What's going on with the little ancestor in your belly?

  Things have turned out to be like this today, which was not expected by Xia Chuyi at the beginning. She just spoke hastily for a moment, but now that she has spoken repeatedly and made mistake after mistake, even if she wants to deny it, she cannot ignore the face of Prince Jin's mansion.

  She knew that Chu Qi was glib, but Zhao Zun had also acknowledged the matter at that time. As a prince, he couldn't just talk nonsense. A belly can't be said to exist or not exist just by saying so. In any case, there must be an excuse to shut people's mouths.

  Summer begins on the seventh day of the first month and the head is big.

  Her headache didn't come from dealing with her stomach, but rather Zhao Yu gave her two options.

  Firstly, two people temporarily become one. This approach seems to her as high input, high risk, zero return, and may even lead to physical and mental entrapment, which is unacceptable.

  Secondly, he has a way to shut people's mouths. However, this approach would damage the prestige of King Jin, and it requires her to make some concessions in return. Moreover, the "concession" must be substantial. As far as she knows, that Zhao woman's idea of "concession" is either silver or body, neither of which she is willing to give.

  What's wrong?

  She was still thinking as she came out of Zhao Zhu's residence.

  Is there a third way?

  Lost it, miscarried, can't be helped?

  Knocking her head, she found that Zhao Zun, the feudal ruling class's sinister prince, was really not easy to fool. Since he didn't give her a third way out, if she chose the third way out, it might cost her the price of the fourth way out, no, no, she had to think carefully about it.

  "Are you back?"

  As she pushed open the door and entered, Li Mo's voice was faintly flat, with a hint of displeasure.

  "Cousin, didn't you go out and play with Ah Jiao?" Xia Chuqi felt her inquiring gaze and her face flushed slightly.

  Before, she hadn't discussed anything about Zhao Zhu with Li Miao, mainly because she didn't think there was anything going on between them. But now it seemed like something had developed, and being scrutinized by Li Miao made her feel a bit awkward. She cleared her throat, trying to avoid his gaze and cover up. However, no matter how hard she tried to hide it, the fact that she had been ravished by Zhao Zhu earlier was written all over her face - her cheeks were flushed, her eyes sparkled like spring water, and she had just come out of Zhao Zhu's room. Wasn't this evidence enough?

  "Chu Qi, are you trying to use him?"

  Li Mian asked very realistically, but Xia Chuyi was stunned on the seventh day of summer.

  To say that she had no such intention from the start would be too pretentious. She had thought about it, and with Zhao Zhen's help, she could capsize that big ship, but in reality, her actions were not entirely exploitative, and Zhao Zhen was not someone she could exploit either.

  Especially now, when she heard Li Mo say "utilize", she suddenly felt a little awkward in her heart.

  Utilize...

  These two words are too sharp and not very good.

  She sat down and had a cup of cool tea first, waiting for her anger to subside. Only then did she calmly look at Li Mo and slowly open her mouth, "Cousin, it has nothing to do with the gain or loss, strictly speaking, it's my cooperation with him."

  "Collaboration? Did you tell him about our matter? Or did he find out your identity?"

  At the beginning of summer, on the seventh day, in his heart, he actually felt that Zhao Zhu should know something, but seeing Li Miao's tense face with almost no blood color left, it was clear that he was extremely afraid of Zhao Zhu, so he shook his head.

  "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

  Hearing this, Li Mian let out a sigh of relief, "That's good then."

  After she finished speaking, her gaze fell back on Xia Chuqi's flushed face, and she let out a deep sigh, as if thinking of something.

  "Chu Qi, this Nineteenth Uncle is a notorious cold and distant person who is not easy to get along with. Everyone in the capital is afraid of him, I'm really worried that you'll suffer because of him."

  "Isn't he trouble? Older cousin, are you familiar with him?"

  Li Mian shook his head, "Although my mother is the eldest daughter of the Emperor, he is the youngest son. Perhaps their ages are too far apart, and their relationship with my mother is not close, nor do they have much contact. It's really unlike ordinary siblings."

  Very strangely, Xia Qiuzi was somewhat interested in Zhao Zun's affairs.

  That feeling came out of nowhere, just like when her female comrade-in-arms used to mock her for dating and would go through her boyfriend's QQ space, trying to find two diary entries about her feelings towards him, and then she would talk about his every mood swing... Has she really fallen into the same trap?

  She patted her face, she didn't want to ask, but still did.

  "Then which one is he closer to?"

  "The Nineteenth Uncle and none of them had a very close relationship. In the early years, when Ah Mu Er hadn't entered the East Palace as the Crown Prince's consort, he and the Crown Prince were extremely close, but later... they also drifted apart."

  The name of Amu'er came up again, and Xia Qi's expression was uneven as she flashed a glance at him, not knowing how to ask further. The feeling was particularly strange. Li Mo also seemed to have noticed her unease, looking at her with a faint gaze.

  "You must have known too? I heard my mother say that Nineteenth Uncle and Ah Mu Er were once a well-known golden couple, but unfortunately, fate played tricks on them, their marriage was difficult to continue, and the loving couple ultimately didn't become relatives..."

  Is there someone you love?

  Li Mian said it casually, but on the seventh day of summer, that heart eye was not very smooth.

  "How do you know they have feelings? Have you seen it?"

  Obviously didn't expect her to ask that, Li Miao was stunned for a moment, looking at her with an expression like someone had stolen her beloved thing, how could he not understand what she was thinking?

  "I naturally didn't witness it myself, but it's a well-known fact among the aristocratic circles in the capital. Cousin, these past two days I've been with you, and I've discovered that you're also a woman who can't tolerate others, this temperament will bring you losses in the future... Since ancient times, men having three wives and four concubines is a custom, ordinary wealthy families are like this, let alone Nineteenth Uncle being an imperial prince? If you can't accept the fate of sharing a husband with others sooner or later, I advise you to give up those thoughts early on."

  Been educated again.

