Whose cub am I pregnant with?

Xiao Shiqing was right, Empress Dowager Wen couldn't hide it.Instead of lying one after another, it is better to tell the truth earlier and die sooner.

But how did this make him speak? !He felt that he was an unmarried girl who got pregnant first, secretly ate the forbidden fruit without telling his parents, and his belly got bigger, but the parents thought he was a good boy.

Zhao Qi struggled crazily in his heart, and the words came to his lips several times, but he finally swallowed them back.

Empress Dowager Wen lived in Xuchun Garden. She came to see Zhao Qi every day, and occasionally fed him medicine herself.With tears in his eyes, Zhao Qi drank the anti-fetal medicine one mouthful at a time, feeling that what he was drinking was not medicine, but full of maternal love, and he felt more and more guilty.

When Zhao Qi's stomach was more than six months old, the weather gradually entered autumn, and it was cold in the morning and evening.Dragon Egg's fetal movement became more and more frequent, and the heavy belly had begun to affect Zhao Qi's normal life.He often wakes up at night, and his waist is sore. Fortunately, Jiang Dehai has a massage skill, so he can massage him to relieve fatigue when he has nothing to do.

Zhao Qi was lying on his side on the bed, half-closed his eyes to enjoy the sourness brought by the massage, a sudden kick of the dragon egg made him frown, "Hey, the little guy woke up."

Jiang Dehai: "What did the emperor say?"

"I'm talking to the little princess." Zhao Xi supported his head with one hand and touched his belly with the other, "When will this day end, I really want to unload the goods quickly."

Some people say that raising a baby after unloading is more difficult than being pregnant, but Zhao Qi is not afraid. Xiao Shiqing has already found a nanny and wet nurse for the little princess. , Others have people to help him worry about.

Jiang Dehai smiled and said, "Has the emperor chosen a good name for the little princess?"

Zhao Qi's face was filled with the brilliance of fatherly love, "Think about it, call..."

At this time, Xiao Songzi's voice sounded outside: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty—"

Zhao Qi's first reaction was that Empress Dowager Wen came to see him again, and hurriedly said, "Help me to bed quickly!"

After Zhao Qi lay down on the bed and covered his stomach with the quilt, Xiao Songzi ran in and finished speaking: "The prime minister is here."

Zhao Qi breathed a sigh of relief, and didn't bother to get up again, so he lifted the quilt so that Long Dan could greet her father.

Since Empress Dowager Wen moved to Xuchun Garden, Xiao Shiqing spent much less time alone with him.He couldn't come when Empress Dowager Wen was there, and he was usually busy with government affairs.But no matter what, Xiao Shiqing would look for an opportunity to visit Zhao Qi once a day, and tell him some pleasant "good things" about the government.

For example, the floods in the south have completely ended, and the people have gradually lived a normal life.Yu Shenshui is indeed that rare talent in water control. He made the best use of the situation, built dams to divert water, built canals to divert water, diverted water into plains, and irrigated farmland, turning harm into benefit.In less than a year, there will be a bumper harvest on both sides of the Huai River.The money pockets of the common people are bulging, and the treasury can also receive a large sum of money.With money in the national treasury, no matter what battles they have to fight in the future, they will not be afraid.

Xiao Shiqing walked in, and the moment he saw Zhao Qi, the chill that was always on his body was subdued by half, "Your Majesty."

Zhao Qi said lazily: "Oh, the prime minister is here—give me a seat."

Xiao Shiqing smiled, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Zhao Qi hasn't played enough of the tricks of the monarch and his ministers, he doesn't call Xiao Shiqing "brother", he still likes to put on an emperor look in front of Xiao Shiqing.This cannot be blamed on him, he has been oppressed for so long, and finally turned himself into a serf and sang, of course he had to take the opportunity to enjoy himself.

Xiao Shiqing sat down on the side of the bed, "How do you feel today?"

Zhao Qi wanted to say that the seat I gave you was the small stool on the side, not my bed, but meeting Xiao Shiqing's eyes, he still couldn't help answering him: "The little princess kept kicking me, which made me stay up late last night. Eye sockets are coming out."

No matter how distressed Xiao Shiqing was, there was nothing he could do, so he just nodded and said, "Thanks for your hard work."

Zhao Qi was disdainful, "That's it, that's it? You just talk about it." He sort of understood, the most useless item for mother and baby--the baby's father.

Xiao Shiqing chuckled, "Then what does the emperor want me to do?"

Zhao Qi lowered his head, his voice was as low as a mosquito: "I want you to stay with me more."

Xiao Shiqing didn't hear clearly for a moment, "Huh?"

Zhao Qi coughed lightly, turned his face away, "It's nothing."

