C23

Dongfang Wenming laughed, "You old fox!"

Zhou Zhizhi was stupefied. Wasn't this tea that the prince had instructed him to bring out this year's new tea leaves to drink with Cobb? Why was he talking about tea now? What kind of riddle were these two fighting?

He didn't understand, he really didn't understand! However, looking at the way their master was always so confident, it seemed as if he had already planned this beforehand!

Within the imperial study.

Zhao Jing looked at the bell placed on the table. It had been sent over from the east by the octagonal tower. The copper bell didn't have a bell stone, but the workmanship was extremely meticulous. The interior of the bell was inscribed with inscriptions, as well as some incomprehensible Sanskrit characters!

Her slender fingers gently caressed the surface of the copper bell. The ice-cold sensation reminded Zhao Jing of the time when his mother had died. This allowed her to always remember the grudge of killing her mother …

"Your majesty?" Wei Shuge handed over the tea.

Zhao Jing came back to his senses. "How is it outside?"

"He Sheng, go ask around for news." Wei Shuge glanced at the copper bell in her hand. "Is the emperor really interested in the octagonal tower of the Regent's estate?"

Zhao Jing played with the bronze bell in his hand. "Do you believe in intuition?" When I saw that octagonal tower, I felt my heartbeat quicken, and I could faintly feel something touching my heart! "Actually, I don't know what it feels like either!" She covered her heart, "Maybe it's because I've been thinking too much. Just take it as I'm talking nonsense!"

Wei Shuge stared at her without saying a word.

Gan Tang delivered the medicine again, but this time it was the pills instead of the bitter soup. Even though he knew he shouldn't eat it, he still had to!

"What is this medicine?" Wei Shuge asked.

Gan Tang glanced at her coldly, then turned and left!

"Halt!" Wei Shuge was about to give chase when Zhao Jing grabbed her hand.

"Your majesty!" Wei Shuge panicked.

"I've tried!" Zhao Jing said as he stared at her with a slightly pale face. "Grab the medicine and spit it out!"

Wei Shuge was taken aback. "And then?"

Zhao Jing pointed to his chest. "Then …" I will live a life worse than death! "

"Why …" Wei Shuge was astonished.

A loud cry suddenly sounded from outside. "The empress has arrived!"

Zhao Jing's expression darkened. Why did Qi Ruyu come here? To be a lobbyist for the Qi family because of the matter of the imperial court?

Who knew that when Qi Ruyu spoke, Zhao Jing would spray water all over her face …

Qi Ruyu gently wiped away the water droplets on her face, smiling so beautifully. Today, she purposely disguised herself to make herself look both haggard and gentle. She wore a dark red robe that entangled with branches and peony, giving off the dignified appearance of a empress.

Your Majesty!" Qi Ruyu lowered her eyes and bowed, "Your concubine's blessing is shallow, and I have no destiny to serve Your Majesty. However, Your Majesty is the emperor after all. Although the Emperor was still young, the imperial harem was in ruins. As the Empress, chenqie should help the Emperor with his worries. "Jane Xi, why are you still standing?" With Qi Ruyu's shout, Jane Xi dropped to her knees in front of Zhao Jing.

Qi Ruyu had a little girl by her side named Jane Xi. She was Qi Ruyu's maid, and she had a pretty and delicate face, making her look especially cute and cute.

Jane Xi's body was slender and delicate, and her eyebrows were drooping slightly. Her small body stood straight in front of Zhao Jing like an apricot flower in the summer, and her gentle wind and gentle rain could arouse tender affection!

However, Zhao Jing was a girl, so no matter how beautiful and charming he was, he wouldn't fall for her.

"This slave servant, Jane, kowtowes to you. Long live the Emperor! Long live and long live the Emperor!" Jane Xi's voice was bright and clear, with a slight tremble.

