Chapter 927: Venomous Snake
The weather in August was still scorching hot. Although Tang Ning had recovered a little, he still couldn't use too much ice.
Yue Jian helped her take off her outer robe, untied her hair crown, and fanned her gently with a fan to help her cool down.
Tang Ning scooped up water to clean his hands, wiped the water stains on his hands with a handkerchief and said:
"The court has been overwhelmed lately. There's the arrangements for the tribes after the division of Beiling into a county, the shipment of food and clothing to help them through the winter, and the establishment of a trade market in the north. All of this needs to be done without delay. Your Majesty has already made a promise in the northwest, and the tribes in Beiling are waiting. The court can't afford to delay too long, lest the barbarians think the newly allied court has broken its promise to them."
"Besides, the imperial examination is almost coming to its final round, and the palace examination will follow right after that. A while ago, several areas in southern Japan were hit by floods, and disaster relief and comforting the victims are all taking up a lot of energy. Cao Gong and his men are desperate to use one person as ten people. I can't just sit there and do nothing."
Tang Ning glanced at the memorials piled on a table not far away and said, "They have been more than enough to protect me. Most of these memorials have already been reviewed by them. Those that are not important have been dealt with first. The remaining important matters still need to be decided by me."
The child in her belly was the first offspring after Xiao Yan ascended the throne. At the same time, Beiling was defeated and the prosperous era of the Wei Dynasty had just begun. With this bloodline, she could better appease the hearts of the subjects and let the people of the world know that the new emperor had a successor and the stability of the country could be passed on.
Not to mention Cao Dejiang and Qian Baokun who already cared about her, even the other veteran ministers cared about this child more than anyone else.
If they were not afraid of not interfering in her affairs and arousing suspicion from her and Xiao Yan, they would probably have wanted to handle everything for her so that she could rest assured and take care of her pregnancy.
Rong Yue laughed beside him, "That's right. I met Madam Qian yesterday and heard that Master Qian hasn't been home for several days. Even the three sons of the Qian family have been drafted. The eldest and third sons have gone to the south to provide disaster relief, and the second son has also gone to the Ministry of Revenue to help."
Tang Ning chuckled lightly: "That's right, the eldest son of the Qian family is fine, he is alone and has not yet married, but the wife of the third son of the Qian family is pregnant. I didn't intend to let him go south, but now there is really no one in the court."
The punishment of the aristocratic families had previously eliminated a large number of people, and after the officials who conspired with the aristocratic families to rebel were dealt with, a lot of vacancies appeared. Although she promoted some people and reused some people who were previously unsuccessful but capable, there were still too few people who could be used.
Other matters are fine, but disaster relief cannot be neglected. We must guard against deceiving superiors and subordinates to enrich ourselves, and we must also guard against corruption and bribery and collusion between superiors and subordinates.
The three sons of the Qian family are all capable people, and the eldest son, Qian Qingran, is particularly capable. Since she would select talented people regardless of their relationship, she naturally could not let them go and conscripted them all.
Xue Ru couldn't help but laugh when she heard this, "No wonder Sister Qian has been so busy lately. Every time she comes to the palace to see me, she's like she's on fire. She doesn't often go out and play with those ladies in the capital anymore. I remember Second Sister Qian is pregnant too, right?"
Tang Ning nodded: "Yes, I remember she was still early in the pregnancy."
Rong Yue agreed: "It should be earlier. It seems that she should be born in the next few days."
"No wonder Ah Yue said she won't be going to the palace these days."
Tang Ning suddenly realized something. She turned her head and instructed the person beside her, "Yue Jian, have someone prepare some things and send them to the Qian family after the Second Young Master's wife gives birth. Also, tell Minister Qian to let the Qian family's Erlang relax for the next few days so that he can spend time with the Second Young Master's wife."
Yue Jian: "Yes, my lady."
Rong Yue looked at Tang Ning: "You know how to feel sorry for them, but why don't you feel sorry for yourself? It's been more than eight months, and you still refuse to tell His Majesty?"
Hearing this, Tang Ning reached out and gently stroked her belly, smiling faintly: "I've already sent the message."
Previously, it was because Beiling County was newly established, whether it was to appease the grassland tribes, win over the people's hearts, or to stabilize Beiling as soon as possible, Xiao Yan had to do every single thing personally.
He could only leave after Beiling County was settled and everything was properly handled. If he knew she was pregnant at that time, it would only make him worried and distracted.
Now that the matter has been resolved, she naturally won't hide it from him.
Tang Ning looked at Xue Ru and the others and said softly, "Okay, don't worry. I know my own body well."
"It's just a busy time now. The people who went to Southern Qi should be back in two days. And Di Tao and the others should be in the capital in five or six days. Once Feng Qiuli and Qi Ge Lao return to the court, I'll have a lot more work to do."
Rong Yue and Xue Ru didn't know what to say after hearing this. Rong Yue just reminded them, "Don't get too tired. Take care of yourself."
Tang Ning nodded: "I know."
The three of them sat in the hall, and a palace maid brought them some iced drinks.
Seeing Hua Wu placing the steaming porcelain bowl on the table, Tang Ning was surprised: "Is it mine?"
Hua Wu suppressed a laugh: "It's not the Empress's, it's Madam and Lady Ru's. Yours is this."
She took a bowl from another tray and placed it in front of her, and sure enough, there was no sign of coldness at all.
"Madam Qin knows that Your Majesty is afraid of the summer heat, so she specially prepared a soup recipe that is both refreshing and gentle on the body." Seeing Tang Ning gazing at the other two bowls of iced rose wine with envy, Hua Wu stepped aside to block them, "Madam Qin said before she left the palace that you can't touch that rose wine."
Tang Ning withdrew his gaze in dismay: "If you don't want to touch it, then don't touch it."
She was full of resentment. This rose wine was a special recipe prepared by Lady Qin. It was refreshing and pleasant, sweet at first, with a light aroma of wine in the aftertaste. It was extremely refreshing to drink after being chilled. More importantly, this thing could make people's skin white, lips and teeth fragrant, and make women beautiful.
As soon as it was launched, the recipe was bought by Gu Helian, who was the most knowledgeable person. Now it has become popular throughout the capital.
But she couldn't touch it at all.
Tang Ning took a spoon and scooped up the dark soup in her bowl and muttered softly: After she gives birth, she will definitely drink enough!
Rong Yue was amused by her childish look. Only at this time did she feel that Aning was still the little girl who would pull her and act coquettishly.
"By the way, Gu Helian sent a letter back to the capital saying that when Your Majesty and his men broke through the Beiling Imperial City, they didn't find the Beiling Khan Huyanmin. Even the Chuyun Princess Wuya and her husband Ji Rongqing were nowhere to be found. No one on the entire Beiling grassland had seen them."
"Aning, where did they go?"
Rong Yue said hesitantly, "And that Song Jinxiu, he also ran away from Beiling."
Ji Rongqing was the third son of the Lu family. He had a blood feud with Tang Ning, and the same was true for Song Jinxiu.
These people hiding in the dark are like poisonous snakes that can bite people at any time, making people feel a chill down their spine.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
