The wicked imperial concubine is courting death again; the comments section teaches her how to win w

Xie Ling then noticed Xie Changqing, who had suddenly appeared and startled Tangtang's horse.

If Tangtang hadn't been so skilled at horseback riding, she probably would have been injured today.

"Why are you bothering me and your sister-in-law? If you're really that bored, go ask your mother to choose a princess for you."

Xie Changqing stared in astonishment, "Brother, I was here first!"

He just ran a little too far and came back in a circle. Even if he's claiming territory, there should be a first-come, first-served rule, right?

Besides, how old is he? He's not old enough to marry a princess yet.

Xie Changqing was at his wit's end, so he turned to Qi Yitang, "Sister-in-law, please do something about my brother!"

Xie Ling said coldly, "You're not allowed to act coquettishly towards your sister-in-law."

Xie Changqing was even more desperate. Heavens above! Where had he been acting coquettishly? At most, he had been complaining. Could it be that his brother's love-struck brain couldn't flare up all the time?

He really begged.

Qi Yitang smiled and smoothed things over, "Alright, alright, it's not a big deal."

Even if she couldn't ride a horse and the horse went out of control, Qi Yitang believed that Xie Ling could safely rescue him.

So, why did the dark horse suddenly go berserk?

It seems to have happened after seeing Xie Changqing's horse...

Qi Yitang turned her head and saw that the two horses had somehow gotten together. The white horse was eating grass on the ground, while the black horse kept coming over to rub against its neck and nudge its shoulder with its head, acting all clingy and saying, "Look at me!"

The white horse impatiently flicked its tail and took two steps to the side.

The black horse eagerly followed, acting like a sycophant even though it was a horse.

Recalling the horse's earlier excitement, Qi Yitang's expression became subtle. "If I may ask, is your horse male or female?"

Xie Changqing looked puzzled. "Of course it's a male. Aoxue was a gift from my father to me. It's the most beautiful of all the stallions, with strong and long limbs. Every time I come to the riding arena, the other horses get especially excited when they see it..."

It was indeed exciting, and it went too far.

Qi Yitang hesitated, then asked, "Would you like to see your horse?"

Xie Changqing seemed to realize something and suddenly turned his head.

Not far away, the black horse was no longer content with just rubbing against the white horse. It moved behind the white horse, raised its front hooves, and held its tail high, clearly preparing to "ride" it.

Xie Changqing's face changed drastically, and he was so shocked that his voice cracked, "Bastard! Let go of my Aoxue—!"

……

Finally, amidst the chaos of people and horses leaping and bounding, Xie Changqing managed to rescue Aoxue from the black horse's clutches.

At the same time, I also understood why the stallions in the stable were so restless and enthusiastic every time I came to the racecourse.

So they're all treating his Aoxue like a mare!

A bunch of red eggs!

In the following days, Xie Ling abandoned horsemanship and chose to teach Qi Yitang archery.

She really doesn't know how to do that; she often misses the target and flies away.

So much so that Xie Ling had to stand behind Qi Yitang and teach her how to draw the bow, a scene so saccharine that viewers in the live chat exclaimed they needed insulin to watch it.

New Year's Eve arrived in the blink of an eye.

According to custom, a palace banquet is held on New Year's Eve, inviting relatives and important officials to celebrate together and bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new.

This was the first palace banquet since Qi Yitang was officially appointed empress, so naturally it had to be a grand and lively affair.

The Empress Dowager used to completely ignore these matters, but this year she unusually helped with the arrangements, and even specially invited Qi Yitang to the palace banquet when finalizing the guest list.

The main reason was Xie Changqing's marriage.

Xie Changqing was able to stay in Shengjing for more than half a year thanks to Qi Yitang's intercession, but half a year passed in the blink of an eye.

The Empress Dowager naturally wanted Xie Changqing to stay longer, and ideally never return to his fiefdom.

But the Empress Dowager also knew that the Emperor would not agree...

Since the eldest sister-in-law was like a mother to the emperor, and there was no one else in the palace, the Empress Dowager thought of asking Qi Yitang to help look for a suitable woman.

If she could arrange a marriage for her youngest son, she would feel more at ease.

Xie Changqing completely rejected this idea. He wasn't even sixteen yet, so why was he in such a hurry to find a wife?

Moreover, seeing his most respected elder brother deeply entangled in love, unable to extricate himself, and constantly chasing after Qi Yitang, Xie Changqing found it utterly terrifying.

He wouldn't go crazy over a woman.

Even if I were to marry, it wouldn't be now, and it certainly wouldn't be because of love!

He didn't even glance at the list of noble ladies sent by the Empress Dowager before turning tail and running away.

The Empress Dowager couldn't refuse Xie Changqing, and her headaches really flared up again.

Qi Yitang was not good at comforting people, and his relationship with the Empress Dowager was just so-so. He simply said, "Mother, don't be too anxious. Eleventh Brother is still young. He will naturally come to his senses when the Red Phoenix Star appears in a couple of years."

The Empress Dowager was helpless; her two sons were a hopeless romantic and a good-for-nothing, each more troublesome than the other.

No wonder she's worried.

……

In the evening, the palace banquet began.

The emperor and empress still sat side by side at the head of the table.

For the court officials, whether Qi Yitang became empress or not really made no difference—when she was a concubine, she always sat beside the emperor, and no one else ever took her place.

However, seeing the Empress's slender figure, the court officials couldn't help but feel worried.

The most pressing concern is naturally the age-old issue of having offspring.

Now there is only the Empress in the harem. She has been in the palace for three years. How can there be no movement at all?

"Grand Secretary Zhang," an official approached, "the fate of this nation rests on the shoulders of its people, and the succession is of utmost importance. Why don't you advise His Majesty?"

Why advise me? Talent shows are filling up the harem.

Do you really think that dismissing the concubines was just a joke?

Grand Secretary Zhang rubbed his forehead and sighed, "Alas, I'm drunk. Wouldn't it be disrespectful to the Emperor if I were so intoxicated... Lord Liu, why don't you go and say it yourself?"

"I... cough, actually I'm a little drunk too..."

Grand Secretary Zhang rolled his eyes inwardly. He clearly didn't dare to offend His Majesty, yet he insisted on urging him to do so.

If you make His Majesty unhappy on New Year's Eve, then he will be the one unhappy next year.

He's an old man and wants to live a few more years.

Suddenly someone interjected, "If you ask me, everyone's worrying for nothing. Consort Qi has four sons and one daughter, all of whom are outstanding. How could Her Majesty the Empress not be blessed with offspring?"

These words were like a wake-up call, and many ministers slapped their foreheads in realization.

That's right!

If a mother can give birth, her daughter can naturally give birth too; it's just that the children's good fortune hasn't arrived yet.

……

Xie Ling had never been interested in palace banquets, only occasionally taking a sip of wine from his cup.

Most of the time, his gaze was fixed on Qi Yitang beside him.

Qi Yitang actually enjoyed the lively atmosphere. She ate while watching the singing and dancing, and enthusiastically commented on which dancer's flowing sleeves were the most beautiful and which dish suited her taste. She was even more accustomed to enjoying herself than the emperor.

Xie Ling was unhappy that she was too focused on something else, so she put down her wine glass and moved closer.

"Tangtang, what are you looking at?"

Qi Yitang withdrew her gaze and asked, "Who is that woman sitting next to my great-uncle?"