Zhao Jing choked on the water, and his pale white face flushed red. "This …" What was he trying to do? Have the empress forgotten what I've told the empress before? "

Qi Ruyu's heart tightened, and subconsciously clenched her fists, "Chenqie doesn't dare to forget, it's just that chenqie is a Middle Palace member. Since the Emperor has already stood behind us, we should naturally have a few more sisters! "

"Empress, do you find the harem too lonely?" Zhao Jing narrowed his eyes and gave Wei Shuge a meaningful look.

Wei Shuge lowered her eyes as she replied. She thought to herself, Qi Ruyu actually doesn't dare to serve the sovereign. She's just looking around her for people to approach Zhao Jing. She's trying to place the Qi family's spy next to the emperor.

He could only blame Zhao Jing for acting so intimately towards the east, so close that the Qi family was unable to restrain themselves. If not for Qi Yunshan's signal, how could Qi Ruyu have come up with such a plan? What a despicable thing to do to a ten-year-old child!

"If Your Majesty isn't satisfied, chenqie can request my father to make the decision. She will use the Ministry of Rites and the steward to choose the imperial concubine and fill up the imperial harem." Qi Ruyu bowed to pay her respects, "Everything that chenqie has done was for the Emperor's sake. For the sake of the Zhao Family, our Emperor will live for tens of thousands of years!"

Zhao Jing had no reason to reject such a perfectly justifiable reason. She was only ten years old. If she was the child of an ordinary family, there would indeed be no reason for her to marry. However, she was the emperor. It was normal for the three palaces and six courtyards to exist. Moreover, she had already been established, so she naturally had to choose an imperial concubine as well.

In everyone's eyes, she was a puppet Monarch, not a child!

The monarch would never be able to control himself!

"The empress speaks sincerely, we can consider it." It wasn't that Zhao Jing couldn't make out Qi Ruyu's implied meaning.

Didn't Qi Ruyu already say so? If the Emperor did not consider Jane Xi, he would have the Imperial Tutor Qi Yunshan and the Ministry of Rites choose an imperial concubine for the Emperor. At that time, it wouldn't just be Jane Xi who would squeeze in, but the harem would become a chaotic mess.

Rather than this, he might as well put the Qi Family's spy, Jane Xi, right under his nose. At least this way, Zhao Jing would be able to keep a close eye on things, and the matter would be under her control. Otherwise, she didn't dare guarantee that she would be able to defeat the many powers in the harem. In the end, she was still young. When it came to matters, she definitely couldn't be compared to those courtiers and officials. After all, she was still the wisest!

"Then chenqie is relieved." When Qi Ruyu stood up, a trace of darkness flashed in her eyes, as she earnestly said to Jane, "Still haven't thanked the Emperor for his grace? After tonight, you will be my good sister! "

"This servant thanks Your Majesty for his grace. Long live and long live the Emperor!" Jane Xi kowtowed.

"Shuge, bring Jane Xi down and wait for her at the Qian Yuan Palace tonight!" Zhao Jing didn't even raise his head, appearing to be somewhat impatient.

"Thank you, your majesty!" Qi Ruyu bowed, then raised her head to look at Jane who was kneeling on the ground, and a look of unwillingness appeared on her face. She was the empress, someone who could have enjoyed the love and affection of an emperor. Even though this little emperor was three years younger than her, she had once dreamed of the peaceful days of a couple! However, this unexpected disaster had caused her to lose her virginity. She no longer had any hope of being favored by the emperor! The Emperor didn't cripple her because he was afraid of the status of the Qi family!

Thinking up to here, Qi Ruyu left with a flick of her sleeve, tears brimming in her eyes.

Wei Shuge brought Jane down. This little girl looked very formal on the outside, as if she was exceptionally timid on the outside. However, in his heart, Zhao Jing wasn't so convinced. How could a servant of the Qi family be a simple character?

