In the next few days, Qin Xiaoxiao took Zhao Jinjin and his wife around, allowing them to see the majesty of the palace city, appreciate the agility and beauty of Xingyue Lake, and taste the special street food.

The couple, who were originally worried about their illness, gradually became more open-minded and realized that there were too many beautiful things in the world that they could never pursue in their entire lives.

In comparison, being unable to have a child does not seem to be a big deal. If the disease is really incurable, you can still adopt a child or adopt a child from the family. In short, you will not be trapped by such a thing in your life.

live.

Five days later, the couple left the capital very calmly with gratitude to the entire Princess Protector's Mansion.

During this period, the news that Marquis Nanming invited two imperial doctors, Liu and Liao, to come to the palace for consultation also spread quietly in the capital, and people speculated that Mrs. Marquis Nanming was pregnant.

Qin Xiaoxiao and Jing Heng have been married for two months. Some people have always felt that this marriage is not a good match. Many people secretly watched Qin Xiaoxiao's jokes and thought that within a year, Jing Heng's interest in her would be gone.

The good days of Princess Protector's Mansion have come to an end.

Now she seems to be pregnant. Even for the sake of the child, Princess Protector and her son will not treat her harshly. This makes those who want to see her joke sit still and want to know if she is really pregnant.

Empress Dowager Jing didn't know where she heard this rumor. When Jing Heng entered the palace to discuss important matters with Emperor Yuan He, she ordered someone to call him to Yongning Palace.

After listening to Queen Mother Jing's questions, Jing Heng said helplessly: "Grandma, Xiaoxiao is not pregnant. These words are just spread by others."

When Empress Dowager Jing heard this, she became even more worried: "Since you are not pregnant, why did you ask the imperial doctor to come over? Could it be that Xiaoxiao's health is not good and needs to be taken care of by Imperial Doctors Liu and Liao?"

Every half month, an imperial physician will go to the Princess Protector's Mansion to diagnose the pulses of Princess Protector and Qin Xiaoxiao. Imperial Doctor Liu and Imperial Physician Liao specialize in fertility-related diseases. Normally, the Imperial Hospital will not send them there, let alone all at once.

Just two people there.

Therefore, Queen Mother Jing suspected that something was wrong with Qin Xiaoxiao's health.

"Grandma, Xiaoxiao is in excellent health. You don't have to worry." Jing Heng knew that his grandmother would not feel at ease if he didn't explain clearly, so he told the real reason why he invited the two imperial doctors Liu and Liao to come to the house.

"So that's how it is... Oh, it's a waste of time for the Ai family to rejoice." Empress Dowager Jing was a little disappointed. Before that, she thought that her grandson's wife was pregnant and that she would soon have her great-grandson to hold her.

Then he urged: "You are not young anymore. It is business to let Xiaoxiao get pregnant as soon as possible. Let others do other things that can be done by others. Don't delay the Ai family to have their great-grandson."

At this time, Jing Heng was so busy with the business of opening up sea trade that he even came and went in a hurry to go to the palace to pay his respects. While Empress Dowager Jing was pleased that her grandson could finally take care of things, she felt sorry for him at the same time, fearing that he would tire her out.

"Grandma, this is not urgent. I have other plans..." Jing Heng had not told Queen Mother Jing about the postponement of the birth of the child before. Now that the child was mentioned, he did not want Queen Mother Jing to worry about it all the time, so he told the story

came out.

"Nonsense!" Empress Dowager Jing stood up excitedly, feeling the urge to beat her grandson for the first time: "Having children is a natural order of heaven, why do you push me so hard when I get here?"

At this point, she was suddenly startled, looked her grandson up and down, and asked suspiciously: "Tell the Ai family honestly, is there something wrong with your body?"

Jingheng never expected that his grandmother's suspicion would be transferred to him, and his expression became very embarrassed: "There is nothing wrong, please don't think wildly."

Queen Mother Jing didn't quite believe it, and her eyes looked a little heavy: "Li'er, if we are sick, we should treat it. We must not hide the disease and avoid treatment."

Jing Heng was helpless and said again: "Grandma, my grandson is indeed fine."

Empress Dowager Jing didn't know whether she heard it or not. She waved her hands and said: "The Ai family knows. If you think carefully about the child, the Ai family believes what you say. But if Xiaoxiao can't spread the good news for a long time, gossip should go to the court."

