"Since the eldest prince and princess are gone, Concubine Chen, there are few children in the harem. You must also know the current situation and act accordingly. I will come over tonight."
Shen Nian’an: “…”
Watching Zhou Beichen walking away with his daughter in his arms, for some reason, an image of a pug sticking its butt out, holding its head high and chest out, thinking it was the king of dogs flashed in my mind.
If she doesn’t want to see him now, then she can just leave him. Anyway, her daughter and son are hers and they can’t run away.
As soon as Zhou Beichen left, Aunt Xu came in trotting and leaned close to Shen Nian'an's ear.
"Your Majesty, the Queen is here and will soon enter the inner hall."
After a moment of slight hesitation, Shen Nian'an sorted out her thoughts and clothes, walked to the front hall, and saw the queen enter.
She half-knelt on the ground respectfully and said, "Your Highness, I pay my respects to you, Queen. May you live a thousand years, a thousand thousand years."
This was the first time the Queen came to the Pepper Palace. After taking a few glances up and down, the Queen had a clue in her mind: this woman was very unusual.
"Get up."
She spoke slowly and turned to sit in the main seat.
Shen Nian'an didn't understand the purpose of her coming. Now this person was Zhou Beichen's first wife, so she just had to treat her well.
"Your Majesty, please have some tea."
The head maid Lan Xin brought over a cup of tea and said, "Put it there. I came here today for no particular reason. I just felt that Concubine Chen had been living in the cold palace before and was now out of it. If there is anything that does not suit your taste, you must tell me and I will help you."
Faced with the Queen's sudden show of goodwill, or perhaps this unclear concern, Shen Nian'an felt a little uncomfortable.
If someone shows you kindness without any reason, he is either a traitor or a thief.
"Thank you, Her Majesty. This Pepper Room has everything you need. I'm quite used to living here."
The Queen's visit this time also has some unknown purposes.
She stared at Shen Nian'an's seemingly innocent eyes and spoke with special consideration for her.
"Sister Chenpin, you know that the Emperor and I have known each other since we were young. When I first entered the palace, the Emperor treated me well. However, after so many years, I still cannot give birth to a child for the Emperor. This makes me feel uncomfortable. In addition, after so many years, the concubines in the harem have not been able to give birth to a son for the Emperor. But you, my sister, are a lucky one. You gave birth to a pair of children for the Emperor as soon as you arrived."
When the queen said this, a hint of envy flashed in her eyes.
Then she changed the subject, took Shen Nian'an's hand affectionately, patted it, and said again.
"Now, I am thinking that my sister can give birth to a few more children for the emperor, preferably eight or ten, so that the royal family will not have to worry about heirs. I wonder if my sister is willing? If you are willing, I, as the queen, will be truly grateful to you."
Shen Nian’an: “…”
This queen has ten or eight of them. I'm afraid they treat her like a sow.
As her husband's first wife, the queen is very magnanimous for advising her husband's second wife to give birth to a child for her husband.
She was silent for a moment and forced a smile.
"This... Your Majesty, it's not that I don't want to, but the matter of offspring is not something I can control."
The queen's eyes revealed a gleam of light. She took out a packet of medicine mysteriously and whispered to Shen Nian'an.
"This is a secret recipe I obtained from the Imperial Hospital. Over the years, almost all the sisters in the harem have tried it, but no matter what they did, they just couldn't get pregnant. If you don't mind, you can keep it and see if it works. If you don't believe it, you can go to the Imperial Hospital and ask. You will find out. I am also taking this recipe."
Shen Nian’an was stunned for a moment, but still nodded.
"In that case, I will respectfully obey your command."
At this time, there was no need for her to offend the queen because of a prescription. In the harem, it is better to make fewer enemies. If others do not harm me, I will not harm others.
Thinking of the time when Nuannuan secretly left the cold palace and was seen by Concubine Li, Shen Nian'an thought that if she had not asked her daughter to go to the emperor first, her two children would probably be finished.
The queen smiled gently, "Alright, then you can rest for now. Remember, this prescription must be taken after serving the emperor in bed. Only then will the chances of conceiving a baby or even twins be increased."
Shen Nian'an always felt that the queen's enthusiasm and kindness were a little unappreciated.
After the queen left, Shen Nian'an took the medicine bag and said, "Madam Xu, you have been in the palace for many years. Do you have a trustworthy doctor?"
Nanny Xu lowered her head and thought for a long time before speaking.
"If I say there is, then yes, it is that ever since I was transferred north to serve in the cold palace, I have hardly seen him. Now, if I go to look for him, I don't know if he can still be trusted."
Looking at Shen Nian'an's increasingly dark eyes, Nanny Xu was eager to try.
"Your Majesty, do you think that the recipe for this medicine... might be problematic? But the Queen sent it so blatantly, it's impossible for her to set a trap for herself."
Shen Nian'an shook his head, "I'm not sure about this thing, but all the concubines in the harem are unable to conceive. I think there are still some problems. Perhaps the concubines are all using the same thing."
A flash of inspiration came to her mind, but it quickly faded away. The queen said that it was unlikely that she would use it again.
"Your Majesty is saying that the problem lies with this medicine."
After thinking about it carefully, Shen Nian'an nodded, "Maybe. It's not certain whether the queen will use this medicine. So, tomorrow, go to the Imperial Hospital and find that imperial physician to see if you can use it for me. If you can, that would be great."
Aunt Xu lowered her eyes, her gaze revealing determination.
"I understand what your Majesty means."
Shen Nian'an looked at the packet of medicine in silence for a long while, then took several deep breaths before he managed to calm down.
For the sake of her daughter and son, she will not use this body for the time being and give it to that dog emperor. He is coming tonight, so let him see my skills.
She had to be favored and get into his heart so as not to be a drag on her daughter and son.
As she was thinking, Shen Nian'an raised her eyes and saw that Aunt Xu had not left yet. "Quick, go and boil the medicine. Pick out one of each medicinal ingredient from the dregs and keep it. Pour out the rest. Also, find me a set of clothes that are elegant, fresh, refined, and charming."
Aunt Xu: “…”
Well, actually she really wanted to say that she couldn't find such clothes.
However, in the end, Aunt Xu still went to look for it. She searched through almost all of Shen Nian'an's clothes before she found one. It was sky blue with a layer of gauze on the outside and several fluttering butterflies embroidered on the bottom of the clothes.
Okay, this is it, just make do with it!
Xuanzheng Hall.
Zhou Beichen was reviewing memorials in his hands. A group of ministers were kneeling on the ground. He was holding a baby in his arms. The baby was sitting on his lap. He was panting tiredly while massaging her legs.
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