Chapter 253 I Want to Be Miaomiao's Account Book
Liu Yuetang was slightly startled, staring at the serene queen. "Your Majesty, whether you believe it or not, I have never doubted you from the beginning to the end."
Their eyes met, and trust was already flowing between their brows.
"You've never doubted me?"
Liu Yuetang smiled gently. "That day, Your Majesty, you said, 'Since ancient times, women have had a hard life, especially those in the Imperial Palace, who have almost no way out. As Empress Dowager, you have the responsibility to protect all the women in the harem.' I saw the righteousness and sincerity in your eyes, and I believe Your Majesty was not just acting, but was speaking from the heart."
The Queen lowered her eyes, "It's rare that my sister trusts me so much."
"The Queen trusts me and treats me well, so naturally I trust her." Liu Yuetang spoke every word sincerely.
The Queen smiled with emotion. "How many women within these red walls are truly innocent? I know your ambitions, but I also know you have a limit and will not harm innocent people. And I... am not as kind and virtuous as everyone thinks."
"The throne is coveted by all the concubines. If I make even the slightest mistake, I'll be pulled down from the throne. The former Jade Concubine was overbearing, and Zhaopin was arrogant. There's no guarantee the next favorite will be even worse. I can't defend myself at all. If one of the six concubines must be favored and share power with me, I hope it's you."
"Why? Is it because I don't have a powerful family background to rely on?" Liu Yuetang asked.
The Queen shook her head slightly, her eyes deep and gentle, "Not only that, but also because..."
She paused, gazing out the window at the blue sky. "Since I've already waded through this thorny path, I hope those who come after me will have a smoother journey."
She is different from Liu Yuetang, yet similar to her.
Liu Yuetang had no parental love since childhood and was abandoned in Zhuangzi, so she had an unhappy childhood.
She entered the palace in the hope of a bright future.
But I was destined to be born into the royal family and I will never experience joy, anger, sorrow or happiness in this life.
They all have many reasons to do so.
One for survival, the other for family, both lost themselves, their freedom, their youth, their original aspirations...
Liu Yuetang also looked out the window, her lips curled up slightly, "In this deep palace, everyone wants to drag others into the storm and mud, but only the Empress has compassion in her heart and is willing to hold up an umbrella for others."
"I wish to always stand by your side, holding the umbrella you hold for me."
This sentence is a thank you and also a statement.
She stated that she would be of the same mind as the Queen in the future, and would just stand by her side, not replace her.
She also expressed her willingness as long as the Queen treated her well as she does today.
Her hand would never reach into the Weiyang Palace.
The Queen came back to her senses and looked at Liu Yuetang with a smile: "In fact, even if the Emperor does not give you the power to assist in managing the six palaces, I will propose it to the Emperor after you give birth to the child."
"The Six Palaces are full of complicated matters, and I have to teach An'er. If you can help me share some of the burden, I can relax a little and enjoy some leisure time."
Liu Yuetang quickly said, "If Her Majesty the Queen needs any help from me, please let me know."
"You are pregnant now, so you must not overwork yourself. You may want to check the account books first. After you give birth, I will hand over the other matters to you."
"Okay!" Liu Yuetang nodded slightly.
The Queen smiled, and when she saw Liu Yuetang's bulging belly, her brows softened. "Stand up, let me take a look."
Liu Yuetang slowly stood up and walked to the queen's side.
The Queen looked at Liu Yuetang's belly and immediately became suspicious: "I've noticed that your belly has gotten bigger over the past two months. Have you been taking any tonics?"
Liu Yuetang supported her waist and said, "When I first became pregnant, I drank nourishing soup every day. But after three months, I stopped drinking it. Does the Empress think that my belly is too big?"
Seeing Liu Yuetang's nervous expression, the Queen quickly said, "I'm worried that you're deliberately taking supplements, or maybe..."
She didn't say anything, but her words were self-evident.
