She became pregnant shortly after leaving Bianliang City. If he knew, she wondered how happy he would be. She was certain he would be extremely happy.
"Don't worry, Mother, I will protect the child."
Hai Ling reached out and touched her stomach, feeling quite strange. She hadn't expected to be pregnant so soon after her wedding. Considering the love between her and Ye, it wasn't surprising that she was pregnant.
"Guards, escort the Empress back to Qingqian Palace."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The maids Shimei and Shilan received their orders, while Hailing and Nalan Mingzhu bid farewell to the Empress Dowager and left Cining Palace to return to Qingqian Palace.
In Qingqian Palace, Shimei and others congratulated Hailing once again. Hailing then gave an order that everyone in the palace would be rewarded.
However, getting pregnant at this time carries a relatively high risk. Shi Mei ordered all the eunuchs and maids in Qingqian Palace to come up and gave them a good scolding. She said that if anything went wrong during the Empress's pregnancy, no one in the palace would survive. So everyone should be careful and not have any schemes.
"Your Majesty, this servant wishes to recall Shen Ruoxuan immediately?"
Shi Mei did not trust the imperial physicians in the palace. Although they were skilled in medicine, they were not as good as Shen Ruoxuan.
Since the Empress's wedding, Shen Ruoxuan has returned to Medicine King Valley and hasn't come back yet. The Empress is pregnant, and the Emperor is not in the palace, so there may be danger in the shadows at any time. That's why Shi Mei said that. Hai Ling thought about it and agreed, because Shi Mei has things to worry about with Wuying Tower and Baoji Hall is about to open. Shen Ruoxuan coming over would be a good opportunity to help them.
“Okay, let him come over and help manage the Po Chai Tong. Once the Po Chai Tong is on the right track, he can go back.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Shi Mei accepted the order and immediately went out to carry it out.
In the main hall, Nalan Mingzhu looked at Hailing and calmly said, "I will stay in the palace to accompany Your Majesty. The more people there are, the more careful we will be. We will discuss everything when His Majesty returns."
Hailin nodded. Mingzhu was still the same as before, her best friend.
When the Empress became pregnant, the Empress Dowager decreed that no matter what happened in the court or the palace, the Empress should not be disturbed and all reports should be sent directly to the Empress Dowager's Cixi Palace.
Hai Ling was happy to have some peace and quiet. Since the Empress Dowager wanted to interfere, she let her have her way, lest the newly established mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship be ruined again.
Moreover, there won't be any major developments in the court. Right now, she's pregnant, so everything is for the sake of the child, and she'll ignore anything that can be ignored.
Time flies, and three days passed quickly. Hailing asked Shimei to busy herself with the affairs of Baojitang. Baojitang was almost ready and everything was just waiting for the opening.
With the opening of Baojitang, how could Hailing, the behind-the-scenes boss, not show up? Besides, she was so bored staying in the palace that she was practically rotting away. So early in the morning, she dragged Nalan Mingzhu along, and the two of them, disguised as men, secretly slipped out of the palace with Shimei and Shilan. Fuyue stayed in the palace to prevent anyone from disturbing the Empress's rest.
When Hai Ling left the palace, besides her own few subordinates, Ji Shaocheng was also secretly protecting her, so she wasn't worried about anything happening to her. Besides, pregnancy wasn't something that happened overnight, and she couldn't just do nothing. So as long as she was careful, everything would be fine.
She was very much looking forward to this child, because he was the fruit of her love with Ye Lingfeng.
The group left the palace, where carriages were waiting. Hailing and Mingzhu boarded the carriages, while Shimei and Shilan drove them, heading towards Baoji Hall.
Baojitang was located on a street in a less bustling area. At this time, the shop door was open, and many people gathered around to watch the excitement, pointing and talking.
Many of them even kowtowed to Baojitang, muttering incantations.
Thank you for the Empress's kindness, thank you for the Bodhisattva-like Empress.
Although Shi Mei was in charge of Baojitang, she only directed things behind the scenes. There were doctors in the shop to treat patients and others to dispense medicine. Anyone who couldn't afford medical treatment or medicine could come to Baojitang for treatment. However, if a rich person came to Baojitang to take advantage of the situation, he would definitely be beaten and sent to the Ministry of Justice.
Outside the Baojitang clinic, there was a notice that clearly stated that only those who could not afford medical treatment could enter the clinic for treatment.
This Baojitang is still run by the Empress, and everyone in Bianliang knows it, so no one dares to provoke it.
Hailin and Mingzhu watched from the shadows in the crowd, while many people began to go to Baojitang for medical treatment.
"Miss, you're still the same as before, always thinking of others."
Mingzhu was moved to recall the past. Although they were poor, those three years were happy. Although the young lady was fat, she was very happy. Unlike now, even though she is beautiful and in a high position, she still has to be wary of all kinds of people around her.
"Mingzhu, I'm not that great. Don't forget that I'm a doctor. Doctors always love saving lives."
Hailin smiled happily and reached out to grab Mingzhu's hand: "Come on, how about we go shopping?"
"Okay, but please be careful, Miss."
Mingzhu did not become arrogant because of her current status as a princess. On the contrary, she would rather be a little maidservant by her mistress's side, and her wish would be to accompany her every day. Although she is now a princess of Nanling Kingdom and shoulders the mission of peace between the two countries, how many of those who brought her back truly love her? They only do so because she has value to them. Apart from Ruan Jingyue, there are no other princesses of marriageable age in the royal family of Nanling Kingdom. That is why she was made a princess and came to Beilu for a marriage alliance, not because of love.
However, her feelings for her mistress were irreplaceable, including those for her deceased twin sister, Nalan Mingtang.
The two were chatting and laughing as they prepared to go shopping, but before they even got on the carriage, they saw the crowd on the street suddenly scatter to one side as if they had gone mad. Shi Mei and Shi Lan's expressions changed, and they quickly said, "Your Highness, be careful."
Mingzhu grabbed Hailing and pulled her aside, brushing past the people running past them, shouting as she ran.
"Oh no! Oh no! Minister of War Li Huang has killed someone at the Yi Hong Lou! Everyone come quick to see! Minister of War has killed someone at the Yi Hong Lou!"
Minister of War Li Huang is still one of Ye Lingfeng's trusted ministers. Hai Ling has met this Minister Li before. He is a very upright man and is not usually interested in women. Now he has actually killed someone in Yihong Pavilion. Hai Ling's face changed drastically. What happened?
Shi Mei and Shi Lan looked at Hai Ling and asked, "Your Highness, what do you see?"
Ji Shaocheng, who had been following them hidden in the crowd, also appeared and calmly asked, "Ling'er, what do you think of this matter?"
Hai Ling's face was gloomy and cold. The Minister of War was one of the ministers appointed by the Emperor. If something happened to him, he would surely be thrown into prison. What would happen to the position of Minister of War? The outcome was predictable. Hai Ling exuded a chilling aura and waved her hand, giving a steady command.
"Let's go to Yihonglou."
"Yes," Ji Shaocheng replied, helping Hailing into the carriage.
Inside the carriage, Hai Ling's face was extremely pale. She thought about how she had ignored the affairs of the court for the past three days, which was really wrong of her. When the emperor left, he gave her the imperial gold medal and said that he believed in her, but she did nothing. Now, such a bizarre thing had happened: the Minister of War, Li Huang, went to the Yi Hong Lou to kill someone.
How is that possible?
Hai Ling clearly didn't believe it. Inside the carriage, Nalan Mingzhu and Shi Mei saw their mistress's pale face and knew why she was so anxious. They quickly tried to comfort her: "Your Highness, don't be anxious. Something must have gone wrong."