Chapter 291 A Sign of Great Disaster
Pei Tingyue's eyebrows curved into crescents, and she looked up at him, "Your Majesty has been working so hard for me, forgetting to eat and sleep. I, too, must take good care of the harem."
Their eyes met, and Xie Chen responded with full confidence, "Yes. Just go ahead and do it."
"Okay." Pei Tingyue's smile deepened. She hooked Xie Chen's slender finger and shook it, "Now, Your Majesty, please go have dinner with me."
Xie Chen's eyes softened as he followed her.
He was still wearing the black and gold dragon robe that he had worn during the morning court session. He first went into the inner bedroom to change into his regular clothes before sitting down at the dining table.
Pei Tingyue handed over a bowl of clear soup first, "Moisten your throat."
Xie Chen took it and took a few sips before realizing that she didn't move her spoon or chopsticks, but just looked at him with her chin supported.
He suddenly had an idea and asked softly, "Did Tingyue come here after dinner?"
Pei Tingyue explained, "My mother came to the palace this morning. She was about to give birth, so I asked her to stay in the palace. When dinner time came, I ate with her."
Xie Chen couldn't help but curl up the corners of his lips: "So, Tingyue came to Chengming Palace specifically because she knew I didn't eat?"
When this was mentioned, Pei Tingyue immediately said, "Yes. After dinner, I was afraid that the emperor would be angry again today, so I thought of sending someone to ask him. But when I asked, I was shocked to find out that the emperor had not eaten all day. When I learned about it, I hurried here."
Just this one sentence made all the fatigue in Xie Chen disappear, and he felt extremely happy.
It was specially for him.
No wonder I was a little angry at first.
This is because I feel sorry for him.
Seeing that he didn't move, Pei Tingyue picked up two of his favorite dishes and placed them on the jade plate in front of him. Her voice was soft, "Here, you've been tired today, eat more."
Xie Chen hid the smile in his eyes and ate everything she picked up, "Okay."
After the meal, Pei Tingyue wanted to leave, because she was afraid that her mother would be scared being alone in Chengning Palace.
Xie Chen stopped her: "Yun Shu and Yun Zheng are both in your palace. They will take good care of Madam."
Even so, Pei Tingyue was a little worried, "But, after all, this is the first time mother spends the night in the palace, I am afraid..."
"The palace is not a place where people are eaten, let alone in your palace. You are worrying too much."
Pei Tingyue was still hesitant.
Seeing this, Xie Chen pushed her and said, "If you are really worried, go back. I can do nothing alone."
Pei Tingyue looked up.
The emperor sat there alone, looking tired, with an inexplicable loneliness all around him.
It looks so pitiful.
I'm tired after a day and there's no one to accompany me.
Pei Tingyue quickly made a decision. She sat back down and announced, "I'm not going back. Let's just rest in Chengming Palace."
A smile flashed across Xie Chen's eyes, and he asked softly, "Are you not worried about Madam?"
Pei Tingyue sighed deeply: "Your Majesty is right, Yunshu and Yunzheng are very discerning, and they are in my palace, so mother has nothing to worry about. I was too nervous just now."
"Yeah." Xie Chen gathered up her hair and smiled faintly, "Shall we wash up and take a rest?"
Pei Tingyue raised his hand.
Xie Chen stood up and took her to take a shower and wash up.
Pei Tingyue followed him closely, with a helpless smile on her lips.
This person...
When did you learn this trick...
It's really getting worse and worse.
She had used this tactic of retreating to advance many times, and his performance was a little awkward, which could be seen through at a glance, but strangely, she softened her heart and took the initiative to fall into the trap.
Pei Tingyue raised his eyebrows slightly and sighed.
Forget it, what's wrong with fulfilling his wish once?
*
After this day.
The rumors about the enchanting concubine in Kyoto did not spread much, but instead faded away. This was because several Hanlin scholars jointly wrote poems praising the virtues of the new queen.
Only then did the people of Kyoto know that the future queen mother of Daqi used the money saved by the six palaces to renovate and repair the Ci'an Bureau.
