Chapter 154 The mother-in-law is "sick," and it is the daughter-in-law's duty to take care of her.
"This morning when I entered the palace, I heard Steward Cheng say that he was preparing winter clothes for Consort Su. It seems that Consort Su is going on a long trip," Jiang Fenghua added.
"Where does she want to go? She keeps making mistakes. Where else does she want to go?" Empress Cheng said in a deep voice.
"The young general of the Su family has returned to the capital. Consort Su should be at the Su residence. Old Madam Su is still living there."
"The old woman is going back to the border; she has already informed the Emperor."
Jiang Fenghua said, "Could it be that Consort Su also wants to go back with Old Madam Su?"
"Let her leave if she wants; it would be best if she never comes back..."
No sooner had she finished speaking than Jiang Fenghua reminded her, "The Prince is also going to the border. The Hu people intend to provoke war, and the Prince has already submitted a letter of request to the Emperor to fight. He will set off once he receives the imperial decree." Xie Shang had told her all of this, and she wasn't lying. The rest was up to Empress Cheng to guess.
"Su Tingwan wants to go on the expedition with the army. There is no rule in the Great Zhou Dynasty that generals can bring their female relatives on expeditions. If Shang'er really accepts the imperial decree and she accompanies her, is she trying to get herself killed?" She was definitely not going to agree to Su Tingwan doing this, as it would ruin Shang'er's reputation.
"Mother, don't worry. General Su Xuan is back. He wants to take his sister home, and the Prince can't stop him." Jiang Fenghua said calmly, "After all, Old Madam Su also wants to go back. They have good reasons, and it's understandable that they would make a fuss before the Emperor."
"Then what should we do?" Empress Cheng asked, as she was now on the same side as Jiang Fenghua.
Jiang Fenghua remained calm and composed, a sly glint in her eyes. "Filial piety is the most important virtue. No matter what, Consort Su is the Empress Dowager's daughter-in-law. If the Empress Dowager is unwell and wants to keep her by her side to take care of her, she has no reason to refuse."
"Ruan Ruan means to bring her into the palace," Empress Cheng said. "I get annoyed just looking at her, and I wish she wouldn't hang around under my nose. In the past, she relied on Shang'er's affection for her, and even more so on her aunt's relationship, and never took me seriously. Because of this, Shang'er and I have had many disagreements, and this time it's the same..."
“In the past, her aunt had the Emperor’s backing, so Consort Su was naturally a bit arrogant. Mother, there’s no need to hold a grudge over these things. It’s not worth getting upset over it.” Jiang Fenghua added, “Actually, the Prince cares about Mother a lot, but he’s busy with official duties. Serving Mother is what a daughter-in-law should do.”
Jiang Fenghua's eyes were clear and bright, and she added, "Perhaps this is also the opportunity that Mother Empress needs."
If Xie Shang could see Su Tingwan sulking in front of the Empress, or making Empress Cheng feel bad, that would be even better. Empress Cheng needs an opportunity, and so does she.
The Empress would not refuse such a win-win situation.
After being enlightened, Empress Cheng suddenly became much more insightful.
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At this time, Xie Shang was discussing state affairs in the emperor's palace. Soon, news of the empress's illness reached Xie Shang's ears. He had been away from the capital for a long time and had not seen the empress for even longer. He put aside state affairs and rushed to Kunning Palace.
Jiang Fenghua sat obediently to one side. When she saw Xie Shang arrive, she quickly stood up from the stool and gave a slight curtsy, saying, "Your Majesty, I greet you."
"What happened to Mother?" Xie Shang went to Su Tingwan's courtyard last night, went directly to the yamen this morning, and then went to the palace and has been busy ever since. He didn't expect Jiang Fenghua to come to the palace and he would meet her there.
"Your Majesty, I only came to visit you after hearing that Your Majesty was ill. The Imperial Physician Wang just went out and said that the weather has turned cold and Your Majesty has caught a chill and developed a sudden illness." She had prepared medicine when she entered the palace, which could change the Empress's pulse as if she were terminally ill.
