Hu thought for a moment and said: "I understand Concubine Hui's worries, but the common people don't understand. They think the Queen is selfish, unwilling to go to the altar to pray for rain, and doesn't care about their lives." As he said,
She stood up and bowed to Xianyue, lowered her eyes and said, "I have spoken nonsense, please forgive me."
"Your Majesty, your words are serious." After Mrs. Hu sat down again, Xianyue looked at her with shining eyes and said, "Your Majesty, do you want me to go to the altar with the Emperor to pray for rain?"
Mrs. Hu glanced at Xianyue's swollen belly and sighed: "I have known my empress for many years, and I don't want her to do anything dangerous, but...it is not an option for the emperor to suppress this matter now.
"At this point, she hesitated to speak, as if she was in trouble.
Seeing her like this, Xianyue said, "There are no outsiders here. It's okay for the imperial concubine to speak directly if she has anything to say."
"Yes." Mrs. Hu responded and said: "I'd like to express my sincere words, it would be better if the emperor asks for rain at that time. If it doesn't come, I'm afraid the people will spread their resentment on the empress and do great harm to her.
unfavorable."
Xia Qing immediately said: "How can there be such a truth? It's God's business if it doesn't rain. What does it have to do with the empress? If they dare to do whatever they want, let Shuntian Prefecture arrest them."
"Concubine Hui thinks things are too simple. Those suffering from drought are not only the people, but also the government officials in Shuntian Prefecture and even the army in the capital. Can you guarantee that they will not have the same idea?"
"Then..." Xia Qing was speechless by her question, but she was unwilling to do so and said angrily: "Then according to the Queen's words, doesn't the Queen have to go to the altar to pray for rain?"
Mrs. Hu sighed again, looked at Xiayue who was silent and said: "Unless God rains before July 19th, otherwise... this is the only way."
Although Xia Qing couldn't find fault with her words, she still said resolutely: "No! The Imperial Physician of the Song Dynasty has told the Queen to rest peacefully and not to work too hard. She is about to reach full term. She must not take risks at this time. Besides, the Emperor
Nor will it be allowed."
On this day, nothing came of the discussion. After they left, Xia Yue caressed her swollen belly and said nothing for a long time. After autumn, the days gradually became shorter, and soon after the sun went down, the sky was covered with a layer of darkness.
Ink-stained black, Qi Kuan came to Xianyue and said softly: "Master, dinner is ready. I will help you to eat in the side hall."
Xianyue got up, but did not go to the side hall, but said: "Bei Jianyu, I want to go to the Yangxin Hall."
Qi Kuan's eyelids twitched and he said cautiously: "Master, are you... really planning to go to the Temple of Heaven to pray for rain?" Before Xianyue could speak, he said hastily: "No, Concubine Hui also said, you
If your body cannot reach the Temple of Heaven, you must put your phoenix body first."
Xianyue said with a complicated expression: "But if I don't go to the Temple of Heaven, what will the courtiers do, and what will the people do? I and the emperor are husband and wife, how can I just hide behind the emperor and let him bear everything?
Things." Without waiting for Qi Kuan to say anything, she added: "Go and prepare a carriage."
Qi Kuan reluctantly went to prepare a shoulder cart and carried Xianyue to the Yangxin Hall. Once there, he saw Sixi and Xiaowu standing outside with sad faces. When he saw Xianyue getting off the shoulder cart, he hurriedly stepped forward to beat Qian.
Looking at the two people kneeling in front of her, Xianyue asked doubtfully: "Why are you two outside, who is waiting for the emperor?"
Si Xi lowered her head and said: "Replying to your Majesty, the Emperor kicked the two servants out. They were not allowed in and refused to have dinner. Please help the servants to persuade the Emperor."
"Why is the emperor so angry?" Faced with Xianyue's question, the two of them looked at each other and hesitated to answer.
Xianyue glanced at the two of them and said, "But it has something to do with praying for rain?"
Si Xi's body trembled slightly, and he lowered his eyes and said, "I don't know, but several adults did come into the palace just now to see the emperor."
Xianyue knew that he had heard Hongli's words and did not dare to tell the people about the people's request for her to go to the Temple of Heaven to pray for rain. She did not force him to open the door and walked in. As soon as she entered the temple, Xianyue was stunned.
The floor was covered with folds, including sharp pieces of porcelain, and the celadon peony vase that had always been placed on the rosewood frame was nowhere to be seen.
Hongli closed his eyes and sat on the royal chair. He opened his eyes and saw Xianyue coming in. He took a deep breath, suppressed the anger in his heart and said, "Why is the queen here?"
"I was thinking that I haven't seen the emperor for a few days, so I wanted to come to the Yangxin Hall to have dinner with the emperor. Unexpectedly..." Xianyue glanced at the mess on the ground and said softly: "Why did the emperor get into such a big fire?
"
Hongli didn't want to say anything more and said casually: "It's nothing, just a little thing."
Xianyue didn't ask any questions. She leaned down with difficulty and picked up the memorials scattered on the ground one by one. Seeing her like this, Hongli frowned and said, "What are you doing picking these up? Just let Sixi and the others clean them up."
"
Xianyue smiled and said: "It's just some small things, I can handle it."
Seeing her like this, the fire that Hongli had barely suppressed came up again, and he yelled: "I told you not to pick it up!"
Faced with the sudden scolding, Xianyue couldn't help but froze there, but Hongli regretted it as soon as he finished speaking. He came over and pulled Xianyue up, and said guiltily: "I'm not scolding you, it's just..." His lips moved a few times.
, in the end he didn’t say any more, he took Xianyue, held it in his hand and said, “You said you wanted to have dinner, let’s go, I’ll go with you.”
"Is the emperor worried about praying for rain?" Xianyue's words made Hongli's expression freeze, and then he said with an unkind look: "Who told you?"
"It doesn't matter who said it. What's important is that I don't want the emperor to face all difficulties alone. We are husband and wife. Have you forgotten?"
Hongli sighed and said: "I remember, just because we are husband and wife, I don't want anything to happen to you and our children." He caressed Xianyue's delicate face, "It's okay, I will take care of the previous affairs.
, you just have to give birth to our child in peace."
"I'm afraid that it will be difficult for the Emperor to resolve this matter alone." After saying this, she raised her eyes and begged: "Your Majesty, let me go to the altar with you to pray for rain, so..."
"No!" Hongli interrupted her and said resolutely: "When Imperial Concubine Yi Min passed away, you almost had a miscarriage, but you managed to recover some. How can you take this risk again? It's enough for me to pray for rain alone."
!”
"I know that the emperor is dedicated to my good, but this matter is related to the fate of the Qing Dynasty. How can I stay out of it? Your Majesty..."
Before Xianyue could finish speaking, Hongli had already rolled up his sleeves and said, "You don't have to say any more, this is definitely not okay!" After a pause, he touched Xianyue's swollen belly and said slowly: "And, how are you?
It was easy to get this child, if something happens to him, can you bear it?"