Shen Qingqiu raised her head and smiled. In the 21st century, it had been a long time since she heard the cicadas' chirping amid the hustle and bustle of the city. She found the cicadas' chirping sounds very pleasant when she heard them here.
"Your Majesty, I heard that the lotus flowers in the Imperial Garden are in bloom. Why don't we go and see them?" He looked very excited.
Seeing her expression, Shen Qingqiu couldn't bear to ruin her mood, so he nodded and said, "I've heard from His Majesty that the lotus flowers in the Imperial Garden are very beautiful. It just so happens that we have nothing to do today, so let's go and take a look."
When the two arrived at the Imperial Garden, they happened to see Li Wanting also admiring the flowers there.
Suo Xin pouted and said unhappily, "Why is she here too?"
Shen Qingqiu looked at Li Wanting who was standing not far away, frowned, and was about to turn around and leave when Li Wanting saw her.
"Sister Defei."
Hearing the voice, Shen Qingqiu paused, but still lowered his head, unwilling to look up at her.
When Li Wanting came to her side, Shen Qingqiu bowed her head and saluted, "Empress."
"Sister, it seems like we haven't seen each other for half a year. Are you still blaming me for the little prince's matter?"
Shen Qingqiu didn't say anything, but Suo Xin rolled his eyes and muttered softly: "What else?"
"Sister, I'm sorry about the little prince. I was confused at the time and made a mistake. I know it's irreparable and I don't ask for your forgiveness. Now, I have no desires in this harem. I hope you can live in harmony with the emperor in the future. I will pray for you."
"Thank you, Queen." After saying that, Shen Qingqiu left.
Even though half a year had passed, and even though a lot had happened to Li Wanting during that time, the moment Shen Qingqiu saw him, he could still think of the child she had lost, and he couldn't forgive her.
Looking at Shen Qingqiu's receding back, Li Wanting, who had an apologetic look on her face just now, gradually put on a smug smile.
Chun'er, who was standing by, didn't understand the Queen's behavior and asked, "Your Majesty, the Concubine De is so resentful of you because of the little prince's matter, why are you still trying to please her? You are putting your warm face on her cold butt. Look at her behavior just now. Do you still distinguish between superiors and inferiors?"
"What do you know?" Li Wanting glanced at Chun'er, then turned around and looked at the lotus in the pond and said, "The emperor and he are both on guard against me. I can only start my next plan after they let down their guard. By the way, have you prepared the things I asked you to prepare?"
Chun Er nodded and motioned for the maid behind her to come forward. "This was just cooked in the imperial kitchen."
Li Wanting stretched out her hand to open the lid of the bowl of porridge, and a fragrant aroma wafted into her nose. "I learned this Tremella fuciformis porridge specially for the emperor, but now..." Li Wanting sneered, and then took out a sachet from her sleeve and sprinkled the white powder inside into it.
"This medicine was given to him by my father's friend from the Western Regions. It is colorless and odorless. Even the most powerful imperial physician in the palace cannot detect it."
"Madam, do you want it?"
Li Wanting showed a sinister look, "The emperor was unkind to me, so don't blame me for being unjust. It was the two of them who killed my father and made me look like this. I must make them pay the price!"
When Li Wanting brought the porridge to the imperial study, the sun had already set and Eunuch Li was standing outside the door.
"Eunuch, is the emperor still in there?"
Eunuch Li nodded and said, "Your Highness, you came at the right time. The Emperor promised Yan that he would exchange land for grain, but he was supposed to give us one city. Now that the matter has been settled, the King of Yan suddenly changed his mind and asked for two cities instead."
"What about the Emperor now?"
"The Emperor has been discussing with the ministers in the Imperial Study Room all night. He is now alone inside and has not eaten since yesterday. I am worried about the Emperor's health. If he continues like this, it will not do!"
Li Wanting sighed and frowned, "Don't worry too much, Grandpa. I'll go in and try."
Li Wanting gently pushed open the door of the imperial study, and Gu Yanwei was still working at his desk with a frown on his face.
Li Wanting walked lightly to Gu Yanwei. Gu Yanwei saw the corner of the clothes and thought it was Shen Qingqiu, so he called Shen Qingqiu's name softly.
The little light in Li Wanting's eyes dimmed in an instant.
"Your Majesty, it's you, my concubine."
Hearing the voice, Gu Yanwei raised his head. The moment he saw Li Wanting, a hint of disappointment seemed to flash in his eyes.
"Why is the Queen here?"
Li Wanting put the porridge in her hand on the table and said, "I heard from Eunuch Li that the emperor has been unable to think about the affairs of Yan State recently. I am worried about the emperor's health, so I personally made you a bowl of Tremella and Bird's Nest porridge. Drink it while it's hot."
"I have no appetite."
"Your Majesty, your health is the most important thing. If you continue like this, not only will there be no solution, but your body may not be able to hold on."
