Chapter 79: Testing “Why does your belly look bigger than the day before…

People often say that illness comes like a mountain falling and goes like a thread being pulled out. Wen Zheliu almost lost her child, and her remaining energy was greatly reduced. She felt dizzy after walking a few steps out of bed, and lay down every day after taking the medicine.

Fortunately, the welcoming banquet was postponed for two days, which was the day when Wen Jieliu went to court.

He fell on the bed and slept all day and all night, which was not a big deal. It also saved him extra energy to deal with the civil and military officials who came to curry favor with him.

However, during the rare moments when Wen Zheliu was awake, she had to listen to Dugu Qiu's nagging. She kept asking, "Guess who is the most difficult to deal with in the court?" and "Which husband is the most favored in the emperor's harem?" Wen Zheliu's ears were callused from listening so much.

"I understand. My mother comes first in everything. I don't need to care about her husbands. They are gentle on ordinary days, but when it's time to show off in front of the officials, they still have to show off."

Wen Zheliu yawned lazily. Fatigue came over him and he wanted to lie down and rest. He moved the soft pillow behind his waist.

"Anything else?"

Dugu Qiu had served Situ Yun for a long time and was used to reading people's expressions. When she saw Wen Zheliu yawning, she knew that she shouldn't say anything more. It was just that she couldn't finish what she was saying and had to keep half of it in her heart, which was uncomfortable after all. She just had to go against Wen Zheliu's sleepiness and say the most important point.

"There is one last thing." Dugu Qiu emphasized the word "last".

Wen Zheliu nodded like a chick pecking at rice, caught these two words, and reluctantly opened his eyelids.

"you say."

Dugu Qiu cut to the chase, "Your Highness, tomorrow is your first court appearance. Although you'll meet all the civil and military officials at the welcoming banquet, meeting at a banquet is fundamentally different from meeting in the court. You should get some rest tonight and make sure you don't miss the appointment."

...It turned out that what she wanted to remind him was not to be late.

He thought it was something extremely urgent.

"Okay, I understand." Wen Zheliu agreed. Although he took it seriously in his heart, he didn't think it was difficult.

He is not a lazy sleeper.

I have been lying on the couch these days, mostly because I don’t have the strength to get up and can only lean there.

If you really want to get up, it's not impossible.

The next day, Xiaobai yawned and pulled back the curtain of Wen Zheliu's tent. He was sleeping soundly inside. Under the dim candlelight, Wen Zheliu's skin was as white as a delicate porcelain doll that would break at the slightest touch.

"Your Highness, it's time to get up." Xiaobai urged three or five times, and finally Jianwen Zheliu opened his eyes.

Meeting the dimly lit sky outside the window, Wen Zheliu jumped out of bed. He moved too quickly and felt dizzy again. He had no choice but to lean on the couch to rest for a while. Then, with the help of Xiaobai, he slowly walked to the dressing table.

"Why didn't you call me earlier?" Wen Zheliu yawned lazily in front of the gold-rimmed bronze mirror.

"I've called you several times." Xiaobai was an honest man. After being "framed" by him, he pursed his lips and his voice sounded very aggrieved.

Wen Zheliu closed his eyes and said "hmm", then was helped up by Xiaobai. He went to the full-length mirror to put on his coat and smiled again.

"Okay, it's not your fault. I was too sleepy."

When he smiled, it was like the weather warming up, the ice melting in spring, and the flowers blooming. No man, woman, old or young in the world could bear to be angry with him.

How could Xiaobai, a single man, resist such temptation?

He lowered his head and uttered an indistinct "hmm".

After a long day of rest in the dark, Wen Zheliu's tense bones finally relaxed a little, and his pale face, which always looked sickly, also became more rosy and energetic.

In front of the full-length mirror, he was wearing his underwear, and his slightly protruding belly was clearly visible.

Wen Zheliu took the court robe from Xiaobai's hand, tried it on himself, sighed slowly, and raised his hand to signal Xiaobai to bring the restraints.

This belly is getting bigger and bigger.

Everyone in the court was a shrewd person. It would be strange if he didn't attract attention when he went to court with a big belly and stood in front of hundreds of people.

How can I not tie it up?

"Tie it tighter." Facing the full-length mirror, which only showed a small part of his belly, Wen Zheliu asked Xiaobai to try harder.

"It can't be any tighter." Xiaobai refused to squeeze the cloth into his flesh any further. "Imperial Physician Helan told me that your pregnancy is not stable yet, so it's best not to bind your abdomen. Even if you do, don't bind it too tightly."

