Chapter 326: Reassurance Pill
Xingnong felt that it was unlikely that any of the imperial consorts in the harem would dare to harm Shen Ruoxi, but it was always better to be safe than sorry. She advised her mother to be extra cautious with her food, clothing, fragrances, and other commonly used items, and to avoid using anything sent by others without inspecting it first.
Shen Ruoxi didn’t expect that she would have to be so wary of others in so many aspects of her life: “This is too tiring! I want to go back to Peach Blossom Village! Staying in the palace feels even more dangerous than the journey back!”
Xingnong shook her head with a smile: “I’m just asking you to be careful and not trust people so easily, but don’t be overly suspicious. You are the Empress, and Father Emperor is protecting you. Your brothers are also good people, and no one would dare to harm you! I’m just worried about you and wanted to remind you to be cautious. Even if no one intends to harm you, you should still be careful, right? But Father Emperor will arrange for experienced momos to take care of you, so just focus on taking care of yourself and the baby! Father Emperor will handle everything!”
Shen Ruoxi thought about it and realized that she had nothing to fear. The Jin Kingdom Emperor was more thoughtful than she had imagined. If she told him about her worries, he would make the necessary arrangements!
The Jin Kingdom Emperor indeed made comprehensive arrangements. Besides instructing the entire Imperial Hospital to develop a special diet plan for Shen Ruoxi, he also invited his own wet nurse back to the palace to care for her. Furthermore, he paid a visit to Noble Consort Li, urging her to maintain order in the harem and warning that anyone who dared to harm the imperial heir, whether successful or not, would face the execution of their entire nine kinships!
Of course, he also gave Noble Consort Li a reassurance: “I am very satisfied with the Crown Prince.”
He was not only satisfied with the Crown Prince. Every prince had been personally raised and educated by the Jin Kingdom Emperor since the age of two. Each of them had their strengths and they had a good brotherly bond. He was satisfied with all of them.
After the Jin Kingdom Emperor left, Noble Consort Li couldn’t help but smile and said to the senior maid beside her, “The Emperor said he is very satisfied with the Crown Prince!”
The maid was also delighted: “Now, Noble Consort, you can rest assured!”
Noble Consort Li was indeed relieved!
The Emperor’s words were a reassurance pill for her. She understood that as long as she didn’t make any mistakes, the throne would definitely belong to her son.
Noble Consort Li’s spirits lifted: “Summon Li Dezhong. I have something to tell him! Tomorrow is Princess Xingnong’s wedding day. Everything must be arranged perfectly. There must be no mistakes!”
“Yes!” The maid replied and hurried out.
As the maid left, she encountered the Crown Prince. She bowed: “Your servant greets the Crown Prince.”
Shen Hancheng nodded and walked in.
Noble Consort Li was happy to see him: “Why are you here, Crown Prince? Don’t you have matters to attend to in the court?”
Shen Hancheng thought his mother would be upset, but unexpectedly, she seemed to be in a good mood.
He had come to comfort his mother, worried that she might be unhappy, and to remind her not to do anything foolish.
“What good news has made you so happy, Mother Consort?”
Noble Consort Li smiled: “The Empress is pregnant, and Princess Xingnong is getting married. It’s a double blessing, so of course, I’m happy!”
Shen Hancheng raised an eyebrow. He had always known that his mother valued his position as Crown Prince above all else. If the Empress was pregnant, it meant there was a possibility of a legitimate son being born. How could she be so happy?
But then he saw the teacups on the table that hadn’t been cleared away yet and understood. Father Emperor had been here!
Father Emperor must have given Mother Consort a reassurance.
With that, he no longer had to worry about his mother doing anything reckless that could bring trouble upon herself.
“Now that Mother Consort is thinking this way, your son is relieved!”
Noble Consort Li glared at him: “What are you worried about?”
