Chapter 375: Beauty Trap
It has to be said that in this way, the efficiency of handling political affairs has been greatly improved.
The two of them handle government affairs together, finish them together, and then what's left is couple time and parent-child time.
Because Xie Yao's belly was becoming more and more obvious, Xiao Ji took on more responsibility for taking care of Zhao Zhao and Sui Sui, so as to prevent Xie Yao from getting seriously injured by the two children.
As a result, the two children were less unfamiliar with him and treated Xiao Ji particularly close.
More than a month passed in a flash.
Shanshan and Sibei had already left Beijing and returned to the village, and then came over to send a letter saying that they would stay in the village for a while longer.
Xie Yao and Xiao Ji could both understand, so they simply gave Si Bei a honeymoon holiday so that he could spend more time with Shan Shan.
Apart from that, the situation in the North is also stable.
The internal strife in the northern border was particularly intense, and the capital had returned to peace. The news of the opening of the special examination spread, and many students had recently flocked to the capital.
After Xie Yao and Xiao Ji finished dealing with the memorials, they walked side by side towards Fengyi Palace, planning to have lunch there and then take a short rest.
Xie Yao was sleepy during pregnancy and needed rest.
When she was taking a nap, Xiao Ji would coax Zhao Zhao and Sui Sui to take a nap as well.
After a long time, the two children developed a habit and fell asleep quickly.
Xiao Ji left the side hall and headed towards the main hall where Xie Yao was resting.
Although they were emperors and empresses, neither of them liked to have too many people serving them. He walked under the corridor. The peach trees in the palace were in bloom and the spring scenery was pleasant, but Xiao Ji did not stop.
Without Xie Yao by his side, these scenes could not attract him at all. He just wanted to go into the main hall as soon as possible to accompany Xie Yao.
At this moment, a figure suddenly appeared from the corner and rushed directly towards Xiao Ji——
In a flash, Xiao Ji subconsciously dodged to the side.
"oops!"
With a delicate cry, a palace maid fell to the ground where Xiao Ji had just been.
The maid quickly reacted and knelt down, "Your Majesty, please forgive me, Your Majesty, please forgive me, I didn't mean it!"
There was enough distance between Xiao Ji and the palace maid, so he didn't take the matter too seriously and was about to turn around and leave.
Suddenly he noticed someone's eyes on him.
He followed his gaze and saw a palace maid kneeling on the ground.
The palace maid was staring at Xiao Ji pitifully with her watery eyes, and she looked even more pitiful.
Xiao Ji stopped and stared at the palace maid.
The palace maid bit her lower lip lightly, her eyes full of smiles, she seemed to want to say something but hesitated.
"Sinan."
"Your Majesty." Si Nan walked in immediately after hearing the voice.
"Take him away." Xiao Ji's voice was cold and his eyes were even colder.
As soon as he finished speaking, the maid's expression finally changed, and she begged for mercy, "Your Majesty, I really didn't mean it..."
"Quiet."
Xiao Ji's voice sounded again. The palace maid was startled and dared not speak again. She just looked at Xiao Ji with a pitiful expression.
Xiao Ji waved his hand, signaling Si Nan to take the person away.
It would be bad if we make noise here and wake up Yaoyao.
The palace maid was taken out directly by Si Nan, and Fengyi Palace became quiet again. Only then did Xiao Ji enter the inner hall.
"Husband."
Xie Yao had just woken up, and asked lazily, "Who were you talking to just now?"
Xiao Ji walked forward, sat down beside the bed, and hugged Xie Yao who had just sat up. "I was explaining something to Si Nan. Did I bother you?"
Xie Yao shook her head and lay down again under Xiao Ji's strength, "Then I'll sleep for a while."
"Okay." Xiao Ji simply lay down beside her, "I'll accompany you."
Afternoon.
Si Nan then reported to Xiao Ji, "Your Majesty, the maid confessed that she is the adopted daughter of Magistrate Li who went to Lingnan."
A cold light flashed in Xiao Ji's eyes.
He originally thought that this person had been exiled to Lingnan and should understand what he meant, but he did not expect that this person would actually reach out to the palace.
"Thorough investigation!"
Xiao Ji said: "I don't want to see another person like this."
I guess there's more than one person staring at him.
"Yes." Si Nan agreed immediately and turned to leave to investigate the matter.
"What are you checking?" Xie Yao's voice rang out.
Xie Yao had just washed up and walked out of the hall when she heard Xiao Ji's final instructions.