Probably because he has gotten used to Xiao Shiqing's company, or because he can't see outsiders in the third trimester of pregnancy, and he can't go anywhere, which is too boring. What Zhao Qi looks forward to most every day is eating, and the second thing he looks forward to is spending time with Xiao Shiqing.

Strange to say, when the two of them got together day and night on the dragon boat, he didn't feel that Xiao Shiqing was rare at all, and sometimes even thought he was an eyesore and wanted to be alone, but now he couldn't get enough of Xiao Shiqing.

This is of course related to Xiao Shiqing's heaven-defying appearance, but it is more due to his own state of mind.

Zhao Qi asked himself again, do you like it?

Alas, the child is about to be born, so what's the point of asking this again.

The two didn't talk for a while, and Empress Dowager Wen came—this time she really came.Xiao Shiqing covered Zhao Qi with a quilt calmly, stood up to greet him.

Empress Dowager Wen seemed to be in a good mood. Seeing Xiao Shiqing, she smiled and said, "The Prime Minister is also here."

Xiao Shiqing said: "I have come to report to the emperor."

"That's just right, you can also take a look for the emperor."

Zhao Qi asked: "What are you looking at, Queen Mother?"

Empress Dowager Wen turned around and said, "Yunxiu, let them bring it up."

Three eunuchs stepped forward, each holding several scrolls of paintings in their hands.Yunxiu explained: "The emperor is recuperating in bed, and the palace banquet for the Qiqiao Festival cannot be held, but the important event of the emperor's appointment and selection of concubines cannot be delayed. The queen mother specially asked the painter to make a painting for each of the noble ladies, and the emperor please appreciate it. "

Zhao Qi's heart tightened, and he secretly observed Xiao Shiqing's expression.Xiao Shiqing looked as usual, as if he had expected this for a long time.

Zhao Qi forced a smile, "Mother, I'm a little tired..."

"I didn't let you move. You just lie down and admire a painting, how much effort can you spend." Empress Dowager Wen said involuntarily, "Let the emperor see Wen Guogong's little granddaughter first."

The picture scroll was slowly unfolding in front of the bed, Zhao Qi glanced at it, covered his eyes and said, "Oh, my eyes hurt, I'm afraid I can't read it—"

Empress Dowager Wen laughed angrily, "Your Majesty, you are almost twenty now, how long do you want to delay?"

Zhao Qi sneaked a glance at Xiao Shiqing through his fingers—has this person been silenced, why did he just watch him play without saying a word?He didn't get angry, and he didn't put on a show, he put down his hands and said: "Queen, I don't want a queen."

A smile flashed in Xiao Shiqing's eyes, but Empress Dowager Wen frowned tightly: "Nonsense, you don't want a queen, what do you want?"

Zhao Qi hesitated to speak, "Anyway, I don't want to get married."

Empress Dowager Wen's eyebrows became sharp, "Xi'er, do you know what you are talking about?"

Just as Zhao Qi wanted to speak, Xiao Shiqing finally spoke up: "The emperor can't get married for the time being."

Empress Dowager Wen turned to Xiao Shiqing in an instant, "What is the prime minister's intention?"

"That's what the Queen Mother heard."

"Didn't the prime minister always agree with the emperor's early wedding?" Empress Dowager Wen said puzzledly, "You drafted the list of these noble ladies."

Although it wasn't the right time, Zhao Qi felt a little gloated when he thought about Xiao Shiqing's finding a wife for him at the beginning—he must be shooting himself in the foot now.

Xiao Shiqing said: "One moment and another moment."

Empress Dowager Wen was even more confused, "What is the difference between now and then?"

Xiao Shiqing glanced at someone who was gloating, and smiled softly.At that time, he regarded the emperor as a puppet plaything; at this time, he regarded Zhao Qi as a treasure in his heart.Today, the big baby said that he didn't want to get married, so whatever he did was worth it.

The reactions of the two couldn't escape the eyes of Queen Mother Wen, "What kind of charades are you two playing?"

"Queen Mother, it's because I don't want the emperor to get married." Xiao Shiqing said, "It has nothing to do with the emperor."

Zhao Qi was taken aback.What is Xiao Shiqing going to do, take everything on himself?But even so, the big marriage is unusual, even if Queen Mother Wen is afraid of him, she will not give in on this matter.Is Xiao Shiqing's IQ suddenly offline?

Empress Dowager Wen was silent for a moment, and said, "You all go down."

All the maids and eunuchs withdrew, leaving only the three of them.Empress Dowager Wen said: "There are no outsiders here. Shiqing, you can tell Aijia your real intentions—why don't you want the emperor to be a queen?"

Zhao Qi thought that Xiao Shiqing was going to say that he had taken his dragon egg, so he couldn't help complaining why he didn't discuss it with him in advance. Didn't he completely ignore his opinion again? Unexpectedly, Xiao Shiqing just said calmly: "No reason, The minister just doesn't want to."

