Whose cub am I pregnant with?

In the Longevity Palace, all the royal family, civil and military ministers who came to the banquet have all arrived, even the Queen Mother Wen has arrived, but the emperor has not been seen for a long time.

Everyone didn't dare to say anything blatantly, they whispered and whispered in private.

"The banquet is about to begin. Why hasn't the emperor come yet? Could it be that he's sick again?"

"No way, the emperor was fine in the morning."

"Whatever he does, we'll just wait anyway." Xu Qiu said, "By the way, Lord Shangshu, I heard that the little prince's biological mother will light the ever-burning lantern with the emperor at the Taimiao tonight. Is there such a thing?"

Minister of Rites nodded, "It is true, the emperor said it himself."

Xu Qiu frowned, and said: "The little prince's full moon banquet is so ostentatious, it is far better than the prince born in the first place, or even the crown prince. However, the prince's biological mother is a woman of unknown origin and without any rank. Where will this put the future queen? Where is the etiquette of the Great Jing?! When the palace banquet is over, I will definitely speak to the emperor!"

The Book of the Ministry of Rites shook his head, "Master Xu, you are in the midst of honor and favor, and you are just around the corner, why bother to touch this bad luck?"

Xu Qiu Dayi said awe-inspiringly: "As a subject, I would rather die for remonstrance than covet wealth and stability!"

At this time, there was an unknown chuckle from the side.Xu Qiu followed the prestige, "Little General He, what are you laughing at?"

He Changzhou shook the flagon in his hand, and said lazily: "I laugh at Mr. Xu thinking that the prince's 'biological mother' is a woman of unknown origin and without any rank."

"Oh? According to the general, do you know who the little prince's biological mother is?"

As soon as these words came out, everyone became interested, and their eyes all focused on He Changzhou in unison.

He Changzhou's answer was ambiguous: "In short, the little prince's status is precious, and you can't discuss it." After speaking, He Changzhou raised his head, put his mouth on the spout of the pot, and drank wantonly.The wine that was too late to swallow overflowed from the corner of his mouth, and he wiped it off indifferently.

Empress Dowager Wen, who was sitting on top, couldn't sit still, so she called Yunxiu, a court lady, and said, "Go to Yonghua Palace and see what's going on."

"Yes."

Yunxiu went to Yonghua Palace according to the order, and bumped into Zhao Qi as soon as he arrived at the gate.She was taken aback and asked, "Your Majesty, are you alright?"

Zhao Qi's face was blushing, his eyes were water-colored, and his lips were a little swollen.With a straight face, he said, "It's okay——did the queen mother ask you to come?"

Yunxiu said: "Yes. Your Majesty, all the ministers are here and waiting for you."

Zhao Qi looked back at Xiao Shiqing behind him, gritted his teeth and said, "I'm going now."

Facts have proved that one hour is not enough for Xiao Shiqing to play.If it weren't for the palace banquet, he doubted that Xiao Shiqing would be able to play till dawn.Now Xiao Shiqing is full, pity him for his sore waist and trembling legs, and he has to host his son's full moon banquet.

Xiao Shiqing had been prepared for a long time, and called the emperor's sedan chair, and carried Zhao Qi up.

Zhao Qi groaned uncomfortably, Xiao Shiqing said softly: "Does it hurt?"

Zhao Qi glared at him, and said angrily, "Big liar." Obviously he would be gentle when he said it, but in the end he tossed him like this.A man's mouth, a deceitful ghost.

Xiao Shiqing said: "It can't be my fault."

Zhao Qi laughed angrily, "You don't blame me, you blame me?"

"Well," Xiao Shiqing was very shameless, "it is the emperor who has been biting me."

Another burst of fire burned his face, Zhao Qi didn't want to talk to him anymore, and urged him to get up.

Xiao Shiqing smiled softly, "See you later."

Xiao Shiqing has always claimed to be recuperating in the mansion, so naturally he cannot appear at the banquet in an open and honest manner, but how can he, as a father, not attend his son's full moon banquet.Therefore, Zhao Qi ordered people to set up a screen behind the emperor's throne, and there was an armchair behind the screen, which was the position of the little prince's "birth mother".

When Zhao Qi arrived at the Longevity Palace, he first pleaded guilty to Empress Dowager Wen: "I kept my mother waiting for a long time."

Empress Dowager Wen complained, "What are you busy with?"

Zhao Qi just lied casually: "It's a major national event."

Jiang Dehai, who was following behind him, tried not to laugh.

After entering the table, Zhao Qi asked Jiang Dehai to pour himself a glass of wine, raised his glass and said, "I'm late, I'll punish myself with a glass first, lovers can do whatever they want."

All the officials said in unison: "I dare not."

