When Jiang Changning saw Mrs. Zhuang lying on the bed, he was immediately sure that Mrs. Zhuang was definitely not sick from overeating and catching a cold. The crooked corners of her mouth were clearly symptoms of a stroke.
"Grandma, do you want me to ask the imperial physician to come and take another look?" Jiang Changning asked this to see what Grandma Zhuang thought.
The only person who could cause Old Madam Zhuang to have a stroke was someone from the Zhuang family. If Old Madam Zhuang did not pursue the matter, she would have no reason to be a "bad person".
Mrs. Zhuang opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, Mrs. Wu spoke first, "All the famous doctors in the city have been invited to see her, so there is no need to trouble the princess to invite the imperial physician to come to her house."
"Yes, although the imperial physician's medical skills are good, the famous doctors in the city are also good. It's better not to trouble the princess." Zou agreed.
This pair of sisters-in-law who had never gotten along with each other actually spoke with one voice, and the eldest and second sons of the Zhuang family remained silent. It seemed that everyone in the Zhuang family had a share, and it caused Old Madam Zhuang to have a stroke.
Jiang Changning ignored them and stared at Old Madam Zhuang. "Inviting the imperial physician is just a matter of writing a note. It's not a big deal."
Mrs. Zhuang moved her lips for a long time, "No."
"Princess, the old lady doesn't want to cause you any trouble." Wu said quickly.
"It's not a big deal. The old lady has a third-rank imperial decree, so she can hire an imperial physician." Jiang Changning smiled slightly, "Old lady, do you want to hire one?"
This is a second chance. If Mrs. Zhuang still insists on not calling the imperial physician, Jiang Changning will not interfere anymore.
Mrs. Zhuang cried silently. Mrs. Wu took a handkerchief and wiped her tears. "Don't be sad, old lady. No matter what happens, we, your children and grandchildren, will take good care of you."
"Yes, old lady, you have to relax, take good care of yourself, and wait to hold your great-grandson." Zou also came to the bedside and said.
The eldest and second eldest brothers also said, "Mother, your children and grandchildren are all filial to you, so you can just rest and recuperate."
After a scene of loving mother and filial son, and kind mother-in-law and obedient daughter-in-law, Mrs. Zhuang stopped crying. She didn't even dare to look Jiang Changning in the eye and closed her eyes.
When Jiang Changning saw this, he knew what she meant. She was willing to sacrifice her life to protect her children and grandchildren.
In that case, let her get what she wants.
Jiang Changning didn't want to worry too much about Old Lady Zhuang, lest she might be against her and resent her in the future. She stood up and said, "Take good care of yourself, old lady. I'll come to visit you when I have time."
After saying this, Jiang Changning insisted on leaving and returning to the palace despite the Zhuang family's attempts to keep him.
When she woke up from a nap in the afternoon, Xiulan reported to her the news she had heard from the banker, "In order to pay off his gambling debts, the second master of the banker sold the banker's dowry."
"Doesn't she know the character of the son she raised? She was the one who allowed Zhuangzi to be sold." Jiang Changning commented coldly.
A woman's dowry will usually not be distributed to her children until she is about to die.
But Mrs. Zhuang secretly gave part of the dowry to Mr. Zhuang II.
Xiulan continued, "When Mr. Zhuang found out about this, he started to make a scene and even confronted the old lady. She fainted from anger."
"She just had a stroke?" Jiang Changning frowned. How had Mrs. Zhuang's health deteriorated to this point in just a few years
"No, the old lady didn't have a stroke. Something else happened."
"go on."
"Just as the old lady was rescued, Mr. Zhuang Si suddenly came back with his wives and concubines. I don't know what they said, and the old lady fainted again."
Jiang Changning took a sip of red date tea from his cup and said, "It's hard not to have a stroke after fainting twice in a row."
"The old lady still didn't have a stroke."
Jiang Changning almost spit out his tea. "Is there anything else happening?"
