Hairpin Phoenix

   Chapter 220 Aftermath (2)

   "So, Concubine Xian has been Qin Jieyu for more than a month, and now she is Concubine Qin again?"

  Lu Mingyu asked Li Jing at leisure.

Li Jing shrugged helplessly: "That's right. Qin Jieyu has resumed the imperial concubine position under the phoenix decree issued by the queen mother today." After a pause, he said: "I guess it will not be two months, and in a few days, Qin Fei will probably be able to come out and meet people."

   A hint of sarcasm flashed in Lu Mingyu's eyes: "With the support of the Queen Mother, it's no wonder Concubine Qin dares to make waves like this."

   Concubine Su, the serious enemy of life and death, has been holding back. Concubine Meng Gui, the favorite concubine in the palace, has not made a move for the time being. It was Concubine Qin who relied on Empress Dowager Zhao's power to provoke repeatedly.

   Facts have proved that the large branch covering Qin Fei's head is lush and leafy, and Emperor Yongjia has to tolerate it a bit.

  Li Jing hugged Lu Mingyu and said in a low voice, "I had expected this matter. If the royal father made such concessions, it would be inconvenient for the royal grandmother to trouble you and me again."

  Lu Mingyu nodded slightly: "That's fine. Let's talk about giving birth to a baby first."

   Li Jing hummed, and his right hand gently landed on Lu Mingyu's lower abdomen.

  Lu Mingyu is two months pregnant, and her lower abdomen has not yet bulged. Li Jing's palm was hot, and the warmth spread to her skin through the thin clothes.

  Lu Mingyu chuckled: "You have to touch it a few times every night, but your belly hasn't bulged, and you can't feel the fetal movement. What's there to touch?"

  Li Jing still couldn't put it down, he touched it for a long time before smiling: "Sit down, I'll read to our children."

  Lu Mingyu laughed dumbly, couldn't bear to push back, and sat down silently.

  Li Jing brought the simple and easy-to-understand Book of Poetry and read it in cadence.

  Lu Mingyu listened to "Guan Guan Jujiu is in the River Continent", and twitched the corner of his mouth: "Can't you change the song?"

  Li Jing smiled lowly, looking at her with beautiful deep eyes, like two hooks...

  The air heated up inexplicably.

  Lu Mingyu cleared his throat: "It's getting late, let's rest!"

   Li Jing responded, changed Lu Mingyu's clothes diligently, and took the opportunity to touch with both hands. Lu Mingyu felt soft all over. After the diagnosis of the hi pulse, the two did not have the same room again, and it was almost a month.

   The young man's body couldn't bear the provocation the most, and soon, both of them were breathing rapidly.

  Li Jing grabbed Lu Mingyu's hand and whispered in her ear.

   Lu Mingyu's cheeks flushed red, but he did not refuse.

  …

   After a few days, the Empress Dowager Zhao occasionally felt a cold, and the phoenix was unwell.

  Emperor Yongjia and Queen Qiao went to seek medical treatment together. Empress Dowager Zhao, who was lying on the phoenix couch, hummed and shouted that she had a headache. The imperial doctor came to diagnose the pulse, and he prescribed Taiping with consideration.

   Queen Qiao saw the prescription, her mouth twitched slightly, and her face squeezed out of concern: "Your Majesty, the mother and queen phoenix are sick, let the princes and princesses also do their filial piety, and come to the palace to treat the illness!"

  Emperor Yongjia nodded slightly, took a look at the prescription, and twitched the corners of his mouth: "The Queen arranges it!"

   Empress Dowager Zhao immediately said: "Aijia is not a big problem, you don't need to make a big fight. Just let Concubine Qin come to accompany Aijia and talk about it."

  Emperor Yongjia and Queen Qiao looked at each other.

   Queen Joe refused to speak.

  Emperor Yongjia could only open his mouth: "Empress mother, Qin's family is still on ground..."

   Empress Dowager Zhao covered her chest with her hand and called out eh eh eh yo.

  Emperor Yongjia took a deep breath and said, "Forget it, I'll ask Concubine Qin to come here."

