For several days, Yan Shu was full of anticipation.

This feeling was like a fan's excitement to meet an idol whom she had

long heard of. Tsk tsk, that was the man who had once moved the empress dowager!

Especially after knowing that the great scholar Qi had already set out from Langya, and that it only took five or six days from Langya to the capital, she could almost say that she was counting the days.

However... although the empress dowager's headache had healed, she still asked her to talk from time to time, and still liked to ask her to read the storybook.

Of course, she read the book she wrote herself...

The Queen Mother explained to her, "My eyes are blurry, and the words in this book are dense, so it's really troublesome to read. It's better to listen to you read it."

Yan Shu could only laugh and said, "Your Majesty, you are too kind. It is my honor to relieve your boredom. But... do you only read the book written by Mr. Xiaoyao? Don't you read others? There are many other people's books on the market."

The Queen Mother said, "Those people's books are either too rigid or too unfair. They often have two or three women fighting for one man, or the man is so popular that he married a fairy concubine outside. When he returned home, he had a virtuous wife to serve him. Some even replaced their wives' heads because they thought their wives were ugly! Why couldn't a man replace his own body so that his wife would like it? In the end, it made people feel unhappy. Only this carefree young man could be said to be happy to repay kindness and revenge, and it made people feel comfortable to listen to him. "

Yan Shu, who seldom heard readers' face-to-face comments, was deeply moved by the words, so she had to try hard to endure the embarrassment and read her own storybook carefully to the empress dowager.

Not to mention, she got used to it after reading it for a while, and she could also find her own shortcomings in writing and grammar, which was a great gain.

However, every time after reading a story, the Queen Mother could not help complaining, "Why hasn't this guy written anything new recently? I heard that he used to finish a storybook every two or three days, but now he can't finish one in ten days or half a month?"

Yan Shu thought to herself, I've been accompanying you to review old works all day, so how can you have time to think about new ones?

But she could only say, "Probably because the seas and rivers are peaceful and the rivers are calm recently, the Jinyiwei haven't found any new cases, and there is no new material for writers."

The Queen Mother nodded, "Yes, it seems that the lack of new storybooks is good news. But without new ones to read, it always makes people feel that something is missing. With such good writing skills, why don't you write some strange stories?"

Yan Shu's eyes lit up, "Your Majesty is right."

- Probably because there are many people nowadays who keep concubines, abandon their wives or are ungrateful. After reading her storybooks, some people always feel that they are alluded to, so there are still some subtle remarks about her storybooks. Just imagine, if it was written about fox spirits and ghosts, no one would complain, right?

Well, this is an idea, you can consider developing it.

However... she couldn't write a new story at the moment, mainly because her mind was full of curiosity about the great scholar Qi, so she couldn't calm down for a while.

Oh, by the way, it's already the seventh day, and the great scholar Qi should have arrived in the capital, right?

Thinking of this, she glanced at the empress dowager quietly, thinking that the empress dowager actually had the leisure to listen to her old storybook, could it be that she didn't know about this yet?

System, [That's right, after the last goat milk cake incident, and the old illness that has been going on for a few days, the empress dowager is no longer asking about state affairs, and at most thinking about when you can give the emperor a baby. Of course, she doesn't know about this.]

Yan Shu, "..."

Why are you talking about her having a baby. Is this something she can decide on her own?

But it's okay that the empress dowager doesn't know now. Wouldn't it be better to give her a surprise when they meet unexpectedly one day? Hehe.

Just as she was thinking this, she saw the palace servants bringing up tea and snacks.

The Queen Mother said, "This is donkey-hide gelatin cake, jujube mud cake, and wolfberry longan tea. They are all good recipes for replenishing qi and

blood and warming the uterus. You can try it too." Well, the donkey-hide gelatin cake is filled with black sesame and walnut kernels. It looks crispy at first glance, and the jujube mud cake has layers of crispy skin on the outside. Before she eats it, a strong sweet fragrance has already invaded her nose. The red jujube tea is also bright red and clear, with a sweet jujube fragrance, which is very tempting.

Yan Shu was thirsty after reading the storybook for a long time, so she should try it at this time.

- Well, anyway, she is not allergic to cow's milk or goat's milk, and the Queen Mother has no intention of harming her, so she dares to eat it.

Seeing her eating seriously, the Queen Mother felt relieved, but she couldn't help sighing, "Your Majesty used to like the snacks here..."

It's a pity that he doesn't dare to eat it now...

Well, come to think of it, if she had known it earlier, why would she have resorted to that trick? But

Yan Shu comforted her, "Your Majesty is probably too busy recently. I believe he will have time to accompany you in a while." The Queen Mother

nodded, but suddenly looked at her and said, "I believe he likes what you made."

Yan Shu blushed and said hurriedly, "...I am clumsy and don't know how to make snacks."

Yes, she was a little lazy. She only liked to eat and didn't like to cook since she was a child. Otherwise, she wouldn't have stewed the soup for the emperor so badly last time.

But the Queen Mother smiled and said, "You can learn if you don't know how to make it. Today is a good day, let them teach you."

