Chapter 235 Bo Qiaohui 47
The couple in the Pepper Room were reminiscing about the past, living happily. Meanwhile, Dou Yifang wasn't so content. She sipped her tea and listened to Xue Yuan's investigation of the scandals of the families of the unmarried couples of marriageable age, her ears becoming numb.
The handsome Mr. Zhou has a house full of women; the talented Lin Lang, a poor man, has a tyrannical mother; the gentle prince is fond of men; the chaste Mr. Liu is actually inhumane...
"Is it possible that there's no such thing as a perfect child in the world? Given our nephew's family background and character, he's more than qualified to be a princess. Now we just want to find a good boy with a clean family background, a good family tradition, and noble character, but there's not even one in the entire Chang'an?"
Xue Yuan was also helpless and puzzled when she heard this: "I used to have quite a few promising children, but this year seems to be a good year, and those families all got married this year. I think there must be a good child, but I'm afraid I have to look outside. In Chang'an, I'm afraid even the Empress Dowager won't be able to get him approved."
"They're all married?" A thought suddenly crossed Dou Yifang's mind, but she didn't dwell on it. Instead, she was drawn to Xue Yuan's second half of the sentence: "You do have a point, but it's probably difficult to inquire about the situation elsewhere. If our information is wrong, wouldn't it ruin my nephew's life?"
"Actually, this kind of thing depends on fate. We can't rush it." Xue Yuan said tentatively, but Dou Yifang waved her hand. "As long as they don't get married, I won't be at peace. Besides, Wu'er can't stay away from Chang'an forever. Let's do as you say and search around Chang'an first."
Xue Yuan saw that the Queen Mother had made up her mind, so she didn't say anything more. Yan Er happened to walk in and said to the Queen Mother, "Your Majesty, the Queen Mother is outside requesting an audience."
"Hurry up and let her in." Dou Yifang hurriedly ordered someone to bring her in, not even allowing Qiaohui to bow. Only after she saw her sit down steadily, holding her belly, did she feel relieved: "Why are you here at this time? You're pregnant, you should rest more and don't have to worry about me all the time."
Qiao Hui sat there, listening with a smile before she said, "I am now free. If the Queen Mother does not allow me to fulfill my filial duty, I am afraid that I will go and make trouble for His Majesty with Che'er and Rong'er."
"You've become even more mischievous now." Dou Yifang was also amused by her words. Thinking back to a few days ago when the emperor frantically brought the children to him and had their faces smeared with ink by the two children, she also laughed: "He's doing a good job of taking care of the children now. You are luckier than me, and braver than me."
"This may be the nature of father and son. I think in a few days, Rong'er and Che'er will like father more than me, their mother." Bo Qiaohui automatically ignored the second half of her sentence and talked about the interesting things about Liu Qi taking care of the children recently. Sure enough, it aroused Dou Yifang's interest, and the three of them chatted more and more enthusiastically on this topic.
"Oh, now that I'm pregnant, my memory has gotten worse. I even forgot important things."
Suddenly, Qiaohui clapped her hands and said cheerfully to the Queen Mother, "I came here today, firstly, to visit Mother, and secondly, to thank Princess Guantao for helping me organize Mother's birthday banquet this year."
"You've come at an unfortunate time. Guan Tao left early this morning, acting mysteriously. I don't know what he's been up to."
Dou Yifang frowned as she spoke, "I've told her several times that this birthday banquet should be simple, but she always just laughed it off. It seems she even went to see Qi'er before leaving the palace today. Now, these two siblings have a little secret they won't tell me."
"Is that so? Perhaps His Majesty and the Princess wanted to give Mother a surprise?" Bo Qiaohui raised her sleeves in surprise. Xue Yuan beside her also advised, "Yes, His Majesty and the Princess are the most filial. They must have carefully prepared a gift for the Queen Mother."
Dou Yifang shook her head and said, "At my age, I don't need any surprises. It would be better to have a warm and simple one like what Qiaohui arranged last year."
"Forget it, let them do whatever they want."
After making sure the Queen Mother hadn't noticed anything, Bo Qiaohui sipped her tea and said nothing more. She was already anticipating the Queen Mother's expression when she saw her "surprise," which must have been quite amusing.
Liu Qi also thought so. He glanced at the secret memorial from King Liang and smiled with satisfaction.
Bo Ren, kneeling on the ground, listened to the emperor's instructions, his expression changed slightly. When he looked up again, he saw the loyal General Bo again: "I will definitely live up to your majesty's trust."
"Okay, big brother, you must remember to surround them but not kill them. After all these years, it's time for Wu'er to share the burden with his royal brother."
Liu Qi walked down slowly and helped Bo Ren up personally: "When the time comes, we will be in a righteous position. If Fourth Brother follows Master Zhou to fight, he will surely achieve something."
Bo Renmu's face was sullen, and he said in a rough voice, "What kind of achievement is this? He's just a young fool following General Zhou and getting all this credit for nothing. What a shame."
Seeing that Bo Ren was dissatisfied with Bo Chen's lack of effort yet his military achievements were unfounded, Liu Qi smiled and offered some soothing words. However, seeing that he was still dissatisfied, he had no choice but to suppress his dissatisfaction. Only then did Bo Ren reluctantly leave the Xuanshi Hall.
In the following days, smart people could vaguely notice that the atmosphere between the four brothers of the Bo family seemed to be getting strange.
The moonlight was dim, and Liu Qi and Qiao Hui each had one child sleeping in their arms. The couple waited until the annoying couple fell asleep before they gently put the child back.
"Tomorrow is the day when the princes will enter the palace. Your Majesty should rest early today and conserve your energy for tomorrow."
Bo Qiaohui helped Liu Qi take off his robe. If it weren't for her bulging belly, she would have looked like a young girl. Liu Qi held her face in his hands, not wanting to let go. "We've been married for three years, and your face is as beautiful as it was then. No, it's even more beautiful than before."
"Your Majesty, why do you think of praising me today? Have you done something wrong?" Bo Qiaohui patted the back of his hand playfully, but Liu Qi grabbed it and said, "Aqiao knows me."
"I know, Your Majesty."
He said this without any reason, and Qiaohui replied without any reason. The two smiled at each other, as if they were very close.
The next day was the Queen Mother's birthday. The princes, dressed neatly and with different expressions, entered the palace.
King Liu Bi of Wu walked at the front with the swift gait of a dragon and a tiger. He was very disdainful of the foolish talk of the other mediocre people, saying that the emperor wanted to wipe them out in one fell swoop. He didn't believe the emperor had the courage to do so, and if he really was so bold, Liu Bi would be very happy.
After all, some outside had suddenly fallen ill and had only sent their sons to pay their respects. Those princes and nobles who waited in their fiefdoms were no shortage of men as ambitious and capable as him. Once they died, those greedy jackals would pounce on Liu Qi, and even if they couldn't tear him off the throne, they would at least tear a piece of his flesh off.
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