"If this servant's judgment is correct, then Her Majesty the Empress Dowager should only need to pay a little more attention to health preservation, and she will no longer be troubled by this."
Zhang Yu glanced briefly at Prince Ning, who was looking at Ling Xiao with interest, listening attentively to her explanation. He didn't recognize this young female doctor, but judging from Zhang Ye's tone and expression, they probably knew each other before. That was strange.
Empress Dowager Feng, who was leaning against the bed behind the screen, listened patiently to their conversation for a while. She had a good impression of Ling Xiao, but did not want them to argue about trivial matters in front of her, so she spoke up and said, "I am willing to try what Physician Ling said. I have been drinking the medicine for a few days and I am already tired of it."
After Empress Dowager Feng spoke, Prince Ning, Zhang Ye, stopped making things difficult for Ling Xiao and, together with Zhang Yu, went around the screen to see their mother. A-Hao then withdrew with Imperial Physician Zhou and Ling Xiao.
Ah Hao was quite interested in the health preservation methods Ling Xiao had just mentioned. She listened carefully to Ling Xiao's methods and analyzed them meticulously. They addressed the issue comprehensively, focusing on diet, mood, and physical condition, with attention required for each aspect. Upon closer examination, it wasn't something that they, the servants, were entirely unaware of.
With this in mind, once they reached the outer room, Ah Hao asked Ling Xiao first, "Aunt Ling's health preservation methods sound quite novel. I'd like to ask, besides these, are there any other things we should pay attention to in our daily lives?"
"According to Aunt Ling, peanut, longan, and red date soup, as well as milk, are food-related. It's also important to relax more, and placing some subtly fragrant potted plants around the house can help maintain a good mood. Furthermore, getting more movement around and ensuring good ventilation in the house are also good forms of physical exercise."
"If it's these aspects, even if you're physically healthy, paying more attention to them in your daily life will be very beneficial. To be honest, Aunt Ling, those of us who serve the Empress Dowager haven't always neglected these things, but after hearing what you've said, we feel that perhaps there's something lacking in our methods. In that case, I'm afraid we'll need Aunt Ling to give us some more guidance."
Ling Xiao was impressed by Song Shuhao's ability to glean so much from her few words, and he couldn't help but praise her inwardly. He instantly developed a liking for her. How could anyone not like such a clever, humble, and beautiful young lady?
"Aunt Song is truly remarkable. I only mentioned a few things, and you've already considered all these aspects. As for the so-called way of maintaining health, it actually emphasizes maintenance, cultivation, and nourishment. Maintenance involves regular exercise and more movement, which will already show results; cultivation involves keeping an open mind and reducing worries and anxieties, which will naturally help one cultivate one's character; and nourishment involves taking advantage of the four seasons and combining them with daily diet to achieve the purpose of regulating the body."
Once Ling Xiao started talking about her expertise, she went on and on, completely oblivious to the numerous coughs Zhou the Imperial Physician coughed beside her. Song Shuhao listened intently and patiently, but seeing Zhou the Imperial Physician's expression, she couldn't help but smile.
Since this isn't something that can be resolved overnight, let's not go over it all today. Ah Hao waited until Ling Xiao stopped speaking, then quickly continued, "It sounds profound, and it's confusing for a while. During this time, Aunt Ling must have been coming every day to take the Empress Dowager's pulse, right? Let's talk about it in detail later."
Ling Xiao nodded, acknowledging Ah Hao's words. Seeing that Ling Xiao had stopped talking, Physician Zhou felt somewhat relieved.
Zhang Yu and Zhang Wei were still keeping Empress Dowager company, while Imperial Physician Zhou and Ling Xiao waited in case the Emperor needed to speak with someone but the person wasn't there. Therefore, they waited until Zhang Yu left first before taking their leave and returning to the Imperial Hospital.
Ah Hao wanted to see Prince Ning, so she asked him to stay a little longer. The two stood and talked in the small garden outside the main hall of Changning Palace.
Ah Hao, who rarely asked him for favors, asked him to keep an eye on Xu Shi's situation. Prince Ning immediately agreed. When asked why, Ah Hao replied, "I haven't had time to leave the palace and return home lately. I can't go to see her as usual, so I'm a little worried."
