Chapter 434
After entering winter, the weather got colder day by day. Athena was pregnant with twins, and her belly was larger than that of ordinary pregnant women. Seeing that it was almost six months, she walked from side to side with her rounded belly.
“This is just like a duck.” Athena supported her waist and looked at herself in the mirror. Since she became pregnant, Alexandra had taken good care of her. She was afraid that her nutrition would not be complete, and she was also afraid that too much supplementation would make the child too big, which would make it difficult to give birth in the future.
So every time after eating, she had to walk around the garden twice. When Trina heard Athena’s words, she couldn’t help covering her mouth and laughing secretly. “Princess Consort, this is the case after pregnancy, but since you’re pregnant with twins, naturally, your belly is bigger than others.”
Athena touched her round belly and sighed, “I can’t see my toes anymore.” Her cheeks were also rounded. Just as they were speaking, footsteps came from outside the courtyard. Looking through the window, she saw Xander walk in. Reaching the doorway, a maid was already raising the curtain for him. After Xander entered the room, he took off his fox fur cloak. He did not walk towards Athena, but instead took the hand warmer offered by the maid to warm his hands. After the chill on his body dissipated, he walked over and asked, “How are you feeling today?”
“I’m doing well. With so many people waiting on me at home, you don’t need to worry,” Athena replied with a smile. As Athena’s pregnancy progressed, Xander’s anticipation grew stronger.
Xander nodded, looking at her belly. “Indeed, it’s doing well, and it’s grown bigger.”
“Darling, why have you been so busy these days? You used to come back before sunset, but today it’s already dark,” Athena asked Trina to pour a cup of hot coffee for Xander. He sat next to Athena, tilting his head to look at her. His eyes were full of smiles. But there was something mischievous about that smile.
Athena asked him in confusion, “Honey, what are you smiling about?”
“I am just feeling fortunate.” Xander’s voice was indescribably light. Having said that, he deliberately paused, looking at Athena with anticipation. Athena knew he was building suspense, so she very obligingly asked him, “What are you feeling fortunate about?”
“I’m fortunate that I didn’t sit in that chair.” Xander happily took a sip of tea before saying the rest of his words, “You know what? The civil and military officials in the court today were like fighting cocks. It was so noisy that it was unbearable to watch.”
Athena’s appetite was suddenly piqued. “What happened?”
“Now there is only one Queen in the Core Palace, so those old guys naturally want to get the Core Palace under control.” Xander drank tea and said to Athena, “Which aristocratic family doesn’t want to have their people in the Core Palace? That’s why they are forcing the King to take imperial concubines today.”
Athena gasped and thought of Natasha immediately. “Can the Queen agree to that?”
Xander said, “Natasha had a fiery temper. Don’t let her usual casualness fool you; she is a jealous person. She and the King have a life-and-death relationship. She will never allow other women to be by the King’s side. However, as the ruler of a country, it is indeed unreasonable if there are no concubines in the Core Palace.”
No wonder Xander gloated.
“How could she agree? The Queen brought a large knife to the court, scaring those old guys into shutting their mouths.”
Athena breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s good.”
Xander snorted coldly, “Good? These are just stopgap measures. Sooner or later, the King will take more consorts. Which King in history only had one consort?”
Athena was silent, feeling grateful. Xander glanced at her carefully, looking hesitant.
“Just say what you want to say. Why are you stammering?” Athena glared at him.
Xander cleared his throat before saying what he wanted to say. “Do you want to hear news from Ramberg?” Whenever it concerned Ray, he always looked wary.
Athena couldn’t help but laugh at the way he looked. She and Ray were a thing of the past, plus she was pregnant with Xander’s babies. She thought, ‘What does he want with that probing look?‘
Athena deliberately provoked him, “I want to hear it.”
Sure enough, Xander’s face darkened. But not daring to make Athena angry, he briefly said, “Ray found a substitute, exactly like you. That kid still hasn’t given up.”
Having said that, he was clearly angry. He snorted heavily, “Sooner or later, I’ll overturn his kingdom.”
“Overturn it then. If you have the ability, go do it now.” Athena deliberately taunted him.
Xander frowned as he looked at her expression, and gasped, “You really want me to overturn it?”
“Ramberg belongs to the Grand Luminary Empire anyway. Haven’t you always wanted to take Ramberg back? Why would I disagree?” As Athena spoke, she played with the tassel hanging from her waist.
Seeing that she didn’t seem angry, Xander felt much more at ease. But then, he sighed again, “He’s just relying on the strategic advantage of Ramberg. Otherwise, I would have taken it long ago, and he wouldn’t have been so rampant until now.”
“However, it’s difficult,” Xander sighed deeply with a worried look on his face as he said the last sentence. Athena knew what he was worried about. The harvest was bad this year, and the new King had granted a three-year tax exemption upon his succession. The national treasury was empty, so even if he wanted to attack, he couldn’t. He could only hope for a good harvest next year.
Athena thought for a while and offered him an idea. “If we don’t have it, you can ask others for it.”
Xander raised his eyebrows and looked at her with some surprise. “Are you saying, ask the Thirteen Tribes?” The Thirteen Tribes were rich in warhorses, cattle, and sheep. Northcold often led troops to plunder, causing unspeakable suffering to the Thirteen Tribes. Unfortunately, they did not have a strong army and were unable to protect their property.
Xander had also considered negotiating with the Thirteen Tribes to let them submit to the Grand Luminary Empire, and he would send troops to fight Northcold. However, the Thirteen Tribes had already split and had different political views. If one wanted to attack the Thirteen Tribes, one must solve the problem of their internal division.
“The Thirteen Tribes are too divided, and there are occasional wars between the tribes. It is too difficult to unify the Thirteen Tribes.” Although Xander was also greedy for this piece of fat from the Thirteen Tribes, the tribes were too scattered, and the Thirteen Tribes are very hostile to foreigners. Even if he wanted to intervene, he couldn’t. If he were not careful, he might be hated by the Thirteen Tribes.
Athena chuckled softly, her fair fingertips pointing to the Thirteen Tribes Map, landing on the Wolf River basin. It is the birthplace of the Thirteen Tribes and the place where the tribes meet every year. “Although the Thirteen Tribes are divided, they have a common weakness.” She raised her eyes to look at Xander, her eyes flashing with wisdom. “They have worshiped the Wolf God for generations, and they hold a caucus at the Wolf River altar every year, presided over by the oldest patriarch. This year’s caucus is next month, which is an opportunity.”
Xander frowned slightly, “However, Northcold has deployed three battalions of troops along the Wolf River, ostensibly to protect, but in reality to monitor the various tribes. Any disobedience will result in military conflict. The patriarchs of the Thirteen Tribes dare to be angry but dare not speak out. If we rashly intervene, I am afraid we will get burned.”