Empress Zhou didn't care about their expressions. "You have to stop and breathe after walking a few steps. Your bodies are not good. How can you serve the emperor well like this?

Lady Xu, you are looking at me like this, do you think I asked you to run less today?"

Xu Meixin's face was covered in sweat, and she lowered her head respectfully, "Your Majesty, running laps like this doesn't seem to be very good. I just feel dizzy from time to time."

If they keep running like this, they will all become big and strong. Their bodies are already becoming stiff, so how can they win favor?

The Queen's move was truly vicious. She tortured them to exhaustion every day in order to destroy all their beauty.

Empress Zhou, "Since Concubine Xu is feeling unwell, you should have just said so. I will ask a doctor to take your pulse."

"Don't bother the Queen, I'll just go back and rest for a while."

Queen Zhou said, "How can this be possible? His Majesty has handed you over to me, so I should be responsible for everything in this harem."

After she said this, the palace maid beside her quickly went downstairs. After a while, she summoned the imperial physician who had been serving in the side hall.

Concubine Xu had no choice but to let the imperial physician take her pulse.

The concubines beside them were all holding their chests in fear. They thought that the emperor rarely came to the harem during this period, and the queen would not torment them like before. It seems that there is still a trick waiting for them.

When Hua Shunming came in, he saw this scene. He asked the concubines who were paying their respects to stand up, and then he took the queen's hand and sat in the main seat.

The concubine's handkerchief was almost torn to pieces, but she could only grit her teeth.

"The Queen has worked hard, but what's wrong with Concubine Xu? She has to come to the Queen's palace to see a doctor?"

Hua Shunming said this and gave Xu Meixin a stern look. She was so scared that she quickly retracted her neck, and sweat broke out on her forehead due to nervousness.

"Why are they all like this?" Hua Shengming felt that the concubines in front of him were a bit annoying. None of them knew how to take care of themselves, and they looked so unkempt.

Empress Zhou did not give the concubines a chance to complain, "Your Majesty, have you forgotten? My sisters have been spoiled at home and have neither the strength nor the experience to serve Your Majesty, so I have to train them well.

They were just asked to run around the palace wall once, and they looked like this.

I think it is inappropriate for them to do this. I want them to have stronger bodies so that they can accompany us and guard this deep palace for a long time in the future."

All the concubines: "..." This is totally different from what the governess said. Competing with each other for beauty and scheming strategies are the way they should go.

Why go through so much trouble if you're not going into battle to kill the enemy or trying to escape?

The Queen was seeking revenge for her personal grudge and she gave such a high-sounding reason; they were not convinced.

But what does it matter if they are not convinced? Hua Shunming's words made them feel as if they had fallen into an ice cellar. "This is indeed inappropriate. This person should not be idle, otherwise he will start to speculate. Running one lap is not enough. Ask someone to take them to run two more laps.

My lords, please send your beloved daughters to the palace, and I will naturally ensure that they have enough food and clothing and are in good health. "

Queen Zhou, "Yes, I obey your order.

Your Majesty, has he not had breakfast yet? Do you want the palace servants to prepare a banquet in the palace and let all the ladies eat together?"

Hua Shunming took a look at the concubines whose hair was stuck to their faces. How could he have any appetite?

"No need. I came here because I have something to tell the Queen. Since everyone is here, you can listen too."

Queen Zhou: "Yes."

The concubines said, "Yes."

"I have adopted some daughters in the court today. I will ask the Queen to teach them carefully in the future."

Hua Shunming glanced at everyone and said, "Not only should we teach them the virtues and precepts of women, but we should also teach them some self-defense skills so that they will have the power to fight back if they really encounter trouble."

Although Queen Zhou did not understand the deep meaning of this, she naturally accepted it with a smile when the emperor entrusted her with such an important task in front of so many people.

"Your Majesty, I wonder under whose name this adopted daughter will be raised." Queen Zhou looked at the expectant eyes of the concubines and smiled at them generously.

She really doesn't want to get involved in raising children.

Hua Shunming, "Let's put them all under the Queen's name. It's hard for the Queen to teach them.

If there are those who are disobedient, don’t be polite, just teach them how you want them to be taught. "

After saying this, he didn't want to stay here anymore. The eyes of these concubines were really too alluring. It would be better for him to go to the study and read a few more memorials.

The harem soon knew about what happened in the previous dynasty, and everyone guessed what the emperor wanted to do.

For a moment, those concubines who were ready to make a move immediately backed off. No one wanted to be the first to stand out.

The next day, in the court, facing the memorials about border harassment, the ministers did not advocate peace and there were fewer arguments.

When Hua Shunming was leaving the court, he said quietly, "Sure enough, you have to cut yourself with this knife to feel the pain!"

The ministers below looked at each other and sighed silently.

It can be seen from the dark circles on everyone’s faces that they all failed to sleep the whole night.

They did not think that they had done anything wrong before. As children of wealthy families who had enjoyed the highest honor since childhood, they should naturally contribute to the country.

Everyone thought that the emperor was just acting on impulse, and they could only take it slow.

&

Jin Qianqian had moved back to Fu County before the first heavy snow fell.

Gaoling Village was nice, but after all, the place was limited. With her child and so many servants, it seemed a bit crowded to live there.

It is snowing now and everyone is basically staying at home for the winter. Unless there are some special circumstances, some banquets will no longer be held.

Holding a cup of hot tea and looking at the snow outside, Jin Qianqian was distracted as she stared at the two snowmen she had made yesterday.

At this time, Lichun brought a letter from Beijing, which was written by Liu Qingmei.

When she came back this time, she left her childhood sweethearts, Qingzhu and Qinglan in Shangjing, and Lichun and the others around her could also stand on their own.

The letter contained some records about the interpersonal relationships during this period, and it was so long-winded that it took up two large pages.

As Jin Qianqian read the letter, she said to Lichun, "It's rare that Qingmei has the patience to write such a long letter."

When she turned to the third page, she felt complicated. Xiao Wanyu had actually frozen to death in prison.

According to information obtained by Liu Qingmei, he was originally sentenced to execution in the autumn of the following year, but for some unknown reason, he spent a night in prison wearing only a single layer of clothing and froze himself to death in prison.

Everyone was guessing that she probably didn't want to see her head and body separated, so she thought of this way to end it.

What's even more tragic is that even though her mother and sister were both in Beijing, no one helped to collect her body. In the end, it was the prefect of Shuntian Prefecture who asked his subordinates to find a place to bury her.