The emperor just doesn't treat everyone equally, and it's none of my business!

"Then...what if this baby is still a girl?" Gu Shijin said, looking into Lu Junze's eyes.

"I don't want to have a son or a daughter anymore." Lu Junze hugged Gu Shijin tightly and said softly, "They are not as important as you, Jin'er."

The room was quiet for a while, and only the sound of each other's breathing and heartbeats could be heard.

After a while, Gu Shijin looked up into Lu Junze's eyes and said, "Okay, I will listen to Aze."

At this moment, Gu Shijin was really a little lost, not because of liking or loving him, but because of Lu Junze's feelings. She seemed willing to stay with Lu Junze in the future.

……

At the end of August, Gu Shijin finally returned to the magnificent Forbidden City.

Chenhua Palace remained the same, and the furnishings in the room had not changed at all.

"Finally back." Gu Shijin sighed.

Going out to play is fun, but it's also really tiring.

Another point is that Gu Shijin is the emperor's concubine. She felt a little bit fresh when she first left the palace, but the novelty wore off after a while.

As an imperial concubine, she couldn't play outside carefree like the common people. There were too many restrictions, and once there were too many restrictions, there would be less fun.

"Your Majesty, would you like to take a rest for a while?" Xing Zhu asked.

When we came back from the port in a carriage today, the ride was bumpy even though we went slowly, so Xingzhu was naturally a little worried about Gu Shijin's health.

The queen is already eight months pregnant and will give birth in two months. We cannot afford to make any mistakes at this time.

"No need, just go to bed early after dinner." Gu Shijin said.

You won’t be able to sleep for long at this time and you’ll have to get up for dinner, so why bother?

"Then I will notify the imperial kitchen to prepare Her Majesty's dinner as soon as possible." Xing Zhu said.

"Well, ask the imperial kitchen to prepare some lighter meals." After such a bumpy journey, she couldn't eat the heavy-tasting food.

"Yes, your majesty." Xingzhu asked Xiao Linzi to go to the imperial kitchen and keep an eye on it personally.

When I separated from Lu Junze after returning to the palace, Lu Junze said that he would come to Chenhua Palace for dinner in the evening. Sure enough, as soon as the meal from the imperial kitchen arrived, Lu Junze also arrived.

“Your Majesty…” Gu Shijin wanted to stand up and salute, but Lu Junze took her hand and sat down.

"You are in good health, so you don't need to care about these empty formalities in private." Lu Junze has said this many times, but Gu Shijin just didn't listen.

Gu Shijin was worried that there might be ears on the other side of the wall, and secondly, she was worried that if Lu Junze’s favor was no longer there in the future, these favors now would become the knife that would take her life in the future.

"Your Majesty, you must be tired from riding in the car today. I asked the imperial kitchen to prepare something light." Gu Shijin did not discuss the luggage issue with Lu Junze too much.

Lu Junze looked at the dishes on the table and nodded, “It looks good. Jin’er, you’ve worked hard.”

"It's not hard for me to do that. I just had to speak a few words and give a few instructions."

Lu Junze picked up a piece of food with chopsticks and put it into Gu Shijin's bowl, saying, "Thinking about things takes a lot of brainpower and is hard work."

Now Lu Junze and Gu Shijin are getting along more and more casually, and they are no longer shy about what they say.

Gu Shijin smiled, picked up a piece of food for Lu Junze, and said, "Your Majesty, eat too."

Lu Junze tasted the dish that Gu Shijin picked up and raised his eyebrows, "What kind of dish is this? I've never eaten it before."

Gu Shijin: "Your Majesty, guess what this is?"

This dish looks green and tastes crispy. Lu Junze really didn’t expect it for a moment.

Seeing that Lu Junze didn’t expect it, Gu Shijin smiled even more happily, and she said, “Your Majesty, this is watermelon rind.”

Now that the weather is hot, it is very suitable to stir-fry watermelon rind.

Gu Shijin had also eaten this in a small restaurant in her previous life. This was the specialty of that restaurant. She suddenly remembered it when she came back today and saw the watermelon.

The chef in the imperial kitchen was also amazing. She just asked Xiao Linzi to convey her ideas, and the imperial chef prepared the food, and it tasted so good.

Both of them were very satisfied with the meal. They felt more comfortable in the palace than outside.

"Jin'er, I'll be busy for the next while and may not be able to see you every day." Lu Junze said.

This southern tour lasted nearly five months. Although Lu Junze handled government affairs every day, they were all urgent affairs. Some matters were piled up and he had to deal with them as soon as possible.

As for King Xian and Yunfeng Kingdom, Lu Junze hopes to deal with King Xian within one or two years.

He didn't want to delay any longer. If the virtuous king didn't do it himself, he would help him. Otherwise, if he gave the virtuous king time to catch his breath and rest, it would cause more and more trouble in the future.

"Don't worry, Your Majesty. I will take good care of the baby."

Although Gu Shijin didn't know what Lu Junze was going to do specifically, she could guess roughly. She also hoped that Lu Junze could solve these problems as soon as possible. Only by cleaning up these wishful people, her Ajin, Ayuan, and the baby in her belly would be safe enough.

Lu Junze hugged Gu Shijin and kissed him gently on the forehead, without any desire, only pure love.

Gu Shijin also smiled, a pure smile without any emotion, "Your Majesty, please go and do your work. I will take good care of myself and our child."

Anyway, it's impossible for her to leave the palace, so it's fine as it is now, living a peaceful and stable life.

"Take good care of your queen." Lu Junze instructed Xingzhu and others before leaving.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The emperor treats their queen well, so they are naturally the happiest. They and Concubine Chen are now in the same boat, and they share the same fate.

Besides, their queen has the highest status in the harem and is the most favored by the emperor. She also has two children, and they will definitely take good care of them.

After Lu Junze left, Gu Shijin was not so sleepy anymore. He asked Xiao Linzi to set up a table and a lounge chair in the yard, and Gu Shijin watched the moon in the yard.

Today's weather is really good, with all the stars and the moon, and the mood is very good. It's a pity that Gu Shijin is not a poet, otherwise he would be able to write a great poem.

"Xiao Linzi, go get a basin of ice and place it next to me." Gu Shijin said.

The weather at the end of August is still a bit hot after sitting outside for a long time.

"Yes, ma'am."

Now they have plenty of ice in Chenhua Palace. As soon as Gu Shijin came back, the Ministry of Internal Affairs sent over several large basins of ice, for fear of neglecting Gu Shijin.

"It's so comfortable." Gu Shijin sighed while lying on the recliner. This kind of life is not bad.

So people are never satisfied. When they have no money, they want money. When they have money, they want freedom. But there is no such perfect thing in the world.

"Your Majesty, the kitchen has made some pastries. Would you like to try some?" Xing Zhu said.

It's really boring to just admire the moon, so Gu Shijin said, "Then let's try it."

"Come over and sit with us." Gu Shijin said to Xingzhu and Xingyue.

"My dear, this is against the rules."

"There's no one else here, take a seat."