Rong Xi's pregnancy was the same as when she was pregnant with Mu Jue. At the beginning of pregnancy, she ate a lot more than before. Although this appetite is still too small in Mu Huai's eyes, her current appetite is twice as large as usual.
The matter of Empress Dowager Zhai was finally settled, and Rong Xi finally avenged her friends and relatives. Now Mu Huai and she are looking forward to the birth of the baby in their womb. She feels relieved, and her appetite is stronger than usual tonight. better.
Her favorite dish of Yunlin goose was served with plum sauce in the past, but tonight Rong Xi felt that the plum sauce was not sour enough, so she called the servants to bring a plate of ginger vinegar, and dipped the goose meat in vinegar and ate it Count blocks. Another dish that is eaten the most is a dish of vinegared fish cooked by the Palace Food Bureau following the example of the chef of the Yujie Restaurant.
Although the folks say that children are sour and hot, Rong Xi feels that this kind of statement is not necessarily advisable.
She still hopes that she can give birth to a daughter, so that Mu Huai, a father, can have both sons and daughters.
Originally, the palace people felt that it was unlucky for Empress Dowager Zhai to fall from the bell tower. The news of Rong Xi's pregnancy quickly spread throughout the entire palace. The concubines who have not yet left the palace to practice secretly thought that this Empress Rong is really a lucky person. Many people also feel that the arrival of the newborn has dispelled the bad luck of Empress Dowager Zhai falling to her death.
In Yongxi Palace, few people felt sorry for Empress Dowager Zhai.
After her death, the concubine next to her actually felt relieved.
Aunt Lan Ruo, who was originally serving the Empress Dowager Zhai, also died due to the death of the old master. However, some concubines suspected that Lan Ruo's death method was too similar to that of the former Doctor Zhou. Her death was not suicide, but Someone is secretly interested.
And on this day, another person also died quietly in the cold palace.
This person is Concubine Hui who has been suffering from the cold for a long time, and tonight the emperor just learned the good news that the empress is pregnant. A toffee who was not favored and offended the empress died, so she is not worthy of the palace. I made a special trip to the Qianyuan Hall to report the matter to the Emperor Mu Huai.
Anyway, it's cold in winter, and Concubine Hui's body won't rot if left overnight.
The chief eunuch who was in charge of funerals in the palace ordered everyone in Tangyu Palace to keep silent, and to report the death of Concubine Hui to the emperor after the emperor came down tomorrow.
The Qianyuan Hall in another place has a peaceful and warm atmosphere.
After dinner, Mu Huai called the eunuch to go to the Honey Fried Bureau, and the food box he brought back was filled with candied apricots and crabapple fruits. , the servants there knew that the empress was just pregnant and had severe malaise, so they specially asked the palace servants to make a refreshing and sweet poplar nectar.
After nightfall, Mu Huai critiqued papers after the imperial case. Rong Xi was pregnant, and he didn't even let her do things like grinding ink. Eat these sweet treats and soups in the den.
Rong Xi hesitated for a while, but did not lie down on the soft fur bed.
Mu Huai spoiled her so much that her father, Rong Bing, had never spoiled her so much when he was alive.
But at this time, it was not easy for her to save the man's face and put on the dignified and courteous airs of the queen.
Mu Huai didn't even lift his eyes, but felt that the woman was not seated, so he asked softly, "Why are you still standing?"
Rong Xi had no choice but to sit on the Hu bed, hesitated for a while, and then lay down carefully holding the warm Mrs. Tang.
It has to be said that the palace people made the bed very comfortable.
Rong Xi gradually closed his eyes, although he was terrified in his heart, it was also sweet.
When Mu Huai was dealing with government affairs, she didn't like being disturbed by others, and Rong Xi didn't dare to make much noise. In fact, Mu Huai's government affairs are busy on weekdays, and she can't spare a lot of time to accompany her. Most of the intimate moments between the two are between Dunlun. Time.
Doing nothing like this, just getting along with her and Mu Huai in a peaceful way, is what Rong Xi has always hoped for.
The chief eunuch of Qianyuan Hall came in to serve tea once, he was always discerning, so he didn't dare to glance at the stunningly beautiful empress on the bed.
But I feel that the treatment of the queen is more like that of a concubine.
To say that she is treated like a concubine is not to lower the queen's worth.
It was the emperors throughout the ages who were so unscrupulous only when they loved their concubines.
The favor inherited by the favorite concubine is often several times higher than that of the queen.
