nucmednet Chapter 165 Yongning ***
Chapter 165 Yongning ***
"This servant understands," Xianglan nodded earnestly.
Since it concerned the safety of her own mistress, she dared not be careless.
She was extremely careful in this matter, even personally preparing the medicine and never asking anyone else to do it. Since the Qiu Zhu incident, Xiang Lan has never dared to be careless again.
After the assassination was settled, Pei Yuanling had much more free time, and his days returned to their former leisurely state. Apart from having meals with Chu Qingyin every day, he spent his time in the study reviewing memorials.
Incense smoke curled up in the study of Chen'an Palace.
The weather had cooled down considerably in the past few days, so there was no longer any need to place ice chests inside. The palace felt much more spacious. Chen Zhongliang was serving tea when he suddenly remembered something and asked softly, "Your Majesty, this morning the Rongdi people sent good news: Consort Yongning is three months pregnant. Should the Imperial Household Department prepare gifts to send to her to offer congratulations?"
Yongning, the first daughter of the late emperor, was not born to the empress dowager.
The late emperor's first wife died young, leaving behind only one daughter, Princess Yongning, who was given the title of Princess Yongning after Pei Yuanling ascended the throne.
However, at the beginning of his reign, the court was in turmoil, and the Empress Dowager intended to rule from behind the curtain. At this time, the Rongdi people wanted to befriend Daqing and came to ask for the princess's hand in marriage.
The Empress Dowager then sent Yongning, who had just been granted the title of ***, to her as a gesture of goodwill.
Now that the Great Qing is prosperous, it is conceivable that the Empress will not be neglected even in a foreign land. Now that news has come that she is pregnant, Pei Yuanling, whether as the monarch or as her elder brother, will naturally have to make a gesture.
"Chen Zhongliang, I'm entrusting this matter to you. Remember not to be careless with etiquette."
After reading the "family letter" written by Princess Yongning herself, Pei Yuanling instructed, "Also, have the Ministry of Rites prepare a gift list and send it over together."
"Yes, this old servant obeys."
Chen Zhongliang bowed and nodded. This matter concerned the friendship between the two countries and Princess Yongning's situation in the Rongdi region. Under no circumstances could it be perceived as a sign of neglect.
The one prepared by the Ministry of Rites was a state gift, while the one prepared by the Imperial Household Department was Pei Yuanling's personal gift.
Pei Yuanling still remembers that Chu Qingyin and Yongning were once the closest of friends.
At that time, the Empress Dowager wanted to marry Chu Qingyin off to a distant place, and Chu Qingyin made a huge fuss about it.
Yongning is a royal concubine; how could she possibly marry into the Rongdi barbarian tribe as a concubine?
Chu Qingyin herself could neither be the principal wife nor the empress, so naturally she did not want her friend to be like her, who was already the queen of the country but had to be someone else's concubine!
But since the Empress Dowager had spoken, even though Yongning was extremely unwilling, she had no choice but to comply.
At that time, Pei Yuanling still had a solid foundation but no real power, so he could only let things take their course. No matter how much Chu Qingyin pleaded with him or argued with him, there was nothing she could do.
Pei Yuanling knew, of course, that it was beneath Princess Yongning to marry the Rongdi Khan, so he prepared an extremely lavish dowry for her.
Now that she is pregnant again, it seems that she is doing quite well in Rongdi. If the child does not become the Khan of the grasslands in the future, with Daqing as a backer, no one will dare to stand up for them.
Pei Yuanling felt inexplicably better after thinking about this matter.
After finishing his official duties, he went straight to Xingyue Palace.
Since it's good news, we should tell Yinyin to put her mind at ease.
When Pei Yuanling arrived at Xingyue Palace, he saw Yu Yan, Chu Qingyin's head maid, pouring dregs of medicine into the pool from a pot.
Pei Yuanling stopped in his tracks, his brows furrowing.
He remembered that Yinyin had been in good health these days and had not been taking any medicine. So why would there be dregs of medicine that needed to be poured into the lake so carefully?
Could it be that Yinyin is hiding something from him?
