Chapter 1691: Chapter 1691: Min Shu

As soon as Emperor Jingyuan thought of the Rong people, his arm tightened, hurting the Eighth Prince, who began to cry loudly: "Waa, boohoo, ow ow, pain pain!"

The Emperor won’t speak, but he can certainly say the word ’pain’ accurately.

Emperor Jingyuan was startled awake by the Eighth Prince’s cries, loosened his arm, and handed the Eighth Prince to Princess Consort Yi.

"Brother Dun, be good, don’t cry." Princess Consort Yi soothed him for a while and managed to calm the Eighth Prince down, but the murderous aura that had just burst forth from Emperor Jingyuan, along with his earlier distraction, left her startled.

She had never seen Emperor Jingyuan like this before.

Princess Consort Yi quickly suppressed her inner shock, held the Eighth Prince, and looked at Emperor Jingyuan with a smile, saying, "Your Majesty, it’s hot today, and everyone is suffering from the summer heat, so I made some lotus leaf porridge, picked lotus shoots from the lotus pond, and prepared some refreshing southern dishes for you to try."

Her voice, gentle and infused with a hint of laughter, was comfortable for Emperor Jingyuan to hear. He nodded, "Hmm."

Princess Consort Yi quickly put down the Eighth Prince and instructed him, "You must be good and not cry or disturb your father. I’ll go bring the dishes, and then we’ll eat."

The Eighth Prince got excited when he heard about eating, waving his little hands and shouting, "Eep eep, fish fish!"

Emperor Jingyuan felt a headache and laughed, "Why can’t he say it correctly? Come here, Father will teach you to say, ’food’ instead."

Eighth Prince: "Eep eep!"

Princess Consort Yi saw the situation and laughed, personally going to serve the food.

Emperor Jingyuan was extremely hungry; he ate quite a bit. After putting down his chopsticks, he talked to Princess Consort Yi about the poisonous insect disease: "The Rong bandits are abhorrent, poisoning Great Chu with poisonous insects. People in the Capital have already contracted the poisonous insect disease; you and Brother Dun should not play in the garden recently, and do not let birds into the hall. Tomorrow, I’ll have the Imperial Physician send insect attractant to drive them away."

Princess Consort Yi was quite frightened: "Those Rong bandits are too malicious to use such poisons against us. It’s fortunate we have the insect attractant to avert the danger."

She further asked, "Your Majesty, which renowned physician created such an effective medicine? It’s truly remarkable."

Emperor Jingyuan replied: "Not a notable person, just a country woman from He’an Prefecture, Mrs. Qin Gu."

Mrs. Qin Gu?

From He’an Prefecture?

And capable of making medicine.

Princess Consort Yi was taken aback and asked, "Your Majesty, is this young woman very young?"

Emperor Jingyuan frowned, "She just got married not long ago. Why are you asking about her, my dear consort? She’s just a country woman. She’ll never set eyes on us in this lifetime, so what’s there to inquire about?"

Princess Consort Yi said, "Perhaps this person is my benefactor."

Princess Consort Yi didn’t hide it and recounted how she was poisoned and injured in her legs while at her maiden home, and it was Gu Jinli who saved her.

"Gu Jinli? What a strange name," said Emperor Jingyuan. "It seems she has known medical skills since childhood and has some unusual techniques. It’s not surprising that she could make an insect attractant."

He just didn’t expect this Gu family woman to have business dealings with Min Shu.

A mere young woman who knows so many able people is indeed restless.

To put it harshly, this Gu family woman is an unruly woman truly unworthy of Qin San Lang, who has achieved great military merits.

It is fortunate that he did not reward her, otherwise wouldn’t many women imitate her, causing confusion about gender roles in Great Chu?

However, Min Shu has been honest for many years and is already crippled, and Mrs. Wu remains a mere servant, so there is no need to fear him; thus, he won’t argue with the Gu family woman.

Seeing that Emperor Jingyuan seemed a little unhappy, and with a contemptuous look in his eyes, Princess Consort Yi asked, "Your Majesty doesn’t like Xiao Yu?"

Emperor Jingyuan: "Xiao Yu? Do country people love naming themselves after livestock?"

Not ox, then dog, or maybe even an egg, now it’s after a fish.