  This time it's not Yuè Yù, but Lǐ Miǎo.

  She said it as if it were a matter of course, but Xia Chuqi heard an "also" in her words.

  "Sister, could it be that you also... think women should be equal with men?"

  Li Mian sneered, his expression cold and detached. "I didn't dare think that way, it's just that I'm a person who is narrow-minded and not magnanimous, and I thought it was impossible for me to work with other women under the same husband, so I might as well be like this for the rest of my life. Who says a woman must marry and serve her husband? Who says a person can't live alone?"

  "Sister... I really admire you."

  This is indeed not nonsense spoken by Xia Chuyi.

  In modern society, it's normal for a girl to have such an idea. But in this feudal era, Li Miao was able to have such advanced thinking, which is quite rare. Not relying on men, but only on herself, this kind of thinking is really hard to come by.

  She took another sip of cool tea, smiled and walked over to heavily pat Li Mo's shoulder.

  "A woman should be like this: only a toothbrush can't be shared with a man."

  "Toothbrush?"

  Li Mian looked over in confusion, Xia Chuyi found herself spouting modern slang again and was about to sneak past with a smile when a knock at the door interrupted her. She said "come in" and amidst the giggles, two girls walked in together - one was Gu Ayao, slender and elegant, who had been admiring the river view outside earlier, and the other was Mei Zi, a chubby girl who smiled whenever she saw Xia Chuyi.

  "Qiu Qi and Mei Zi both miss you."

  It's been many days since we last met, and I'm delighted to see you again on the seventh day of summer.

  Four girls in their teens sat around a square table, chatting about family matters and exchanging pleasantries. Except for Li Mo, they all showed joyful expressions. Mei Zi was quite talkative and spoke a lot of nonsense before remembering her main purpose. She hastily took out two things from the food box she had brought along.

  "Chu Qi, Grandpa asked me to give this to you."

  "What's going on?" Xia Chuqi asked casually.

  "This is called sweet bean flower, grandpa said it's for you to try."

  A celadon bowl was brought up from the food box, with tender and smooth tofu pudding, emitting a wisp of hot air, topped with a layer of caramelized sugar, sticky and smooth, soft and glutinous, making one's mouth water at first sight.

  "It's great, I haven't eaten for a long time."

  What she said has been going on for a long time, really a long time.

  It's been almost as long as several hundred years.

  That evening by the Qingling River, she had mentioned to Zhao Zhu that when she was a kid, she loved eating this sweet bean flower, which street vendors would sell while carrying poles on their shoulders. It was very cheap but very appetizing, and it melted in her mouth with a sweet taste. Xia Zhiqi really craved those foods, just talking about them made her drool, but when she arrived at this place, she surprisingly didn't see anyone selling them, nor did she expect Zhao Zhu to have someone make some for her.

  It's really sweet after taking a bite.

  Her heart beats faster uncontrollably.

  Although he always bullies her, but his waiting for her is really good.

  The problem she had been thinking about for a long time was actually understood by her in these two days.

  At that time in Qinggang County, she was detained in a woodshed. Mei Zi brought over the "Qing Nang Shu" which had already been translated and annotated by him. The amount of silver given to her by Yuan Xiao Gongzi was exactly the same as what he had tricked her into giving him... All these showed that the capture this time was just a clever trick for him to let her go.

  A box of rose cake for a bowl of sweet bean flower.

  Alright, she forgave him first then.

  Staring at her with a pair of eyes, seeing her eating happily, Mei Zi also laughed heartily, and then took out another exquisite small dessert from the food box, "Chu Qi, this bowl is honey syrup swallow's nest, it was also specially ordered by Master to be made in the kitchen, this is a rare tribute blood swallow, Master said that you had a fright some days ago, blood swallow is warm in nature, nourishing yin and beauty, and it is also a sacred product for nourishing the fetus, you are most suitable for using it..."

  "Hmmph!"

  Four words of "fetal nourishment" entered her ears, and the sweet bean flower in Xia's mouth almost spit out. After choking for several times, she swallowed it down, wiped her mouth, and tried her best to appear calm, but her two cheeks were like being put into boiling water, burning red.

  "Fetal education?"

  Li Mia was shocked and suddenly lost her voice, asking out loud. Even Gu A'jiao covered her small mouth, with an expression of utter astonishment, pointing at her in shock.

  "Chu Qi, you... how did you end up with a child?"

  In this era, being pregnant before marriage was not as easily tolerated as it is in modern times. If she were to be taken away and thrown into a pig cage, that would be the end of it. Of course, this assumes that she had neither married nor had any social standing. At the same time, several different curious gazes fell upon her, Xia Chuqi coughed violently, while Mei Zi had already assumed she was the master's concubine and didn't think there was anything unusual about it, coming over to pat her on the back with a look of confusion in her eyes.

  "What are you all doing? What's with the looks? Chu Qi has our family's heir in her belly, that's a great blessing..."

  "Cough, cough, cough!" Xia Chuqi's coughing got even worse.

  "Chu Qi, what's wrong with you?" Mei Zi was even more puzzled.

  "It's nothing, just choked... Cough cough!"

  She casually glossed over it, how could she not know that the "fetal nourishing sacred goods" was something someone wanted to take the opportunity to tell her, don't casually think of solutions like "miscarriage by falling", that's his child, absolutely can't be lost, and must be raised... It seems that Zhao's cheap person must force her to surrender.

  Otherwise, she'll have to bribe him with some silver tomorrow.

  Why not?

  Thinking that her head was big, she couldn't withstand Li Mo's sharp gaze. "I'm going out, cough, that slippery thing, swallow's nest, I'll come back and eat it later, it's a good thing, beneficial for my current growth and development, can enhance immunity, beauty, and complexion, helps with post-illness recovery. By the way, Mei Zi, tell your master that this tribute blood nest should be delivered every day from now on, within three years, I guarantee she'll become a beautiful woman..."

