Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!

Chapter 1383: Chapter 1383 Princess

The day after Chang Zhong left, Zhulan didn’t get up in the morning, feeling groggy and heavy-headed, and Zhou Shuren even skipped the morning court session.

When Zhulan woke up feeling a bit thirsty, after drinking several sips of water, her voice was very hoarse, ”What’s wrong with me?”

Zhou Shuren put down the teacup he was holding and carefully helped his wife to lie back down, ”You had a fever this morning, the Imperial Physician came to see you and said it was caused by excessive internal heat. He has prescribed some medicine for you.”

Zhulan, ”How could I be overheated?”

”How could you not be? You’ve been worrying about our son getting injured outside, you’ve been fretting over it these days, and spring is the season when it’s easiest to suffer from excessive internal heat. The ’fire’ in your body has flared up into illness.”

Zhulan wanted to speak but felt pain in her throat, surprised by the extent of her internal ’fire’.

Zhou Shuren picked up the bowl of congee to feed his wife. Zhulan wanted to drink it by herself, but Zhou Shuren avoided her intent and insisted on feeding her. Zhulan had no choice, and the bowl of congee was quickly finished.

At that moment, Qing Xue came in carrying the freshly prepared medicinal decoction. Zhulan smelled the strong scent meant to reduce internal heat and her face crumpled up in distaste, just the smell was unbearably bitter.

Zhou Shuren took the bowl of medicinal decoction, ”If you drink it all at once, you won’t taste the bitterness.”

Zhulan sat up again, the medicine had cooled enough to hold without scalding her hands. She closed her eyes, gulped it down, and retched, feeling nauseated, almost like she was going to vomit.

Zhou Shuren quickly brought over some syrup water, ”Drink a few sips quickly.”

After drinking the syrup water, Zhulan suppressed the bitterness, ”The taste is too nauseating.”

Zhou Shuren waited until his wife no longer felt nauseous and had lain back down before he stood up, ”I’m heading to the Ministry of Revenue now. If you feel unwell in any way, send someone to fetch me.”

Zhulan nodded, ”It’s just a fever caused by internal heat, it’ll be fine once the heat dissipates, so don’t worry about me.”

How could Zhou Shuren not worry? As they were both getting older, he felt anxious every time his wife fell ill.

Upon arriving at the Ministry of Revenue, Zhou Shuren immediately saw the Retired Emperor as he entered, ”Your subject pays his respects to the Retired Emperor.”

The Retired Emperor, ”You didn’t attend court today?”

The morning court had not even finished at this time!

Zhou Shuren explained, ”My wife is ill, your subject has taken leave.”

Upon hearing this, the Retired Emperor inquired, ”What did the Imperial Physician say?”

”Our youngest son has left the capital, and my wife is worrying over it, causing a heat-induced fever. It will be fine once the internal heat is gone.”

The Retired Emperor said, ”It’s easy to fall ill during the spring festival, so you must take care yourself as well.”

The books organized by Ms. Yang were excellent, now not only does the Crown Prince read them, the Emperor also looks at them when he has time. Such a talented couple, they are both treasures of the state.

The Retired Emperor was there to inquire about something, ”I’ve heard from the Crown Prince that you wish to create military rations that are convenient to carry and do not require preparation.”

Zhou Shuren nodded, ”Indeed, your subject hopes to develop sustenance that can be eaten at any time, which is crucial in warfare. When both sides are weary from battle, whichever side can recover their strength quicker will have a greater chance of winning.”

He wanted to develop convenient food also because once they advance deep into the steppes for battle, transport involves not only food and fodder but also the need for an estimated amount of firewood. Trying to collect enough firewood for the entire army on the steppes is too troublesome; convenient food could solve a big problem when making a fire is not an option.

The Retired Emperor, with many years of battlefield experience, has a deeper understanding of rear supply issues. However, convenient food is not easy to store, and if it can be stored for long periods, it would be extremely important for warfare.

The Retired Emperor didn’t think Zhou Shuren would have no ideas when informing the Crown Prince, ”You already have some ideas?”

Zhou Shuren indeed had some ideas, ”Your servant still needs to send people to experiment.”