Xiao Ji said: "Someone has reached into the palace."
He didn't elaborate on the specific circumstances.
After all, someone was using the beauty trap on him... He just wanted to tell Yaoyao about it, but he found it difficult to say.
Xie Yao said: "I was negligent."
She was pregnant, taking care of a pair of children, and discussing state affairs with Xiao Ji, so she neglected some things.
Xiao Ji immediately understood what Xie Yao meant and said quickly, "Don't blame Yaoyao, it was my negligence."
Xie Yao laughed, and then said: "Since it was your Majesty's negligence, how does your Majesty plan to compensate?"
Xiao Ji stretched his hand behind Xie Yao's head, and when he took his hand back, there was a peach blossom in his hand.
Xie Yao couldn't help laughing, raised her eyebrows and asked: "Which is more beautiful, the flowers or..."
"You look good."
Before Xie Yao finished her words, Xiao Ji had already answered.
He looked at Xie Yao with seriousness in his eyes. To him, it didn't matter what he compared with Xie Yao.
Xie Yao is always pretty.
Si Nan was extremely quick and figured out the situation in the palace that same day.
When he reported the situation to the Yangxin Palace, Si Nan felt a chill on his back, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty."
"I have found out that in the past month, a new batch of palace maids have entered the palace, a total of 100 people, and 20 of them have suspicious backgrounds."
It's leaking like a sieve.
Xiao Ji was so angry that he laughed.
He originally thought that he had expressed his attitude clearly enough, even bringing up something like illness, and that these court officials should give up.
But now it seems that he ignored these people because of the affairs in the capital and the northern border.
"Your Majesty is truly welcome." Xie Yao spoke in a low voice, with a hint of sarcasm in her tone.
She said that His Majesty had been unclear in front of her just now because of this matter.
Xiao Ji immediately said: "Yaoyao, I can explain this matter."
Sinan was tactful enough to leave.
Xie Yao said: "Your Majesty, there is no need to explain, I understand everything."
Yeah?
Xiao Ji looked at Xie Yao. Instead of relaxing because of these words, he became even more nervous. He didn't need to say anything more, and Si Nan retreated.
Xie Yao and Xiao Ji were the only ones left in the hall.
"Yaoyao." Xiao Ji held Xie Yao's hand, "This matter..."
"My husband, don't be nervous." Xie Yao said seriously, "I really believe in you."
Xiao Ji was speechless for a moment when he saw Xie Yao's trust in him. Thinking about it carefully, this was not the first time such a thing had happened. Every time in the past, Xie Yao had chosen to trust him unconditionally.
Xiao Ji also knew it.
"I'm afraid you'll think too much." After all, Xie Yao is different now than before. She is already in the second trimester of pregnancy. Pregnant women are sensitive and thoughtful, so he always wants to make things as clear as possible.
Xie Yao put her arms around Xiao Ji's waist, her bulging belly pressed against Xiao Ji's body, and looked up at him, "Although I believe in Your Majesty, your attitude still makes me very happy."
Xie Yao stood on tiptoe and kissed Xiao Ji on the cheek, "Reward."
The couple finished their conversation.
Si Nan entered the Yangxin Palace again, and he had not yet finished reporting what he had just done.
"Your Majesty, Madam, I have already found out that most of these people are following the path of the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs."
"The few who were there were arranged by the Deputy Chief of the Ministry of Internal Affairs."
Si Nan was holding a booklet in his hand, "These are the people behind these palace maids."
Among the twenty palace maids, at least twenty of them wanted to reach into his harem.
These people are really bold.
Xiao Ji took the book and wrote down the names and titles of these people. He said, "Return all of them."
"Let's deal with those two from the Ministry of Internal Affairs." Xiao Ji said lightly.
The purpose of sending these "palace maids" back was to warn these people, and the two from the Ministry of Internal Affairs were dealt with because they were royal servants but were bribed to do such a thing.
"yes."
Si Nan immediately turned around to deal with these people.
Xie Yao and Xiao Ji began to confirm the progress of the upcoming imperial examination, which was the first imperial examination during Xiao Ji's reign.
The successful candidates for the imperial examination were Xiao Ji's first batch of disciples of the emperor.
Xiao Ji naturally took it seriously.
Just after a while, the voice of Li Dajian came from outside the Yangxin Palace, "Your Majesty, I have something to report."
"Come in." Xiao Ji said.
It has been some time since he ascended the throne, but the chief eunuch is still Li Dajian. However, compared to Si Nan, Li Dajian is naturally not as close to Xiao Ji.
