Chapter 118: Zhao Lingmeng is crowned the eldest princess for her merits
Regardless of how things were going over there with Sun Tu, Zhao Lingmeng was in a good mood as she headed back home. Zhao Lingmeng felt like they had gained a lot from this trip. The two little ones had changed a lot, no longer acting like the lords they used to be, demanding someone to hold them even when they were walking in the mud.
Zhao Ling had earned the merit she'd dreamed of, enjoyed the hot springs she'd wanted, and had barely mastered the vegetable gardening she'd wanted to learn. So she was incredibly happy the entire way back.
On the day Zhao Lingmeng returned home, the emperor summoned Wu'an Hou to the palace again. When the ministers and nobles in Yuanjing heard that the emperor had summoned Wu'an Hou to the palace, they became a little nervous, as they always thought that Wu'an Hou would give the emperor some kind of magic potion.
The Emperor summoned the Marquis of Wu'an this time primarily because of Zhao Lingmeng's immense merit in creating such a powerful weapon. It just so happened that the cowpox test had been conducted on death row prisoners for the past few months, and except for the extremely weak, virtually no one had died.
Originally, the emperor had intended to use this to win over the people, but now that he had a more powerful weapon, he no longer cared about giving Zhao Lingmeng some fame. This could be considered his way of protecting her. However, the emperor had no intention of telling the Marquis of Wu'an about the weapon, simply telling him that the cowpox vaccine was successful.
When Marquis Wu'an heard that the emperor summoned him, he did not have any special reaction. After all, the emperor often summoned him, often asking him to play chess and chat.
Marquis Wu'an packed up and followed the people in the palace. As soon as he entered, before he even paid his respects, he heard the emperor's sour voice from above, "I really envy this old fellow for having such a good daughter."
Ever since Zhao Lingmeng presented the blueprints, Marquis Wu'an had heard the Emperor say this so often that he was used to it. He calmly performed the formalities of the ceremony, then waited for the Emperor to call him up before sitting down across from him in a relaxed manner.
Because the emperor had already set up the chessboard, it was obvious that he was waiting for him. Most of Wu Anhou's private money was won from the emperor, so he was very happy to play chess with the emperor.
If the court officials knew that Marquis Wu'an dared to beat the emperor in chess and that the emperor was willing to give him money, they would probably be extremely envious.
"Your Majesty, did you ask me to come here just to play chess?" Wu Anhou chatted with the emperor as he made his move, just like two ordinary friends. He would not deliberately let the emperor down, and the emperor felt that this was much better than those who deliberately catered to him. So the emperor also enjoyed playing chess with Wu Anhou.
"Give me half of your daughter! I will make her a princess." The emperor directly revealed his purpose.
"I will give Yun'er to the emperor as his daughter-in-law?" Marquis Wu'an said this without hesitation.
"No, I can't make the decision for Concubine Rong. She doesn't like your daughter, so she will probably just be a concubine, not my daughter-in-law. If you plead for mercy, I can also directly issue an imperial decree."
The Emperor didn't want to get involved in this matter. The Third Prince wasn't his preferred choice for the Crown Prince. So, he didn't care too much about who his Princess chose. Besides, his wife would eventually end up with Concubine Rong. If Concubine Rong didn't like her, she would have to ask him to settle the case later. He didn't have time to deal with such matters.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness. Whether my daughter is destined to succeed or not is up to fate!" Marquis Wu'an refused outright, appearing quite indifferent. He knew that the emperor's decree came with a price. The Marquis Wu'an Mansion couldn't afford it right now, and he certainly wouldn't let his eldest daughter pay for it. Ten fingers don't have the same length.
"I knew you would say that. I'm going to make Funing a princess. Now that the cowpox has become a disease, I have to give her a reason to protect her."
Marquis Wu'an was stunned when he heard the news. He hadn't thought the cowpox cure would actually work. This was truly the best thing. How many fewer people would die in Jing State each year? With Meng'er's contribution, and the map she presented earlier, he knew Meng'er would be crowned a princess. The royal family must keep such a person in their own hands.
"You don't need to change your last name, right?"
"Fu Ning was granted the title of princess for her meritorious service, so she doesn't need to change her surname. Changing to a royal surname sometimes comes with a price, along with the power it brings." The emperor knew of Funing's special circumstances and wouldn't allow her to travel to another country. He also couldn't let down a meritorious official.
"Thank you very much, Your Majesty. My daughter and I will always remember your kindness." Marquis Wu'an was happy to hear what the emperor said. At least he didn't have to change his surname. As for the title of princess, then so be it!
So, as soon as Wu'an Hou left the palace, the news that Zhao Lingmeng had been named Princess Funing and granted a princess's residence spread throughout the capital. They were about to say something about Wu'an Hou, but then they heard that Princess Funing had proposed a method for preventing and treating smallpox, which had already been successfully tested, and they all fell silent.
If this were true, she could be crowned the eldest princess. They all suspected that it was Marquis Wu'an who discovered the incident and gave the credit to his daughter. Not only did they think so, but all the concubines in the Marquis's mansion also thought so, including the original novel's heroine, Zhao Lingyun.
However, Zhao Lingmeng's two brothers knew that this was definitely not their father's credit, otherwise their father would have taken it out when their sister was choosing a husband, and would not have waited until now.
So when Zhao Lingmeng arrived at the Princess's Mansion, she found Eunuch Zhuo waiting for her. She was now experienced in receiving imperial edicts, so she swiftly accepted the decree conferring the title of Princess, respectfully sent Eunuch Zhuo off, and then happily rewarded the entire mansion with monthly interest. She then quickly ordered her luggage to be packed.
Her canonization this time was within her expectations, but she didn't expect that she could be given the title of Princess Chang like the Queen's legitimate daughter, Princess Fushou. This was very gratifying, and she didn't have to change her surname, which meant that what was said in the last imperial edict was still valid. This made her even happier.
"Mother, what is a princess? Is she a very high-ranking official?" Zhao Houjing and Zhao Houming saw that their mother and everyone in the mansion were very happy, so Zhao Houjing was the first to ask.
"Not really, it's just that the salary is a little higher. So you two brothers have to study hard and pass the imperial examination to become the top scholar for your mother." Zhao Lingmeng didn't want these two little guys to just lie down in the future. She still had to let them fight for themselves. It is better to rely on themselves than on others.
They were a little disappointed to hear their mother say this, but they still nodded happily, "Mom, we will study hard."
Zhao Houming also nodded behind him. He would always remember the proud look on his grandmother's face every time she mentioned his father's achievement of being the third place in the imperial examination in front of his mother. He hoped that he would become the first place in the imperial examination and even better than his father in the future.
However, the most turbulent place was the Wu'an Marquis' Mansion. All the masters of the family gathered in the courtyard of Wu'an Marquis' wife, waiting for Wu'an Marquis to give them an explanation.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
