Chapter 489: Still Uncertain Who Was At Whose Mercy
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
“Lord Marquis, you have returned.”
When Madam An stood up to go to the entrance, Zhou Pei and Zhou Xiangrong walked in. Madam An cast a side glance at Zhou Xiangrong and said with a smiling face full of affection, “Isn’t Eldest Young Miss praying for Lord Marquis at the temple outside the city? Why did you come back today?”
Zhou Pei sat down on the chair with a look of suffering.
“Today, the Empress returned to the city and those people went to the city gates to join in the fun. There were only a few people staying back to work in the Ministry of Justice’s government office. All the work landed on my lap.” Madam An pulled Zhou Pei closer to herself as she sat down. She massaged his shoulders with concern. “Lord Marquis, it’s been hard on you. Did you meet Eldest Young Miss at the door just now?”
■■Eldest Young Miss also returned at the right time. The Eldest Mistress of Duke Jingguo’s Residence came to visit a while ago. She said that she wanted to propose marriage for her younger brother.” Madam An glanced at Zhou Xiangrong. “It just so happens that I think that Eldest Young Miss is of a suitable age. I was thinking about whether we should agree to this marriage proposal. What do you think, Lord Marquis?”
Zhou Xiangrong lowered her eyes and an icy glint flashed across her eyes.
“Mother, I’m afraid this is not appropriate. I have a betrothal agreement with Marquis Qingyi. Don’t tell me Mother wants to cancel the betrothal agreement?”
Madam An rolled her eyes and replied with a smile, “We can’t afford to offend Marquis Qingyi either. If it really doesn’t work, we will let your younger sister marry him. Anyway, when we agreed to Marquis Qingyi’s engagement, we only said that we would let him marry a young miss from our Marquis’s manor. We didn’t specify who would be married to him. Besides, don’t tell me you think the reputation of Duke Jingguo’s Residence is worse than that of Marquis Qingyi’s?”
Zhou Pei was pleasantly surprised when he heard that. “Someone from Duke Jingguo’s Residence came to our residence to propose marriage?” “That’s right, Lord Marquis. He even said that it was on account of Lord Marquis. It’s also because Eldest Young Miss is virtuous. Otherwise, this marriage proposal wouldn’t have landed in our Marquis Bo An’s Residence.
Zhou Xiangrong suddenly raised her head but her almond-shaped eyes contained a faint trace of iciness. “If Mother thinks that this marriage is good for Younger Sister, then it’s fine. You don’t have to think about me. Also, I’m afraid that my marriage isn’t up to Mother to decide. The Empress said that she will plan for me in the future.”
“The Empress?” Madam An looked at Zhou Xiangrong as if she was looking at a fool. How could this girl have anything to do with the Empress?
When Zhou Xiangrong mentioned the Empress, Zhou Pei recalled what the Imperial Guards told him. Zhou Xiangrong was the person who cured the plague-infected victims. He didn’t care what method she used. This credit was already hers. When the time came, it was not known what other reward the Emperor might bestow on her. There was indeed no need to rush this marriage.
“This matter is not urgent. The Empress has just returned to the capital city. In the future, when she summons Xiangrong, we’ll see what she has planned.
Madam An felt that it was fine if Zhou Xiangrong was delusional, but why did Zhou Pei also go crazy? Or did something happen that she did not know about?
This thought made Madam An turn to look at Zhou Xiangrong again. The girl was still wearing the same dress that had been made for her the year before the last. Even the sleeves were a little short now. In the past, she would always shrink back and there seemed to be nothing wrong with the dress. However, today, it was obvious that her wrists were exposed.
Madam An’s eyes traced a line from the girl’s hand upwards and saw that Zhou Xiangrong seemed to be different. In the past, she was always timid and apprehensive and didn’t even dare to raise her head in front of her. Now, she had become so bold. So what if she came back? The girl was still at her mercy!
Zhou Xiangrong looked at Madam An’s confident appearance, and the scornful smile in her eyes became even more intense. It was still hard to say who was at whose mercy.
