Chapter 500: Nepotism
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation I Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Zhu Lin burst into tears loudly.
He wept tears of grievance and grief, and he wept in an earth-shattering fashion, attracting queer looks from people nearby. Those who didn’t know better would think that his entire family had been executed by Xiao Jin!
Xiao Jin found his behavior downright embarrassing. He instructed the Imperial Guards to drag him back to the Imperial study at once. The hall door was then closed, blocking out all inquisitive stares.
“Zhu Lin, shut up at once!”
Zhu Lin was still wailing with his eyes closed.
Su Ying rubbed the spot between her brows that was throbbing. “If you don’t shut up, I’ll kick you like a ball.”
Zhu Lin’s sobs came to an abrupt halt, and he looked at Su Ying with an aggrieved but joyous expression. That expression of a submissive wife made Su Ying feel downright disgusted.
Su Ying sat down on a chair. “I heard that you insisted on seeing me? Tell me. What is it regarding?”
Zhu Lm sobbed as he replied, “I… I just want to see with my eyes that you are alive and well, Your Imperial Highness…”
Su Ying’s eyebrows twitched again. “And then?”
Zhu Lin stared at Su Ying eagerly as if he wanted to confirm that she was really still alive. Only the heavens knew how much traumatic shock he had felt when he helplessly watched Su Ying fall off the dam.
Whenever he closed his eyes, the image of Su Ying falling into the dam would appear in his mind. When he woke up, there was only one thing left in his mind, and that was to locate Su Ying, regardless of whether she was dead or alive!
He honestly did not expect that he could still see her alive!
The first thing he wanted to do after he recovered was to enter the palace to seek an audience with Su Ying, but Xiao Jin had turned him down. He had no choice but to take advantage of his attendance in the Imperial Court today to squeeze out this opportunity!
However, Zhu Lin very quickly felt a chill run down his spine. He didn’t dare to raise his head to look in Xiao Jin’s direction. He shrewdly stopped while he was ahead and began to ask Su Ying about the materials that were used to fill the dam’s cracks.
The Imperial Court planned to take advantage of the post-flood season to repair the old dam. They couldn’t just leave that thing stuck on the crack forever.
“That thing is easy to handle. You guys go get some acidic vinegar and pour it on it. That thing will be dissolved and fall off.”
Zhu Lin had not thought that it would be so simple. He also did not know what material it was that had such a strong adhesive quality.
Zhu Lin still wanted to say something, but Xiao Jin ordered the Imperial Guards to drag him out at once.
The Imperial study was finally peaceful.
Su Ying was utterly speechless. “How did he manage to be an official for so long?”
Xiao Jin frowned slightly and thought about it seriously. “Probably due to nepotism.”
Su Ying nodded in agreement. “That makes sense.”
“Are you feeling better?”
“I was already fine when I woke up in the morning.”
Xiao Jin pulled her hand over and felt the coldness in her palm. He wrapped her hand in his large hand.
“There’s one other matter. See if you want to take charge.”
“What is it?”
“It’s that Zhou Xiangrong from Marquis Bo An’s Residence. The news of her curing the plague-infected victims in Luo City has spread to a small circle within the city. She has indeed made a contribution to this matter. If you want to reward her in person, I won’t get involved. If you don’t want to do it, I’ll send someone to reward her.”
Su Ymg had been so busy that she had forgotten about this. When she thought of Zhou Xiangrong, Su Ying had found an opportunity to look at her back before returning to the capital city, but she did not see any obvious scars on her back. Thus, Su Ying was still not sure if she was the woman she had met who died on the official road.
Nonetheless, she was still curious about this person.
111 summon her into the palace tomorrow for a word.”
“Alright.”
Xiao Jin held Su Ying’s hand and left the Imperial study. They got ready to return to the Conjugal Phoenix Palace to have lunch with the two children.
Just as the two of them walked out of the door, they saw Jiang Yang walking towards them.
Jiang Yang was also surprised to see them. “Greetings, Your Majesty, Your
Imperial Highness.”
The two of them stopped in their tracks. “You may rise.”
