Huiju nodded: "So it's better for us to be slaves, and we won't worry about being a good master."

I nodded her nose: "The emperor's favor is only temporary. The happiest people are the people outside the palace. Although the days are not luxurious and rich, but they are practical and harmonious. We can't ask for a stable life."

Seeing me, Huiju sighed, for fear that it would affect my mood, so I hurriedly turned the topic and picked up anecdotes in the palace, and my mood became more relaxed.

Taking a nap after lunch as usual, I remembered something, so I asked Huiju to come to Kunning Palace for dinner.

This is my first contact with her after returning to the position of queen.

Although the imperial doctor said that I needed to stay in bed and rest, when Yi Zhaorong came, I decided to meet in the small garden of Kunning Palace.

The water in the pond was crystal clear, and a small carp was swimming around the huge koi. The swing frame I used to sit on was covered with vines, and the little white flowers with green leaves made it fresh and delicate.

Xiangfei bamboo curtains hung around the pavilion to block the summer sun. I made a good Pu'er tea in a pot, chose a few light and delicious snacks, and sat in a chair by myself and read a book.

Soon Huiju's voice sounded, "Niang Niang, Niang Zhaorong is here."

Yi Zhaorong knelt down outside the pavilion: "The concubine sees the Queen Empress, the Empress is a thousand years old."

"Zhaorong, please come in, please." I put aside my book and said to Huiju: "Look at the seat."

Yi Zhaorong gently walked into the pavilion, always bowing his head not to look at me. I looked at her carefully, her smoky-pink tulle palace dress embroidered with pale green vines was very simple at first glance, and I found it exquisite. The light green made her skin white as jade, and the smoky pink made her watery and gentle. One head of blue silk was rolled into a wish bun, with a flower tin made of broken hibiscus and broken jade stone inserted on it, and a silver-inlaid turquoise coral stepped, hanging down fine silver silk tassels. This kind of decoration is very simple and inconsistent with the identity of her favorite concubine.

However, she has always been elegant and beautiful. If she is really full of gold and jade, it will not match her refined temperament.

"Zhaorong, please sit down." I pointed to the chair in front of me.

Yi Zhaorong gave another salute: "Thanks to the Queen Empress." Her voice trembled slightly, and it was the first time that I was summoned by me when she wanted to come. It was inevitable that she felt nervous.

After she sat down, she looked very awkward, afraid to look at me or speak. I looked around, except for Huiju standing in the pavilion, the other palace ladies and eunuchs were far away.

"Zhaorong don't have to be restrained. I heard that Zhaorong loves Pu'er the most. This is a new tribute this year. It hasn't been divided yet. You can try it."

Yi Zhaorong picked up the tea cup when he heard the words, looked at me carefully, and was stunned. He drank a sip and exclaimed: "Good tea." After a closer look, he wondered: "What taste?"

I smiled slightly and said, "I have gotten angry recently, so I will add Gongju."

Yi Zhaorong nodded: "This is really a good match, and my concubine will try it when I go back." She said with a small smile unconsciously.

Huiju walked in to add tea, smiled and said to Yi Zhaorong: "Zhaorong tasted these dim sums, the empress specially prepared for you."

Yi Zhaorong was stunned when she heard what she said, and then she looked at the four desserts on the table, a sweet-scented osmanthus cold cake, a golden chrysanthemum cake, a red bean coconut milk cake, and a crispy melon seeds. They are all her favorites. .

"The empress actually knows what the concubine likes, and the concubine is really touched." Yi Zhaorong bowed to me after leaving his seat, and said with a slight hesitation: "The concubine was apprehensive, I don't know what the queen empress would like to call the concubine."

I drank a sip of tea on my own, with a light tone: "My palace doesn't love those pompous gifts, but as a queen, people have to accept it. At this time, there are only you and me. Don't move and thank you. You are free and I am comfortable. some."

Yi Zhaorong came back hurriedly to sit down, but I can tell from her nervous look that she can't be casual at all.

I smiled and said, "My palace knows that you are nervous. I came to you today because there is something to bother you. So you don't have to be afraid."

Yi Zhaorong was about to get up, and I said, "You don't have to say those polite words, my palace listens too much."

She sat back obediently.

"My palace is looking for you because of Princess Linglong." I picked up a piece of golden chrysanthemum cake and handed it to her and said: "You know, the emperor wants this palace to have a good life and rest. He concubine is also pregnant, and the concubine in the harem is high. Now only Concubine Liu is left."

Yi Zhaorong nodded: "Indeed, the emperor hasn't done anything in recent years, so the high-ranking concubine has not changed."

"So, everything in the harem can only be entrusted to Concubine Liu. Although the concubine and concubine can share some of the burdens after the first three months, after all, the emperor's heir is important and she can't let her work. The burden of the harem can only fall on Concubine Liu. ."

Yi Zhaorong looked at me, knowing that what I said below was the point.

"My palace thinks that everything in the harem is complicated and laborious, and the princess is in need of careful nurturing, and it is inevitable that Concubine Liu will not be able to take care of it. If there is a mistake, it will be troublesome. So I asked the emperor to bring Linglong to you temporarily. After the birth of the palace, I call you today to say hello to you first, so that you won’t be upset."

Yi Zhao Rong was shocked at first hearing it. Who knows that although Linglong is a princess, Shen Xiyao is very fond of him, and Concubine Liu has been in love for many years. Now she is temporarily in the sixth house, who can get Linglong's right to raise is equal to a gold medal for the emperor's favor.

"Niang, this?" Yi Zhaorong knelt in front of me: "The mother looks at her and trusts her concubine, and the concubine will take good care of the princess and live up to her expectations." She hesitated again: "It's just that the concubine has never been born and raised, the emperor. Will you agree?"

I helped her up: "Only Concubine Liu in the harem was born and raised, and the emperor started to worry about it. But this palace believes that motherhood first requires kindness and gentleness, and the princess’s wet nurse will also go there. You only need to treat the princess as your own. I can take her well."

I secretly said in my heart: I naturally have to find a good mother and concubine for Linglong in advance, and when Concubine Liu is convicted in the future, she will not have to suffer the death of her mother and daughter. At the same time, I also need to win over this new love of Shen Xiyao.

Yi Zhaorong gave me a big gift: "The concubine thanked the empress, and the concubine will definitely do it well. But," she gave me a careful look, and stopped talking.

"You are curious, why did I give you such a gift?" I said directly.

She was stunned. She didn't expect me to be so straightforward. She could only smile awkwardly at the moment, but nodded.