Chapter 37 The Cousin of the Prime Minister's Mansion Requests to See You
Jiang Xue was a little surprised.
The second brother stayed in Beijing, and she thought that her father would definitely hand over one of the six ministries to him to take over.
I just didn't expect to take over two departments at once.
Taking over the Ministry of War was something Jiang Xue had expected. After all, Jiang Yu had been in the northern border for three years and was familiar with military affairs.
But the Ministry of Personnel...
Jiang Yu did not stay in the court for a long time. He was mostly under the protection of his eldest brother. When he was young, he was carefree and playful, and never seriously studied the affairs of state.
If he takes over the Ministry of Personnel but is not familiar with the official positions in the court, even if he is a prince, he may not be able to do many things.
Jiang Xue was a little confused, wondering if her father was being too hasty in making such an arrangement.
Or in other words, this appointment...was requested by the second prince himself?
Seeing her frown, Empress Lu consoled her, "I know you are worried about Yu'er. After all, he is not familiar with the situation in the court. I am afraid he will not be able to cope with the situation if he suddenly takes charge of two departments."
"Fortunately, your grandfather is still in the court," she stretched out her hand to smooth Jiang Xue's hair, and said, "If Yu'er is unable to do anything, there is always your grandfather to help."
Jiang Xue replied, "I am a woman, and I don't really understand these things. I just feel that with Second Prince's previous temper, I don't know how long he can persist in these matters."
"Yu'er has returned to the capital this time, and he has impressed everyone." Empress Lu said with a smile, "He has become much more sensible and calm. Now he should just take this as a training. He will embark on this path sooner or later."
Jiang Xue sighed secretly.
This is not the path that Jiang Yu was willing to take in the past.
She raised her eyebrows and smiled, "Mother, let's not talk about this anymore. Aunt Dong said that you asked the imperial kitchen to prepare my favorite dishes, so I would be disrespectful to refuse."
Queen Lu tapped her nose and said with a smile, "Okay, if you are willing, come back more often to accompany mother."
Jiang Xue said, "Then I will send someone back to the palace to inform him, so that the prince consort won't have to wait too long."
"Shu Pei has already instructed someone to pass on this matter. She wants to keep you in the palace for dinner today anyway, so you can rest assured." Queen Lu said.
"Aunt Dong is so nice," Jiang Xue said with a sweet smile, "Of course, the Queen Mother is even better."
When Queen Lu saw her smiling face, she felt her worries were relieved a lot.
Jiang Xue stood up and looked around, saying, "I have nothing to do this afternoon, why don't I accompany my mother to the Imperial Garden for a walk?"
Empress Lu nodded in approval and said, "Qiong Shuang will also come to the palace in a while. You two sisters haven't seen each other for a long time. It would be nice if you could go to the Imperial Garden to play together."
The accompanying palace maid understood what he meant and quietly retreated to pass on the ceremonial sedan chair.
Jiang Xue supported Empress Lu and asked, "Cousin Qiongshuang? Didn't you say you were going to the East China Sea to study two years ago? When did you come back?"
"What do you mean by study tour?" Lu Congfang scolded with a smile, "Your grandfather was afraid of losing face, so he made up a plausible excuse."
"If it's not studying abroad, then what did you go to do?" Jiang Xue asked.
"She said she was going to venture out into the world." Lu Congfang's face was full of disapproval. "At the end of the twelfth month of the year before last, your uncle went to look for her in the palace to thank her for the New Year gift, but he couldn't find her anywhere."
The mother and daughter crossed the threshold together. The ceremonial sedan chair was already waiting outside the hall. Fu Dong followed behind them. Jiang Xue helped Lu Congfang sit down, and turned around to sit on the sedan chair beside her, craning his neck to listen to her:
"After searching the entire prime minister's residence, we found that the girl took advantage of the night when no one was paying attention, packed up a little luggage, and took away the fastest horse in the mansion. She ran away and could not be found."
"If she hadn't had some conscience and left a letter, the Prime Minister would have thought she was kidnapped by thieves."
Although Queen Lu felt that this matter was too extreme and beyond the rules, she also truly loved her niece and could not hide her doting on her.
