GTB Chapter 193

Chapter 195: Entering the Eastern Palace

One month later.

Before dawn, the candlelight in the Crown Prince’s bedroom lit up amidst the chirping of birds.

Shí Yan gently put on his black python robe, then walked to the bedside, bowed his head, and kissed Jiang Jiuchu’s cheek. Just as he was about to leave, he saw Jiang Jiuchu stir and open her sleepy eyes.

He asked softly, “Did I wake you?”

Jiang Jiuchu raised a hand to rub her eyes, reached out to grab Shí Yan’s sleeve, and said in a lazy, soft voice, “Husband, it’s not even dawn yet! Do you have to go to court so early?”

“Yes, your husband has some matters to attend to early. Go back to sleep, I’ll come back to have breakfast with you.”

Jiang Jiuchu nodded and closed her eyes, but as Shí Yan turned around, she opened her eyes again. Shí Yan in his black python robe, even just his back view, was incomparably noble.

So noble that she felt he didn’t just belong to her, but also to the people of the world, or perhaps to other women as well, despite his repeated promises…

The carved wooden door closed gently, and Jiang Jiuchu turned over to continue sleeping, but ever since she moved into the Eastern Palace, she seemed to overthink things. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Shí Yan, but that she didn’t trust emperors.

However, after a stick of incense’s time, she still couldn’t fall asleep, so she simply sat up and called out, “Lǜluó.”

Lǜluó and Lǜyì, who were outside the door, responded and entered the room. Seeing that Jiang Jiuchu was already sitting up, they stepped forward and asked, “Crown Princess, why did you get up so early today? Won’t you sleep a bit longer?”

“I’m not sleeping anymore, go help me get dressed! I’m going to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager.”

“Yes.” Upon hearing this, the two hurriedly helped Jiang Jiuchu dress and wash up.

A little over half an hour later, Jiang Jiuchu, bathed in the morning sun, headed towards Cining Palace.

Cining Palace.

Beside a stone table in the courtyard, Shí Xiu withdrew his hand from taking the pulse and said to the Empress Dowager, “Royal Grandmother, you’ve only caught a slight cold, which has caused some other physical discomfort.”

“The weather has been turning cooler recently, so Royal Grandmother should add an extra layer of clothing in the morning and evening. Also, Imperial Physician Wang’s medicine is very effective, as long as Royal Grandmother takes it on time.”

The Empress Dowager knew that Imperial Physician Wang couldn’t possibly be unable to cure a simple cold. She had Shí Xiu come because she didn’t want to drink the bitter medicinal soup.

“Ah! This old woman hasn’t drunk herbal medicine in a long time, this bitter medicinal soup is really hard for this old woman to swallow. Closing my eyes and taking a sip feels like heartburn. I heard you can make pills, could you help Royal Grandmother make this bitter medicinal soup into pills?”

Shí Xiu smiled, seemingly not expecting that the Empress Dowager would also be afraid of bitter medicinal soup. This was a good way to get closer to her.

“Alright, this grandson will go back and make pills for Royal Grandmother, and definitely won’t let Royal Grandmother suffer.”

“That’s great.” The Empress Dowager had just responded with a smile when she saw Jiang Jiuchu walking towards the courtyard entrance.

“Oh! Little Jiuchu, why aren’t you sleeping in today? You’ve come to pay your respects to Royal Grandmother?”

The Empress Dowager already had a good impression of Jiang Jiuchu. Furthermore, Jiang Jiuchu had tried to please her when Shí Yan left the capital, which gave her an even better impression. Later, she heard that Jiang Jiuchu was being very attentive to Shí Yan, and after learning that the two had already consummated their marriage, she completely grew to like Jiang Jiuchu.

“Royal Grandmother, the Fifth Prince is still here! Can you save some face for your granddaughter-in-law?” Jiang Jiuchu’s small face was a little red. The Empress Dowager was becoming more and more casual with her, and her words were becoming more and more reckless.

“What’s wrong with that? We’re all family here. Besides, this is what Yan’er himself said, and he even specifically greeted this old woman about it, exempting you from paying your respects!”

The Empress Dowager was very happy about the two’s affection for each other. It was the first time she had seen her grandson act like this for anyone.

In the past, when she looked at Shí Yan, his smile never reached his eyes, and he always had a indifferent and even world-weary look. Now, she could feel the change in Shí Yan’s eyes.

She was gratified, and felt that she had helped Yan’er bring about this good marriage.

Hearing the Empress Dowager’s words, Jiang Jiuchu changed the subject in embarrassment, “Grandmother, are you feeling unwell?” After she asked, she looked at Shí Xiu.

Before Shí Xiu could speak, the Empress Dowager quickly replied, “It’s nothing, just a minor cold. This old woman just doesn’t want to drink bitter medicinal soup, so I asked Xiu’er to come over and turn the bitter medicinal soup into pills for me to swallow.”

