Mid-August is the hottest time in Beijing.

It's like being placed in a closed pot and being simmered on a low fire. I'm sweating profusely every day. The cicadas on the treetops are chirping tirelessly, and the noisy sound makes people feel more and more irritable.

That day Chang Qing asked me to go to Jingren Palace to accompany me. Nianshen was so happy that he ran around in the room, but there were several ice trays in the room. My body couldn't stand the cold. Chang Qing saw my abnormal expression,

Then he said: "Let's go out for a walk."

"Where does the Queen want to go?"

"Let's go sit by the lake."

Myolie and the others immediately went to prepare. After a while, we arrived at the octagonal pavilion by the lake. It was shaded from the sun and surrounded by cool water vapor, which made people feel much more comfortable. Koorer also placed a few fruit plates and refreshments and sat there.

It is very pleasant to enjoy tea here while enjoying the cool breeze.

It was rare for me to have such time in the palace, and I was in such a mood, and I relaxed a lot. I smiled and sipped tea, and from time to time he would lie on my knees while thinking deeply. I would pick up a piece of fruit and feed it to his mouth, and he would eat it.

You have to smile and hold my legs happily.

Chang Qing looked at it and said calmly: "Nian Shen, if you eat this, don't eat it again."

The fruit is placed in a well and soaked in cold water. It is very comfortable to eat when it is soaked in cold water. However, if you eat too much, your spleen and stomach will still be harmed. Shen Nian Shen whispered: "Oh." Then she pouted her little mouth and went to the side to play.

.

Chang Qing lowered her head and took a sip of tea without raising her eyelids.

I looked at the little back of the child, and then at the empress in front of me, who is a mother to the world, and said softly: "Actually, your highness still listens to the empress..."

Chang Qing's eyes looked at me behind the light smoke rising from the tea bowl: "Huh?"

I thought about it again and said, "Actually, it would be best if His Majesty could know about your Majesty's concern for you."

Chang Qing's eyes bent slightly, as if she was smiling, but when she put down the tea bowl, her face was still indifferent and expressionless. She said calmly: "It doesn't matter whether you know it or not."

"..."

Looking at her indifferent expression, I vaguely seemed to see another indifferent person——

Queen Mother.

I am also so calm and indifferent, but those shaky peace charms on the bedside make me feel a little sad.

Chang Qing turned her head and looked at the vast lake. Her eyes were like this lake. It was so calm that there were no ripples. It was even covered with a layer of mist, making it difficult for people to see through her heart. After a while, she said: "

Born in this imperial city, one cannot be so affectionate. He is the eldest prince and should have his own responsibilities."

"..."

"Besides -"

I heard that there was something else in her words, so I said, "What?"

Chang Qing looked at the lake and said slowly: "The concubine's delivery date seems to be very recent."

I was holding a grape between my fingertips, but suddenly with a shake, the grape fell down and rolled into the lake.

I have been thinking too much lately, and the things that are right in front of me have been ignored. Looking back, it is already August, and Shen Rou is about to give birth!

I heard that her Chonghua Palace has been very lively recently. All the supplements in the palace are delivered inside for free, and the gate is packed with concubines coming and going to fawn over. But the surprise is Shen Rou herself. She is originally a

Those who like to show off their power usually have to

When something like this happens, she naturally has to show off in front of everyone, but this time, none of the concubines who went to flatter her entered her door. I heard that Pei Yuanhao went there several times and was used by her with her body.

He excused himself with the excuse of discomfort and left without sitting for a while.

She was really too careful about the child in her belly.

However, any woman who lives in the harem knows that she can never be too careful. Especially when Nangong Lizhu had a miscarriage and Yuwen was killed a while ago, she naturally has to be more cautious.

Chang Qing said: "It would be nice if she gave birth to a princess; if she gave birth to a prince -"

She and I looked at each other, without speaking, but subconsciously looked at Nian Shen.

At this time, Nian Shen was holding a lotus in his hand and ran over from another path. Myolie followed behind and was sweating profusely. She hurriedly said: "Your Highness, be careful, don't fall!"<

/p>

Nian Shen ran to the pavilion, raised the flower in his hand high and presented it to Chang Qing: "Mother, queen, look, this flower is so beautiful. I brought it here specially for my mother."

The lotus flower indeed bloomed beautifully. The pink petals were blooming, and the tips were bright red. The center of the flower was moistened with a few crystal dews. Chang Qing lowered her head and glanced at Nian Shen's red face, silent.

After a moment, a smile finally appeared on the corner of his mouth: "You kid..."

After saying that, take it over.