While Mu Huai's government affairs were temporarily exhausted, Rong Xi carefully stood up and said to the man in a soft voice with a little embarrassment when he was frowning and drinking tea, "The palace people in Qianyuan Palace should all know about the concubines... lying in the emperor's office Eighty percent of them will feel that the courtiers and concubines are arrogant. Although the maids and eunuchs in the Qianyuan Palace are strict with their mouths, they dare not spread the affairs of the palace. But if they really meet some people who are not afraid of the powerful The speech officer, knowing that the emperor treats his concubines like this, should be discussed in the Daoist scriptures."
After saying that, Mu Huai raised his eyes and looked at the lazy beauty who was half leaning on the luxurious bed.
She has a beautiful complexion, just like a stunning beauty in a fine brushwork painting, instantly making the surrounding layout much brighter and more beautiful.
Now his little Xi'er finally has the attitude of receiving great favor.
Mu Huai felt very pleasing to the eye, so he replied to her in a gentle voice: "I have never heard of an emperor who doted on the queen too much, and was given a lecture by the eunuch."
Rong Xi endured the gradual smile on her lips, but lowered her eyes.
Mu Huai really dotes on her, and she has never heard of any emperor who dotes on the queen so much and doesn't have a harem.
Thinking of this, Rong Xi stroked her belly which was not yet flat.
Mu Huai was only twenty-three years old after the New Year's Eve, just at the age of fledgling, and it wasn't long after she gave birth to Jue'er.
In such a short period of time, Mu Huai toured the east for another two months.
Mu Huai is the emperor, the son of heaven with the supreme status, it is normal to have the Sangong and Six Courts.
Rong Xi was a little depressed, she still had unrealistic thoughts.
But if Mu Huai really plans to accept a few concubines into the palace after a while, she will have to force herself to accept it.
Rong Xi wanted to ask Mu Huai what he thought about choosing a concubine in advance, and she also wanted to prepare herself mentally.
The dusk is heavy, and the bright moon hangs high in the sky of Bianjing.
Before going to bed, the man did not call the maid into the clean room, but personally waited for her to take a bath, and Mu Huai treated her like fragile porcelain, with precious and careful movements.
Rong Xi was pregnant, and felt extremely tired when she was soaked in hot soup. When she was unconsciously hugged by a man behind her, she almost fell asleep in his arms.
The layout of the inner hall is gorgeous. The dragon bed inside is made of expensive agarwood. The bed board and Babu enclosure are carved with six-clawed coiled dragons, and the outer bedposts are also engraved with vivid coiled dragons.
Before Rong Xi entered the palace to do business, he heard that when the emperor in the palace came to concubines with low status, they would be wrapped in quilts and carried into the dragon bed by the powerful eunuchs.
She never thought that she would have any involvement with the royal family before, so she just wanted to do her own errands well, but she didn't realize that the emperor carried her up on the dragon bed, and she became a big brother. Queen of Qi.
Mu Huai wrapped a quilt for the woman, and as soon as she saw her lying down, he couldn't wait to close his eyes, with a delicate and sleepy look.
The sweet and tender tent is so tender and affectionate, Mu Huai couldn't help but kissed her forehead.
Rong Xi came to her senses at this moment. After opening her eyes with difficulty, she looked at the young and handsome emperor in front of her.
Mu Huai stroked the top of her hair, and said in a low voice, "Sleep first if you're sleepy."
"emperor."
After Rong Xi finished calling Mu Huai, seeing his eyes darken, he changed his words and called him again: "Husband."
Mu Huai's attitude was quite mild, and he asked, "What's the matter?"
Rong Xi stretched out her slender little hand, tugged at the corner of his clothes, and said in a low voice: "If your husband wants to choose a concubine in the next year... Before that, can you talk to the concubine first... so that the concubine can have some prepare... ”
Mu Huai didn't reply to her immediately, instead he was silent for a moment.
Unclear emotions were hidden in his deep black eyes, and Rong Xi couldn't figure out his thoughts at this time, so he added in a low voice as if probing: "I will try my best to be a virtuous and magnanimous queen, and I won't do it again." As jealous as ever..."
— "Why should you be virtuous and generous?"
Rong Xi was taken aback by this sentence.
Mu Huai said in a quiet and authentic tone: "I don't like Xi'er's virtue and generosity."
Rong Xi secretly thought about the implication of his words, Mu Huai's taste is quite unique, could it be that he likes her delicate and willful
The concubine can be a delicate and willful flower, but the queen can't.
Rong Xi was helpless, and asked again: "Then if the concubine has always been coquettish and jealous, does the husband hope that the concubine will not get along well with the concubine who will enter the palace in the future?"
