Bonus chapter for 9000 nutrient solutions: "Does it hurt?"...
After Yun and Banban fell into a deep sleep, she quietly instructed the palace servants to tidy up the inner room. She then sat down and combed her long hair, arranging it neatly so that Banban wouldn't wake up in the middle of the night and hurt her hair.
After coming out, she bumped into Qian Yin, and she went to Taxue Pavilion.
"How are Xuanxi and Xuanjiao?"
"It's great, carefree and plump, eats and sleeps, very happy." Qian Yin was even a little envious of the two Pixiu.
"That's good." Cong Yun paused slightly, then lowered her voice, "The Queen has chosen someone for you, but I'm afraid she hasn't told you yet. After much consideration, she has decided on Xu Jinghe, who has made meritorious contributions in suppressing the rebellion. He is twenty-five years old this year. His family background is not prominent, but he is quite capable. He also has a younger sister who is waiting to be married."
Military officer?
The rank of military captain is not low. Among the military ranks in a country, it is considered a mid-to-high-level rank, and the officer is responsible for leading troops.
Qian Yin was even stunned for a moment, and immediately became incredulous: "How am I worthy of the military captain?"
"Don't say things like that." Cong Yun gently patted her hand, a complicated expression on her face. "Although we've fought each other all these years, we've also been through thick and thin together. I also hope you're doing well."
Upon hearing this, Qian Yin's eyes immediately reddened, and she hesitated, "Sister Cong Yun..."
“You are well-mannered, beautiful, gentle, and have a broad vision and a clear understanding of the big picture. You are so good, who wouldn’t be good enough for you?” Cong Yun smiled confidently. “The Queen has already inquired about the Xu family. They are a simple family, and the parents are both good-natured. You will not be mistreated if you marry into the family.”
Qian Yin couldn't stop her tears from falling. "What virtue or ability do I have to serve the Queen and meet such a good sister as Cong Yun?" She was sold by her parents at the age of four to make money and was eventually sent to the palace. She endured years of hardship and training in the Yongxiang Palace before being noticed by the then Crown Prince, Prince Qin, who sent her to Taxuexuan.
“You’re lucky. Maybe you did a great deed in your past life and accumulated good fortune,” Cong Yun comforted her. “I heard from Princess Yang Jiang’s maid that Xu Jinghe is quite handsome and a good match for you.”
As she spoke, she lowered her voice, "He also contributed to the Lao Ai rebellion this time, and you'll have a good life ahead of you."
Qian Yin didn't know what to say, so she curtsied and said, "Good luck."
Seeing that she was about to leave, he quickly reminded her, "His Majesty has returned and is having his meal in the main hall."
Yun knew what was going on and said, "I understand."
As expected, the king, concerned for the queen, summoned her. Cong Yun tidied herself up and went to the main hall, where Qin Ju was serving her dinner and helping her rinse her mouth.
How was the Queen's spirits this afternoon?
"Your Majesty, the Queen rested for half an hour this afternoon and is in good spirits." Before she could finish her sentence, Cong Yun glanced at the fruit and milk cups on the round table, paused, and hesitated before turning her gaze to the King of Qin, who listened attentively with an expression as usual. "...The Queen cannot stand the wind and felt stuffy in the inner room, so the servants brought some picture books to relieve her boredom."
"After sunset, the Queen wanted to see the periwinkle, so I called two eunuchs to transplant two pots of periwinkle from outside the Snow-Treading Pavilion and bring them into the house. The Queen even watered them herself."
Yun's heart skipped a beat, but her words flowed smoothly and quickly without the slightest stumble. She kept an eye on the fruit milk and couldn't help but secretly glance at the King of Qin repeatedly.
How could palace servants dare to steal their masters' drinks? If it's empty, there's only one possibility.
What are you looking at?
Cong Yun lowered her head, unsure how to answer, "This servant...this servant..."
"Is there something wrong with this milk tea? Isn't this what the Queen wanted to drink?" Cong Yun's furtive glances didn't escape Ying Zheng's notice, and he became suspicious. He had originally thought that his cousin had recently given up sweets.
“There’s no problem, but… but that’s not milk tea.” Cong Yun lowered her face even further.
"What is that?" Ying Zheng frowned slightly and looked at the empty cup again.
He couldn't bring himself to speak, and glanced at Qin Ju.
He waved his hand.
Qin Ju quickly went out.
