Cheng Ning was leaning on the imperial concubine's couch, with a thin warm blanket covering her belly. When she got closer, she could see clearly that there was a slight bulge.
"There is a cherry blossom in my palace. It blooms beautifully. I have always wanted to send it to you, but I was afraid it would disturb your rest."
The palace man brought a chair over and placed it next to Cheng Ning.
After Ouyang Xi sat down, he raised his hand and touched Cheng Ning's belly: "I should give birth in October, right? It's so fast."
Cheng Ning let her move, but kept supporting his head with one hand, tilting his head and smiling.
The tea was served and Chunhua was handed over to Ouyang Xi.
"Is it Longjing?" Ouyang Xi smelled it and suddenly smiled bitterly: "I can't drink the plum blossoms in your palace anymore. I always feel that the tea is missing two or three points of flavor."
Mei Lu is not a forbidden word, but after Xie's incident, no one dared to use it to provoke Cheng Ning.
I heard that Wei Yanzhou ordered most of the plum trees in the plum garden to be cut down.
Chunhua was frightened a while ago and refused to leave Cheng Ning. Let alone Mei Lu, she was very careful about anything that flowed into Linhua Palace.
"It's no pity. That thing is arty and not suitable for me."
None of them mentioned Wei Yanzhou, as if they knew this was Cheng Ning's taboo.
Ouyang Xi is still very young. She is dressed in gorgeous clothes and should be a good tribute to the treasury.
I heard that Zhonggong's palm print has been sent to Liyue Palace. These days, she is learning to control the Sixth Palace.
But unlike Xie Nianyao, she never shows off her power.
Unlike Xie Qingyi, she doesn't show her great favor.
Just like the pastries that were brought to Cheng Ning in the past, they were calm, not taking credit, and seemed to be without any temptation.
"I met Lord Gongsun the day before yesterday. Her thunderous methods are now becoming more and more ruthless and selfless, which is admirable."
Cheng Ning was sincerely happy for Gongsun Li. It was difficult to be a good minister, but she did it.
In addition to her own temperament, it also has something to do with the current court.
As aristocratic families decline, more and more poor families will be able to climb up in the future.
People from poor families can best understand people.
Cheng Ning fed Huahua a piece of raw meat and smiled: "I'm happy for her too."
Then she turned her face and looked at the untouched cup of tea: "Don't you want to drink it? Linhua Palace doesn't have good tea."
Ouyang Xi froze and touched the cup lid unnaturally.
——She dared not drink because of her guilty conscience.
But Cheng Ning clearly looked natural, as if he was just worried that he didn't have a good tea treat.
That's right, with Cheng Ning's direct temperament, if she doubted herself and heard about Tian Xing, she would definitely not talk to herself calmly for a long time.
After calming down, she pursed her lips and smiled: "No matter where you are, whatever I drink will be the same."
She pushed aside the floating leaves with the lid and took a sip.
Cheng Ning's eyes were looking elsewhere, not caring at all, watching the flowers flying around in the yard.
Ouyang Xi felt a little scared from her expression for no reason.
Some people have the ability to instill fear in people without saying a word.
Xiaotao seemed to feel it too. She helped Ouyang Xi and whispered softly: "Your Majesty——"
She originally wanted to say let's go, Linhua Palace is weird.
Originally, I just wanted to check Cheng Ning's belly.
You have already broken up with His Majesty, and Concubine Xi is now a pitiful person.
Even if the emperor's heir is with you, His Majesty will only go to Liyue Palace in the future.
But just as he was about to stand up, Cheng Ning suddenly turned his head and asked, "How has your Majesty been treating you recently?"
She thought Cheng Ning would never mention Wei Yanzhou, but she suddenly spoke up.
This made Ouyang Xi stunned: "Okay, Your Majesty... he will be kind to me."
In fact, you can often hear some words saying how many things Wei Yanzhou has given to Concubine Shu to promote the Ouyang lineage.
I took Ouyang Xi out a few days ago, and I heard they were going for a river cruise in Nagasaki.
It all seems fine. Wei Yanzhou and Cheng Ning are always at odds with each other, but with Ouyang Xi, the favor he gives will not go unanswered.
It is a simple, two-way, healthy relationship.
"What about you? Are you serious about His Majesty, or are you just trying to gain traction and take advantage of the Emperor's power for the sake of your family?"
Cheng Ning had never spoken to Ouyang Xi so directly and sharply, and even his eyes had some aggressive scrutiny.
"I didn't!" Ouyang Xi denied it quickly. She didn't know whether it was because of Cheng Ning's coercion or because of something else. She felt her breathing suddenly became a little heavy: "I treat Your Majesty with sincerity."
"I thought you were the most incompetent and would live peacefully in the palace." Cheng Ning nodded: "I remember the first time I came to you and asked you to pay attention to the situation of my father and brother in prison for me."
Ouyang Xi felt a burst of pain in her abdomen. She held on to the armrest and looked at Cheng Ning in disbelief: "What do you want to say?"
The pain was not obvious and could not be compared with ordinary minor ailments, but at a time like this, it seemed extremely strange.
Cheng Ning did not answer her question, but stared at her face: "I am really grateful to you. Whether you help me because of family or friendship, I will keep it in my heart."
"I -" Ouyang Xi realized that Cheng Ning was very calm. Cheng Ning had been very calm since she came here.
But the words that came out of her mouth were like settling accounts.
She didn't understand what Cheng Ning wanted to do, and at this moment, she felt ridiculous.
In front of Cheng Ning, nothing about her was hidden, and everything she tried to whitewash was just her one-man show.
She stood up suddenly, her face turned pale instantly: "Did I do something wrong?"
Cheng Ning looked up at her. Even when she was sitting, her momentum was much stronger than that of Ouyang Xi. She was leisurely and quiet: "Why are you so anxious?"
"I-I haven't come to Hua Palace in recent days because I'm afraid of disturbing your purity. Once the Xie family's incident came out, everyone in the palace was in danger. Your Majesty... do you blame me?"
"Is there anything else?" Cheng Ning held up his chin and stared at her face: "What do you want to say."
In fact, the implications of these words are very obvious. If it were Xie Qingyi, the truth should have been exposed at this moment.
But facing Ouyang Xi, she is not as good as Xie Qingyi, she can always keep her composure.
So Ouyang Xi took a breath and showed a questioning expression: "I don't know what you are talking about."
"Really?" Cheng Ning's eyes circled around her belly: "Maybe I'm not a calm person either."
At this time, there was another severe pain in the abdomen. Ouyang Xi could no longer stand. She covered her stomach with fear.
"Empress, what's wrong with you?" Xiao Tao hurriedly supported her and said in horror: "Concubine Xi, what did you do to my mother-in-law? Do you know that the one your Majesty values most now is my mother-in-law?!"
Chunhua stood up and stood in front of Cheng Ning: "Masters are talking, what's the matter with you?"
"Concubine Xi," Ouyang Xi was wrapped in severe pain, as if there was a knife in his abdomen, and the pain gave rise to fear: "What on earth did you put in the tea?!"