Just when Zhao Qi's lips were about to touch the rim of the cup, his gaze unexpectedly met He Changzhou's.

I haven't seen him for several months, but He Changzhou has lost a lot of weight. He is clearly dressed, but he looks a little embarrassed for no reason.He stared at Zhao Qi intently, with a confused and desolate expression.

Seeing the ghostly appearance of his former friends, Zhao Qi felt a little tight in his chest.He raised his glass to He Changzhou, showing a long-lost reunion smile.

He Changzhou tightened his hand holding the wine glass, and lowered his eyes.

After the glass of wine, the palace banquet officially began.During the banquet, there were staggered cups and cups, talking and laughing, and the monarch and his ministers had a good time.Many civil officials presented poems and Fu, sang meritorious deeds, and wished the prince good luck.

Suddenly, there was a commotion among the officials, and all the people present looked at the screen behind the emperor, and saw a tall figure holding a baby reflected on it. There was no doubt that this was the little prince and his biological mother.

The lively banquet fell silent, and everyone looked at each other in blank dismay.

This, this is the little prince's biological mother?It must be too mighty!It turns out that their petite sons are so good? !Never thought of it!

Xiao's mother, who was sitting in the imperial lady's seat, frowned slightly—why does the empress behind the screen look so familiar...

Empress Dowager Wen rolled her eyes and sneered, "What tricks are you guys doing?"

The shocked faces made Zhao Qi want to laugh, he shrugged and said, "The Ministry of Rites said that the prince's 'birth mother' was required to attend."

Empress Dowager Wen: "...you don't know who is the 'birth mother'?"

Zhao Qi smiled and raised his voice: "Why don't all the loves eat, but the food and drink are not to your taste?"

All the ministers paused for a moment, tacitly as if they didn't see anything, they should eat, drink, and smile.Only He Changzhou didn't say a word, just drank in silence.

Halfway through the banquet, Zhao Qi went behind the screen.Not long after, Jiang Dehai walked up to He Changzhou and said, "Little General He, the emperor has a favor."

He Changzhou was a little drunk, and when he heard that Zhao Qi wanted to see him, he was stunned.

Jiang Dehai: "General?"

He Changzhou came back to his senses, adjusted his official hat, "Eunuch Lao will lead the way."

Behind the screen, Zhao Qi was playing with his son, when he saw He Changzhou coming, he said enthusiastically, "Changzhou, come and see my dragon egg!"

"Dragon Egg" groaned, clenched his fists, as if he was protesting his father's address to him - it's fine to call me Dragon Egg when he was in the stomach, now my father has given me a nice name, my father How can the emperor still call me Dragon Egg!

He Changzhou pursed his lips, wanted to laugh but couldn't.

"Come here, brother," Zhao Xi said, "Don't you want to see your godson?"

He Changzhou was taken aback again, "God son?"

Zhao Qi smiled and said, "Didn't you always want to be his godfather? I agree."

Having said that... He Changzhou glanced at the man sitting beside him drinking tea calmly - would this person agree?

Zhao Xi knew what He Changzhou was thinking, and said: "The prime minister has no objection, he said he listened to me."

Xiao Shiqing nodded lightly, "As long as the emperor remembers to promise his minister."

Zhao Qi coughed lightly, and a tinge of red crept up his ears. "Godfather, do you want to hug him? Wait, the name 'godfather' feels weird. Is there any other name?"

Xiao Shiqing said: "'Father'."

"Yes, yes, yes! Adoptive father!" This is compelling!

He Changzhou finally laughed. Although there was a slight bitterness in his smile, there was finally a gleam of light in his eyes that had been dim for a long time.

"Can I?"

"That's right, you are the adoptive father."

He Changzhou wiped his hands before taking the little prince from Zhao Qi as if he was about to hug some peerless treasure.

Zhao Mian belongs to the angel baby who doesn't hurt people very much.Sleep more, cry less, and not be afraid of being hugged by strangers.At this moment, he was lying in He Changzhou's arms, his deep and beautiful eyes sparkled with curiosity, and he stretched out his plump white arms like lotus roots, as if he wanted to grab He Changzhou's chin.

Zhao Qi cheered and said, "He seems to like you very much."

Xiao Shiqing said coldly: "He treats everyone like this."

Zhao Qi looked at Xiao Shiqing helplessly, "Brother, can you not talk?"

He Changzhou didn't listen to Xiao Shiqing's words, he hugged Zhao Mian stiffly, not daring to move, for fear that he might accidentally drop this precious lump. "Your Majesty, he is very similar to you—except for his eyes, which are like..." He Changzhou stopped and snorted.

Zhao Qi smiled and said, "Just say you're not cute."

"Cute, but not as cute as the emperor." He Changzhou said, "But the emperor said she was a princess."