Mu Huai reached out and pinched the woman's soft ears, Rong Xi immediately narrowed his eyes like a kitten, he half sat on the bed, looking down at her cute and pitiful appearance.
In his previous life, he didn't have any women. The Qi State was in his hands. Although it was not governed very well, the people in Qi territory still lived and worked in peace and contentment. Although he was aggressive, he also captured several cities.
After the conquest of Ye, the officials of the former Ye State who had surrendered to Qi also offered local beauties to him, but he did not accept them.
The overjoyed monarch will always regard the beauties of prisoners of war as a kind of victory prize. Although those Ye country beauties are not as beautiful as Rong Xi, in the eyes of ordinary people, they are already top-notch beauty.
Throughout the ages, even an emperor with a penchant for breaking sleeves would have one or two concubines, so others could not understand him, even Yin Cheng could not understand him.
However, Mu Huai knew exactly who the woman who lingered in her heart was when she dreamed back at midnight.
Although Rong Xi passed away in his previous life, Mu Huai would rather not have any woman in his life, but also meet her in his dream.
In his previous life, it was difficult for him to dream of her.
In the dream, Rong Xi's resentment was particularly heavy. If he said a word wrong, the woman would turn into a cloud and disappear.
At that time, Mu Huai was afraid that if he really fell in love with other women, Rong Xi might never appear in his dreams again.
But in this life, this woman is still alive and well, so how could he organize any talent show
After thinking about it, Rong Xi didn't know what he was thinking.
This woman is still jealous, the words she spoke to him just now seemed soft and docile, but in fact there was a bit of sourness.
- "I will not draft."
"It's not that it won't be in recent years, but it will never be drafted."
Rong Xi's heart was shaken by Mu Huai's words, and he was at a loss for words for a moment: "The emperor..."
Mu Huai interrupted her, and said earnestly again: "I will not want another woman, nor will I accept any more concubines."
"As long as I want Xi'er as a woman, the harem will only have you as a queen."
Seeing that the woman's expression became dazed and dazed because of being too shocked, Mu Huai patted her forehead with his hand, and said again: "You heard me right, do you want me to say it again?"
The beauty's skin was pale, and Mu Huai didn't exert much strength, and a red mark appeared on her forehead.
The red mark is in the center of the forehead, it looks like a plum blossom brand.
It looks like Xiaoxia slanting red, looking at it with a kind of incomplete beauty, glamorous and extravagant.
Rong Xi was suffering from pain, and while stroking his forehead with his fingers, he said in a soft voice: "But... But the concubine is pregnant again, Your Majesty... Your Majesty..."
Mu Huai is such a lustful person, this time he will have to go on a vegetarian diet for at least three months.
After her pregnancy is stable, Mu Huai can only taste some sweetness, and then there will be another long and boundless vegetarian day.
After Mu Huai lay down, he lightly covered the red marks on Rong Xi's eyebrows with his thin lips, and then replied lovingly: "I am willing to endure for Xi'er."
Rong Xi raised her eyes and glanced at the man.
She wasn't quite sure the man could stand it.
Rong Xi was born with stunning beauty and beauty, and she was the kind of smart-looking beauty. If she looked at people with suspicion, her eyes seemed to be full of light.
Seeing this, Mu Huai was displeased, and asked again: "Why do you look at me with that look, don't you believe it?"
Rong Xi asked in a very low voice with that sweet voice: "Husband... can you bear it?"
Mu Huai's deep eyes were slightly fierce, and he stretched out his hands to pinch her face, and replied angrily: "I am so involved in everything, and I am concerned about my great cause, how can I think about these things every day? You don't know your husband too well. .”
Rong Xi pushed his big hand.
When Mu Huai pinched her face, it hurt so much.
There was a red mark on Rong Xi's forehead, and there was another red mark on Li Dian's. The skin was too delicate and tender to be bullied.
Mu Huai was helpless, secretly thinking that she is really a delicate woman.
Rong Xi knows one thing clearly in his heart, when a man makes a promise to a woman, at that moment, it must be from the heart.
But if something unexpected happened, he would forget his promise to the woman.
But someone with Mu Huai's temperament was willing to promise her these things, Rong Xi was already very moved.
She said softly: "It's okay, even if the husband really has other women at that time, he should share it. If the ministers and concubines are really jealous, the husband will..."
Mu Huai quickly blocked her mouth, not allowing her to continue talking.
As soon as Rong Xi wanted to speak, he kissed her fiercely, and while kissing, said: "I only want you, believe it or not?"
— "Why don't you believe it?"
— "What a grinding woman."
- "I know how to pester me."
