The Queen Mother was supported and slowly took the main seat.
She looked down at everyone, and before she could speak, Chai Yue beside her shouted, "Stand up!"
Xue Zhiyi stood up and handed the tray in his hand to Jingchun. After Jingchun took it, he quickly retreated.
Seeing something unusual happening, the Queen Mother asked, "Concubine Song, what's going on?"
Concubine Song, who was already in the wrong, could still act unreasonably before the Empress Dowager arrived, but how dare she continue to cause trouble now?
She lowered her head and said, "I am fine. Thank you, Queen Mother, for your concern."
After everyone was seated, Xue Zhiyi slowly walked to stand behind the empress dowager.
Jingchun brought up another cup of tea. Xue Zhiyi took the cup and handed it to the empress dowager.
"This spring tea was picked just before Qingming Festival and was brought here as tribute from Jiangnan at full speed. It just arrived yesterday. Have you all tasted it?"
The Queen said softly, "The tea has a delicate and rich aroma. It leaves a sweet taste in my mouth. It's true that the tea here is the best."
The Queen Mother was very kind to the Empress, saying, "This year, spring has warmed up early. After the long rain, the weather has become warmer, and the tea is growing exceptionally well."
She put down the teacup and said, "I wonder how the Queen is doing?"
The Queen smiled and said, "Thank you for your concern, Mother. I am feeling much better now and don't cough much at night anymore."
Hearing this, the Queen Mother sighed worriedly, "The Queen is still young, but her health isn't even as good as mine. After all, she's the mother of a country, so she needs to be carefully cared for. I've seen that Concubine An handles things reasonably well, so if there are any complicated matters, just leave them to her."
An Zhaoyi quickly replied, "I, your concubine, shall do my utmost to assist your Majesty."
Seeing An Zhaoyi being so flattering and compliant, Concubine Ge felt annoyed: what a blind person, who only knows how to curry favor with a queen who has no children and no favor. When one day she becomes the empress dowager, she will make sure these two people die miserably!
An Zhaoyi smiled at the Empress and said, "Your Majesty is overworked. The Qionglin Banquet is approaching, and Your Majesty is worrying about every detail. I feel tired just watching you."
The Queen Mother said, "After the results of the imperial examination are posted, there will be the Qionglin Banquet. At that time, all those who pass the exam will be invited to the palace to attend. It is indeed a very important matter, but the Queen should not overwork herself."
The Queen lowered her eyes respectfully and said, "Yes, thank you for your consideration, Mother."
Xue Zhiyi thought for no reason: A few days ago, Fu Ling had probably even prepared what clothes Xue Tingsheng would wear at the Qionglin Banquet. Now that others have passed the imperial examination, her son has to wear prison clothes. I wonder how many breaths are left in Fu Ling's belly at this moment?
"Speaking of which," the Queen Mother said, "Min'er will also be returning to this Qionglin Banquet."
Xue Zhiyi's heart skipped a beat: the man who led the troops in the southern border and had not returned for many years, Gu Shichong's biggest rival, Xue Tingliu's real master, and one of the culprits who caused her to become a prostitute in her previous life, Prince Cheng Gu Shimin.
The Queen Mother sighed slightly: "Yuzhou is located in the southern border, and the Zhou Kingdom is eyeing it covetously. This child has worked hard over the years."
After saying this, he looked at someone at the table and said, "Fortunately, the Nan'an Kingdom in the south is stable, which can be regarded as a relief for Yuzhou."
The woman at the banquet had beautiful features and eyebrows. If she had not been sitting next to Concubine Ge, she would have been considered the most beautiful among all the ladies. However, she was a little older, and compared with Concubine Ge, her appearance seemed inexplicably vulgar.
Upon hearing this, she stood up and bowed, "The name of Nan'an was bestowed by Dayong. The people all regard Dayong as their suzerain and fatherland. Generations will be loyal to them and obey them in every way."
Chai Yue and Xue Zhiyi had mentioned this lady, Concubine Wu Lifei, a daughter of the royal family of Nannan State. It was said that she was a stunning beauty from Nannan State. She came from thousands of miles away and had been in the harem of Dayong for more than twenty years.