There are many ways to harm people in the palace. It is possible that someone tampered with the diet to make the fetus bigger.
Liu Yuetang pondered for a moment: "Doctor Shen has instructed me not to take any tonic food, so the food I have eaten for the past two months has not been conducive to pregnancy."
The Queen breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good, I guess you're pregnant."
"Your birth is just over a month away. The Emperor has already personally selected a midwife for you, so I think this stage won't be a problem. You won't have to come to Weiyang Palace to pay your respects. You can stay in Yaoyue Palace and wait for your birth."
"Okay, thank you, Her Majesty, for your consideration." Liu Yuetang responded gratefully, and then chatted with the Queen for a long time before leaving.
*****
At the end of April, Liu Zheng and Wan Qiu began packing their luggage for the palace.
Liu Zheng smiled as she sorted the child's clothes, joy overflowing from her eyes: "My Lady, look at these little tiger shoes, they are so cute."
"And this bellyband looks festive."
"When August returns to the palace, the Yaoyue Palace will be bustling with activity."
Liu Yuetang was looking at the account book. Seeing Liu Zheng talking to herself, she chuckled softly, "Look at you, you're even more excited than me."
"That's right! I've been looking forward to it for eight months, and I really can't wait."
As they were talking, Xiao Heng arrived. Liu Zheng quickly put her clothes away and bowed before retreating.
Xiao Heng walked over to sit next to Liu Yuetang and hugged her. "It's so late, why are you still looking at the account book?"
Liu Yuetang flipped through the account book and said, "There is an account that is not correct. I am calculating it now. I will come to accompany the emperor after I have calculated it."
Seeing that she didn't look up at him, and was only concerned with the accounts, Xiao Heng rested his chin on her shoulder and rubbed it gently, saying softly: "Don't look at her, your health is more important, I will accompany you to sleep."
Liu Yuetang turned around and smiled at Xiao Heng: "I am fine, but I am a little bored, so I will settle this account before I rest."
After saying this, she continued to calculate the accounts.
Seeing her so focused, Xiao Heng shook his head helplessly, and had to sit aside with his chin supported, staring at Liu Yuetang's peaceful face.
But as I watched, I suddenly felt something strange.
In the past, he would review the memorials while the woman sat beside him and waited.
Now, he has become the one who is eagerly waiting to be pitied.
After a long while, Xiao Heng could no longer sit still and coughed lightly twice.
Usually, whenever he coughed, Liu Yuetang would offer him a sip of hot tea.
But at this moment, he seemed to have not heard anything and started muttering to himself about the accounts.
Just as Liu Yuetang was about to turn the page, a dark shadow suddenly fell from above her head, and then the account book was closed by a pair of large hands.
She turned her head and saw Xiao Heng leaning over the table, leaning against her face and whispering, "Why, is this account book more tempting than me? You can't let it go."
Liu Yuetang realized belatedly that she had left him aside, and he was unhappy.
She raised her hand and hooked it around Xiao Heng's neck, her eyelashes casting butterfly-like shadows under her eyes: "How could the emperor seduce anyone in the account book? Isn't this just helping the emperor share his worries?"
She paused slightly and muttered, "Besides...in the past, when the Emperor reviewed memorials, didn't I sit beside you as well? And I would sit there for half a day at a time."
Looking at her cherry-red, soft lips, Xiao Heng's throat heaved and he said in a deep voice, "You are quite right."
He carefully lifted Liu Yuetang up and carried her sideways, "Don't ignore me when you look at the account books from now on."
Liu Yuetang raised her chin, "What about when the Emperor reviewed the memorials?"
Xiao Heng's eyebrows slightly curved, "If I ignore Miaomiao when reviewing the memorial, then Miaomiao will criticize me."
After saying that, he lowered his head and gently sucked Liu Yuetang's earlobe, speaking vaguely: "But tonight... I want to do Miaomiao's account book."
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