Rong Xi was so kissed by him that he couldn't bear it, her voice was slightly higher, and she hurriedly said: "Letter, letter, my concubine believes in Your Majesty..."
Just now Mu Huai let go of her, he stroked her brows and eyes with his slender fingertips, his eyes were very earnest, and he said again: "I really only want Xi'er alone."
Hearing that Mu Huai didn't call himself I, but instead used me, Rong Xi's eyes could not help but stare slightly.
"If Xi'er is hard to believe, then I will spend my whole life to prove it to you."
It took Rong Xi a while to nod his head heavily, and replied in a low voice: "Yes."
But at this moment, she didn't need to prove her loyalty to Mu Huai.
After all, in the territory of Qi, no one would dare to covet her even if she had the guts of an ambitious leopard.
Then he solemnly promised the man: "The concubine will always stay by His Majesty's side, take good care of His Majesty, and bring up these two children."
Mu Huai's eyes finally softened a little. He rewarded her by shaking her head, hugged her a little more tightly, and said in a low voice, "You're so good."
Rong Xi buried her head in his arms, and asked again in a voice like a mosquito: "But these few months, husband...husband..."
Mu Huai knew what was on her mind, so he put his thin lips next to her ear, and said a few words to her with a light brow.
After Rong Xi heard this, her cheeks burned.
"Well... the concubine knows."
Rong Xi's heart was at peace, and she gradually closed her eyes in Mu Huai's arms.
But when he thought of what he said just now, he still blamed him in his heart.
Mu Huai is still Mu Huai, he is really bad enough.
*****
Chengzhang three years, early spring.
Although there was a severe drought in Qi last year, there were no tragedies of homelessness and cannibalism in Daqi.
Emperor Wu strategized, also seemed to be like a magician, with extraordinary foresight.
The warehouses in the counties and counties of the Qi State had prepared sufficient grain and grain in advance when he first came to the throne, and he ordered the local officials to build dikes and canals in advance to divert water from dry land.
The original Hubu Duzhi Tao Chang made great contributions in the east tour, and he was promoted to Da Si Nong by Emperor Wu Huai at the beginning of the second year of Chengzhang.
This Tao Chang is doing the errands he likes, and he is extremely diligent during his tenure.
He originally proposed the method of substituting fields with equal ridges and ridges during Emperor Wu's east tour. This method can prevent soil erosion, and can also withstand drought and wind.
At the same time, Tao Chang improved the crops in various places, solving the hidden danger of moisture in Qijing in early spring.
Therefore, when Qi was in drought, it suffered very little loss.
However, Yan State in the north was caught off guard by the flood, and its national strength was greatly damaged.
In the early spring of the third year of Chengzhang, the heavens were beautiful, and Qi had a bumper harvest.
Mu Chen, the second son of Emperor Wu, was born just as the drought was about to end. At that time, the fortunes of the Qi Kingdom had just turned for the better.
Emperor Wu Mu Huai doted on the Empress Rong's family, and also valued her son. When the second son, Mu Chen, was full moon, he was named Prince Ying by Emperor Wu.
Empress Rong's younger brother is the heir of the Ukrainian Kingdom. Knowing that his sister was born safely, he sent thousands of war horses as a gift for Prince Ying's birthday.
Daqi faintly has signs of prosperity, but it is not at peace with its neighbor Ye.
The founding monarch of Qi State, Chengdi Muyou, was a close friend of the Ye Dynasty monarch when the Central Plains was torn apart. Chengdi was a vassal, and Yejun was his subordinate.
Later, the monarch of Ye Kingdom rebelled and established itself in the Central Plains.
At the beginning of the second year of Chengzhang, the monarch of Ye State violated the covenant and failed to deliver all the Chinese silk brocades needed by Qi State.
At the end of the second year of Chengzhang, there was a drought in Qi, but the monarch of Ye was at a banquet, humiliating Emperor Muyou.
There were also many disputes at the border between the two countries, so Emperor Wu Muhuai wanted to attack Ye in the late spring of the third year of Chengzhang.
At the end of spring, the smoke in Bianjing is clear, and the clouds and things are fresh.
Rong Xi has lived for eighteen years, but she has never been out of the state of Qi. When she was born, Emperor Zhuang had been in power for several years, and she had only experienced the war where Mu Huai defeated Jin.
A few years ago, she only had a slight liking for Mu Huai. She was still his servant at that time. After Mu Huai went to war, she was already thinking about Mu Huai who was still her master all the time in Bianjing Palace City. Huai.
At that time, she was worried day and night, for fear that Mu Huai would die on the battlefield.