Not to mention Zhao Qi, even Empress Dowager Wen was stunned, "So you are... making trouble for no reason?"

Xiao Shiqing was noncommittal.

Empress Dowager Wen's anger could no longer be suppressed, she slapped the table hard, and was about to question clearly, but was preempted by Xiao Shiqing.

"I would like to hand over the order of the Tianji Camp, the power of the imperial guards in the capital, the other half of the tiger charm, and the seal of the prime minister. I just ask the queen mother not to force the emperor to choose the queen."

This incident was so unexpected that both mother and son thought they had heard wrong.

The order of the Tianji Camp, the power of the imperial guards in the capital, the tiger amulet for mobilizing troops from all over the country, and the seal of the prime minister, these four are the biggest bargaining chips in Xiao Shiqing's hands. Without any of them, his rights will be greatly restricted, but Xiao Shiqing said that he I don't want any more.

In Zhao Xi's eyes, Xiao Shiqing and the word "right" are bound together.As long as he thinks about it, he can have the Zhao family's country at his fingertips.He didn't take action for a long time, but because he enjoyed the pleasure of manipulating behind the scenes and making the princes under the emperor's command more than the emperor's false name.

Xiao Shiqing is a powerful minister, a powerful minister who makes the royal family afraid and powerless.Even Zhao Xi can imagine what will happen to such a powerful minister who returns the power to the royal family.

Xiao Shiqing didn't even want his life!

Zhao Qi quickly realized, and said with a smile: "Why did the Prime Minister learn from me and make a joke?"

"I'm not joking." Xiao Shiqing smiled, "Your Majesty, without these, I can properly follow the way of a monarch and a minister."

Zhao Qi became anxious, "Xiao Shiqing!"

Empress Dowager Wen's red lips parted slightly, "Qi'er, let the Prime Minister continue."

"I have finished what I want to say." Xiao Shiqing said, "I ask the Queen Mother to make a decision."

"Queen, don't listen to his nonsense - he has a conspiracy, don't fall for his tricks!"

Empress Dowager Wen also didn't believe that Xiao Shiqing would really release his military power with a drink, so he hesitated and said, "Shiqing, you..."

Xiao Shiqing said: "The minister's words are true in every word."

"But why?" Empress Dowager Wen said, "You handed over these, really just want to postpone Xi'er's marriage?"

"Ah."

Empress Dowager Wen knew very well what Xiao Shiqing didn't want to say, no matter how much she asked, she couldn't get an answer.She thought for a while and asked, "When do you want to delay?"

"Wait until the emperor sees what he wants clearly." Xiao Shiqing curled his lips, "As long as the emperor says he wants to become a queen, this agreement will be void immediately."

"Xiao Shiqing, what a fool you are!" Zhao Qi yelled, "Where will you put the Xiao family if you do this?!"

Empress Dowager Wen said: "Don't worry about it. The Ai family and Mrs. Xiao have a very strong relationship. Even for her sake, the Ai family can protect the prosperity of the Xiao family forever."

Zhao Qi's eyes widened, "Mother, you don't really want to agree!"

Empress Dowager Wen did not answer directly, but said: "The Ai family must discuss this matter with the emperor. You should go back to Xiao's mansion and wait for news. I heard that you have not returned to Xiao's mansion after returning from your southern tour. Your mother must miss you very much." .”

Xiao Shiqing nodded lightly, "I obey the order."

After Xiao Shiqing left, Zhao Qi immediately said: "Mother, you..."

"Xi'er," Empress Dowager Wen interrupted him solemnly, "Did something happen between you and Xiao Shiqing?"

Zhao Qi subconsciously said: "No, no."

"Then what is he... Forget it, if he really releases power, it will be a great thing for the Zhao family." Empress Dowager Wen's eyes shone brightly, "In the future, if you take power alone, our mother and son will never be together again." You don’t need to look at other people’s faces.”

Zhao Qin said slowly: "I don't really look at Xiao Shiqing's face now." On the contrary, Xiao Shiqing sees his face more.

The more Empress Dowager Wen thought about it, the more excited she became, "You can also take this opportunity to promote your ancestral family, cultivate your own power, and completely suppress the Xiao family, so that they will never recover!"

"But, Xiao Shiqing's prime minister has done a pretty good job."

"It's great, it's a disaster." Empress Dowager Wen clutched her handkerchief, "This matter cannot be delayed, in case Xiao Shiqing suddenly gets a clear head and changes his mind...The empress mother called your grandfather to Xuchun Garden, Discuss this with him!"

"..." Queen Mother, you forced me to do this!

The dragon egg in his belly moved, Zhao Qi endured the discomfort, and said: "But mother, I already have his child, and I have chosen the name, Mengmeng."

Empress Dowager Wen: "...?"