Chapter 216 Bo Qiaohui 28
Unconsciously, another year had passed. Liu Qi had become increasingly adept at handling government affairs, not to mention his intelligence. He still managed the vast harem with ease. He even found time every day to visit the Grand Empress Dowager and Empress Dowager Dou to consolidate his reputation as a filial son.
The Grand Empress Dowager had been feeling unwell last winter, so she simply moved to Jianzhang Palace and persuaded Empress Dowager Dou, who was also in very poor health, to leave. She took care of the Grand Empress Dowager day and night until she was able to get up.
"Has the imperial physician come to see me?"
That day, Bo Qiaohui arranged her affairs and rushed to Jianzhang Palace. She was relieved to see that the Empress Dowager's complexion had finally improved, but she still asked about her daily life of food, clothing and daily life in detail.
Pei Xin, who was beside the Grand Empress Dowager, was very moved: "Look at our Queen, how filial she is to the Grand Empress Dowager. We servants can't even think of such details."
"My dear child, I am so happy to have you by my side." The Grand Empress Dowager also took her hand, and the two of them strolled in the corridor. "Although I am ill, I know that you manage the Emperor's harem very well. The new concubines are all well behaved. I didn't expect your mother to always cause so many troubles in her time."
"Qiaohui is just relying on the support of the Grand Empress Dowager and the favor of His Majesty."
Qiao Hui smiled and gently leaned her head on the Queen Mother's shoulder: "In fact, those people in the harem may not be content with their current behavior. It's just that I, the Queen, am the most favored one in the palace now, so they dare not."
"It's good that you know. It's just that Qiaohui, it's a good thing for the emperor to love and respect his wife, but the queen can't just rely on the emperor's favor. Do you understand?"
The Empress Dowager was satisfied with her niece in every way, but she was afraid that she would care too much about the Emperor and fall in love with him. A queen who had lost her mind was the most terrifying thing.
"Don't worry, Grand Empress Dowager. Qiaohui understands everything."
"With your words, I have nothing to worry about. I heard that your brothers are now officials, but their positions are not high." The Empress Dowager smiled. "That's good. This is the way to be safe. I'm not afraid of low official positions, but I'm afraid of having no official positions at all. With you and your brothers, I can finally give my all to the Bo family."
After chatting about some serious matters, she was about to leave when she whispered, "Qiaohui, are you and the emperor doing well lately?"
"Thank you for your concern. Your Majesty and I are both in good health."
"That's good, that's good. The matter of offspring is ultimately determined by fate. You are still young, so don't take other people's words to heart. They are just jealous of you because they don't have the emperor's favor."
Thinking about the recent rumors in the palace, although she had stopped them in time, it seemed that they still affected quite a few people. Even the usually reclusive Grand Empress Dowager came to persuade her.
"Do you think Guantao is trying to inspire the women in the harem to compete for favor, or is he trying to put pressure on me and hint to Liu Qi that I'm infertile, thereby alienating our relationship?"
Ah Man was just lowering his head, wondering whether to have roasted rabbit or fresh fish sashimi today. Suddenly, the Queen asked him a question and he instinctively replied, "I want to eat both."
Qiao Hui bent her finger and gave her a slap on the head, "You rely on luck every day to guess the answers."
"Eat the roasted rabbit. If you eat too much sashimi, how can your wife find another outstanding person like you?"
In the evening, after dinner, Liu Qi, for the first time ever, did not continue to attend to government affairs. Instead, he took her for a walk to help digest the food. Bo Qiaohui poked her head out from the corridor and looked outside in surprise.
"What kind of wonders are you looking at? Why are you acting so weird?"
Liu Qi held her hand and smiled as he let her hold his shoulders and look around.
"I was just checking to see if the moon was rising in the east. Your Majesty actually put down the pile of memorials and went out for a walk."
"From what you think, it seems you don't take the nonsense in the palace seriously. I am unnecessarily worried about our Empress. I will return to the Xuanshi Palace to review the memorials."
Liu Qi made a move to leave. Qiao Hui sighed, "As expected, Your Majesty still values those memorials the most. He finally accompanied me for a stroll, and now he's leaving in the middle of it."
"It's faded, the feelings have faded."
As expected, Liu Qi stopped, walked over with a bad temper, stretched out his hand, and firmly grasped the little hand that Qiaohui handed over.
"I'm really afraid of your mouth. Let's go, please, Queen, give me a chance to make amends."
Tonight, the gentle breeze caressed my face, the moon was bright and the stars were sparse; it was indeed a perfect day for a stroll. The two of them cuddled together quietly, like swans embracing. Taking advantage of the perfect atmosphere, Bo Qiaohui took the potion, intending to give the big man a little systemic stimulation. Wasn't it a joke about her infertility? Just do it all in one go, and the dragon and phoenix will appear.
The refreshed Empress of the Han Dynasty bid farewell to the equally refreshed Emperor of the Han Dynasty. Later, she heard that Empress Dowager Dou had ordered the clearing of a raised platform in the Weiyang Palace, where she intended to host a banquet for the imperial concubines above the lotus pond. Unfortunately, by the time the platform was cleared, news reached her that the Xiongnu were increasingly intruding on the border, and the Emperor was considering sending troops against them.
Such a major event naturally affected the atmosphere in the palace, and Dou Yifang was too distracted by these minor matters to worry about. Unfortunately, it wasn't time for war yet. Zhou Yafu hadn't led troops in years, and the other generals were either old, inexperienced, or held important positions. Not to mention the issues of manpower, food, and horses. By the time the storm had passed, it was already April, and Bo Qiaohui was already two months pregnant.
Coincidentally, Guan Tao entered the palace the day before yesterday, and Empress Dowager Dou decided to hold a banquet yesterday. This morning, Qiao Hui deliberately appeared unwell, and Le Chi, seeing this, became concerned. "Your Majesty, why don't you ask the Empress Dowager for leave? I've noticed you've been feeling dizzy and weak for the past two weeks, and your appetite has also decreased. Should we first consult the Imperial Physician? The Empress Dowager is kind and will certainly not mind."
"We should be more filial to our elders because they are kind to us. The Grand Empress Dowager and Princess Guantao are also at the banquet today. It would be inappropriate for us to claim illness and not attend the banquet hosted by the Empress Dowager for the first time."
Seeing this, Le Chi could only help the queen change her clothes and go with her to the Queen Mother's Palace.
When she arrived, she discovered that the women who had come were all beauties that Guantao had specially selected. Besides them, there were two gorgeous women standing behind her. Their figures were so stunning, their temperaments were like spring flowers and autumn moons, each with its own unique charm. Most importantly, they possessed a maturity and sexiness that these young women lacked.
Wuhu~
Although Bo Qiaohui still insisted that sending a man was the best choice, she could barely give Guantao a second place. After all, Liu Qi was still young and lacked love, so perhaps this mature and mature woman could really open up a new market.
"The Queen is finally here, otherwise I would have thought you were unwilling to attend your mother's banquet."
Bo Qiaohui ignored her and bowed to Dou Yifang first: "Mother, am I late?"
"It's not too late, the timing is just right." Dou Yifang gave her daughter a warning look and spoke to Qiaohui in a gentler tone, "You don't look very well, but is there anything going on in the palace lately that has been keeping you busy?"
"Maybe I didn't sleep well yesterday. Mother, don't worry."
Dou Yifang stopped asking questions and said, "Then let's go pick up the Grand Empress Dowager. It's rare for her to be in the spirit of going out for a stroll."
A group of people came to Jianzhang Palace to pick up the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager was holding Qiaohui and was about to speak when she turned around and saw two eye-catching women behind Guantao.
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