The dinner was held in the Cining Palace. Gu Yinwei sat in the main seat, with the two concubines Xianzhen sitting on her left and right. Zhu Dunyi's position was below the concubine. The two butterflies of the Zhou family sat at the same table. They had grown a lot taller and their words and deeds had changed a lot compared to before.
They used to be two unpolished jades, but now they are graceful, confident and calm.
Gu Yinwei prepared two gifts for the Zhou sisters. In the gift box were two pieces of fine Hui ink. The Zhou sisters could use the ink for reading and writing, so the gifts were quite standard.
Gu Yingxia gave two double-sided embroidered fans to the Zhou sisters, and Gu Mengjun gave two sets of dresses.
During the dinner, Zhu Dunyi asked the Zhou sisters what their wishes were. Zhou Yudie did not express her opinion, but Zhou Mengdie loudly stated her wish.
“Equal pay for equal work.”
Zhu Dunyi seemed unsure and asked again, "What?"
"My wish is equal pay for equal work. The female students who graduated from Sanfei College clearly do better than others, but many shop owners treat them differently and refuse to pay them the same wages."
Zhu Dunyi suddenly became interested and raised his hand to let Zhou Yudie continue.
Zhou Mengdie's words were earth-shattering. The people of Xuanhua State were open-minded, and there had been precedents of women doing business and working since ancient times, but equal pay for equal work was obviously a bit too advanced.
The concept of equal pay for equal work proposed by Zhou Yudie will completely change the situation of male dominance and female inferiority.
Zhou Dunyi was in a dilemma and hesitated.
"My Royal Highness asked me what my wish is. My wish is equal pay for equal work. All the people in the world are my Royal Highness's subjects. As the saying goes, if a country is rich and its people are strong, and everyone is self-reliant and self-reliant, then the Xuanhua Kingdom will surely stand firm."
"Your idea is very good. I need to think about it again."
Gu Yingxia was not afraid of the big event: "Why don't we pick some people from different trades to compete. If the girls win, the emperor will agree."
"Mengdie, do you dare to participate in the competition?"
"I dare. I am the emperor's sister. I must be the first to dare."
Zhou Yudie pulled Zhou Mengdie's sleeve. Her sister was so bold. Didn't she realize that her brother was angry?
If the emperor is angry, millions of people will die. If the emperor's brother is unhappy, his life will be in danger.
Zhou Mengdie seemed very happy. She asked her sister to try the jade shrimp dumplings, and then served her fruit juice.
The food at the banquet was delicious, everyone drank heartily, and everyone seemed very happy.
Gu Yingxia was holding a wine jug, looking like a drunk cat. She refused to leave the table even after the banquet was over.
Gu Yinwei chatted with her while Gu Yingxia slumped in the chair, reeking of alcohol but her eyes were still sparkling.
"Feelings, feelings."
"Students coming out of the academy I run, tsk tsk, everything is equal, equal pay for equal work."
"Look, what a profound awakening, what a noble pursuit."
Gu Yingxia seemed very pleased and lay lazily.
Ah Qing helped her wash and dress, and Gu Yingxia continued to mutter to herself until she was about to go to bed.
"My life has been a little bit good, and a lot worse. But running the academy is what I'm most proud of."
?I talked nonsense in a daze for most of the night and only fell asleep in the second half of the night.
The Cining Palace had just quieted down when the Liangxiao Palace became noisy again. It was said that Concubine Xi had given birth prematurely, and people from various palaces rushed to visit her.
Gu Yinwei and Gu Mengjun were dressed neatly, and Gu Yingxia also struggled to get up.
"You should take a good rest. The Queen Mother and I will take care of everything. This is not Xi Fei's first child, and the midwife and imperial physician have been prepared long ago. I think it will be nothing serious."
Gu Yingxia did not force herself. She had really drunk too much and had a severe headache at the moment. Even if she went to Liangxiao Palace, she was afraid that she would not be able to help.