Zhao Yuannan asked softly, "Does the emperor really want to favor Jane Xi?" She was clearly an informant sent by the Qi family to the royal family. The emperor had to be on his guard! Not to mention that with the age of the emperor, the average prince's young master hasn't even touched a woman yet. Your majesty, you … "

"They are plotting against me with all their might. Don't tell me that I am going to reject them?" Zhao Jing looked as if this matter had nothing to do with him. "If you know, then it's easy to deal with it. It's easier to dodge an arrow on an open spear than to avoid an arrow on the inside." Although I am fortunate, it is up to me to decide whether or not I want to get involved with this Jane. "How can an ox press its head down when it doesn't drink water?"

Zhao Yuannan nodded, "That's true. But how can we hide it from the empress and the Qi family if the emperor isn't in luck?"

"Shuge came from the martial arts world." Zhao Jing paused, "She has plenty of ways to deal with Jane Xi, but you …" She narrowed her eyes and stared expressionlessly at Zhao Yuannan. "If we have to deal with the empress and the Qi family's investigation, Brother Nan should know what to do!"

Zhao Yuannan's body shook as he gripped his sleeves. The veins on the back of his hands bulged slightly. After a long time, he nodded heavily with a cold and gloomy voice. "This servant will surely not disappoint the Emperor!"

Zhao Jing calmly said, "This sort of thing will continue to come back to you in the future. I hope big brother Nan is prepared for it."

"You really don't intend to …" Zhao Yuannan thought to himself, since Zhao Jing is still so young, then what about in the future? Was he going to be like this forever?

Zhao Jing didn't want to say anything more. She was a woman, so no matter what, it was impossible for her to be fortunate enough to be in the harem. As she grows older, her femininity will become more and more apparent, and... The imperial harem definitely couldn't have an heir. Otherwise, a second Zhao Jing would appear in this world and replace her!

When night fell, Wei Shuge hurried in. "Your majesty the emperor, it's done!"

Upon hearing Wei Shuge's words, Zhao Jing quietly put down the book in his hands. There was no trace of sadness or joy on his pale face. He was an old man who should have been carefree and carefree, but he had to live in a world of darkness and contemplation, unable to extricate himself from it!

As he walked out of the Imperial study, Zhao Jing frowned. "It's snowing?"

"Yes sir!" Wei Shuge carefully covered her shoulders with her shawl. "It's very cold, don't freeze!"

Zhao Jing didn't say anything. He just gathered up his cape and walked forward. When she was about to reach the Qian Yuan Palace, she stopped and looked at Zhao Yuannan who was waiting for her. He had been waiting for this for a long time!

"Your majesty?" Wei Shuge pursed her lips. "Actually, this matter …"

"Sooner or later, we'll have to go through this sooner or later. Right now, let's just take her and give her a try. If it's possible, we'll follow her example in the future!" The expression in Zhao Jing's eyes darkened.

The wind and snow swayed the lights of the palace in the corridor, reflecting the darkness in her eyes! On this snowy night, the cold wind was blowing, and it was her heart that was even colder. This ice-cold palace could not contain even the slightest bit of compassion and warmth, even if she longed for such warmth!

Taking a deep breath, Zhao Jing pushed open the door to the sleeping quarters and calmly sat on the edge of the bed.

"Your majesty?" Wei Shuge squatted down in front of her and said, "No matter what happens, I'll always be by your side. Don't worry!"

Zhao Jing looked at her with a slightly sluggish expression, his eyes slightly red. "Sister Shuge, from now on, things will become more and more difficult. Don't leave me behind." Other than you and Brother Nan, I have nothing else! "

"En!" Wei Shuge nodded and took out a black pill from her bosom. "I'll burn the incense on the table when I go out. Eat this one. After half a cup of tea, I will stealthily send the vermicelli in, and everything will be hidden from sight! "

"Alright!" Zhao Jing pinched the pill in his hand.

"This medicine will not harm you, you will be fine!" Wei Shuge turned around and lit the incense in front of the table.

A fragrant aroma wafted through the air as Zhao Jing quickly popped the pill into his mouth.

When Jane Xi came in, Zhao Jing suddenly clenched his fists, his entire body turning cold.