Xiulan nodded, "The news that Mr. Zhuang San was jealous of someone and fell from the building, and the old lady fainted for the third time, and when she woke up, she looked like what you saw, Princess."
The corner of Jiang Changning's mouth twitched. The Zhuang family's drama continued one after another. The fact that Old Madam Zhuang was not so angry that she met her death was already a result of her strong body.
Then, before the Zhuang family’s play was over, the next afternoon, bad news came from the palace that Zhuang Qingyan had passed away.
"I found out that she has been ill for several months. The imperial physician treated her, but there was no improvement." Xiaochun said.
"There is no age difference on the road to the underworld." Jiang Changning sighed, and still remembered the scene when he met Zhuang Qingyan when he first came to Beijing.
I never thought that Zhuang Qingyan would be gone at such a young age.
In the evening, Prince Jin came back and told Jiang Changning, "The Queen Mother asked His Majesty to promote Zhuang Qingyan's position, and she will be buried as a concubine."
"A concubine position!" Jiang Changning pulled the corner of his mouth, "That's fine too."
Although it is an honor after death, it is better than nothing.
No one dared to tell the seriously ill Mrs. Zhuang about Zhuang Qingyan's death.
Considering Mrs. Zhuang’s current condition, if there is any more provocation, the Zhuang family will have to stay at home and observe mourning.
Zhuang Qingyan's position was not high, so even if she was buried as a concubine, there was no mourning hall in the palace, and the various mansions did not need to enter the palace to mourn.
It was almost the end of the year, and Zhuang Qingyan's coffin was placed in the palace for three days before being hastily buried in the concubine's tomb.
Jiang Changning had a small road altar set up on the official road where the coffin passed, to send her off and complete the affection between the two.
After this incident, Jiang Changning began to prepare for the New Year with peace of mind.
"The holidays are so tiring." Jiang Changning threw the list of New Year gifts in his hand on the table and leaned back on the pillow.
"It will be fine after these busy days." Fu Cui gently massaged her feet.
"It's busy before the New Year, and even busier after the New Year. It won't be quiet until the Lantern Festival." Jiang Changning said, rubbing his forehead.
"You can always take a breath and rest on New Year's Eve." Fu Cui said with a smile.
"Hehe" Jiang Changning laughed dryly. He had to enter the palace on New Year's Eve.
Wearing a princess costume weighing more than ten kilograms, she was lucky not to be crushed. There was no way she could even think about taking a breath or rest.
After a few busy days, it was New Year's Eve.
Early in the morning, the family had breakfast, dressed according to their status, and entered the palace.
First there is the sacrificial ceremony, then there is the palace banquet on New Year’s Eve.
There is nothing new in the palace banquet on New Year’s Eve, it is the same every year.
After chatting with people he was familiar with and making some sarcastic remarks to those he was on bad terms with, the New Year's Eve palace banquet officially began when the Empress Dowager and the little Emperor arrived.
The food and wine were served in a continuous stream. Jiang Changning looked at the exquisite dishes but had no appetite, so he reached out and took a tangerine.
"Do you feel like vomiting?" King Jin asked with concern.
"No, I just think these dishes are a bit greasy, so I don't want to eat them." Jiang Changning peeled the orange peel, broke off the orange segments and put them in his mouth, "This candied orange is sweet, I'll eat this."
"You won't be full just by eating tangerines." Prince Jin took a spoon and served her half a bowl of pigeon tofu soup, which looked quite refreshing.
The tender pigeon meat is hidden in the soup base, and the off-white tofu and bright red wolfberries make the soup base even more milky.
Under the expectant gaze of King Jin, Jiang Changning scooped a spoonful. The soup tasted delicious. The porcelain bowl containing the soup was double-layered, with soup on the top and charcoal fire on the bottom. Even in the cold winter, the soup was still warm.
I've killed another person. I feel like an executioner.
(End of this chapter)