Xiao Ce sneered and raised his lips: "You mean you want me to leave?"
Deep down in Qin Zhao's heart, of course, he hoped that Xiao Ce would hurry up and get busy with his business, lest he find out that she was drinking and have to preach to her.
But she didn't dare to tell the truth, so she replied unintentionally: "I finally met the emperor, so why would I want to rush him away? The emperor is fine in everything, but he is too suspicious."
"You are obviously not sincere, and you blame me for being suspicious and seriously ill?" Xiao Ce said, and went to check if there was anything wrong with the glass of water Qin Zhao drank.
He looked at the tea cup carefully and found nothing strange.
"Baoyu, the emperor is here, why don't you go and bring the fruit?" Qin Zhao said and then ordered Baozhu: "Go and make two cups of tea. The emperor and I will drink it later."
Chewing tea leaves can remove the smell of alcohol. She can give it a try.
The two treasures left in response. Baoyu quickly brought the fruit plate, and Qin Zhao took the fruit to eat. When Baozhu brought the tea, she couldn't wait to drink the tea again, and also chewed the tea leaves.
Xiao Ce frowned when he saw how busy she was: "Qin Zhao, do you have a problem?!"
I couldn't blame him for overthinking it, there was something strange about this woman's words and actions.
She never drank tea at night before, saying that drinking tea would make her so excited that she could lose sleep. Why is she acting so uncharacteristically today?
Qin Zhao hurriedly shook his head: "I have no problem, I'm fine."
Sure enough, chewing tea leaves was useful, she could feel it herself, and she chewed it more happily now.
"Are you chewing tea leaves?!" Xiao Ce looked at Qin Zhao as if he had seen a ghost.
"Suddenly I found that the tea sent by the emperor was very delicious. The more I chewed it, the sweeter it became. It was delicious." Qin Zhao smiled.
Xiao Ce saw the tea fragments stuck on Qin Zhao's teeth and couldn't bear to look directly at them.
Qin Zhao chewed a lot of tea leaves that night, which did not let Xiao Ce discover the fact that she was drinking, but the result was that she was too excited and couldn't sleep anyway.
Afraid of disturbing Xiao Ce's rest, she simply stood up and said, "Your Majesty, please go to bed first. I'll go outside and run around twice before I sleep."
Without waiting for Xiao Ce to agree, she ran out of the dormitory and ran in Jinyang Palace.
When she stopped after running for more than ten laps, she found Xiao Ce standing under the brightly lit eaves, waiting for her.
She was sweating profusely and stood in front of Xiao Ce: "Why isn't the emperor sleeping yet?"
When she stopped and found someone waiting for her, she felt unspeakable happiness.
"Waiting for you." Xiao Ce said, holding her hand and pushing her to the clean room, "I asked Baozhu to prepare the bathing arrangements. It's such a hot day and you are sweating after running. Go and wash up first.
.”
Qin Zhao didn't expect Xiao Ce to be so considerate. She felt a little guilty for a moment: "It's all my fault. I shouldn't have eaten too much tea and caused the emperor to stay up late with me."
"This is just a trivial matter. Don't chew tea leaves at night to avoid insomnia again." Xiao Ce didn't care.
Under the light, his eyes were soft and warm like the bright moon in the sky.
Qin Zhao turned around and went to the clean room, remembering the questions Zuo Zhaorong and Wu Xirou asked her.
They all asked her what her feelings for Xiao Ce were like. She thought it was family affection, but at a certain tender moment, her heart would break for Xiao Ce.
She hopes that this family relationship with Xiao Ce will never deteriorate, otherwise she will force people and hearts that do not belong to her alone, which is wrong.
Perhaps it was because she had taken a comfortable bath that she fell asleep on the couch this time.
She woke up relatively late the next day, and Xiao Ce went to Fengtian Palace early in the morning to attend the morning ceremony.
"Before the emperor left, he asked his servants not to disturb the girl, and to let the girl sleep until she wakes up naturally." Baozhu said as he stood up to serve Qin Zhao.
This situation seems to be no different from the situation in Wangyueju at that time.
It's just that the girl was Liangdi at that time, and she was also one of the emperor's backyard. Now, although she lives in Jinyang Palace where Concubine Wu once lived, and it is also the main palace, she has no status.
If it is said that this phenomenon is normal, it is obviously unreasonable. But if it is not normal, it is also in line with the emperor's desire to dote on the girl that the girl lives in Jinyang Palace.
Qin Zhao didn't answer. She concentrated on washing. Only when she was having breakfast did she think of something serious: "Are there any other residents staying in Jinyang Palace?"
"Not yet. Maybe I am afraid that someone will disturb the girl, so only the girl lives in this palace." Baozhu responded.
However, when the draft is over in the future, there will be more and more beauties in the harem, and there may be new beauties staying in Jinyang Palace.
Seeing that Baozhu never mentioned the draft, Baoyu took the lead in provoking the topic: "I heard that the Queen Mother is preparing for the draft."
Ever since she became the Queen Mother, Queen Mother Guo has been the busiest among all the people in the harem, and she has been looking for trouble for girls all day long.
The reason for actively preparing for the draft this time is obviously to recruit more newcomers to the harem and find more people to deal with the girls.
"It's normal for the emperor to put draft matters on the agenda when he first ascends the throne." Qin Zhao felt that this was not unusual.
It should be said that it is expected.
Baoyu was silent for a moment and then said: "I heard that the Queen Mother and other gentlemen are dissatisfied with the empty palace and intend to establish a queen as soon as possible. We are currently looking for a suitable candidate."
Qin Zhao heard this and sneered: "Queen Mother Guo is really restless. The emperor has only been on the throne for a few days? She can't wait to arrange the emperor's marriage. This matter is not something we can comment on. Don't mention it in front of the emperor."
When Xiao Ce was the prince, he wanted to find a princess for Xiao Ce. When Xiao Ce became the throne, he also wanted to find a queen for Xiao Ce. Since this matter has to be settled sooner or later, it is better to settle it as soon as possible.
I just don’t know what Xiao Ce’s wishes are…
In the Yangxin Hall, Xiao Ce met several ministers. Before he could take a breath, the Queen Mother showed him several candidates for the Empress.
"An empty palace is not the answer. You are not young anymore. You should have married a wife and had children. If this matter is not resolved now, all the lords will not feel at ease. Since the emperor has ascended the throne, he should focus on the overall situation. Sorry.
The ladies we have selected for you are all ladies from well-known families. They are all excellent in every aspect and will help the emperor secure his throne. Take a look and see if there is any one you like?" Empress Dowager Guo said earnestly and sincerely.
Xiao Ce had never looked directly at the list of so-called queen candidates. He said in a low voice: "The issue of the queen is postponed and will be discussed after three years of the draft."
Empress Dowager Guo did not expect his answer to be like this. She said coldly: "Whether it is the establishment of a queen or the draft, it is a matter of national destiny for the Qi Dynasty. Emperor, you cannot be willful..."
"My mother probably forgot about my father and passed away not long ago. I don't want to draft and establish a queen at this time. This is also my last filial piety for my father. My mother must not force others to do anything." After a pause, Xiao Ce said firmly:
"This matter ends here and cannot be discussed further!"
Empress Dowager Guo wanted to persuade her again: "The Ai family always thinks about the emperor and worries about the fate of the country. How can the emperor be so willful?"
"Zhang Jixiang, send the Queen Mother back to Cihe Palace. I am very busy." Xiao Ce interrupted the Queen Mother Guo.