  The more anxious, the more talkative.

  She really has this problem.

  She rattled off a whole bunch of nonsense and then slunk away with her tail between her legs.

  As we are now on an official ship, everything is simple. Except for the area where Prince Jin lives, which is not allowed to be entered by outsiders, other places can still be visited freely. Before dinner, Xia Chuyi, in order to avoid being asked questions by Li Mo and Gu Ayao, ran around the ship, taking advantage of the opportunity to appreciate the "Two Shores Gibbon's Cry" of Wan Zhongshan. In the end, she had to return to her cabin and eat dinner under Li Mo's scrutinizing gaze, feeling anxious and sleepless with the wind from the river and the fishing fire outside.

  "What's going on?"

  "Sweet bean flower, or swallow's nest?" Xia Qi smiled mischievously while practicing Tai Chi.

  Ke Li Mo is only eighteen years old, but she really has a big sister's demeanor.

  He just glanced at her and his gaze fell on her belly, "I'm talking about your tummy."

  "My belly?" Xia Chuqi knew she couldn't avoid it, let out a sigh, "Oh, you're talking about me being pregnant?"

  "Yes." Li Peng was slightly irritated by her casual attitude.

  "This is a long story, it's hard to say it all!" Xia Chuyi knocked his head and hesitated, pointing to his own mouth, "I just said that with my mouth...".

  "With mouth?"

  Li Mian looked at her, thinking, thinking, her face, which was usually pale and almost transparent, slowly turned red, turning into a liver color. "You, you, how did you become so muddled."

  What's wrong with her face turning red?

  At the beginning of summer, Xia Qī (seven) inexplicably felt strange, tilting her head to scrutinize Li Miǎn's evasive gaze. Then, she suddenly realized, slowly, slowly, her face also turned red, and her cheeks burned like boiling water... Should she say that her cousin was a progressive but muddled person? Did she think that what she said about "carrying in the mouth" referred to... that thing? But how could something be carried in the mouth?

  The ancient people's knowledge of physiological hygiene was truly lacking.

  She rubbed her face, unable to bear this expression, preparing to tell the truth, "Sister, it's not what you think, actually I don't have a mouth... Ah, no, actually I didn't have anything with him..."

  "Summer is hot!"

  In a moment of urgency, she called out his true name, Li Mo's face turned bright red as he interrupted her words, his gaze piercing like a needle, filled with worry and emotion, his eyes reddening with anxiety.

  "We two, although our parents are no longer around, we are also good people's daughters. How could you... how could you not have the three matchmakers and six gifts, but instead gave yourself to him? Now that you're pregnant, what can be done about it? You were originally Zhao Mianze's fiancée, Nineteenth Uncle fundamentally cannot openly marry you back into the manor, nor can he even give you a proper name. This person, looking so clever, how could they do something as foolish as this?"

  She was stunned by her heartbreaking and desperate words, Xia Chuyi's eyes widened in shock, and for a moment, she was speechless. Li Mo looked at her expression, probably afraid that his words would hurt her too much, so he combed his hair again and sighed.

  "You're not such an unscrupulous girl, was he forcing you?"

  She smiled awkwardly, Xia Chuiqi snapped back to reality from her serious words, and glared at Li Mo with a bad temper, "Sister, you overestimate me too much, he can't force me?"

  "What's going on then?"

  She was almost in tears when she met her "suspicious" gaze. Why did everyone in the world think that if she and Zhao Zhu were together, the one who would suffer a loss must be Zhao Zhu? Her scalp felt numb, and she rolled her eyes.

  "Sister, I actually don't have anything to do with him. And I'm not pregnant either, that was just something I said, not something I'm carrying in my belly, what were you thinking? This this this... your thoughts are too advanced."

  Li Mian's face turned even redder when she said that.

  After hearing the whole story, she looked at Xia Chuqi quietly, still sighing endlessly.

  "Chu Qi, you and him... it's impossible, don't forget your identity."

  "Got it, sister."

  That night, Xia Qiuzi didn't sleep very soundly.

  Because the cabin was cramped, she and Li Miao and Gu A'jiao were squeezed into a small room, listening to the slapping sound of the official boat sailing over the water outside, dazedly feeling that it would be great if this boat never sailed to Ying Tian Fu. She didn't have to face those people and things, on the boat Zhao Zhu was the boss, no one dared to say anything, and going on like this for a long time was a peaceful life.

  Returned to the capital...

  Everything will become complicated.

  She also has a bottom line like Li Mo, which cannot be touched. She can't compromise with other women to share a husband for Zhao Zun, and he can't break this tradition for her either. Moreover, even if he himself is willing, the old emperor and the palace's Gongfei Niangniang will not agree, and she will eventually be killed.

  From ancient times to the present, marriages that cannot be blessed have few good results.

  ……

  ……

  On the seventh day of summer, she woke up and hadn't thought of how to "repay" Zhao Zun to achieve the effect of "miscarriage". The official boat had already stopped at a dock, seemingly needing supplies. She leaned out of the window and took a look, only to see many people rushing to cross the river on the dock, while the civilian boats around them were avoiding and yielding. When they saw the flag of the Jin Wang Temple on the boat, the dock was again kneeling and worshiping...

  This feeling made Xia Chuyi suddenly feel a bit dizzy.

  She is very adaptable and often sees others kneeling to him, but she rarely kneels and is not used to kneeling to people. However, every time she sees such a grand kneeling ceremony, she has an indescribable feeling in her heart.

  "Chu Qi, your grandfather is looking for you."

  Meizi came in when she was still lying on the bed in a daze.

  Having received the master's order, and at this critical juncture, she didn't dare to delay. She hastily got up, washed and dressed herself, and followed Meizi over. Along the way, she asked a few questions, and Meizi briefly told her that Master had received an invitation card early in the morning. Several officials who took a detour via Bazhou Prefecture to enter Beijing for their duties caught up with Master's boat after rushing overnight, and today they insisted on boarding the ship to pay their respects to Master, asking her to go over.