Cong Yun was anxious, wondering what the King of Qin would think about accidentally drinking breast milk. "These days, the physician has prescribed a decoction to stop lactation, which the Queen drinks every day, but the medicine is mild and doesn't work very quickly."
Ying Zheng abruptly stopped.
"The Queen was feeling unwell, and it hurt when she held it in, so... she squeezed some out." Congyun said, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, finding it difficult to speak. "I thought that it was the Queen's blood and qi that had been transformed, and it would be a waste to throw it away, so I took the liberty of cooking it and adding some diced peach flesh, which can be considered as a way to nourish the Queen."
"...You're saying that's breast milk??"
Cong Yun fell silent, head bowed, her heart pounding like a drum.
After an unknown amount of time, the King of Qin's voice finally rang out: "You may leave."
The sound was somewhat obscure and strange, and Yun seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and flee from the main hall.
Ying Zheng sat quietly for a long time, seemingly lost in thought. After a while, he glanced at the empty cups again.
During her postpartum confinement month, the two of them couldn't share a room. Not sleeping together always made her feel uncomfortable and lonely. However, her cousin was resting on a small couch behind the screen, only a few meters away from her.
She woke up in the middle of the night.
He stayed close by her bedside, keeping watch over her, and was awakened by the slightest sound.
Do you need to get up at night?
"Um…"
Yawning, Banban, with Congyun's help, went out through the side door of the inner room to get up in the outer room to relieve herself. After tidying up, she came back in and bumped into a black shadow, which startled her.
"ah!"
Upon closer inspection, it is Ying Zheng.
"Cousin, did I wake you up?"
"I woke up and saw you weren't in bed." So I got up and looked around.
Seeing that the two were about to speak, Cong Yun hesitated slightly.
"You can leave now, I'll take care of things here."
Ying Zheng dismissed him, and Cong Yun dared not disobey. After hesitating for a moment, he glanced at the Queen's expression and, seeing that she showed no sign of resistance, he knelt down and obeyed.
As soon as Yun left, the two of them sat down on the bed together, as if by unspoken agreement.
Actually, she was fine, and she didn't understand why they weren't allowed to sleep in the same room. Couldn't they just lie together without doing anything?
Besides, there's nothing we can do about it.
"Go to sleep, go to sleep," Banban urged him to take off his shoes and lie down.
The two felt a sense of reunion after a short separation, and as they lay down together, she eagerly nestled her body into his arms.
"Go to sleep." He patted her shoulder rhythmically. "Does it still hurt?"
She's almost out of her postpartum period, and to be honest, she doesn't feel much anymore, otherwise she wouldn't be able to get out of bed and move around. "It doesn't hurt anymore, cousin, don't worry." She doesn't know if God is on her side, but she didn't suffer much during childbirth.
When she recalls the day she gave birth, it's as if there's a membrane separating her from the world; she's almost completely forgotten how she felt at the time.
Afterwards, Ji Changyue and the physicians told them that Zhao'er's delivery was indeed very quick. They weren't even ready when the baby was born. Compared to some people who give birth for several hours for the first time, her delivery was incredibly smooth.
Ying Zheng didn't speak again, gently comforting his cousin until she closed her eyes in his arms, and then he placed a kiss on her temple.
The kiss was light, precious, and full of tenderness.
She smelled of the fruit milk he had drunk from; it was very fragrant.
While half asleep, Banban felt as if he was gently sniffing her neck, which felt warm.
She instinctively raised her slender neck, letting him kiss her perfectly, and then raised her hand to stroke his head.
Then what happened next, she fell asleep and can't remember.
When I woke up the next morning, I found several hickeys on my neck, the lowest one being...
No wonder my chest doesn't feel as sore anymore.
Could this be what he asked before going to sleep?
The order to expel the guest had already been issued, and Princess Yongning, Yingyue, sent a letter saying that Li Si's carriages and horses had been left at the post station at Hangu Pass by Ying Zheng, and that they would be able to return to Xianyang soon. She also mentioned that there were some interesting items here, and she selected several to give to her nephew to play with.
In addition, she mentioned that Li Si had visited Lü Buwei's residence before his departure.
Lu Buwei was ordered to relocate to Shu. The King of Qin, considering his advanced age, allowed him to move slowly. So Lu Buwei was in no hurry and gradually sold off his assets in Xianyang.
As luck would have it, Lady Zhao submitted her nameplate to the palace.
