I, who disguised myself as a woman, turned out to be a queen! ?

Chapter 1172 Empress: Daughter-in-law! They're talking about me, can you tolerate it?
Inside the Lingqi Pavilion, Xia Fengxiang chuckled as he watched the events unfold at the newly arrived banquet for noblewomen.

He then placed the paper on the table and held the ugly doll in his hand.

What are you thinking that will allow others to know about you?

I've confessed to others so many times, but they never believed me. And now I'm thinking of using this method.

Thinking of this, Xia Fengxiang looked at Wu Dameng, who was practicing boxing in the courtyard, and said, "You too, what were you thinking, finding such a stupid master?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Dameng turned to look at Xia Fengxiang, blinked, and cautiously retorted, "Master is very smart."

Upon hearing this, Xia Fengxiang laughed and scolded, "Where's your cleverness?"

But after saying that, he looked at Wu Dameng and raised his eyebrows sharply: "You're disobeying your master's wife and protecting your master, aren't you?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Dameng immediately shook his head in fright, but after looking around, he turned to Xia Fengxiang and said, "I...I'm on Master's side."

Looking at Wu Dameng's timid appearance, Xia Fengxiang laughed and said, "Just like your master! Practice your boxing, and when you're done, have the imperial kitchen prepare something delicious for you."

Wu Dameng's eyes lit up when he heard about food, and he immediately nodded.

Xia Fengxiang turned to look at the paper that had been delivered along with the paper on the table. It contained only one sentence, but it was written by Su Chang'an himself.

"Honey, you're sad. Don't ask why, you're just sad."

Xia Fengxiang chuckled again, then folded the paper and put it into her small box. Inside were many similar small notes, all of which she had specially saved after chatting with Su Chang'an using notes. She had also taken some of the notes that Su Chang'an had.

After putting down the note, Xia Fengxiang looked up at Li Xizhi and Li Jiulang sitting in the courtyard.

And then he picked up the other document on the table.

Seeing this, Li Xizhi knew he could continue with the report he had come to give, so he said, "Zhao Wuxu sent the message half a month ago. I have looked at the map, and if we follow their marching speed and the time it would take to eliminate the enemy, they should be in Tokharistan territory right now."

Xia Fengxiang said, "Where he is is not important. What's important is that he can send a letter written in his own hand. That's enough. In the memorial, have someone inform Su Wenqing of Su Zhaoxin's meritorious service. As for Xia Yaomo, go to the Prince An's residence and inform the Prince An."

Li Xizhi immediately clasped his hands in acceptance of the order.

Li Jiulang respectfully reported: "Your Majesty, Chu Ying said that of the gold and silver treasures in the treasuries of those destroyed countries, apart from the large portion left to the local people in the new territory of our Great Xia, a portion will definitely be sent to the capital within three months. At present, there is no accurate number of what has been sent, only that the quantity is extremely large, and the Western Regions countries are very wealthy. After the inventory is completed, the accounts will be sent back first."

Xia Fengxiang nodded. It was all part of the plan, so she didn't think too much about it. As for appeasing the local people, she didn't need to worry about that either.

Li Jiulang continued, "The envoys from the Western Regions countries who are still in our capital have been moving around more frequently lately, especially after they learned that Your Majesty is not seeing them. They are going in and out of officials' residences everywhere."

Xia Fengxiang looked up: "Did they send you a lot of money?"

Li Jiulang immediately said, "We didn't send silver or gold directly, but we did send plenty of jewelry. In particular, knowing that Xingyue likes to play the zither, we spared no expense to send her the [Shuyue] zither."

Xia Fengxiang laughed and said, "You really are willing to spend money. Just accept it as it comes. Just tell the others what I said."

Li Jiulang immediately bowed.

Li Xizhi smiled and said, "The information we've received here, even from some foreign envoys, has gone so far as to contact retired dukes and marquises, hoping they can put in a good word for you. They've been making even more contact with the Prince of An's residence, the Prince of Chu's residence, and the Prince of Yue's residence, especially the Prince of Yue's residence. I don't know how they found out about the residence of the old Celestial Master, Liu Xuer, and other senior figures. They know that you and Your Majesty have great respect for these senior figures, and they're all hoping to ask them to intervene."

Li Jiulang shook his head with a smile, truly grasping at straws in desperation.

However, Li Jiulang showed no sympathy whatsoever. This was like a long-standing feud in the martial arts world. Fortunes change, and the weaker party, now at a disadvantage, dared not break off relations and gamble everything, fearing that a fight to the death would completely destroy them. So, they were looking for a way to reconcile and had no choice but to go around trying to find a way to make peace.

Xia Fengxiang said, "Three years ago, I thought of using the people of the Western Regions to put pressure on Yang Shanchang and his faction so that we could quickly regain the trade between the capital and the Western Regions. They were vague and opportunistic. Now, let them be. Uncle Zhao knows which countries should not be destroyed. As for those that should be destroyed, we will withdraw the embassy when the news comes. At that time, we can either convert them into the trade association between countries that the Empress mentioned, or let Mu Xu and Xun Kuang see if we can set up an academy. You can start preparing in advance."

