PDLP Chapter 156 Tribal Tribute
Chapter 156 Tribal Tribute
Tribal tribute—Jiang Qi opened his mouth and replied after a moment: "Sometimes I wonder, if Lan Yan didn't insist on keeping this child, would it be..."
Lan Qingwu was shocked. "Why would you think so? Do you know that Lan Yan saved this child with her own life? I know it's very hard right now, but that's not a reason for you to be dissatisfied with this child. He already lost his mother when he was born. Do you want him to lose his father too? Think about it carefully!"
Lan Qingwu turned around, and Jiang Qi's anguished voice rang out, "Empress Yipin, do you know? Some time ago, I was still thinking that His Majesty really shouldn't abandon all the civil and military officials, the former court and the harem, and the people of the world for one person. His Majesty's responsibility and mission is to put aside his own sorrow and care for the people of the world. Until now, I finally feel the same way!"
Jiang Qi faced the tombstone and gently stroked Gao Lanyan's name with his fingers, as if stroking the cheek of a beloved. "Lanyan, can you, can you come into my dream? Let me see you again, I really miss you so much! Lanyan... What can I do to stop the pain? I really hurt, so much... Ah..."
Jiang Qi burst into tears, but there was no one around him who could comfort him or wipe his tears.
Lan Qingwu heard the words whispered to her lover and Jiang Qi's sobbing. The emotions she had been suppressing were on the verge of a critical point. She blinked hard, but the tears still fell like pearls from a broken string.
The person is gone, why should the living mourn!
Lan Qingwu returned to the carriage. Emperor Shenwu frowned slightly and hugged her, "Li Xiang, return to the palace!"
With the patient company of Emperor Shenwu, Lan Qingwu was slowly getting over her grief, but her morning sickness became more severe. If she ate something wrong, she would vomit it all out. In just a few days, Lan Qingwu lost a lot of weight and lay weak and pale on the bed, unable to move even a finger.
Nie Wushuang was so worried that several of his hairs turned white. Every time the Emperor Shenwu looked at him with that look, he would break out in a cold sweat. That day, Nie Wushuang consulted his master, Imperial Physician Zhao, who prescribed a new prescription to stimulate the appetite and preserve the fetus.
Emperor Shenwu arrived at the Suowu Palace and was deeply distressed by Lan Qingwu's condition. "I didn't expect him to suffer so much. What did Nie Wushuang say? Why isn't the effect apparent?"
Ru Ping quickly bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, Imperial Physician Nie has written a new prescription today. He said to try it for two or three days first."
Lan Qingwu stretched out her slender fingertips and gently grasped the hand of the Emperor Shenwu: "Your Majesty, are you done with your work today? Can you accompany Ruo Ruo?"
"I'm not busy anymore. I'll stay with Ruo Ruo today."
Nie Wushuang's new prescription was indeed effective. After using it for a few days, Lan Qingwu was able to eat and drink, and finally regained some of his energy. Emperor Shenwu also stayed in Suowu Palace every day to accompany Lan Qingwu.
There were many clever people in the six palaces. Once, when the three concubines went to the Qianzheng Hall to pay homage to Emperor Shenwu, Concubine Jiang said respectfully after reporting the matter, "Your Majesty, I heard that Concubine Yi has been feeling unwell recently and suffering from the summer heat. I wonder if she has felt better in the past two days?"
Concubine Wan continued, "Yes! Your Majesty, Concubine Yi is feeling unwell. I heard she hasn't been able to eat for several days. Going to Miaoling Palace to escape the summer heat in a few days may help alleviate Concubine Yi's condition."
Concubine Chen spoke softly, "I just don't know if Concubine Yi's body can handle it."
Emperor Shenwu said casually, "Concubine Yi is feeling unwell because she's pregnant with the dragon fetus. She's always been weak, and her condition wasn't optimistic for the first three months. The imperial physician specifically advised her to rest. Now that she's finally three months old, she's showing some improvement, and won't delay the six concubines from traveling to Miaoling Palace."
Concubine Jiang opened her mouth and said, "Then... congratulations to Your Majesty and Concubine Yi."
Concubine Wan and Concubine Chen were a step behind before they said, "Congratulations, Your Majesty, and Concubine Yi."
"Princess Yi has always preferred quietness, so there's no need for extravagance."
Concubine Chen, with her eyes lowered, understood that His Majesty was afraid that someone would scare Concubine Yi.
The three concubines withdrew from the Qianzheng Hall. When they reached the gate, Concubine Wan looked at the other two and said, "Why do you look so unhappy? Sister Jiang Fei, you already have the Second Prince, and I have the First Prince. There will only be more and more pregnant women in the harem. We don't need to take it to heart. Oh! Oh, I forgot about Sister Chen Fei. Sister Chen Fei, you have to work hard! If you really can't do it, just keep one."
Wan Fei's words hurt Chen Fei's heart. Chen Fei boarded the sedan chair with a gloomy face and said, "Sister Wan Fei, are you raising someone else's child like this?"
"you!"
"I just think that Your Majesty did a really good job of keeping Concubine Yi a secret! It took three months for the news to leak out."
Concubine Wan didn't take it seriously: "Didn't you hear what His Majesty said? We didn't know if Concubine Yi's body could keep the dragon fetus alive in the first three months, so she didn't dare to say anything."
Concubine Jiang, who was already in the sedan chair, finally spoke: "Well, no matter what, these are your Majesty's flesh and blood. We just need to do our part. And as for the confined Concubine Lin..."
Concubine Chen spoke again: "Yes, we just need to listen to His Majesty!"
The three concubines each returned to their own palaces. Concubine Chen's face was as gloomy as water. When she arrived at Yufu Palace, Concubine Chen sat upright on the imperial concubine couch. Thinking of Lan Qingwu's pregnancy, her heart felt like it was being pricked by needles. After a moment, Concubine Chen slowly said, "Concubine Wan is right. If it really doesn't work out, I'll just keep one child first."
Isn't there a great opportunity right now?
The six palaces will go to Miaoling Palace to escape the summer heat in a few days. At this time, the Beinar tribe on the border is about to pay homage to the Dasheng Dynasty. The Beinar tribe has just experienced civil strife. The new Beinar king killed his half-brother who was more than 20 years older than him and became the new Beinar king. Therefore, they paid homage to Dasheng at this time.
Emperor Shenwu directly ordered the Minister of Rites to welcome the Beinar delegation to the Bafang Pavilion and entertain them according to etiquette.
After the Beinar delegation had rested for two days, Emperor Shenwu held an outer court banquet directly in the Chaohe Hall.
In the Chaohe Hall, all civil and military officials and concubines from the six palaces sat at separate tables, and the Beinar delegation sat in another row.
Beinar's envoy, Wuzhina, presented a tribute letter according to etiquette. It recorded the various rare treasures that Beinar presented to the Dasheng Dynasty. Finally, Wuzhina bowed and saluted: "Your Majesty Dasheng, my tribe's new king, Unad Eagle, specially sends his greetings to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty live long and long. I hereby request Your Majesty to issue an edict. Beinar has a new king - Unad Eagle!"
Emperor Shenwu looked calm. The new king of Beinar, Unard Eagle, seemed to have appeared suddenly, and the secret line on the border did not bring back any useful information, but this new king came to the throne without any movement, which showed his methods and mentality. For the border security of the Dasheng Dynasty, this would not be a good thing in the long run.