Went with her."

Jing Heng nodded and said he would think it over carefully.

Qin Xiaoxiao knew nothing about the rumors outside. After Zhao Jinjin and his wife left, she was not idle. She went to Xingyue Lake herself to look for a suitable hilltop to plant jujube trees. After running back and forth for several days, she finally made the choice.

Seven or eight.

These hills are not high, but the area is very large. It can be said that at least 5,000 jujube trees can be planted. Although jujube saplings are limited, it would be good to cultivate three or five jujube trees a year, but she still bought these hills in one go and planned to

Plant other fruit trees or tea trees.

After Jing Heng found out, he suggested: "Just plant tea trees. I think during the previous sea trade period, tea and cloth sold very well. In recent years, the most profitable merchants who have secretly gone to sea trade are these two items. I guess the overseas demand is not enough."

Small."

Last year, before he could write down the maritime trade policy, he ordered people to go south to quietly inquire about it. He also found out some things from Dabao, so he had some understanding of the current overseas trade situation.

"Well, I'll listen to you. Let's find some people who are good at growing tea tomorrow." Qin Xiaoxiao listened to his suggestion and wondered where to find such talents.

There are very few people who grow tea within the capital, and even fewer who are good at growing tea. Most of the tea sold on the market is shipped from elsewhere.

"The Ministry of Household Affairs has the position of Secretary of Agriculture. There are people under the Secretary of Agriculture who are good at farming, and they may grow tea." Jing Heng said: "I will ask them tomorrow."

"Hmm, you ask first. If there isn't one, we have to go south to look for it." Qin Xiaoxiao yawned, with a little sleepiness on his face: "Such a person has to stay in Xingyue Lake for a long time. I don't know if he will."

No one will come."

"Very few people will refuse a huge reward. At worst, if we move their whole family to the capital, there must be someone who is willing." Jing Heng didn't think this was a difficult task, so he took her hand and walked to the bed.

"What are you doing?" Qin Xiaoxiao was so frightened that she fell asleep. She grabbed the corner of the table and refused to leave: "You just said yesterday that you would let me have a good rest for a few days. Are you lying to me again?"

"I'm not lying to you, it's getting late, we should rest." Jing Heng opened her fingers one by one, with a smile on her face that made her cringe: "Or you don't want to rest, you want to be together like you did a few days ago

Shall I look at the album together?"

Qin Xiaoxiao's face turned red and she looked like this: "You are talking nonsense, you obviously forced me to read it!"

While tormenting her, he always forced her to look through the picture album on the bedside and learn from the words in it about men and women flirting with each other, otherwise she would not read these inappropriate things, lest she become as hateful as him.

"I won't force you tonight, I will keep my word." Jing Heng grabbed both of her hands with one hand, slipped her by the collar with the other and put her on the bed.

Qin Xiaoxiao had been fooled before, so how could she still believe him: "Huh, you said the same thing the day before yesterday."

Seeing that she was really frightened, Jing Heng put away his smile and said helplessly: "I'm so tired that I can't even open my eyes. Even if you want me to, I can't bear to torment you."

Hearing what he said was still human, Qin Xiaoxiao still didn't dare to believe it. He quickly took off his shoes and shrank into the bed, pulled the quilt over and wrapped himself tightly, not forgetting to observe his expression.

Seeing that he had no intention of attacking, she still couldn't help but said harshly: "If you dare to do this nonsense, I will tell my mother tomorrow that you are bullying me and let her take care of you!"

Jing Heng looked at her without saying anything and slowly took off his clothes.

Qin Xiaoxiao watched his every move closely, and found that he had taken off his clothes and lay on the bed and closed his eyes. Then she believed that he really wouldn't touch her tonight, and couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

It's been half a month since she came back from Qingshan Village. She was either wandering around with Zhao Jinjin and his wife, or searching for a suitable hilltop in the mountains. She couldn't have a good rest at night. She was really tired these days, and almost fell asleep as soon as she closed her eyes.

.

Hearing the sound of breathing gradually becoming longer in her ears, Jing Heng suddenly opened her eyes, sat up, gently peeled off the quilt wrapped around her body, and kissed her delicately on her sweaty forehead.