Jiang Yang straightened up and asked Su Ying of his own volition, “Your
Imperial Highness, may I ask how my wife is doing?”
Lin Zhuyu was so happy that she forgot about her home. Su Ying had given her medicine for a few days, and her condition was beginning to stabilize. It was fine for her to leave the palace now, but she was unwilling and would not leave no matter what. When Bai Shuang was not on duty, Lin Zhuyu would still drag her in to chat, making Bai Shuang feel resentful. Normally, when Bai Shuang was not on duty, she only wanted to lie down and read her story books. Yet, now, she had to waste all her rest time to keep Lin Zhuyu company.
Much better. If you miss her, I will get someone to send her back to you.” A look of joy broke out in Jiang Yang’s eyes, but he was also a little worried. “Is the child stable now?”
“More or less. There won’t be any big problems after she brings the medicine back and takes it.”
Upon hearing Su Ying’s words, Jiang Yang was completely relieved.
‘Thankyou, Your Imperial Highness.”
After Jiang Yang finished speaking with Su Ying, he then turned to look at Xiao
Jin. “Your Majesty, I have something to report.”
Su Ying let go of Xiao Jin’s hand upon hearing that. ‘TH go back first.
Otherwise, the children will have to wait for a long time.”
Xiao Jin nodded. “Mm-hmm. Don’t wait for me. You guys go ahead and eat first.”
“Alright.”
While Xiao Jin and Jiang Yang returned to the Imperial study, Su Ying returned to the Conjugal Phoenix Palace first.
When she arrived at the Conjugal Phoenix Palace, the two little ones were already waiting for her in the inner hall.
“Mother, where did you go?” Ling asked as she galloped out to grab Su Ying’s hand.
“Mother went to your father’s place. Are you hungry? If you are hungry, let’s get them to serve lunch.”
Ji looked behind Su Ying. “Didn’t Father come back?”
Mm-hmm. He might be a little late. You guys still have to rest after lunch later. Eat first and have a good nap after eating your fill. Otherwise, you won’t have the energy to attend class in the afternoon.”
“Okay.”
“Your Imperial Highness, you are not feeling well today. After eating your fill, why not follow the First Prince and the Young Princess to the bed and lie down? Don’t run around anymore.” Aunt Zhao brought clean wet handkerchiefs for them to wipe their hands.
Su Ymg said with a frown, “Didn’t I tell you to rest well, Aunt Zhao? Why did you come out again?”
Aunt Zhao smiled gently. “I don’t feel uncomfortable if I don’t see the First Prince and the Young Princess for even one day. I don’t feel unwell anywhere and I’m also taking the medicine prescribed by Your Imperial Highness on time. I’m fine.”
“Then don’t tire yourself out. Don’t carry heavy things.”
“Yes, your old servant will definitely bear this in mind. I’ll just do some light work and quickly go back to rest when I’m tired. I still want to live a few more years and watch the First Prince and the Young Princess grow up.”
Aunt Zhao, not only can you watch them grow up, but you can also watch them get married and have children.”
Aunt Zhao smiled so happily that the wrinkles on her face deepened. “You’re right, Your Imperial Highness.”
“After Your Imperial Highness has finished eating, I will get the seamstresses from the needlework department to come over and take measurements for Your Imperial Highness, the First Prince, and the Young Princess. Winter will arrive in a month or two, and the capital’s winter climate gets colder earlier. So we have to prepare the winter clothes first.”
“Sure.”
When Su Ying and the two children had finished eating, Xiao Jin still hadn’t returned.
While the mother and two children were chatting and digesting their food, the seamstresses from the needlework department arrived.
Aunt Zhao looked at the measurements the seamstress took for Su Ying and commented, “Your Imperial Highness, you have grown a bit taller than last year.”
Su Ying stretched out her arms and made some estimations above her head, but she couldn’t tell. She didn’t know if she had really grown taller, but she had always looked like a dwarf in front of Xiao Jin.
“Ling and Ji have truly grown taller.”
This was particularly true of Ji. With his back straightened upright, he already had the bearing of an emperor..