  Someone came to visit him, what did she go to do?

  At the beginning of summer, Zhang Wang looked around and didn't see anyone, only feeling that the wind was strong on the riverbank. The two people walked along the way, and she hadn't approached the cabin where they were yesterday when she saw Zhao Zun walking out from inside, followed by Zheng Er Bao and Yue Yu, both of whom had their heads lowered in respect. Only the master's eyes were cold and unfeeling, with an unusually stern gaze. His robes fluttered in the wind, and the ripples on the river reflected his dignified and noble demeanor.

  It is said that power and prestige are important factors in a man's charm, and at times can even be equated. Just one glance, Xia Chu Qi completely agreed with this view.

  Zhao Zun is indeed a charming man.

  "The wind is strong by the river, and with a child in her belly, don't stand at the mouth of the wind." When he saw her, Zhao Zun's steady footsteps paused for a moment, the majesty in his cold eyes reduced by a few points, but he reached out to her.

  “……”

  I wanted to stare at him on the seventh day of summer.

  Unfortunately, when facing Moon Yu's face, thinking of what she said yesterday, she had to swallow a mouthful of old blood again. One hand pretended to cover her lower abdomen, and the other hand rested on his palm, completely like a pampered little fox spirit.

  "My surname is Chu, and I am Qi. What brings you here?"

  He lowered his head and glanced at her, but Zhao Zhu didn't answer immediately.

  Just at that moment of hesitation, Xia Chuqi keenly caught a hint of hesitation in his eyes.

  "See someone."

  She murmured an "oh" and didn't ask again.

  No matter who she meets, it's impossible to avoid anyway. Since Zhao Zhuang let her go see him, then she'll just go see him. Even if they're familiar with each other, since he doesn't mind, why should she mind so much?

  This official ship is really big.

  When I entered the dining room, the maids had already quickly arranged the dishes.

  There were several people wearing Da Yan official uniforms sitting inside waiting, as soon as they saw Zhao Zun, they respectfully paid their respects and exchanged a few pleasantries before re-seating. At that moment, one of the young men suddenly looked startled, staring blankly at Xia Chuqi beside Zhao Zun.

  It's indeed an acquaintance. She sighed!

  The man was only in his early twenties, with a slender figure, thick eyebrows and big eyes. Although his facial features were not as perfect as Zhao Zun's, he had another kind of elegant demeanor of a noble young master.

  Xia Chuqi gazed at him faintly, slightly raising the corner of her lips without making a sound.

  And his eyes, from doubt to surprise, also only flashed and returned to normal, politely saying, turning away, "Your Highness, this time you came too suddenly, Zi Su only prepared some small gifts, please don't mind."

  "Zi Su was polite, I dare not accept it, that would be against etiquette."

  "It's not something good, just some local specialties of Bazhou Prefecture. This time, Zi Su followed the emperor's order to go to Shu and Qian to open roads, set up post stations, repair bridges and level dangers, really couldn't spare any time to buy things. A few days ago, heard that Your Highness' official boat was going from Ba County to Beijing, so I hurriedly caught up, hoping for your acceptance."

  Zhao Zun nodded slightly, indicating that Zheng Er Bao should accept those local specialties. Suddenly, he lowered his head and took a glance at Xia Chuqi's calm face.

  "A Qi, this is Xia Chang, the young master of the Wei State's royal family. Pour a cup of wine for me."

  "Yes, sir."

  At this overly mushy title, Xia Chuqi only jumped her eyebrows and didn't take it seriously, getting up with a normal expression to pour wine. But it made that Xia look puzzled all over his face.

  He was shocked and suspicious when he saw Xia Chuyi earlier, but now looking at the two people in front of him who were so calm, he wasn't quite sure if she was really Xia Chu. Fortunately, no matter how his heart was pounding, he didn't show too much emotion and even took the initiative to stand up and bow.

  "How dare you, Your Highness is being polite. But, who is this young master...?"

  "This is the new one I just got..." Zhao Zun glanced at Xia Chuqi with a hint of a smile, his hand slowly covering hers on the wine jug, giving it a ambiguous pat. At the moment when Xia Chang's face turned awkward and Xia Chuqi's heart skipped a beat, he didn't say the words "concubine", but instead said calmly.

  "Good doctor."

  Xia Qi took a deep breath and really wanted to strangle him to death.

  In such a solemn occasion, he still deliberately teased her with a straight face.

  He really... isn't afraid of what others will say?

  Looking at Xia Chang's obviously stunned expression, and the eyes that kept sizing him up, Xia Qi lightly coughed, calmly looked over, pursed his lips, and imitated a man's gesture of cupping his fists in respect.

  "I wonder what this young master is looking at the little boy for? The young master is as handsome as a jade tree in the wind, while the little boy is ugly and unsightly. I'm afraid it will tarnish your noble eyes, so please, young master, be magnanimous and withdraw your gaze, lest my family's patriarch misunderstands."

  Her words made Xia Chang even more embarrassed.

  "Sorry, Zi Su was rude. Haven't asked for this young master's honorable surname and great name yet?"

  "What's your surname and name, can you ask casually?" Xia Chuyi raised an eyebrow, she had no good feelings towards the people of Wei Guo Gongfu at all. However, although her words were harsh, every sentence was flattering Zhao Zhu, and when she spoke harshly, there was still a calm smile on her face, which made Xia Changzu unable to respond, and he was stunned, unable to come up with a retort.

  The atmosphere was somewhat awkward for a moment.

  After a brief silence, when Xia Chang's face had turned red to the roots of his ears, Zhao Zun glanced calmly at the equally embarrassed officials present and said: "This official is a good doctor, skilled in strategy, and well-versed in military tactics. He shares my interests, and we have become close friends. I'm afraid I've grown too used to him and forgotten formalities. Gentlemen, please don't treat him like an ordinary person."

  What is Thick Black Theory?