If that were the case, it clearly wouldn't be an excuse for showing concern. Zhang Ye sensed there was another reason behind it, but ultimately didn't ask any further questions. The previous time, when he rashly questioned Ahao, Prince Ning felt guilty and wanted to make amends, so he took the matter Ahao had entrusted to him to heart and treated it as an important matter.
Zhang Ye had originally intended to remind Ah Hao to avoid too much contact with Prosecutor Zhao, but the matter was still unclear. After thinking it over, and deciding not to make her feel uneasy too soon, Zhang Ye dismissed the idea.
Imperial Physician Zhou and Ling Xiao returned to the Imperial Hospital. Just as Imperial Physician Zhou was about to unleash his pent-up anger, Ling Xiao put on a fawning smile and said to him, "Uncle Zhou, I will never forget your great kindness! Don't worry, I will definitely perform well in front of the Empress Dowager and will never put myself in any danger!"
He wouldn't have brought Ling Xiao to Changning Palace if he weren't soft-hearted, risking his life to give her a chance to win the Empress Dowager's favor. So when he heard Ling Xiao say those words, the imperial physician Zhou found himself unable to utter the words he had originally intended to say.
However, not wanting to let Ling Xiao get cocky, he still put on a stern face and said, "If you cause trouble, I can't save you anyway." Ling Xiao chuckled, but Imperial Physician Zhou just flicked his sleeves and walked away.
·
Following Ling Xiao's method, after only a few days of rest, Empress Dowager Feng's restless sleep improved significantly. With better rest and more energy, Empress Dowager Feng was naturally pleased and praised Ling Xiao highly.
Ling Xiao has been coming to Changning Palace every day lately, and Ahao often chats with her. At first, their conversations were limited to health and wellness, but as they got to know each other better, their topics broadened, and they would occasionally tease each other.
Later, Empress Dowager Feng recommended Ling Xiao to Empress Shen, suggesting that Empress Shen take better care of her health. However, Empress Dowager Feng's words to Shen Wanru seemed to carry a different meaning. Shen Wanru had no room to refuse Empress Dowager Feng, and such words carrying a certain signal were not a bad thing for her. Ling Xiao then began to frequent Fengyang Palace.
Seeing that Empress Dowager Feng was recovering and in a good mood every day, Zhang Yu knew it was thanks to Ling Xiao and kept his promise, rewarding her handsomely. In this palace, another important figure with poor health was Consort Xie Lanyan.
Xie Lanyan usually had a personal imperial physician to take her pulse, but Zhang Yu, perhaps seeing Ling Xiao's skill in treating people's health, also asked her to take a look at Xie Lanyan. For a time, Ling Xiao had to frequently visit Xie Lanyan's residence, Wushuang Palace, keeping her extremely busy.
In this context, the Emperor's winter hunting trip was finally set. The departure date was the third day of the tenth month, and among the concubines in the palace, only Consort De Nie Shaoguang, Consort Shu Feng Hui, Consort Gu Yunqi, and Consort An Qiutong were fortunate enough to accompany him. The concubines who were not selected were mostly secretly resentful and unhappy.
Xue Liangyue lay in bed for half a month before reappearing. However, she seemed less cheerful than usual and was often sullen and silent.
Song Shuhao asked Prince Ning to keep an eye on her mother. Fortunately, she waited until Xue Liangyue returned to serve Empress Dowager Feng and did not hear any bad news. The winter hunt was none of her business. After discussing it with Granny Feng and Granny Zhu and informing Empress Dowager Feng, she chose to return to the Song residence on the first day of the tenth month.
The weather in October had turned completely cold, and today's weather wasn't much better. Despite the biting wind, Song Shuhao still rode home in her carriage. After getting off the carriage, she learned from the old servant guarding the gate that her cousin Zheng Guan had come to visit her mother again.
Zheng Guan was the son of Xu's cousin. Ahao entered the palace at the age of ten, and Xu received some care from her cousin. Ahao's aunt had suffered two miscarriages and had developed health problems. In the past two years, her health had gradually deteriorated, and she was often unable to leave the palace.
