Chapter 139: Concubine Li gets carried away
"well!"
The more the emperor read the booklet, the more excited he became. He raised his head and asked solemnly, "Second brother, are these greenhouse vegetables from this booklet?"
"Absolutely true."
Chu Cong nodded affirmatively and said, "Father, if we were in the affluent areas of Jiangnan, we could even grow crops three times a year. However, we haven't tried it yet."
"No matter whether we can plant three crops or not, as long as the grain output can be doubled, it will be enough." The emperor looked at the leeks, cucumbers and pea seedlings that were squeezed so hard that they could ooze water, as if he could see that he could harvest a lot of grain from the fields next year.
"Someone come."
The emperor issued a series of orders, dividing out half of the imperial farm's fields to test the farming methods in the booklet. At the same time, he asked people from the Ministry of Agriculture to come and specifically study this new farming method.
"Father, can someone copy this booklet?" Chu Cong looked at the emperor holding the booklet with no intention of returning it, and took the initiative to speak.
The emperor was reading with great interest. This good news that could feed the people must be studied carefully. Suddenly, after hearing Chu Cong's words, he looked at the booklet again. The elegant and graceful hairpin-shaped calligraphy was indeed written by a woman.
The emperor then remembered that this booklet belonged to Chu Cong's concubines. He took a look at it and ordered someone to copy it down before asking, "Second brother, your concubine has made such great contributions. What reward do you want?"
"Father, Shen said she doesn't want any reward."
Chu Cong recalled Shen Lingshu's answer when he asked the same question, and his brows softened a little. He said, "Shen said that if the crops are really successful, she wants to send more food to the people in Nancheng Manor who have been kind to her."
“Good job!”
The emperor praised her and said, "If she succeeds, I will reward her with the title of concubine."
"On behalf of the Shen family, I thank you, Father, for your grace."
After Chu Cong returned to the palace, he told Shen Lingshu the news. Shen Lingshu's eyes were filled with joy and gratitude: "Your Highness is so kind."
"Today, I stir-fried winter bamboo shoots with leeks and made winter bamboo shoot and cuttlefish soup. Your Highness, come and try it."
"The winter bamboo shoots are fresh now, and they are delicious."
Shen Lingshu brought Chu Cong to eat. The delicious soup, paired with fresh leeks, tasted good.
After dinner, An An and Bei Bei, who were full and satisfied, were also brought over. It was an interesting time for babies who were over six months old.
"Daddy."
"Mother."
Shen Lingshu was earnestly teaching the two children to speak. Chu Cong beside her laughed and said, "They are only half a year old, how could they even call people?"
"I will teach them more. Although they can't speak, they can remember it." Shen Lingshu taught patiently. When she looked at the two children, her eyes were full of maternal radiance.
The warm yellow candlelight flickered, and Chu Cong felt warm in his heart. Such a warm and beautiful picture was interrupted by the sound outside.
"Your Highness, please go and see my master. My master has a stomachache." Cui Yu's voice sounded at the door.
Chu Cong frowned, Shen Lingshu looked up and said, "Your Highness, go and see, Concubine Li is pregnant now."
"I'll come see you later." Chu Cong stood up, put on his cloak, and left.
Zhu Xin watched the prince leave. Seeing Cui Yu's smug and provocative look, she instantly became furious. She turned around and said, "Master, Concubine Li is really going too far now. She always sends people to the courtyard to snatch people away!"
"Including the last time I was scared by a cat, this is the second time."
"Your Highness is not a doctor, what's the point of asking him to go?"
Zhu Xin said angrily, "Are we really going to let Concubine Li be so arrogant?"
“Having confidence makes a difference.”
Shen Lingshu shook the rattle in her hand and watched the two sisters dancing, and couldn't help laughing. The person who used to be the most timid now and then snatched the prince from her courtyard.
"Huh, she said it's a son, so it's a son? Who knows, it could be a daughter too."
Zhu Xin murmured softly, fearing that Shen Lingshu would be unhappy when she heard it, so she comforted him, “Master, when you have your next child, it will definitely be a son.”
Shen Lingshu smiled and said, "Since Aunt Li wants to compete for favor, let her do it."
"Can……"
Zhu Xin looked at her with doubt and worry. Shen Lingshu raised her eyes and said, "Do you think the prince doesn't know?"
Fontainebleau Courtyard.
"Your Highness, my stomach feels uncomfortable. Was I scared a few days ago?" When Li Susu saw the prince coming, a hint of joy flashed in her eyes, and then she covered her stomach, looking very uncomfortable.
"Where's Doctor Lin?"
Chu Cong spoke up, looking at Li Susu's panicked look, and directly invited Doctor Lin over to comfort her, "How could it be possible when it's been almost a month?"
Soon, Doctor Lin came over, felt Li Susu's pulse, and said, "Don't worry, Aunt Li, the child is fine."
"Your Highness, I really felt uncomfortable in my stomach just now." Li Susu gently stroked her stomach, repeatedly expressing that her stomach was indeed uncomfortable.
"Don't worry too much, Aunt Li. The child is fine."
Doctor Lin tried to comfort her, but Li Susu continued to speak. She held the prince's hand and said, "Prince, maybe my son knows that his father is here and feels relieved. That's why he is fine now."
"Your Majesty."
Li Susu looked at Chu Cong pitifully. That night, Chu Cong stayed in Li Susu's room again.
A few days later, when Chu Cong had just arrived at Cheng Lanshu's room, Cui Yu came to ask for someone again, and Chu Cong invited Doctor Lin over again.
"Your Highness, Aunt Li..."
In the cold winter, he would go to the backyard every now and then. Doctor Lin lost his previous euphemism and said directly: "Your Highness, there is no problem with Concubine Li's pregnancy. It is impossible for her to have stomach discomfort."
"Doctor Lin, my stomach is clearly moving and I feel uncomfortable. You must be unable to find out."
Li Susu looked at Chu Cong pitifully and said, "Your Highness, will our son be okay?"
Doctor Lin lowered his eyes and said nothing. Based on his many years of experience in taking pulses, he knew that Li Susu was pregnant with a daughter.
"Madam Li, Doctor Lin is very experienced. When Ling Shu was pregnant, they were the ones who took care of her."
Chu Cong frowned and said, "Madam Hua, what do you think?"
"Your Highness, Concubine Li is probably ill and is getting anxious and distraught when she can't see you, Your Highness."
Nanny Hua lowered her eyes and answered. Ever since the pregnancy was confirmed, Li Susu boasted that she was pregnant with a son, but she did not take anyone seriously. Especially after she successfully snatched men away several times, Aunt Li would say that her stomach was uncomfortable every few days and she needed the prince to come and see her.
"Auntie Hua, my stomach just feels uncomfortable, I..."
Before Aunt Li finished speaking, Chu Cong's voice rang out: "Aunt Li, why don't I go and invite the imperial physician?"
"Your Majesty is so kind."
Aunt Li's eyes were filled with pride. She said, "I'm not feeling uncomfortable anymore, so there's no need to mobilize so many people."
"Qingwu, take the token and go invite the imperial physician." Chu Cong said without hesitation, his cold voice did not allow anyone to refuse at all. Aunt Li panicked. If the imperial physician knew that she was pretending to be sick, wouldn't it be the end of her?
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