Unable to persuade him, Wen Zheliu had to give up. Fortunately, when they attended the court meeting together, all the civil and military officials remembered his brilliance at the welcoming banquet and saluted him respectfully.

After the morning court session ended, all officials returned to their work places. Wen Zheliu followed Situ Yun to the Shangshufang.

On the way, the two of them rode in a sedan chair, Situ Yun in front and Wen Zheliu behind. They were quite far apart. Wen Zheliu thought that Situ Yun's lips were sore from talking at the court meeting just now and he had no time to argue with him, but suddenly she heard her ask.

"Why does your belly look bigger than the day before?"

He tied it so tightly, but someone still found something wrong?

With his heart in turmoil, Wen Zheliu thought there was no escape, so he simply faced the enemy head-on.

"Your Majesty is truly considerate. This son's belly is a little bigger than usual. The reason is that I am greedy. I have lived in the Central Plains for many years and I miss my homeland so much. I finally returned to my homeland and could not resist the temptation of the delicacies of my beautiful Western Vietnam.

"I've been eating too much for the past few days and have a bit of indigestion. However, I summoned the Imperial Physician Helan to see me the other day and he's fine. Don't worry, Mother."

"Helan Yuan?" Situ Yun seemed to be lost in thought. "So she's the one treating you. No wonder I had a headache the other day and sent Dugu Qiu to get her, but she said Helan Yuan was in the East Palace."

"The Queen Mother has a headache? Has she taken medicine?"

Wen Zheliu widened his eyes slightly, revealing just the right amount of surprise.

Situ Yun waved his hand: "I have taken medicine, and Helan Yuan also came to check Ping An's pulse yesterday. There is nothing wrong."

Wen Zheliu said a few more words of concern and sighed.

"It's all my fault. I was so focused on my own suffering that I forgot about Mother. I didn't stay by her side to show my filial piety when she was in pain."

Situ Yun said meaningfully: "It's best that you care about me."

When they arrived outside the Shangshufang, the two men got out of the sedan chair.

Situ Yun took Wen Zheliu's shoulder and walked over the threshold with him: "How much do you know about He Jiyue?"

He Jiyue? Why did Situ Yun mention her?

Just three words, but with great impact.

Wen Zheliu's empty heart seemed to be suddenly rushed in by a large number of toads who had been cooped up in the cold winter and finally found the warmth of the new year. They jumped around lively, as if they wanted to smash Wen Zheliu's heart into pieces before they were satisfied.

His calf suddenly twitched for no apparent reason, and Wen Zheliu's steps became unsteady, as if he was walking on white clouds.

"Your Highness, be careful." Xiaobai supported his arm at the right time.

"What's wrong?" Situ Yun tightened his grip on his shoulders.

"…Reporting to the Queen Mother, I have a slight stomach discomfort and am afraid I cannot stand for long."

Wen Zheliu placed his hands on his abdomen, his brows slightly furrowed, tears welled up in the corners of his eyes, his expression was forbearing, and his thin lips were pressed into a straight line, as if it were really true.

Situ Yun narrowed her eyes and released her hand from Wen Zheliu's shoulder, which seemed to protect but also to imprison her. "Come here, please take a seat."

"Thank you, Queen Mother." Wen Zheliu, supported by Xiaobai, barely moved over.

Situ Yun sat firmly in front of him, looking Wen Zheliu up and down with an unconcealed gaze. Wen Zheliu's calf was twitching violently, but he didn't dare to reach out and touch her. He just gritted his teeth and endured it.

"Just now in the court, you also came into contact with quite a few officials." Situ Yun waved his hand, signaling Dugu Qiu to fetch the list. "Take a look at the women on this list. Do you know who they are from?"

Let’s not talk about the topic about He Jiuyue just now?

Hearing about the willow being broken, he felt sad and took a quick look.

"I understand." He lowered his eyes and calmly concealed the trace of displeasure in his eyes.

The people are still the same, just the order has changed.

Murong Jin, who was originally ranked third, was suddenly ranked first.

He had a conflict with Murong Jin, and Situ Yun was not unaware of it. But now that she knew it, instead of removing Murong Jin, she moved her to the first place. What was her intention?

It was clearly intentional.

Did she want to laugh at him? Not really.

If Situ Yun really wanted to use him as a joke after dinner, he could have embarrassed him in public at the court meeting just now.

The two of them were chatting privately at this moment, and her behavior seemed more like a test.

"Does the Queen Mother intend to marry me to Murong Jin?"

Wen Zheliu still had that indifferent expression on her face, but she said something shocking, and with a "pop" sound, she pierced the thin layer of window paper between her and her son.

Situ Yun was stunned.

"In terms of family background and appearance, she is the best."

