Chapter 90: Each Has His Own Plans
Zhao Lingmeng found Sun Qiming's regretful little head hilarious. He was so small, and he didn't even know how big his belly could be. He could only pat Sun Qiming's head in amusement and said, "When you grow up, your belly will naturally get bigger, and you'll be able to eat more."
"This is too far away, let's just leave it this way for now!" Sun Qiming slumped in his chair with a look of despair on his face.
Zhao Lingmeng was very happy watching these two cute little guys. Time pushed people forward like this, and Sun Tu was very quiet in recuperating his legs during this period. It might be because he had hope in his heart, so he was more cautious.
The Emperor received news that Zhao Lingmeng wanted to divorce her husband but didn't want to marry. After much deliberation, the Emperor decided to divorce her first! Since Zhao Lingmeng didn't want to marry, he made an exception and granted her the surname Zhao, starting a new family tree with her, Zhao Lingmeng, on the front page. Then, he would let her choose one or two of her three sons to bear the surname Zhao.
The emperor thought that since he had allowed her not to marry, if she wanted to get married in the future, she would have to marry a man from the emperor's family. This would also prevent Zhao Lingmeng from forming an alliance with aristocratic families in the future.
Moreover, the most important reason why the emperor was so easy to talk to this time was that the cowpox vaccine had shown initial effects after several months of preliminary trials, and the emperor wanted to monopolize the credit, that is, the right to name it. After all, the emperor wanted to leave his name behind for eternity.
Although the Emperor greatly desired this reputation, he wasn't the type to abandon someone once they had done their work. He even had his guards consult Zhao Lingmeng about her opinion. Zhao Lingmeng would undoubtedly have readily agreed; she truly cared nothing for such empty fame. She was content with the benefits, and she also requested numerous spots for priority vaccinations if she succeeded.
The Emperor was very generous in granting this quota. After all, if it truly succeeded, large-scale planting would be organized, so planting for a while wouldn't be a problem for him. He also sent a secret guard to pass on a message to Zhao Lingmeng, saying that any of her friends and family who were willing to plant the seeds could report it and receive priority.
Zhao Lingmeng was deeply grateful for the emperor's generosity, allowing her to open a single crossbow without being restricted by a clan or marrying off. While the emperor's initial intention might have been to avoid any clan restrictions on her, she felt a sense of gratitude. She reciprocated the favor by drawing the blueprint for the sleeve crossbow and had Chunmu pass it on to the emperor.
While the hidden crossbow wasn't particularly useful on the battlefield, it was small enough to carry around, making it ideal for the emperor's more dangerous travels, where unexpected attacks could be incredibly effective. The emperor was delighted after reviewing the blueprints and seeing how it worked. Regardless of the crossbow's function, the mere mention of a minister who took his safety to heart filled him with satisfaction.
The emperor hadn't revealed the news to Marquis Wu'an in advance. He wanted to see Marquis Wu'an's shock. His daughter had divorced her son-in-law, and he hadn't even known about it. He wanted to see if his jaw would drop. He wanted him to show off to him that he had a good daughter. He was just envious of that old man.
So now the atmosphere in the Princess's Mansion is very good. Zhao Lingmeng and Sun Tu both feel that everything is ready except for the east wind. They have no plans to cause trouble and are waiting for the appointment of officials.
Later, when Sun Tu's legs healed and he could walk freely, he did not ask for leave, but stayed at the mansion every day to play with Sun Qijing and Sun Qiming. He felt that he was going to be assigned to a post outside the capital, and before leaving, he wanted to cultivate his relationship with the children and leave them with the impression of a good father.
Sun Qiming didn't mind, as he had an instinctive distrust of his father. He just treated him as a playmate. But Sun Qijing was happy, following Sun Tu around every day, practically becoming a leg pendant, and Sun Tu let him do what he wanted.
Zhao Lingmeng knew Sun Tu's intentions and let him do what he wanted. After all, it was natural for boys to like following their fathers when they were young. But when she saw Sun Qijing clinging to Sun Tu, she was still worried. Just like when her parents divorced in her previous life, Zhao Lingmeng was also worried that the child would not choose her in the end, and that Sun Tu was not a good father.
No matter what Zhao Lingmeng and Sun Tu thought, the day of selecting and appointing officials soon arrived.
Sun Tu dressed up bright and radiantly early that morning and went to the Hanlin Academy to receive his appointment as a regent. As soon as he left the house, someone came to report his whereabouts.
The Hanlin Academy didn't disappoint Sun Tu either. He was indeed on the list of candidates for exile, though he was appointed magistrate of a remote county. He was content with that. He would soon be able to live a life far from home, and he could also bring his mother and sister with him. It would have been even better if Wang Xiaoyi hadn't married and was lucky enough to be pregnant with his child.
The more Sun Tu thought about it, the better the situation seemed. With a happy mood, he immediately went to his boss to get the appointment letter and signed his name. Then he happily returned home with the appointment letter.
As soon as Sun Tu returned to the Princess's Mansion, he went straight to Zhao Lingmeng's backyard. He wanted to discuss this with Zhao Lingmeng immediately. It would be even better if she could prepare some more banknotes for him.
"Madam, I have good news to tell you!" Sun Tu shouted loudly as he stepped into Yixin Courtyard. One could hear Sun Tu's happiness from his voice.
Zhao Lingmeng had been waiting for Sun Tu in the main hall. When she heard Sun Tu's voice, she immediately told Qiuyue, "Go to the toy house next door and call the eldest and second young masters over."
Qiuyue bowed and immediately went to the next room to bring Sun Qijing and Sun Qiming over. Sun Qiyang was also in the inner room, so he could be considered present.
When Qiuyue brought Sun Qijing and Sun Qiming over, they happened to meet Sun Tu at the door. The three of them immediately saluted, and Sun Qijing happily called him "Dad".
"Qiuyue, my wife and I have something important to discuss. You take them out to play first." Sun Tu looked at the three of them and calmly instructed Qiuyue who saluted.
"Go back, my lord. The princess wants to see the two young masters now. This servant cannot make the decision." Qiuyue said and pulled the two brothers inside. Sun Qijing kept looking back at Sun Tu while being led away.
Sun Tu looked at Qiuyue's back as she walked in with the two children, grinning with anger. He once again felt that being sent away was the best choice. He could not command anyone in this mansion, and even a servant dared to disobey his orders.
He didn't have time to get angry with a servant. He was eager to get Zhao Lingmeng's approval for his exile and get some money so that he could have a smooth journey in the future. So he could only follow Qiuyue and the other two inside.
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