Chapter 71 The Tragedy of Child Labor
Because the relocation of the capital to the south was so hasty, even an emperor could not possibly have stored up many treasures in his private treasury in such a short time.
The private collection that Xiao Qing is seeing now consists of artifacts from various dynasties in the Nanhua Palace. Although they are better than the treasures in the private sector, they are still far inferior to those in the Yongxiao Palace.
However, Xiao Qing was not a native, so he could only vaguely see the treasures and could not really discern their true value.
Although Ma Hong and Liu Yi had been in Nanhua Palace for a long time, their understanding of these things was actually quite limited due to the restrictions imposed by the Great Xiao Dynasty on the length of time palace servants could serve in the palace.
So, Xiao Qing led the two of them to look around, and in the end, she herself chose a piece of white jade from the corner that was not very exquisitely carved, but rather somewhat rustic.
Liu Yi assumed that Xiao Qing was using it himself, so he felt that the jade was a bit too big. He saw a round piece of jade next to him that was crystal clear and exquisitely carved, and he smiled and said, "Your Majesty, look at this piece. It is pure white and bright, and the flying dragon carved on it is very exquisite."
Xiao Qing glanced at it and thought it was indeed good, but not suitable for Zhao Youchen.
Looking at the piece in her hand, it was slightly larger than her palm. Both sides were carved with lion heads, the lions' eye sockets were sunken, their pupils were slightly bulging, and a ring of long mane on their heads was shaking and spreading out, making them look very majestic and powerful.
The jade wasn't of the best quality, and there were even one or two hidden black spots in some places, but Xiao Qing took a liking to it at first sight, and the more she looked at it, the more she felt it suited Zhao Youchen.
Xiao Qing gripped it tightly in her hand; it was a little cool.
"This is it."
She initially looked at the other antiques and calligraphy carefully, but the more she looked at them, the faster she went through them.
She sighed inwardly: "I'm really not a cultured person; I can't figure out much from this."
After returning to Chengde Palace, Xiao Qing wanted to give the jade to Zhao Youchen.
Just as she was about to ask Ma Hong to make a trip to the South Training Ground, Mingxiu walked in and said, "Your Majesty, Physician He is here for his routine pulse diagnosis."
Should I take your pulse at this time?
Xiao Qing looked at her leg and wondered if she had come to check on how well it was recovering and whether there would be any aftereffects.
So she nodded in agreement, dismissed those around her, and sat back down.
He Shu walked in steadily, carrying his medicine box. Behind him was a physician who seemed to have difficulty walking.
Xiao Qing's eyes lit up, thinking to herself, "What a coincidence! I was just looking for you and you've delivered yourself right to my door."
The two greeted Xiao Qing, but Xiao Qing waved his hand and said, "There are no outsiders here, so let's skip the formalities."
He Shu is old, and the person behind her has difficulty walking, so performing these formalities would hurt their knees.
He Shu smiled. "Your Majesty is kind. Let me examine Your Majesty's injury first." He glanced at Mingxiu.
Mingxiu understood and lowered the gauze curtain. She went in by herself, while He Shu stood outside the curtain, asking questions and giving instructions to Mingxiu.
About fifteen minutes later, He Shu nodded. "Your Majesty has recovered. However, you should still be careful in your daily life. People prone to fractures often have brittle bones. Your Majesty is still young and needs to strengthen your body and make your bones flexible."
Xiao Qing knows this.
No one knows what kind of life she lived in the palace before; she was not only sallow and thin, but also often had blurred vision and dizziness.
When she first came into this world, she was unlucky enough to get injured, and those days were incredibly difficult.
He Shu's meaning was actually the same as what she thought—malnutrition, calcium deficiency, and brittle bones. It was probably also because of the calcium deficiency that this creature's height was growing more slowly.
If she doesn't work hard before her good days arrive, it will be difficult for her to grow taller.
From a modern medical perspective, you should pay attention to your diet, rest, exercise, and sun exposure.