"How come I don't know about this?" Jiang Xue asked in surprise.
"It's not just you. Your mother only heard it from your aunt when she came to visit a few days ago. If this girl hadn't come back, I don't know how long your grandfather would have covered up for her."
The two talked and laughed all the way, and soon they arrived at the Imperial Garden.
Fu Dong reached out to help Jiang Xue get off the sedan chair, and Lu Congfang was also helped up by the palace maid, and the two of them walked slowly forward.
"Autumn is getting deeper," Jiang Xue reached out to catch the falling yellow leaves, "Remember, mother, to wear good clothes in the morning and evening." She instructed the palace maid beside Lu Congfang.
"Your Aunt Dong will explain these things," Lu Congfang said softly.
"I am in the palace, so I don't have to worry about anything. But you, after you get married and manage your own family, need to take care of many things, especially your own health. You need to take good care of yourself."
Jiang Xue said, "Don't worry, mother. I am young and naive, but I have Xiaochun and Fudong to take care of me. I have also hired a doctor to treat my condition recently."
Empress Lu asked, "Are you not feeling well? Did you ask for a doctor from the capital? Why don't you go back to the palace to ask for the imperial physician?"
Jiang Xue patted her hands, signaling her to be at ease, and said, "I am fine. I just got married a few days ago and was very busy. I finally had some time to rest, so I took some rest. There is no need to call the imperial physician. I will just eat some ordinary warm and nourishing food."
She thought about it and finally decided not to tell Queen Lu about He Zhilin's return to Beijing.
She didn't know how long He Zhilin planned to stay in Beijing this time. If his ambition was to be in the opposition and not in power, it would be better to hide this from her mother.
After all, given the Queen Mother's appreciation and trust in He Yuanzheng, if she knew that his grandson had returned, she might summon him back to the Imperial Hospital.
Empress Lu said, "I am relieved that you can find someone to take care of your body. After all, you are already married, so you should prepare for the birth of children in the future."
Giving birth to a child? Jiang Xue got goosebumps all over her body. With that bastard Gu Lintan? She had no such plan.
Empress Lu said to herself: "Since ancient times, it has been difficult for women to give birth. It is very important to build a good physical foundation. It is always beneficial to eat more nourishing food when you have nothing to do..."
Jiang Xue didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She was just worrying about how to end this topic when she suddenly heard a loud voice.
"Aunt! Aunt!"
Jiang Xue looked up and saw a fiery red figure running towards her from a distance.
The man was wearing a red riding suit, with black hair tied up high behind his head with a red silk ribbon. He was grinning, revealing a row of white teeth, with a brilliant smile on his face.
It was Jiang Xue’s cousin, Lu Xiang’s beloved granddaughter, Lu Qiongshuang.
Lu Qiongshuang ran over, knelt on one knee, clasped her fists and saluted Empress Lu: "Qiongshuang greets Her Majesty, I wish Her Majesty a long life, happiness and peace!"
After saying that, he blinked at Jiang Xue again.
Empress Lu was overjoyed and said hurriedly, "Get up quickly, get up quickly, and let your aunt take a good look at you."
A eunuch came running behind Lu Qiongshuang, panting, and ran to the three of them, knelt down with a plop and said:
"My dear cousin, I beg to see Her Majesty the Queen. I am late, and I deserve death!"
Jiang Xue burst out laughing and said, "It's not your fault. This guy runs like a rabbit or a flying horse. No one can catch up with him."
Empress Lu also said, "Get up. I forgive you for your innocence."
Lu Qiongshuang grinned and turned back to the eunuch, saying, "I'm sorry, little brother. I'm a bit slow on my feet. Please go down and find a place to rest."
The eunuch quickly stood up and left.
Queen Lu took Lu Qiongshuang's hand and looked at her carefully from head to toe and from toe to head.
"You've become thinner and taller, you naughty boy," said the queen. "Come back and ask your mother to nourish you. You've become too skinny to look good."
Just as Lu Qiongshuang was about to respond, Jiang Xue said slowly:
"Mending it is secondary. Let's go back and cover it up."
"It's as black as a shadow. Let's cover it up for a year or so and see if it can turn whiter."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
