Chapter 408 Tonic
Qi Yuxuan learned three days later that the Grand Princess and the Empress Dowager had a big argument and parted on bad terms, and that the Emperor had dismissed most of the palace staff in Cining Palace.
Since the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager were elders, she didn't need to interfere too much in matters of courtesy and reason. Therefore, after sending the silver bell over, she didn't pay attention to the news from Cining Palace, and the people below naturally wouldn't bring it up to avoid bad luck.
Qi Yuxuan was grateful to be loved by her mother and husband, but she was also troubled. She didn't want things to get so tense. Her teeth and tongue were fighting, and besides, she had already fought back and hadn't been bullied too badly.
Hearing her mention this matter, Qi Jun looked somewhat softened and reached out to rub the Empress's head, which was not adorned with any hair ornaments.
These past few days, the weather outside has been chilly, so the Empress was too lazy to go out and didn't want to dress up. At this moment, her smooth, long hair was tied up with a silk ribbon and draped behind her head. It felt soft and fluffy to the touch, and Qi Jun couldn't help but touch it. Sometimes he would rub the top of her head, and sometimes he would pick up a strand and smell it in his palm.
That's really unreliable.
"I have serious business to discuss with you." Qi Yuxuan pushed him away. "Why don't we go to Cining Palace to visit the Empress Dowager tomorrow? That matter happened a few days ago, and if it drags on any longer, the palace will inevitably neglect Cining Palace..."
Qi Jun didn't let go, following the force of her gentle push, he moved his hand down to her back and her slender waist.
The room was warm, with an underfloor heating system and a charcoal brazier in the corner. The empress was dressed in thin clothes, and with a gentle touch of his fingertips, he could almost feel her delicate, warm skin. Their body temperatures were separated by only two thin layers of fabric, and they could easily feel each other's warmth.
Qi Yuxuan's face flushed instantly.
What is Qi Jun doing in broad daylight?!
However, before she could say anything more, Qi Jun changed the subject: "Next month, I plan to have Xiao Jue escort the Yue envoy to the border."
The events of the wedding day can be both complicated and simple.
The brother and sister from the Nangong family were not born of the same mother. They were at odds with each other, and the other families in Yue were no pushovers either. This led to them acting independently and, by a series of coincidences, causing the fireworks to be replaced with explosives and the deliberate "leak" to the Empress Dowager that the Empress was impure.
When Nangong Nian was arrested, she still resisted stubbornly, saying that she knew nothing about it and that if Qi arrested her, it would be an open act of opposing Yue.
Qi Yuxuan didn't witness the scene firsthand, but she could guess that Yue was in a state of chaos, unable to resolve its own internal affairs, and had no energy left to cause trouble in Qi. Being sent back this time was to be expected.
"Is it just Lord Xiao alone?" she asked.
Under Qi Jun's slightly suspicious gaze, Qi Yuxuan found it amusing. "I mean, what if the Yue Kingdom goes all out and, having nothing to lose, takes this opportunity to disrupt the border cities? It would be best if we could send generals and troops to escort them, so they would give up any such inappropriate thoughts."
Qi Jun's brow relaxed slightly: "Yes, Xiahou Yin will also lead 30,000 elite troops to guard the area, so you don't need to worry about this."
Ultimately, this was not something that Qi Yuxuan, a woman, should worry about. Qi Jun already felt guilty for not being able to let her live a peaceful and comfortable life in the capital, and he did not want these news to make her feel uneasy.
“Xiuyuan, I’m so glad you’re telling me all this.” Qi Yuxuan straightened up and stared at him intently. “Although the harem is not supposed to interfere in politics, I don’t want to just be your harem member. If something like this happens again, I will still ask and think about it… Do you think I’m overstepping my bounds?”
When she asked this question, her eyes were pure and clear, without the slightest hint of trepidation, as if she were confident that Qi Jun would definitely deny it, like a beautiful and proud little peacock.
Qi Jun smiled gently, reached out and pulled her close again, slowly leaning in to touch her forehead with the tip of his nose, and placed a soft kiss on her brow: "No, I don't think that way. You are my wife, and we are one."
The large, well-defined hand wrapped around the girl's lower back, the veins on the back of the hand were strong, and the fingers were firm, but the force on her body weakened as it slowly and firmly supported her back against him.
His kisses also landed on the tip of her nose, lips, and the tip of her chin—
He kept his head down, not forgetting to ask vaguely, "I heard that your period ended yesterday..."
Qi Yuxuan was startled by his actions and quickly raised her hand to push him away, "No, no... It's broad daylight, what are you doing..."
Unfortunately, this force was like a kitten scratching an itch to Qi Jun, not to mention that her attitude was not insistent to begin with, but rather a mixture of reluctance and acceptance, which made the young and impetuous man even more breathless.
The side hall where the emperor and empress rested was undisturbed, but soon some blush-inducing noises could be heard from inside.
As soon as the two senior palace maids approached the door, they realized what was happening inside and quickly retreated, hurriedly ordering someone to boil water and prepare it.
However, despite giving instructions, the two were both delighted and worried, and their brows remained furrowed.
The joy was naturally due to the good relationship between the Emperor and Empress, a love so deep that it was rare even among ordinary couples; the worry stemmed from the fear that if the Empress Dowager found out, she would cause some trouble. After all, it was broad daylight, couldn't His Majesty restrain himself and wait until night?
After the emperor returned to the Zichen Palace to handle state affairs, the empress had already collapsed like a boneless limp bed between a soft, fluffy quilt.
The girl closed her eyes wearily, her skin was fair and her hair was black, her red lips were slightly swollen, and she looked pitiful yet cute.
Upon seeing her like this, Bi Sui was startled and quickly went over, saying with grief and indignation, "Your Highness! How come you have so many injuries?!"
Qi Yuxuan's skin is delicate and easily leaves marks. Ordinary bumps and bruises may not hurt that much, but they can leave terrible bruises. Fortunately, she heals quickly. Usually, after a good night's sleep, there are no marks left on her body. Therefore, Bi Sui has never seen her like this before.
Lanxin, however, knew the truth. She blushed and interrupted Bihui, "Don't talk nonsense! This only happens after Her Majesty has been favored. It's not a wound..." As for what it is, she'll figure it out herself after she gets married!
Bi Sui nodded as if she understood, then looked at the Empress in the bedding who had already opened her eyes, and glanced at the two of them with amusement.
Qi Yuxuan looked at Lanxin and beckoned: "Is the medicine Xing'er gave me on you?"
Lan Xin immediately understood, took out a porcelain jar from her sleeve, opened it, took out a pill the size of her little finger, and brought it to the bedside along with warm water.
Bi Sui didn't know what it was, but seeing that the Empress was about to take medicine, she quickly stepped forward to serve her.
After they finished taking the medicine, Qi Yuxuan said to the two of them, "This is a contraceptive medicine prepared by Physician Pei and his grandson that won't harm your health. To outsiders, you are only allowed to say that it's a tonic for regulating menstruation and replenishing blood, understand?"
Bi Sui's eyes widened like copper bells, and she couldn't come to her senses for a long time. In the end, she could only obediently nod and repeatedly promised that she would keep this matter to herself and that she would only know that it was a tonic!
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