It's already winter, and the weather is getting colder.

Xia Tong was very happy and could eat hot pot after a while - there was nothing happier than cooking a hot pot in the cold winter month, and it was just as delicious as it was, and it was all the hot.

Chunlan was really worried when she looked eager to try, "Empress, you are pregnant, so you should eat less..."

Xia Tong patted her face, "Don't worry, I have a sense of responsibility."

She took the fetal pill prescribed by the Imperial Hospital all day long, and her head was so big that she could fade out of her mouth. If she didn't improve her spleen and stomach, she was afraid that she would not be able to survive this winter - isn't the most important thing for pregnant women to feel comfortable?

As for the health-affecting issues, she didn't plan to eat Haisai anyway, and there was still Lingquan there.

In fact, Xia Tong had asked the little monkey for help two days ago and made a small copper pot. Unfortunately, he just lit it and was discovered by the emperor before he could take a few bites. He scolded her hard and didn't say anything. The little monkey was also punished for six hours - Xia Tong thought about it, but she was actually very sorry for him.

So afterwards, she asked Chunlan to capture the money for Hou Abao. Abao didn't mean to blame her at all, but instead said that she would do whatever she wanted to do for her, even if she was heartbroken. Xia Tong thought this young man was really smart and cute. If the two were not very different in age, she would rather recognize Abao as her godson.

Chunlan: "...Isn't this a good thing to take advantage of others?"

However, the master's confused personality is unexpectedly not annoying. Perhaps because of this, those servants were afraid of the empress in the palace, but they were not afraid of her, and were willing to be loyal to Master Xia.

Being considered a fool would be blessed.

Today is a rare sunny day. Xia Tong stepped on the soft gray grass and walked forward with one foot deep and one foot shallow. Although there was no luster and greenness, the maple leaves falling all over the ground were layered, like a carefully woven red carpet, which was also interesting.

Chunlan carefully supported her. The master is now getting old and should be extra careful in everything, so she couldn't help but complain, "Didn't the master say he doesn't want to come out? The concubine knows that you are not doing well, and maybe she will cause trouble for you again."

Xia Tong said leisurely: "Where does she have the time to make things difficult for me? She has enough trouble for herself."

Although Empress Dowager Jiang held the phoenix seal, she still didn't care about the matter and stayed in Ningshou Palace all day to enjoy the peace and prosperity. The trivial matters in the palace were still left to Jiang Bilan to handle. As the year approached, the gifts sent by the vassal kings from all over the country needed to be included in the warehouse. There were also the silver for the servants in the palace who worked hard for a year. How to send, how much to send, and whether to add more according to their personal performance.

I heard that Beirong, which borders the Great Zhou Dynasty, will also send envoys to Beijing recently. As the leader of all the concubines, Jiang Bilan must cheer up and not lose face of a great country.

As for whether she would blame herself... Xia Tong believed that she had done her best and was so kind that Empress Dowager Jiang refused to let go. What could she do? Let the aunt and nephew fight in her own house.

I heard that Jiang Bilan has also traveled to Ningshou Palace three times a day recently, for fear that her aunt would be confused by Concubine De and Xianfei, so she handed over the phoenix seal to them. Naturally, her niece would not be at a disadvantage - so Empress Dowager Jiang's abacus was really good and she won over these juniors without any effort.

Xia Tong didn't have the energy to flatter Empress Dowager Jiang anyway, let alone the old man decided that she was a beauty and it would be useless if she went there. It is justified that she would give birth to the child with peace of mind.

After walking for a while, I guess it would be two or three kilometers long. Xia Tong felt a little tired and decided to take a break in the pavilion not far away.

Qiuju complained: "Empress only eats but can't move recently, and everyone has become heavier. It's hard for me to support you."

Still uphill.

Xia Tong said unconvincedly: "No, it's obvious that the imperial heir is so heavy, I haven't changed at all."

She refused to admit that the flesh grew strongly on her body must have been absorbed by the child in her belly - yes, that's right. What's more, the metabolism naturally decreases when the sky is cold. Isn't this normal?

