"What's up?"
The Crown Prince looked at Song Xibai with surprise, noticing an unprecedented seriousness on her face.
"Beware of relatives of the mother-in-law!"
The prince was taken aback, a glint of light flashing quickly in his eyes.
Song Xibai pretended not to see and continued, "There are so many talented and ambitious people in the court. If Your Highness wants to use people, you can choose from all the talents in the country. But once they are involved with the harem, it is best not to give them important positions. For example, my father has excellent medical skills and is now quite trusted in the Imperial Hospital. But as Your Highness has seen, my father is naturally on your side because of me, so he is doing things behind the back of the fake emperor."
"If Your Highness were to ascend the throne in the future, would you feel comfortable using such a person?"
The crown prince felt a chill run down his spine, then laughed.
"Qingqing, what nonsense are you talking about? Of course I trust your father."
Song Xibai shook his head. It sounds nice now, but who knows if any problems might arise later and cause a rift between the two of them?
Emperor Wu of Han favored Wei Zifu for many years, and the Wei family rose to become powerful figures in the court because of this. However, they still died in the end due to the witchcraft scandal.
Right now, the Crown Prince is just a Crown Prince, and his thinking is still somewhat naive. But who knows what will happen in the future?
"I've already thought it over. After Your Highness ascends the throne, just give my father a sinecure so he can enjoy his retirement. The same goes for my two older brothers."
Song Xibai spoke with heartfelt sincerity.
The crown prince looked at her for a long time with a complicated expression, and suddenly, he hugged her tightly.
"Qingqing..."
His sigh lingered on Song Xibai's neck and shoulders, carrying with it a sense of emotion and satisfaction.
After a long while, the crown prince returned in high spirits.
Dingxiang walked in carrying a bowl of silver thread noodles.
"You two have been chatting for quite a while now. I thought His Highness was going to stay overnight!"
Song Xibai leaned back.
"There are too many things to deal with! Later, could you please send a letter to my older brother and have him pass it on to Mr. Jin?"
Dingxiang walked to the bedside and put down the bowl: "Why didn't you deliver it yourself? Didn't you just send a message before? Why is it so troublesome now?"
Song Xibai sighed.
"This will have to be the case from now on, especially after we enter the palace. It's best to keep our distance from the people of the previous dynasty."
Dingxiang shrugged: "Anyway, it has nothing to do with me. I've thought about it. Once everything is over and the two babies are better, I'll go traveling."
"travel?"
Song Xibai was somewhat surprised.
She hadn't intended for Dingxiang to stay by her side forever; however, she had previously thought that Dingxiang would inherit the family clinic!
“Yes! When I was with Physician Sun, I heard him talk a lot about things outside. The capital is so small, but the world is so big, and there are so many kinds of difficult and complicated diseases. If I only stay in the capital, how can my medical skills improve? I want to travel all over the world and hone my medical skills!”
Dingxiang's eyes shone with a dazzling light that surprised even Song Xibai.
"What you said sounds appealing," Song Xibai couldn't help but smile. "Unfortunately, I can't go."
"It's alright, I'll write to you often then." Dingxiang waved her hand. "Hurry up and eat your noodles! It's soup made with old hen, the oil has been skimmed off, and I've also blanched a couple of small green vegetables, your favorite."
Song Xibai picked up the bowl, but found the food tasteless.
To travel far and wide and hone one's medical skills?
That was once my dream too...
She was somewhat absent-minded, and only ate two bites of the bowl of noodles before putting it down.
The news of Consort Shu's unexpected death spread early the next morning. The mourning hall was set up and the coffin prepared overnight.
During the court assembly, the ministers heard the emperor announce the death of Consort Shu with a sorrowful expression.
Although many people had received the news in advance, they still pretended to be hearing it for the first time, showing grief and repeatedly saying "please accept my condolences."
But when the emperor tentatively mentioned establishing a new crown prince, these court officials immediately dropped their pretense and jumped out to oppose it.
The reasons are so compelling that there's no way to refute them.
The fake emperor looked at the civil and military officials in the hall with a gloomy expression, and for the first time felt a sense of dejection.
He had been fighting these people for over a decade, yet he could never do as he pleased. His desire to depose the crown prince had always been met with opposition, and now his attempt to appoint a new crown prince was also met with their opposition.
He suddenly recalled the feeling he had when he first stood on this golden throne, as if he held the world in his hands.
That feeling of excitement is still unforgettable.
But he forgot that he was able to sit in this position not because of his own ability, but simply because of his face, which resembled that of the emperor.
The fake emperor's emotions fluctuated, and the mocking look in the empress's eyes before her death reappeared before his eyes.
His eyes instantly turned extremely sinister.
After that, the focus of discussion in the court shifted to Consort Shu's funeral.
The fake emperor had no interest in listening and handed the matter over to the Ministry of Rites and Prince Hui before leaving the court.
Consort Shu's funeral was held in a very grand manner.
But throughout the whole process, the only one who was truly heartbroken was probably the Eighth Prince.
After three days of mourning, Consort Shu was placed in the emperor's mausoleum.
But no one knew that Consort Shu had long been replaced, and the person lying in the coffin was just an unfortunate palace maid who had perished in the fire.
Halfway through Song Xibai's postpartum confinement period, Dingxiang was invited by Mr. Jin to help her.
After working for a day and a night, Dingxiang finally returned covered in frost.
It turns out that Consort Shu was burned that day, but to maintain authenticity, she hadn't received any medication. Although the weather had been cool these past few days, her wounds were still deteriorating very rapidly.
After Dingxiang finished explaining the reason, she picked up the teapot on the table and poured the tea directly into her mouth.
"Oh dear, you didn't see it, the flesh on her shoulder has started to rot and stink. I had to cut away the rotten flesh. Thank goodness for that anesthetic made from datura flowers, otherwise I wouldn't know what to do."
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
