Chapter 239 I have something to say to the Queen
Zang Xiu was hesitant to respond. After a long pause, she spoke again to offer comfort, "Your Majesty is in the prime of life. Why say such discouraging words? Back then, the late Emperor was conquering the Nanxun Kingdom and was besieged by enemy soldiers on the banks of the Kushui River. Despite being four months pregnant, Your Majesty personally led the guards into the encirclement and rescued the late Emperor. This allowed the late Emperor to return to the camp and command the armies, leading to a resounding victory. Everyone in the court and the public praised Your Majesty's heroic spirit, saying she was no less than a man. That time wasn't all that long ago, and Your Majesty was still very strong."
Zang Xiu's words reminded Empress Dowager Jiang of the years of war and battle.
Her eyes were vague, and the scene of fluttering flags and silver spears piercing the sun seemed to appear before her eyes again.
"...If I hadn't been so full of energy back then, Xiaochun... Xiaochun wouldn't have passed away before she was even a year old..."
The Queen Mother's voice was low and hoarse, filled with endless longing and sadness.
Nowadays, most people have forgotten that there was a Princess Ding'an in the Great Zhou Dynasty.
In the past, in her youthful fervor, she had rescued the late emperor from danger. Despite being pregnant, she personally led the troops to the rescue. While this earned her universal acclaim, it also harmed her health. At that time, Ning Zhonghuai had warned her that if the fetus's qi was damaged, even if she tried her best to preserve it, the child would inevitably suffer from congenital deficiencies.
Ning Zhonghuai truly deserves the title of King of Medicine. Even though she used up all kinds of rare medicinal herbs and expensive supplements during her pregnancy, she still gave birth to a baby girl after just over eight months of pregnancy.
The late emperor, grateful for the Empress Dowager's contribution to her rescue and pregnancy, and considering that the birth of his daughter would mark the day of peace for the empire, bestowed upon her the title of Princess Ding'an and a fief of 2,000 shillings. This was an unparalleled honor, but what meaning did it hold for an ignorant child?
Princess Ding'an was born prematurely with a congenital defect, leaving her frail and often ill from birth. The late Emperor and Empress Dowager sought out renowned physicians, but even they could not remedy the little princess's congenital deficiency. Finally, on her first birthday, Princess Ding'an passed away.
"I still remember the day Xiaochun left. It was snowing heavily, and the snowflakes hit my face one by one, but I didn't feel cold at all. I thought that God was worried that Xiaochun would feel cold on the road, so Tete sent such a thick quilt, so she wouldn't be cold..."
"Xiaochun...my Xiaochun..."
Empress Dowager Jiang choked with sobs, tears flickering in her eyes.
Over the years, when talking about her daughter, she never called her Princess Ding'an.
Time flies, the years pass by, the stars shift, and how many people in the world still remember that there was a Princess Ding'an in the Great Zhou Dynasty? Even the historians only mentioned her in a few words.
Only she was left, worried about her Xiaochun.
Seeing the Queen Mother so sad, Zang Xiu couldn't help but whispered, "Your Majesty, please accept my condolences. Her Royal Highness is blessed with great fortune. Even if she goes there, she will surely be ranked among the immortals, like a fairy from the Yaochi Lake."
"It's all empty..."
Empress Dowager Jiang wiped her eyes, her expression calm, and she chuckled, "What about the emperor's favor, the royal family's grace? None of it can be relied upon." As she spoke, she glanced at Zang Xiu, paused slightly, and then said, "This time, Yan girl, I will ensure her safety."
The words were spoken in a deep voice, revealing a sense of unquestionableness.
Zang Xiu bowed her head and said, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. The three imperial doctors report daily that the Empress' pregnancy is stable and her body is healthy. I have arranged for reliable people to watch over her three meals a day and all her expenses."
"It must be absolutely foolproof." Empress Dowager Jiang nodded slightly, raised her eyebrows and said coldly, "Whoever dares to set his sights on my grandson will be killed by me."
Zang Xiu, who knew the Empress Dowager's temper well, quickly responded. She then looked at her expression and tentatively asked, "I would like to ask the Empress Dowager a question."
Empress Dowager Jiang smiled slightly. "You've been with me for so many years, and you still have these concerns? Just speak frankly."