Although Mu Huai didn't have any serious injuries after returning to Qi that year, he still had some minor injuries on his arms and back shoulders, and also left a few scars.
Now these old wounds and old scars have already faded and faded, and they are about to disappear.
But now, Mu Huai is going to fight in person again, so it's inevitable that he will have some old wounds on his body.
Even though Mu Huai is the emperor, even if he is personally conquered by the emperor, he will be protected by thousands of people, but Mu Huai's temperament is clear to Rong Xi, he absolutely cannot bear to hide under the protection of others, and he will definitely rush forward to fight with the commander of Ye Kingdom.
Thinking about it again, his attack on Ye would take several months at least.
Rong Xi knew the strength of the two countries. If Qi State could not conquer Ye State, the worst outcome would be to withdraw its troops and return. If she stayed in Biandu with her two children, she would be safe.
But instead of worrying about Mu Huai day and night in Bian, she really wanted to go to the battlefield with Mu Huai.
But in Mu Huai's eyes, she was a fragile woman who couldn't bear any hardship.
In less than five days, Mu Huai will lead the army to leave Bian, Rong Xi has been feeling particularly depressed recently, and always has nightmares.
Dan Xiang saw that Rong Xi had been standing beside the book case for a long time, but she had been concentrating and meditating, and knew that the empress was thinking about the emperor's safety.
—"Your Majesty, the little prince is here."
Dan Xiang's thoughts interrupted Rong Xi's thoughts, and as soon as she finished speaking, Mu Jue entered the study.
Mu Jue had just turned three years old, and Mu Huai couldn't wait to worship Xiangguo Yan Juxu as his grand teacher. After he came down to court every day, he would go to the East Palace to enlighten Mu Jue.
The first thing Mu Jue did when he entered Jiaofang Palace was to greet Rong Xi.
He is a small one, but he is wearing luxurious brocade clothes, his hair has just grown to the point where it can be tied, and he can't wear a heavy gold or jade crown. He only uses a small rhinoceros jade hairpin to tie his hair.
Mu Jue's expression had a calmness that didn't match his age, like a little adult, but his voice was childish.
While saluting to Rong Xi, he said: "I wish my queen mother well."
When Rong Xi saw Mu Jue, his eyes softened a lot.
She touched his little head, and asked softly: "Today I studied with the grand master, but I'm still tired."
Mu Jue replied solemnly: "After returning to the mother, the son will not feel tired."
Rong Xi pursed her soft lips slightly, and replied helplessly: "You don't have to be so serious when Jue'er talks back to her mother."
Mu Jue's expression didn't change, but his tone became more serious than before, and he replied, "I know."
Rong Xi had no choice but to pat his little head again, and said softly, "That's all...you go and see your brother."
Before going to see Mu Chen, Mu Jue even bowed to her.
Seeing this, Rong Xi shook his head helplessly, secretly feeling that Mu Jue was really more and more like Mu Huai, both in looks and temperament.
He is very respectful to his mother, but Rong Xi knows his child best, while Mu Jue is actually a little surly in private, and likes to fight fiercely with others.
Although Mu Chen was still young, he had always been a child with a gentle personality. Rong Xi always felt that maybe it was because Mu Huai was still very brutal to her when he was pregnant with Mu Jue, and this child's personality was just like his father's.
But when he was pregnant with Mu Chen, Mu Huai was very gentle to her, it was as if he was a different person.
So although Mu Chen is still at the stage of babbling, it can still be seen that he will be a gentle person in the future.
Fortunately, Mu Jue didn't reject his younger brother at all, every time he came to Jiaofang Palace, he stepped on the crossbar of the cradle, leaned forward, and teased Mu Chen with the rattle.
Just as Rong Xi was thinking of going to the inner room to accompany the two children, the sound of metal armor plates colliding suddenly came to his ears.
Her complexion changed slightly, and when she turned around, she saw that Mu Huai, who had just returned from the barracks, had not removed his armor and was still wearing the black iron armor, striding into the inner hall.
He was holding a phoenix-winged scepter in his hand, and he was stepping on cloud-toed black leather combat boots. His jet-black eyebrows were furrowed, and he looked handsome and sassy.
Although Mu Huai didn't have the knife marks and blood stains on his body when he came back from Jin country.
But the him in front of him was enough to make Rong Xi's heart tremble.
All the people in the palace always said that the emperor wanted to fight and conquer Ye.
But until now, seeing Mu Huai put on the armor, Rong Xi felt the truth in his heart, but became more and more panicked.
She was really worried about him.
She must find a way to let him take her to the battlefield.