Chapter 73 Bonus Chapter with 6000 Nutrient Solution: "My wife betrayed me first..."

What exactly is this saying?

Banban glared angrily at Ying Zheng and poked his belly hard with his finger.

"you--"

"I deserve to be hit."

Before his wife could finish speaking, Ying Zheng, with lightning speed, preemptively answered.

Childhood memories suddenly flooded back to the two of them.

At that time, Banban fed him three bowls of rice to be lazy, and then begged him to go out to admire the flowers under the pretext of digesting his food. He was unwilling to go, but Ji Changyue said that Ji Xiu had hired a teacher for him. He was happy for a moment and agreed to go to admire the flowers with his cousin.

Although he agreed, he wasn't one to mince words. Curious about what flowers could be admired in the dead of winter, he said, "Only plum blossoms bloom beautifully in winter, but I'm afraid you wouldn't appreciate that."

She poked his stomach in the same way, angrily saying that his stomach was bulging and he looked bloated. He didn't understand what she meant, and she said he deserved to be hit.

What did he say that day?

He seemed to have casually said, "I don't understand you," but now he certainly understands everything.

Sure enough, Banban was amused. After laughing, she felt embarrassed, turned her head away, raised her chin, and said, "I'm not going to talk to you."

“Zhao’er, let’s go,” she said, patting her belly, her head held high. “Let’s go visit your brother and sister.”

Those two Pixiu?

Ying Zheng touched his nose and followed her.

The two had a habit of taking a walk at night, going there on foot and then being carried in a sedan chair when they got tired.

They hadn't walked two steps when they bumped into Princess Yongning's palanquin.

Yingyue hurriedly had someone alight from the sedan chair and stepped down, curtsying, "Yongning greets Your Majesty and Queen."

Banban urged her to get up quickly, and Ying Zheng said, "Going to visit the Empress Dowager? Go quickly."

This means they don't want to stop chatting.

Yingyue agreed and didn't linger.

Banban hesitated for a moment, "My sister-in-law is not well, so I should take care of her."

"Serving someone in illness?" Ying Zheng asked in surprise. "Serving someone in illness? Do we really need to be so formal between us? It's not like we're so distant that we need to put on a show of filial piety. Why bother?"

Why did you also mention Yingyue...?

Feeling extremely embarrassed, Banban simply stopped thinking about it and said, "Oh well, never mind."

She was pregnant, and her baby bump was already visible on her waist. Presumably, Ji Changyue didn't want to see it either. Her cousin loved their mother, so there must be a reason why he didn't say he would stay with her.

Unexpectedly, even though she didn't ask, Ying Zheng insisted on telling her.

"My mother hates Lao Ai. She doesn't need me to be with her at this time. Seeing me will only make her feel guilty and hate herself. Mother and son need private space. She needs time to process those unbearable things on her own. At this time, any comfort is useless unless she figures it out herself."

Especially for those with high self-esteem, Ji Changyue needs to reconcile with herself.

That mouthful of blood was the result of her inner turmoil; she was struggling with herself. It was a mental illness that even a skilled physician couldn't cure.

"Once this period is over and the matter of Lao Ai is settled, we will take her away from the palace to relax."

She understood all of this, but that didn't stop her from being sarcastic, "I see that my cousin is in a very good mood. I guess those two children are in your hands, right?"

"It's obvious?" Ying Zheng made no attempt to hide his smile, tilting his head slightly.

“Obviously, my cousin talks a lot when he’s in a good mood, and he never stops.” During the time when she was newly pregnant, he would sit by the bed at night and read to her belly. Reading wasn’t enough; he would interpret the meaning of the text and then use it to explain related allusions.

Banban was drowsy listening to the music, but he was full of energy reading it.

Neuropathy!

That's insane!

"How do you know they are in my hands?" That's what Ying Zheng was asking.

Banban was silent for a moment. In that instant, countless thoughts flashed through her mind. Her first thought was that if her cousin still had feelings for the two children and was deeply in love with Lao Ai and allowed him to kill her eldest son, then her cousin would definitely kill the two children in front of her.

He felt pain and discomfort in his heart, and he also felt that the person who caused this outcome must suffer twice the pain. Only when his heart was being torn apart could he feel relief.

Love makes one wish for life, hate makes one wish for death.

That's all there is to it.

However, just as Ying Zheng felt that his cousin was sometimes too kind and did not conform to his principles of conduct, he never thought she was a bad person because of it; similarly, Banban would not think that her cousin was a bad person because of his ruthlessness.

Ji Changyue was a woman of strong likes and dislikes, and as her child, Ying Zheng was naturally the same. He remembered who treated him well and who treated him badly, and he would bring it up at any time.

"It was strange that you came back that day. You came back late, took a long time to wash up, and your palms were scraped raw when you came out. My cousin has never touched anything he hates. I just thought about it and I can't think of anything that you hate so much. It seems there is nothing like it right now. So there is only one explanation. You must have been in contact with those two children that night."

Ying Zheng sighed and stroked her hair. "My cousin is truly intelligent when she's clever, and truly foolish when she's foolish."

