C131

"Esteemed Empress, esteemed imperial concubine wishes to seek an audience."

The maid's voice came from outside the door, but the empress's gaze darkened. She pulled out a smile and said, "Call her in."

After giving Shangguan Qian a look, he received it and sat down on a stool, waiting for Imperial Concubine Xiao to come in, to 'visit' him.

After all, she had grown up in the Imperial Palace, and these matters could be considered commonplace. However, Shangguan Qian secretly admired that Imperial Concubine Xiao wasn't wearing a luxurious imperial concubine outfit to gamble with the empress, but was wearing a light and elegant set of clothes instead, with no trace of happiness on her face.

It was always cautious and would never give in to reality, yet it made people unknowingly lose their guard.

"I heard that elder sister … If you don't feel well, let me take a look. Oh, sister, you have to do it yourself. Your body is heavy! "

After a moment of sighing without knowing if it was true or not, he seemed to see Shangguan Qian who was sitting at the side, and said with feigned surprise: "So, Qian'Er is also here!"

Shangguan Qian had only stood up and saluted respectfully, but he did not seem to notice her surprise and address.

"What a good child."

He patted her hand a few times and said, "The last time we met, we did not send anything, and this time, we do not know that Qian'Er is here. This jade is still my birthday, and the emperor gave it to you as a reward.

As he said that, he was about to bring her on, but Shangguan Qian'er only took a small step back before avoiding his hand, before lowering her head respectfully and saying, "The Empress loves me, and Qian'er should not have refused it. However, this gift is expensive, and Qian'Er cannot accept it, I hope that the Empress does not make things difficult for me."

"Oh? Are you saying that you don't like it? "

As he spoke, he put on a sullen face.

Shangguan Qian quickly lowered his head, and glanced out of the corner of his eyes at the Queen who was leaning on the wall, as if it had nothing to do with him.

"I am deeply grateful for the Empress's pity, but since it is His Majesty's birthday present, I cannot accept it. Not to mention what His Majesty will think, even others will think of it."

Giving away something meaningful to the Emperor was truly unacceptable.

Imperial Concubine Xiao's gaze darkened, but she still said with a gentle smile, "This is because I didn't think it through. It's just that I love you as soon as I see you, girl. I've forgotten about this. I'll make up for it another time."

With that, he walked towards the empress with concern. "Elder sister, if you're lacking anything, you must instruct them."

These words were nonsense. He was the empress, how could he lack something like that? He even wanted her to remind him out of goodwill.

Shangguan Qian still stood at the side with his head down, but the smile on his face did not lessen in the slightest, though neither of them had seen it before.

"Thanks for your concern, sister."

The empress only replied indifferently, making Imperial Concubine Xiao feel awkward as if she didn't know what to do.

Then, she came back to her senses and said with concern, "Ah, sister need not worry about the eighth prince's matters. Then, she came back to herself and said with concern," Oh, the eighth prince's matter, sister need not worry about it.

This time, Shangguan Qian understood what was going on. He had come to anger the Queen, not saying a word about the Eighth Prince's injury. Although it was to comfort him, it sounded like he was rubbing salt in his wounds.

It really was … She wasn't a simple woman. It was no wonder that such a low-born woman could pamper the harem and pamper even the empress.

"Sorry for the trouble, little sister. I'm still fine."

The empress didn't get angry, and naturally didn't really feel grateful either. She only looked at her indifferently and spoke with an expression that said she didn't want to say more, making Imperial Concubine Xiao unable to find trouble with her.

After a moment of silence, the empress finally spoke up. "I'm a little tired, so I won't keep my sister for lunch."

Even Shangguan Qian couldn't help but be surprised at such an obvious invitation. He had thought that Imperial Concubine Xiao would be angry, but she simply agreed and stopped speaking, as if nothing had happened.

After a while, he said, "Since big sister wants to rest, little sister naturally doesn't dare to disturb me."

After saying that, he stood up, and Shangguan Qian was naturally too embarrassed to continue sitting down, so he stood up as well.

However, Imperial Concubine Xiao didn't arrive first. She turned to the empress with a smile, as if she had suddenly thought of something. "I've been worried about big sister." "Body, there's something that hasn't been said yet. I'm afraid I'll have to forget about it."

Shangguan Qian had been paying attention to the empress's expression the entire time. Even she knew that this Imperial Concubine Xiao would naturally not bring any good news, and as expected.

"Younger sister is already pregnant for more than a month, and the imperial physician has already diagnosed her."

Right now, the emperor was still unconscious. This was truly good news. Furthermore, it had been more than a month since the emperor had fainted. It seemed that this child would not arouse anyone's suspicions.

"I really do congratulate my sister."

The Queen recovered from her shock and said with a fake smile.

"Thank you for your kind words, but I'm afraid I won't be able to keep up with you for much longer in this past three months. I hope you can forgive me."

That was the purpose of the day, and Queen Yingying was secondary.

Seeing that the empress's expression wasn't too good, while Imperial Concubine Xiao was in a good mood, the empress's son's life and death was uncertain, and now that he was pregnant with a prince, wouldn't he infuriate the empress to death?!