Nian Shen smiled so hard that his eyes narrowed into slits, and then turned to look at me: "Aunt Qing——" He glanced at Chang Qing and immediately said: "Qingying, I will pick one for you too."
p>

I smiled and said, "No need, I'll just look at this one from the Queen."

Chang Qing looked at us with a faint smile and said to Nian Shen: "Nian Shen, Qingying is the queen's sister, you can call her Aunt Qing."

Nian Shen looked at her in surprise: "Mother..."

"Your Aunt Qing is very knowledgeable. Your father asked her to stay not to be naughty with you, but to teach you how to behave and how to be a good prince. You must learn from Aunt Qing and don't let her down for you.

Stay like this."

Nianshen listened attentively, nodded and said: "Mother, I understand."

After saying these words, Chang Qing slowly raised her head and looked at me, and I looked at her solemnly. Although she said those words to Nian Shen, I understood that she was also telling me that she entrusted Nian Shen to her.

Gave it to me.

Nian Shen has always considered this eldest prince very dangerous, especially after Nangong Lizhu's miscarriage, he became the target of public criticism. If Shen Rou gave birth to a daughter, it would be a blessing among misfortunes, but if she really got a boy in one fell swoop -

—

I also turned my head and looked at the vast misty lake, as if the future of the few of us here was filled with fog.

Things are unpredictable. Just two days after those words between Chang Qing and I, Shen Rou’s big day arrived.

That morning, I had just had breakfast with the Queen Mother when I heard a call to the door from outside. Aunt Gui went out to answer the door. After a while, she walked in and said: "Your Majesty, Miss Qing, I am the one beside the Queen. Come and invite Miss Qing."

Past."

The Queen Mother didn't say anything, just nodded and went to the Buddhist altar. I confessed my sin and walked out.

As soon as I went out, I saw Kuan'er standing at the door with a slightly off-looking expression. I stepped forward and said, "What's the matter? What did the Queen call me for?"

Kou'er lowered his voice and said softly: "The news from Chonghua Palace is that the imperial concubine is about to give birth."

"Oh..."

Although it was expected, I was still a little shocked when I heard it suddenly. I calmed down and turned around to see Aunt Gui standing at the door looking at me. I nodded to her and followed Kuan'er.

After a while, we arrived at Jingren Palace. Chang Qing had just walked out of it. Although she was not wearing any fancy clothes, she still looked very elegant. When she saw me, she said: "The imperial concubine is about to give birth. I go over to see her."

Look, you also go with me."

"Yes."

After saying that, I went over and followed her. She didn't bring many people with her, just me and Kuo'er, and a little Fuzi who was running errands with her. As soon as she left the palace, she saw Eunuch Yu face to face.

Come over here.

He was busy kneeling down to Chang Qing. Chang Qing stopped and said, "Did the Emperor ask you to go to Chonghua Hall?"

"Back to the Queen, yes."

"Where is the Emperor now?"

"The emperor is in the royal study now, and Lord Shen is also discussing state affairs there. If there is any news, my servant will immediately send someone to pass it over."

Chang Qing raised her eyebrows, and I listened from behind, smiling lightly in my heart - Shen Gongyi came to the palace at this time, not to discuss state affairs.

"Yeah. Let's go."

After a while, we all arrived at the Chonghua Palace. I haven't been here for many years. The houses in the palace are old and renovated, but this place is as domineering as ever.

As soon as I walked in, I smelled the smell of blood in the air.

I was wondering if it was my misunderstanding, because neither Chang Qing nor the others had any reaction. When the maids of the Chonghua Palace received the news, they came out to welcome her, knelt down and said, "Welcome to the Queen."

Chang Qing waved her hand lightly: "How is the imperial concubine doing now?"

The maids looked at each other, as if they were a little confused. After a while, one of them stammered: "I am... I am alive."

Chang Qing frowned, and Kuan'er immediately stepped forward and pointed at the palace maid and cursed: "Nonsense, doesn't the Queen know that she still needs you to say this! You people in Chonghua Palace are becoming more and more unruly!"

The maids were so frightened that they kowtowed.

At this moment, Mingzhu hurriedly ran over from behind, knelt down and said: "Welcome to the queen, please forgive me."

Chang Qing said calmly: "How is your master now? Don't tell me, I am still alive."

Mingzhu glared at the palace maids and replied hurriedly: "Returning to the queen, Po Wen is inside, and several doctors from the imperial hospital have come over, and are treating the empress——"

"I am not asking how they are, I am asking, how is the noble concubine?"

Mingzhu's face turned pale, and she sighed before saying: "Just now, Po Wen said - said -"
To be continued...