✿✿✿
Shen Hancheng knew what kind of person his mother was. When it came to her own interests, she was particularly meticulous, unwilling to suffer any loss or grievance. This was actually a manifestation of maternal love. He could understand, but he didn’t always agree with her thoughts.
He couldn’t understand why she was always worried about losing her position as the Crown Prince’s mother!
Heaven knew how much he wished he wasn’t the Crown Prince!
The Crown Princess was in poor health and would have difficulty bearing children. He didn’t want to take concubines either. Moreover, since he was a child, he had always wanted to be like his other brothers, able to leave the palace and travel freely. He also wanted to take the Crown Princess with him to see the beautiful mountains and rivers, to travel everywhere.
“I was worried that Mother Consort would overthink things with the Empress being pregnant. Father Emperor values family. Although he seems to favor Imperial Sister and the Empress more, he cares deeply for all of us brothers. Look, Father Emperor has personally raised and educated every prince since we were two years old. Not to mention that he is the Emperor, with so many state affairs to handle every day, even for fathers from ordinary families, it’s rare to find someone as dedicated as him. Imperial Sister has suffered so much and is about to marry into another family. It’s understandable that Father Emperor is showing her more affection now. Although the Empress is pregnant, as long as Mother Consort and I don’t make any mistakes, this position as Crown Prince is secure, and your position will remain unchanged! However, if anyone dares to harm the imperial heir, Father Emperor will most likely execute their entire nine kinships.”
Noble Consort Li glanced at him: “You sound just like your Father Emperor! Alright, Mother Consort hasn’t thought of doing anything! You are already the Crown Prince. How foolish would I have to be to dig my own grave? Both of you think so poorly of me!”
Shen Hancheng smiled: “Your son knows that Mother Consort has always been kind and intelligent!”
Noble Consort Li rolled her eyes: “Get out! There are still many things in the harem that require my attention!”
Seeing this, Shen Hancheng stood up and took his leave.
Not only did Shen Hancheng go to see his mother, but the other princes also went to their respective mothers, urging them not to do anything foolish!
If their mothers were foolish, they, as princes, wouldn’t suffer any consequences, but their mothers and their maternal families would be doomed!
They understood their Father Emperor too well!
Their Father Emperor detested those who harmed innocent people. If any ministers had wives or concubines involved in scandals of harming children, they would undoubtedly be demoted, punished, and even labeled as vicious women. This was even more true for those who harmed his own children!
Now that the Empress was pregnant, and the Empress and Imperial Sister had suffered so much, Father Emperor felt guilty and felt that no amount of compensation was enough! If anyone dared to harm the Empress, he would absolutely carry out the execution of their nine kinships as a warning to others!
The title of “tyrant” wasn’t earned for nothing!
Father Emperor’s methods had always been fierce and powerful, but they were always effective.
As a result, there wasn’t even a single thief in the Jin Kingdom’s capital!
The reason was that anyone caught stealing would not be imprisoned, with food and shelter provided without having to work, only to be released after a few days. Instead, they would be sentenced to hard labor at the stone quarry to earn money and repay the victim, with a hundredfold compensation for the stolen goods.
Working at the stone quarry earned one copper coin per day. Stealing one copper coin meant having to repay one hundred copper coins, which meant working hard at the quarry for one hundred days just to repay one stolen copper coin!
If the stolen goods were worth one hundred taels of silver or more, the thief would spend their entire life at the stone quarry!
How miserable would that be?
Currently, there were still many thieves at the stone quarry who had stolen one hundred or several tens of taels.
As a result, many thieves, after experiencing the hardship, would never dare to steal again once released! They would obediently find jobs to earn money!
After all, they had already endured the hardship of quarrying stones for one copper coin per day. Once they were out, what job couldn’t earn them one copper coin more easily than at the quarry? Who would be foolish enough to steal again?
Xingnong was unaware that her brothers had all gone to warn their mothers not to do anything foolish. After leaving the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, she went to sleep. When she woke up, she ate something and then started bathing and dressing, preparing for her wedding.
