With the money donated by ministers and officials and the silver from the national treasury, the cold disaster in the north was finally resolved.
Fu Yuheng was in a good mood. A big thing that had troubled him for a long time was finally over.
Seeing that he was in a good mood, Sun Ning wondered whether he should persuade him to go out for a walk. Coincidentally, Fu Yuheng had the same idea.
"Let's go to the Queen's Palace." The coldness on his face and in his eyes faded a little, and he stood up and walked ahead.
Sun Ning was slightly stunned. He thought he would go to Shen Qingwan's courtyard. But it was normal. Now that the queen was pregnant, he, as the emperor, should go to visit her.
Following Fu Yuheng to Xiao Shushen's palace, she was sitting on the couch choosing several pieces of silk sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The people in the palace were all snobbish and discerning, and knowing that she was pregnant, they naturally sent all the good things to her palace.
"What is the Queen looking at?" Fu Yuheng strode in without asking anyone to inform her.
Xiao Shushen was stunned for a moment, then she realized her behavior and quickly asked Nanny Gui to help her stand up, "Why didn't these servants inform the emperor!" She said in a coquettish tone, and in her heart she was thinking about how to punish these lazy palace servants after Fu Yuheng left.
"There is no need to be so polite, Queen." He stepped forward and gave her a light support. It was because he valued his offspring that he valued Xiao Shushen so much.
"I dare not forget the proper etiquette." Helped by Nanny Gui to sit back down, she smiled gracefully, her gentle eyes looking very harmless.
Hearing this, Fu Yuheng just hummed lightly, "How is the Queen feeling these days?"
She smiled softly, "I am fine, but it's a bit boring to be stuck in the house all day."
Since she became pregnant, she seldom went out. Firstly, the Imperial Garden was boring, and secondly, there were a lot of gossips outside, and after all, it was not as safe as her own palace.
"The Queen is pregnant and it is inconvenient for her to go out, so please bear with it for a while." He was also thinking about safety. It would be bad if she got bumped or hurt when going out.
She lowered her head in obedience, and naturally she did not dare to disobey Fu Yuheng's words. Now the emperor was closer to her because of his offspring, so she must not anger him.
Fu Yuheng felt much more relieved when he saw that she was more well-behaved. He changed his mind and said, "Since I'm here, come out for a walk with me." He believed that nothing would go wrong with him around.
When Aunt Gui heard this, her eyebrows lit up with joy. Xiao Shushen was also a little surprised, so she naturally would not refuse. The smile on her lips became even more intense, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
The two of them went for a walk by the Mirror Lake next to the Imperial Garden. Since they were pregnant, it was time to get out and breathe some fresh air.
Her heart was filled with pride. This was the honor and favor she received as the queen. No matter what, Shen Qingwan was just a concubine without children. Fu Yuheng was hers after all!
She was even more delighted in her heart. She was distracted by Fu Yuheng's handsome profile, but was brought back to her senses by the greetings from behind.
"Your Highness, Your Majesty, Your Majesty."
Fu Yuheng frowned slightly, and when he turned around, he saw a face that looked slightly stern. She was wearing a light green concubine's dress, which made her look elegant and refined, as if she was untainted by the mud.
A smile appeared in his eyes, and he waved at her, "Get up."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Shen Qingwan also found a chance to go out for a walk, but she didn't expect to run into the two of them. The two of them standing together looked so well matched that she felt like an outsider.
The clear beautiful eyes became even colder. Xiao Shushen glanced at her with dissatisfaction. Why did she have to appear in front of Fu Yuheng at any other time? Was it really such a coincidence
"The virtuous concubine is in a good mood, too." Her face was somewhat stubborn as she didn't look at him, as if she was looking at a certain place in front of her with an arrogant look.
She smiled faintly, a little distant, "Just killing some time."
Xiao Shushen had a smile on her face, but it didn't show in her eyes. She looked at her teasingly, "The Emperor and I are also bored. Sister Xianfei is proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting. I wonder if she can help me pass the time?"
As a queen, her demands were not excessive, but the provocation in her eyes made people feel uncomfortable.
Hearing this, Shen Qingwan just curled the corners of her lips and met the man's dark eyes without guilt, "I am just a petty trick and cannot be put on the stage."
The owner of the black eyes smiled. If her piano skills were just a trifle, then no one in the harem would dare to praise her.
"I am aware of Concubine Xian's piano skills. I have nothing to do right now, so why not play a tune for her?" As he said this, he stared into her eyes firmly.
Her face did not show any sign of alarm, but her pupils moved slightly. Her lips were pursed into a straight line as she looked straight at him. The smile at the corner of her mouth was very faint but impossible to ignore.
It was a very strange feeling. Fu Yuheng frowned but did not speak.
Xiao Shushen curled the corners of her mouth proudly and raised her eyebrows in anticipation of a good show, "Yes, I will play a song for the emperor and me."
Shen Qingwan did not reply, but Lianyun behind her could not help but sigh. How could the emperor let the queen play the zither for the two of them? Wouldn't this make the queen sad
Not caring that it was the Emperor and Empress, she said with a little resentment: "Your Majesty, the Empress is feeling a little unwell and I'm afraid she can't play the zither."
If it weren't for Fu Yuheng, she would not be able to control her dissatisfaction. Shen Qingwan did not respond, but just kept staring at Fu Yuheng.
Seeing his relaxed brows wrinkled again, the worry in his dark eyes flashed for a moment, "How is Concubine Xian's health? But the previous cold has not healed yet?"
If he paid close attention, he would have realized that this was just Lianyun's excuse and he could have simply stopped her from playing the piano, but he only asked about her health.
Hearing this, Lian Yun was about to step forward to answer, but was interrupted by Shen Qingwan, "I am fine now."
Lianyun was anxious, but she could only stamp her feet secretly. What else could she do since her own queen had said so!
Her gaze left the Emperor and the Empress, and the cold aura on her body seemed to become even stronger. "Lianyun, go get the zither." Since they wanted to listen, she would fulfill their wish. However, her heart couldn't help but sink.
She sat down in front of the piano and looked at the strings carefully, completely ignoring the expressions of the two men.
Immersed in her own music, no matter who is listening, she is playing it for herself.
After the song, her piano skills were still as good as usual, even better. Fu Yuheng couldn't help but praise her, "The Xianfei's piano skills are truly unique in the world!"
However, Xiao Shushen, who was sitting on the side, had a look of disdain on her face. She was just playing the piano, so in the end, wouldn't she still have to play it for the two of them
But Fu Yuheng's praise had already made her unhappy. Not wanting his eyes to stay on her, she suddenly covered her lower abdomen and whimpered a few times in pretending pain.
The relief in Fu Yuheng's eyes was immediately replaced by nervousness, "What happened to the Queen?"
Her brows were tightly knitted together, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty suddenly feels a little abdominal pain..."
Abdominal pain? Fu Yuheng frowned upon hearing this, "Since you have abdominal pain, you won't stay any longer. I'll take you back!" He then helped her up and rushed to her palace, with Shen Qingwan following behind.