So, whenever Ah Hao had free time, her cousin Zheng Guan would visit her mother at the Song residence, and Ah Hao would occasionally run into him when she returned home. Because of this, and because the Zheng family wasn't very well-off, Ah Hao would use part of her monthly salary from the palace to subsidize her aunt.
Ah Hao simply felt that even if they were only doing this so they could continue to get benefits from her, as long as they hadn't mistreated her mother, it didn't matter if their kindness was insincere or feigned. Because no one else would be willing to offer even such insincere kindness.
Because of the bad weather, Zheng Guan didn't dare take Xu Shi out for a stroll in the courtyard. He simply had someone bring a chair and place it under the eaves, while Zheng Guan himself sat aside and read to Xu Shi. He was twenty years old and had been studying diligently since childhood. He had already passed the provincial examination and obtained the status of a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial examination), and was just waiting to participate in the next imperial examination.
As Song Shuhao stepped into the courtyard, she faintly heard Zheng Guan's voice. As she approached, she saw him, dressed in a dark blue straight robe, sitting on the veranda with her mother. Although Xu Shi was not in her right mind, she was very alert and noticed Ahao's presence before Zheng Guan did.
Zheng Guan first noticed the change in Xu Shi's expression before realizing that his cousin had returned. He hadn't known that A-Hao would be returning home today, and Zheng Guan's face was filled with undisguised joy. He forgot to put down his book and stood up, quickly going to A-Hao's side, smiling as he asked, "Cousin, you've received permission to leave the palace?"
Song Shuhao had never had a bad impression of her cousin, so she smiled back and replied with a single sentence without further explanation. Zheng Guan didn't press Ahao for too much information; he simply stayed with her and Madam Xu, occasionally chatting with Ahao for a few moments.
Every time she returned to the manor, Ah Hao did almost the same things. She spent some time with Madam Xu, then personally cooked lunch. Afterward, she invited Zheng Guan to eat with her, and Zheng Guan, after a slight refusal, agreed. After lunch, Ah Hao coaxed Madam Xu to sleep, and Zheng Guan finally had a chance to chat with Ah Hao for a while.
“Cousin,” Zheng Guan called out to A-Hao with a smile. He was fair-skinned with clear features and looked like a refined scholar. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you. How are things going in the palace? Mother often thinks about you and asks how you are doing.”
"Thank you for your concern, Aunt, and for your kindness, Empress Dowager. I am doing very well in the palace." Ahao responded to Zheng Guan's words with a smile, without a trace of perfunctoriness.
Zheng Guan nodded and said, "That would be perfect."
Afterwards, Ah Hao asked about Zheng Guan's mother's health and picked out some health preservation methods that she had heard from Ling Xiao that might be useful to her aunt, and told them to Zheng Guan one by one.
After Ah Hao finished speaking, she didn't receive a response from Zheng Guan. She looked up at him and saw that he was staring at her intently, so she called out to him twice. Zheng Guan, who was lost in thought, took a while to come to his senses. He realized that he had lost his composure and felt embarrassed, but he still couldn't help himself when he looked at his cousin's beautiful face.
Zheng Guan thought for a moment. He didn't know when they would meet again after today's meeting, and there were some things on his mind that he felt he should take this opportunity to say them, so as to put an end to his worries. Perhaps those words had been lingering in his heart for a long time, because after a little preparation, he mustered up the courage to speak.
“Cousin, you know you’re already eighteen, and I’m already twenty, and the New Year is just around the corner. I just want to say that one day, you will leave the palace to get married. If you leave the palace at twenty, I will wait for you until you’re twenty; if you leave the palace at twenty-five, I will wait for you until you’re twenty-five. In short, as long as you’re willing, I will wait for you and marry only you.”
"I will work hard to pass the imperial examinations and achieve official rank. In the future... in the future you will be an official's wife. I will protect you and will not let anyone bully you."
Zheng Guan spoke with great conviction, but whether from shyness or excitement, a faint blush appeared on his cheeks, and his ears turned bright red.
Ah Hao was taken aback when he said such a thing, and without thinking, she immediately refused, "Cousin, it's impossible for us."
He seemed unable to bear hearing this, his face flushing even more as he questioned A-Hao, "Why? Why can't we be together? Is it because you look down on me, cousin? But when you left the palace, even if you were young, you were already twenty! But I would never look down on you!"