She even called the cook who made snacks over on the spot, "Teach Concubine Yi how to make snacks. It doesn't have to be too difficult. Just make the ones that your Majesty likes."

The cook immediately agreed and came to Yan Shu, "Please follow me to make snacks."

Yan Shu, "..."

How come you not only have to study, but also learn to make snacks? ? ?

... Are you going to Ci'an Palace to attend a technical school?

However, the Queen Mother spoke, and she couldn't refuse, so she had to say yes and followed.

Behind her, the Queen Mother smiled and nodded, thinking that Concubine Yi was quite interesting. It was quite comfortable to chat with her without having to worry about it.

But Yan Shu followed the cook in the snack room and worked for a long time, starting from making the pastry fillings, to kneading and wrapping them and putting them into the oven to form. She learned a lot, but after two quarters of an hour, the golden and crispy chestnut cake came out of the oven. It tasted really good and gave people a sense of accomplishment.

Even the queen mother was very polite and tasted a piece, praising her for being teachable. After

such a busy life, it was already noon and time for lunch.

The queen mother felt sorry for Yan Shu who was sweating profusely in the snack room and asked her to stay for lunch.

Just as the palace servants were serving the dishes, the Shangshen Supervisor came hurriedly with a few people carrying a few ice bowls. He smiled and reported, "Your Majesty, it happens that His Majesty is hosting a banquet in Wenhua Palace today. He tasted this honeydew melon ice bowl and found it delicious. He specially asked the kitchen to make a few more bowls for you and Concubine Yi."

Upon hearing this, Yan Shu's eyes lit up - the emperor was really considerate of her to have an ice bowl to eat while she was sweating profusely.

The Queen Mother asked, "What kind of banquet is being held in Wenhua Hall today?" The

Imperial Kitchen Supervisor Wu Chun smiled and said, "Songhe Academy will reopen in a few days, and the Ministry of Rites has invited famous teachers and Confucian scholars from all over the country to gather in the palace today. This is the Confucian Banquet hosted by Your Majesty."

Hearing this, Yan Shu secretly looked at the Queen Mother while eating an ice bowl, but saw that the Queen Mother just nodded, as if she still hadn't reacted, so she asked, "Is there such a thing? Who are the people coming today?"

Manager Wu smiled and said, "Please forgive my stupidity. There are more than 30 people attending the banquet today, and I don't recognize them all. But the most famous ones, such as Mr. Jinling Ji, Mr. Langya Qi, Mr. Lanling Gu, and Mr. Nanyang Yu, are all here."

After the words fell, the Queen Mother's eyes paused slightly.

Langya...Mr. Qi?

Didn't that person return to Langya back then?

She just nodded and said, "I haven't paid attention to the literary world for so many years, and I haven't heard of these names."

Yan Shu hurriedly said, "I heard that they are all knowledgeable and famous gentlemen. Your Majesty invited them to revive Songhe Academy, and even intends to hire a principal from them to preside over Songhe Academy in the future."

Tsk tsk, there is only so much to say, otherwise it will arouse suspicion.

As she said that, she quickly called the system again, [Do you think the Queen Mother guessed it? ]

System, [Almost. The surname Qi is rare, and he is from Langya. The Queen Mother also knows that Qi Shuguang became a teacher after returning to Langya. 】

Yan Shu nodded silently when she heard this, -Give the Queen Mother some time, she will definitely know.

Wu Chun delivered the ice bowl and hurried back to serve the banquet, leaving Yan Shu to accompany the Queen Mother for lunch. After eating, he also said goodbye and returned to his own Ganlu Palace.

Just like a couple who are obsessed with each other, she couldn't help but start to wonder, I wonder if these two people can meet?

-After all, Master Qi is an old minister of the Queen Mother. They have not seen each other for more than ten years. This time he rarely enters the palace. If he wants to visit the Queen Mother, it is reasonable.

-Wuwu, although I know that there is an insurmountable gap between the two, and the possibility of a happy ending like Madam Mu is extremely small, but no matter what, it is always possible to meet.

Thinking of this, she began to wait for the system's message.

However, after waiting for a long time, until dusk fell, even after dinner, there was no news of the two meeting.

The system advised her, [Don't wait, go to bed, today the Qi scholar left the palace after lunch. ]

Yan Shu was a little disappointed, [Could it be that he no longer has the empress dowager in his heart? ]

The system, [This person has always been very cautious. When his feelings sprouted, he was very suppressed. Whenever he saw the empress dowager, he rarely said anything except reporting things. It was not until later that he showed some concern in words, and most of them were practical things to protect the empress dowager. It can be said that he started from feelings and stopped at etiquette. Now that so many years have passed, he doesn't know what the empress dowager feels in her heart. What's more, he is afraid that the emperor will be jealous and affect the relationship between mother and son, so of course he will not rush to meet. Yan Shu couldn't help but sigh .

These two really wished they hadn't met before they got married. What a pity!

But to be honest, the more repressed the emotion, the more it makes people unable to stop. If this were written into a storybook, I wonder how lingering it would be!

Just as she was thinking this, she heard a voice outside the door, "Your Majesty has arrived..."

Yuwen Lan stepped into the hall and just heard that sentence - [The more repressed the emotion, the more it makes people unable to stop.]