Zang Xiu hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Why... does Your Majesty value the current Empress so much?" Before she could finish her words, she quickly added, "I'm guessing that while the Empress is of noble birth and stunningly beautiful, and her father and brother are pillars of the court, the late Empress was also dignified and virtuous, a model mother, and of noble descent. Therefore, the Empress Dowager is particularly fond of Empress Meng."
Empress Dowager Jiang lowered her eyes slightly, revealing a hint of kindness. "That's what I wanted to ask. I've said before that I've seen countless faces in my life, all kinds of beauties, all kinds of gorgeous women, and I've had hundreds of thoughts about them. Only this girl is sincere to Hao'er."
After hearing what the Queen Mother said, Zang Xiu remained silent. Not to mention the heavenly family, even in the human world, how much sincerity can there be?
Empress Dowager Jiang looked out the window again. Princess He'an and the little girl from the Liu family had already left, leaving only the bamboo sword they had been playing with thrown on the ground.
Through the gauze window, you can only see the deep courtyard.
She smiled slightly and sighed, "This child has a bit of my demeanor back then."
She indulged her little granddaughter in learning horse riding and archery, probably because she was reminded of her prime years when she was a master of the battlefield.
After chatting for a while, Empress Dowager Jiang changed the subject and asked lightly, "Is there any movement over there recently?"
Zang Xiu shook her head. "Ever since Lin Yanrong disappeared, the Concubine Dowager has been staying at home. Two days ago, she even reported her illness to the Imperial Hospital and summoned the Imperial Physician to diagnose her."
Empress Dowager Jiang raised her eyes and looked at Zang Xiu, "Are you really sick?"
Zang Xiu replied, "Looking at the medical records from the Imperial Hospital, the Concubine Dowager suffered from palpitations and fright, and the Imperial Physician prescribed a decoction to calm her nerves."
Empress Dowager Jiang sneered, "After doing so many bad things, it's not surprising that she got frightened and sick. Later, go to the storehouse and pick out some supplements. Come and take a look."
Zang Xiu agreed and asked, "Your Majesty, are you still not going to take action?"
Empress Dowager Jiang shook her head. "The time is not yet ripe. Don't alert the enemy."
As she walked out of Shoukang Palace, the warm sun shone on her body again, and Bai Yuxin suddenly realized that she was still alive.
The pressure from the Empress Dowager was so great that it almost made her breathless.
Having accompanied the late emperor for half his life, she is actually the queen of this world.
In front of such a person, Bai Yuxin felt that she was as small as an ant.
It seemed as if all the kindness of Empress Dowager Jiang was given only to Sister Yan...
The bracelet weighed heavily on Jianan's slender wrist, reminding her of the Empress Dowager's instructions.
The fate of the women in the harem is never in their own hands.
From the first day she stepped into this red-walled city, she knew in her heart what she would face.
But even with the intimidation from Empress Dowager Jiang, she was still reluctant, not only because she didn't want to hurt Sister Yan, but also for her own sake.
How can a person's will be taken away by power? !
Bai Yuxin bit her lower lip, and fine beads of sweat appeared on the tip of her small nose. She took off the Jianan bracelet and handed it to Yuxiu, the palace maid who was accompanying her.
Yuxiu hurriedly took it in her hands and said doubtfully, "Master, this is a reward from the Empress Dowager..."
Bai Yuxin shook her head, her face pale but firm as she said, "Go back and keep it carefully. Don't let me see it for now."
Yuxiu didn't dare to say anything, but just carefully put the bracelet into her arms, as if she was holding someone's life.
There was complete silence in Changchun Palace.
The emperor and the empress stared at each other, neither saying a word.
All the attendants felt insecure, fearing that the two most honorable masters in the world would become furious and that they would be retaliated against.
This couple is probably the only one in the world whose quarrel brings disaster to the common people.
Rong An, the chief eunuch of the imperial palace, chanted in his heart: "Amitabha, gods and ancestors, it hasn't even been two or three days since I recovered, and now there's trouble again... Dad, why did you send me to the palace to be a eunuch? You should have sent me to the temple to become a monk. Now I'm the abbot, look how fluent I am in chanting the Buddha's name. It's just that a shaved head makes it easy to catch a cold, but then again, shaving your head is better than beheading it...
Lu Haozhi stared into his wife's eyes, which were as clear as the autumn water of the Chu River, without the slightest dodging or retreat.
A trace of guilt crept onto his handsome face. Lu Haozhi coughed lightly and said, "You all should leave. I have something to say to the Queen."
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