei had annexed all the neighboring small countries, leaving only Qiuchi. So, you should know why the envoy from Qiuchi came?"

Tao Ye found this interesting and asked, "So are you planning to help them?"

Chen Ji smiled and shook his head: "It's not that I'm helping. Since ancient times, the establishment of diplomatic relations between two countries has emphasized mutual benefit and mutual assistance. Wei is determined to be a hegemon, and sooner or later it will target Chen, but the two countries have basically the same population, and no matter how powerful it is, it is not easy to attack, so it has been expanding from small to large, annexing weak countries and expanding its territory. Therefore, as long as Qiu Chi is still there, Chen and Wei will not go to war. If we help Qiu Chi breathe a few more years, we can also be more stable for a few more years. After all... Chen is a new country, and there is a lot of work to be done."

Tao Ye listened and became more curious: "But there will still be a day when Chen Wei and I will fight. When that happens, are you sure you can win?"

Chen Ji smiled bitterly and sighed deeply. It seemed that Tao Ye had touched a sore spot.

"On our wedding night, let's not talk about such heavy topics." Chen Ji hugged Tao Ye and said affectionately, "You are tired enough today. Change into comfortable clothes and go to bed early."

As he spoke, Chen Ji undressed Tao Ye again.

"Your Majesty..." Tao Ye grabbed Chen Ji's hand again.

Chen Ji said softly: "I know, I won't touch you, but you have to sleep, right?"

"Your Majesty is the supreme ruler. It would be unlucky if he accidentally gets dirty. It would be better for you to go back to Xuanji Palace for a while." Tao Ye smiled softly while holding Chen Ji's arm. It seemed that she was concerned about Chen Ji.

But Chen Ji was speechless: "Today is our wedding night after all! How can I sleep somewhere else?"

"Isn't that inconvenient..." Tao Ye pouted and acted like a cute little woman.

Chen Ji said helplessly: "But others don't know, they just think I'm ignoring you and giving you a bad reputation."

"But, sleeping on the same bed for the long night...what if the emperor can't hold back, won't it be bad for my health?" Tao Ye said shyly, her voice low and her eyebrows lowered, as if she had suffered some injustice.

Chen Ji was speechless for a moment.

"Could it be that... the emperor has such great self-control? Even if he has to face me all night, he can remain calm?" Tao Ye slowly raised her head again, eyes full of affection, and met Chen Ji's gaze, looking so pitiful.

This time, Chen Ji didn't dare to answer. If he could remain calm, it meant that his love for Tao Ye was not deep enough, or he was ill.

"Well, I'll wait for you for a few days." Chen Ji kissed Tao Ye's brow affectionately and told her, "Have a good rest."

Tao Ye nodded obediently.

Chen Ji walked out from behind the layers of curtains, silently, with a chill in his heart. Although Tao Ye gave many reasonable reasons, driving him out of the warm bridal chamber was still a cold reality.

He tried again and again to convince himself that it was just a coincidence.

When he opened the door, Chen Ji saw Zhuo Jin, Cai Ling, Cai Wei and others guarding the door.

Cai Ling hurried forward and asked, "Your Majesty, why did you come out?"

"The Queen has been exhausted from preparing for the wedding. I'm afraid my snoring will disturb her, so she should go back to Xuanji Palace and sleep." Chen Ji smiled perfunctorily, said these two words casually, and walked down a few steps.

Zhuo Jin hurried to follow.

Cai Ling looked at Chen Ji's neatly dressed body, how could she not be suspicious?

But there was no time to think about it. Cai Ling just gave Caiwei a look and quickly followed Chen Ji's footsteps.

Caiwei knew that her elder sister's intention was to make her a spy for the Queen, but after being away for many years and returning to the palace, how could she continue to let herself be manipulated as before?

She did not go into the house to spy on Tao Ye's movements, as she guessed that Tao Ye did not want her to go in either.

On the second day of the wedding, according to the rules, the concubines had to come to pay homage to the new queen.

Si Yao and Zhang Xiaowan both came to Zhaoyang Palace. After the greetings, Tao Ye ordered them to take seats.

The two saw that Tao Ye had changed into a more ordinary robe, with a small and exquisite phoenix-tail hairpin in her hair. Compared with yesterday, she seemed more amiable.

As expected, Tao Ye spoke with great tenderness: "Yesterday, I let Concubine Shu wear shoes because of a temporary inconvenience. I have been feeling bad about it. I have been thinking about it all night and I want to give Concubine Shu a gift to show my appreciation."

As she spoke, Taoye waved to Caiwei, and Caiwei brought over the three gift boxes that Taoye had prepared in the morning.

Si Yao listened and watched, thinking that Tao Ye's attitude was very different yesterday and today, and felt strange.

Caiwei placed the gift box on the coffee table beside Taoye, and Taoye smiled and said, "But it seems inappropriate to give it only to Concubine Shu. It would be fair for everyone to have a share when I take over the harem."

When Xiaowan heard this, she stood up quickly, put her hands on her waist, knelt down and made a blessing: "Thank you, Queen, for the reward."

Si Yao was originally dumbfounded, but when he saw Xiao Wan bowing, he suddenly woke up, and stood up, repeating Xiao Wan's words and actions: "Thank you, Queen, for the reward."

Tao Ye just smiled slightly, still politely: "Please take a seat, both of you."

Si Yao and Xiao Wan both sat down.

Tao Ye opened the gift box and said, "These are all selected from the dowry prepared by Liyang Hou and the Right Prime Minister for me..."

As she spoke, Tao Ye opened the first gift box and asked Cai Wei to pick it up again and show it in front of Si Yao.

