The Daily Life of a Down-on-Hard-Life Medicine Girl Supporting Her Family

Good news from the border: General Xia not only repelled the barbarians, but also captured their king alive.

"Good, good, good!"

It is said that emperors do not show their emotions, but the new emperor was slapping the table in approval and beaming with joy!

Thinking back to the reaction of the civil and military officials in the court when they learned that the barbarians on the border had invaded, he, as the crown prince at the time, wished he could dismiss and punish all those cowardly and stubborn old men and send them back to their hometowns to live out their old age.

In the end, he managed to suppress his anger.

Those who advocate peace talks and avoid war, now take a look: I have a General Xia who can withstand ten thousand troops!
What does it mean to capture a barbarian king alive?
Now we can negotiate, but we have to set our own terms, and we have to agree to whatever the barbarians say, whether they want to or not!

This was a moment of triumph that even his father couldn't achieve while he was on the throne; he received this tremendous news less than two months after ascending the throne.

“Father, I believe it is your spirit in heaven that is protecting me.”

Considering that Xia Guangcheng was sent to the border by him, it means that the emperor and his minister had a secret talk at that time. It was the emperor who gave General Xia to guard the border and protect the city gates.

The new emperor was thinking: How should I reward General Xia when he returns with his troops?

Suddenly, he remembered what Panpan had told him: that they would win the battle.

Panpan, this girl's words are truly golden!
He recalled the will she had found for him, every word she had said, every pill she had given him... This child was truly his blessing.

When news of victory arrived from the border, the new emperor couldn't resist returning to share it with the empress.

Yes, Panpan also helped choose the empress.

She was not the granddaughter of the prime minister, but a young lady from a prominent family.

He was still the crown prince when he got married, and he discovered that he and the crown princess had many common interests and hobbies.

Now that he has become emperor and the crown princess has become empress, he will discuss matters of the court with the empress. The empress says that the women of the inner palace should not interfere in politics, but she will subtly offer him appropriate suggestions and opinions.

Rather than calling her an empress, it would be more accurate to describe her as a mentor and close friend.

Therefore, he liked to share his joys and sorrows with the Empress.

In Kunning Palace, the Empress lay on the couch, feeling unwell but unable to pinpoint exactly what was wrong.

"The Emperor has arrived."

Upon hearing this, the Empress immediately prepared to get off her bed to welcome him.

"I have met the emperor."

"Zitong, don't be so polite." The Emperor helped her up. "I've already said that you are pregnant and it's not appropriate for you to kneel. From now on, you are exempt from kneeling."

"Your Majesty, etiquette must not be disregarded."

"You, don't be so formal. Here, it's just you and me, no need to be so bound by formalities."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The Queen felt a sweet warmth in her heart.

When she was to enter the palace as the Crown Princess, her mother was very worried. Everyone said that serving the emperor was like serving a tiger, and that the harem was a place that would devour people without spitting out the bones. She said that she was too gentle and was not suitable to enter the palace as a concubine.

The father said, however, that the imperial edict had been issued and that the emperor's word was law; he had no choice but to go, whether he wanted to or not.

So, at the time, all she wanted was to be a good Crown Princess, and not to ask for anything else.

Unexpectedly, he was such a good person. He ate with her, read with her, and played chess with her... She adapted well to life in the palace, except for not being able to leave the palace.

"Your Majesty, General Xia has won a victory."

The emperor came to the empress to share comedy.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty, His Majesty."

"Look at you, being too polite again. Come, sit down."

The emperor pulled her hand and sat her down: "Yes, I am very pleased. General Xia has really put my mind at ease."

"Speaking of General Xia, I miss Princess Anping a bit."

"Then send someone to invite her to the palace."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will arrange it immediately."

It's truly rare; the couple both seem to adore Panpan. Subconsciously, the Empress stroked her lower abdomen.

"Your Majesty, do you think the baby in your belly is a prince or a princess?"

"What do you say?"

"Normally, I would prefer a prince."

A mother's status is secured by her son; having a prince ensures her position as empress.

"However, if she is a princess, I hope she can be as intelligent as Princess Anping."

"Hehe, the Empress is absolutely right. The Empress and I have the same idea."

It's great if it's a son, and it's fine if it's a daughter!
The couple's main approach was to accept everything.

This once again proves that the couple share common interests and speak the same language.

The Empress sent someone to fetch Panpan to the palace, and Panpan went to pack her small bag again.

I also stuffed a few bottles into my bag.

When the maid asked her, she said it was a gift for the Emperor and Empress.

"You child, you still remember me." He stroked Panpan's head: "You seem to have grown taller again."

"Mother, I can eat and sleep well, so I can grow up well." Panpan nestled in the Empress Dowager's arms: "Mother, don't be sad that Father is gone. You should be happy like Panpan."

"Alright, Mother will listen to Panpan."

Even the Empress herself couldn't say it: she was much happier being the Empress Dowager than being the Empress!
There was only one man, and as the empress, she had to be magnanimous and never compete with them for his affections. However, they still had no intention of letting her and her son go.

Therefore, it was a bloody and fierce battle from the very beginning.

In the end, she won!
Now, she is the Empress Dowager!

The Empress Dowager is the most respected woman in the world.

Once she becomes Empress Dowager, she has fewer concerns and won't worry about being deposed.

Now that her son is the emperor and her daughter-in-law is pregnant with her grandson, the whole world belongs to her son, and she is overjoyed.

If it weren't for the national mourning period, she would have wanted to host a grand banquet and invite those noble ladies to the palace to enjoy the flowers and drinks.

"That's right, that way Mother will stay young forever."

The Empress Dowager burst into laughter. She was about to become a grandmother, what was this talk of eternal youth?

"Mother, this is for you."

Panpan then took out a small ceramic bottle from her treasure bag and presented it with both hands.

"what is this?"

"It's a face cream developed by my second aunt. Using it makes you look younger and more beautiful."

"Alright, alright." Knowing that Xiao Chunnuan, the second daughter of the Xiao family, was a very capable person, she added, "By the way, is your second aunt going back to the capital?"

“I heard my mother say she’s happy. Right now, she’s cleaning the Xiao family’s yard.”

“Once your second aunt returns to the capital, Panpan can take her to the palace. There’s no need to ask for permission.”

The Empress Dowager wanted to ask if Xiao Chunnuan had any medicine that could cure the prince's illness.

Otherwise, every time Panpan entered the palace, the Empress would experience a noticeable change after taking the pills.

“Okay, then Panpan will bring her second aunt to the palace.” Panpan remembered something: “Panpan has never met her second aunt. She has never met her maternal grandparents, nor her uncle…”

The Xiao family, after all, is owed something by the royal family.

The Empress Dowager thought that once the Xiao family returned to the capital, she would issue an imperial edict to summon them to the palace.

She also wanted to see just how amazing the women of the Xiao family were who survived after a group of them were expelled from the Xiao family clan!

Yes, the Xiao family's every move is in the hands of the Empress—no, now the Empress Dowager. She is shocked by the immense suffering the Xiao family has endured in Changzhou. (End of Chapter)