As soon as he entered the palace, Li Dajian knelt down and said, "I am guilty, please punish me, Your Majesty!"
Xiao Ji raised his head from the memorial and looked at Li Dajian.
Li Dajian said: "Your Majesty, Li Quan, the manager of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, is my godson."
"I failed to supervise properly, allowing Li Quan to make such a big mistake. Please punish me, Your Majesty."
Li Dajian was about to curse Li Quan to death in his heart. He originally thought that as he was getting old, he should adopt a godson so that he could take care of him in his old age and see him to the end of his life.
But I didn't expect this guy to be so bold as to do such a stupid thing.
Who is your Majesty? He can't tolerate any grain of sand in his eyes. If it weren't for your Majesty's reckoning and Li Quan's plea to him, he would still be kept in the dark.
"Li Dajian, stand up." Xiao Ji knew that Si Nan did not mention Li Dajian in this matter, which meant that Li Dajian was not involved. "This matter has nothing to do with you."
"But as the head of the internal prison, you have failed to supervise properly, so I will fine you one month's salary as a warning."
A light punishment but a severe warning was given to Li Dajian with enough face.
Li Dajian was moved. He did not stand up immediately, but knelt on the ground and thanked sincerely, "Your Majesty, I thank you."
There was a great purge in the palace, and everyone was in danger for a time. Those courtiers who had extended their hands to the palace became nervous when they received the returned palace maids.
Your Majesty is warning them!
It must be a warning to them.
Because of Xiao Ji's order, the matter was not concealed at all, so these court officials knew each other.
At this moment, everyone started communicating with people they knew, wondering how His Majesty would punish them next.
After all, Minister Li was exiled to Lingnan to serve as a prefect, and the chief and deputy chief stewards of the palace's internal affairs department even lost their lives.
Given Your Majesty's temper, how can you let them go?
But until the beginning of the imperial examination, Xiao Ji did nothing to these court officials.
In such a tense and anxious mood, these court officials who made mistakes were much more thorough and serious in doing their work.
Cheng Fengqi mentioned this when he reported the matter, "Your Majesty is wise."
Cheng Fengqi is one of his own, so Xiao Ji has nothing to hide from him, so he said directly: "Now is not the time to touch them."
Now he has no one under his command.
That's why he wanted to hold a special examination. After the imperial examination was over and these people had gone through some experience and were able to be entrusted with important tasks, he would then consider what to do.
Xiao Ji said: "Let the word spread. Whether I will punish them again depends entirely on their performance."
Xiao Ji was not lying, that's what he thought in his heart.
These people are so bold as to want to extend their hands to the palace. It is obvious that they are all restless and have quite some means.
A treacherous minister has his own way of using treacherous ministers.
What matters is to look at the abilities and character of these people. If he thinks they can still be used, then he might as well keep them.
Of course, if something like this happens again, Xiao Ji will never tolerate it again.
"Yes." Cheng Fengqi agreed immediately.
After finishing his business, Cheng Fengqi left the Yangxin Palace.
The ladies in the court would come to the palace to pay their respects to the empress once a month, and this could be considered as the social activities that Xie Yao had to do as a lady.
Naturally, she has people she is close to or distant from, and her attitude also represents Xiao Ji's attitude.
So Xie Yao is in Fengyi Palace now, not in Yangxin Palace.
Fengyi Palace.
Xie Yao had exquisite makeup and luxurious clothes, and sat at the top.
The two sides below were filled with ladies of the court.
Madam Wang and the wife of the Marquis of Changning were also on the list. After all, the Wang family was a noble family, and Madam Wang had a high status among the ladies of noble birth.
The reason why the old lady from the Changning Marquis' Mansion came was because Cheng Fengqi was currently a favorite of Xiao Ji.
Cheng Fengqi doesn't have a wife, and he had a falling out with the previous Marquis Changning in his early years. Now Cheng Fengqi has no other close female relatives around him.
Therefore, even if the old lady of the Changning Marquis' Mansion was not thorough in her work, she was still the only one who could enter the palace.
Besides, although the old lady of the Marquis' Mansion had offended her before, it was a thing of the past for her, and she naturally would not still focus on those old things.
The old lady of the Changning Marquis' Mansion was a little nervous the first two times she came, but now she has completely adapted.
After all, she was the one being flattered in such a scene.
Xie Yao usually doesn't express any opinions, and there is no need for her to bring up any topics.
