The Crown Prince had ordered an investigation into this matter a few days ago. Upon hearing this, the attendant replied, "Your Highness, I have checked. The Ministry of Works' blueprints are almost complete. Now, King Chungyong is just waiting for the money from the court to arrive. He will then take the money and blueprints and head south."

"Your Highness is also aware that the Japanese pirates are most aggressive after Qingming Festival every year."

"King Zhongyong plans to have the new warships built this winter and ready for service next spring. Around the Qingming Festival, he'll use the pirates' heads as a sacrifice."

The prince snorted, "He wishes."

After saying this, the prince lightly shook his robe and walked towards the Ministry of Works.

*

On the way back home, Su Qingyu leaned on Shen Zhixiu's shoulder and felt drowsy.

She had been tense for several hours in the palace today. Once she left the palace and boarded the carriage, she relaxed, and a sense of fatigue spread throughout her body.

As soon as the wheels of the carriage started turning, she closed her eyes and fell asleep.

Shen Zhixiu felt sorry for Su Qingyu, as she had to deal with him in the palace even though she was pregnant.

He held her hand tightly, put his arm around her waist, and bent down to kiss her between the eyebrows.

The carriage stopped at the second gate of the Shen family. Su Qingyu woke up and looked outside in a daze.

Seeing that he had already reached home, he yawned, "So fast."

Shen Zhixiu carefully helped her out of the carriage.

As soon as he got off the carriage, Wenzhu came over with Li Hu.

Shen Zhixiu was stunned. "Didn't I tell you to take him to the other courtyard to settle him down?"

Li Hu stepped forward and saluted, saying, "Sir Shen, I have something to ask of you, so Brother Wen brought me back."

Shen Zhixiu didn't understand what was going on, so he signaled Li Hu to speak frankly.

Li Hu then whispered to Shen Zhixiu, "Sir Shen, I want to leave the capital tonight. Could you please get me a travel permit? I need to change my name and surname, and my ancestral place of origin as well."

Shen Zhixiu pondered for a moment, "Are you afraid that the emperor won't tolerate you?"

"You can rest assured about this. Since the emperor has promised to spare your life, he will not do it again."

Li Hu didn't explain, but just said: "I don't dare to think so, I just want to be at peace."

Shen Zhixiu nodded and said to Wen Zhu, "Go and do it yourself. Don't alarm anyone."

This matter is really nothing to Shen Zhixiu.

Wenzhu replied yes and asked Li Hu to settle down in the outer courtyard room first, and then went to do business.

At this moment, Mr. Zhou's carriage also entered the yard, and Shen Zhixiu stepped forward and said, "Should I call you Sir, or Your Highness?"

Hearing the joking tone in Shen Zhixiu's words, Mr. Zhou sighed and said, "Zhixiu, please stop teasing me. I really don't want to be a prince."

"Should I leave Beijing and become a traveling doctor?"

Shen Zhixiu hurriedly said, "Sir, this won't do. Qingyu just got pregnant, and I'm worried without you here."

"If you want to leave, you have to wait until Qingyu gives birth to the child."

Mr. Zhou smiled and shook his head. "Now that you say that, it's really hard for me to leave."

"Then I will act like the prince and see what it feels like."

Mr. Zhou is an open-minded and free-spirited person. Once he makes a decision, he will face it calmly without thinking too much.

Shen Zhixiu suddenly stood in front of Mr. Zhou and bowed solemnly.

"Thank you for today, sir."

It seemed to be saying that Mr. Zhou agreed to stay, and it also seemed to be talking about things in the palace.

Mr. Zhou stepped aside and said, "Zhixiu, you're welcome. We've been friends for many years, and I treat you like a brother. You're being too formal by saying that."

Shen Zhixiu laughed loudly twice, and Mr. Zhou said, "Why don't you have two more children and leave me one with good qualifications to inherit my medical skills."

Su Qingyu didn't think there was anything wrong with it. If a child was really talented and could be taught by Mr. Zhou, it would be a blessing for the child.

Shen Zhixiu smiled and said, "Except for the eldest son, the other children can be chosen by the master."

Mr. Zhou said solemnly, "It's a deal."

With the temperament and qualifications of Shen Zhixiu and his wife, as well as the Shen family's upbringing, their children will not be bad.

Mr. Zhou remembered a saying in the countryside: Buy a pig and look at the pen.

It doesn't sound very nice, but that's what I mean.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries with Mr. Zhou, Shen Zhixiu took Su Qingyu's hand and walked towards the west courtyard.

Su Qingyu originally wanted to pay her respects to the old lady first, but was stopped by Shen Zhixiu.

"Mother won't find fault with you. You should rest now. I'll go to Qingyuanju to explain later."

Su Qingyu was indeed very tired. After hearing what Shen Zhixiu said, she obediently returned to the west courtyard.

After entering the door, Zhenzhu helped Su Qingyu go in and change into loose clothes.

"Madam has been out for a while now, but she doesn't look very energetic. Is she tired?"

Su Qingyu wiped her face and said, "This whole day is more tiring than managing the accounts for a month."

Later, Shen Zhixiu also came in and went to the bathroom to wash his face and change his clothes.

Zhenzhu ordered someone to bring the fish soup that had been prepared in advance.

It was the fish sent from the farm. After stewing it, only the soup was left and some green vegetable leaves were added to it.

After Shen Zhixiu changed his clothes, he pulled Su Qingyu to sit down at the table.

He took the soup himself, scooped it until it was warm but not hot, and then handed it to Su Qingyu.

Su Qingyu took it, picked up the spoon and took a sip first.

As Su Qingyu sipped the fish soup, she frowned.

"Why is today's fish soup so fishy?"

Zhenzhu was slightly startled. "It's the same method as before. The fish is also from the farm..."

Before she could finish her words, Su Qingyu covered her mouth and started vomiting.

Feicui hurriedly brought a spittoon over. Su Qingyu vomited for a long time, but only spit out a mouthful of sour water.

Shen Zhixiu caressed Su Qingyu's back with a distressed look and said in a deep voice, "Madam said it was fishy, why don't you take it down and redo it?"

My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!