Chapter 96: Like morning sickness?
After the clouds cleared and the rain stopped, Pei Tingyue was really exhausted and her whole body was sore.
Xie Chen, on the other hand, was in high spirits and laughed for a long time. When Pei Tingyue was about to get angry, he took him into his arms and took him to take a bath.
When Xie Chen carried her to the side hall, he secretly weighed her and felt that she was lighter.
After the two came back from the shower, Xie Chen looked at her carefully and found that she had indeed lost weight, and her chin was even pointed.
He frowned slightly and instructed Liang Yao, "Ask the imperial kitchen to prepare some delicious dishes tomorrow."
Liang Yao naturally agreed.
Xie Chen climbed onto the dragon bed, held the person in his arms and gradually fell asleep.
Have a good night's sleep.
After paying his respects to the Queen the next day, Pei Tingyue returned to Chengming Palace.
She happily sat behind the desk with Xie Chen and asked someone to bring pen and ink. "Mid-Autumn Festival is coming soon, and the Empress has asked the concubines in the six palaces to write letters home."
Xie Chen looked at the thick stack of letter paper in front of her and said helplessly, "How much do you plan to write?"
Pei Tingyue didn't think the letter paper was too much: "My position is low, and it's so hard for me to write a letter home, so naturally I have a lot to say to my family."
According to the rules of the Daqi Palace, concubines above the rank of mistress can send one letter home every month. As for those below the rank of mistress, they have to wait until the Mid-Autumn Festival or the New Year to send one letter home.
Since the previous owner entered the palace, she held a low position and had only written three letters home. Now that she had succeeded the previous owner, she had to take over the responsibility. As a parent, she naturally wanted to hear more about her children. So, she planned to write more.
Xie Chen handed over the ink-soaked purple brush: "This brush is light, you can use it to write."
Pei Tingyue took it, and past memories emerged in his mind.
The original owner's father was named Pei Zhao. He passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi during the reign of the previous emperor. He first served as an eighth-rank governor in Lin'an Prefecture, and was later promoted to a seventh-rank prosecutor. His position remained unchanged for many years. On the eve of the original owner entering the palace, Pei's father was still a seventh-rank prosecutor.
Pei's mother was a native Jiangnan woman. She was the daughter of a poor scholar. She and Pei's father were not a good match, but Pei's father liked her so much that he insisted on marrying her.
After they got married, they had three sons and one daughter. The three older brothers were the eldest, and the original owner was the youngest daughter.
The original owner had been outstanding in appearance since she was a child. She was the only daughter in the family. Her family did not restrict her. She was provided with all kinds of hair ornaments, hairpins, and silks and satins, which made her spoiled and lawless.
Originally, Pei's father and mother were not worried, thinking that she would get better when she grew up. However, after they finished arranging the marriages of her three brothers and came to their senses to look at her again, they found that her character had been set and could not be changed.
Pei's father and mother were afraid that she would be wronged after getting married, so they secretly tried to find a marriage for her, hoping to find a man with a good personality who would accommodate her.
The original owner's beauty was well-known in Lin'an Prefecture. Even though she had a bad temper, young men still flocked to her. Some even said that they would marry into the Pei family.
Pei's father and mother were overwhelmed by the choices, and before they had decided on a marriage, the emperor ordered a grand election, and all provinces and prefectures were required to send their beauties to the capital, and the original owner was sent to the capital.
Pei's father and mother just thought that the original owner would not be chosen. After all, during the Xining period, no woman without a prominent family background had entered the palace.
Although she thought so, Pei's mother was still uneasy before leaving. She pawned her dowry and took out half of the family savings, a total of 500 taels of silver, and asked the original owner to take it to the capital in case of an emergency.
Unexpectedly, the original owner was actually selected, and from then on, he was separated from his parents by thousands of miles.
Recalling this, Pei Tingyue sighed softly.
The original owner was really ignorant. The first three letters home were full of complaints and grievances. I'm afraid that if Pei's father and mother saw them, they would be worried day and night.