Qiuju quietly stuck out her tongue and applauded her master's first-class quibbling ability.

Chunlan looked at these two live treasures and could only shake her head helplessly.

Going up the stone path, I found that the pavilion was full of people - there were only two seats, which were Xiuyi Xiao Wanwan and Xiurong Mu Xinxin.

Xia Tong had complained about the simple names of these two people before, but no matter how simple the names are, she is also the one among the Nine Concubines. She had to smile and nod, "Sister Xiao, Sister Mu."

This name seems friendly and avoids the problem of ceremonials - she is now erect and can't squat down with a big belly.

Helplessly, the two people in front of him didn't want to talk to her kindly. Xiao Wanwan said, "It's been a while since Concubine Xia has entered the palace. Why don't she even understand the ranks and inferiors in the palace? I am Xiuyi, she is Xiurong. You are under me. You should have performed a great gift. How can you just say that sister can pass by perfunctory?"

Mu Xinxin was also beating the drum on the side, "This is very true. Some people will become arrogant when they succeed. However, after being favored by His Majesty for a few days, they became fascinated and didn't know that the sky is so high."

Xia Tong thought to himself that you two have not been favored for a day, so where can you get the confidence to talk?

However, she was surprised at how hostility Xiao and Mu were towards her. It is said that if the water in the wells do not violate the rivers, there is no need to argue with her for such a small matter?

After thinking about it, I realized that it must be because of the previous case of the Six Palaces of the Great Enfeoffment, Wen and Xu were promoted and gloriously took over the position of the Four Concubines, while Xiao and Mu, who were originally both ninth concubines, did not. No wonder they were unbalanced in their hearts - if everyone was on the same level, it would be fine, but the two ascended, and they were still standing still.

Don’t worry about lack of weight but not unevenness.

Xia Tong felt speechless. Her position was not determined by her. What's the use of venting her? If you have the ability to settle the score with the emperor, your family background is not as good as others, and you will inevitably be inferior. You don't dare to argue with Concubine Wen De and Concubine Xu Xian, so you come to find her trouble - you are also used to bullying the weak and fearing the strong.

Xia Tong originally wanted to be convenient for others, so she stood for a while and left. She was reluctant now, so she asked Qiuju to carry the small breeze stove she was carrying, put it on the ground, and then took a jar of things from Chunlan's arms. Xiao Wanwan and Mu Xinxin stretched their necks and looked carefully. She saw a ball of lard-shaped stuff, which looked very fucked.

This man was crazy and took lard as food when he was pregnant. The two looked at Xia Tong with their eyes as if they were looking at monsters.

As the ball gradually melted, a sweet and fragrant smell spread in the pavilion. The two of them recognized it as crispy cheese and couldn't help but salivate.

Xia Tong gently stirred it with a small silver spoon, and the honey-sinked cow milk was extremely attractive in color, and it grumbled bubbles on the fire, which looked even more delicious than the delicacies in the imperial kitchen.

When it is cold, there is nothing more comfortable than eating a bowl of hot crispy cheese.

Xiao Wanwan's palace was far away. She sat here for a long time and had already digested lunch. She urgently needed to fill the famine in her stomach. So she forgot about her displeasure just now and said embarrassedly: "Concubine Xia Jie, you are very thoughtful."

Xia Tong said in a brief manner: "I am not as flexible as the two of you. Naturally, I have to make everything more complete so as not to starve the children in my stomach."

When the two saw her pretending, they were a little angry, but the aroma of the crispy cheese was really attractive and they couldn't take care of any face for a while.

Mu Xinxin stood up impatiently and said earnestly: "My Concubine Jie is pregnant, so don't stand up, come and sit down for a while."

Xiao Wanwan hated her for being flattered quickly, and she was one step behind, so she had to settle for the second best and flatter Xia Tong's maid, "Girl, don't just be busy, come and take a rest."

Chunlan smiled and shook her head, "Empress Xiuyi has broken me, how can I bear it?"

I secretly despised myself. These two snobs clearly saw that Master Xia was pregnant, but just now they sat down steadily, as if there was a stake under their butt. At this moment, they bought someone with a bowl of milk. I really don’t know whether they should say that they were shallow or stupid.

