Chapter 303 Entering the Palace by Imperial Decree
The Shen family was the most anxious about the Empress's childbirth.
Everyone in the capital knows that the child in the Empress's belly is Shen Yunshan's. If it were an ordinary noble family, it wouldn't matter, but the Shen family is the most powerful noble family in the capital.
General Shen commands the Weiyuan Army, and the entire Shen family holds official titles.
If the Empress gives birth to a prince...
Even if the people in the Duke of Dingguo's mansion don't have any ideas, what if their subordinates or distant relatives do?
Therefore, having a princess is the best outcome!
Madam Shen took a deep breath and then waved her hand.
"Rewards! Everyone in the manor will receive an extra month's salary! Also, have the steward open the storeroom, and I will personally select congratulatory gifts to send to the palace!"
As for Shan-ge'er... no matter when he comes back, I'll make sure he comes to see me!
The people in the manor immediately agreed.
...
After giving birth, Ye Yunshu slept most of the time, only waking up occasionally to eat some food.
Song Zhimian and Lian Qiao stayed here the whole time.
"Are you doing well in the North?" Song Zhimian asked, having finished her work.
Lianqiao smiled and nodded.
"It's great. I usually help out at the main camp, and everyone knows me. I'm very happy to be there."
Then I would go back to my Huimintang clinic every five days to treat the people in the city.
Although the northern region is much wealthier than before, it still can't compare to the capital.
Many people still cannot afford to see a doctor or get medicine.
Fortunately, you subsidized me quite a bit. My Huimintang clinic was able to continue operating thanks to you.
Oh, it's not just you guys who often send me money; General Shen and those young generals also frequently send money to Huimin Hall.
Local merchants and nobles would also send some over from time to time.
I've had someone keep track of everything, so the origin of every single penny can be traced.
After my master went there, he said that my Huimintang was much better than the old Huimintang belonging to the Bai family!
Seeing the light in Lian Qiao's eyes, Song Zhimian was genuinely happy for her.
Forsythia is completely different from before...
"I will have the Imperial Household Department allocate a sum of money to your Huimin Hall every year!" Suddenly, Ye Yunshu's voice rang in their ears.
Song Zhimian and Lian Qiao quickly placed a soft pillow behind Ye Yunshu's back.
Ye Yunshu stretched her neck and arms, looking a little impatient.
"When may I leave?"
"Your Majesty, you can get out of bed and move around tomorrow, but you must not leave this main hall."
"It's windy outside now, so it's best if you don't get windy. If you want to leave this hall... it will take at least a month," Lian Qiao said with a smile.
Ye Yunshu was discouraged.
She didn't like the feeling of lying in bed and decided she would never have children again...
"Your Majesty, the nobles from all the prefectures have sent their congratulatory gifts to the palace, and they have all been compiled. Here is the register! Please take a look at it in a couple of days!"
These are also congratulatory gifts sent by the imperial concubines.
Oh, these three gifts were sent by Xiao Ruanruan, Princess Yongxin, and Princess Shoukang, and were said to be specially for Princess Changqing.
"They've all been listed separately and stored in the warehouse." Song Zhimian placed a thick stack of gift lists on a tray for Ye Yunshu to glance at.
Ye Yunshu nodded.
"You can handle the tidying up! I trust you to do things well."
"Has anything important happened in the court recently?" Ye Yunshu asked.
"Nothing serious has happened! King Zhao has also sent congratulatory gifts from the foreign lands at breakneck speed."
"The other matters were handled by Prime Minister Lin and the other ministers, and everything proceeded as usual," Song Zhimian hurriedly said.
Ye Yunshu hummed in agreement.
"What have Mu Xiao and Lan Qian been up to lately?"
"The princess sent a congratulatory gift to the palace that day and came to visit you. You were resting at the time, so the princess went back. Now she stays at Chunbuwan every day!"
Princess Shoukang has been returning home every night before the palace gates are locked these past few days, as she has been busy with matters at the Charity Hall.
On the day you gave birth to the princess, Princess Shou Kang donated 30,000 taels of her personal savings to the charity, saying it was on behalf of Princess Chang Qing.
"Princess Shou Kang comes to see you and Princess Chang Qing every evening when you return," Song Zhimian whispered.
Ye Yunshu breathed a long sigh of relief.
Not bad, all the pampering I've given these guys has paid off; they've come in handy when it really matters.
"The villa in the suburbs of Beijing..." Ye Yunshu suddenly asked.
“His Highness Prince Qi has sent someone to deliver congratulatory gifts. He has been staying at his villa in the suburbs of the capital. Without His Majesty’s decree, he dares not enter the city,” Song Zhimian said with a smile.
Ye Yunshu's mind raced.
"Zhimian, go and inform the seventh prince to come to the palace tomorrow!" Ye Yunshu suddenly said.
Song Zhimian was stunned for a moment.
"Your Majesty... do you wish to summon Prince Qi?"
"Don't worry, I know the rules! He was summoned to the palace because he has something to discuss. You can just put a screen in the main hall to keep him away."
"He can hear everything I say from behind the screen!" Ye Yunshu laughed.
Song Zhimian had no choice but to agree.
...
When Song Zhimian arrived at the villa on the outskirts of Beijing, Xiao Huaijin was practicing a set of spear techniques.
The way they used their guns... well, Song Zhimin was completely mesmerized.
Sure enough, with such a flashy design, it's sure to knock down a few people...
"Your Highness Prince Qi..."
"Song Zhimin! You've finally deigned to come see me!" Xiao Huaijin tossed the spear in his hand to the guard beside him before striding towards Song Zhimin.
Song Zhimian looked at Xiao Huaijin's face in a daze.
She hasn't been away from the Southwest for very long... wait, it's been almost a year!
Xiao Huaijin's face seems to have remained unchanged; the intense southwest sun hasn't even tanned him!
Song Zhimian really wanted to ask Xiao Huaijin what method he used to protect himself from the sun...
"What? Does my face look alright? Am I qualified to be a concubine for Lady Song?" Xiao Huaijin asked deliberately.
Song Zhimian...
"His Majesty has decreed!" Song Zhimin put on a stern face.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Huaijin immediately tried to kneel down.
"His Majesty said there's no need to kneel, just stand and listen. It was an oral decree!" Song Zhimian quickly corrected.
Xiao Huaijin then stood up straight.
"His Majesty summons you to the palace tomorrow!" Song Zhimian only said this sentence.
Xiao Huaijin said "Oh," and then looked Song Zhimian up and down.
"Song Zhimian, you're starting to have the air of someone favored by the emperor! No wonder that female envoy from the Kachin tribe kept praising you when she went back!"
Oh, do you like the gem that Dana gave you?
I told her, "You like rubies, the bigger the better!"
Song Zhimian...
"Thank you for thinking of me, Your Highness! If there's nothing else, I'll head back now!" Song Zhimian said, turning to leave.
Xiao Huaijin quickly took two steps to stop Song Zhimian.
"I haven't seen you for a year! What's wrong with talking to you?"
Come, I've prepared fine wine and delicacies over there, let's have a drink together.
"Don't worry, your elder sister has someone to take care of her. You'll be fine even if you leave for a short while!" Xiao Huaijin said, gently tugging at Song Zhimin's sleeve.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