Zhu Dunyi arrived early, followed by Concubine Chen. Behind Concubine Chen came the eldest prince, who had a serious expression and seemed reluctant to come to Liangxiao Palace.
The delivery room was like the King of Hell's Palace. People who came to visit were more nervous when entering the main hall than when entering the mourning hall.
Gu Yinwei sat down first, and Zhu Dunyi paced back and forth anxiously. No one dared to sit down except the Empress Dowager and Concubine Zhen until the Emperor took his seat.
Imperial Physician Cao came to report on Concubine Shu's condition. The more Zhu Dunyi listened, the more solemn his expression became.
"My dear Concubine, your mother is too weak. I'm afraid... I'm afraid. I dare to ask the emperor for his advice."
"You are the imperial physicians. If you don't take good care of Concubine Xi during her childbirth, I will make a decision for you. I have no idea. Anyway, as long as Concubine Xi and her child are safe, everyone in the Imperial Physician's Office will be rewarded. Otherwise, you will not be able to afford the consequences."
Zhu Dunyi was anxious and started talking nonsense again.
If you care too much, you will be confused. Once your mind is confused, you will not be able to do things in an orderly manner.
Gu Yinwei stood up and said, "Xifei has always been in good health. There is no need to ask the emperor for advice. Imperial Physician Cao's medical skills are obvious to all. With the help of the other imperial physicians in the Imperial Medical Bureau, Xifei and her child will be safe and sound."
"Empress Dowager Zhen, please stay with the Emperor and talk to him. I'm going to go see Concubine Xi."
Before entering the delivery room, Gu Yinwei deliberately warmed her hands with a teacup, and then took out a rune and stuck it on the palm of her hand.
As soon as she entered, she held Concubine Xi's hand tightly. Concubine Xi was surrounded by illness, and a black mist gathered between her brows.
"Xi Fei, Xi Fei."
Concubine Xi's consciousness was gradually awakened by Gu Yinwei. She felt a slight warmth coming from her palm. The power flowed from her palm to her limbs and bones. She felt that her whole body was filled with endless power.
Two hours later, the second prince was born safely, and the imperial doctors waiting outside the delivery room felt relieved.
After the second prince was born, Zhu Dunyi and Concubine Xi focused all their attention on the second prince, and the eldest prince seemed even more destitute.
The palace maids and eunuchs in Liangxiao Palace, as well as everyone in the Imperial Medical Bureau, received rewards and were all smiling happily.
Only the eldest prince was frowning. He was not liked by his biological mother to begin with, and now that his mother had a new child, she would probably dislike him even less.
If he cannot get the love of his mother and father, then he must get the position of crown prince. When he becomes the most honorable person in the world, everyone will love him.
The eldest prince walked on his own, with no one following him. When he was tired, he found a pavilion to rest. There were several autumn chrysanthemums planted around the pavilion. They had not yet bloomed, and the branches were full of buds.
He reached out and touched the flower branch. When he squatted down, he observed a group of ants busy moving under the branch.
A pretty little palace maid ran over to stop him, "Who in the palace are you from? How dare you touch the golden chrysanthemums planted by Nanny Li? To tell you the truth, the golden chrysanthemums are planted for the eldest prince. If they are damaged, can you afford to pay for it?"
Nanny Li planted chrysanthemums for me. It's strange. Nanny Pan told me last time that Nanny Li and her son had gone out of the palace to enjoy themselves. Could it be that Nanny Li is still in the harem?
"Get out of the way quickly and don't touch the eldest prince's flowers."
"Who are you."
"I'm Nanny Li's apprentice. From the southwest gate to the north gate, all the flowers and plants nearby are under my care. So, are you scared?"
The eldest prince didn't want to explain his identity, nor did he want to embarrass the young palace maid beside him, so he turned and left.
Unexpectedly, the little palace maid caught up with him and said, "Hey, don't go. Wait for me here tomorrow at 1 p.m. and I'll take you to see the flowers."
After saying that, he walked away shaking his head, "Don't forget it tomorrow."
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