Lu Buwei was old, but time had been exceptionally kind to Zhao Shi. Only when she smiled would fine lines appear on her face. "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty enjoy endless happiness."
"Madam Zhao, there's no need for such formality. Please rise." Banban had someone help her to a seat.
Zhao didn't beat around the bush. After exchanging a few pleasantries with Banban, she went straight to the point and said, "This humble woman has come to the palace to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager."
The Queen Dowager made a mistake in the Lao Ai Rebellion. Although the King of Qin rejected the memorials to punish her, in order to quell the matter, she handed over all the affairs to the Queen and stopped interfering in the affairs of the court. For a time, the Queen had the final say in the Qin palace, and everything had to be done with her opinion.
Banban hesitated for a moment, then smiled and said, "The Empress Dowager probably won't see you."
Zhao whispered, "My husband is determined to see His Highness the Crown Prince's full-month celebration before he will leave Xianyang. I can only wait. Now that Her Majesty the Queen is about to finish her confinement, the journey to Shu is long and arduous. I'm afraid we may never see each other again for the rest of our lives."
Banban sighed, "Then I will send someone to ask the Empress Dowager's opinion. Madam Zhao may wait a moment."
Cong Yun sent someone to Ganquan Palace to inquire about the Empress Dowager, and unexpectedly, Ji Changyue agreed to allow Zhao Shi to pay her respects.
It's not good to gossip about the emotional entanglements of the previous generation, but one can roughly guess why Zhao wanted to see the Empress Dowager; it all revolved around Lü Buwei.
Regardless of Lü Buwei's true feelings for the Empress Dowager, things have already come to this point, so there's no point in dwelling on it.
As night fell, she complained to Ying Zheng about the matter, saying that she didn't know what Zhao was up to, and "I don't know if my sister-in-law has been bullied."
Banban didn't know, but Ying Zheng knew exactly what they had talked about.
“When it comes to verbal sparring, no one can surpass her except the Empress Dowager.” Ying Zheng smiled, feeling that his cousin’s worries were unnecessary. “You have never seen what she looks like when she’s arguing with someone.”
Moreover, Zhao's desire to see Ji Changyue was not for the vulgar purpose of vying for a man.
In recent days, many officials in the court, and even military generals, have been visiting Lü Buwei's residence every day.
This behavior was very conspicuous, especially to Ying Zheng.
After the order to leave was issued, the situation improved slightly.
However, other states also began to stir. It was said that King Yan of Zhao not only spent a lot of money to invite foreign guests who had left Qin to his country, but also intended to offer Lü Buwei the position of prime minister to come to Zhao.
Even more remarkably, the Crown Prince of Han personally presented the Prime Minister's seal to Lü Buwei at the gate of his residence, deigning to pay his respects. If Lü Buwei simply nodded, he would become the Prime Minister of Han.
Ying Zheng didn't react in any particular way, and Lü Buwei remained quiet, never allowing foreign guests to enter.
However, the chain reaction triggered by this incident was subtle and slow.
Zhao came seeking help.
The various states treated Lü Buwei this way in order to force him to his death.
It's nothing more than forcing them to choose between two options: 'If you don't come and serve me, you'll die.'
Lü Buwei could not possibly go to serve other countries; he had feelings for Qin. Regardless of feelings, he couldn't actually go, as King Zheng of Qin was watching him closely. If he dared to let any foreign official in, he would face certain death.
He refused to see anyone, but this only emboldened the nations to escalate the conflict and put him in a very difficult position.
He could no longer fathom King Zheng's thoughts, but he knew that King Zheng would not remain unresponsive to the actions of these foreign officials; his apparent indifference was merely a facade.
Why would Ji Changyue save Lü Buwei? She had no choice.
Rather, it's more accurate to say that this is a dilemma, Lü Buwei's dilemma.
Ying Zheng served food to his cousin, telling her not to worry about those trivial matters. "I personally oversaw the production of the full moon celebration gift. I showed you the list at noon. Is there anything you're not satisfied with?"
"I have no complaints. Everything my cousin arranged is perfect." The full moon celebration was as grand as it could possibly be. Ying Zheng was not a person of extravagance, but this was, after all, the child born to his beloved woman, and he wanted to give her the best of everything.
-----------------------
Author's Note: I've reached 12,000 nutrient solutions, and I've been adding chapters for several days, but I still owe three chapters, and it's not moving an inch. [stunned.jpg]
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