"..." What does that mean? What does that mean?

So, if you're in a good mood, you can go around yelling at people, right?

"How could I be stupid? I know that my cousin not only spared the two children, but also intended to use them to punish Lao Ai!" In a fit of anger, Banban blurted out all his thoughts.

Ying Zheng didn't react much, he even smiled and nodded repeatedly, "Good, yes, that's right, my cousin isn't stupid."

He knew that she simply knew him well enough.

Just as he knew her.

The two bickered until they reached the outside of Taxue Pavilion, where Qianyin happened to be taking care of the cat.

Perhaps they had been frightened during the day, for both Xuanxi and Xuanjiao looked sullen and didn't want to pay any attention to the fresh bamboo shoots that Qianyin was offering.

“Xuanxi, Xuanjiao~” Banban called to them from outside the fence.

The two pandas, who had been keeping their heads down and motionless, suddenly raised their heads after hearing the familiar voice and ran over to the sound.

To be precise, Ying Zheng did indeed feel the vibrations under his feet.

He was a little silent, but after seeing the two enormous, bright, dark eyes, he still reached out and gently rubbed Xuanxi's big head.

As it grows up, the Pixiu's fur is no longer as soft as it was in its youth. The fur becomes slightly stiff and coarse, but it is indeed very beautiful and adorable, especially its two chubby faces and short mouths, and its two drooping "dark circles" that make it irresistible.

Ying Zheng touched his hands twice and then took out a handkerchief to wipe them.

Banban took the bamboo shoot from Qianyin's hand, peeled it, and fed it to Xuanjiao's mouth. She sighed, "The Pixiu are so smart. Even though we don't come to see them every day after they grow up, they still remember us and come over as soon as they hear our voices."

“If one is bolder, it could be quite useful.” Ying Zheng said thoughtfully, “It’s hard to imagine Chi You riding it into battle. These stories are indeed fabricated.”

“According to Li Si, the Pixiu during Chiyou’s time was bold and carnivorous, which might be true.” Banban, however, had a different opinion: “Survival of the fittest is the result of evolution.”

Caught off guard by such a philosophical statement from his cousin, Ying Zheng glanced at her several times.

Banban bristled: "What are you looking at?" It's definitely not a sentence she invented.

Qian Yin couldn't help but interrupt the Queen, "Your Majesty, bamboo shoots are a snack, so it's best to give the Pixiu less of them. They didn't eat much bamboo today, so we need to coax them to eat more."

This is what she used to coax the Pixiu back to its room to sleep.

Banban looked embarrassed and said, "Oh." He immediately returned the bamboo shoots to Qianyin.

Xuan Jiao raised her head, her gaze following the bamboo shoot. She patted its head and coaxed, "Go back and rest, eat bamboo, okay? I'll come see you again tomorrow." She pointed in the direction of the house.

Xuan Jiao shouted loudly, and then slowly wiggled his hips as he followed Qian Yin back.

After her younger sister left, Xuanxi abandoned the fence and chased after her.

When Qian Yin finished dealing with the matter and came out, the King and Queen were still there. She looked around and hesitated.

"That's exactly what we've been waiting for. Let's go." Banban's voice was light and cheerful as he waved to her affectionately.

On the way, Banban took the initiative to ask:

"Qianyin, I remember when I followed the King into the palace, you were only fourteen. Now you are twenty-six. Do you have any plans for the future?"

Qian Yin hesitated slightly, remained silent for a moment, and then said softly, "This servant will leave it to the Queen to decide."

"You're practically my older sister."

"This servant wouldn't dare." How could Qian Yin bear to hear such words? The king was right there beside her; she was so frightened she almost knelt down.

“What’s the big deal?” Banban waved his hand. “I wasn’t perceptive about these things in previous years and even forgot that you’ve reached an age. Just now, I saw you calmly and patiently putting Xuanxi and the others back into the house, just like you did for me back then.”

“I’m not entirely at ease letting you leave the palace to live on your own. You know it’s very chaotic outside.” She took Qian Yin’s hand seriously and held it tightly. “But if I don’t let you go out, it would be unfair to you to waste your time in the palace.”

Qian Yin looked confused. "Actually, I've never thought about these things."

"It's alright. I've thought about it carefully and come up with three solutions for you. Go back and consider them today. There's no rush."

"First, I'll send you to work at the Sixth Hospital, where you'll receive a monthly salary. You'll meet many people at the hospital, have opportunities to learn, and there will be endless possibilities for the future."

"Secondly, I will help you choose a husband to marry. You are the Queen's personal maid, and those junior generals and guards are lucky to marry you. If they achieve great things in the future and become great generals, you will be their proper wife and will have no worries about having a good life."

"Third, Xuanxi and Xuanjiao are familiar with you, and you still stay by my side as you are now. You serve me very well. We will stay together for the rest of our lives. I will not mistreat you, and my child will take good care of you."

Qian Yin's eyes instantly reddened, and she raised her hand to wipe away her tears. "This servant has troubled Your Majesty the Queen."