Gu Yanwei sighed, picked up the Tremella and Bird's Nest Porridge, took a few bites and said, "The Queen's cooking skills are good. Let's put the porridge here first. I still have memorials to deal with now. If the Queen has nothing else to do, please go back first."
Li Wanting looked at the half-drunk porridge on the table, a cold smile appeared in her eyes and she said, "Then Your Majesty, remember to finish all the porridge. Your health is the most important thing."
Gu Yanwei nodded slightly and opened the letter placed aside.
After making sure that the queen had left, Gu Yanwei raised his head from the pile of memorials and rubbed his temples tiredly.
At this time, in Chengchun Palace, Shen Qingqiu also prepared a large table of food.
"It's already this time, why hasn't the emperor come yet?" Shen Qingqiu looked outside the door and frowned.
"When I was on my way to the imperial kitchen just now, I met Eunuch Li on the way. Eunuch Li said that the emperor was very upset recently because of the affairs of Yan State, and he might not be able to come today."
Shen Qingqiu sighed, "He is always like this, forgetting to eat when he is busy. You pack up all the food and we will send it to the emperor."
"Yes, madam."
——
When Shen Qingqiu arrived at the imperial study, it was already dark, but the lights in the imperial study were still on.
"Eunuch Li, is the emperor still in there?"
Eunuch Li nodded and said, "I haven't eaten much today. Two hours ago, the Queen brought me a bowl of porridge, but I didn't drink much."
"Why did she come here too?" Suo Xin complained.
"Lock core!" Shen Qingqiu scolded.
"Perhaps it would be helpful if you went in and gave some advice, Your Majesty. The Emperor listens to you the most."
Shen Qingqiu nodded and walked in with the food.
She closed the door with a loud noise, but Gu Yanwei didn't hear it until she was standing in front of him.
"Qingqiu, you are here."
“Your Majesty.” Shen Qingqiu placed the prepared food on the table beside him, turned around and closed the letter in Gu Yanwei’s hand, and said, “No matter how busy you are, you have to eat. I made some of your favorite dishes. Come and eat with me.”
Gu Yanwei smiled, finally stood up and said, "I thought something was missing today, it turns out it was your food."
Shen Qingqiu glared at Gu Yanwei, "How many times have I told you that you have to eat no matter how busy you are? Have you ever listened to me?" While speaking, Shen Qingqiu did not forget to put his favorite dish into Gu Yanwei's bowl.
"I like the way you are mean to me the most. It makes me feel like we are just an ordinary couple."
"Hurry up and eat!" Shen Qingqiu was obviously angry because he didn't take care of himself, but when he saw that he was still worried about the affairs of Yan State, but still tried every means to make him laugh, Shen Qingqiu couldn't say any more words of blame.
"My father once fought with the King of Yan. The King of Yan doesn't seem like the kind of person who doesn't keep his word. Maybe there is some misunderstanding. The emperor can send my father to Yan to check it out."
"I really don't know the temperament of the King of Yan. I will leave this matter to Marquis Gu. I hope there is still room for maneuver."
The next morning, Gu Yong was summoned to the palace.
In Chengchun Palace, Shen Qingqiu had been waiting for him for a long time.
"Father, you are here."
Upon seeing Shen Qingqiu, Gu Yong was ready to salute, but was stopped by Shen Qingqiu, "Father, there is no need for these formalities between you and me."
"You are a concubine in the emperor's harem, so you still have to observe the etiquette."
Shen Qingqiu nodded. She knew her father was always stubborn, so she just went along with him.
"Father, the emperor is sending you to Yan State this time. Are you sure?"
"I am also very surprised that Yan State suddenly changed the agreement that had been signed before. After all, I have had interactions with the King of England, and he is not that kind of person. I don't know what happened. Qingqiu, I may be in Yan State for a longer time this time. You should pay attention in the palace and don't have a direct conflict with the Queen."
Shen Qingqiu nodded, "Father, don't worry."
At this time, on the other side, in Fengwu Palace, Li Wanting was discussing important matters with the man in black.
"Black Hawk, go to Xiongnu and bring back the eighth prince."
"Your Majesty, the Eighth Prince has lost his power now. Is it really feasible for us to seek an alliance with him?"
Li Wanting smiled and said, "Since Gu Yanwei ascended the throne, he has been suppressing the prince's former accomplices. Their subordinates have long been indignant. If we find the Eighth Prince at this time, they will definitely help the Eighth Prince regain the throne. I can see that those people are definitely not ordinary people. Gu Yanwei will be retaliated by them sooner or later if he suppresses them like this."
"Your Majesty, what you said makes sense. I will go to the Northern Wasteland right now."
"Go quickly and come back soon."
Watching the man in black leave, Li Wanting asked Chun'er to bring a bowl of white fungus and bird's nest, and said, "Is the emperor still in the imperial study now?"
Chun Er nodded and said, "Yes."
"I have something to do tonight. You can take this Tremella and Bird's Nest Porridge to the Emperor. Remember, you must watch him drink it."
"Yes, madam."
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