Chapter 1438: Chapter 1416: Backing Support (December Monthly Ticket Additional Update 11)
The Empress Dowager raised her eyes to look at her, but she only saw the jet-black hair on her head. Although her eyesight wasn’t good, she could still vaguely remember her slightly raising her head when she first knelt below.
She sneered coldly in her heart, thinking how obedient she was.
She had no intention of speaking much with Zhou Man, as she hadn’t summoned her to chat. Estimating that enough time had passed, she waved her hand and said, “In the future, carefully attend to the Crown Prince. If you cure the Crown Prince’s illness, there will naturally be rewards for you.”
Manbao respectfully agreed.
The Empress Dowager then closed her eyes slightly and said, “You may withdraw.”
The maidservant behind her then loudly announced, “Rewards—”
Manbao couldn’t quite understand the meaning of these words at first, but after she carried the medicine box out of the palace and saw many maids and eunuchs holding things in their hands, she realized they were rewards for her.
For a while, Manbao thought these things might be poisoned.
With a look of confusion, she followed the palace attendants and the procession of rewards out of the palace.
The Empress Dowager’s residence was too far away; it took a long time to reach the palace gate, and Manbao almost got sore hands from carrying the medicine box that wasn’t light the entire way.
A grand procession left the Empress Dowager’s palace. Hearing this news, the Crown Prince, who was feeling anxious in the Empress’s palace, turned his head in surprise to look at the Empress.
The Empress had already anticipated this, put down her teacup, and smiled, “See, didn’t I say your grandmother wouldn’t trouble her?”
The Crown Princess promptly bowed and apologized on behalf of the Crown Prince, saying, “It’s us children who misunderstood grandmother.”
The Empress laughed, holding her hand, “The Empress Dowager is also the nation’s mother and the grandmother of Dalang. She loves Dalang very much and naturally wouldn’t do anything to make things difficult for him.”
She glanced at the Crown Prince sitting beside her, instructing both him and the Crown Princess, “Being the nation’s mother, she should put the bigger picture first. The Empress Dowager cherishes Prince of Yizhou due to maternal instincts, but favoring Zhou Man benefits the nation and stabilizes the court, which is rational.”
“In matters concerning the nation and the bigger picture, personal grievances are insignificant.”
Whether the Crown Prince heard this or not is unknown, but the Crown Princess was startled, thoughtfully bowing in acknowledgment.
Seeing she understood, the Empress smiled satisfactorily, turned to Sister Shang, and said, “Distribute my and His Majesty’s things as well—personally deliver them to Changqing Alley.”
Sister Shang lowered her head in acknowledgment, bowed, and withdrew.
After they left, the Empress then said to the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, “You were right to treat Zhou Man coldly during this period. It’s inappropriate for you to express favor for her in front of outsiders; such matters should be handled by us elders to deter those ghosts and demons.”
Crown Prince: …
The Crown Princess also couldn’t say anything and hastily agreed, not daring to let the Empress detect their original intentions.
The Empress nodded slightly, smiled, and said, “Alright, you may go back. His Majesty has also entrusted this matter to the Superintendent of Jingzhao to investigate. I expect there will be news soon.”
It wasn’t entrusted to Minister Feng but to Yin Li. Clearly, the Emperor intended for a thorough investigation this time.
The Crown Prince, expressionless, not knowing what he was thinking, left with the Crown Princess after bidding farewell.
Seeing the Crown Prince’s gloomy expression, the Crown Princess knew he was still angry. She quickly walked a few steps to catch up to him, took his hand gently, and said softly, “Your Highness, should we go see grandmother?”
The Empress Dowager, suppressing her disgust, summoned Zhou Man and even rewarded her with so many things—not because she had grown fond of her, but to show support for the Crown Prince, reflecting her stance and even the upper echelons of the royal family’s attitude.
Even someone like her, who disliked Zhou Man, stepped back when it came to the Crown Prince’s offspring matter. Anyone who dares trouble Zhou Man in the future would be opposing the entire royal family.
After thinking for a moment, the Crown Prince nodded, “Let’s go.”
The Empress Dowager wasn’t feeling well; after meeting Zhou Man she was already weary and was about to lie down to rest. Hearing the Crown Prince Couple had arrived, she smiled and allowed them in.
Seeing the Crown Prince’s unpleasant expression, she patted his hand soothingly, “Don’t worry, your father is also angry this time. No matter who is behind it, he likely won’t let it slide easily.”
The Empress Dowager wanted to say something but hesitated, then sighed, “You are a good child. When you have time, go visit your mother often, listen to her.”
There was always a tension between the Crown Prince and the Emperor, though his relationship with the Empress was a bit better. She still hoped he and the Third Prince could get along peacefully, as they are both her grandsons. The Empress Dowager sighed deeply, her heart too troubled to speak more.
For the sake of such a position, there has been no peace from the previous dynasty to the present.
The Empress Dowager, feeling utterly weary, no longer desired to speak, so she waved her hand, letting them go to rest.
The Crown Prince and Crown Princess hurriedly bowed and took their leave.
Manbao was grandly escorted out of the palace, and upon returning to Changqing Alley, before she even had a chance to sit down for tea, Sister Shang arrived with the Emperor’s and Empress’s rewards.
This time there were even more people sent along, and there was an edict as well.
Mr. Zhuang quickly led the household to kneel and receive the rewards. After sending the people away, they all silently stared at the gift boxes filling the courtyard.
The Emperor and Empress graciously rewarded them with fabrics, porcelain, spices, jewels, and medicine.
One particular box of spices emitted a sharp aroma when opened. Others might not recognize it, but Manbao, being a doctor, and Mr. Zhuang, being well-informed, recognized it. Mr. Zhuang laughed, “Just this box of spices could get you a small house in the outer city.”
Xiang Chao, who had just gotten up, was so surprised that he almost knelt again when he heard this. With wide eyes, he looked at the contents of the box, not recognizing it, and curiously asked, “What is this used for?”
Manbao replied, “Pepper, a very expensive spice. I have seen it at Shopkeeper Zheng’s place, said to be purchased from merchants selling foreign goods, costing an ounce of pepper for an ounce of gold. It can be used in medicine or carried with you.”
Manbao was also amazed at why the Emperor and Empress would reward her with such precious items. This spice could only be obtained from the Western Regions and was said to be purchased after passing through Tubo, across Nepal, and finally to India.
It is unknown how many times it changes hands before reaching the capital, making this spice always expensive.
Manbao had only seen it while working in the pharmacy, but even Shopkeeper Zheng handled it carefully, more so than ginseng or Ganoderma. He only allowed her to look at it and smell it but didn’t let her touch it.”
Thinking of this, Manbao reached into the box, picked one out, squeezed it, and then smelled it under her nose, almost sneezing.
Xiang Chao curiously asked, “Why did the Emperor and Empress suddenly reward you with so many things? Have you cured the Crown Prince’s illness?”
Almost, but that couldn’t be said like this to him, so Manbao replied, “Not yet.”
Mr. Zhuang glanced at her. With only a few people around, he thought about it but chose not to ask further.
The child has grown up, and it’s not appropriate to intervene too much.
Keke, who was silent until now, suddenly said, “Store one piece.”
Manbao then held onto the piece she had pinched in her palm.