Here, the Empress arrived at General Leng’s mansion with a large entourage of palace attendants.
As Leng Jinyu and Leng Ruoli were both away, Steward Qi had never seen such a grand display. Though his legs didn't weaken or tremble, he was still quite shaken. He secretly called a young servant and instructed him to go to the Hundred Herbs Hall medical clinic to inform Leng Ruoli of the situation at the mansion.
The servant then hurried out of General Leng’s mansion.
“Which courtyard is your second young lady confined to? Quickly take me to see.”
Empress Leng cast a cold glance at Steward Qi.
Steward Qi could not stop the Empress and had no choice but to lead her to the dilapidated courtyard where Madam Liu and her daughter were confined.
At this moment, in the courtyard of Madam Liu and her daughter, Leng Ruoshuang was ecstatic upon hearing the news brought back by Lin Feng.
“Mother, will I be leaving this broken courtyard soon?”
Leng Ruoshuang still found it hard to believe.
“Yes, once the Empress arrives, she will surely release us,” Madam Liu reassured her.
As they spoke, they saw the Empress, adorned in a resplendent red palace gown, gracefully enter the entrance of the small courtyard.
Upon recognizing the newcomer, Madam Liu and her daughter hurried forward to greet her.
“Your humble subject (lowly woman) respectfully greets Her Majesty the Empress! May Her Majesty the Empress live forever!”
“Ruoshuang, you are pregnant and should not kneel for long. Get up quickly, and do not harm the child.”
The Empress spoke with concern as she looked at Leng Ruoshuang. Madam Lu, who was by her side, quickly helped Leng Ruoshuang to her feet.
Seeing the Empress’s kind attitude towards her, Leng Ruoshuang was immediately filled with pride.
The Empress’s gaze swept over the dilapidated courtyard, her delicate brows knitting together. The courtyard was too run-down, lacking even basic furniture, which was not conducive to a pregnant woman’s recuperation.
“Steward, tell your General later that I will have Madam Liu and the second young lady move back to their original courtyard. Your second young lady is carrying the Emperor and our imperial eldest grandson. You must not neglect her in any way.”
“Replying to Her Majesty the Empress, your humble servant understands.” Although Steward Qi was greatly dissatisfied with the Empress’s actions, he did not dare to offend her and could only comply with her wishes.
“Ruoshuang, to ensure you can rest and recuperate properly, I have arranged for a wet nurse and two palace maids to specifically attend to you during your pregnancy,” the Empress suddenly added.
Leng Ruoshuang, though inwardly disagreeing with the Empress’s arrangement, could only offer her thanks.
While the Empress had arranged for three palace staff to serve her, Leng Ruoshuang felt as though she had acquired three overlords who would monitor her every move.
“Steward, arrange for someone to move the necessary items for Madam Liu and the second young lady to their courtyard. The Empress and the second young lady will first return to her courtyard.”
With that, the Empress took Leng Ruoshuang’s slender fingers and headed straight for the Emerald Bamboo Courtyard.
Soon, the Empress, accompanied by a group of people, arrived at the Emerald Bamboo Courtyard. She immediately instructed Madam Lu to redecorate Leng Ruoshuang’s courtyard.
Seeing the Empress’s anticipation for the child in her womb, a glint flashed in Leng Ruoshuang’s fox-like eyes.
She said to the Empress, “Your Majesty, if my unmarried pregnancy is spread out… it will affect my reputation… and the child born will have no legitimacy…”
Upon hearing her words, the Empress immediately understood her meaning. Was she not hoping that Prince Qing would marry her into the Prince Qing’s mansion?
“Ruoshuang, rest assured. When Prince Qing’s three-month confinement is over, I will request the Emperor to arrange a marriage for the two of you.”
The Empress grasped Leng Ruoshuang’s hand and gently patted her hand, offering comfort.
Leng Ruoshuang’s eyes immediately curved into a smile as she thanked the Empress.
