Chapter 406: Entering the Palace

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Zhou Jia told Li Qing and Ji Xiang what Mr. Wen had said and asked them to make their own decisions in the future. If they couldn’t make their own decisions, they would wait for him to come back and decide. They would try their best not to let Li Yu worry and let her rest well.

“Yes, Master,” Ji Xiang and Zhao Cai agreed in unison.

Li Qing said to the worried Zhou Jia, “Brother-in-law, Aunt’s two cousins also have twins. I’ll ask them how they recuperated back then.”

After saying that, Li Qing turned to leave. Zhou Jia hurriedly pulled him back and said, “Ah Qing, don’t be anxious. I mentioned it to Sir last night. Sir asked us to wait for the diagnosis before going. He said to let her rest more these days.”

Li Qing thought to himself that Mr. Wen’s medical skills were so good. Since he said that there was an 80% chance that his sister was having twins, the probability of a misdiagnosis was not high. He instructed them to wait for the diagnosis before going.

“Got it. I still have to buy things for the new house. I have to report to the Hanlin Academy in a few days. I want to take advantage of these few days to save Sister the trouble.”

Zhou Jia nodded and said, “Alright, go! Tell the guards and Uncle Liu not to let unfamiliar people disturb Madam.”

The next day, Li Yu and Zhou Jia woke up early in the morning. Zhou Jia put on his court clothes. Li Yu put on a gown and rushed to the palace with Granny Yang.

When they arrived outside the palace, it was about time. The three of them got out of the carriage and walked to the entrance of the palace to see Shen Zhong and a small eunuch waiting at the entrance. Shen Zhong cupped his fists at Zhou Jia and smiled. “Lord Zhou, I was waiting for you to enter the palace with you. This is Xiao Shengzi from Empress Dowager’s palace. He’s bringing Madam Li to Empress Dowager’s Ci Rui Palace.”

“Thank you, General Shen.” Zhou Jia cupped his hands and smiled. Zhou Jia followed Shen Zhong to Zhengde Hall.

Xiao Shengzi smiled at Granny Yang and bowed to Li Yu. “Madam Li, please.”

“Little brother, thank you.” Li Yu smiled at him and stuffed a pouch into his hand.

Xiao Shengzi looked at Li Yu in surprise and took two steps back with a smile. He followed Li Yu and Granny Yang toward Ci Rui Palace. Granny Yang saw that Li Yu was walking forward calmly and did not care about the things on both sides. She nodded secretly. It was right not to be curious after entering the palace.

The three of them arrived at the hall of Ci Rui Palace. The servant went in to report. A moment later, an ordinary-looking granny in ochre came out with a smile. She bent her knees and bowed. “Madam Li, please follow me.”

“Thank you, Granny.” Li Yu glanced at Granny Yang and turned to follow her into Ci Rui Palace.

In Ci Rui Palace, the Empress Dowager sat on a chair and watched the tall woman enter the hall. She thought that it was all thanks to her help that her son could be safe. She heard from her son that the couple were people who stuck to their duty. They had made great contributions to the battle of Yunzhou. It was rare that they were not arrogant.

Li Yu entered the hall and saw the Empress Dowager sitting on a chair. She was wearing a dark purple silk dress and had a simple bun on her head. She was wearing it with a jade hairpin. Li Yu lowered her eyes and walked not far from the Empress Dowager. The palace maid put down the cushion and Li Yu knelt down and kowtowed. The Empress Dowager looked at Li Yu, who was kowtowing below. “You’re not feeling well. Hurry up and get up!” She then said to the nanny who had brought Li Yu in, “Ah Cai, help Madam Li.”

The nanny called Ah Cai smiled and supported Li Yu. After Li Yu got up, she bent her knees and bowed. “Thank you, Empress Dowager.”

