Jiang Shuyue frowned even more deeply.
Xiao Jingzhao did so much for the people, but the epidemic still arrived as scheduled.
What other preparations did he make? Was the prescription for the epidemic as effective as she had hoped?
Xiao Jingzhao should be almost in the capital by now, right?
There were so many things she wanted to know, so many that she wished she could sprout wings and fly out of the capital to see for herself.
A candlelight illuminated her delicate face, and a strand of dark hair fell from her forehead to her fair neck, adding a touch of charm that made it impossible to look away.
Nangong Zeyue concealed the emotions in her eyes and looked away at the teacup in her hand. "I heard that the Emperor has once again ordered that refugees are not allowed to enter the capital, and merchants are also allowed to enter and leave. If anyone with symptoms of the epidemic goes to the clinic, be careful."
"Those who go to Jishetang are all women from the inner quarters, so they should be safe for the time being."
Jiang Shuyue raised her hand and tucked a strand of hair that had fallen across her forehead behind her ear, giving Nangong Zeyue a faint smile.
"What are you worried about? Are you afraid he'll come to Beijing and try to take your child away from you?"
Nangong Zeyue sensed the unease in her heart.
Jiang Shuyue shook her head. "I haven't thought that much about it. As long as Sui Sui grows up happily and healthily, I don't mind if Sui Sui lives with him occasionally."
There were many rumors circulating about the heir of the Prince of Yannan, and Nangong Zeyue vaguely sensed something unusual about him.
Even the storytellers in the capital were telling his stories, and the common people were hoping that he would raise an army and march into the capital.
The atmosphere in the room was somewhat heavy. Nangong Zeyue raised an eyebrow and smiled, "I heard that the Zhen Grand Scholar's family has sent gifts again?"
"Old Madam Zhen's headache has improved after using the prescription I gave her. She specially asked Steward Zhen to send over some osmanthus cake. The Zhen family's cooks make really good pastries. I asked Lan'er to send some to you. You've tried them. Aren't they better than the ones sold on the street?"
"It's alright. I'll go to the slave trader's place another day. If I can find a skilled cook, I'll buy two more."
All the pastries that Lan'er sent to Nangong Zeyue's courtyard ended up in Sui Sui's stomach; Nangong Zeyue didn't taste a single one.
Seeing that Jiang Shuyue was completely unaware of the Zhen family's enthusiastic intentions, Nangong Zeyue refrained from pointing it out.
Jiang Shuyue practices a skill called yoga every morning. Her skin is fair and her figure is like that of a virgin. Nangong Zeyue, an observer, sees clearly that it's only a matter of time before the Zhen family comes to propose marriage.
At this time, Xiao Jingzhao was leading tens of thousands of troops, along with food and medicine, to the capital.
Along the way, wherever he went, he would summon the county magistrate for a face-to-face meeting.
The county magistrate and local officials, who were suffering greatly, saw him as a savior and all switched sides and submitted to him.
He distributed the stockpiled medicinal herbs to areas where the epidemic was occurring.
With the medicinal herbs and prescriptions he distributed, the epidemic was quickly brought under control.
The large group of people arrived in the capital without any obstacles.
When the city guards saw the large group of people arriving at the city gate, they cried out in alarm and were about to close the gate.
The heavy city gate had just been half-closed when a group of people rushed out from nowhere and quickly took control of the city guards.
The crowd stirred, and someone shouted: "We don't need a king who is incompetent, licentious, and only cares about pleasure. He is indulging in a life of debauchery and neglects state affairs, causing the people to suffer.
"Yes! We don't want a monarch like that."
The crowd immediately calmed down.
Someone shouted: "The Crown Prince of Yannan has come to the capital to revitalize the court by imperial decree of Emperor Renzong. We respectfully welcome the Crown Prince."
"Welcome, Your Highness!"
Immediately, shouts filled the air.
The city guards were under control, and the soldiers on the city walls held bows and aimed them at the people pouring into the city, unsure of which one to attack.
All the people entering the city were dressed as ordinary citizens. If they were to shoot their arrows, they would be the ones who die without a burial place.
When they finally saw a strikingly handsome man in the crowd, they felt a chill on their necks and heard a shout from behind.
"Put down your arrows, submit to the Crown Prince, and your positions will remain unchanged. Anyone who resists will be killed without mercy." A group of people descended from the sky, wielding swords and knives.
When I turned around, a cold sword was already at my neck.
Seeing that the situation was hopeless, the defending soldiers had no will to resist and simply put down their bows and arrows and raised their hands.
On horseback, Xiao Jingzhao wore a black outfit with a gold-trimmed cloak over it. His dark hair was tied up high, his eyebrows were straight and bold, and his phoenix eyes held a sharp light.
Amidst the admiring gazes of the people, he was escorted by a troop of people and slowly walked towards the palace.
With thin lips slightly pursed, his handsome features were sharply defined, and his tall, slender yet not rugged figure sat on horseback, exuding a heroic and dashing air.
Wherever he went, the people knelt down and bowed, "Welcome the Crown Prince."
Xiao Jingzhao gave an order to the person beside him, and the guard led a group of people forward.
...
From the backyard of the clinic, a baby's loud cry rang out.
The woman waiting outside the delivery room clasped her hands together and said devoutly, "Thank God, my grandson has finally arrived."
A moment later, Jiang Shuyue came out of the delivery room, and the female doctor behind her carried the mother and child to the next room.
She glanced indifferently at the woman at the door and said, "Congratulations, Madam, mother and daughter are safe and sound."
"Didn't she say she was having a son?"
Jiang Shuyue frowned slightly.
Today, the baby is breech. If the woman were to give birth at home, she would almost certainly die, and it's possible that both she and her unborn child would perish.
When the pregnant woman heard that there was a female clinic in the capital, she lied and said that the doctor said she was carrying a boy, which tricked her mother-in-law into sending her to the clinic.
Seeing the woman's disgusted expression, Jiang Shuyue said, "A woman giving birth is like a farmer planting melons. You can only grow beans, not melons. Whether a child is a boy or a girl is determined by the man."
Explaining science to the ancients is like playing music to a cow. Jiang Shuyue could only use simple and easy-to-understand language to illustrate this. Whether the woman understood or pretended not to understand was not her concern.
"The new mother should not be moved within three days. Whether you keep a maid to serve her or hire a female medical nurse to take care of her is your decision."
Judging from the woman's gold and silver jewelry, her family must be quite well-off.
She would have to pay extra if she wanted her female doctor's care.
"No need. It's just a girl, she's not that delicate. We can leave the maids from her room here to serve her."
The woman, her face dark, led her maid away.
In this patriarchal society, there are countless mothers-in-law like this, and Jiang Shuyue is no longer surprised by them.
Although she really wanted to argue with that woman, she was a woman herself, so why did she look down on women?
Considering this terrible era, oh well, what good would it do for her to argue?
Women have too little room to live.
At this moment, Qiuju came in from outside. She walked up to Jiang Shuyue and said in a low voice, "Miss, the young master has arrived in the capital."
Jiang Shuyue's eyes lit up, and she quickly asked, "Where are we? Have we encountered any obstacles?"
"I heard that a large group of people went to the palace gate, and the people knelt down to welcome them."
“Just now, a guard went along the street to announce that everyone should close their doors and not go out. I guess the young master was afraid that the emperor would act rashly and harm innocent people.”
"Miss, please don't go out. I'll go and close all the doors of the clinic right away."
Seeing her mistress walk out, Qiuju quickly followed after her.
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