"Empress niangniang, this is what the Emperor ordered nubi to deliver to you."
Qu Qing Ju looked at the things in the hands of the palace maids. She found it was clothing, shoes, and socks suitable for pregnant women. She smiled and replied: "It must have been hard for the Emperor to spend so much effort on me." Even though the palace maids at her side had already made a lot of clothing for her, but she would remember He Heng's care.
Mu Jin sent the palace maids out of the hall. When she came back, she found that the items had been put away. She assumed that the matter of Qu san xiaojie a few days ago had affected the Empress' mood. She went forward and asked: "Niangniang, nubi heard from the taiyi that after the fetus is three or four months old, there would be weak fetal movements. Have you felt it recently?"
"Really, ben gong had thought it was a stomachache," Qu Qing Ju had been very interested in the fetus recently. She rubbed her chin and commented, "No wonder I kept feeling strange movements in my stomach these past few days. I had thought it was a stomachache."
"If it was a stomachache, Du Yuanshou would have found it long ago," Mu Jin opened the windows in the room and looked at the sky outside, "Nubi sees that the weather outside is pretty good. Niangniang, why don't you take a walk outside?"
Lu mama, who had been silent all this time, looked out the window and then nodded: "Mu Jin guniang is right. Right now, His Highness has been in niangniang's stomach for three months. It would be good for both you and His Highness to take a walk."
Lu mama was the pregnancy mama that He Heng had personally bestowed. She understood a woman's pregnancy very well. For Qu Qing Ju, she was the encyclopedia of pregnancy. From speech to food to thoughts, she could explain everything clearly and logically.
"Since Lu mama says so, then let's go out for a walk," Qu Qing Ju touched her face. Holding Jin Zhan's hand, she stood up from the chaise.
Mu Jin added a fox fur cloak for Qu Qing Ju before letting Qu Qing Ju go out.
The weather at the beginning of winter wasn't very cold. Qu Qing Ju uncomfortably pulled at the cloak on her body. Basking in the sun that wasn't very warm, she yawned and asked: "I heard that the Emperor punished a palace maid yesterday, do you know what happened?"
Mu Jin and Jin Zhan looked at each other. In the end, it was Mu Jin who spoke: "Nubi is not very clear. I only heard that the Emperor had discovered that the palace maid was dressed in a way that violated the rules. This caused the Emperor to be furious and the Emperor acted out." They were afraid of affecting the Empress' mood so they didn't tell niangniang. How did niangniang know?
Qu Qing Ju knew what they were thinking and lazily said: "Ben gong is pregnant. Many people in the hougong have different thoughts. Even the palace maids have other thoughts."
"Niangniang, so what if they have thoughts? The Emperor doesn't care about them. You just have to take care of the fetus, why bother with these people?" Mu Jin advised, "Also, niangniang, you are the Empress, who can surpass you?"
"Of course I won't waste my energy on these people," Qu Qing Ju's lips curled into a smile. She looked at a corner in front of her, "But I'm afraid that these people will be an eyesore to ben gong."
Mu Jin and Jin Zhan simultaneously followed Qu Qing Ju's gaze. Instantly, their faces darkened. It was Han liangdi and the Emperor standing together talking about something. Looking at the smile on Han liangdi's face, it was as though she had picked up a rare treasure.
Seeing this scene, the two looked worriedly at the Empress. They found that the smile on the Empress' lips deepened, but her eyes were slightly cold. Mu Jin couldn't resist saying, "Niangniang, maybe the Emperor just happened to meet Han liangdi."
Qu Qing Ju snorted. There weren't that many coincidences in the world, and there weren't that many Emperors who would preserve their chastity for a woman. In the previous dynasty, there was a Yu Ming Emperor who was sung of for hundreds of years. It could be seen how rare it was for an Emperor to be infatuated with love.
Han liangdi hadn't thought that she would coincidentally encounter the Emperor in the Imperial Gardens. She shyly looked at He Heng who was standing tall and straight, asking in a gentle voice: "Emperor, qie learned a new song a few days ago. Does Emperor want to hear it?"
"Han liangdi's voice is like an oriole in a secluded valley. Zhen hasn't heard you sing in a long time," He Heng looked at the pavilion beside him and pointed at it, suggesting, "Why don't you sing it for zhen today?"
Han liangdi was so happy she couldn't disguise her expression. She followed behind the Emperor. Seeing the Emperor sit down, she said: "Qie will embarrass myself."
"Cutting the candle to the west window, the moon is like silver frost. Asking the bright moon when the one will return, but sees the one is on the other side … …"
Standing behind He Heng, Ming He listened to the song and sniffed. This song seemed to be Han liangdi asking for the Emperor's favour? But this voice was really beautiful. The song was sung with one sigh and three complaints, full of melancholy.
"The one doesn't see the beauty's tears, but the beauty's hair is hurt … …"
When the song finished, the rims of Han liangdi's eyes reddened. She pretended to be calm as she curtsied to He Heng: "Qie's voice isn't as good as it was in the past, and has disappointed Emperor."
"En, Han liangdi's song is as beautiful as ever. Zhen … …" He Heng looked outside the pavilion, his eyelids twitching, "Zhen thinks that the matter of the zither can be played occasionally, but it can't be too exhausting. Right now, you are a fifth-grade liangdi. Practicing and singing every day isn't dignified enough. In the future, if you want zhen to enjoy any song, you can have the people of the Music School rehearse it for zhen to watch."
