Chapter 568: Chapter 555: Pacify the Anger
“Yes, thank you, Your Majesty, for your approval.” Chu Jinnian bowed his head in gratitude, his fist clenched tightly inside his sleeve.
News of Chu Yunzhao and Chu Jinnian heading to Lu together to suppress the bandits spread quickly.
The Empress, upon hearing this, furrowed her brow. She abruptly placed the half-eaten bird’s nest in her hand onto the table. “Summon the Emperor for me. I want to ask him what kind of desperate bandit situation necessitates sending my two grandsons personally.”
“Empress.” Aunt Gui by her side quickly tried to comfort her, “Calm your anger.”
“How can I calm down when the Emperor has done such a thing?” raged the Empress, “If the bandit situation is serious enough to require the Yulin Army, it shows how vicious these bandits are. If anything happens to Yunzhao and Jinnian, wouldn’t it be the death of me?”
“Empress, I heard that the Emperor has also assigned Colonel Yu to accompany them. It’s said that Colonel Yu is brave and good at fighting. The Crown Prince is also talented, and the Fourth Prince is extraordinarily intelligent. The three of them going together will surely not encounter any difficulties.”
“Furthermore, this mission to suppress the bandits in Lu, the front-line risks will be taken by the Yulin Army. It is not necessarily the case that the Fourth Prince and the Crown Prince will have to do the fighting themselves. But if they return triumphantly, it will undoubtedly bring glory to both princes. The Emperor is purposefully grooming them,” Aunt Gui added.
Upon hearing Aunt Gui’s words, the Empress’s expression relaxed somewhat, though she still seemed displeased, “What’s the use of that glory? They’re royal blood, prestigious by birth, do they still need these unnecessary validations?”
“They might not need these validations, but having them is like the icing on the cake, isn’t it?” Aunt Gui replied, a smile covering her face, “I know that you deeply love these two grandsons of yours, but you should also let them take risks and grow, right?”
“Yes, I do love them, but that’s because they’re worthy of my love,” the Empress retorted, “Unlike some people, who can’t handle their business properly and only disturb the Emperor and me.”
Aunt Gui knew the Empress was implicitly criticizing the Queen and the First Prince, Chu Yunhe. She stifled her laughter, “It seems the Emperor knows the situation well since he’s provided this excellent opportunity to the Fourth Prince.”
“The Queen must be feeling so bitter now,” she mused.
“Let her feel what she wants. She’s of humble origins and doesn’t belong in high society,” said the Empress, clearly annoyed by the Queen, “I was good to her before, instructing her patiently at every turn. Yet ungrateful as she is, she blames me for favoring others.”
“Some people are just naturally lovable; others are just jealous. Instead of wasting time scheming behind the scenes, perhaps they should focus on improving themselves.”
“The Empress speaks the truth.” Aunt Gui bobbed her head in agreement, then served the Empress a cup of chrysanthemum tea, “The weather in spring causes dryness. You should drink some chrysanthemum tea, Empress. I’ve added some rock sugar to it, it’s just the right temperature.”
“I heard that the Fourth Prince and the Crown Prince will be departing in two days. They should come to say their goodbyes to you, Empress. You’re bound to have to talk for a long time. Perhaps you should rest a while now to keep up your energy,” Aunt Gui advised.
“Very well,” agreed the Empress after taking a sip of her tea. She then instructed, “Go to the Imperial Hospital later. Bring back some common medications for the Fourth Prince and the Crown Prince to take with them.”
With Chu Yunzhao and Chu Jinnian personally heading to Lu to suppress the bandits, those accompanying them would be extremely careful. They wouldn’t have neglected to pack essential things like these. There was certainly no need for the Empress to worry so much.
But seeing the Empress’s concern, Aunt Gui knew she still wasn’t at ease with the situation. She merely agreed before going to the Imperial Hospital after assisting the Empress to bed.
Meanwhile, the Queen was venting her anger in the palace, smashing a colored glaze flower vase on the table.
“Your Majesty, please calm down.” The maids were all kneeling throughout the room, shivering with fear.
Calm down?
How could she calm down!
The Queen’s face was gloomy, her teeth almost crushed in anger.
She was the Queen, and her son was the noble First Prince, destined to be the Crown Prince and inherit the throne!
Yet now, both he and Chu Yunhe were under house arrest, ridiculed by the entire palace and the entire capital city. However, Chu Yunzhao was stealing the limelight, going to Lu to suppress the bandits. The court officials were probably trying to see which way the wind was blowing now!
She seethed with rage and frustration.
Enraged, the Queen flung the gilded tea cup beside her.
With a bang, the tea set shattered into pieces, the shards shining brightly under the sunlight.
With that, the kneeling maids trembled again.
—-
The spring breeze brought a touch of warmth, making people feel comfortable.
During this time of the year, everyone was busy making plans for their livelihoods throughout the year.
Zhuang Qingning was becoming more occupied these days.
Apart from her workshop, she accompanied Shang Chengen to visit Shijiazhuang to inspect the noodle workshop.
As Shang Chengen had said, Shijiazhuang was a good place. The land was fertile and the well water sweet. The villagers were also quite courteous. Village Chief Su, Su Zhengshi, seemed humble and intelligent, quite capable.
“Although our Shijiazhuang has an ample harvest every year, the yield is too high, resulting in poor market rates. Life is difficult for every family. So, when Manager Shang suggested setting up a noodle workshop here, all the villagers were overjoyed, saying that if they could work in the workshop, they would do their best.”
Village Chief Su laughed, “I understand that setting up the workshop here is a kind gesture from both managers. Even Master Ding always praises both Managers Zhuang and Shang for their kindness and urges us to support them both.”
“If there is anything that the workshop requires of me in the future, both managers should not hesitate to tell me. I may not be savvy in business, but I am quite adept at handling minor chores.”
“If you want to know about the character and work ethic of the people who will work in the workshop, you may ask me.”
“With the establishment of this workshop, Village Chief Su, we will have to trouble you to watch over it from now on,” Zhuang Qingning said with a laugh.
“Of course, of course.” The smile on Su Zhengshi’s face intensified.
Having previously dealt with Shang Chengen, he felt that Manager Shang was easy to talk to. Hearing that Zhuang Qingning was coming and knowing that she was doing significant business, Su Zhengshi was worried he would not get along with her. However, seeing how amiable she was he set his worries aside and chatted freely with Shang Chengen and Zhuang Qingning.
After a little more chatting, they went to check the current state of the workshop, inspecting the noodle-hanging racks, drying rods etc., to see if they met the standards.