Chapter 74
In May, the continuous rain would have caused flooding in the past.
However, thanks to the construction of a hundred-mile-long dike, the flood did not occur this time.
During the construction, Sang Yu happily sent a message saying that she had found a capable person named Liu Yi.
In cities prone to flooding, a comprehensive drainage system was built.
Water windows were also installed at the outlets. Before floods occurred, the city's water and rainwater were drained into the river by taking advantage of the terrain difference and the natural flow direction. The water windows were opened.
When the river rises above the outlet, the water window closes from the outside with the help of water power.
The river water did not enter the city at all.
Upon hearing this, Lingwu couldn't help but smile.
See, she knows the names of truly capable ministers without even meeting them.
The Quanrong also sent a letter regarding the successful evacuation from the flood.
Because the third prince of Quanrong was married off to the Qi Dynasty, Zisang Qi used the identity of the ninth prince of Quanrong who died in this power struggle.
On the day of his ascension to the throne, the Qi Dynasty soldiers guarded the Quanrong, and not a single one dared to harbor any thoughts of rebellion.
However, the Ninth Prince suddenly gagged when he ascended the throne.
While everyone was guessing who the adulterous woman was, Ling Wu pinched the bridge of her nose, looked at the man sitting on the tree branch dressed in Hu clothing and adorned with silver ornaments, and said helplessly:
"Why have you, the new master, come all the way to the Qi Dynasty's palace instead of guarding the still unpacified Quanrong?"
Zi Sangqi lightly touched the ground with his toes, but the silver bells on his body did not make a sound. He flew down and was a few feet away from Ling Wu, but kept a distance that allowed him to get close at any time.
Then he tossed the object in his hand forward, causing ripples in the shadows, but Ling Wu stopped him with a raised hand.
A golden talisman fell into Lingwu's hand; it felt warm to the touch and was clearly not ordinary gold.
Then came Zisang's proud voice, "His Majesty is surrounded by talented people; with them around, the Quanrong will not be able to cause chaos!"
He took a step closer before boasting, "Your Majesty, Aqi brought the Quanrong King's gold treasure. He left in March and returned in May. Aqi has fulfilled Your Majesty's request ahead of schedule, in less than three months. Will Your Majesty reward him?"
"What do you want?" Ling Wu placed the gold treasure, which had caused bloodshed among the Quanrong, on the table.
"Aqi... wants Your Majesty to acknowledge this child." Zisangqi lowered her head and placed her hand on her lower abdomen. Her usual unruly pride had softened considerably.
Like the flamboyant trumpet creeper blooming to climb the high mountain, or like fireflies dancing in the night and landing on the forest stream, their love is as dazzling and passionate as a surging tide.
His low, husky voice was particularly moving in the darkness.
"Aqi wants this child!" he said again, earnestly waiting for Lingwu's response.
Ling Wu stared at him, her indifferent eyes filled with indulgent affection.
Amidst this overwhelming tenderness, Zi Sangqi's neck, ears, and cheeks gradually warmed up.
Finally, he pursed his lips and murmured softly, "I thought you would come to see Aqi's coronation ceremony, but I didn't expect you to come..." He then patted his belly, "but he came."
He emphasized the words "臣侍" (chen shi).
But Lingwu didn't comply with his wishes. "Okay, let's go back."
Zi Sangqi seemed frozen in place, and after a long while, she asked with difficulty, "Go back? Go back where?"
As soon as he finished speaking, he felt nauseous and wanted to vomit again. He forcibly suppressed this instinct because he didn't want to look disheveled in front of her.
“Naturally, we will return to Quanrong.” Ling Wu smiled faintly, her tone lazy and casual.
Zi Sangqi's eyes widened suddenly, his face filled with shock.
He only wanted her to recognize the child in his womb...
What, is she trying to get rid of him?
He cried out urgently, “But your child is already in my womb. You may not need me, but you…you cannot disown him!” He choked up before he could finish.
Ling Wu paused slightly, then looked up at him, staring at him for a long while before abruptly speaking:
"My own flesh and blood?"