She hadn't thought she would hear such words. Han liangdi instantly stilled. Even the tears in her eyes that hadn't fallen were instantly choked back.
"Emperor's words are too much. Qie feels that Han liangdi's song is very good. How can the singers of the Music School compare?" Qu Qing Ju held Mu Jin's hand as she walked step by step into the pavilion. When she was in front of He Heng, she moved to bend in greeting but was caught by He Heng.
"If you like it, then let Han liangdi go back and practice her voice. In the future, you can enjoy songs with zhen," He Heng helped her to sit down beside him and put a stack of pastries in front of her, "Or you can let Han liangdi sing a song now. Zhen remembers that Han liangdi has a song that is very good."
Qu Qing Ju's eyes twinkled as she smiled. Her eyes turned and landed on Han liangdi who was still standing. After a moment of thought, she shook her head and said: "Never mind. Just like Emperor said, Han liangdi's rank isn't high, but she is still a feipin of the hougong. To let her sing for qie, it would be unfair to her."
"You are the Empress who is the mother of the world. There's nothing unfair about her singing for you," He Heng slightly raised his chin as he looked at Han Qing He, "Han liangdi, what do you think?"
"To be able to sing for Emperor and Empress is qie's good fortune," Han Qing He squeezed out a warm and appropriate smile. She bowed to Qu Qing Ju, "Please, niangniang, allow pinqie to sing for you." She felt that half of her heart was extremely cold and the other half was extremely hot. It was uncomfortably writhing but she had to change herself into a singer.
"Peach blossom demon, pear blossom white, only lotus … …"
Qu Qing Ju gave a yawn and lazily leaned on He Heng's shoulder. She muttered: "The weather today is good, it really makes people sleepy."
He Heng knew that after a woman became pregnant, they tended to be sleepy. He reached out to hold her back, letting her lean more comfortably. His other hand slowly sipped at the teacup, occasionally lowering his head to look at Qu Qing Ju who was leaning on his shoulder.
Han Qing He looked at the scene. For some reason, she felt her throat hurt, as though it was hard for her to bear even one line. Towards the end, even she didn't know how she sang.
"Stop," He Heng said in a small voice, "The Empress is asleep, don't disturb her." Finishing, he bent to pick up the person leaning on his shoulder. He then took a deep breath. It was pretty heavy.
His Empress looked slender and beautiful. Even being three months pregnant didn't show her belly. But as he carried her, he found that she was much heavier than before. It seemed that the food she ate every day had some effect.
Thinking that Qu Qing Ju's belly would grow bigger in a few months, he couldn't help but furrow his brow. At that time, he didn't know how much Qing Ju would suffer. It would be hard for her to even sleep.
"Emperor, why don't nucai get someone to bring the palanquin over." Ming He saw the situation and hurriedly went forward to suggest.
"No need," He Heng held Qu Qing Ju securely, "This place isn't too far from Tian Qi Palace."
"Yes," Ming He obediently retreated to the back, bowing as he followed. He prepared himself that if the Emperor relented, he would use his body to cushion the Empress. From here to the rear hall of Tian Qi Palace, it was a difficult walk.
"Respectfully sending off Emperor and Empress niangniang," Han Qing He watched as the Emperor carried the Empress down the stairs of the pavilion. When she could no longer see the figure, she angrily threw away the teacup on the stone table. What did the Empress mean? Was she, Han Qing He, born to be a singer?
She was the Emperor's woman, why did she have to sing for her!
"Zhuzi," The palace maid behind her was so frightened by her action that her expression changed. She looked in all directions. Seeing no one else, she sighed in relief, "Don't get angry outside. Be careful, the walls have ears."
"Right now, she's pregnant and can't serve the Emperor. She still clings to the Emperor and doesn't let go. Even at this point, there are still so many people praising her for being virtuous, pah!" Han Qing He couldn't suppress the fire inside. The days of fighting with Feng Zi Jin had made her forget herself, even her own identity.
"Zhuzi!" The palace maid was so frightened her legs turned to jelly. She knelt in front of her, "Don't say anymore, this is a great crime that can get you beheaded!"
"Get up, why are there so many idiots like you serving me," Han Qing He took a few deep breaths. Seeing the people beside her pale with fright, she slowly calmed down, "Go back!"
Such a good chance to get close to the Emperor, it was destroyed by Qu Qing Ju. It really was irritating!
Qu Qing Ju closed her eyes as she leaned into He Heng's embrace. Hearing his increasingly heavy breathing, she opened her eyes when they were about to reach Tian Qi Palace. She looked around in confusion before raising her head to look at He Heng, "Emperor?"
"Awake?" He Heng stopped walking, burying his head as he smiled at the puzzled woman in his arms, "You just fell asleep, I'm taking you back to the palace."
"I'm much heavier now, put me down," Qu Qing Ju hurriedly said, "Emperor, how can you carry me all the way back, it's too tiring."
"It's fine," He Heng hugged her tighter, "Don't mess around, we're almost there, zhen will carry you back."
Qu Qing Ju buried her head in his embrace, muttering: "So embarrassing."
"I've seen you in more embarrassing moments," He Heng laughed out loud, "But it's true that you're much heavier."
Qu Qing Ju pinched his waist, snorting: "Don't you see whose fault it is."
"My fault, my fault," He Heng continued to stride forward, completely unaffected by Qu Qing Ju's pinch, "It's better to be heavier, I like you to be heavier."
The group of people following behind silently buried their heads even lower. They expressed that they hadn't heard anything.
Of course, they didn't see the Emperor fawning over the Empress.
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