She went through all the possible solutions in her mind, then nodded in He Shu's direction, "Doctor He is right."
He Shu said, "Your Majesty, I would like to prescribe some medicines to strengthen your body, and I will need to trouble Chief Eunuch Ming to do so. Would it be alright if this Physician Li were to remain here to serve Your Majesty the medicines?"
Xiao Qing nodded and let them go. Mingxiu pulled up the curtain and silently followed He Shu out.
Inside the door, Li Qinghe straightened up and grinned at Xiao Qing. "Your Majesty, how have you been?"
Xiao Qing raised an eyebrow. "I thought I'd have to go through eighty-one tribulations before I could see Master Li again. No, shouldn't I call him Physician Li now?"
Li Qinghe didn't understand the "eighty-one tribulations" reference, but he could hear the slight sarcasm in the young emperor's words.
He smiled. "How has Your Majesty been these days?"
Xiao Qing nodded, "That's right." Her eyes were fixed on Li Qinghe, wondering what he was doing in the palace.
"Doctor He knows your identity?" Xiao Qing asked curiously, but it was obvious.
Most likely, Fu Mingyi told He Shu about this person before he left.
Damn it, I only told her my name.
Li Qinghe shook his head, "I only know that I have some connection with the Grand Tutor."
"Does Physician Li have important business to attend to at the palace?"
Li Qinghe nodded. "Last time I mentioned the Grand Tutor's return date, did Your Majesty see it?"
Xiao Qing gets angry when this is mentioned.
She replied curtly, "No."
Li Qinghe was not surprised at all; instead, he nodded and smiled, "Very good."
What?
Xiao Qing doubted that she had heard correctly.
Li Qinghe smiled and said, "It must have been taken by someone else, who saw it."
Xiao Qing wanted to roll her eyes. "You think this is a good thing?"
Unexpectedly, Li Qinghe nodded and said, "Of course. The Grand Tutor did not travel with the main group, but instead took a detour back to Dingzhou alone. If no one knew, how empty and bored the Grand Tutor must have been along the way."
What? !
Xiao Qing doubted that she had heard correctly.
Her mind raced, and suddenly she understood.
"Is your news fake news, just something to show others?" Xiao Qing stepped forward and lowered her voice.
"Half and half."
"What's the meaning?"
"The message is naturally meant to be seen by people, but it is not fake news."
Real news?
Xiao Qing was even more puzzled.
Looking at Li Qinghe's relaxed expression, she asked, "So, what does Physician Li need me to do?"
Li Qinghe looked at Xiao Qing and said, "As long as Your Majesty ensures your own safety, the Grand Tutor and Li Qinghe will handle the rest."
Xiao Qing found it unbelievable.
"You infiltrated here just to say that?"
"There is one more thing that the Grand Tutor hopes Your Majesty will prepare for as soon as possible."
"What's up?"
"Anji Martial Soul".
Li Qinghe knelt down on one knee.
Xiao Qing was stunned for a long time.
She recalled what General Li Xingwu and another general had said when the ministers were arguing outside the council hall.
The Grand Tutor's trip to the north was not only to bring back living hostages, but also to pay tribute to the remains and souls of the soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the northern capital.
These people risked their lives to safeguard the security and dignity of the empire; they are the military heroes worthy of respect.
What preparations are needed?
Li Qinghe lowered his head. “The Great Xiao has always valued civil virtues and has always kept the funeral rites for meritorious military generals simple. However, times have changed. If we follow the old system, it will only chill the hearts of the military generals. The heroic souls of the military generals who sacrificed north of the Xiao River will arrive in Nanding before the Grand Tutor, so Your Majesty needs to make preparations as soon as possible.”
His voice was solemn and serious, as if he had become a different person.
But what Xiao Qing really wanted to complain about was: So, is the Grand Tutor really going to let her handle such a big matter all by herself?!
How can you be so shameless as to exploit child labor?
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