Tao Ye smiled and said, "Sister Shufei put on shoes for me, so I will give you a pair of shoes in return. Please don't despise me."

Si Yao looked down and saw that it was a pair of colorful woven shoes. They were very exquisite. How could he deserve the word "disdain"?

She hurriedly accepted it, handed it to the maid behind her, and thanked him again.

Tao Ye also opened the second box and asked Cai Wei to bring it to Xiao Wan, saying, "I see that your feet are small and delicate, so this pair of pointed shoes will be the best match for you."

"Your Majesty is so thoughtful. I am deeply grateful." Xiaowan also accepted the gift box.

Tao Ye held the third gift box and asked in confusion: "Why didn't the imperial concubine come today? I didn't see her yesterday..."

Xiao Wan quickly replied, "The Imperial Concubine is in poor health and often gets sick, so she seldom goes out."

"Is that so..." Tao Ye nodded, as if she had realized something: "No wonder... I have been around the palace a lot before, but I have never seen the Imperial Concubine once, so I don't even know what the Imperial Concubine looks like..."

"But this gift still needs to be given..." Tao Ye looked at the gift box, thought for a while, and said to Xiao Wan with a smile: "I heard that Shu Fei is the aunt of the Imperial Concubine, it is not appropriate for her to give shoes to the younger generation, so why not ask Concubine Zhang to go and ask about the Imperial Concubine's illness for me."

Xiao Wan was stunned for a moment, remembering how sharp Si Rong's eyes were when she looked at her before. What would it be like when they met again?

But she had no reason to refuse, so she could only accept: "I will definitely convey the Queen's good intentions."

Tao Ye still had a smile on her face, and said in a friendly manner: "Also, please ask Lady Zhang to tell the Imperial Concubine that even if she is not feeling well, she cannot stay indoors all day. We sisters should always get to know each other. This is the first time, she must come to see me first, right? I can't go to see her first, right?"

Xiao Wan smiled awkwardly and could only agree with Tao Ye's words: "Your Majesty, the Queen is absolutely right."

"Tomorrow morning, I hope all the sisters can come wearing the shoes I gave them. Don't let me down!" Tao Ye spoke slowly, her eyes full of expectation.

Xiaowan's pressure doubled.

After leaving Zhaoyang Palace, Xiaowan had to go to Ziji Palace where Si Rong lived.

She was accompanied by two maids, each carrying a gift box containing shoes.

These two maids were transferred from the Shizhong Division after Zhang Xiaowan's house arrest was lifted and Chen Liang pleaded with Chen Ji for the sake of the dignity of the queen's coronation ceremony.

But Xiaowan was always worried that this maid might be Chen Ji's spy, so she had to be careful in her words and actions at all times.

She had never been to the Ziji Palace before, so it was inevitable that she was timid, but since the Queen had given the order herself, she had to go there anyway.

When she arrived at the Ziji Palace, she asked the eunuch guarding the gate to convey her request for an audience.

As she expected, Si Rong had no intention of seeing her at all. She only asked her maid Wanqiu to come out and inform her, and her attitude was very perfunctory: "Our princess needs to rest and it is inconvenient for her to see people. Please don't come to see me in the future, Concubine Zhang."

Xiao Wanba had to meet Si Rong, but she had to say what Tao Ye asked her to say, so as to avoid being accused of disobeying the Queen's order by people around her.

"I dare not disturb the imperial concubine's rest, but the queen has a gift for the imperial concubine. I would like to ask this sister to convey it." Xiaowan said, and then took the gift box from the maid behind her, took two steps forward, and handed it to Wanqiu.

Although Wanqiu accepted it, her look was full of disdain and she didn't even bother to say a word.

Xiao Wan also knew that she was not welcomed, but she had to pass on Tao Ye's words: "The Queen also said that she hopes the Royal Concubine can wear this pair of shoes to Zhaoyang Palace tomorrow..."

Before he could finish his words, the door of the room behind Wanqiu suddenly made a loud noise.

Xiaowan was startled, but before she recovered from her hysteria, she saw Xiaoying, Si Rong's closest maid, pushing the door open, her face flushed with anger.

Xiaoying walked quickly to Wanqiu's side without saying a word and lifted the lid of the gift box to the ground.

Xiaowan vaguely realized that something was wrong, and tried to retreat by holding the maid's hand, but it seemed a little too late.

In the blink of an eye, a shoe flew towards Xiaowan.

Xiaowan screamed and turned around to avoid the first one, but was hit on the side of the face by the second one she didn't see clearly.

"Go back and tell your 'Queen'! Don't send old shoes and old clothes here! The Emperor likes to wear old shoes that have been worn by others, but our princess doesn't have this habit! If you dare to disturb the princess's rest again, watch out for your life!"

As if scolding a drowned dog, Xiaoying said these few words and went back to her room, slamming the door.

The toe of the clogs was very heavy, and it instantly made Xiaowan dizzy. It took her a long time to come to her senses. When she turned around, she saw the shoes and gift box scattered all over the floor, and the shoe that hit her was right next to her feet.

She really wanted to stomp on the shoe a few times, but she didn't dare because the two maids given by Chen Ji were right next to her.

"How is your Excellency? Why don't we go back and ask the imperial physician to come and take a look?" a maid asked with concern.

Xiaowan touched her burning face again and felt as if it was about to swell.

She didn't say anything and slowly walked out of the Purple Palace. She thought of Tao Ye who relied on the emperor's favor to just give orders, while Si Rong relied on the support of the old forces and didn't take anyone seriously. It turned out that she had become the punching bag of these two people... This matter could never be let go like this...