PDLP Chapter 172 Crazy Zhou Qihuai
Chapter 172 Crazy Zhou Qihuai
Zhou Qihuai's face showed a frenzied look: "Have you chosen a city? Remember not to be too close to the Imperial City, nor too far away."
The middle-aged man, Mr. Lin, replied, "We've chosen the county prince. It's Jiazhou City, which Zhou Qizhen originally wanted to capture! It's a place with outstanding people and beautiful scenery. It's quite far from the imperial city, which will be convenient for us to act."
Zhou Qihuai nodded. "I didn't expect that Zhou Qizheng is still somewhat useful. Send the order to Divine Doctor Mu to go to Jiazhou City and use his newly refined poison to treat the officials and people of Jiazhou City! Then Jiazhou City will be in my pocket!"
Mr. Lin bowed his head respectfully: "Yes! Prince!"
Lan Qingwu spent two months of scorching heat in Miaoling Palace, and finally returned to the imperial city and Suowu Palace with the caravan.
In Suowu Palace, everything remained the same. Lan Qingwu's health was deteriorating, so Emperor Shenwu had Qiulan assigned to Lan Qingwu's side. Ruyue and Ruyan had also been transferred to the palace so she could summon them at any time. Ruping and Ruhan had already thoroughly learned all the precautions required during pregnancy.
Madam Qian, Zhao Huiniang, had already moved out of the General's Mansion with their youngest daughter, Xiaoguai, and settled in the Qingciyuan. She only claimed to have gone to the temple to pray for her mother-in-law. Even so, Qian Hui refused to admit his intention to send his concubine, Chu Ji, away. That day, Qian Hui quietly led a team of men and horses to escort Madam Qian to the Qingciyuan.
The princess's mansion was still in turmoil. Princess Yuhua seemed to have found a way to control her husband, and she had him completely docile.
Emperor Shenwu looked forward to the birth of this child more and more every day. He put almost all his energy on Lan Qingwu.
And where Emperor Shenwu couldn't see, the eldest prince Zhou Chengxuan's eyes became more and more hostile towards Lan Qingwu.
In Wangchun Palace, after Concubine Wan accompanied the eldest prince to finish dinner, she took out the book that the eldest prince was studying.
The eldest prince's face turned bitter when he saw the scroll, and he began to recite it to Concubine Wan haltingly: "Wei... Wei Tian's mandate is solemn... endless. It is solemn and endless... How... How... King Wen's virtue... His virtue..."
The veins on Concubine Wan's forehead bulged, and a fire filled her chest, unable to spit it out but unable to swallow it. Unable to bear it any longer, she stood up and scolded, "It's just a few lines from the Book of Songs. I've been studying them for many days. What's so difficult about it? Why can't you memorize them? Do you know... do you know that you are the eldest prince, your father's eldest son? How can your brothers and sisters obey you if you act like this! You really... really..."
Concubine Wan endured and endured, finally swallowing the words "not living up to expectations". The eldest prince lowered his head and whispered, "Mother, father has been ignoring my studies recently and has hardly even looked at my writing."
Concubine Wan felt as if all her strength had been drained from her. She slumped into her chair, "It's you who have disappointed your father. Look at your royal brothers and sisters... look at them... You will have more and more brothers and sisters in the future. As the eldest prince, if you can't even compare to them, how can you lead by example in the future? How can you make them follow your lead?"
The eldest prince suddenly looked up and asked, "Mother, is the little brother in Concubine Yi's belly about to be born?"
Wan Fei said angrily, "Does she need you to worry about her? You care whether she has children or not—Yipin is a person of outstanding talent and has always been the top student in the imperial examination. Your father is a man of both civil and military skills. Her children will definitely be extremely intelligent! By then—you really may not be able to surpass them!"
The eldest prince listened in a daze, then quickly lowered his head to hide the indignation and hatred in his eyes.
Wan Fei came back to her senses: "No! Why are you asking her? You should worry more about yourself!"
The eldest prince raised his head, his eyes filled with innocent cruelty. "Then wouldn't it be better if Concubine Yi couldn't give birth to the little brother in her belly?"
Wan Fei was stunned for a moment. She sat there for a long moment before she replied dryly, "What are you talking about? Who said that to you?"
The eldest prince shook his head: "Mother, the emperor doesn't like me. He likes the younger brother in Yipin's belly. I don't like this younger brother either."
Concubine Wan coughed lightly and wiped the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief: "You don't have to like this brother. Mother doesn't like Concubine Yi either. We just need to have less contact with her."
The eldest prince's eyes sparkled: "Does mother dislike Concubine Yi too?"
