Chapter 50 Second Imprisonment
Just as July began, news of another battle came from the north. The Tatars harassed the border and were defeated by General Zhenshuo Xue Lu in Kaiping. Afterwards, he led elite troops in pursuit and captured alive twelve people including Zhenfu and centurions, sixty-four men and women, more than eight hundred horses, and more than four thousand cattle and sheep.
When this good news reached the capital, Zhu Zhanji was very pleased and gave another generous reward.
The war in Jiaozhi is not going well, so there must be some good news to cheer up the emperor.
Upon seeing this, Zhu Yuhuan quickly submitted a petition, stating that he would use the harvest from Xihe Imperial Farm to pay land tax as an ordinary farmer. At the same time, he would donate half of the grain in the imperial farm to the charity run by the queen to help the poor people, and then take a portion and send it to large and small temples in the capital for the purpose of praying for a good harvest next year. He also wished that Concubine Sun would give birth to an heir safely and ensure the longevity of the Ming Dynasty.
Zhu Zhanji naturally agreed happily. For a while, the whole government was full of praise for Princess Shunde, not to mention the people. After all, for the common people, the definition of good and bad was always very simple - whoever could help them was a good person.
With Zhu Yuhuan's lead, the other royal relatives naturally had nothing to say. They followed Zhu Yuhuan's example, taking grain and money from the imperial farms, paying land taxes, doing good deeds, and accumulating virtue, without exception.
If the emperor's daughter did this, how could those who were already estranged from the emperor's blood relationship dare to say anything?
Zhu Zhanji was very satisfied, as it was a benefit, and Zhu Yuhuan was also very satisfied, as it was a reputation.
There is nothing else I can do, but I have to fight the war of public opinion. If I don't speak out, won't others take advantage of me?
Zhu Yuhuan was in a relaxed mood, but Concubine Sun was different. Whether in the capital or in the palace, she could hear people praising the Queen and Princess Shunde wherever she went. Even when Concubine Sun was pregnant in the palace, she could still hear some rumors.
She didn't say it, but she felt very uncomfortable in her heart. Although she was looked after by the palace servants and did not get seriously ill, she suffered from minor illnesses one after another, and she would have a headache and fever every few days.
Concubine Sun was not feeling well, and Empress Dowager Zhang also had a headache.
She really didn't understand why Concubine Sun's temperament was becoming increasingly eccentric. Why did she care about such trivial matters? The Empress and her daughter didn't have any bad intentions. According to the Emperor's mindset, he wouldn't say anything even if she gave birth to a daughter, not to mention that if she gave birth to a son, the throne of the Ming Dynasty would most likely belong to this child, and he would even be able to become the Empress Dowager in the future.
Although it is a bit inappropriate, there were also two empress dowagers during the reign of Song Renzong. These two were not Song Renzong's biological mothers, but they were still called empress dowagers. Could it be that the future emperor would still wrong her, the emperor's biological mother?
There is really no need to compare these things.
But it would be even more wrong to blame the queen and her daughter.
This was actually a good thing. Not only was the emperor satisfied, but even she, the empress dowager, was also very satisfied. What would happen if she scolded the empress and her daughter for something that everyone was happy about?
Empress Dowager Zhang only felt that her headache, which had been getting better, seemed to have gotten worse again.
"Is the Queen Mother feeling better?"
Empress Dowager Zhang sighed, patted Wu Miaosu's hand, and said, "Okay, you've been rubbing here for a long time, you must be tired, sit down and rest."
Wu Miaosu responded, then took a few steps back and slowly returned to her seat.
Hu Shanxiang said softly, "It's because my daughter-in-law is incompetent that mother always has to worry about it."
Empress Dowager Zhang waved her hands and sighed, "It's none of your business. I'm just getting older and older, and I can't handle the work any more. I feel tired even without doing anything... Wang Zhi is not in the palace. Thanks to Miao Su who learned massage, I can still relieve some of the pain."
Wu Miaosu said modestly, "It's just a trifle. It just so happens that it's the day when Madam Xu enters the palace, so I'll ask her for advice and improve my massage skills."