Pei Yuanling's expression turned cold. "Chen Zhongliang, send someone to investigate what's going on."
"Yes," Chen Zhongliang replied, a vague unease creeping into his heart.
Having given the order, Pei Yuanling didn't think much of it. The most important thing right now was to share the good news about Yongning with her.
However, as soon as he stepped into the Xingyue Palace, a bitter medicinal smell filled his nostrils, though it was not very strong.
Chu Qingyin greeted him from afar with a bow and a slight smile, "Why has Your Majesty arrived at this hour?"
At this time, Pei Yuanling would usually be in his study discussing matters and rarely came to Xingyue Palace. Therefore, Chu Qingyin, who had just finished drinking her medicine, felt a little guilty.
"Is Yinyin ill? Why do I smell medicine in the palace?"
Pei Yuanling stared intently at Chu Qingyin, trying to discern something from her expression.
Chu Qingyin's eyes flickered slightly, and she explained with a smile, "This concubine has been indulging in cold things and ate a lot of chilled watermelon. I've been coughing a bit these past few days, so I went to the imperial physician to get some medicine. I've finished it all now and am fine. Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty."
As she spoke, she subtly hid her hands in her sleeves, feeling somewhat uneasy.
She had been extremely careful, and the smell of medicine in the hall had clearly dissipated by most of its original scent. How could his nose be so sensitive?
Hearing her explanation, Pei Yuanling still had doubts, but seeing her smiling and rosy complexion, his worries were dispelled.
"Fruits are delicious, but don't overindulge."
He gently gave her a word of advice, then put the matter aside for the time being, and took her hand to sit down: "I have come today to tell you some good news."
Chu Qingyin was slightly surprised: "A happy occasion?"
Pei Yuanling said, "I just received a letter from the Rongdi this morning. Consort Yongning is pregnant. I have already instructed Chen Zhongliang and the Ministry of Rites to prepare generous gifts to send to her. Do you have anything you would like to give her?"
Yongning is going to be a mother?!
A hint of surprise flashed in Chu Qingyin's eyes, but she quickly suppressed it.
After all, Princess Yongning was her friend from her previous life, and they had no connection in this life, so it was not appropriate for her to show too much joy in front of Pei Yuanling.
She simply smiled appropriately and said, "Really? That's wonderful! I will certainly prepare a fine gift for Princess Yongning."
After a slight pause, she continued, "Your Majesty, Princess Yongning was sent to marry a foreign ruler for the sake of Daqing. Now that she is pregnant, shouldn't all the concubines in the harem make some gestures?"
Especially the Empress Dowager and the Empress. If it weren't for them, Yongning would never have had to leave her homeland and marry into a foreign land!
Upon hearing this, Pei Yuanling suddenly realized what was happening.
That makes sense. Among so many people in the harem, only she, the concubine, prepared a congratulatory gift. Does she expect to bypass the Empress and the four other concubines?
"Yinyin is so thoughtful."
Pei Yuanling smiled and said, "This matter will be handled by Chen Zhongliang."
Chu Qingyin nodded, but the next moment, she heard the man say in a low voice, "Yongning is going to be a mother, I wonder when we will be able to have another child."
Upon hearing this, Chu Qingyin was momentarily dazed.
Another child?
Again……
What did he mean by that? Did he really recognize her?
Her thoughts raced, and Chu Qingyin bit her lip, lowered her eyes, and feigned shyness: "This concubine also wishes to have a child with Your Majesty."
That's what she said, but in her heart she was thinking of the child who died young.
She absolutely dared not get pregnant again.
If the murderer who killed her child cannot be found, how dare she become pregnant again?
Before long, a eunuch came to report that a minister was requesting an audience with the emperor.
Therefore, Pei Yuanling did not stay at Xingyue Palace for long before leaving in a hurry, without even staying for lunch.
After Pei Yuanling left, Chu Qingyin breathed a sigh of relief and called Xianglan over, bringing up the matter of the medicine: "We almost got caught today. We must be more careful when preparing medicine in the future to avoid any further trouble."