The eldest prince seemed to have made up his mind. Even his mother disliked Concubine Yi. It seemed that Concubine Yi was not a good person. He lowered his eyes with hatred, and Concubine Wan did not see the eldest prince's red eyes filled with hatred.
After the midsummer, the fruitful autumn comes.
Lan Qingwu went out less and less, and only took walks in her own Suowu Palace to get some fresh air, unless the Emperor Shenwu personally took her out. This was how she spent the Qixi Festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival, and other festivals.
Lan Qingwu's mother had also rushed to the imperial city from the border. Emperor Shenwu issued a special decree, allowing Madam Lan to enter the Suowu Palace in the harem to see Lan Qingwu.
The mother and daughter were naturally delighted to see each other. Madam Lan held Lan Qingwu's hand for a long time, unwilling to let go. She carefully observed Lan Qingwu's complexion, and finally fixed her eyes on her daughter's belly: "But it's almost six months?"
Lan Qingwu nodded: "Mother, please take a seat."
The mother and daughter sat together on the chaise longue, and Mrs. Lan asked in detail about Lan Qingwu's diet, clothing, sleep, etc.
After a moment, Mrs. Lan couldn't help but ask, "What happened to you that time when you were unconscious? Mother heard that you almost... almost... Did you know that your father and I couldn't sleep all night during those days? Your grandfather's hair was almost completely white."
Lan Qingwu opened her mouth and choked up almost instantly: "I'm sorry! Mother!"
She took the initiative to lean into Mrs. Lan's arms: "I'm sorry, it's all my fault. I promise I won't do it again."
Mrs. Lan's eyes couldn't help but turn red. "Mother doesn't want your apology. As long as you are well, Mother, your father, and your grandfather will have nothing to ask for."
Lan Qingwu felt even more guilty. She almost lost her father, mother, and grandfather who cared about her!
Madam Lan continued, "Your father, a Martial Realm Marquis in a border area, couldn't come to the Imperial City this time, but your grandfather came. He was really worried about you, so he probably won't leave until after you give birth."
Lan Qingwu widened his eyes slightly: "Grandfather is here too?"
Madam Lan nodded. Then she asked, "Is His Majesty treating you well? Last time, I heard that it was His Majesty who brought you to the Miaoling Palace and prayed for you under the Ruyi Tree, which saved you from your calamity. It seems His Majesty is very kind to you."
Lan Qingwu didn't know how to explain her relationship with Emperor Shenwu to Madam Lan, so she could only say, "Your Majesty is very good to me."
Only then did Mrs. Lan turn her attention to look at the decoration of the main hall of Suowu Palace. Just a glance and she was very surprised. Some of the items were really beyond the rank of Lan Qingwu's concubine. Just look at the huge rectangular glazed fish tank. It is not something that can be owned by just having power and money, but it is there, placed casually in a corner of the scenery in Suowu Palace.
Madam Lan's eyes flickered as she surveyed the hall. She tightened her grip on Lan Qingwu's wrist slightly, then lowered her head and said, "This is..."
I saw a bright red peach coral bracelet on Lan Qingwu's wrist.
Lan Qingwu gently retracted her hand: "Mother..."
Madam Lan raised her head, a hint of worry in her eyes. "Qing'er, it seems His Majesty really likes you. I guess His Majesty comes to see you often, right?"
Ruhan said happily: "Madam, His Majesty comes to see the young lady every day now. His Majesty likes the young lady very much!"
Madam Lan asked again, "Does Your Majesty often stay at Suowu Palace?"
Ruhan nodded.
Lan Qingwu understood what Madam Lan meant: "Mother..."
Madam Lan patted the back of Lan Qingwu's hand and said, "Come on, take mother to your bedroom."
Lan Qingwu brought Madam Lan to the bedroom, where she took another look at the interior decorations. The mother and daughter sat down together on the bed.
Madam Lan said earnestly, "Qing'er, you are getting increasingly ill and unable to serve His Majesty. His Majesty is young and energetic. If he stays in your palace all day and becomes unable to control himself... it will hurt you and the child. Besides, there are so many women in the harem, you will be the source of all their resentment!"
Madam Lan stroked the peach blossom and butterfly coral bracelet on Lan Qingwu's wrist. "This bright red color is only suitable for His Majesty's queen! Qing'er, this..."
Lan Qingwu hurriedly leaned into Madam Lan's arms again: "Mother, I know everything. Please don't worry. Besides, His Majesty will not hurt me."
Lan Qingwu understood what Madam Lan was going to say, but she could not agree to her mother. What she was about to do was like rowing against the current, if she did not move forward, she would fall behind. In other words, emotionally, she was gambled everything and had no way out!
Madam Lan didn't want to continue, so she changed the subject. Lan Qingwu invited Madam Lan to have lunch with her, and she didn't leave the harem until the afternoon.