Sure enough, the empress only took a deep breath, her pale face blushing red. "What are you saying little sister, of course prince is more important. Be careful during the first three months …" Little sister is not young anymore. "

For a thirty year old woman to give birth to a child, she must have passed through hell. Rather than calling it a reminder, the empress would use it as a warning and a mockery.

However, Imperial Concubine Xiao unexpectedly didn't have a trace of displeasure. She only smiled and replied, "Of course. Thank you for elder sister's concern. I'll be going back now. Elder sister should rest well."

As soon as she finished speaking, she left gracefully, leaving the empress by herself and almost fainting due to the loss of her vital energy and blood.

"Empress, why bother with this?"

Shangguan Qian said lightly on behalf of the empress, but he was thinking about the strange things that had happened just now.

"She came here on purpose to provoke me, she thought it would be amazing if she was pregnant with a prince."

After pausing for a moment, he continued, "It may not be a prince yet. What about a princess? Even a prince or crown prince is already so old."

The meaning was very clear. If it was a princess, she had nothing to fear, but a prince, the crown prince was already an adult, and the emperor was just like this. No matter how much he fought with the crown prince and how much he was pampered, the result would be the same.

Shangguan Qian naturally understood this, which was one of her doubts. Logically speaking, as long as Imperial Concubine Xiao had some brains, he wouldn't dare provoke the Queen at this time.

But she was clearly a smart woman, and yet she'd actually done such a stupid thing. Could it be that she just wanted to come to the imperial palace and break the ice on the empress's face, but how could the empress not know anything? This wasn't the first time Imperial Concubine Xiao had entered the palace, so she at least understood it, right?

And for what? Could it be … She had an even stronger backer, so she wasn't afraid of the empress at all. How could that be possible? Even if it was the emperor, he would have to wait for him to wake up.

The other problem was that the empress had secretly mocked Imperial Concubine Xiao's age. When there was danger to her production, she actually didn't show the slightest trace of fear. Could it be …? Wasn't she born of old age at all?

Then, was she hiding her true age, or … He had been replaced!

This thought immediately struck her brain, causing her to immediately wake up. Imperial Concubine Xiao was definitely not simple!

"Qian'Er, you should stay in the palace for a few more days. I have a companion as well."

The empress's voice slowly called her out of her thoughts, then she respectfully replied with a few words of thanks.

Naturally, she was willing to do so. After all, she had not come to the palace just to see the Empress and console her. The Emperor had been poisoned and had lost consciousness, and the murderer had not been found yet, so the antidote had not been found. Li Fengyi couldn't wait any longer.

Originally, she didn't want to interfere in the matters of the Great Yan Nation. However, she absolutely wouldn't allow Li Fengyi to become the emperor. Thus, this time, she was going to go all out. She had to find that murderer and obtain the antidote.

After saying a few more insignificant words to the empress, the empress was truly tired. Shangguan Qian had been arranged by the empress to stay in the room next door, so she was told to leave first.

It was just past noon, but Shangguan Qian wasn't tired. He wanted to walk around the empress's palace, but he unexpectedly bumped into Li Yichen.

See the wind. After arriving, Shangguan Qian only bowed respectfully to her and then stood to the side, not bothering to say anything. Anyway, it was impossible to ask Li Yichen to change his opinion of his, so she didn't bother to worry about it.

"Why are you here?"

Li Yichen frowned. At this time, Shangguan Qian finally could clearly see his appearance. His eyes were sunken, and there was even a faint stubble on his beard. It was likely that he hadn't slept well all this time.

"Esteemed Empress …" His body is not feeling well, so I called Qian'Er over to have a chat. "

As for the reason for her discomfort and what she said, she naturally didn't need to ask Li Yicheng about it. She didn't want to cause trouble for herself.

Li Yichen didn't say anything, but instead stared fixedly at her with a pair of shrewd eyes. After a long time, he indifferently said, "I'll have to trouble you with my mother's matter."

These words caused Shangguan Qian's jaw to almost drop. He was truly polite, so polite that he didn't seem like Li Yichen anymore.

Still, surprise was one thing, and the answer was inevitable. Shangguan Qian'er smiled politely as he said, "Crown Prince is too courteous, the Empress has treated Qian'er well, and has adopted Qian'er as her adopted daughter. Qian'er should have done all this."

Then, without waiting for Gao Li Yichen to speak again, he said, "It's just that the Empress has rested, Crown Prince …"

"In that case, this crown prince will greatly disturb you. When mother wakes up, you can tell mother that this crown prince has come. Also, I will deal with the matter of relaxing mother's mind. I definitely won't tell eighth brother to be in trouble."

Although Shangguan Qian agreed on the surface, he still felt a little disdain in his heart. He had already done something, and yet he was still boasting like that. Now that he was facing internal and external troubles, what could he possibly do?

He originally wanted to ask about Li Qingying's situation, but then he thought better of it. He didn't want Li Yichen to think he was pestering Li Qingying again.

"Why don't you ask about Ying'er's situation? He really is a … "It's thin." She didn't ask, but Li Yichen still spoke.