Time flies.
The morning light of the first day of February penetrated the mist, and the snow in the imperial garden had turned into crystal dewdrops, hanging on the newly opened apricot buds.
Next to the white marble railings, a few clusters of forsythia are the first to sprout tender yellow, adding vivid colors to the red walls and golden tiles.
Sheng Xiyan stood in the corridor, holding her pregnant belly, watching Jiang Jiang practicing martial arts in the yard.
The young man's moves were powerful and vigorous. Three dogs with different fur colors circled around him, and the Chow Chow even stood up and pounced on his clothes.
"Your Majesty, the Emperor has arrived." Hua Xia came over holding a pot of newly opened peonies.
Sheng Xiyan turned around and saw Xuan Ling coming in the morning dew, the round dragon embroidered on his bright yellow uniform sparkling in the spring light.
His eyebrows and eyes were picturesque, and he reached out to brush away the apricot petals stuck to her temples. "Sorry to have kept Yanyan waiting for so long. Let's go to Zhongzheng Hall."
The Zhongzheng Hall was filled with the scent of sandalwood, and a three-legged gilded incense burner was emitting green smoke.
Sheng Xiyan knelt on the apricot-yellow cushion and watched Xuan Ling light the ambergris with his own hands.
His profile was vaguely visible in the cigarette smoke, and the shadow cast by his long eyelashes could not hide the piety in his eyes.
"I made a wish." She suddenly leaned close to his ear and said, "Can you tell the emperor?"
Xuan Ling turned his head, his nose almost touching hers, and suddenly chuckled: "I know that the concubine, in addition to praying for our child..."
He touched her lips with his fingertips and said, "I've prayed for Qi Yan's safety, haven't I?"
Sheng Xiyan's eyes were hot, and she held his face with both hands: "Xuanlang, I... please don't be angry, okay? I did pray for Qi Yan's safe return."
"Hush." Xuan Ling sealed her lips with his mouth, and after a moment, he pressed his hand against her forehead and said,
"This morning, we received a victory report from the border. Qi Yan has encircled and suppressed the Wusun people. The Wusun King has already submitted a letter of surrender, offering to cede half of Wusun's territory to us as compensation for Xue Qiong's poison. Furthermore, I have appointed Xunian as the heir to the throne."
Sheng Xiyan said, "Xunian? Oh, you said his mother, Concubine Li, is from the Central Plains."
"Yes, she is nominally a merchant, but in reality she is our spy."
Sheng Xiyan wanted to say something but stopped herself, Xuan Ling knew what she was thinking.
"Lord Qi requested permission to garrison at the border, and I agreed." He suddenly pinched her waist. "Will Yanyan be unhappy?"
Sheng Xiyan hugged him and said, "How could that be? I know that the emperor is a man of great talent and strategy, and he must have his own plans."
"My dear, you are really smart. We have already conquered two of the five northern Di kingdoms. Qi Yan is stationed there, which will help with the subsequent layout. The more we expand our territory, the more our prince will have a vast and prosperous empire.
He whispered into her ear, "When the prince is born... the vast land will be his cradle."
Sheng Xiyan smiled, "Your Majesty is the best father in the world."
Her pregnant belly rubbed against the jade belt around his waist through the fabric of his clothes, and before she could finish her words, Xuan Ling picked her up by the waist.
"Don't hold me anymore, it's very tiring. I can walk by myself."
Sheng Xiyan looked at her belly which was as big as a basket. Oh, it was too big. It was unbearable to look at. Could her waist become slim again after giving birth?
Xuan Ling carried her out of the Zhongzheng Hall and got on the imperial carriage.
"Save your energy. Let's go to the Imperial Garden to enjoy the flowers. You can take a walk."
"Okay, my husband is so good to me." Sheng Xiyan hugged the broad chest. She is a good baby now.
The warm spring sun shone on the newly opened crabapple trees, and Empress Duan came slowly, holding the hand of a palace maid.
The golden peony on the bright red phoenix robe is eye-catching, and the pearls on the nine-tailed phoenix hairpin in the hair sway gently with her steps.
"Your Highness, I pay my respects to you. May your Highness live long and happily."
Xuan Ling was holding a peony flower. She nodded slightly and pinned it on Sheng Xiyan's bun.
Duan Guan's eyes were filled with deep love. Queen Duan held a brocade handkerchief in her hand, her knuckles were white, but she had a smile on her face.
"My sister, the imperial concubine, looks so good."
Sheng Xiyan smiled faintly. What evil is this hypocritical queen planning?
"Your Majesty! Urgent message from eight hundred miles away!" The Minister of War hurried over.
The moment Xuan Ling turned around, Empress Duan's expression changed instantly. She stared at Sheng Xiyan's towering belly and said grimly, "Such a big belly... and the third child. I'm afraid she's going to walk through the gates of hell. Sister, please take care of yourself. Don't let four people die alone..."
Sheng Xiyan curled her lips and sneered, "Who are you trying to scare? Do you think I was scared?"
She stroked her belly and smiled softly: "Thanks to the Queen Sister's great blessing, the imperial physician said that the baby is in a very good position."
She deliberately raised her voice, "Sister, your body is not feeling well. You've been drinking hundreds of bowls of tranquilizing soup lately, right? All medicines are toxic. Look, your complexion is dark, and it's just the side effects that are showing. You have to be careful..."
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a corner of the Baizifu sachet peek out from the queen's sleeve. Inside was...
The sachet faintly revealed a few suspicious brown-yellow traces.
Very suspicious.
Sheng Xiyan suddenly had an idea and covered her stomach, "Ouch - my stomach hurts..." Her fingertips pinched Hua Xia's arm tightly.
"Empress!" Hua Xia and Mei Xiang hurriedly supported her and helped her to the mahogany armchair next to them.
Sheng Xiyan cried out "Ouch, ouch" and glanced at Queen Duan with half-closed eyes.
"Yanyan!" Xuan Ling came quickly from behind the rockery, and his black dragon robe swept the petals to the ground.
Holding her cold hand, he asked, "Where do you feel uncomfortable?"
Sheng Xiyan leaned weakly on his shoulder: "Your Majesty, I smell the scent of musk..."
She deliberately raised her voice, "What a strong musky smell..."
All the concubines in the garden were in an uproar.
Empress Duan's hands hidden under her wide sleeves trembled suddenly, and her nails dug into the tassels of the sachet on her waist.
"Seal off the Imperial Garden!" Xuan Ling shouted, his eagle eyes sweeping over everyone, "Investigate!"
The guards immediately surrounded the exit.
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