The next day, Dugu Luanyue sent someone to inform Eunuch Yingxi that she hoped to have lunch with Murong Min.
Unexpectedly, Eunuch Yingxi came in person to apologize and reply that the emperor had been really exhausted in recent days and was still sleeping, so he would not have lunch with her.
Dugu Luanyue changed into the bright red queen's palace dress in the palace. After putting on the phoenix crown, she waited until the afternoon and went to find Murong Min.
When Su Rou saw the queen, she quickly tied the ribbon of her bellyband, put on a robe and greeted her, saying, "Your servant pays respects to the queen. May the queen be in good health."
Dugu Luanyue said gently, "You've been working hard these days, Su Rou."
Su Rou shook her head. "It's not hard. Your servant is from Southern Chu and is willing to do so."
She used to be a concubine of a general in Southern Chu. After the general died in battle, she became a widow.
When Dugu Luanyue's Fengling Guards were looking for people everywhere, they found Su Rou, a beautiful and plump woman, and arranged for her to come on this hot - spring trip.
Before Su Rou was with the general, she was a famous actress who could sing operas beautifully. She was gentle and charming, very popular among men.
Dugu Luanyue helped her up, tidied her clothes, and then asked, "Where is His Majesty?"
Su Rou looked back and pointed. "He's still in the hot - spring pool. He played with the other sisters all night last night and just got up."
She paused for a moment and then said, "But Your Majesty, this medicine can't be used anymore. Your servant is afraid of being discovered.
His Majesty has been in this state for several days. He's no longer a young man in his twenties. Your servant is worried that if His Majesty's health deteriorates and the imperial physician is sent to examine him, something might be found out, which would be bad."
Dugu Luanyue looked deeply at Su Rou and then nodded in agreement. "Okay, we'll do as you say."
She took a few steps forward. When she saw Murong Min sitting in the hot - spring pool with his arms outstretched, surrounded by a group of charming women in a lewd scene, she felt disgusted.
Unconsciously, she compared him with Huo Wei.
Huo Wei was once drugged by Wei Zhiruo with a powerful aphrodisiac, but he directly buried himself in the snow to cool down. He was a clear - headed and self - restrained man. He said he wouldn't do it and he didn't;
As for Murong Min this time, she just sent someone to put a little aphrodisiac in the wine. As long as Murong Min had a bit of the emperor's rationality, he could easily overcome it.
She couldn't imagine having a child with such a man. It seemed really difficult.
Since childhood, she only knew that she would be the female emperor in the future. She would only have one royal husband, a couple for life, and would never share her husband with any other woman.
Murong Min's harem and today's scene were just disgusting to look at.
But for the sake of Southern Chu, she had to give birth to a crown prince as a bargaining chip...
When Dugu Luanyue walked to the pool, the beautiful concubines quickly retreated when they saw the queen.
When Murong Min saw her, he smiled. After all, the former queen always restricted him, unlike Dugu Luanyue, who indulged him and let him do as he pleased:
"Why did the queen come? Come here and have a drink with me."
Dugu Luanyue walked behind Murong Min and massaged his shoulders. "Your servant missed Your Majesty. Your Majesty drinks and has fun with new concubines day and night. Your servant is afraid that Your Majesty will forget me..."
Murong Min looked back at her. "You're my legitimate wife and you understand my mind. How could I forget you?"
Dugu Luanyue said what was on her mind and asked tentatively, "Your servant dreamed last night that she was pregnant."
When Murong Min heard this, his face darkened. "Has the imperial physician been summoned to check?"
Dugu Luanyue said, "Your Majesty, your servant just had a dream. What are you asking about? But your servant still likes children. How about you, Your Majesty?"
Murong Min got out of the hot - spring pool, dried his body, put on a furry robe, and leaned on the couch, pressing his temples:
"I already have many princes and princesses. Aren't these all your children, Queen?"
Dugu Luanyue smiled gently. "Yes, your servant already has both a son and a daughter."
She knew that no matter how much Murong Min fooled around, his mind was still clear. The power of a queen with children and a queen without children in Northern Yan was completely different.
Moreover, this child had half of the blood of the Southern Chu royal family. If they started to attack the child's maternal family in the future,
As the child grew up under the upbringing of his mother, he would hate Murong Min in the future. Murong Min had this kind of awareness.
She felt relieved when she left the pool. Deep down, she still didn't want to have a child with Murong Min.
Dugu Luanyue was feeling depressed. "Aunt, get some good - tasting wine. Let's go to another hot - spring pool to soak."
She stayed in the hot - spring pool for a long time.
Dugu Luanyue drank a lot of wine that day. She was extremely depressed. She still hadn't thought of a better way to make Northern Yan completely cancel the plan to attack the south, and it would take time for the military strength of Southern Chu to grow.
If she planned a few more things like disrupting the court discipline and luring the emperor into doing something wrong, this bad reputation might very likely backfire on her. The censors in the Imperial Censorate would definitely not let her go.
Around dusk, the news spread that the queen was drinking heavily alone in the Biqing Pool at the highest point of the half - mountain palace.
Everyone was speculating whether the emperor's favor for other concubines had left the queen neglected, so she was drinking out of sadness?
When the rumors reached Huo Wei's ears, his sharp eyebrows frowned tightly.
"Meng Tan, who told you to report such things? It has nothing to do with this prince." Huo Wei scolded the guard who told him the news.
Meng Tan lowered his head. "Please forgive this subordinate, my lord. This subordinate will not inquire or report such things in the future and will surely remember it."
After hearing the news, Huo Wei sneered coldly and pulled the topic back. "What's the use of drinking heavily? Is she going to hang herself later?"
Meng Tan was thinking whether he should say it or not. He chose to remain silent...
Huo Wei roared, "This prince is asking you a question!"
Meng Tan pouted and then said,
"The rumors in the palace are not reliable. After all, everything in this hot - spring palace was personally arranged by the queen. Those concubines were also personally sent to His Majesty by the queen. The queen wouldn't drink heavily because of this.
Maybe it's because the prince abandoned the queen, and she's sad."
Huo Wei said coldly, "Is this woman crazy? One shouldn't drink heavily while soaking in a hot spring. She'll faint."
Meng Tan quietly glanced at Huo Wei and didn't dare to answer anymore. If he said one more word, he would definitely be scolded again.
Huo Wei loosened his folded arms, put his hands on the windowsill, and kicked the corner of the wall with his foot. He was feeling a bit irritable.
Maybe Dugu Luanyue was really sad because of him, just as Meng Tan said?
Wasn't her beloved that guy named Sheng Yunqi? He was right here in the hot - spring palace. Why didn't she go to find him? What's the use of drinking heavily?
But if one keeps drinking by the hot - spring water, one might really fall in.
If no one sees and one falls into the water, one will be drowned.
"This woman doesn't know the importance of things!"
Huo Wei cursed in a low voice, then put on his cloak and walked out, rushing towards the highest point of the half - mountain palace.
On the way, he suddenly met Wei Zhiruo, who was smiling triumphantly.
When Wei Zhiruo saw Huo Wei, she blinked her eyes. "Brother Huo Wei, why are you here? Are you here to find a pool to soak in?"
Huo Wei said, "Yes."
Wei Zhiruo looked at the highest point of the half - mountain palace. There was going to be a big show up there. It would be bad if Huo Wei went up and disrupted the situation.