tallest building

Chapter 370 Staying in the Capital

That morning, Xiaoyue came in with a smile and said to Wen Mingqian, "My lord, the people from the flower room have brought over a few pots of chrysanthemums, including white ones with crystal balls and red ones with crimson dragon pearls. They are really well grown, and each flower is as big as a bowl. My lord, please go out and take a look in a bit."

"Chrysanthemums aren't suitable for indoor cultivation, so let's place them on the veranda and take good care of them!" Wen Mingqian was embroidering a golden dragon on the front of the Emperor's undergarment. "How many pots were sent in total?"

“There are eight pots in total,” Xiaoyue said, “including two pots of green chrysanthemums and two pots of frost moon chrysanthemums.”

“Consort Yun loves chrysanthemums, so take one pot of each of these four kinds and send it to her!” Wen Mingqian said while embroidering. “Other things become more valuable when they change hands, and I don’t appreciate flowers much, so it would be a waste to miss the blooming season.”

"Yes, this servant will take people to deliver it to Consort Yun in a little while." Xiaoyue agreed, then couldn't help but laugh, "In this servant's opinion, those people in the back of the palace are really clever. In just these few days, they have sent more flowers and plants than in the previous month! I heard that since my two maternal uncles joined the ministry, they have become even more attentive."

Wen Mingqian's two older brothers entered the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Justice respectively. Although they were both fifth-rank officials, it was still a promotion for them, who were originally only seventh-rank county magistrates.

Moreover, staying in Beijing is different from staying in other places.

A short while later, the Empress sent someone to tell Wen Mingqian: "Consort Jing is ill. Her Majesty the Empress requests that you, Noble Lady, go and take a look."

"Consort Jing is ill? Very well, I'll be right there." Wen Mingqian said, standing up. "Has the imperial physician been summoned?"

"They have already informed Her Majesty the Empress. The people from over there came over early this morning to tell her." Someone from the Empress's palace said, "Consort Jing's illness is quite chronic; it flares up twice a year, especially in autumn and winter."

Wen Mingqian also knew that Consort Jing suffered from back pain.

Thinking that he couldn't go to visit the sick empty-handed, he had the snacks that Zhang Ma had just brought packed into a food box and carried it with him.

Consort Jing was in so much back pain that she couldn't get out of bed and had to stay there. Although the imperial physician came and prescribed medicine and she had acupuncture, she couldn't recover for a while.

"I already told them not to let them spread the word that I'm sick, it's exhausting for all of you to come and visit me. This is an old ailment of mine, I'm used to it no matter how you look at it," Consort Jing said with a smile.

"How are you feeling now, Your Highness? Is it any better after the imperial physician examined you?" Wen Mingqian asked, sitting by the bedside.

"The pain is less, but it still feels sore and swollen, and I can't move it." Consort Jing sighed. "That's how it is when you get old. It's always aches and pains, and if you have one or two old ailments, it's a real hassle when they flare up."

"The weather has been quite chilly these past two days, Your Highness should keep warm," Wen Mingqian said. "As long as you don't catch a cold, you'll surely feel better gradually."

"I didn't care whether it was cold or not, but I accidentally missed a step on my way back to the palace yesterday and slipped. I felt unwell at the time, so I asked them to rub it for me, and sure enough, I couldn't get up this morning." Consort Jing said with a smile, "Speaking of which, I haven't congratulated you yet! I heard that your two older brothers have stayed in the capital."

"Your Majesty has heard? This is all thanks to His Majesty's grace and the Empress's blessing." Wen Mingqian's face showed only a hint of joy, not excessive pride.

“What you say is certainly true, but your two brothers also need to have real talent and learning to gain the Emperor’s favor, right? Otherwise, they can’t win the hearts of the people!” Consort Jing’s tone was filled with undisguised envy. “After all, your two brothers are both Jinshi graduates from the imperial examinations, which is the most important thing.” Consort Jing also had brothers in her family, but they were not very capable. They only held some mediocre and idle positions because of their family’s influence and Consort Jing’s connections.

"I think, in my foolishness, that regardless of talent or lack thereof, the most important thing for a subject is loyalty. As long as one is loyal to the Emperor and Empress, one will never be forgotten." Wen Mingqian's words were clearly meant to comfort Consort Jing.

After hearing this, Consort Jing smiled and said to Wen Mingqian, "Since you've come to my place, I should treat you well, but given my current condition, I'm really neglecting you. You don't need to stay here long. It's not that I'm trying to get rid of you, but you have your own things to attend to. I'll be able to get up in a few days, so you don't need to worry about me or come to see me all the time. It won't take up your time."

However, I must give you a piece of advice: doing things well is important, but you also need to take care of your health. Otherwise, when you get old, illnesses will come knocking, and it will be too late to regret it then.

She knew she was ill, and Wen Mingqian had to handle most of the affairs in the palace, so he was indeed very busy.

Besides, this is doing someone a favor, so why not?

"Since Your Majesty has said so, then I will listen to you. But if there is anything you need, just send someone to find me. Please don't stand on ceremony."

"Don't worry! We're like sisters. You know my character, and I know yours. Why should I be so polite with you? If I were distant, I wouldn't have said those things earlier," Consort Jing said with a smile.

Wen Mingqian came out of Consort Jing's palace and ran into Consort Yun.

"Where have you come from? I was just about to go to your palace," Consort Yun said with a smile.

"I'll go see Consort Jing. Isn't she ill?" Wen Mingqian said. "Did Her Highness see the flowers I sent? Did she like them?"

"How could I not like it? I love it to bits. You are such a thoughtful person, always giving me gifts that touch my heart." Consort Yun is now much fatter than when Wen Mingqian first met her. She used to be so thin, almost skin and bones, but now she is just right.

“I remember that Your Majesty likes chrysanthemums. It just so happened that some were sent to our palace later, so I had someone take half of them to you. Actually, this is just a way of offering flowers to the Buddha, Your Majesty, so there’s no need to thank me so much.”

"What are you saying? Do you expect me to thank everyone else? I don't care. Whoever gave it to me, I'll just thank them," said Consort Yun.

“Let’s walk inside and have some tea in my palace.” Wen Mingqian took Yun Pin’s hand. “Where is the Ninth Princess? I found a piece of fabric yesterday, just in time to make clothes for her.”

"It seems she's with Princess Zhuolahan! There aren't many children in the palace, and these are the only two girls of similar age. Princess Zhuolahan's temperament has softened considerably, and the two of them can play together."

Wen Mingqian and Consort Yun entered the room, and the maids immediately served them tea and snacks.

"Don't treat me like this. I only planned to come here to thank you and that would be it. The Empress needs you by her side, so you don't need to treat me like a guest."

"I heard that the Grand Tutor has come to the palace, and Her Majesty the Empress specifically instructed that we, the Noble Ladies, need not go to serve him," Xiaoyue said with a smile. "I was just about to tell our Noble Ladies that."