"But your hands are a little cold. I heard from Wangzhi that cold hands are a sign of physical weakness. When Wangzhi comes to the palace, let her take a look at you." Empress Dowager Zhang raised her hand and rubbed her brow. "If it really doesn't work... let's have Consort Gao's mother stay in the palace for a while. That'll give her some peace of mind."
Zhu Yuhuan heard this and said, "Why not let Madam Xu take a look at the Imperial Concubine?"
She guessed that Sun Mengqiu was probably under too much psychological pressure, coupled with the hormone secretion during pregnancy, which caused a series of changes in Sun Mengqiu's body. It's a pity that in this era, probably no one would care about the mental health of a postpartum woman.
"Forget it. She's pregnant, so she's naturally sensitive and overthinking. I'll give her some supplements from my storehouse and take good care of her. She'll be fine as she grows older." Empress Dowager Zhang said helplessly, "This pregnancy has been so difficult, it must have worn her out. Queen, if she ever oversteps the bounds, you'll have to be more tolerant."
Xu Wangzhi had been recommended to the palace by Zhu Yuhuan. What if Sun Mengqiu, in a moment of confusion, used the child as an excuse? Empress Dowager Zhang didn't want any trouble to arise in the palace. Seeing Sun Mengqiu's frequent illnesses, she knew it might affect the health of her unborn child. She was now worried.
Hu Shanxiang responded, "Of course, it's a daughter-in-law's duty. Pregnancy is hard enough, and the Imperial Concubine is bearing an heir for the country, so a daughter-in-law should be more understanding and caring."
Empress Dowager Zhang finally showed a look of relief on her face. She said, "It's great that the Queen thinks this way. With Huanhuan as a girl, we will have a good life in the future."
"That's what mother said."
While they were chatting and laughing, Xu Wangzhi had already been led in by the palace servants. Seeing her high spirits, Empress Dowager Zhang smiled and said, "Now that your family is reunited and you have a medical clinic to rely on, Wangzhi looks even more carefree than before."
Xu Wangzhi was a little shy when he heard this and said, "If it weren't for the kindness of Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager, how could I have found a place to live in Shuntian?"
"You really don't like to say nice things, unlike that girl who always speaks like she's got honey on her lips." Empress Dowager Zhang pointed at Wu Miaosu and said, "This headache of mine is an old problem. You should take a look at her first."
Wu Miaosu stood up hurriedly and said, "Mrs. Xu came to the palace specifically to see the Empress Dowager. This is against etiquette..."
Empress Dowager Zhang just raised her chin at Xu Wangzhi, obviously not intending to argue.
Seeing this, Xu Wangzhi took Wu Miaosu's pulse with her wrist. She frowned slightly, tilted her head first, and then asked Wu Miaosu to change her hand to take her pulse.
Zhu Yuhuan noticed that Xu Wangzhi was looking at him and was stunned.
What are you looking at her for? Could it be that Wu Miaosu has been poisoned?
Xu Wangzhi hurriedly stood up and congratulated, "Congratulations to the Empress Dowager, the Empress, and the Concubine Xian. The Concubine Xian is pregnant, and it's been about two months. Why not ask the imperial physician from the Imperial Hospital to have a closer look?"
The three of them were stunned. Empress Dowager Zhang exclaimed in delight, "Great, great... This is truly wonderful! Go quickly, tell His Majesty that the virtuous concubine is pregnant!"
There are quite a few children who died young in the palace, so the more princes the better.
The palace servants were naturally happy to announce such good news, and someone immediately responded and left.
Hu Shanxiang noticed Wu Miaosu's look of bewilderment and fear, and hurriedly asked her to sit down. While gently patting her back, she comforted her, "Don't be nervous yet. Wait until the imperial physician and Madam Xu give you a thorough examination."
Zhu Yuhuan lowered his eyelids, thinking that if nothing unexpected happened, this baby should be another unlucky brother of his.
It seems that they are indeed about the same age, but are they really that close?
Xu Zhuyuhuan caught a glimpse of Xu Wangzhi's silly smile from the corner of his eye, and then he understood what she meant by that look, and was suddenly at a loss whether to laugh or cry.
Xu Wangzhi probably thought that Concubine Xian had a closer relationship with them, and if Concubine Xian could give birth to a boy, it would also be beneficial to Hu Shanxiang and her daughter.
That’s true.
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