Meanwhile, at the Conjugal Phoenix Palace within the Imperial Palace grounds. After giving Lin Zhuyu an injection to stabilize the fetus, Su Ying helped her lie down on the bed. “Sleep for a while first. I’ll get someone to pass a message to Jiang Yang later.”
■■Your imperial Highness, your servant… I will be lying here these few days.”
She was afraid that Jiang Yang would take her back.
Su Ying gave her a reassuring look. “Don’t worry. No one can take you away from here if I let you stay here.”
Lin Zhuyu closed her eyes in relief after hearing her words.
Su Ying walked to the door and said to Bai Shuang, “She’s vomiting too badly. Get Uncle Hea to add two appetizers tonight and see if she can eat some. Her body won’t be able to take it if she keeps vomiting like this.”
Bai Shuang was also worried about Lin Zhuyu’s condition. When she saw that Lin Zhuyu had become so thin today, she became very concerned.
“Your servant will go inform him in a while.
Su Ying returned to the main hall. As soon as she sat down, a eunuch came up to her to pass on a message. It was a request for Su Ying to make a trip to the Imperial study.
The Imperial study was the place where the monarch dealt with state affairs. Logically speaking, the Empress and concubines should not go there. However, Su Ying had even sat on the dragon throne, so no one would think she was going overboard if she did anything else.
By the time Su Ying arrived at the Imperial study, Xiao Jin had already finished discussing with Duke Jingguo most of the matters.
When he heard the announcement from the eunuch, Xiao Jin gave permission to enter the hall.
Duke Jingguo had observed the proper etiquette and protocol for decades, but today, he couldn’t help overstepping the line. His gaze followed her feet upwards until it finally landed on Su Ying’s face. His eyes met her pair of almond-shaped eyes, which were big and bright and tinged with a sharp icy authority. It was indeed the Empress herself!
A person’s appearance was easy to imitate, but her expression and the bearing with which she carried herself were not something that anyone could mimic.
“Greetings, Your Imperial Highness.”
“Duke Jingguo, no need for formalities. Please rise
Xiao Jin bade him take a seat.
Duke Jingguo did not decline and sat down on a chair at the side.
“My Empress, I asked you to come over because I want you to do a check-up for Duke Jingguo. Recently, Duke Jingguo has been working too hard,” Xiao Jin said.
Su Ying understood then. She had felt that Duke Jingguo didn’t look too good when she entered just now. He had really worked himself to the bone.
“Let me take a look at you, Duke Jingguo.”
Duke Jingguo felt very grateful. “Thank you, Your Imperial Highness.”
Su Ying sat down across from him and checked his pulse in deep concentration. During this period, the Imperial Physician must have given Duke Jingguo a check-up. Otherwise, with his current body condition, he might not be able to stand up and finish speaking.
“Duke Jingguo, you should go back and have a good rest for the time being. Don’t think about anything else. Rest well for half a month. In a while, I will get someone to bring the medicine to you. There will be instructions on it detailing how you should take the medicine.”
Duke Jingguo knew his own body, and he also knew that Su Ying was not lying. “Thank you, Your Imperial Highness. I have indeed grown old…”
“Duke Jingguo, you were seriously injured in the past, and your foundation was damaged. But looking at your demeanor, it shouldn’t be a problem for you to recuperate and live for more than ten years. Don’t let your imagination run wild.”
Duke Jingguo chuckled heartily. “Your Imperial Highness, you don’t want this old minister to have a relaxing time.”
Duke Jingguo was now the head of the civil officials. Without him, many demons and monsters would jump out and cause trouble.
■■Please bear with it. With me around, I will make sure there isn’t any problem with your body.”
“Then this old minister must thank you again, Your Imperial Highness.” Xiao Jin instructed Zhang Shuming to prepare a sedan chair to carry Duke Jingguo out. Before Su Ying spoke, he really hadn’t expected Duke Jingguo’s body to be so frail.
While she was on her way back to Conjugal Phoenix Palace, Su Ying also took the opportunity to concoct some medicine and told Aunt Zhao to personally deliver it to Duke Jingguo. She also issued a reminder that he had to keep the medicine well himself and not let anyone else touch it..
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