But she felt something was wrong with the seats they were sitting in today, as Madam Wang and the old lady from the Marquis of Changning's mansion were sitting together.
They had sat together before, but today they seemed to have an extra tacit understanding.
Although no one whispered, Xie Yao could tell. This was her intuition.
She thought about what happened in front of Xuan Yue's house a few days ago. Now thinking about it again, it seems...
Is the third young lady of the Wang family still in Beijing?
"The Queen."
Perhaps noticing Xie Yao's gaze, Mrs. Wang nodded respectfully.
Xie Yao nodded slightly with a smile on her face.
Seeing that the time was almost up, Xie Yao said, "Let's go."
"yes."
Upon hearing Xie Yao's instructions, the ladies stood up, bowed, and then left Fengyi Palace.
"My lady."
Zhu Qing helped Xie Yao into the inner hall to rest. As soon as Xie Yao sat down, he said, "Go and check the matter between the Wang family and the wife of the Cheng family."
Zhu Qing whispered, "I was just about to report this to Her Majesty."
"Mrs. Wang has been in close contact with the old lady of the Cheng family recently. It seems that she has a relationship with the second young lady of the Wang family."
"Wang Yushi?"
Xie Yao frowned, "I remember the Wang family said before that they would find a marriage partner for her as soon as possible."
She didn't necessarily want to do anything to Wang Yushi, but this was the news that came out from the Wang family themselves. At that time, they were expressing their stance to Cheng Fengqi. Because she was concerned about Xuan Yue, the news reached her ears.
"Yes." Zhu Qing said, "I heard that... it seems that Miss Wang Er has arrived at the Cheng family."
Mrs. Wang has always done her utmost to give to her biological daughter, Wang Yushi.
But what does the old lady of the Cheng family want?
"Did the old lady of the Cheng family choose a husband for Wang Yushi?" Xie Yao asked, but she was still a little confused.
Because the old lady of the Cheng family lived in seclusion in her early years and had been away from home for many years, her network of contacts in Beijing was far inferior to that of Mrs. Wang.
If I marry someone from another place... then there's no need to go to the Cheng family, right?
Zhu Qing shook her head, "Madam, Miss Wang stayed in the Cheng family, in the backyard."
At the same time, in the Palace of Mental Cultivation.
As soon as Cheng Fengqi left, Li Dajian came in from outside and reported: "Your Majesty, the third prince wants to see you."
Xiao An?
What is he here for?
Because of what happened before, Xiao An has always been a little nervous, fearing that Xiao Ji would settle the score with him and take his life.
But Xiao An was really overthinking it. Xiao An now no longer had the ambition he once had. He had completely fallen into depravity, spending his days in the mansion indulging in singing and dancing.
Xiao Ji had no intention of touching Xiao An at all. He had even recently been discussing with Xie Yao about making the third, fourth and fifth sons kings.
After all, he had been on the throne for nearly half a year, the government had been stabilized, and he was sitting on the throne very firmly.
He has even been crowned the crown prince, so it is impossible that his brother is still a prince.
Xiao Ji said: "Announce."
Xiao An quickly entered the hall and paid his respects to Xiao Ji, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you." Xiao An's voice was filled with flattery and ingratiation.
"No need to be polite."
Xiao Ji raised his eyes and realized that Xiao An did not come in alone, there were two people following him.
But Xiao Ji didn't pay much attention and asked in a cold voice: "What's the matter?"
Xiao An glanced at Li Dajian and signaled him to leave quickly. Li Dajian did not obey immediately, but pretended not to understand.
"Your Majesty, what I am saying is not suitable for outsiders to hear." Xiao An said directly to Xiao Ji.
Xiao Ji paused before letting Li Dajian go out.
Even if Xiao An wanted to harm him, he would have to have the ability to do so.
Eunuch Li stepped back, but the two people behind Xiao An did not come forward. Instead, they stayed behind Xiao An obediently.
Xiao Ji frowned, and saw Xiao An approaching, "Your Majesty, I am here today to relieve your worries."
Seeing Xiao Ji, he remained silent.
Xiao An said to the two people, "Raise your heads and let His Majesty have a look."
Xiao An said proudly: "They are the gifts I present to Your Majesty."
Xiao Ji glanced around and found that the two people had red lips and white teeth. They looked young and so beautiful that it was difficult to tell whether they were androgynous.
…A long silence.