Li Jiulang immediately bowed.

Emperor Taizong did not eat them, but left them there, actually to restrain the Tiele people in the northern desert.

But now that the Tiele tribes of northern Mongolia are gone, what's the point of keeping them?

With a strong and well-equipped army, expanding territory is a matter of course.

However, after thinking for a moment, Xia Fengxiang asked, "Have they gone to look for Grand Tutor Yang?"

Li Jiulang nodded: "He went, but was stopped by the Grand Tutor. Nowadays, apart from attending court and sitting in the hall, the Grand Tutor spends all his time at home. Apart from occasionally meeting with the Grand Preceptor, the Chancellor, and others for a few drinks, he doesn't see anyone else."

Xia Fengxiang's expression darkened considerably, and then he said, "Tell the Grand Tutor that this money can be accepted, and also tell him not to stay cooped up at home." Li Jiulang bowed again.

Li Xizhi looked at Xia Fengxiang: "Your Majesty, there's Qianrui, the Gu Immortal Cult member in prison..."

Xia Fengxiang said, "Kill them if you can't get any information out of them."

Li Xizhi clasped his hands in a fist salute.

Previously, some people in the Shence Mansion suggested that Qianrui should be released so that they could follow the clues and find other accomplices hiding in the capital. On the other hand, they argued that she should not be released. Even if a Grandmaster of the Ultimate Realm of Poisoning was seriously injured and had his collarbone sealed, she would still be a source of trouble.

Xia Fengxiang lowered his eyes and looked at the memorial in his hand: "The news from Shu should arrive in the next few days."

Li Xizhi nodded: "Your Majesty, we will send someone to urge them immediately."

After setting the memorial aside, Xia Fengxiang looked at Li Jiulang and said, "I heard that Xingyue is getting very close to Zhuge Jia's disciple? You have some objections?"

Li Jiulang paused for a moment, then smiled wryly and said, "It's not that I'm against it, but that child is too smart and Xingyue is not very bright. I'm really worried about that silly girl."

Xia Fengxiang nodded. "I understand."

When discussing state affairs, Xia Fengxiang always referred to himself as "朕" (the imperial "I"), while in private matters he simply referred to himself as "我" (I).

Li Jiulang didn't think much of it.

However, Xia Fengxiang truly understood, because recently, she had been inexplicably thinking about what would happen after the child in her womb was born. What would happen if the child was born as simple-minded as Su Chang'an?

Especially if it's a daughter, wouldn't it be even more of a headache?

This is actually quite a worry for me.

Just as the emperor began discussing personal matters, Li Xizhi said, "Your Majesty, my husband heard that the Empress has not had a good appetite lately, so he specially pickled some radishes to stimulate her appetite and insisted that I send them over. What do you think?"

Hearing this, Xia Fengxiang laughed and said, "Auntie has already prepared it, so bring it over. There's nothing to be shy about. Besides, why does Uncle believe those nonsense? The Empress can't possibly have a poor appetite? He's even started competing with Kuyue to see who can eat more."

Li Xizhi gave a dry laugh.

But Xia Fengxiang looked at Li Xizhi: "Didn't Aunt go to Weiyang Palace?"

Li Xizhi nodded: "She's used to being a woman of the Ping family. She said that she doesn't know how to manage a household now that she's been granted a title and pardon. I mentioned this to Her Majesty before, and Her Majesty agreed."

Xia Fengxiang nodded, not wanting to say anything more, but looking at Li Xizhi and Li Jiulang, he pointed to the rice dumpling dolls beside them: "Take some with you when you leave, back to your aunt, Jinxiu, Xingyue, and the others. The Empress made them herself, saying they're rice dumpling dolls for good luck. And although it looks like a lot were made, only a few people can actually get them. Given how highly regarded Su Chang'an is, one of these dolls might cost several hundred or even a thousand taels. If you don't have the money, just sell them."

The doll is not important.

The important thing is that it was made by the Queen herself.

Li Xizhi and Li Jiulang looked at Xia Fengxiang, and naturally, they didn't stand on ceremony.

I've been watching it for a while now, I've been curious about it for a long time.

Xia Fengxiang smiled and said, "Send a warning to those envoys: don't bother the elders of the Yue Prince's Mansion."

Li Xizhi was making his selections when he heard His Majesty's words and immediately nodded.

Just as Xia Fengxiang was about to tell the two of them to each take one of the ugly dolls, he looked up and saw that Lu Cai had returned.

Before Xia Fengxiang could speak.

Lu Cai had already bowed and was holding the paper in both hands.

Xia Fengxiang rolled his eyes. All he does is pass notes; he doesn't even eat and drink properly at the banquet.

Despite the insults, Xia Fengxiang still eagerly took the note.

Open it and take a look.

"Honey, they're saying I'm dressed as a man again! Can you tolerate this?"

(End of this chapter)