  What is called shameless even in death?

  On Zhao Zhu's body, Xia Chuqi felt these two points.

  She smiled awkwardly, without saying a word, but heard a sigh of relief from the people at the table, who all breathed a sigh of relief and praised her.

  The blush on his face had not yet faded, but he could only follow the steps and slide down, "It turns out that this young master is such a talented person, it's really embarrassing for us to be so crude. If there's an opportunity, I'd like to ask the young master to teach me a thing or two."

  Xia Chunqi smiled and said: "Young Master is overpraising, I'm afraid I won't be able to teach you, with your talent, one look and it's clear you're a foolish person, studying medicine won't work out, military strategy is even more for the wise, not suitable for you, but those trivial matters of eating, drinking, whoring and gambling, I think you should be quite capable."

  Xia Chang's smile stiffened on his face.

  Where have these people seen such impolite people?

  Others exchanged a few pleasantries with her, but she wasn't even slightly polite, directly stabbing at people's hearts, making them resentful. Yet, she was Zhao Zhu's person, and even though they were furious, they couldn't do anything to her.

  "A Qi." Zhao Zun's eyebrows jumped slightly before he slowly and leisurely said, "Don't be presumptuous in front of Young Master Xiao."

  "Yes, Master, Ah Qi knows his mistake." Xia Chuqi replied with a humble expression, looking at the face of Xia Chang who was choked with anger, feeling truly relieved in her heart. She knew Zhao Zun's intentions all along, it was just that they were playing a play with one person acting as the good guy and the other as the bad guy.

  Thinking that he was so good, she simply flattered him to the end, regardless of others present, and still stood up, carefully helping him loosen his shoulders. That gentle appearance was completely like a kind woman, where had the sharp-tongued little boy from just now gone?

  "Grandfather, is your body feeling better?"

  Zhou's lips twitched again, and he pressed down on her hand that was placed on his shoulder, pulling her over to sit down. He said calmly, "Didn't you say earlier that your stomach was hungry? Quickly come sit down and eat. These few adults are easy-going people, they won't mind you, there's no need to be like this."

  Xia Chuqi murmured an "oh" and sat down as if saying "excuse me".

  As a result, those who were originally "calculating" found it really hard to calculate again, and they started drinking happily again. One by one, they kept flattering Zhao Zhu's horse.

  However, after this incident, Xia Chang's doubts and shock in her stomach also dissipated due to Zhao Zhuo's carefree and casual attitude.

  After two years, Xia Chu was at an age where she was still growing up. Whether it was her figure or facial features, there were some changes, especially after deliberately dressing up and changing into men's clothing on the seventh day of summer. To be honest, the change was quite big, but there was a slight resemblance. Otherwise, Li Mo wouldn't have tried to test her several times until he saw the peach wood mirror before daring to recognize her. The saying "a girl changes eighteen times" is roughly this meaning.

  According to the official system of Da Yan, the Wangfu Liangyuan officer is recommended by the Imperial Hospital and selected by the History Department. Finally, there is a pass that must be personally approved by the Emperor before taking office. Since he is the Wangfu Liangyuan officer, even the current emperor does not suspect him, why should he doubt?

  But it was just a young man who looked like Xia Chu.

  The only coincidence is that there was some ambiguity between this young man and King Jin.

  But such things were not uncommon among the powerful and noble in Dajin, and Zhao Zun's reputation for being fond of men had already spread from Jin Chengfu. He had long been mentally prepared and even felt it was a matter of course.

  A long-held breath was finally let out.

  If Xia Chu really followed King Jin, this matter would be big.

  Everyone relaxed, and the atmosphere at the dinner table improved. For a while, the host and guests were all delighted, chatting and laughing freely. But Xia Chuqi suddenly had another epiphany when she saw that Xia Chang was no longer awkward.

  The way of using troops, Zhao Kui has already reached the highest realm - the cunning way.

  Empty and real, false and true, confusing people with a set of tricks.

  This way, she was even more certain in her heart. Zhao Zun indeed suspected that she was the seventh miss of the former Wei Guo Gongfu. However, whether he believed it or not in his heart, and even if this move was a probe, there was no certainty.

  No matter what, since he had already decided to bring her back to the capital, sooner or later her appearance would arouse suspicion. He might as well bring her to meet Xia Chang, this move was truly bold, no matter if it was called "replacing a pear with a peach" or "stealing beams and changing pillars", in short, he had given her an official status.

  "Chu Qi——"

  A loud and piercing scream from outside interrupted the clinking of cups inside.

  Zhao Zhu's face sank, Zheng Er Bao observed his expression and walked out shouting.

  "What a blind fool! Can't you see that His Excellency and the others are inside drinking? Hurry up and shoo him away!"

  Soon, the sound of the guards' shouting came from outside.

  "Second Master, wait." Xia Chuyi heard it and knew that was Gu Ajiao's voice with a crying tone, something must have happened. She looked at Zhao Zhu tightly with pleading eyes, "Master, she is my friend, I'm afraid she has come to find me for something."

  "Let her in." Zhao Zun's voice was low and deep.

  In Zheng Er Bao's promise, the door was pushed open, and Gu A Jiao rushed in with a look of panic on her face, holding onto the door, she hadn't even spoken yet when tears began to fall one after another.

  "Qī, help me..."

  She was originally a beautiful girl, wearing a jacket with a auspicious pattern on the collar, wrapping her plump chest, a small waist that seemed to break with just one pinch, her bright red face as red as rouge, her delicate eyebrows furrowed in just the right place, exuding a weak and pitiful aura, displaying a captivating beauty that left several men in the room stunned, their eyes fixed on her.

  It seems men all like coy and charming women?

  Xia Chuqi gazed at those few pairs of chopsticks and sighed inwardly as he looked towards Gu Ajiao.

  "A'jiao, what's wrong with you? Don't cry, speak slowly."

  Her pale fingers grasped the door frame, and Gu A'jiao was so excited that she seemed like she couldn't stand steadily.

