When Baozhu and Yuenu came back from the garden at noon, they happened to see Ayan holding a large bunch of lotus flowers and placing them in the water tank.
Baozhu always felt that Ayan did not look like a eunuch. If it were not for the eunuch's clothes, Baozhu would have thought that he was a handsome young man from some family who accidentally entered the palace.
Since Ayan came to Weiyang Palace with Baozhu, he has changed from a little transparent person who was bullied in the past to the general manager of the first palace. Because of Baozhu's favor, he has also become the object of everyone's flattery in the palace.
What's rare is that Ayan always looks unfazed and treats others gently, which makes Baozhu more and more curious about his identity before entering the palace.
In the hot summer, Qi Junce sent two tanks full of ice early for Baozhu to cool down.
Haitang, being smart, also prepared iced fruits, which made Bao Zhu sigh that the life of the beloved concubine was really comfortable.
Baozhu didn't want to scold his servants harshly, so he asked everyone who was still alive to go back and rest early. Haitang and the other three people who came back from Lanyue Pavilion stayed with Baozhu in the palace.
Bao Zhu took a bite of the sweet watermelon, and a sense of clarity came from her heart, instantly dissipating some of her sleepiness.
Baozhu looked at Ayan and couldn't help but ask: "Ayan, what did you do before you entered the palace?"
As soon as he said this, everyone holding the watermelon looked at Ayan curiously. Ayan, who was about to put the watermelon into his mouth, had no choice but to pause.
"The servant is the queen of the guilty minister. After the whole family was convicted, His Majesty's gift did not involve the guilty minister's heirs." Ayan lowered his head and spoke slowly.
Bao Zhu now began to regret why she asked A Yan this matter. The watermelon in her hand was no longer sweet.
"But I still have an infant brother to support, so I have no choice but to enter the palace." Ayan said, raised his head and smiled with relief.
Bao Zhu felt a little guilty and pursed her lips, not knowing what to do. However, Ayan noticed Baozhu's embarrassment and quickly smoothed things over.
"My concubine, there is no need to feel guilty. This is the fate of the slave. The slave is just telling the truth." Ayan said with a smile.
Baozhu sighed, "Now that you have become the manager of the first palace, your monthly income has more than tripled, and your life at home should be much easier."
Ayan smiled even brighter after listening to Baozhu's words. "Yes, it's all thanks to your concubine that my little brother can study."
Seeing this, Haitang changed the subject and was chatting happily when she saw Ma Dong's young apprentice Ma Liu hurriedly running in sweating profusely.
Before he could stand still, he was out of breath and mumbling a lot. Bao Zhu quickly asked Ah Zi to pour him a cup of tea, and drank it for several more sips.
"My dear concubine, please go to the Palace of Eternal Life and have a look. His Majesty has lost his temper." Ma Liu said with a red face.
Bao Zhu rolled her eyes silently in her heart, thinking that it had nothing to do with me losing her temper. But Ma Liu was Ma Dong's apprentice, so what he conveyed was naturally the meaning of Qi Junce.
Helpless, he put down the watermelon in his hand, picked up his things, and followed Ma Liu to the Palace of Eternal Life. Before reaching the Hall of Eternal Life, I heard the sound of things being smashed inside.
Baozhu curled his lips. The decorations inside ranged from hundreds of gold to priceless. He was truly a prodigal emperor.
Bao Zhu took a deep breath, put on a gentle smile, and walked in carrying the food box.
Bang! A piece of Ru kiln porcelain was smashed directly at Baozhu's feet. Baozhu was startled and exclaimed softly.
Qi Junce's face was horribly gloomy, his eyes were bloodshot, and he softened slightly when he saw the orb. "You're here, this Ma Dong knows what's going on." Qi Junce said with a slight snort.
Baozhu pretended to be innocent and looked at Qi Junce. It seemed that he was not repelled by her arrival. He stepped forward and took out the shaved ice that Haitang had prepared for himself from the food box, and gave it to Qi Junce.
"Your Majesty, it's hot in summer and people will inevitably get angry. This is shaved ice to relieve the heat. Please try it, Your Majesty." Baozhu offered it with both hands and stared directly at Qi Junce with his bright eyes.
Qi Junce sighed, but did not take it. "The queen gave it to me yesterday. I thought it was too sweet."
Bao Zhu tilted her head when she heard the words, scooped up a spoonful and put it into her mouth, "Well, it's not sweet at all. Please give it a try, Your Majesty."
Seeing that Qi Junce seemed to be lost in thought, Baozhu boldly stood up and moved closer. His cold lips touched the hot lips that had just lost his temper, and Qi Junce's body couldn't help but stiffen.
Baozhu passed the unmelted coldness in his mouth to Qi Junce, and opened his mouth without too much greed.
"Yeah, it's not boring at all." Bao Zhu smiled proudly and looked at Qi Junce with crooked eyebrows.
Qi Junce touched his lips, his face that was full of anger just now was washed away by Baozhu's actions.
Somewhat dumbfounded, he said: "You, you, you are the only one in the harem who is so bold."
Baozhu snorted, put the bowl in front of Qi Junce, and turned away pretending to be angry.
"It's noon now. I walked over quickly under the scorching sun, for fear that the shaved ice would melt and become unpalatable. If Your Majesty doesn't take a bite, you would be letting me down." Baozhu said angrily.
With a gentle smile on his face, Qi Junce picked up the shaved ice and tasted it slowly.
Ma Dong, who was standing outside the door, retracted his stretched neck with satisfaction, while Ma Liu was still looking secretly.
