Chapter 216 Transfer Order
He's still a tiny little kid.
Jiang Huan pondered to herself. Although she was a little apprehensive about this unfamiliar younger sister, she still put on a friendly smile.
"Okay, I miss her too. You must bring her next time."
She carefully considered the original owner's relationship with her younger sister and tentatively said, "I'll prepare some little trinkets for her; she'll definitely like the palace snacks."
Kids are all pretty much the same when it comes to getting along; they're relatively easy to bribe.
When Madam Jiang saw that her daughter agreed so readily, her smile deepened, and the fine lines at the corners of her eyes smoothed out.
As if remembering something, she looked at her daughter's rosy cheeks and slender waist, hesitated for a moment, then leaned closer and spoke even softer.
"Huan'er, I'm relieved to see that you look well and the Emperor dotes on you. But there's something I need to remind you of."
Jiang Huan looked at her mother's solemn expression and was somewhat puzzled.
"Yes, please go ahead."
Madam Jiang's cheeks flushed slightly, and her eyes flickered.
Although she was outside the palace, she had heard many rumors about his exclusive favor.
"You've been sharing a bed with the Emperor for quite some time now..."
Jiang Huan: ……
She instantly understood what Madam Jiang was going to say, and her cheeks flushed.
"We also need to be careful about this health issue."
Madam Jiang's voice was barely audible, carrying the concern of someone with experience.
"Is your period regular? Do you have any discomfort? If you are pregnant, you have to be very careful. The first three months are the most important. You can't overwork yourself, you can't get angry, and you have to pay extra attention to your diet."
Mrs. Jiang went on and on about the precautions to take during pregnancy, covering everything from diet and daily life to emotional regulation.
Jiang Huan blushed deeply, her ears burning.
That's way too direct, saying that in broad daylight...
And...and she's not ready to have children yet!
Jiang Huan quickly interrupted Madam Jiang, her voice tinged with embarrassment: "Mother, what... what are you saying? It's... it's still early."
Looking at her daughter's blushing face, Madam Jiang knew she was shy, so she gently patted the back of her hand and spoke earnestly.
“Silly child, what’s there to be ashamed of? This is a matter of course. The Emperor dotes on you so much, having children is a big deal. It’s never wrong to plan ahead. I’ve been through this before, and I know the ins and outs. You’re young and don’t understand, so I have to remind you.”
Madam Jiang counted on her fingers and began to ramble on, as if she wanted to pour out all the pregnancy and childbirth experience she had accumulated over the decades to her daughter.
They talked about how she was pregnant with you, about the daughter-in-law of Aunt Wang next door, about medicinal diets for preventing miscarriage, and about breathing techniques during childbirth.
Jiang Huan felt as if a major construction project was underway on her toes.
Seeing that Madam Jiang was getting more and more excited as she talked, and even began to plan what material to use for her grandson's little clothes.
She felt it was time to interrupt.
"Mother," Jiang Huan said helplessly, drawing out her words, "You must be tired after saying so much. Here, have some tea."
But perhaps because she was distracted, her hand slipped, and the teacup rolled twice on the table, luckily without breaking.
But this crisp sound immediately drew the attention of everyone in the hall.
Huo Lin and Jiang Wenyuan both stopped talking and looked over.
"What's wrong?" Huo Lin asked, his gaze falling on Jiang Huan's face, which was flushed beyond belief, with a hint of doubt.
Why is her face so red? What did her mother-in-law say to her?
Jiang Wenyuan also looked at his daughter with concern.
Jiang Huan wished she could disappear on the spot, but she forced herself to remain calm and made up a random excuse.
"N-nothing, it's just that the tea was a little hot, which startled me."
She quickly grabbed a handkerchief and pretended to wipe up the spilled tea, her eyes darting away, not daring to look at Huo Lin at all.
Madam Jiang realized she might have been too blunt, smiled sheepishly, and didn't continue.
Looking at Jiang Huan's embarrassed and ashamed appearance, and then at his mother-in-law's slightly awkward smile, Huo Lin recalled the few words he had vaguely heard earlier and understood.
Oh, so it's my mother-in-law giving me some pointers... *cough cough*
No wonder her face turned so red.
[It seems my mother-in-law is really looking forward to having a grandson, hmm... I'll try my best!]
His inner self was smug, but his face remained calm, and he even considerately changed the subject.
"It's a rare occasion for my father-in-law and mother-in-law to visit the palace. Please have lunch before you leave."
at the same time.
Thousands of miles away, in a water town in Jiangnan, there is an elegant and simple old house.
In the study, an elderly man with white hair and beard, yet full of vigor, was staring intently at a document on the table bearing the official seal of the Ministry of Personnel.
He was none other than Jiang Huan's maternal grandfather, Xu Zhengqing, the former Crown Prince's tutor and a renowned Confucian scholar.
“Grandfather, this…” The three young men standing below him were all tall and had extraordinary bearing; they were Jiang Huan’s three cousins.
The eldest son, Xu Xiuyuan, is calm and reserved; the second son, Xu Zhiyuan, is spirited and vigorous; and the third son, Xu Muyuan, is gentle and refined.
At this moment, all three of them wore solemn and puzzled expressions.
Xu Zhengqing put down the documents and let out a long sigh, a sigh filled with the vicissitudes of life and the wisdom of someone who had seen through the ways of the world.
"The Ministry of Personnel has issued a document ordering the Jiangnan Circuit to immediately investigate the current situation of the three Xu brothers, Xiuyuan, Zhiyuan, and Muyuan. Once the situation is ascertained, they should be summoned to the capital. His Majesty will make the necessary arrangements..."
He slowly read the contents of the document, each word carrying immense weight.
"It seems that the person in the capital is determined to drag our Xu family back into this vortex."
He looked up at the window. The courtyard was deep and secluded, with lush flowers and trees, a scene of tranquility and peace. But this tranquility was likely to be broken soon.
“Grandfather, we…” Xu Xiuyuan frowned, “Our Xu family has lived in seclusion for many years, and has long since lost interest in court intrigues, so why…”
Xu Zhengqing waved his hand, interrupting him, his eyes deep and unfathomable.
"The tree may wish to be still, but the wind will not cease. When I returned to Jiangnan, although the Jiangnan salt tax case was partly the reason, I was more concerned with seeing through the corruption of the court in the late emperor's reign. I did not want to get involved, and even less did I want you brothers to become pawns in the factional struggle. But now..."
He picked up the document, the paper making a slight rustling sound in his hand.
"With the new emperor's ascension to the throne, beneath the seemingly calm court, undercurrents are surging. That brat Huo Ting is ambitious, and the Empress Dowager is no pushover either. The emperor's actions are likely intended to use us to stir up those deep waters."
He looked at his three grandsons, his gaze complex.
"The three of you are all talented in both literature and martial arts, but you have been hiding your talents in the countryside all these years, which is a disservice to you. This trip to the capital is both an opportunity and a danger. Remember, no matter what position you hold, your heart must be upright and your actions must be steady. The reputation of the Xu family does not depend on scheming and trickery, but on upholding integrity."
"Grandfather's teachings will be remembered by your grandsons!" the three brothers replied in unison, their expressions solemn.
Xu Zhengqing looked out the window again, his gaze seemingly piercing through the mountains and rivers, landing on the majestic palace.
"A storm is brewing; the weather in the capital is about to change."
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