  "Chu Qi, the embroidered pouch my mother left me, I was just carelessly playing with it... and it fell into the water. It's all my fault for being careless, waaah... If I can't retrieve it, I might as well follow her to the afterlife..."

  She was crying for real.

  Those tears hanging on her pale face are enough to move a man's heart.

  "Your Highness."

  Chang, who was often at the foot of the imperial city wall, was also stunned by her beauty. He turned his head and asked Zhao Zun to speak on his behalf, "Look at this young lady's anxiety, why not stop the boat for a while?"

  "Yes, yes, Your Highness... Zi Su's words are indeed correct." Someone echoed in agreement.

  Xia Chuqi squinted her eyes, touched her nose, and saw those few men who couldn't wait to jump into the water to retrieve the purse themselves. Xia Chuqi knew she didn't need to worry about Ah Jiao's purse anymore.

  Saving beauty is originally a man's job.

  However, she also figured it out. Girls should be born like Ah Jiao, gentle and beautiful, pitiful, a typical femme fatale type, with a natural foxy charm. If they were all like her own personality, one word would kill people, no matter how beautiful they looked, they couldn't conquer the city.

  "Chen Jing."

  After pausing for a while, Zhao Zhuo finally shouted out loud.

  "Yes."

  Chen Jing didn't say much, understanding the meaning, and strode out of the cabin, still as yesterday, without even looking at Gu A'jiao with a straight eye, which made Xia Chuyi can't help but admire him.

  Chen Jing rowed back with the bundle, but Zhao Zhu had no intention of stopping the boat.

  He frowned and gave Zheng Erbao a look.

  "Take this girl away."

  "Yes, sir."

  Zheng Er Bao nodded, and was about to go over to "invite" Gu Ajiao. But Gu Ajiao, who had just been crying, suddenly became elegant and refined, and with a gentle smile on her face, she said in her soft and beautiful voice.

  "The commoner woman thanks Your Excellency for your concern. Ah Jiao's heart is filled with gratitude, but she has no way to repay it. Now that she sees Your Excellency hosting a banquet for noble guests, Ah Jiao wants to sing a song, first to repay Your Excellency's kindness and second to thank the nobles for their sympathy. Please grant her permission."

  The seventh day of summer closed her eyes slightly.

  This Gu A Jiao is really quite talkative.

  At such a young age, in front of the King of Jin and so many high officials, she wasn't nervous at all, and on top of that, she had such a beautiful appearance. She could only be described with a few words - not from this world.

  Of course, Xia Chui's eyes were not dull, and the momentary surprise in Ah Jiao's eyes when she first saw Zhao Zhuo couldn't escape her notice. Moreover, earlier on the post road, she had seen Zhao Zhuo before, and she had told Xia Chui that she was deeply infatuated with Zhao Zhuo's robust and handsome masculine appearance.

  Although it was like this, Xia Qi could still see that Ah Jiao wasn't a shallow woman. Probably seeing her with Zhao Zhu in one place and learning about their relationship, the gentle gaze soon stopped looking at Zhao Zhu, and her eyes occasionally drifted towards Xia Chang, as if she had developed some affection for him.

  But what is she going to make a scene about?

  She didn't make a sound, turned her head sideways, but looked at Zhao Zhuo to see how he would handle it.

  Zhao Zun's face was pale and his lips curled up slightly, with only one word.

  "Correct."

  Gu A'jiao immediately burst into tears and laughed, "That civilian girl has made a fool of herself, I hope she won't sully Your Highness's and the esteemed gentlemen's ears."

  She hastily retreated, took out a pipa she had with her, first shyly bowed and saluted, then sat down on the small stool that Yuè Yù had arranged for her by the door, and tuned it a few times. The charming movements of bowing and tuning made several men's eyes light up, including Xiā Chū Qī's.

  It has to be said that in front of men, this Ah Jiao is even more beautiful by a few points.

  Her beauty is different from that of the moon.

  The beauty of Yuè Yù is too perfect, and it also makes her a bit wooden.

  Gu A'jiao truly deserves the "Jiao" character, born with a natural charm. To put it bluntly, when men see her for the first time, they won't think about exploring what kind of person she is, but will immediately think of four words - carnal pleasure.

  "Green clouds in the sky, yellow flowers on the ground, a strong west wind. Wild geese flying south. Who dyed the frosty forest red at dawn? All are tears of parted lovers..."

  While she was pondering, Gu A-Jiao had already begun to sing softly.

  At the beginning of summer, she didn't understand music, but these few sentences were familiar to her. They were famous lines from "The West Chamber". To be honest, she really didn't know that Gu A'jiao, the daughter of a pharmacy owner, could play and sing, and even though she was tone deaf, she could hear the sorrow of love between men and women in her singing, which made her feel melancholy and almost brought tears to her eyes.

  "Dawn comes, who dyed frost forest drunk, always tears of parting people. Good!"

  Those adults' applause was endless, as if they were competing to see who had the loudest voice. One by one, they struck poses with elegant demeanor, and the scene was no less than those TV shows where people would spend a fortune to win a smile from a beauty. But Xia Chun thought that these people were just pretending to be cultured, and if it weren't for being in a public place, they probably would have swallowed Gu Aijiao whole by now. Who cares about listening to music?

  "Lotus seed congee is not good to eat when it's cold."

  A faint sound beside her ear interrupted her thoughts.

  As soon as she turned her head, Zhao You handed over a bowl of lotus seed porridge in front of her and gestured for her to eat quickly. Her face seemed unhappy, "You've become so thin, it must be because your intestines are not good, this is good for tonifying the spleen and stomach."

  On the seventh day of summer, I moved my lips, but couldn't say a word.

  At this time, every male, including Zheng Er Bao, that half-male, was staring at Gu A Jiao without blinking, yet this guy still thought to ask her to eat something, which made her feel quite uncomfortable.