After she said that, she seemed to remember something and directly pulled Jiang Jiuchu to sit down, “Come, Xiu’er, take the Crown Princess’s pulse.”

Hearing this, Jiang Jiuchu said in confusion, “Royal Grandmother, I’m not feeling unwell, there’s no need to take my pulse.”

The Empress Dowager took Jiang Jiuchu’s hand and placed it on the stone table, “This old woman is a little worried that you caught a cold after being poisoned and soaking in cold water last time. Let Xiu’er take your pulse and see if there’s anything that needs to be adjusted in your body.”

“If there’s no need for adjustments, you and Yan’er should give this old woman a big, healthy grandson soon.”

Jiang Jiuchu was stunned upon hearing this. Although she obediently placed her hand on the stone table, she still said to the Empress Dowager:

“Royal Grandmother, don’t worry, the poisoning incident last time didn’t leave any lingering problems. The matter of children is about fate, when the time comes, what’s meant to come can’t be stopped.”

“This old woman understands what you’re saying, but it’s always good to take a look, this old woman is worried that you’re young and won’t realize if you have any lingering problems.”

Jiang Jiuchu knew that the Empress Dowager was really concerned about her, so she nodded and then looked at Shí Xiu, who was taking her pulse.

After Shí Xiu took her pulse seriously for a moment, he withdrew his hand and smiled at the Empress Dowager, “Royal Grandmother, rest assured, the Crown Princess’s body is indeed fine. The Crown Princess is right, when the time comes, ten or eight big, healthy grandsons won’t be a problem.”

Jiang Jiuchu withdrew her hand, the corners of her mouth twitching. Did this person have to listen to what she was saying? In order to say nice things to please the Empress Dowager, he didn’t have to go this far!

Ten or eight? As if she was a hen laying eggs!

The Empress Dowager was so happy that she couldn’t close her mouth, and didn’t notice the slight pause in Shí Xiu’s expression when he first touched Jiang Jiuchu’s wrist.

“That’s good, I’m relieved that your body is fine. I hope my great-grandson will be born soon.”

Shí Xiu smiled and stood up, “Then, if there’s nothing else, this grandson will go back first to help Royal Grandmother make the pills.”

“Alright, go ahead!” The Empress Dowager nodded, then pulled Jiang Jiuchu and asked, “Have you had breakfast yet?”

“Not yet, I’m waiting for His Highness to finish court before eating together.” Jiang Jiuchu replied truthfully.

The Empress Dowager was happy in her heart upon hearing this, but shook her head in disapproval, “You! If you hadn’t gotten up, that would be one thing, but since you got up early, then eat on your own first. He’s sometimes busy and might not be back until who knows when, don’t let yourself go hungry.”

“Okay, I understand.” Jiang Jiuchu nodded in response.

The two chatted for a while, and the Empress Dowager, seeing that the time was almost up, said to Jiang Jiuchu, “It’s probably almost time for court to end, hurry back and have breakfast!”

“Yes.” Jiang Jiuchu stood up and gave a salute, “Then Jiuchu will take her leave, I’ll come back to accompany Grandmother next time.”

Looking at Jiang Jiuchu’s back, Lǐ Mama’s face unconsciously showed a smile, “Ah~ This old servant always felt that the Crown Prince and Crown Princess would definitely be very much in love. Look, now the Crown Princess is even waiting for the Crown Prince to have breakfast together! Truly loving.”

The Empress Dowager nodded, a trace of vicissitudes flashed across her smiling brows and eyes.

Since ancient times, emperors have been ruthless, but Yan’er was someone she watched grow up. After he sat on that throne, he should be able to guard his original heart and not disappoint his first wife, right?

Eastern Palace, Jiang Jiuchu walked to the entrance of the main courtyard, looked up at the identical courtyard gate plaque, and stepped into Emerald Bamboo Garden.

The layout of the courtyard had also been slightly modified according to her preferences. There was still her favorite swing, but this swing was slightly wider than the one in the Prince’s manor.

In the newly turned soil on both sides, Yè Xīn had newly planted some trees, flowers, and plants, but the roots seemed to not have adapted yet, and the flowers and leaves were a little wilted.

Jiang Jiuchu walked to the swing on the side and sat down, looking up at the sky, but the morning sun was dazzling, making her unable to help but squint her eyes and raise a hand to block it.

Shí Yan’s footsteps, as he stepped into the courtyard, paused. He seemed not to have expected that Jiang Jiuchu would actually be up. He raised his foot and walked over, “Why did you get up early today? This husband was thinking of coming back earlier to serve my wife in getting dressed!”

As he spoke, he sat down beside Jiang Jiuchu, put his arm around her waist, and with a long leg, pushed off, directly swinging Jiang Jiuchu along.