He was curious in his heart, what repressed emotion? Could there be some new melon?

- Well, yes, now he has adapted to the name "melon".

I have to say, it's quite interesting.

But when Yan Shu came forward to salute him, he took her in his hand and asked, "Have you written a new story today? What is the story?"

But she said, "I haven't had time to write it in the past few days."

In his heart, he said, "I want to write the story of the Queen Mother and Qi Dashi, can you give in?"

Yuwen Lan, "..."

He really didn't want to give in.

——This involves the face of the royal family and the dignity of the late emperor. How could he accept it so easily?

So when he saw Qi Shuguang today, he still felt a little...strange.

He even thought that if Qi Shuguang proposed to visit the Queen Mother today, he would definitely refuse and look down on him for it.

But fortunately, from beginning to end, Qi Shuguang did not have this idea. Apart from feeling emotional about revisiting the old place, feeling emotional about his growing up, and being pleased with his governance of the country, he did not have any other thoughts in his mind.

As for the Queen Mother, he only had one sigh. The general idea was that the Queen Mother had worked hard to teach him, a prince who was not related by blood, so well.

... In fact, Yuwen Lan also understood the Queen Mother's hard work.

... Especially after experiencing so many things in other families recently, he understood that everyone in the world has selfish desires, especially jealousy, which is even more terrible.

The Queen Mother is the wife of the late emperor, and he is the child born by the late emperor and other women. It is really kind and loving to treat him like this.

So when I ate a delicious ice bowl today, I specially asked someone to send it to the Queen Mother.

Of course, because Yan Shu, the little foodie, was there, it was also a win-win situation.

But no matter what, between the Queen Mother and Qi Shuguang... he still didn't want to accept it.

So in order to prevent her from having wild thoughts, he changed the subject and said, "I intend to select a few famous teachers and scholars who came to Beijing this time to guard Songhe Academy, so this time they will stay in Beijing for a longer time. I heard that many of them brought their families with them. I plan to entertain their families in the palace to show my sincerity. How about you support me?"

Hearing this, Yan Shu was stunned.

Damn, don't look at her busy and nagging when she writes a storybook, but she is actually very socially anxious! To hold a palace banquet, to entertain so many strangers, she has to greet and chat with them, especially when they are not of the same age as her...

She shuddered and said hurriedly, "I am inexperienced and not very qualified in the palace. If I were to host the palace banquet, I'm afraid it would cause gossip. Why not ask the Empress Dowager to do it? If the Empress Dowager hosts it, wouldn't it show that the court attaches great importance to us?"

Yuwen Lan thought about it and nodded, "Okay, why not invite the families of the Grand Tutor, the Imperial College, and several scholars as well, so it will be more legitimate."

Yan Shu nodded quickly, "Your Majesty is right."

Good, good, when there are more people, it will be lively, and when it's lively, there will be gossip!

She likes to eat melons while having a banquet the most!!!

Yuwen Lan, "..."

Just eat melons.

However, seeing her excited, her cheeks flushed and her almond eyes bright, he couldn't help but feel itchy in his heart, and hurriedly hugged her waist and went to the couch.

But before he could kiss her, he saw her suddenly said in a serious face, "No, Your Majesty drank alcohol today. I heard that drinking is not good for children."

Yuwen Lan, "??? Where did you hear that from?"

Is she lying to him?

Yan Shu said seriously, "I heard from Doctor Jiang Yu last time that alcoholism and indulgence will affect offspring, so Your Majesty, let's talk about it tomorrow."

After saying that, she pulled the quilt and fell asleep.

Yuwen Lan, "...",

had to try to negotiate, "I only drank a little..."

But she didn't even turn her head, "Not at all, for the sake of the heir, Your Majesty should be patient."

But in his heart, he sighed, [It's so hard to give birth to a child, I must inherit my intelligence and wisdom! ]

Yuwen Lan, "..."

Inherit her intelligence and wisdom?

It's better to inherit more of him.

~~

After a night of suffocating sleep, the king got up early the next morning and went to the front court.

——In addition to the court meeting today, there will be a meeting of scholars in Wenyuan Pavilion, mainly to discuss the establishment of disciplines in Songhe Academy.

He also plans to select those who are qualified to be the headmaster among these people, and he must participate in person.

In Ci'an Palace, the Empress Dowager tossed and turned all night and could not fall asleep, so she got up early and went for a walk in the Yu Garden.

Wenyuan Pavilion was in the Yu Garden.

The sun was rising and birds were singing on the branches.

The Empress Dowager walked around the garden, which she had visited countless times, picked a few newly opened lotus flowers, and planned to go back.

At this moment, she saw a group of people coming from afar.

Seeing her figure, the leading Taifu hurriedly stepped forward and saluted, "Greetings to the Empress Dowager."

Seeing the Taifu like this, the others also stepped forward, saluted her, and said, "Greetings to the Empress Dowager, wishing you good health."

Among the figures, there was only one person who was as thin as a bamboo and a pine, just like in the past.

The Queen Mother nodded to everyone.

Then, she looked at him and said, "Mr. Qi, long time no see."