After thinking for a while, Pei Tingyue had an idea in her mind. She immediately started writing and wrote it carefully on the letter paper.
Xie Chen, who was standing aside, was reviewing memorials with a red brush.
The emperor and his empress were concentrating on their work, and the palace seemed to be peaceful and tranquil.
It was not until noon, when it was time for dinner, that the two of them got up from the table.
Xie Chen picked up Pei Tingyue's letter and took a few glances at it.
The contents of her family letters were very detailed and trivial, covering everything from the queen's change of palace for her to every promotion. She also wrote about how she met Concubine Song and the concubine's cat Tuantuan. The letters were full of warm things, and all the calculations and frame-ups were hidden by her.
"Tingyue, are you reporting good news but not bad news?"
Pei Tingyue hummed: "I have grown up now, so I should be more sensible!"
Xie Chen touched her little face: "So well-behaved."
Pei Tingyue pulled his arm and walked out, "Your Majesty, let's go and have dinner. I have to continue writing in the afternoon."
"Haven't you finished yet?"
Pei Tingyue nodded: "I also have to ask about my brothers' recent situation, and finally I have to write about how good the emperor is to me!"
Xie Chen was amused by her: "And I?"
Pei Tingyue said seriously: "Of course! The emperor is really good to me, so I have to tell my parents about it so that they won't worry about me."
Xie Chen chuckled: "Okay."
The two sat down at the dining table. Pei Tingyue looked at the table full of delicacies from land and sea, but she had no interest at all. She picked a few cold dishes to eat.
Xie Chen frowned as he watched.
She didn't even touch the few pieces of vegetables he picked up for her and pushed them aside.
"Why don't you eat the food I picked for you?"
Pei Tingyue shook her head: "It's not tasty."
Xie Chen picked up a piece of braised lamb and placed it in front of her: "This is delicious. Don't you usually like to eat this?"
The braised lamb originally made by the imperial kitchen was soft and tender without any mutton smell. Pei Tingyue really liked it, but when he saw it recently, he just felt it was greasy and had no desire to eat it at all.
Pei Tingyue used chopsticks to move the mutton on the plate, but still couldn't put it in her mouth. Finally, she looked at Xie Chen with a bitter face.
"I can't eat this either."
Xie Chen looked at her and said in a slightly stern voice, "Don't be picky about food."
I'm already thin enough, it would be disastrous if I lose any more weight.
Pei Tingyue lowered his head and hesitated to eat.
Xie Chen knocked on the table: "Pei Tingyue."
Being called by her full name, Pei Tingyue didn't dare to delay any longer. She reluctantly picked up the piece of mutton and put it into her mouth.
The originally delicious gravy made Pei Tingyue feel nauseous and she could only force herself to swallow it.
Seeing that she had eaten, Xie Chen picked up another piece of fish and gave it to her. "Try the squirrel mandarin fish. I asked the imperial kitchen to make it for you."
Pei Tingyue loves fish the most, especially the squirrel mandarin fish made by the imperial kitchen. Mandarin fish is a seasonal delicacy and is rare in the palace during this month. She cannot be given the title of Concubine, so she can only satisfy her craving in Chengming Palace.
Looking at the mandarin fish in front of him, Pei Tingyue picked it up and put it in his mouth without thinking much. But the moment he put it in his mouth, the fishy smell rushed into his mind.
She immediately stood up and spat into the spittoon, but the fishy smell lingered between her lips and teeth.
Pei Tingyue vomited violently and tears streamed down her face in pain.
Xie Chen came over immediately and patted her back gently. "Is there a thorn? Is there something stuck in your throat?"
Pei Tingyue kept vomiting and couldn't speak.
Xie Chen's face didn't look very good. He didn't expect that a piece of fish would make her so uncomfortable. It would be better not to eat it.
He ordered Liang Yao: "Bring me a cup of tea."
Liang Yao didn't move, just stared at Pei Tingyue.
Xie Chen was furious: "Didn't you hear what I said?"
Liang Yao immediately knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, it seems to me that Concubine Jieyu is suffering from morning sickness."
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