The prince is more stable

Chapter 353 Harem Gossip
It is true that Zhao Xiaoqian really cannot bear any hardship and needs a stunning beauty to serve him all the way.

Zhao Xu promised to give you whatever you want, and this is also the truth.

So how come these two truths together made the atmosphere awkward?

This question has almost risen to a philosophical level.

"Don't mention this matter. If you have the ability, go find it yourself. If there are untouched beauties in my harem, why would it be your turn? Am I a vegetarian?" Zhao Xu said dissatisfiedly.

"Yes, I'm sorry for the intrusion."

Zhao Xu sighed and said, "There's been a lot of turmoil in the harem lately. I'm really worried. I can't stand hearing the word 'stunning beauty'. Stunning beauties are not easy to deal with."

Zhao Xiaoqian was stunned. Eh? Gossip?
Zhao Xiaoqian crossed his legs unconsciously and needed a handful of roasted melon seeds.

"Official, can you elaborate?"

Zhao Xu glanced at Zhao Xiaoqian, who was sitting awkwardly, and was too lazy to argue with him. He just sighed and said, "After Concubine Liu became pregnant, the peace in the harem was broken..."

After a pause, Zhao Xu continued, thinking that Zhao Xiaoqian was his brother, "Liu has been acting rather arrogantly recently. Taking advantage of her pregnancy, she's been acting rather recklessly. Not only has she been acting rudely in front of me, she's even disregarding the Empress, often contradicting her..."

"I can't say anything to her. If I do, she'll hold her belly and feel pain here and there. I can't do anything about it. After all, she's carrying my own flesh and blood. If it's a boy, he'll be my eldest son, and he'll probably be crowned the Crown Prince in the future..."

Zhao Xu looked helpless. When he talked about his family's troubles, his complexion became much gloomier. He looked like a middle-aged man who was exhausted by life and now just needed a cigarette to relieve his worries.

Who would dare to believe that this guy is the current emperor who has the power of life and death over the world?
Zhao Xiaoqian blinked his eyes. What explosive first-hand gossip! It seemed that Concubine Liu was a troublemaker.

Zhao Xu sighed again, "Not only that, Concubine Liu is still pestering me, asking me to confer titles on her father and brother. This was rejected by the Council of State, and now she's coming to me to make trouble, threatening to kill herself..."

Zhao Xiaoqian couldn't help but say, "Flog her, sir, you must flog her. Can you bear this?"

Zhao Xu gritted his teeth and said, "I can endure it! If she is pregnant with a boy, I must endure it. The country needs me to give birth to a prince, otherwise the people in the court will be unstable."

"What if she gives birth to a princess in the future?" Zhao Xiaoqian said.

Zhao Xu sneered: "Then she will suffer a lot!"

Zhao Xiaoqian: “…………”

In fact, Zhao Xiaoqian also wanted to say that if he worked harder at night and made sure that everyone in the harem was treated equally, and let more concubines in the harem become pregnant, then Concubine Liu would not dare to do it again, and the trouble would be solved.

It would be best if the queen became pregnant, as that would mean the birth of the eldest son. Even if Concubine Liu Xian jumped up, she couldn't reach Queen Meng's knees, and their status was simply incomparable.

The words were on the tip of his tongue, but Zhao Xiaoqian swallowed them back.

He also often heard gossip about the harem. It was said that the relationship between Zhao Xu and Queen Meng was very cold and stiff.

It is natural that the incompatibility of a couple's personalities cannot be brought to the public's attention. In fact, Queen Meng's character was gentle and virtuous, and she was praised by the court and the public, and was impeccable.

The main reason was that the marriage between Zhao Xu and Queen Meng was arranged by the Grand Empress Dowager, and Zhao Xu hated the Grand Empress Dowager so much that he hated even Queen Meng.

When the Empress Dowager was alive, Zhao Xu could still show his deep love for his wife in front of outsiders. After the Empress Dowager passed away, Zhao Xu didn't even want to put it on. The couple lived together in the harem, but they were too lazy to even see each other on weekdays.

Under this kind of relationship, if Zhao Xu got the queen pregnant, Zhao Xu would probably rather have another man than touch a hair on the queen.

Every family has its own problems, and the imperial family has it even more difficult. If other people’s families have a “Heart Purification Mantra”, then the imperial family has a “Nirvana Mantra”. Think about it carefully.

Zhao Xiaoqian looked at Zhao Xu with a sad face, and suddenly an inexplicable sense of happiness surged in his heart.

Compared with Zhao Xu, Zhao Xiaoqian's backyard is extremely harmonious. The relationship between the three women and the sisters is very good. Except for their slightly conservative postures, there are basically no other worries.