Seeing Empress Cheng's pale face, Xie Shang stepped forward and took her hand, his eyes filled with anxiety, "Mother."
Empress Cheng slightly opened her eyes, seemingly disoriented. Her voice was hoarse and weak, "Shang'er is here, cough cough... Mother is alright, no need to worry." After saying that, she closed her eyes again, as if she were very tired and exhausted, or as if she had fainted.
Xie Shang's eyes were slightly red as he knelt before the bed. "It is your unfilial son who did not know that Mother was so ill. Mother, please let the imperial physician examine you carefully."
Empress Cheng shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. She was delirious and kept crying out, "It hurts."
The more she acted like this, the more Xie Shang felt sorry for her. When he asked her where it hurt, she couldn't say for sure.
Xie Shang touched her forehead with a look of anxiety, "Why is it so hot?"
He immediately ordered water to be brought, wrung out a handkerchief and placed it on her forehead, then angrily shouted at the palace maids, "How are you taking care of the Empress Dowager?"
The palace maid was so frightened that she knelt on the ground, saying, "This servant knows her crime."
Jiang Fenghua said, "The most important thing now is to help the Empress Dowager get better. I heard the Empress Dowager cry out in pain. Why is she in pain? Where does she feel pain?"
After her prompting, Xie Shang asked, "Where did the imperial physician go?"
At this moment, Physician Wang arrived after preparing the medicine. "Your Highness, this humble official greets you."
"Imperial Physician Wang, please take a look at the Empress Dowager. She keeps crying out in pain. What's wrong with her?"
Physician Wang took the pulse pillow and felt her pulse. After a moment, he said, "Her Majesty has caught a cold and is also overly worried, causing her heart qi to become stagnant, which has blocked her heart meridians and worsened her condition."
Xie Shang frowned. "Why is Mother so upset? What is she worried about?"
How could Physician Wang possibly know the Empress's thoughts? He handed the medicine bowl to Granny Xi, saying, "Feed this medicine to Her Majesty first."
Granny Xi's eyes were red, and she looked like she wanted to say something but couldn't. She took the medicine bowl and tried to feed it to her slowly, but she couldn't get it to go in no matter what she did.
Jiang Fenghua stepped forward and took the medicine bowl. "Mother, drink your medicine. You'll feel better after drinking it. The Prince has come to see you too."
She was almost kneeling on the ground. Even an ordinary person would find it unbearable to kneel for a long time, let alone a pregnant woman who was more than four months pregnant.
She fed the Empress a mouthful, and some did get in, but some spilled as she fed her, and she had to wipe the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief, which was quite tiring.
Seeing this, Xie Shang quickly took the medicine bowl, saying, "Let me do it; you're not feeling well."
Jiang Fenghua's eyes were slightly red, as if she was heartbroken and distressed. "The Empress Dowager is so ill, I should be serving her. Your Highness, I wish to stay in the palace to serve the Empress Dowager until she is fully recovered."
Whether in commoners or in the imperial harem, serving one's mother-in-law during an illness was not only a daughter-in-law's duty, but also a time to demonstrate her filial piety.
Since Jiang Fenghua is Xie Shang's wife, she should take the initiative to shoulder this important responsibility. If she ignores it, it would be unfilial of her and she might even be criticized by others.
"You're heavily pregnant, how can you take care of her when she's ill? Take good care of yourself." Xie Shang knew that Jiang Fenghua should be serving her mother at this time, as that was the proper way to show filial piety, but her pregnancy was also important, and he couldn't let her get tired too.
He helped her up and sat her on the soft couch next to him. "Sit still and don't move around."
"But Mother..."
"With me here, I will feed the Empress Dowager her medicine," Xie Shang said.
How could Jiang Fenghua possibly sit still? As if the stool was burning her bottom, she quickly stood up. "If people find out about my behavior, I'm afraid they'll criticize me behind my back. My mother-in-law is seriously ill; how can a daughter-in-law sit and watch? Your Highness, aren't you putting me in a difficult position?"
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