Mingyue whispered, "Please forgive me, Empress. The Emperor has specifically instructed that no one should disturb the Imperial Concubine's rest."
The emperor's words were the imperial edict. Empress Duan had an ugly look on her face, but she could only sit down and wait, not daring to wake up Sheng Xiyan.
She deliberately dropped the teacup loudly while drinking tea, startling Sheng Xiyan awake: "What happened? An earthquake?"
Mingyue quickly coaxed her, "Don't be afraid, Concubine. It's the Empress who has arrived."
Sheng Xiyan slowly sat up, wiped the saliva from the corner of her mouth, and saw Queen Duan's face with exquisite makeup but a forced smile.
Oh, I really don’t want to wake up and see dirty things.
Empress Duan sneered, "Noble Consort, I've been pregnant myself, so I want to remind you that you can't just eat and sleep all the time. You need to move around regularly. Aren't you afraid that three children will burst your belly?"
Sheng Xiyan took the hot soup presented by Mingyue slowly, moistened her throat, and stroked her belly, saying:
"That's true, but I'm pregnant with a dragon fetus. With God's blessing, nothing will happen to me."
"The Hall of Mental Cultivation is the solemn place where the emperor handles government affairs. How can the imperial concubine continue to live here? Isn't she afraid that it will spread among the court officials and the people and cause discussion about the emperor?"
Sheng Xiyan smiled calmly and said:
"Sister Queen, you are wrong. The Emperor is setting a good example for all men in the world, teaching them to love and care for their pregnant wives."
Empress Duan patted the gold-threaded sandalwood kang table:
"Wife? Imperial Concubine, you are so bold that you actually call yourself a wife. You are the Emperor's wife, so what am I? If the previous emperor knew what you said, how would the censors dare to remonstrate with the Emperor?"
Sheng Xiyan shook her head and said,
"Oh, Queen Sister, don't rush to the previous dynasty at the slightest sign of trouble. Don't the ministers of the previous dynasty have other things to do? Why do you only focus on the affairs of the harem?"
Just as Empress Duan was about to say something, she heard footsteps like drumbeats outside the palace, and she quickly put away the angry look on her face.
Sheng Xiyan raised her eyes and saw a tall man as tall as jade walking in majestically.
Empress Duan stood up and saluted: "Your Majesty has just returned from a busy day, are you tired?"
Xuan Ling nodded slightly and walked towards Sheng Xiyan.
As Sheng Xiyan stretched out her arms, Xuan Ling said softly, "Wait a minute, I'll hold you after I wash my hands."
Queen Duan stepped forward and personally helped Xuan Ling wash her hands with a golden basin, her eyes almost staring out corns.
Sheng Xiyan curled her lips, feeling unhappy.
Xuan Ling didn't let Queen Duan wipe his hands. He took a handkerchief and wiped his own hands, then came over and sat next to Sheng Xiyan. She slipped into his arms, and the seriousness on the emperor's face disappeared, and his eyes became gentle.
Sheng Xiyan touched Xuan Ling's chin, prompting him to kiss her forehead.
Empress Duan clutched her handkerchief tightly and forced a smile, saying, "Your Majesty, I have made you a robe and brought it here for you to try on."
In the past, the Empress Dowager often made robes for Emperor Xuanwu, and he would always try them on.
This time, Xuan Ling stood up as usual, and Sheng Xiyan felt aggrieved when he suddenly let go of her.
Mingyue brought people to serve afternoon tea and snacks: "Your Highness, please have some."
Sheng Xiyan lowered her head unhappily as she ate papaya snow frog.
Empress Duan was muttering to herself while taking off the emperor's robe. Xuan Ling saw Sheng Xiyan lowering her head, and felt pity for her. He suddenly pulled back his arm that had been put into her sleeve, causing Empress Duan to stumble.
"Your Majesty..." Queen Duan's voice trembled.
Xuan Ling said coldly, "Queen, you don't have to bother making robes for me anymore. The Clothing Bureau can do it."
Queen Duan knelt down and cried:
"Your Majesty, I have become accustomed to making new robes for you every solar term. Does Your Majesty dislike my age and lack of beauty?"
These words made Sheng Xiyan feel ashamed, as if a wife was accusing her husband of changing his mind and falling in love with a beautiful concubine.
Kindness struck him, and he advised, "Your Majesty, the Empress made this robe with her own hands. It's her gift. You should try it on."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