  She thought for a moment, then lowered her head and choked back a sob.

  "Grandfather, there's a beauty in front of you, and you're not even moved? Are you still a man?"

  Under the table, Zhao Zhuo quietly moved his knee over and touched her leg, hinting unpleasantly before saying in a low voice, "When Master sees a beauty, he gets excited, even the children of the Jin Wang Fu can enter the Feng Tian Hall."

  "...big talk without shame, speaking as if he's very capable."

  His leg was itching and he stretched out his hand to push away Xia Qi's mischievous knee, but unexpectedly had his hand grasped.

  His hand was warm and rough, with a masculine strength that made her heart skip a beat. Her ears instantly flushed as she shot him a sharp glance.

  "Don't... be seen by others, what a joke?"

  Zhao Zun's face was expressionless, seemingly not anxious at all. One hand wrapped around hers, slowly and leisurely lifting her eyelids to watch Gu A'jiao sing. Only the fingers under the table occasionally hooked and teased the small hand in her palm, seeming to be having a lot of fun.

  Couldn't make ends meet, and couldn't even cry out loud, Xia Zhong Qi felt somewhat resentful.

  As she caught his eye, she glanced at Ah Jiao again and said in a low voice, "Hey, I'm curious, are your eyes blocked by eye dirt? Do you need me to prescribe some Qinggan Mingzhu medicine?"

  Without looking at her, Zhao Zun's eyes sank, and he said lightly, "What do you mean?"

  "Otherwise, why did you take a liking to me? Don't you think Ah Jiao is pretty and charming? This is what it means for a woman to understand, right? Does the King of Jin like her? If he does, I'll make sure to get her to be his concubine."

  "How can you still taste so much sourness from just eating a bowl of longan lotus seed porridge?"

  Her face turned red, Xia Chuqi glared at him, "Who's being sarcastic? Tell the truth."

  Zhao Zun finally turned his gaze to her, staring at her, slowly raising an eyebrow, and said in a calm tone, "There are many beauties in the world, but there is only one Chu Qi."

  This answer...

  At the beginning of summer, I didn't expect it, and blinked my eyes.

  Who says King Jin is always heartless and cold? These sweet words are too good, she has never heard more moving love words in her past life. Even if she knows that men's words can't be trusted before they get a woman, she was still deeply moved. And also deeply believed that whoever Zhao Zun said these words to would probably fall into his palm.

  After clearing her throat, she was about to say a pleasant phrase to express her feelings, but instead heard him say something extremely unpleasant.

  "Ah Qi, it's not your fault that you're ugly, as long as the little ancestor in your belly looks like grandpa, it's fine."

  What was originally a moving scene turned into anger and embarrassment, this Prince of Jin is quite capable.

  "Xia pinched his leg hard on the seventh day of summer, 'You're a scoundrel, exposing others' shortcomings is not gentlemanly.'"

  Zhao Zhu's face sank, his leg hurt, but he couldn't lose his composure, so he coldly said, "A Qi, you have time to think about beauties, why not think about what to do with the little ancestor in your belly?"

  At the beginning of summer, Qī (a Chinese festival) was over, Bái gave him a glance and ate several mouthfuls with great effort.

  "Why don't you just eat this bowl of lotus seed porridge with longan and abort the fetus?"

  "That won't do, my child is gone, how can Ah Qi make it up to me?"

  What's wrong with his kid in the first place?

  She gritted her teeth, and the excitement she had felt earlier flew out of her mind. It was obvious that this guy was intentionally teasing her, where did "beauties are common in the world, but there's only one Chu Qi" come from?

  She knew he wasn't a good thing, so she wouldn't suffer a loss. She lowered her eyelids slightly and said, "What do you want?"

  Zhao Zun leaned over and whispered in her ear.

  "You..."

  Her face turned red in an instant on the seventh day of summer.

  She gritted her teeth and leaned in again, saying something in a low voice. This time, it was Zhao's turn to scowl.

  "This king's Ah Qi, really dares to think."

  These two people secretly said something, due to the policy of the Da Yan Dynasty, it is not convenient for the author to elaborate here. Only on this day, Gu Ajiao's official boat played the pipa and sang a song that inspired countless men, but only useless to King Jin, always with his good doctor, secretly making waves, and soon spread out again.

  As a result, the King of Jin indeed had a fondness for males and was uninterested in females. Moreover, he had a highly favored imperial physician who served as his male concubine, and this news spread like wildfire throughout the capital.

  The story spread and became more and more exaggerated, until it was said that the King of Jin had a fox spirit by his side. When Xia Chuyi later arrived at Ying Tian Fu and heard this rumor unintentionally, she couldn't help but be shocked. The harm caused by rumors in ancient times is no less than that of modern times.

  All of that is for later, now let's get back to the current topic.

  About the matter of "the child in her belly" on Xia Chuqi, she wanted to have a miscarriage by accident but still ended up having one. Zhao Zhu didn't say how to solve it and only told her to keep the "little ancestor" as it might be useful. So, under Xia Chuqi's black face, Master only calmly instructed Zheng Erbao with one sentence.

  "The woman from Qinggang has passed away in a great fire."

  With grandfather's orders, Zheng Er Bao naturally understood.

  Those things have been settled within a small scope.

  In fact, in Qinggang County, those who really came into contact with Xia Chuyi were all Zhao Zhu's personal slaves and guards. As long as they were instructed, which of them would dare to wag their tongues?

  That's it.

  Chu Qi became a good doctor in the Da Yanjin Wangfu's medical department.

  It can be said that she is a good doctor, but also does the work of a maid. Saying she is a maid, but eating the food of a concubine, an existence that doesn't fit into any category, forcing her to reluctantly say: Xia Zhuzi is the best doctor among all the maids in the world, and the most skilled maid among all the doctors in the world.

  ……

  ……

  The waterways of Da Yan Zhou are well-connected and accessible in all directions.