Zi Sangqi had already shed tears, but upon hearing this, he immediately raised his hand to wipe them away, and then gritted his teeth, "If Your Majesty does not acknowledge him, then this servant will return to Quanrong and raise him myself!"
The silver bells on her body couldn't help but let out a clear tinkling sound.
Ling Wu frowned. "How could you have my child?"
Zi Sangqi burst into tears at those words!
"After the coronation ceremony that day, a servant asked Aqi about it, and that's when Aqi learned that I was pregnant! Aqi... Aqi has only ever slept in the same bed with you!"
"Has the royal physician been summoned?" Ling Wu's brows remained furrowed.
Zi Sangqi paused in his walking motion, then froze in shock.
"..."
After Ling Wu patiently asked again, he lowered his head and explained in a low voice:
"The struggle for the throne was so fierce that all the royal physicians fled. As soon as Aqi learned of her pregnancy, she rushed back without stopping for a moment..."
Ling Wu leaned back in her chair. "Jing Chun, summon the imperial physician."
Jing Chun, standing outside the hall, responded, "Yes, sir!"
"..."
As Lingwu finished signing the painting on the table, she glanced sideways and caught Zisangqi staring at her without blinking.
Zi Sangqi's gaze wandered, but he dared not look at her.
He was fine at first, but after learning that he was pregnant with His Majesty's child, he inexplicably felt shy.
When the imperial physician arrived, he was still the same as before.
After taking the pulse and asking questions, the imperial physician hesitated for a moment, then took the pulse again before finally saying hesitantly:
"Your Majesty, Consort He is experiencing motion sickness, which is why she feels nauseous." Strange, why hadn't she heard that His Majesty had taken Consort He out?
Could it be that he's traveling incognito?
Ling Wu remained silent, as did Zi Sangqi…
Jing Chun, still unable to gauge Ling Wu's thoughts, tentatively asked, "Your Majesty, shall I... take Physician Wang down to get the medicine?"
"Um."
Once the imperial physician was freed from the oppressive atmosphere, he thanked Jing Chun profusely as soon as he left the palace.
Only then did he return to the Imperial Hospital, drenched in cold sweat.
The reason she was sweating profusely was that Her Majesty and Consort He had been traveling incognito to visit the six palaces without her knowledge, but now she knew!
What if something happens in the future... will she lose her head?
Ugh~
How terrifying! She just wants to go home, be held in her husband's arms, and have a good cry!
Meanwhile, in the Phoenix Palace...
"You didn't question the imperial physician's medical skills," Ling Wu murmured with amusement.
"..." After the incident of immediately doing a somersault last time, Zi Sangqi faced his second embarrassing situation.
Unless he himself is skilled in medicine, it would be incredibly foolish for the imperial physician to question him after he has finished speaking.
And indeed, no one had ever taken his pulse. Before ascending the throne, he even secretly returned home once.
No wonder he felt nauseous when he ascended the throne. When his servant told him, he thought it was because the children were being too noisy...
She coughed twice to cover her embarrassment, then said slowly, "Your Majesty...would it be alright if your servants returned to the palace for half a month's rest each month? Otherwise, it's not appropriate for Consort He, in her status, to be rarely seen..."
He carefully considered the three words "He Guijun," referring to the matter that Ling Wu had agreed to last time.
The term is three months. He will be granted the throne of the Quanrong Kingdom and a noble prince.
Lingwu carefully placed the scroll away.
"I have never touched you. You may now return to Quanrong to find a confidante, or have a harem. With my soldiers here, they will not dare to curse you in the slightest."
As for what's behind it?
If he doesn't know, then he doesn't know; if he did know...
The Quanrong royal family had far too many ways to make people wish they were dead.
Zi Sangqi remained motionless. When she looked up again, the faint light in her eyes had vanished, and her beautiful eyes seemed to be veiled in mist.
"Of all the women in the world, Zisangqi only desires you."
A woman who can be like a savior under a mad horse, a Qi Dynasty empress who can bring a country under her control without firing a shot, a wife who is always gentle but always in control of the whole situation!
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