The old imperial doctor said solemnly, “May I ask which imperial doctor is conditioning your body?”


  Zheng Xiao replied, “It’s Imperial Doctor Wu who specializes in gynecology. The medicine he prescribed has helped many women become pregnant.”


  The old imperial doctor said to Zheng Xiao, “Madam, as the saying goes, medicine can also be poisonous. Mrs. Qin should relax instead of taking unnecessary medicines. Continuing this will eventually hurt her own body.

  “Mrs. Qin, you’re still so young. You shouldn’t take so much medicine. Even if you get a child with the help of medicine, the child won’t be healthy.

  “And you should reduce the times of sexual intercourse. If it is too frequent, you can’t get pregnant easily. Three times per ten days is the best.”


  Qiao Ruoyun blushed and nodded.

  Zheng Xiao said to the old doctor, “Please also examine the Crown Princess. Is the Crown Princess’ body suitable for getting pregnant?”


  The old doctor examined Qiao Jinniang’s pulse and said, “Her Highness is very healthy. Her body must have been well conditioned after she gave birth to the imperial grandson. It is not difficult for her to have a child again.”


  Zheng Xiao said in a low voice, “But the imperial grandson is already three years old. Is His Royal Highness…”


  Zheng Xiao didn’t dare to say the word ‘impotent’.

  Qiao Jinniang quickly said, “Mother, His Royal Highness and I are both in good health. We haven’t had a second child because we both think Xi’er is still too young, and we want to wait until Xi’er is older.”


  After the old doctor left, Zheng Xiao asked Qiao Ruoyun to take Qin Miaomiao and Fulu into the imperial palace first.

  The mother and daughter were talking in whispers.

  Zheng Xiao said to Qiao Jinniang, “Time has changed. Jinniang, the greatest support for women now in the imperial palace is their children.

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  “I told your sister not to worry because the Qin family doesn’t dare to offend us.

  “In the worst case, your sister can’t give birth to any child. Even if Qin Shu has ten or eight sons that are born by his concubines, he still doesn’t dare to disrespect your sister, and his sons still have to recognize your sister as their mother!

  “But you are different. After all, the favor of men of the royal family is unreliable, let alone the vows before marriage. The only thing you can rely on is your children.”


  But Qiao Jinniang didn’t think so. “Mother, it’s not like this. If Lu Chen fails me, I still have money. I don’t want to use my child to gain favor.

  “Just like what Grandmother once said, everyone said that if the man loves the child you had with him, he will love you, but this is not true. The truth is that if the man loves you, he will love the child he has with you.

  “Mother, I don’t want to have a child just to win my husband’s favor. Before the child is born, use him to keep my husband around me? Isn’t that pathetic?”
……

  The birthday banquet was held in the Yangjiang Garden in the imperial palace.

  It was spring, and the banquet was held in an open-air garden. Thousands of flowers were in full bloom, and bright colors were seen everywhere. Even more beautiful than the flowers were the young girls wearing bright-colored dresses and delicate makeup in the garden.

  Qiao Jinniang and Lu Chen entered the garden together. After Qiao Jinniang was seated, she glanced around and felt that the garden was exceptionally beautiful today.

  Lu Chen only sent invitations to the nobles for fear that there would be too many girls and Qiao Jinniang would be jealous.

  But he didn’t expect that many girls from the officials’ families would also come today, using the invitations their aristocratic relatives or friends got.

  Lu Chen glanced sideways at Qiao Jinniang’s expression, only to see that she was looking happily at those girls, so he asked, “Why are you so happy?”


  Qiao Jinniang: “Look at the girls. They are all dressed up and look even more beautiful than flowers. Seeing so many beauties, I’m in a very good mood.”


  Lu Chen didn’t know for a while whether she was telling the truth or mocking.

  But he smartly explained, “I didn’t give an invitation to these girls’ families, and I didn’t know they would come over today. Don’t be angry.”


  When Qiao Jinniang was on her period, no one could mess around with her.

  Qiao Jinniang said, “I’m not angry. I’m very happy!

  “Do you see the jewelry they’re wearing, which are all from Jewelry Pavilion. They are all my customers. How can I be angry at them? I can’t wait to have more banquets like this!”


  Lu Chen: “So making money is more important than me?”


  Qiao Jinniang shook her head. “Of course not, Honey. After all, you are way richer than me. If I surrender you to them, your money will be theirs. I am not that stupid.”


  Lu Chen: “…”


  When the Emperor and his harem came out, everyone saluted.

  The Queen looked at the girls and said, “The jewelry you are wearing today is quite chic.”


  Imperial Concubine De said, “Your Highness, there is a new jewelry shop in Chang’an called Jewelry Pavilion, and the jewelry it sells all costs thousands of taels of silver, or even tens of thousands of taels.

  “Although the prices are high, the products are very exquisite, so every time they have a new release, it’ll be sold out soon. I heard that many jewelry shops from other places specially came to Chang’an to buy the jewelry from Jewelry Pavilion.”


  The Queen said, “I see.”


  After the banquet, all the princes, consorts and princesses came to toast Lu Chen one after another. Of course, Lu Chen would not drink everyone’s toast.

  When his five brothers came to toast, he toasted them too.

  Although the princes wanted him to drink all their toasts, they didn’t dare force him to do that.

  After the royal family members finished toasting Lu Chen, it was the turn of the envoys.

  Some small vessel countries almost took preparing the Crown Prince a birthday present as a national undertaking because they needed Datang’s protection.

  But the envoys from countries like Xiliang and Beimo wouldn’t be so polite.

  The princess of Xiliang, Samo’er, stood up and said, “Xiliang wishes Your Royal Highness a long life and a happy birthday. We in Xiliang have prepared a national treasure and hope to befriend Datang.

  “However, in order to get our national treasure, you need to compete with me three times. If Datang wins, Xiliang is willing to present the national treasure with both hands. If you lose, it proves that Datang has no ability to take our national treasure!”


  Samo’er had been wearing a veil since entering Chang’an, and her eyes that were exposed were full of arrogance and contempt.

  The people of Datang present all secretly despised these barbarians from Xiliang for being rude and ignorant of etiquettes.

  But if they didn’t agree to compete with Samo’er, it would seem that they were incompetent.

  Qiao Jinniang said, “Thank you, princess, but we don’t need your national treasure. What do you want to compete with us in? We’re glad to accept your challenge!”


  Samo’er said confidently, “I heard that you people call us barbarians and prided yourselves for being talented and knowledgeable.

  “When I came to Chang’an, I heard of your Imperial Examination. The first thing we want to compete with you is intelligence. I heard that the Crown Princess’ younger brother won second place in the Imperial Examination this time, so why not let him compete with me?”


  Qiao Lu glanced at Duke Anyuan, and when he saw his father nodding, he stood up and said, “Princess Xiliang, I’m Qiao Lu. I’m honored to compete with you!”


  Samo’er ordered the three ministers behind her to step forward, respectively holding three locked boxes in their hands.

  Samo’er said, “The national treasure that is to be given to the Crown Prince of Datang is in one of the boxes. Only one of the three officials is telling the truth, and the other two are lying. Young Master Qiao, please pick the box that contains the national treasure.”


  The Xiliang official holding the iron box said, “The national treasure is not in my box.”


  The official holding the wooden box said, “The national treasure is in the iron box.”


  The official holding the jade box said, “The national treasure is not in my box.”


  Samo’er blinked slightly and said to Qiao Lu, “You only have half an hour. If you can’t pick the right box, Datang will lose and you won’t get the national treasure!”