“Thank you, Your Majesty!”
“Ruoshuang, you just focus on your pregnancy. I will handle everything else for you.”
The Empress smiled at Leng Ruoshuang and then said, “Alright, I cannot stay here for too long. It is time for me to return to the palace.”
“Madam Lu, prepare the carriage to return to the palace!”
“Yes!”
Then, the Empress, with her retinue of palace maids, eunuchs, and guards, majestically departed from General Leng’s mansion, leaving behind a wet nurse and two palace maids for Leng Ruoshuang.
Madam Liu and her daughter, along with Steward Qi, hurried to the main gate of General Leng’s mansion to bid farewell to the Empress.
---
Hundred Herbs Hall
Leng Ruoli was busy explaining some modern medical principles to her elderly apprentice when a hurried figure rushed in.
“Young… Young miss…”
The servant boy was out of breath, speaking intermittently.
Leng Ruoli frowned slightly. This was a servant boy from her mansion. What urgent matter could he have that brought him to the Hundred Herbs Hall to find her?
“Don’t rush! Don’t rush! Speak slowly. First, take a deep breath, then exhale slowly. Try again… There, there, are you breathing more comfortably now?”
“Yes, Miss. This method is truly effective.”
“Alright, you can tell me now what brings you here.”
At this point, the servant boy anxiously said.
“Young miss, the Empress has come to our General Leng’s mansion and even wants to see the courtyard where Madam Liu and the second young lady are currently staying. You and the General are not in the mansion, and Steward Qi dared not stop the Empress, so he led her to the abandoned courtyard where Madam Liu and the second young lady are staying.”
“Oh, it’s just this kind of matter. If the Empress is here, let her come. If she wants to see Madam Liu and her daughter, then take her to see them.”
Leng Ruoli had already guessed the Empress’s purpose in visiting Madam Liu and her daughter. It was likely because the Empress knew Leng Ruoshuang was pregnant.
She had also deduced Leng Ruoshuang’s pregnancy from Madam Liu and Steward Lin’s affair.
Heh, Prince Qing had been poisoned by the infertility drug she administered. If no one could help Prince Qing counteract the drug, he would become a eunuch, forever infertile.
Leng Ruoshuang’s pregnancy was a joyous occasion for both the Empress and Prince Qing. The mother and son would surely not take this matter lightly.
“Young miss, aren’t you afraid that Madam Liu and the second young lady will be released by the Empress?”
The servant boy looked at his young miss’s indifferent demeanor, somewhat bewildered. He was a trusted subordinate of Steward Qi and was very familiar with the affairs of the mansion.
It was common knowledge in the mansion that the young miss and Madam Liu’s mother-daughter pair were not on good terms. Yet, why was the young miss not at all nervous or afraid when she heard that the supporters of Madam Liu and her daughter had arrived?
Leng Ruoli looked at the servant boy’s confused expression and said with a smile, “Even if I went back, I couldn’t stop the Empress from releasing Madam Liu and her daughter. Plus, I’d have to kneel and kowtow to the Empress, which is troublesome!”
“…”
The servant boy was stunned on the spot, wondering why his young miss had such peculiar thoughts.
What he didn’t know was that Leng Ruoli possessed a modern soul and truly did not adapt well to the customs of ancient people. It was as if kneeling and kowtowing a few times could grant longevity and millions of years of life.
“You should return to the mansion first. Tell Steward Qi that if the Empress wants to release them, then let them out. Have Steward Qi act according to the Empress’s wishes. I still need to busy myself with treating patients and won’t be returning to the mansion anytime soon.”
“Alright, Miss. Then this servant will return to the mansion first,” the servant boy said dejectedly.
Leng Ruoli nodded at him with a smile.
Afterward, the servant boy left.
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To my little darlings, updating while taking care of my baby is not easy. Please comment often and follow along. Thank you, my dears. I love you all. Mwah!