"...The wife of the Minister of Rites, Ma Shilang, said this, but in the end, isn't it because she is dissatisfied because her husband-in-law was not promoted?"
"These complaints are really inexplicable... Madam, don't you think so?"
...When these official ladies discuss this kind of topic, even if they ask for my opinion, I don't know how to answer. A noncommittal smile is the best way.
Shui Xinyuan drank tea slowly, hoping that these two people would leave as soon as possible.
However, the scene in front of me was really incredible.
When they were practicing dancing together in the dance studio as court ladies, Zhuyan and Yaoer, who were often incompatible with each other because of competition, now had a happy conversation in front of Shui Xinyuan.
Zhuyan and Yaoer are both nobles with similar dancing skills. At that time, they both hoped to enter the harem to win the emperor's favor. Not to mention sitting at the same table drinking tea, even when they met in the corridor, their eyes caught each other's eyes.
There are also sparks, but recently they often come to Chunying Palace together, saying they want to pay their respects to the queen.
During the palace court era, Shui Xinyuan was just a servant in the eyes of Zhuyan and Yaoer, but they didn't expect that she was now a superior queen. They definitely felt very unhappy.
Although they were originally incompatible with each other, they became like-minded because they experienced the same humiliation.
After the harem was abolished, Zhuyan and Yaoer also married officials respectively.
"But it's not that I can't understand the lady's complaint. Don't you think that everything must be ethical?"
"Yes, yes...if the mother-in-law at home is too unexpected, it will cause big trouble."
… Let’s start talking about that topic again…
Zhuyan and Yaoer's clothes were embroidered with gold and silver, and were covered with luxurious jewelry of jade and amber. They were even more jeweled than Queen Shui Xinyuan, and their faces still had the same expression as when they were ordering the country civet cats to do things.
Shui Xinyuan raised his eyes and glanced at them, holding back a sigh.
This spring…
After the Xishenguan rebellion in which Shui Xinyuan was also involved, the two men often visited the house together.
Some of the officials who were the masterminds were punished, official positions became vacant, personnel were temporarily transferred, and some of the officials were promoted to unexpected high-ranking officials.
The husbands of these two ladies are officials and have not been promoted. They seem to be dissatisfied and often come to Shui Xinyuan to complain...
From time to time, they said in a roundabout way that as the queen of a country, she could be kidnapped so easily, which showed that the world looked down upon farmers' daughters.
"The empress grew up in an environment too far away from politics..."
"I'm afraid my empress doesn't understand how hard it is to win an official position that matches your position."
When they said the word "Empress", they used special force and enunciated the words clearly, which made them sound particularly uncomfortable.
The tea had been finished, and Shui Xinyuan was worrying about how to spend them, when Chunxiang walked in quietly.
"Excuse me, the wife of Dr. Zhuge of Hube wants to see you."
...It's Qing'er, she came at just the right time.
Shui Xinyuan raised his head, but Zhuyan and Yaoer had no intention of getting up and leaving.
"Oh, is she the wife of Dr. Tobe?"
"Yes, Dr. Tobe's wife."
The husbands of Zhuyan and Yaoer were both ministers of Huangmen in Menxia Province, and their official positions were higher than that of the ministers of Hubu.
The reason why they did not plan to leave was because they thought it would be okay to let the wives of officials with lower official positions wait outside.
Chunxiang coughed lightly and reported again: "The wife of Mr. Zhuge of the Ministry of Finance is asking for an audience. She is here on behalf of Mr. Zhuge's wife, who is ordered by Zhongshu."
Zhuyan and Yaoer looked at each other... Zhongshu Ling had the highest position among all officials.
Shui Xinyuan smiled at the two ladies who suddenly looked embarrassed.
"Sorry, there are visitors waiting..."
After Zhuyan and Yao'er said goodbye in scolding tones, they glared at Qing'er who just walked in and left.
"Ah... you came at the right time..."
Shui Xinyuan couldn't help but lie down on the table. The maid neatly packed away the teacups and brought snacks and tea to Qing'er.
"Those two people coming together will be a disaster."
"They often come together recently..."
"If one of the husbands is promoted first, they will fight each other again. If they come again next time, they will say that Zhongshu Ling's wife is here and send them away. My mother-in-law often said that great titles should be used well.
...Chunxiang, did you hear that?"
"Okay, I will definitely make good use of it."
Chunxiang and the other maids put the snacks and cut fruits on a small plate in front of Qing'er, then turned and left. Shui Xinyuan poured tea and observed Qing'er's condition.
"Is there anything you don't want to eat?"
"No, I'm not polite. Everyone is worried about me too much these days."
"But I heard from Zhuge Qing that your physical condition is not ideal these days."
Shui Xinyuan placed the tea in front of Qing'er and sat down himself.
"Well...it's really not that good."
When Qing'er spoke, she held her chin lazily, and her face did look a little haggard.
"This period seems to be similar, but everyone's situation is still a little different, right?"
"It seems that my mother said that except for my eldest sister, she had no reaction during her other pregnancies. My mother-in-law said that she had more serious problems than me."
"Baby..."
Shui Xinyuan muttered and looked at Qing'er's belly casually.
I just found out about Qing'er's pregnancy not long ago, and I still can't see any difference from before.
Hearing Shui Xinyuan's envious tone, Qing'er tilted her head and smiled bitterly.
"I think you should be close too."
"……can you?"