"Oh, that, I was tricked." Zhao Qi waved his hand, "Don't talk about that, don't you like boys? From now on, you can teach him horseback riding, archery and the art of war!"

He Changzhou's smile became more real, "Well, I will."

After He Changzhou hugged him for a while, Xiao Shiqing ordered the wet nurse to carry the little prince down.

Zhao Qi asked with concern: "How is your injury?"

"A little injury, it's fine."

"Hey, you didn't like drinking before, why did you get hungover in the military camp." Zhao Xi said, "I just saw that you were drinking all the time at the banquet, and didn't eat much."

He Changzhou looked at him, "Because I'm not happy."

Xiao Shiqing narrowed his eyes and tried not to interrupt the conversation between the two.

Zhao Qi let out an "ah" and said guiltily, "Then are you still unhappy now?"

He Changzhou's throat rolled, "What do you think?"

Zhao Xi was a little at a loss, "Then what should I do to make you happy? Can I give you the title of marquis and general?"

Looking at the cautious Zhao Qi, He Changzhou couldn't tell what mood he was in.What Zhao Qi gave was not what he wanted, but what he could only give.

Maybe pretending to be receptive would make them feel better.

"Yes." He Changzhou pretended to be relaxed, "What kind of marquis or general does the emperor want to give me."

Zhao Qi breathed a sigh of relief, and said with a smile, "Well..."

Xiao Shiqing said: "We'll talk about it when you come back from the northern border."

When mentioning the northern border, He Changzhou became serious, "What happened to the northern border?"

Zhao Qi explained: "Rong Tang said in the letter that King Huai had secretly sacrificed his blood to sacrifice to heaven, and he personally wrote a call to arms, saying that I am fatuous and immoral, which provoked the wrath of the heavens and the people. Unexpectedly, the army in the northern border will go south in two months, pointing directly at the capital."

He Changzhou said coldly: "The action is fast enough. Your Majesty, I would like to be the vanguard to quell the chaos in the northern border."

"Huh? But the prime minister said that you will be the governor and command the three armies."

He Changzhou's eyes widened, "Me? The Governor?"

Xiao Shiqing curled his lips, "Don't you dare?"

He Changzhou thought for a while, and said, "I'm too young, many seniors in the army may not obey me."

"Age is not a problem," Zhao Xi said, "Since ancient times, heroes have been born as teenagers. I am about the same age as you, and both are the king of a country. You are much stronger than me. Could it be that you can't be a great governor?"

He Changzhou's heart was full of ambition and pride.Zhao Qi and the battlefield are the only things he likes. He is destined not to get Zhao Qi, but he will spend his whole life on the battlefield and live happily.

He Changzhou knelt down on one knee in front of Zhao Qi, and said word by word: "Minister, take the order to thank you."

After the full moon banquet, Zhao Qi came to the Taimiao accompanied by the Minister of Rites.

The Minister of Rites waited and waited, but he still didn't see the little prince's biological mother, so he couldn't help but said, "Your Majesty, the time to light the lamps is coming soon."

Zhao Qi ordered: "Well, you guys are waiting outside, you don't have to accompany me in."

The Minister of Rites hesitated and said, "But..."

"Don't worry, Aiqing," Zhao Xi said, "I will follow the rules of my ancestors."

Zhao Qi walked into the Taimiao, and the gate was slowly closed.Xiao Shiqing came out from the side hall, and knelt down with him in front of the tablets of Zhao's ancestors.

The two took the incense from Jiang Dehai, bowed three times, and inserted the incense into the incense burner.

Zhao Qi said solemnly: "Prime Minister, you have worshiped my ancestors, and you will be my people from now on."

"Well," Xiao Shiqing said, "I'm Zhao Xiaoshi."

Xiao Shiqing's words pleased Zhao Qi.Even if it's the bottom one on the bed, anyway, if the son takes his surname and joins his clan, the arrogant Prime Minister Xiao will also take his surname, so there's a lot of respect!

The side hall of the Taimiao is lit with several rows of ever-burning lamps, each representing a man of the Zhao family who is directly related to the Zhao family. Whether this person is alive or dead, the ever-burning lamps will never go out.The ever-burning lantern representing Zhao Mian was placed under Zhao Qi.

Zhao Qi picked up the long candle beside him, "Brother?"

Xiao Shiqing grasped Zhao Qi's hand knowingly, the two held on to the long candle together, borrowed fire from Zhao Qi's long burning lamp, and lit the one that belonged to Zhao Mian.

With the flickering lights in Zhao Xi's eyes, he murmured, "Our children will grow up healthy and peaceful, right?"

"Yes." Xiao Shiqing said, and casually extinguished the ever-burning lamp belonging to Zhao Tong.