Princess Consort Yi: "..."

"Your Majesty, this is just her nickname." After an explanation, Princess Consort Yi began to speak on behalf of Gu Jinli: "What Xiao Yu did, although different from other noblewomen, she is kind-hearted and chivalrous. When she saw me poisoned, even knowing that getting involved might bring her trouble, she saved me regardless."

Princess Consort Yi tugged on Emperor Jingyuan’s sleeve imploring, "Please don’t punish her, Your Majesty. Rural girls must indeed work outside, and with the Northwest in conflict, she must do what indoor women can’t just to survive."

She cannot be held to the standard of a noble lady who never steps outside.

Adding, "Moreover, she married early and went with her husband to the Northwest to fight, showing she is loyal to the emperor and loves the country."

"Hmph, she was already engaged. If she didn’t marry him, she would still have to wait for Qin San Lang. Life wouldn’t be better than going to the Northwest." Emperor Jingyuan always looked down on women, so he felt Gu Jinli going to the Northwest was a matter of course, not worthy of any high praise.

If she didn’t go, she’d be a heartless and unfeeling villain!

However...

Emperor Jingyuan said: "Rest assured, I won’t harm a mere woman."

The Gu family woman has meritorious service in resisting the Rong, and keeping her around is still useful.

However, if Qin San Lang dislikes the Gu family woman and wants to marry a noble lady, then he would help Qin San Lang by getting rid of the Gu family woman.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Princess Consort Yi was very pleased, never expecting Gu Jinli to have such circumstances. Her husband achieved military merit, and she created a life-saving medicine for the country. If she befriends them as a couple, they could be great allies in the future.

Emperor Jingyuan, exhausted after a day, played with the Eighth Prince for a while before retiring to rest.

Before leaving to attend court, he suddenly asked Princess Consort Yi, "Have you taken Brother Dun to see the Empress?"

Princess Consort Yi was taken aback, replying, "No."

The entire Imperial Palace knew that after the Empress’s son’s death, she fell into illness from grief and did not care much for the Princes and Princesses in the palace. Even morning greetings were waived.

No concubines dared to take their children to see the Empress, fearing their children would be harmed by the Empress, or, for those who felt sorry, that the Empress would be reminded of her son, causing her grief.

Emperor Jingyuan said, "After the Imperial Physician drives the insects away for you, take the insect attractant to the Empress’s palace, and bring Brother Dun too. Don’t take him inside yet, just let him play in the courtyard outside the hall, so the Empress can hear his voice."

If she could accept Brother Dun, perhaps she could let go of her knot... Although he still wouldn’t go see her, he didn’t want her to die from illness.

These instructions from Emperor Jingyuan made Princess Consort Yi panic. What did the Emperor mean—did he intend to give Brother Dun to the Empress to raise?!

It’s been years since the Empress’s son died, and there has been talk in the court and harem about letting the Empress raise a Prince as her legitimate son. However, the Emperor has never spoken on this matter, and now is he intending to reconcile with the Empress?

Old timers would say that the Emperor and Empress had a youthful bond, where the Emperor once treated the Empress like a precious treasure. But after returning from the Rong Territory, he became distant from the Empress, not seeing her for a long period.

Nevertheless, the Empress continued to be passionate towards the Emperor, trying to find ways to amuse him, and eventually, they bore a legitimate son, living a good period of time.

At that time, many believed that the Emperor and Empress had reconciled, and even though the Emperor suppressed the Duke Yuan Mansion and took away the Duke Yuan’s military power, the Empress’s favor would remain undiminished.

However, the Emperor’s favor was never everlasting.

The Emperor began to treat the Empress indifferently again, and after their son’s death, the Empress turned completely cold towards the Emperor.

Nowadays, the Empress had almost become a taboo in the palace. People dared not speak much of her and went directly to the Empress Dowager for any matters, not daring to disrespect the Empress.

Just because, from time to time, the Emperor would still inquire about the Empress’s situation, and if he discovered anyone dared to mistreat the Empress, he would fly into a rage and beat them to death immediately.

"Yes, I will handle this matter properly, Your Majesty. Rest assured." With a smile on her face, Princess Consort Yi helped Emperor Jingyuan put on the imperial robe for court and saw him off at the door.

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