   Eunuch Liu hurriedly withdrew, and after about a stick of incense, Eunuch Liu returned to his life. Concubine Qin also came with Eunuch Liu.

   As soon as Concubine Qin entered the palace, she first knelt down and pleaded guilty.

   After being banned for more than a month, Concubine Qin lost a lot of weight. She didn't apply any makeup, her complexion was dull, and she looked a lot older.

  Emperor Yongjia glanced over the emaciated Concubine Qin, his heart softened a little, and said lightly: "The queen mother is not feeling well, you are good to serve the queen mother. When the queen mother recovers, I will remember your merit."

   Concubine Qin was extraordinarily docile and respectful: "It's right for my concubine to serve the Queen Mother, and I dare not be praised by the emperor."

   Queen Qiao glanced at Concubine Qin and said lightly, "From today onwards, you will come to Shouning Palace every day."

   Concubine Qin bowed her head and said, "Thank you for the grace of the Empress."

   Empress Dowager Zhao coughed: "With the Qin family accompanying the Ai's family, the emperor and the empress can go and do their own work!"

   When Emperor Yongjia and Queen Qiao left, Empress Dowager Zhao immediately said, "Ms. Qin, stop kneeling and come to Ai's house."

   Concubine Qin responded, got up and walked to Feng's couch to sit down. When Empress Dowager Zhao saw that Qin Shi was so haggard, she felt more distressed: "It's only been more than a month, why are you so thin!"

   Concubine Qin's eyes reddened and she choked up: "The concubine's words and deeds were careless and annoyed the emperor, so she deserves to be punished. The empress dowager has been thinking about the concubine, and now she is still sick on the couch. The concubine is really ashamed."

   Empress Dowager Zhao's pretending to be sick is also an old trick to pinch her son and daughter-in-law, so it's not surprising.

   Empress Dowager Zhao winked at Concubine Qin and whispered, "It's fine to lie down for a few days, don't worry."

No matter how much    Qin Fei's small abacus was, she was moved to tears by Empress Dowager Zhao, she held Empress Dowager Zhao's hand and cried.

   Empress Dowager Zhao said in a low voice, "Look at your achievements, why are you crying. With Aijia there, there will always be a place for you in this harem. Aijia deliberately made a fuss, and look, I haven't let you out yet."

   Concubine Qin was startled and wiped her tears with her sleeve. He asked in a low voice, "What did my aunt do?"

Empress Dowager Zhao smiled complacently, and said about her reward to the palace servants: "...Aijia has long thought about it. Erlang is willing to accept the palace servants, so he will add to their husband and wife. If he refuses to accept it, If you just send the palace servants back, you have to give Aijia an explanation."

"The emperor personally came to intercede with the Ai's family. The Ai's family has already complied with the emperor, so I don't want to trouble the Lu family in the future. I'll let you out. Unfortunately, no matter what the Ai's family said, the emperor was only willing to restore your concubine position. The position of the concubine Xian is just not willing."

   Empress Dowager Zhao is not someone with political wisdom or shrewdness, but she has her own set of methods to achieve her goals.

   Concubine Qin cried again: "My aunt is so kind to me, even if I am a cow and a horse, I have no way to repay my aunt."

   Empress Dowager Zhao is as mean to Queen Qiao as she is to Concubine Qin.

She stretched out her hand and patted the back of Qin Fei's hand: "what are you talking about? You lost your mother when you were young, and Aijia took care of you and grew up. In Aijia's heart, besides the emperor, you are the closest. To whom you are."

  The Empress Dowager Zhao was even more affectionate towards Concubine Qin than towards her nephew, the Marquis of Puyang.

   After all, in terms of blood, the deceased father of Puyang Marquis was the direct descendant, and Concubine Qin's mother was the younger sister of Empress Dowager Zhao's compatriots.

   Concubine Qin said with red eyes: "I don't care if the rank is higher or lower. As long as I can always be by my aunt's side, it's fine." But she was secretly relieved.

  …

   (end of this chapter)