  The twelfth lunar month was not the busy season for boat transportation, and all the way from the Yangtze River to Qinhuai, there were almost no obstacles, except that occasionally in the city, they would go up to replenish supplies, and the official boats were almost always on their way, so the speed was very fast. When the camphor trees on both sides of the road turned into snow pines, when the spring colors turned into white snow, and no longer saw the greenery of the southwest, the scenery on both sides of the boat became a silver-clad and white-wrapped landscape. Along the way, there were rich and poor areas, with delicate and gentle scenes, and treacherous and barren lands. After about ten or so days, the official boats arrived at the Shangxin River Wharf in Xi'an Prefecture's Water West Gate.

  *sigh*...

  The sound of the horn, the official boat slowly moved towards the shore.

  On the dock, amidst the fluttering snowflakes, the people who had arrived early to welcome them were packed in like sardines, with commoners lining up on both sides. The officials of the Honglu Temple were busy making arrangements for the welcoming ceremony, and at the very front, apart from the civil and military officials who had been summoned by imperial decree, there were also the ceremonial guards from the Jinwang Fu.

  The official ship is getting closer and closer to the shore.

  Xia Chiu and Zhao Tun stood on the deck of the Jia ship at the same time.

  Zhao Zhu wore a long, dark green changshan with a high collar and a black silk cloak with gold trim, which fluttered in the river breeze like a black flag, exuding an aura of icy coldness and sternness. His gaze was fixed on the crowd surging towards the dock like a tide, and the bustling scene of the capital city, without blinking.

  Alas!

  On the seventh day of summer, he let out a long sigh.

  It's finally here!

  Today she was still dressed in men's clothing, but outside she wrapped a thick, pale blue flower-patterned sheepskin coat. Her small face looked much whiter, perhaps it was the nourishment of "love" these days, and the pink and white complexion showed a hint of tenderness. His firm eyes and deliberately "made-up" facial features also had a heroic spirit that only belonged to young men.

  Not extremely beautiful, not enchanting, but who would dare say that after a few more years, this thin and frail young boy couldn't grow into an absolutely stunning beauty.

  Zhao Zu was silent for a long time, and Xia Chuyi tilted her head to the side, smiling as she sized him up.

  "Your Highness, Duke of Jin, how does it feel to be back home?"

  "Dew from tonight is white, moonlight is hometown's brightness, I deeply sigh."

  What a load of nonsense! After hearing his pompous answer, Xia Chuyi snorted and turned her head back to the dock in the distance. With an extremely slow, light, and soft voice that only she could hear, she faintly smiled.

  "Why don't you become the greatest in the world?"

  Zhao Zun's face turned cold, his eyebrows furrowed tightly, "What do you mean?"

  Still gazing into the distance, Xia Qi said in a very calm tone, "Once you become the number one under heaven, everywhere will be your home. No matter where you go to fight wars, you won't have any feelings of homesickness."

  This is too far-fetched, even she doesn't believe it.

  His eyes gazed at her face with a hint of coolness between his eyebrows.

  "Am I first? What about you?"

  "Me?" She smiled brightly at him and replied promptly, "The eldest of the number one family in the world."

  "Preposterous!" Zhao Zhu coughed and squeezed her hand heavily, "Even if I spoil you, such treasonous words cannot be spoken again."

  "Great injustice? Ha......" Xia Chuyi slightly raised an eyebrow and said calmly, "Do you think that if you don't fight for it, others will let you have it? You're only 24 years old, with outstanding military achievements, and as a prince, your merits surpass those of the emperor. Look at the people on the shore, how many are waiting to see your downfall? Throughout history, there are too many examples before us, can't you see clearly? Most things in this world are driven by self-interest. Moreover, it's said that a true hero should aim high... It's still the same words, if you have that intention, I will definitely follow you closely, watching you reign supreme, watching the people of the world look up to you, watching you use your talents to create a prosperous and peaceful era."

  "What then?" he asked coldly.

  "What then? You reward me with ten thousand taels of gold and allow me to retire from official life."

  "Have you gone blind from money?"

  She smiled lightly, Xia Chuqi narrowed her eyes, suddenly thought of a popular phrase, and sighed with a sour tone, saying, "Well, that's good, when you reign supreme, grant me the four seas as my home."

  Zhao Zun narrowed his eyes, scanning her face for a moment before raising his hand to give her a gentle forehead flick. Only then did he gaze out towards the dock, saying calmly.

  "You numbskull! Do you understand benevolence, righteousness and morality?"

  "This stupid thing is a phrase he recently learned from her mouth, and in the past two days, he has been fond of saying it to her. Xia Chuyi doesn't mind, she just slightly raises the corner of her lips and asks back."

  "How much does benevolence, righteousness and morality cost per catty?"

  "You want to buy? I have plenty."

  “……”

  Two people exchanged a few words, and then came the sound of welcoming whistles from the dock.

  Zhao Zun slowly narrowed his eyes and gazed at the dock on the other side of the river.

  "Hey, Chu Yiguan, come here, let me take you home."

  Xia Zhong Qi rolled her eyes and smiled, "Alright, let's get going."

  She joked and didn't tell him what she saw wasn't home.

  But outside the turbulent waves, there were pairs of blood-stained eyes waiting for her to take revenge.

  Digression

  Doctor's wife V group is open: 【385060371】, members can join, fans of this book with a value of 600 or more, please see the top post for details! Thank you everyone!

  Today's chapter is the last chapter of Volume 1, and it took a bit longer to polish, making everyone wait a bit longer, but there are still many words. So, whether you love or hate me, feel free to scold me.

  Also: Due to time constraints, this chapter has not been proofread for errors. Corrections will be made later. Please forgive any mistakes, beautiful ladies.

  Once again: Thank you everyone for accompanying Erjin, Shijiu and Chuyi for so long. I bring my wife and brother-in-law to bow to each of you.

  Thank you for your company through wind and rain... The second volume is about to begin, let's huddle together again and see how those few masters perform, shall we?