Chapter 1235: 1230: Nonsense

Chapter 1235: Chapter 1230: Nonsense

After bathing, Doctor Huang came to check Kid’s pulse. Because the Empress Dowager had given prior instructions, and Doctor Hong had also advised Doctor Huang, Doctor Huang was well aware that Kid’s pregnancy was further along than everyone knew.

After checking the pulse, Doctor Huang saw that only Kid was present in the room, and then spoke in a low voice: “Your Majesty, your fetal position is stable, everything is fine! However… I will tell others that Your Majesty’s fetal position is unstable due to fatigue from the journey. There will be two copies of the pulse diagnosis; one for Your Majesty, and I will keep the other. Naturally, there will also be two portions of the fetus-preserving medicine. I will make sure Auntie Chuntao does not mix them up.”

Doctor Huang was making preparations for Kid’s early delivery. Kid understood and thanked him: “Thank you for your hard work, Doctor Huang.”

“This is merely my duty!” Doctor Huang had already tidied up the medicine chest. He bowed to Kid and said, “I will take my leave now, Your Majesty should rest early.”

Kid nodded.

As Doctor Huang exited the room, he noticed Chun Tao carrying a bowl of bird’s nest and about to enter. He smiled and said, “Auntie Chuntao, the fetus-preserving medicine for Your Majesty will require your assistance to pick up.”

Chun Tao understood Doctor Huang’s meaning and handed the bird’s nest to Chun Zhi before leaving with Doctor Huang.

Chun Zhi entered the room, placed the bird’s nest by Kid’s side, and said with a smile, “Now that Sister Chun Tao is married, I hear everyone is calling her Auntie.”

Since Chun Tao got married and her status was elevated, people naturally addressed her as Auntie out of respect.

Kid took a sip of the bird’s nest and smiled, “Chun Zhi, are you hoping to get married?”

“Oh, Miss!” Chun Zhi bit her lip, “Please don’t tease me. I only hope that you will keep me close in the future. I want to serve by your side for my whole life.”

Chun Zhi spoke wholeheartedly, without blindly swearing loyalty, but with the intention of letting Kid decide her lifelong matter, as long as she wasn’t sent too far away.

“Still hoping to get married…” Kid dabbed her mouth with a handkerchief, smiling, “Don’t worry, I will have Wei Zhong find a suitable match for you!”

Chun Zhi blushed and remained silent.

Kid observed Chun Zhi’s demeanor, and the smile in her eyes deepened.

“I… I’ll go check on the preparations for the Eldest Young Lady’s dinner.” Chun Zhi said as she hurriedly left, clutching the black lacquer tray in her hands, her face revealing a joyful expression.

Chun Zhi knew she wasn’t very clever, but she noticed that many had their sights on her, not out of affection for her, but because she was the Emperor of Zhou’s personal maid!

Seeing how well Chen Qingsheng treated Sister Chun Tao, she too began to wish for marriage. Once married… those ill-intentioned people would back off, or she’d unwittingly be deceived. That would be a mere misfortune, but causing trouble for the Eldest Young Lady would be an irremediable sin.

She didn’t want to leave the Eldest Young Lady and hoped she could find someone who would treat her as well as Chen Qingsheng did to Sister Chun Tao, without ulterior motives to gain favor with Kid.

After resting one night in Quwo, the procession set off again and returned to Dadu City on March 9th.

Kid did not publicize her return, only sending a letter to her mother and aunts, notifying them of the time she’d return to the palace.

Little Ba, Bai Wanqing, learned from Fifth Aunt Mrs. Qi that Kid was returning today. Since morning, she had been calling out for her eldest sister non-stop to her wet nurse.

The wet nurse smiled as she applied cream to the plump and tender face of Little Ba, who had just cleaned up, saying, “Our Little Eight’s favorite person is His Majesty. As long as the Eldest Young Lady is here, she’ll cling to her in her arms!”

“Indeed, even when the Eldest Young Lady is reviewing documents, she’ll hold Little Eight in her arms. Our Little Eight will definitely grow to be as capable in academics and martial arts as the Eldest Young Lady!” The wet nurse laughingly tapped Little Ba’s nose, “Isn’t that right, Little Eight?”

Bai Wanqing tilted her chin up, obediently letting the wet nurse fasten her buttons, and firmly said, “Eldest Sister said… as long as Little Ba works hard! Little Ba will surely be more capable than Eldest Sister!”

Bai Wanqing’s chubby little face was full of determination. Eldest Sister’s words were never wrong. Mother said… Eldest Sister had endured a lot to support the Bai family, encouraging her to work hard so that when she grew up, she could share some of Eldest Sister’s burdens.

The mother also said that she did not expect her to be as extraordinary as Eldest Sister, just having half of Eldest Sister’s abilities would suffice.

However, Bai Wanqing believed she would one day surpass Eldest Sister and shelter the entire Bai family from storms.

Clearly a young child, yet those eyes were bright and resilient, demanding respect.

The wet nurse, seeing Bai Wanqing’s demeanor, felt that perhaps one day Bai Wanqing could truly become a person as formidable as their Emperor of Zhou, Kid.

“Good! As long as our Little Eight works hard, she will definitely be more capable than the Eldest Young Lady!” The wet nurse coaxed Bai Wanqing, “Today I will style Little Eight’s hair into two beautiful little blessing buns. The Eldest Young Lady will surely be happy to see it!”

“Mm!” Bai Wanqing nodded vigorously.

“She’s back! She’s back!” An eleven or twelve-year-old clumsy little palace maid rushed into Bai Wanqing’s chamber, announcing loudly, “Little Eight! His Majesty is back! The carriage has already come through the Wude Gate, heading towards the bedchamber! The Empress Dowager and Madam have already gone to wait!”

Upon learning that Kid had returned, Bai Wanqing leaped off the bed and ran out.

“Oh, oh, oh! Little Eight… your hair isn’t done yet!” The wet nurse lifted her skirts and ran after Bai Wanqing.

Under the gilded corridors with red-lacquered lotus pedestal columns, the little one ran so swiftly that neither the palace maids nor the wet nurse could catch up.

Mrs. Dong and several other ladies stood by the door of Kid’s bedchamber, anxiously looking towards the direction of the Wude Gate.

“Didn’t they say they have already passed through the Wude Gate? Why haven’t they arrived yet…” Fourth Lady Mrs. Wang kept fiddling with the Buddha beads in her hand, filled with worry, “He’s gone to battle with a big belly, after continuous bumps in the road, I wonder if Kid and the child are well.”

“Going to battle with a big belly is simply… ridiculous!” Mrs. Dong’s heart would hang in her throat just thinking about it.

Moreover, General Cui Shanzhong of Xiliang’s siege of Jiangzi City — she hadn’t signaled for help. When Mrs. Dong read the battle report… although Xiao Rongyan led troops to relieve the siege, she was so frightened she could hardly stand.

Being her own child, how could she not understand? Often receiving battle reports from the front lines, she could deduce from them her daughter’s fears of Yecheng Pass being informed of her encirclement — that A Yun might act rashly, leading out the troops and falling into General Cui Shanzhong’s ambush. Not only that, but if Yecheng Pass were emptied, Cui Shanzhong could lead the Xiliang main forces to seize Yecheng Pass and cut off A Yu and their food supply.