He smiled and gently patted her hand.

Upon arriving in this era, she understood that she could not be friends with servants because they were born into unequal social status. No matter how humble she was, they could never become true friends. Therefore, the best outcome was for a kind master to treat his loyal servants well.

Back at Chaoyang Palace, after washing up, I rested.

Banban still had a little worry, "Actually, I hope to take Yin to the Six Diseases Clinic."

Ying Zheng casually said, "She is illiterate and not a child anymore. She may not have the time or energy to study and learn to read. Besides, in my opinion, she is not very interested in medicine. It's enough that she marries a good man. You have been kind enough to her."

I don't like hearing this kind of talk, even though there's some truth to it: "Congyun is getting old."

"You'd better not let her stray too far from you." Ying Zheng turned to the side.

"Um?"

“Cong Yun has served you since childhood and knows countless secrets. She cannot be sent away.” Ying leaned forward, her eyes reflecting a glassy luster in the candlelight. “I will choose a good man for her to marry.”

Not only were Ji family's private affairs known to Cong Yun, but also to many of the major events that had occurred in the Qin Palace over the years. In fact, the best outcome for such a useful and loyal servant was to serve her master for life.

How could you not understand?

She said, "Cong Yun is loyal, so of course I have to consider her needs." Humans are emotional beings; they get lonely and need companionship. Just because she is loyal doesn't mean I should deprive her of her other needs.

I'd better ask Congyun for her opinion tomorrow.

The next day, Ying Zheng went to court. After Banban got up, he called the two people to his side and asked them questions one by one.

Cong Yun was surprised, and without thinking, she immediately said, "Of course this servant will stay in the palace to serve the Queen for the rest of her life. How can the outside world be as comfortable and carefree as the palace?" She was not stupid. There were no concubines in the Qin Palace. The Queen made all the decisions. When she met outsiders, she revealed her identity, and others had to show her more respect.

Among the many palace servants in the Qin Palace, she held a very high position. Everyone who saw her would greet her with a smile and call her "Aunt Congyun".

"This servant has no ambitions; I'll just stay with you for the rest of my life." She called out to the Queen by her former title before she was married, and these words were not false; every word came from the heart.

Of course, as a normal person, she also has other selfish motives. She is very satisfied with her life now and it is dignified. She likes this dignified life, and there is nothing wrong with that.

Banban asked several times to make sure Congyun wasn't being forced, then pretended to shoo her away, saying, "Then hurry up and get to work, or I won't share the good lunch with you."

Yun chuckled and said "yes".

Qian Yin hesitated slightly before taking the initiative to say, "Your Majesty, this servant is willing to leave the palace and marry." Having competed for the Queen's favor with Cong Yun for ten years, she now understood that she could not become the Queen's most trusted servant. It was not that the Queen did not trust her, but rather that there was a difference in their closeness. Cong Yun was, after all, the Queen had grown up with her since childhood, and she realized that.

Just as her cousin had guessed, Banban was not disappointed and immediately smiled, "Okay, then I'll make arrangements for you and will definitely choose the most promising husband for you."

Qian Yin's cheeks flushed red, and she lowered her head in embarrassment.

Having confirmed the intentions of the two, Banban quickly summoned Yang Jiang to begin selecting people. She even brought Geng'er into the palace, asking him to keep an eye out for promising young men in the military camp. She even set her sights on her cousin's personal guards.

Those people are all incredibly promising.

Geng'er asked what the requirements were, and Banban replied: He should be good-looking, not short, and an only child.

I tolerated the first two points, after all, my sister's maid is also very beautiful.

What the heck is the next one?

Geng'er scratched her head. "You've even started thinking about fighting over the family inheritance?"

Banban slapped him on the head. "Marriage is a very important matter." She herself was impatient with dealing with the relationship between sisters-in-law, so she simply considered it for Qianyin.

Geng'er didn't mention it; she hadn't even thought of it.

Ying Zheng returned just in time to witness this scene. He was speechless for a long time before saying that she was too impulsive. "After the ceremony of assuming power, I will listen to your choice. Now is not a good time."

What if the election is completed and then the person turns against Lao Ai?

Upon seeing this, Geng'er turned and tried to run away, shouting, "I'm leaving first!"

"Wait a minute."

It was Ying Zheng's voice, and Geng'er froze.

Banban sensed something and frowned. "Geng'er, what mistake did you make?"

“I…” Geng’er stood there obediently, feeling very depressed.

"I ordered you to follow Lord Weiyang on his mission, and you tell me where you've gotten to?" Ying Zheng said, his anger rising.

"I don't want to associate with him. He's slippery and doesn't look like a good person at all," Geng'er muttered.

Banban immediately nodded, "I agree, Lord Weiyang is the one." In the past, when she quarreled with those old men from the Huayang faction, she asked Lord Weiyang to put in a good word for her, but he pretended not to see it. She held a grudge.

"..." Before he could even finish lecturing his brother-in-law, his wife switched sides.

Even a fool could tell what she was thinking.