Wen De sighed.

This girl doesn't seem to trust herself anymore, which is not a good thing.

Qin Xiaoxiao slept in a daze, not knowing what someone was thinking. She slept until dawn, and when she woke up, there was no one beside her. She just felt comfortable all over, and the fatigue accumulated over the past few days was swept away.

It also made her feel very good.

After washing, she happily finished her breakfast with Rhubarb and Baa-mei's salivating expressions on her face, then went to the study room to pick a book, enjoying the leisurely tranquility of this moment.

After reading seven or eight pages, Qingshu came over with an invitation, bowed and said: "Madam, this is the invitation sent by Princess Jiaming."

Qin Xiaoxiao quickly put down her book and took the post. It turned out that Princess Jiaming invited her to visit Zhang Mansion the day after tomorrow.

Thinking that she had not seen Princess Jiaming for half a month since she came back, she felt a little moved. She immediately replied to the post and had someone send her to the Zhang Mansion, saying that she would definitely arrive the day after tomorrow.

She was too busy these days to make an appointment with Princess Jiaming. Now that Princess Jiaming suddenly asked her out, she was happy but also a little surprised, so she asked Qingshu: "Since I left last month to now, has anything new happened in the capital?"

?”

Qingshu thought carefully for a while and shook his head: "I have never heard of it. Manager Xiao, who often goes out to buy things, may know about it. How about I call someone to ask?"

Qin Xiaoxiao shook his head: "Forget it, it should be fine."

If something big really happened, my mother would know about it, and Brother Li would also tell her.

In the evening, when she and Jing Heng accompanied Princess Huguo to eat and returned to Anyiyuan, they talked about Princess Jiaming's invitation to her as a guest.

"Bring more people with you the day after tomorrow." Jing Heng seemed to be afraid that someone would bully her. Every time she wanted to go out, she always told her to bring more people with her. Those who didn't know it thought she was going to fight with someone.

"I know." Qin Xiaoxiao was used to it, so she answered and asked, "Do I need to meet Mrs. Zhang first when I go the day after tomorrow?"

Mrs. Zhang is Zhang Cifu's first wife and gave birth to the Zhang family's only legitimate son. This legitimate son is Zhang Shiren's biological father and the father-in-law of Princess Jiaming. Now he serves as the left minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and his authority in the Ministry of Personnel is second only to

Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.

"No, you are of a higher rank than her, and she is the one who greets you." Jing Heng said lightly: "It is said that Mrs. Zhang has very strict rules and a clear distinction between superiority and inferiority."

Qin Xiao smiled and said that such people are well-behaved at best, and old-fashioned at worst. Thinking of Princess Jiaming's simple and old-fashioned dress every time, she immediately understood the reason: "In this way, the Zhang family's family tradition

It’s really good.”

Jing Heng smiled and said: "How the Zhang family's family tradition is is known only by seeing it personally. However, whether it is good or bad has nothing to do with us."

Qin Xiaoxiao hummed, "Why doesn't it matter? If the Zhang family's family tradition is not good, my cousin's life will also be bad. She and I are good friends, so I can't think about her."

At this point, she sighed: "I think my cousin's life was not good. She didn't have many friends before she met me. She should be lonely."

Princess Jiaming had a rough life. Her father, Prince Fu, died of illness when she was eight years old. Less than a year after marrying into the Zhang family, her mother, Princess Fu, also passed away.

She is the only daughter of Prince Fu and Princess Fu. She has no brothers or sisters. Even the son in her name was adopted by her husband Zhang Shiren from her hometown because she was infertile.

Although she treats the child as her own, the child has been raised under Mrs. Zhang's lap since she was brought to Zhang's house. She is not close to her mother. She saw Qin Xiaoxiao liked the child very much before, and even went out of her way to

Ask her for advice on how to get your children close to you.

"You have become friends with my cousin. I believe she will not feel lonely anymore." Jing Heng held his wife's hand and comforted her. He knew very well how soft-hearted she was. As long as they were the people she cared about, she hoped they would be happy.

worry.

"I hope, my cousin is really a very good person. It would be great if I could get to know her as soon as possible." Qin Xiaoxiao regretted not being with Princess Jiaming when she was most sad. Just thinking about this made her feel sad.
To be continued...