The Ci'an Bureau is no longer just a shelter for orphans, it has a deeper meaning.
The new queen established a new system. If an ordinary couple gets married without children, they can verify their household registration and marriage certificate and wait for the Ministry of Household Affairs to review it, and then they can adopt a child from here.
At the same time, teachers were hired to help these orphans learn to read. If some of them were unsuccessful, they would be sent to learn needlework, chiseling, or metallurgy, so that these orphans could make a living.
In addition, the Ci'an Bureau also had new regulations. For widows and orphans from poor families, their children could come here to study, and widows could also work there as laborers. They would receive a monthly salary and a monthly allowance for daily expenses.
After learning about this, the people of Kyoto changed their attitude towards the new queen drastically, and everyone praised her and bowed to her.
Not only have the rumors been resolved, but the people's views on the disaster have also changed.
According to the news from the palace, after the Mid-Autumn Festival, on the 16th day of the first lunar month, the emperor and empress personally prayed for rain in the northwest at an altar outside the capital.
If there is no rain one day, then pray for another day. The emperor will not return to the palace until the northwest receives a good rain to relieve the drought.
As soon as the news came out, the people all sighed for the emperor's mercy and said it was a blessing for the great country.
Now, the turmoil has temporarily subsided.
Good news kept coming from the previous dynasty, and Pei Tingyue was also busy in the harem.
On August 10th, early in the morning.
Today is the anniversary of the death of Concubine Duanshu. Pei Tingyue led all the concubines in the palace to Zhongzheng Hall early in the morning.
The tablet of Concubine Duanshu was placed in the middle of the large sandalwood table in the main hall. After the offerings were placed, Pei Tingyue lit the first incense stick and inserted it into the incense burner.
She was pregnant and would become the future queen, so she did not need to kowtow or kneel, she only needed to observe a moment of silence.
This was repeated three times, and then it was the turn of the concubines below.
Following the instructions of the priest, Wen Zhaoyuan stepped forward, lit the incense, and then knelt down to pay homage, doing so three times.
After her, it was Xie Xiuyi.
Maybe it was because she didn't get enough rest or for some other reason, but there were obvious dark circles under Xie Xiuyi's eyes, and she looked a little absent-minded.
The priest shouted, and after a long pause, she slowly stepped forward.
Then comes the lighting of incense.
After lighting the incense successfully, Xie Xiuyi stepped forward and wanted to insert the incense in her hand into the incense burner.
The accident happened at this moment——
With a click.
The incense is broken.
If the incense is cut off in front of the coffin, it is a very bad omen.
The concubines in the back were whispering and discussing this matter in low voices.
Xie Xiuyi obviously didn't expect this.
Her face looked grim.
She took a deep breath and immediately apologized to Pei Tingyue, "I have been careless and disrespectful. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
Pei Tingyue waved her hand nonchalantly: "It's okay, maybe Xiuyi used a little too much strength in her hands. I don't think Concubine Duanshu will blame me. I'll just be more careful next time."
Xie Xiuyi replied, "Yes."
The palace maid brought up new incense.
Xie Xiuyi reached out and took one, her hand a little weaker, then she walked to the table.
Click.
The sound of the incense burning was particularly obvious in this empty hall.
This time, the concubines' discussions could no longer be suppressed.
"Why doesn't Concubine Duanshu accept Xiuyi's fragrance?"
"Breaking the incense once is already unlucky, and now it has broken twice. This situation has never happened before."
“…”
There are all kinds of opinions.
Pei Tingyue glanced at them, and Zhongzheng Hall became quiet again.
She instructed calmly, "Present the fragrance."
The palace maid presented new incense again.
Xie Xiuyi watched with her hands down, and did nothing.
Her face turned ashen.
She naturally understood that something with such a low probability would not happen in the palace. It was man-made.
Most likely...
It was done by Concubine Chen.
But now she is in a dilemma, neither presenting nor not presenting.
She gritted her teeth and glanced sideways.
Meeting her gaze, Pei Tingyue smiled slightly.
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