What he meant was that Murong Jin was a girl who only existed in heaven and was rarely seen in the world. You, Wen Zheliu, was just a bastard with half dirty blood. Don't be so picky and act ungrateful.

But is this a question of whether to be obedient or not?

How can he, a man, marry two women?

Not to mention, he had already decided in his heart that he would only follow He Jiuyue in this life.

If He Jiuyue marries Murong Jin again, will Mo Yan, who can't tolerate any grain of sand in her eyes, forgive his silent betrayal? He himself will despise his own behavior of changing with the wind.

"Why, you feel wronged that I arranged for you to marry her?"

Situ Yun stared intently at Wen Zheliu's increasingly pale face, the aura of a king emanating from him. "Zheliu, you've grown up. Stop being so childish. The person the Queen Mother chooses for you is the best."

She even forgot her previous polite words, "After all, those women are out of your league, just pick the one you like."

Wen Zheliu gritted her teeth.

It’s not that he doesn’t want to resist, but he has to bow his head under the eaves.

Even if he had someone in his heart, he could only be humble and serve as a son in front of Situ Yun, who held all the power in Western Yue.

"What the Queen Mother said is absolutely right, but I will do as the Queen Mother commands."

Wen Zheliu suppressed the thought of Lev's chastity in his heart and forced a smile from the corner of his mouth.

"Okay, if you have no objection, your marriage to Xiaojin is settled. You don't have to worry about the rest. Xiaojin's mother and I will negotiate it ourselves."

Hearing the willows being cut, he lowered his head and replied "yes".

He really didn't need to worry about this, because he had no say in the deal between Situ Yun and Murong Xuan.

He was just a pawn of Situ Yun.

Seeing that Situ Yun ordered Dugu Qiu to take the list back, Wen Zheliu thought that Situ Yun had been chatting with him for a long time and was finally going to discuss government affairs with him. His Adam's apple rolled, and he swallowed the bloody smell from biting his lips, but heard Situ Yun ask.

"Come back to the point, what was your relationship with He Jiuyue when you were in the Central Plains?"

He Jiuyue, it’s He Jiuyue again.

Why did Situ Yun keep pestering her?

He had committed himself to Murong Jin, and he had already been extremely sorry to He Jiuyue.

How could she reveal her secret in front of Situ Yun?

"I, your son, have faithfully followed your mother's teachings. I have been in contact with He Jiyue since childhood and have maintained a close relationship with her."

"Just childhood sweethearts?" Situ Yun repeated these four words several times. Seeing that Zheliu didn't respond, he asked a new question, "Then who is she dating?"

Make friends with "men"?

Wen Zheliu went through the people around He Jiuyue in his mind.

Ignoring the group of female red-armored soldiers under her command and Chen Jin who served her personally, he thought about it and could only think of He Jiuyue's father Zhong Zian and her younger brother He Liuyun.

"He Jiyue respects his father very much and takes good care of his younger brother."

"I'm not asking about his family."

Situ Yun pressed his hand on his temples, his tone becoming increasingly impatient, as if he had a headache. "Is she showing any signs of being attracted to men other than her family?"

Wen Zheliu pursed her lips.

As soon as he said that, Situ Yun would inevitably send men to the Central Plains. What if he really found one that suits He Jiuyue's taste? Would He Jiuyue still want him?

"Forgive me for not knowing."

"Don't know? Why are you always so evasive when talking about He Jiyue?"

Situ Yun's voice was like a violent storm, crackling loudly. "When I asked you to contact He Jiyue, it was so that you could know yourself and your enemy, so that you could win every battle. You and her have been childhood sweethearts for over ten years, so how come you can't even tell me who she likes?"

Wen Zheliu endured the pain in his legs, stood up from the chair and slowly knelt down.

"I am a foolish son. I was only concerned with being friends with He Jiyue and didn't pay attention to what kind of man would sleep with her."

"Oh, you didn't pay attention. Isn't this what I asked you to pay attention to?" Situ Yun picked up the paperweight on the table and smashed it on Wen Zheliu's head with a "bang".

"You have such a pretty face!"

Wen Zheliu, his face covered in blood, still knelt steadily: "Queen Mother, please forgive me."

Situ Yun threw a red brush at him again before calming down: "Then I ask you again, what kind of man does He Jiyue like?"

Wen Zheliu was startled.

In her words, He Jiuyue is a cold-faced general who is not interested in men and will not be soft-hearted because of any man.

But in his eyes, He Jiuyue is too soft-hearted.

As soon as he acted coquettishly, she compromised.

If being soft-hearted is equivalent to liking someone, then He Jiuyue is attracted to a man like him?