"Concubine Li, please sit down and talk." The Queen Mother smiled faintly. "Nan'an has been a vassal of Dayong for many years. You left your homeland for the sake of diplomatic relations between the two countries and gave birth to a son and a daughter for the Emperor. Both Dayong and Nan'an will remember your kindness."
Concubine Wu Lifei has been favored for many years, not only because of her extraordinary beauty, but also because she is the biological mother of the second prince, Prince Chang Gu Shiyun, and Princess Pingzhang Gu Ruxuan.
As he was speaking, he suddenly heard an untimely retching sound.
Following the sound, I saw Concubine Song covering her mouth and nose, and stood up in panic: "Your Majesty, I was not feeling well when I woke up early. I was disrespectful in front of you, Your Majesty. Please forgive me!"
This noise caused everyone's expression to change subtly.
Concubine Ge exclaimed softly, "What's wrong with Concubine Song? Queen Mother, why does it seem to me that Concubine Song's reaction is so similar to how I, Huaiying, reacted as a child?"
The Queen Mother looked at Concubine Song calmly, only to see her blush: "How can I be as blessed as the Imperial Concubine?"
The Queen Mother laughed out loud and said, "Please sit down first. I will send for the imperial physician to take a look."
Only then did Lady Song smile shyly and sit down with her hands covering her chest.
Xue Zhiyi couldn't help but think to himself: Concubine Song doesn't seem to be very good at hiding her thoughts. At this moment, her eyes and eyebrows are full of joy. It doesn't seem like she is completely unaware of her pregnancy. No wonder she dared to make things difficult for the people in Jianzhang Palace just now. It turns out that she had something to rely on.
She glanced at Concubine Ge again, fearing that Concubine Song had come to cause trouble for her at the instigation of her master.
Otherwise, there is no grudge or hatred between them. No one is born a mad dog that loves to bite people. Why would Lady Song target her for no reason? She just wants to please her master.
An Zhaoyi glanced at Concubine Song and said, "Concubine Song, you should count on your fingers first. If the last time you slept with me was a year or two ago, then there's no need to hold on to your hopes, lest you be disappointed."
Lady Song's face darkened and turned even redder.
But Concubine Ge said indifferently, "Last month, when Your Majesty came to Cuiwei Palace, I was unwell, and it was Concubine Song who received him. Concubine An was the one who received the most favors, but there has been no news for a long time. Are you getting anxious now?"
"Alright." The Queen Mother interrupted the two people's continued argument, her cloudy eyes still gentle: "Whether you are pregnant or not, you should let the imperial physician take your pulse. Just to put your mind at ease."
Several people kept silent and waited patiently for the imperial physician to arrive.
After the imperial physician took the pulse, as expected, he was immediately delighted and bowed to congratulate: "Congratulations to the Queen Mother, congratulations to Your Majesty, Concubine Song is one month pregnant!"
The Queen Mother showed a look of joy: "Great! Since Ying'er, there has been no royal heir born in the palace for many years. This is a rare happy event."
As she spoke, she ordered, "Quickly serve a bowl of my bird's nest to Lady Song."
Lady Song exaggerated her joy, but then she held her forehead with her hand.
Seeing this, Concubine Ge asked with concern, "Is Lady Song feeling unwell?"
But Lady Song shook her head and said, "Reporting to the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Concubine, perhaps... I was just angry, and now I suddenly feel a tightness in my heart."
Concubine Ge's face darkened, and she suddenly stood up solemnly and bowed to the Queen Mother: "Queen Mother, there are some things I am not sure whether I should say."
Under the Empress Dowager's scrutinizing gaze, Concubine Ge bowed again and said, "It is a great blessing that Concubine Song is pregnant, but she was offended today. If Concubine Song is fine, it will be fine. But if anything happens to her, I am afraid that the person who offended Concubine Song will be punished to the utmost and it will be difficult to make amends."
The Queen Mother's expression changed slightly. She looked at Concubine Song and said, "Tell me, what's going on?"
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