“There’s no need to stand on ceremony. Sit down and talk!” The Empress Dowager looked at Li Yu in satisfaction. “You and your husband are both good people. In the end, you took the initiative to give up personal gains in favor of the greater good. With an official position, you can still speak up for those poor commoners. I heard that the rice seeds you cultivated are very good. There are also corn seeds. I heard that they can even be planted on those barren slopes. I also planted a few in the imperial garden. The corn that has matured is not bad to grind into powder and eat.”

Li Yu thought to herself that the corn flour consumed by the Empress Dowager had been ground a number of times and had been improved with eggs. It had to taste good.

Li Yu looked up at the Empress Dowager and smiled at her. “Your Majesty, I’m just a boorish person who doesn’t know how to recite poems or draw. I only know how to hunt and farm. Perhaps I’ve been afraid of starving all those years and have always liked to plant food. Villagers like us have an old saying. If there’s food in your stomach, you have to look good. If there’s no food in your stomach, you’re shameless.”

When the Empress Dowager heard this, she smiled and said, “Your words are rough, but your logic is not rough. In the words of a scholar, you know etiquette as well as honor and disgrace. Indeed, a person can’t go hungry. If you go hungry for too long, something will happen. It’s a good thing that you like farming. With food, you can eat your fill and wear warm clothes. Only then will you have a sense of culture.”

Li Yu smiled and replied, “Empress Dowager is right.”

The Empress Dowager looked at Li Yu. “Alright, it’s not convenient for you. I won’t keep you any longer. Go back and recuperate.”

The Empress Dowager said to Granny Ah Cai, “Ah Cai, bring that set of clothes to Madam Li.”

Li Yu stood up and bowed. “Thank you, Empress Dowager!”

After Zhou Jia met the emperor, he came over from Zhengde Hall. When he saw Li Yu and the little eunuch carrying a stack of things and waiting for him at the entrance of the palace with Li Yu, Zhou Jia took the gift box from the little eunuch’s arms. Li Yu stuffed a pouch into his hand and followed Zhou Jia out of the palace door to get into the car.

Sitting in the carriage, Li Yu heaved a sigh of relief. Zhou Jia looked at the gift box on the carriage and took out a title deed. He placed it in Li Yu’s hand and looked at her. He said gently, “You’re tired, right?”

Li Yu looked at the title deed in her hand and smiled. “His Majesty gave it to you?”

“Yes! His Majesty said that this is a hillside and a small farmstead. It’s in town not far from the city. He even said that you liked to explore and farm, so it was kept for you. He also gave me two ancient books. Yu’er, His Majesty said that he removed a group of officials before the new year before he transferred me back to the Ministry of Revenue to take up a post. Yu’er, I know you don’t like to socialize in the city. When you settle down, go there and be more relaxed.”

Li Yu leaned against Zhou Jia and whispered, “Alright, it’s really tiring to enter the palace. You have to think twice before speaking. I was so careful that I really don’t understand why those people still like to enter the palace.”

Zhou Jia looked at Li Yu, who was leaning on his shoulder. “The Empress Dowager didn’t make things difficult for you, right?”

Li Yu shook her head. “No.”

“Is Granny Yang really willing to help at home?” Zhou Jia looked at Li Yu and asked.

“She said that she can help us for a while. I think she might not have thought of where to go after leaving the palace. Her hometown is in Liangzhou. She’s already so old and doesn’t have a family. Her parents might not be alive anymore. Even if she returns home, she can only rely on her brothers and nephew to live. I think she’s still hesitating about whether to return to her hometown or stay in the capital.”

Zhou Jia recalled that Li Yu had said that Sir and Granny Yang were catching up. He asked curiously, “When did she and Sir meet?”

Li Yu felt that a doctor and a palace maid might be involved in palace secrets. “It might not be a good thing. Otherwise, why didn’t Sir mention it?”

“That’s true. Sir practiced medicine in the capital in his early years.” Zhou Jia nodded. “Ah Qing and Aunt have probably gone home! When Ah Qing’s marriage is settled, I’ll go find a teacher for Yang’er.”

“Alright,” Li Yu agreed briefly and leaned against Zhou Jia to sleep..

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