"So Fourth Sister-in-law is pregnant! Congratulations, Fourth Brother! You just welcomed your new wife into the manor, and now you're expecting a son. No one is as fortunate as you, Fourth Brother. I'm so envious!" Zhao Shuyi smiled adorably and innocently, as if she were genuinely envious.
However, Zhao Bi found these words particularly grating. Marriage is a union of two families, serving the ancestral temple above and continuing the lineage below. Therefore, it is highly valued by everyone from the emperor to the common people.
Especially for prominent families, every detail must be meticulous and without error. In a family like the Sun family, the marriage of the eldest daughter of the main branch was completed in just over a month, with the three letters and six rites being completed.
The idea of a prince marrying a noblewoman might seem incredibly romantic and appealing to girls from ordinary families, but the limited preparation time makes it extremely shameful for aristocratic families to openly discuss such a matter.
Others might maliciously speculate that she had premarital relations, or that she was impure, etc.
"Little sister Ah Jun is shameless. She's already thinking about getting married just because she's on a high stool." He lowered his eyes and said teasingly, with great affection. If one didn't know the situation, they would definitely think that the brother and sister were extremely close.
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager scolded Zhao Bi, "Fourth Prince, be careful with your words. If others say anything bad about A-Jun, as her elder brother, you should defend her. How could you speak of A-Jun like that?" It was unacceptable to say that her grandson was shameless.
Zhao Bi pretended to feel sorry for Zhao Shu as the Empress Dowager did, and quickly stood up, bowed and apologized, "Yes, yes, Grandmother is right. I was just teasing A-Jun. With A-Jun being filial to you, I only feel gratitude and love for her. If anyone bullies A-Jun, as her elder brother, I will naturally stand up for my sister."
His attitude was sincere, and his words were so earnest that they seemed quite convincing. The Empress Dowager nodded in satisfaction after listening, "This is how it should be between siblings." However, the scrutiny in her eyes made Zhao Bi's heart pound like a drum. He was also indignant, thinking that his grandmother was too biased towards him, since they were both his children and grandchildren!
"I will follow the teachings of my grandmother." No matter how unwilling or resentful he was, he could not gain the Empress Dowager's favor. He had stopped expecting her to dote on him when he was very young. Fortunately, the Empress Dowager treated the other princes equally, which made him feel somewhat more at ease.
"Well, since they've come to welcome the Imperial Concubine, let's go and announce the decree first. I'm tired." The Empress Dowager felt a tightness in her chest, her eyelids twitching, and she had a feeling that something bad was about to happen.
Zhao Bi didn't say much, and respectfully took his leave. Before leaving, he didn't forget to say to Zhao Shu, "Sister Ajun, please remember to ask about Sixth Sister for me."
“Fourth Prince and Fourth Sister-in-law are a loving couple, and Fourth Sister-in-law values sisterly affection. It’s a small matter. Ah Jun will naturally inquire on behalf of Fourth Prince, and will not fail Fourth Sister-in-law’s sisterly affection for Ah Yun.” Zhao Shu said, already thinking of a countermeasure. Her previous plans were probably no longer usable. Zhao Bi and Consort Hao had multiple protective shields that she had never seen before. How was she supposed to fight this battle? For the first time since her rebirth, she felt somewhat strained, but she was not without the power to fight back.
After Zhao Bi left, the Empress Dowager patted her hand and asked, "Did you see your teacher, A-Jun?"
“I saw her. The teacher said that in three to five months she will take Ah Jun to visit friends. Grandmother, can Ah Jun go?” she asked softly.
"Why can't you go? A teacher for a day is a father for life. You must listen to your teacher, understand? Besides, Mr. Luo's friends must be highly learned scholars. Getting to know more learned scholars will benefit you." None of the princes in the palace have a teacher like Luo Hu to guide them. How could they not support their beloved grandson's trip to visit friends, given that Luo Hu is a disciple of Luo Hu? If they didn't know that a scholar like Luo Hu was hard to come by, they would have swallowed their pride and personally asked Luo Hu to accept another prince as a disciple.
Zhao Shu obediently agreed to everything, and was extremely compliant. To this day, she still feels that finding Luo Hu was like a cheat code given to her by heaven.
When Zhao Bi arrived at Jiahan Hall, he dismissed his attendants, leaving only preserved plums behind.
At this moment, Consort Hao lay on the bed, weak and powerless, in a daze, constantly muttering things in her sleep that she herself probably couldn't understand.
Zhao Bi tenderly touched her forehead with his hand, "Why is it so hot?"
"Your Highness, after arriving in Guanzhou, Her Majesty has been bullied and suffered a miscarriage. She held on until yesterday, but could no longer hold on. Last night she could still call Your Highness's name, but now she can't. Your Highness, you must save Her Majesty." Hua Mei knelt on the ground with a thud, tears streaming down her face.
After hearing the whole story, Zhao Bi asked, "Has the medicine been used?"
"I used it." She sobbed, "I went to find the imperial physician, but he was taking the Crown Prince's pulse and didn't pay attention to Your Highness. It was a doctor I went outside to fetch who prescribed the medicine."
A flash of anger crossed Zhao Bi's face, but he quickly recovered. "Go and fetch Physician Peng."
“Your Highness, Peng…” She strongly disagreed with inviting Physician Peng, who was very close to Princess Jun.
"Why aren't you going yet?!" Zhao Bi interrupted her sharply, without explaining why he had specifically chosen Physician Peng.
Hua Mei was startled. When she looked up, she saw Zhao Bi staring at her with a cold face. She was so frightened that she swallowed the words she was about to say and scrambled to her feet to go out and fetch Physician Peng.
After she left, Zhao Bi sat on the edge of the bed, holding Hao Shumei's hand. "Don't worry, I won't let you die, and I will make those who bullied and humiliated you pay the price they deserve!"
Hao Shumei seemed to sense something and slowly opened her eyes. Zhao Bi was delighted and touched her face, saying, "You're awake?"
"I had another dream," Hao Shumei said listlessly, then closed her eyes again and fell asleep.
When the preserved plums arrived, Physician Peng was carrying the pair of parrots as he followed Zhao Shu out of Fengxin Palace, saying, "Greetings to the Princess."
"Bring me some melon seeds for me." A shrill voice, with an air of domineering CEO, swept over him. Old Physician Peng blushed and turned to Zhao Shu with a smile, "Yesterday you would say that the princess was well, but today you won't. Perhaps you're hungry and throwing a tantrum. This beast has quite a temper."
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