Xia Tong didn't care about any etiquette. She sat openly on the carved pear wooden chair, and the chair surface was still warm - Mu Xinxin just happened to help her warm her.

Both of them looked at Xia Tong with great sincerity, hoping that she would divide the fragrant crispy cheese into one bowl by herself.

Xia Tong enjoyed it as if no one else was around, wishing she could even lick the wall of the bowl cleanly, and finally burped with satisfaction.

Xiao Wanwan and Mu Xinxin:...What about their share?

Mu Xinxin couldn't help but say, "Concubine Xia, have you forgotten something?"

Xia Tong glanced at the two of them sideways, "What?"

Mu Xinxin held back and pointed to the empty pottery jar, and she really didn't expect this person to have such a good appetite.

Xia Tong smiled, "I didn't agree to give it to you either. Why are you angry?"

Both of them were shocked by her shamelessness. Why did they give up their seats just now? She still sat down without blushing.

Xia Tong said calmly, "You know, the so-called giving up seat is to give up seats to the royal heir in my belly. I didn't ask you for nothing. Now I use this as a threat to deduct the royal heir's rations. If you believe it or not, I will sue you to Your Majesty?"

She found that the excuse of being pregnant is quite useful. No matter what she said and did, she had the royal heirs to carry. Who dared to collide?

She doesn't mind being an arrogant and domineering concubine.

Seeing that she was so unreasonable, Mu Xinxin wanted to argue, but she was forced to take her away by Xiao Wanwan. What if Concubine Xia really sued the emperor? She was unreasonable, and the emperor was even more unreasonable. I was afraid that they would have to blame them for not giving up their seats on their own initiative.

I have to say that Xiao Wanwan is quite familiar with the emperor's temper.

After the two of them left, Chunlan frowned and said, "Empress, will they go to the imperial concubine to make trouble?"

It was originally a trivial matter, but Concubine Jiang has always been in a disagreement with her master, so she inevitably took advantage of the situation to play.

"The imperial concubine has no time to pay attention to them," Xia Tong said steadily, "Besides, you said it too. It was a trivial matter, so the imperial concubine naturally knew the right way."

Jiang Bilan has learned enough lessons after learning from her mistakes.

As for Xiao and Mu, Xia Tong was not very worried. When she gave birth to a child safely, she should be able to successfully become a concubine. Although she didn't know whether it was Zhaorong or Zhaoyuan, no matter which one, she was ranked before Xiao Wanwan and Mu Xinxin, so she was naturally fearless.

Xia Tong was wrong. Mu Xinxin was angry later and indeed came to Jiang Bilan to file a lawsuit. Jiang Bilan only sent her away on the grounds that the year was approaching and everything was in chaos.

He turned around but sneered at the maid and said, "These people are not smart either. Knowing that Concubine Xia is in power, they still insist on being unable to get along with her. I don't know what was wrong with it."

He Hua thought to himself that you are not the same, but this is a bit ridiculous to others.

However, since losing the Phoenix Seal, Jiang Bilan has become much more steady. She doesn't speak lightly or moves, probably because she is afraid of something going wrong again.

She said embarrassedly: "The Beirong envoy is coming to Beijing soon. The empress is so busy with this matter that I feel distressed when I see it."

Jiang Bilan sighed, "Although it's troublesome, this time it's also an opportunity. If I can do this, maybe the Queen Mother will hand over the phoenix seal to me again when I see that I can do it - all my hopes are on this."

She didn't expect that Empress Dowager Jiang had other selfish thoughts. Could the family say two things? She only regarded the phoenix seal being taken away as a test for her by her aunt.

That's why she's getting more and more to prove it to her aunt.

She needs power, more power. Only in this way can she not be overwhelmed by Xia's increasing favor. She needs to let the emperor know that only she is the woman who can help him create a career.

Only she is the real virtuous man.

As for Xia Tong's fox charming son, Jiang Bilan sincerely wished her to have a daughter. For this, she would not hesitate to pray to God every day.
Chapter completed!