The Retired Emperor’s eyes brightened, ”You don’t need to send anyone; leave this matter to me, I happen to have nothing else to do.”

”Alright.”

The Retired Emperor was indeed the most suitable, and Zhou Shuren could rest easier.

Inside the Palace, Lin Xi followed behind Princess Zhenyue, not wanting to leave the Empress Dowager. When her mother left the capital, she told her to avoid wandering around in the palace as much as possible. Now that the Empress was pregnant, it was a particularly trouble-prone time.

But since Princess Zhenyue had invited her and the Empress Dowager had agreed, she had no choice but to follow Princess Zhenyue outside.

After walking a few steps, Zhenyue turned back, ”How come I haven’t heard your footsteps? You’re walking far too slowly.”

Lin Xi pointed to her own legs, ”Because my calves are too short.”

Zhenyue had mixed feelings about this younger sister—she didn’t really like her. Ever since Lin Xi was born, the Emperor and Empress Dowager had doted on Lin Xi, casting aside even her, the Princess.

Her mother told her that she was an illegitimate daughter, and that the Emperor, being the legitimate elder son who inherited the throne, cared most about his legitimate offspring. Now in the palace, she was the only princess. If the Empress gives birth to a princess, she would completely lose her advantage.

Her mother instructed her to take good care of Lin Xi in the palace, not only because of the Ran family’s relations with the Zhou family, but also because of the Qin Prince Residence. If she took good care of Lin Xi, the Emperor and the Empress Dowager would surely be pleased.

Zhenyue brought Lin Xi to the greenhouse, ”I came here today and saw many flowers blooming, so I especially brought you to see.”

Lin Xi thought of the greenhouse at her own residence, which had been taken over by the vegetables the Emperor had planted. She had never been to the Palace’s greenhouse before; this was her first time here, ”These flowers are really beautiful.”

Zhenyue pointed to a few flowers in the distance, ”These varieties were sent from foreign lands. It’s not their blooming season now, but they look especially beautiful when they bloom.”

Lin Xi didn’t particularly like flowers and plants; she preferred pets. She started to miss her cat again, and counting the time, she realized she had been out for a while, ”Let’s go back.”

Zhenyue liked plants, and this was one of her favorite spots in the palace. She wasn’t ready to leave, and there was a hint of reluctance in her eyes.

Lin Xi noticed this, ”If sister likes it here, stay a bit longer. I can go back by myself.”

”No, let’s go back together.”

Lin Xi felt that Princess Zhenyue was acting strangely; when she used to live in the Palace, her sister was always courteously distant, but today she was unusually enthusiastic.

In the Empress’s sleeping quarters, the Female Officer kept an eye on the harem. She was familiar with the Princess’s whereabouts and saw that the Empress was in good spirits, ”It’s the first time the Princess has taken the initiative to invite Commandery Princess Lin Xi.”

The Empress looked up, ”Zhenyue doesn’t have brothers of the same mother, and besides the Crown Prince, she dares not get too close to her other brothers. It will please the Emperor and the Retired Emperor if she gets along well with Lin Xi, and it will benefit her.”

The Female Officer said, ”Consort Ran fears that if you give birth to an eldest princess, it will affect Princess Zhenyue’s status, so she hinted that Princess Zhenyue should take extra care of Commandery Princess Lin Xi.”

The Empress did not care, even if she gave birth to a daughter, the girl would be ten years younger than Zhenyue. By the time her daughter grew up, Zhenyue would already be married. Over the years, she had also developed affections for Zhenyue. Since Consort Ran was well-behaved, as long as she remained sensible in the future, the Empress would not only help in selecting a favorable match but would also offer a generous dowry, ensuring Zhenyue a glorious wedding.

Of course, all this was predicated on both Consort Ran and Princess Zhenyue remaining clear-headed.

Zhulan had been ill for three days. After receiving a letter from her younger son ensuring his safety throughout his journey, she felt his joy through his words. Only when the fire in her heart slowly extinguished did her body fully recover.

Once Zhulan recovered, she became busy. Once the golden placards were posted, her granddaughter was to be married off.