Chapter 702: How can you have shame if you want a wife?
The Grand Empress Dowager was ill after all. After Tang Ning and Xiao Yan accompanied her to have a meal and take medicine, Madam Qin was still giving her acupuncture to stimulate the effect of the medicine when the Grand Empress Dowager fell into sleep again in a daze.
Xiao Yan and Tang Ning stood by for a while, and only went out with Madam Qin after she finished her needles.
"The Grand Empress Dowager hasn't been this energetic in a long time." Madam Qin said as she packed up the needle bag. "The last few times she woke up, she fell asleep again after a short while, and her time awake was short. This time, she managed to stay awake for over an hour. She must be worried about Your Majesty."
Xiao Yan's face did not show any joy when he heard this, because he knew very well that no matter how energetic his great-grandmother was now, it still could not change the fact that her life was coming to an end.
"Is there anything we need here?" Xiao Yan asked.
Madam Qin shook her head. "We have everything we need. The Imperial Medical Bureau already has a complete range of medicinal materials. Patriarch Gu also recently sent us a batch of very old nourishing medicines. The Empress Dowager is weak, and although she needs medicine to prolong her life, she can't take too much."
Otherwise, she will not be able to receive nourishment and will die prematurely.
Madam Qin glanced at Xiao Yan. "I'll be guarding the Empress Dowager. But Your Majesty, the heat and poison haven't completely dissipated, and you didn't take good care of yourself after your previous injury. Has Your Majesty been taking the medicine properly lately? Have you stopped the medicinal diet?"
Xiao Yan whispered, "I'm too busy."
"I think you just don't take it seriously! You don't have to cook a meal yourself, but you're so busy that you don't even have time to drink a bowl of medicine soup."
Madam Qin hated disobedient patients the most. Furthermore, Xiao Yan's situation was unique. Did she think it was that easy to just shave his bones and replace his skin? That would come at a huge price. While it wouldn't kill him, it would leave him with some hidden dangers. If the herbal remedy ran dry, he would be the one suffering.
Madam Qin frowned, grabbed Xiao Yan's wrist, and felt his pulse. After a moment, she said, "Sure enough, the heat and poison are coming back, and your Qi and blood are also depleted. I'll prescribe you a prescription and have someone boil it for you to drink. Don't take advantage of your youth and squander it recklessly without taking care of your body."
After a pause, he let go of her hand: "Be careful that if your life is gone one day, Tang Ning will remarry."
Xiao Yan's face darkened.
Tang Ning was beside him, not knowing whether to laugh or cry: "Sister Qin, give me the recipe, I'll watch my brother drink it."
…
Tang Ning gave Lady Qin's prescription to Yue Jian and asked Yue Jian to get the medicine herself, while she sent Xiao Yan out of the Empress Dowager's palace.
As December approached, the weather was already bitterly cold. Even after the heavy snow had stopped, a crescent moon hung in the sky, casting a silvery-white reflection on the snow.
Tang Ning held Xiao Yan's hand and stood in front of the vermilion door. Suddenly, he said, "Brother, let's get married."
Seeing Xiao Yan looking down at her, Tang Ning raised her head slightly:
"Although the war in the south has not yet ended, the war on Prince Pingshan's side is nearing its end. With General Qi and Marquis Wenxin and others, the rebellion of the vassal kings will not cause a major chaos. The court has now stabilized, and the people of the aristocratic families dare not cause any major trouble. We can find a day to bring my father and mother back."
"I know my brother is busy. We don't need to make a big wedding, and we don't need to bother the Ministry of Rites. We can just let Grandma officiate the wedding. Grandma is in good spirits now, so she should be very happy..."
Tang Ning stumbled and suddenly fell into Xiao Yan's arms.
When he held her tightly in his long arms, Tang Ning looked up helplessly: "Brother?"
"Are you stupid?"