"That's right...and, Shui Xinyuan, you got married earlier than me. It would be too shameful for me to get pregnant first if you, who are so carefree in everything, get married first."
Qing'er shrugged and Shui Xinyuan smiled at her.
Although she hopes to get pregnant as soon as possible, there is no news yet, and Shui Xinyuan is also a little anxious... Qing'er understands this better than anyone else, so she cares about the fact that she is pregnant before Shui Xinyuan.
Shui Xinyuan knew it very well.
"Is it okay? You don't feel well and you still run out like this..."
"Although my physical condition has not been very good for a while, I am doing well today. I have to go out for a walk occasionally."
Qing'er used to come to Chunying Palace where Shui Xinyuan lived from time to time, but she has been feeling unwell for a while and hasn't visited her for a long time. It's rare for her to come today.
"So, the banquet..."
"It should be relatively stable by then. I will come to participate. Shui Xinyuan, can you dance by then?"
"Yes, I only dance to 'Snow Moon and Wind Flowers'."
"I just went to the workshop, and Mingyan was worried. She said it was time to choreograph a new dance, but she couldn't."
Qing'er was drinking tea, looked out inadvertently, took the teacup, and leaned out of the chair.
"Qinger?"
"...Huh? Isn't that Uncle Fu?"
Shui Xinyuan also stood up and came to the corridor. He saw the old gardener with his back to here, bending down and working hard on the opposite side of the pond.
"yes!"
"There is another person next to you. Is he the new gardener?"
"Um?"
Shui Xinyuan walked to Qing'er, leaned out from the railing slightly, and indeed saw a person next to Uncle Fu, carrying a basket on his back.
"Who is that? I've never seen him before."
Shui Xinyuan called out: "Fu Bo." Fu Bo immediately straightened up, said something to the man, and then walked along the pond.
The man also followed.
"Empress, excuse me...and this young lady, oh no, she is the young lady of the Zhuge family."
Uncle Fu came down and bowed to Shui Xinyuan and Qing'er.
"Good afternoon, you said last time that your feet hurt. Doesn't it matter anymore?"
"Thanks to the Queen, but after all, I am already at this age..."
Fu Bo turned around and motioned to the man behind him with his eyes. The young man was about seventeen or eight years old.
"You haven't introduced me to the Queen yet, have you? This is the newly hired apprentice today, here to help me with my work."
"Oh, Uncle Fu, are you planning to retire?"
"No, no, I can still use this old bone... Hey, what's wrong with you?"
The young man stood there, looking at Shui Xinyuan intently.
The man's rude gaze made Shui Xinyuan couldn't help but tilt his head. Qing'er and Fu Bo both frowned in surprise.
"What are you doing? Why don't you say hello to the Queen?"
"Shui Xinyuan..."
"Um?"
"Is it really... Shui Xinyuan?"
Qing'er and Fu Bo looked at Shui Xinyuan and then at the man.
"... Queen, do you know him?"
"Uh...I..."
When asked if he knew this person, Shui Xinyuan felt that he had seen that face somewhere, but if it was someone he met after coming to the palace, he would not forget his appearance.
So, was it before entering the palace? It has been almost five years since I left my hometown of Sanhu Village...
"……ah!"
This face has dark skin, thick eyebrows and big eyes!
"Ziwei...?"
"You still remember me, right?"
"Are you really Ziwei?"
"Yes! Long time no see, Shui Xinyuan!"
"Queen, who is he?"
"Ziwei, do you know the Queen?"
Qing'er and Fu Bo shouted at the same time.
"Ziwei is also from our Sanhu Village, but we haven't seen him for so long that I almost didn't recognize him."
"When we were in the village, we were all still children. If I hadn't heard the rumors, I wouldn't have thought you would be here."
"Ziwei, wait a moment."
Uncle Fu looked up at Ziwei with a serious face.
"Didn't you just say that you are from Yongfeng, Liuzhou?"
"That's right... I went from Sanhu Village to Yongfeng, and from there to the capital. Didn't the people in the cleansing room tell you that I'm from Sanhu Village?"
"Don't speak unclearly. If I had known you were from Sanhu Village from the beginning, I would have introduced you to the Queen."
"I didn't expect it to be Shui Xinyuan, oh no, the Queen."
Shui Xinyuan was sold to human traffickers. When he left his hometown, Ziwei was still in the village.
If he went out to work after Shui Xinyuan left, Lu Fusu should not have encountered him when he inspected Sanhu Village before.
Even if he heard that a girl from his hometown became the new emperor's queen, he probably wouldn't be able to believe it.
"Speaking of which, Queen, what is going on? Why are you here..."
"Ziwei, since I've already said hello, there's no need to talk any more nonsense."
"Ah? Why...?"
"You are sent to be the gardener. Your duty is only to remember the location of the building and the number of gardens, and do not disturb the queen any further."
"But we just met..."
"Ziwei."
Shui Xinyuan smiled, but interrupted him with a firm tone.
"It's my fault. I shouldn't have disturbed you while you were working. Seeing people from the same village here makes me feel at ease. Uncle Fu is a very good gardener. You should help him well."
"Oh, oh..."
"Queen, madam, let's take our leave now..."
"Uncle Fu, you have to watch your feet. If you want to see a doctor, remember to tell Zhuge Qing."
Uncle Fu bowed and walked to the garden. Although Ziwei followed him, he seemed to have something to say and looked back at Shui Xinyuan from time to time.