"Master, this noble concubine of Song Dynasty is really powerful. She can make His Majesty happy with just a few words." Ma Liu couldn't help but admire.
Ma Dong grabbed Ma Liu's ears and pulled him back to the upright position, which made Ma Dong gasp in pain.
"Stand your guard and don't look around. This noble concubine is really not simple." Ma Dong said with a cryptic face.
Bao Zhu massaged Qi Junce's tight temples, and could feel his body gradually relaxing, and then asked what was worrying him.
Qi Junce sighed again, "It's not just about the salt tax, but there is no one available in the huge court."
Then he put the half-eaten shaved ice on the table, held Baozhu's hand and continued.
"And the only available minister, his nephew is a salt merchant, and he has no choice but to avoid suspicion. But the salt tax is imminent, and we can't wait any longer."
Baozhu's eyes rolled, and the court of Li Kingdom was actually like this. They were so loyal and courageous according to the rumors, and it seemed that most of them were wise and protective people.
"I only regret that I am not a man, so I can relieve His Majesty's worries." Baozhu now said the words against his will so neatly and naturally that he was almost moved.
Qi Junce patted Baozhu's hand, pulled her into his arms and hugged her gently. Bao Zhu cursed in his heart, hugging her even though it was too hot.
Zizui had no choice but to reach out and hug Qi Junce's arm, quietly waiting for him to do something else.
"So I decided to make a private visit incognito to check the salt tax. What you said that day made sense. If I hadn't gone in person, no one would have fully conveyed my meaning."
Qi Junce said firmly, while Baozhu nodded numbly.
"It's just that it's very dangerous to go here," Baozhu put on a worried expression and looked up at Qi Junce. "Concubine, I'm afraid..."
Qi Junce scratched the tip of Baozhu's nose and said, "I crawled out of the mountain of corpses and the sea of blood, and this is how the Li Kingdom prospered and prospered."
Baozhu looked at Qi Junce with a determined face. It seemed that he had to go, but he didn't want any accident to make him a widow.
"I asked the queen and Concubine Shu to accompany me, are you willing to go?" Qi Junce actually asked Baozhu with a solicitous tone. Baozhu's heart skipped a beat, yes, he wants to take me with him to commit suicide.
But then she smiled and said softly: "I am willing to follow Your Majesty, even if it means mountains of swords, seas of fire, and the ends of the earth."
Qi Junce's eyes were full of tenderness and he continued to hold Baozhu tightly. She rolled her eyes deeply when she couldn't see the orb. It was really difficult to just be a happy concubine.
After a while, Qi Junce let go of the orb. "By the way," Qi Junce said suddenly, "I will hold a banquet in the palace tomorrow. My brother King Yangcheng has returned from his trip."
Baozhu was a little confused. Didn't he say that the emperor was the only son of the current Queen Mother? Why did the King of Yangcheng suddenly appear?
"The Queen Mother who is out worshiping Buddha will also come back by then, and you should also go and see her." Qi Junce said.
"King Yangcheng?" Baozhu repeated with some confusion.
Seeing this, Qi Junce explained to Baozhu. "King Yangcheng was originally the son of my father, Imperial Concubine Yu, but Concubine Yu died young, so my mother adopted him as his adopted son."
Baozhu nodded, so that's it.
"We grew up together, just like siblings. He travels around all year round, so it's normal that you don't know." Qi Junce said.
Baozhu yelled, chatted with Qi Junce for a while, and then left. Before they had gone far, Aunt Yilan, who was beside the queen, came over and said that the queen wanted to see Baozhu.
All the queens and queens in Kunning Palace gathered together and looked at the orb, but they quickly looked away calmly.
Bao Zhu had a bad feeling when she saw this, but she still bowed to the queen politely. The queen, still looking dignified, asked Baozhu to sit down.
Then with a wave of his hand, a man who looked like an imperial doctor walked in. Baozhu looked at the queen with some confusion, and Liu Guiren immediately spoke.
"This is Dr. Li from the Imperial Hospital who specializes in treating women's hands. The Empress has come here to take a look at Song Guifei's body."
Bao Zhu was a little helpless, wondering if the queen was a little too anxious, but she still stood up and thanked the queen for her kindness.
The queen smiled warmly and said, "Sit down quickly, sit down quickly. You, you have been serving me for so long and you are still not pregnant. I am afraid that your little girl is too shy to find the imperial doctor."
Bao Zhu tried her best to suppress the urge to roll her eyes and watched the queen act.
"That's why you took it upon yourself to find Dr. Li. You don't blame me, do you?" The queen's face was full of sincerity, and Bao Zhu said something beautiful in her heart.
"Your Majesty, what are you talking about? I am extremely grateful." Baozhu bowed and thanked her again. Since this was all an act, she would stay with her until the end.
Immediately, Dr. Li began to take Baozhu's pulse, and everyone looked at this scene in awe.
After a long time, Dr. Li put away his instruments, stood up and reported to the queen: "Song Guifei is in good health and everything is fine."
The queen's expression changed slightly, and then she asked with concern: "Then why aren't you pregnant yet?"
Dr. Li chuckled. He had been working in Taiyuan Hospital for decades, and his words were slippery.
"Don't be too hasty about the issue of heirs. If fate comes, it will happen naturally." After that, Doctor Li left.
Bao Zhu watched the queen calmly as she continued to act, and the queen sighed, "That day, His Majesty said that he had few heirs, and I blame myself very much."
Then he stood up, and the concubines also stood up together.
"You have to do more for the royal family." After saying that, he turned around and returned to the inner hall.
