Chapter 666: Not Enough

Lu Qiniang entered the palace on her own.

The Queen probably still remembered their old friendship. When Lu Qiniang got off the carriage at the palace gate, a sedan chair was already waiting there, saying that it was waiting for her on the Queen's orders.

Lu Qiniang got on the sedan chair.

The palace was so huge that it took a quarter of an hour to finally reach the queen's bedroom in the sedan chair.

The palace maid took Lu Qiniang into the queen's bedroom.

Lu Qiniang performed the ceremony in a very proper manner.

The Queen's voice was a little weak, but she was smiling: "Help Madam Lu up quickly. Qi Niang, you are with me, no need to be polite."

She didn't even use the term "this palace" to refer to herself, but directly talked about "you and me".

Instead of feeling relieved, Lu Qiniang became alert.

Maybe it was just her petty mind, but she always felt that when these people with more tricks than sieve holes began to show their affection, it was probably when they wanted to do something to her.

The queen asked someone to give her a seat.

Lu Qiniang sat halfway in a vacant position.

The Queen smiled and said, "Abandoned Mother, you are too reserved today. Although my status has changed, you can still behave the same as before."

Lu Qiniang smiled and said, "My Lady, I wouldn't dare to do that. Uncle Teng will scold me when we get back."

Although Teng Wenfu was separated from Emperor Renzong by an emperor, he was the chief steward of Emperor Renzong after all, so Lu Qiniang decided to let him stay at home and have a clear life.

There is no way around it. You have to be extremely careful when it comes to anything related to the word "emperor".

"Who is Uncle Teng?"

"It's Teng Wenfu," Lu Qiniang said. "I don't know how I got so lucky to have caught his eye. I've received so many favors from him in the past. Even when Xiao Yan got into trouble, it was all thanks to him. I thought, now that he's old and all alone, it would be better to bring him home and let him teach a fool like me a little bit of dignity, so I don't make a fool of myself all the time."

"So it was him." The Queen smiled. "Qi Niang, you have a simple and honest heart. You two can be considered as having a good relationship. This is very good."

They were all smart people, and the Queen had basically guessed what Lu Qiniang was thinking.

An insignificant person indeed.

"Uncle Teng said that if I dared to dance in front of you with all my etiquette, I should be dragged away directly." Lu Qiniang said carelessly, "I told him it's okay, the Queen treats me differently."

The Queen couldn't help but laugh. "I just like you. You're straightforward. Unlike those people, they have to hide things and make people guess. They're not straightforward at all."

Lu Qiniang thought to herself, aren’t you scolding yourself?

Oh.

In terms of the ability to lie with open eyes, if she practices for a few hundred more years, she might be able to catch up with these people?

"My queen, how are you feeling?" Lu Qiniang changed the subject and asked with concern.

"Not so good." The Queen sighed. "I have to accept my age. Having a child at this age feels like having one foot in the grave."

"Pooh, pooh, pooh, my lady, you can't say such things, pooh twice."

The queen was amused again.

"Your Highness, this isn't your first child, so it's definitely fine. There are so many imperial doctors out there, and they don't eat for free. It's okay, it's definitely okay."

"Yes." The Queen nodded. "If I have another child, I'll have to find a contraceptive method. Having another child is like risking your life."

After she finished speaking, without waiting for Lu Qiniang to respond, she changed the subject: "Speaking of which, the prince is already at the age of marriage, and I'm really not young anymore."

Lu Qiniang's heart tightened.

Here comes the point.

As expected, the queen raised her hand to support her forehead and said, "Talking about the prince's marriage gives me a headache."

"Yes, for ordinary families like us, it's a headache to talk about our children's marriage. Not to mention, the Crown Prince will marry the Crown Princess, and in the future she will have to be the mother of a country. I'm being frank, you must not fool around with this matter, you must choose someone who is, how do I say it, oh right, virtuous, beautiful, eloquent, good at poetry, songs, calligraphy, painting, everything."

"It's useless to think so much. The child has grown up and has his own ideas." The queen said, "I still remember when he and Jiaojiao first met. They were both children. He kept calling her 'sister' and 'sister', and kept saying that he wanted to marry her when he grew up..."

"It's just a joke from childhood, don't take it seriously. When it comes to children's marriages, every family has its own problems. I'm also really troubled."

"You have a headache too? Even though I'm staying indoors, I'm well-informed." The Queen seemed to be chatting with Lu Qiniang, her attitude casual and a smile on her face. "Why did I hear that Yun Ting and your Zhuo Zhuo are about to get married?"

"Yes, yes," Lu Qiniang said with a happy face, "This is a good marriage, there is nothing to complain about. But I am thinking about San Ya now, that girl——"

A complex expression flashed across the queen's face.

Is it true that what you fear will come true?

Does Lu Qiniang really want to marry San Ya to the prince?

"That girl said she would never marry, no matter how hard she tried. She would never marry anyone in her life and would just guard the northwest gate for the emperor."

The Queen breathed a sigh of relief, then smiled and said, "These are just children's jokes, don't take them seriously. If it were up to me, I would be very happy to marry Jiaojiao to the Crown Prince; it's a pity that—"

Lu Qiniang: You could have just said the word after "what a pity".

"Abandoned Mother, let me tell you something from the bottom of my heart. Even relatives by marriage have always been people that emperors of all dynasties tend to be suspicious of."

Lu Qiniang nodded. "I don't understand these things, but Xiao Yan always nags me, saying that San Ya and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince shouldn't get too close. I think he said the same thing."

"Although the emperor has ascended the throne, he is different from others. He does not employ those he doubts, and trusts those he employs. He also cherishes his youthful friendship with Xiao Yan."

Lu Qiniang nodded again.

You two are the elders, so whatever you say goes.

Anyway, I'm stupid and believe it all.

"So I think if this relationship is clouded with suspicion because of the marriage, it's unnecessary."

"Yes, yes, your Majesty is right." Lu Qiniang nodded repeatedly. "Otherwise, our good days are coming. We no longer have to worry about being beheaded or exiled... Xiao Yan told me that the emperor is willing to clear his name, saying that he is not a descendant of the Yue King's rebels..."

"Yes, the emperor has exactly this intention and wants to confer a title of nobility on Xiao Yan."

"A marquis?" Lu Qiniang's eyes widened. "Then I, then can I become the marquis' wife? My god, I've made it big."

The queen burst into laughter at his amusement.

"Before, when people called me a monkey in human form, I didn't understand. Later, I understood and stopped calling me names. Now I can do it!"

Lu Qiniang put her hands on her hips and said, "Xiao Yan was given the title of 'Monkey' by the Emperor. Then I, the 'Monkey' wife, am wearing an official hat by imperial decree. Who dares to laugh at me?"

The queen laughed so hard that tears came out.

"Abandoned mother, you are such a happy person."

Lu Qiniang thought to herself, since you are not the queen, I don’t have to work so hard to coax you.

She is so tired. After this trip to the palace, she will have to eat so much lotus root to make up for all the effort she has put into it.