Xiao Yan leaned on her shoulder, his voice slightly hoarse, "Your husband is the emperor, the Son of Heaven of Wei. Everyone in the capital is watching. If the wedding is too sloppy, how will others look at you? How will you stand in front of those noble ladies and royal relatives in the future?"
"Besides, it's not the girl's turn to initiate marriage. You should be standing there, all proud and waiting for me to propose. You've proudly refused twice, and now you're waiting for me to come back three times to take you home."
The man's arms were broad, and as he held her in his arms, her small body tiptoed.
Tang Ning listened to the words and put her arm around his waist, leaning in front of him with a squinting look: "Won't people laugh at you, the emperor, for having no face?"
"How can I have dignity if I want a wife?"
What Xiao Yan said was a matter of course. What is face?
He hugged her tighter and said, "I've already had the Imperial Observatory look up the date for bringing back my father and his remains. The Ministry of Rites is also planning the coronation ceremony and the conferment of the empress. Our wedding naturally can't just be a hasty one."
"Although Grandma is not in good health, I cannot let you down during the wedding."
As Xiao Yan spoke, he gently pinched the little girl's fair neck, as carefully as if he were stroking a cat.
"Our little Haitang is the most delicate girl in the capital, and she will be the most noble woman in the world in the future."
…
It was too cold outside, so Xiao Yan refused to let Tang Ning see him off. He reached out and wrapped Tang Ning tightly with his cloak. Only then did Xiao Yan leave in the night with Jinyun and a lantern in hand.
Hua Wu came forward only after the figure walked away.
"Girl, your face is so red."
Tang Ning subconsciously covered his face with his hands. Seeing Hua Wu's mischievous expression, he immediately scolded her, "How dare you make fun of me?"
"How dare I? I'm just envious. Your Majesty is so kind to me."
Hua Wu's eyes sparkled. She was really happy that His Majesty valued the girl. His Majesty was sincere in not wanting her to suffer even the slightest grievance even if the girl asked for it herself. This made Hua Wu, who had been living in the palace without any name or status since Xiao Yan ascended the throne, and even occasionally heard palace servants whispering about the girl, feel relieved.
She knew how much the girl cared about His Majesty, and she also knew that the two of them had a deep friendship. Back then in Jiyun Lane, "Lord Xiao" would do anything for the girl, but now that man had become His Majesty, the emperor above everyone else.
Hua Wu always felt uneasy.
She was afraid that His Majesty would let the girl down, and even more afraid that the high and mighty throne would cause His Majesty to change his mind.
Tang Ning saw the little girl's fleeting worry and reached out to pinch her cheek: "He treats me well, so I treat him well in return. If one day he treats me badly, I will naturally not treat him well anymore."
Hua Wu's eyes widened in shock: "Girl..."
Tang Ning touched her face: "I know what you are worried about, but Hua Wu, I am not the girl from the Song family who only hoped for the mercy of her beloved and could only rely on love to live."
"I love my brother and admire him. I'm willing to do everything I can for him, but the premise of all this is that he remains the one who is worthy of my efforts. If one day he is no longer, then I will not look back."
Xiao Yan once taught her not to live by relying on anyone, and transformed her from a dodder that knew nothing into what she is today. Naturally, he knew what she wanted better than anyone else.
Hua Wu opened her mouth and looked at Tang Ning, whose cheeks were still flushed but whose eyes were exceptionally clear.
But how could there be only one person in the harem?
…
"Your Majesty, after the news of the Ministry of Rites preparing for the coronation ceremony and the conferment of the empress spread, many people in the court were uneasy and wanted to send the girl from the palace into the palace." Jinyun whispered, "Logically, after Your Majesty ascends the throne, the harem should have four concubines and eight concubines..."
"Whose reason is this?" Xiao Yan didn't stop.
Jinyun said: "This is the ancestral rule."
Xiao Yan said coldly: "Then let's start from me. All my descendants will call me ancestor. What I am talking about is the ancestral system."
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