…………

After saying what needed to be said, Zhao Xiaoqian said goodbye and left the palace.

Today's gains were immense, and he felt increasingly confident about taking up his post in Zhending Prefecture. The power Zhao Xu had bestowed on him was excessive, even to Zhao Xiaoqian's ears. He knew the arguments between Zhao Xu and Zhang Dun would be intense. Zhao Xu had thoroughly violated the rule that clan members were not allowed to hold power, and some in the court were undoubtedly displeased. Military power, like military power, could easily foster personal ambition.

Of course, this is not something Zhao Xiaoqian should worry about. If Zhao Xu fails to win over the court officials, the worst that can happen is that Zhao Xiaoqian will turn around halfway, not give him power, and hinder him everywhere. Isn't it okay for him to quit?
The imperial edict has been issued, and the date of leaving the capital has been set, which is three days later.

This time, 30,000 imperial guards from the Dragon Guard Camp will accompany the expedition. For such a large-scale, long-distance march, a lot of preparations must be made before the expedition. Food, fodder, weapons, logistics, civilians, etc. all need to be coordinated and dispatched by the court. It is impossible for tens of thousands of troops to go on a trip on a whim.

After leaving the Funing Palace, Zhao Xiaoqian just walked near the Daqing Palace, but saw a familiar fat figure flash past under the pillars of the Daqing Palace.

His figure was secretive, and he walked in a shameful manner, with his waist half hunched, and he looked left and right as he walked, looking like he was stealing something furtively.

Zhao Xiaoqian blinked, stepped forward quickly, and suddenly shouted: "Father!"

Zhao Hao in front was so scared that he jumped high, like a football that was kicked in the face.

The fat man's elasticity is really amazing, Zhao Xiaoqian now believes it.

Give him an external force, and he can fly out of the sky and into the stratosphere...

"Who...who is it?" Zhao Hao turned around in panic with a pale face.

Seeing that it was Zhao Xiaoqian behind him, Zhao Hao's expression finally relaxed, he was still frightened.

"You... are naughty!" Zhao Hao couldn't bear to scold his son.

"Father is sneaking around and stealing things from the palace? Could it be that all the treasures in the secret room of our study came from this place?" Zhao Xiaoqian came over and asked mysteriously.

Zhao Hao regained his composure. "What secret room? Where is there a secret room in our house? Don't talk nonsense. If someone hears you, you'll get into trouble."

"Why did father enter the palace?"

Zhao Hao looked around and said, "Of course, I'm here to visit the Empress's wife..."

Zhao Xiaoqian counted on his fingers in astonishment and began to think about the relationships among the people in the Zhao family.

Zhao Hao's sister-in-law is the wife of Zhao Hao's brother. Zhao Hao's brother is the late Emperor Shenzong. So the so-called emperor's sister-in-law is Shenzong's wife. Shenzong's mother is the late Empress Dowager, so his wife is naturally...

"Empress Dowager Xiang?" Zhao Xiaoqian finally got the answer.

Zhao Hao looked at him with disdain: "He's quite intelligent. Do you need to think so long about such a simple relationship?"

"Why did Father suddenly visit the Queen Mother?"

"How presumptuous of you to say that. We're all family. Isn't it normal for relatives to visit each other on weekdays?"

"That's not normal. At least in the past year or so, I haven't seen my father visit the Queen Mother. Did you eat something wrong today... well, is family affection exploding?"

Zhao Hao pondered for a moment and whispered, "Zhao Ji is trying to curry favor with the Queen Mother. He always gives her gifts and flatters her in every way he can..."

"Although I don't know what he wants to do, given his cunning and calculating nature, this move must have a deeper meaning. As a father, I want to get involved. Whatever he does, I will follow suit and disrupt the situation."

"So, from today on, I won't bother showing off my affection and giving the Queen Mother all kinds of gifts. Speaking of relationships, Zhao Xi isn't the Queen Mother's biological son, but I am her uncle. Shouldn't I be closer to her than that kid?"

Zhao Xiaoqian suddenly realized and couldn't help but admire Zhao Hao.

Although he was a little fat, he was smart enough. It was not Zhao Ji's exclusive right to be the empress dowager. If Zhao Ji was capable, Zhao Hao would naturally be capable too.

"My father's visit to the Queen Mother is an upright matter. Why do I see you acting so sneaky? Why is that?"

Zhao Hao's face flushed. He said, "I don't know why, but this uncle-in-law visiting sister-in-law alone sounds a bit exciting and mysterious. I'm shy, insecure, and even more excited. I can't help myself from acting like this..."

(End of this chapter)