Xiao Ji didn't say anything, he just stared at Xiao An with heavy eyes. His eyes were full of oppression. The smile on Xiao An's face gradually stiffened, his eyes dodged, and he slowly lowered his head, not daring to look at Xiao Ji again.
In the end, Xiao An couldn't even stand still and just wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
Your Majesty’s eyes... are so scary.
It was as if it was going to eat him.
Is it possible that the gift he gave was not what he wanted?
But this time, the fact that His Majesty sent all the palace maids back caused a lot of controversy. He is also a man, and he understands it all.
How can there be a man with only one woman by his side?
Unless this man doesn't like women!
This was Xiao An's experience, so he took a different approach and found a "gift" in order to please Xiao Ji.
But now it seems that he... guessed wrong?
Xiao Anzhan's legs began to tremble, and the "gift" he brought had already knelt on the ground, not daring to breathe.
"Your Majesty..." Xiao An spoke with a trembling voice.
"Get out!" Xiao Ji gave the order. Xiao An felt as if he had been pardoned. He immediately turned around and prepared to leave. However, as soon as he turned around, he fell to the ground.
But Xiao An didn't dare to stay for a moment, and ran out crawling.
"Wait." Xiao Ji's voice sounded again. Xiao An froze for a moment, his face wrinkled into a bitter gourd.
No way, no way, no way?
Is Xiao Ji going to deal with him now?
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I was wrong, I was wrong, I was wrong..." Xiao An immediately begged for mercy, his voice trembling.
Xiao Ji said in a cold voice, "Take your 'gift' and get out."
"Yes, yes, yes." Xiao An felt that he had saved his life. He nodded repeatedly and left the Yangxin Palace dragging two beautiful boys with red lips and white teeth.
Xiao An didn't dare to stay at all and quickly disappeared from Xiao Ji's sight.
He didn't even glance at Li Dajian who was waiting outside the palace, and just ran away.
Li Dajian glanced at Xiao An in surprise, then when he heard the emperor's voice, he immediately retracted his gaze and entered the Yangxin Palace.
"Your Majesty." Li Dajian said respectfully.
Xiao Ji frowned and said, "Clean it up."
He still smells a disgusting smell of rouge in the Yangxin Palace.
He stood up and walked out, asking, "Is the Queen still in Fengyi Palace?"
Li Dajian hurriedly said, "In reply to your Majesty, the Empress and the ladies are all in Fengyi Palace."
Xiao Ji nodded and left the Yangxin Palace.
When he arrived at Fengyi Palace, the ladies had already left. Although Xie Yao was the queen and everyone tried to please and flatter her, it was not an easy job.
Plus, she was pregnant.
Although her physique made pregnancy easier than for ordinary people, it was still a bit more difficult.
After Xie Yao sent the lady away, she leaned back on the couch and closed her eyes to rest.
Suddenly, she felt a weight on her shoulders. Someone was massaging her. The force was...
Xie Yao opened her eyes and smiled at the person in front of her, "Why is your majesty here?"
Xiao Ji's eyes flickered, "I missed you."
Xie Yao raised her eyebrows, "Isn't that right?"
Why did she feel that His Majesty looked a little strange at the moment? Just as she was thinking, she suddenly smelled a scent, and her nose moved slightly, moving towards Xiao Ji.
"Your Majesty is having a romantic encounter again?" Xie Yao covered her nose, "It smells like love."
Xiao Ji raised his sleeve and smelled it, then immediately stood up and moved away from Xie Yao, worried that the smell on his body would make Xie Yao uncomfortable.
But Xie Yao's words still made him look complicated.
Romantic luck?
What kind of romantic luck is this today?
When he thought about it now, he wanted to chop off Xiao An’s head!
But this kind of thing is really a bit embarrassing for him, and he doesn't want it to spread and be known by too many people.
But his silence changed its meaning in Xie Yao's eyes.
The last time this happened, His Majesty refused without hesitation, and then told her the whole matter.
This time... is different?
"His Majesty."
Xie Yao spoke again, and Xiao Ji finally reacted and said quickly: "Today's matter... is very complicated."
Xie Yao was even more confused, how complicated could it be?
Xiao Ji said: "Yaoyao, I will go change my clothes first and then come back to talk to you."
Xiao Ji had just been thinking about sharing this matter with Xie Yao as soon as possible, but now that Xie Yao was staring at him like this, he realized how difficult it was.
Mainly because I am too embarrassed to talk about it.
Xie Yao watched Xiao Ji's figure disappear before her eyes without even looking back, and her heart sank even more.
Your Majesty has never been like this before.
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