"There have been issues in their families."
Lady Liang quickly asked, "What happened?"
"Aunt Lu is being forced by her family to marry an old man as a concubine. She doesn’t want to, but her family insists, and they even locked her at home. She escaped to find me." Aunt Lu was a skilled embroiderer in the palace. After leaving the palace, she planned to find an honest man to marry and have children. Unexpectedly, her family not only seized the money she brought from the palace, but also forced her to marry. "Aunt Wei wants to work as a medical woman in a clinic, but her family disapproves and doesn’t allow her to show herself publicly." Aunt Wei was a skilled medical woman at the Imperial Hospital. She heard from Mrs. Jiang that Prince Han was going to open a Medical College in Swamp Prefecture and needed female medical instructors. She agreed to go only after learning she could continue her medical work there.
"And Aunt Ma is also being pressured by her family to marry a cripple..."
These palace maids who returned home had varied fortunes; if lucky, their families would arrange good marriages for them. If not, they would be forced to marry. Due to their age when leaving the palace, they were no longer youthful, making it difficult to find good matches.
Some of them didn’t want to marry and preferred to open a business and earn money, but their families wouldn’t allow it. It was as if they were burdens that needed to be married off.
"The worst is Aunt Miao. She was a nursing aunt in the palace, and she should have been in high demand after leaving. However, her brother and sister-in-law are forcing her to marry a landlord as his eighteenth concubine." Mrs. Jiang sighed, "If she had gone to continue her work as a nursing aunt in a wealthy household, she wouldn’t have been sold by her family."
"She probably saw many sordid things in the palace and didn’t want to get involved with wealthy families and their troubles."
"That’s true, there are plenty of dark secrets in those households." Mrs. Jiang hadn’t approached Aunt Miao initially, thinking she wouldn’t want to go to Lingnan. "But she came to me a couple of days ago, asking if I could take her in. She said she was willing to learn anything, so I agreed, thinking there’s no nursing aunt in Swamp Prefecture."
"Aunt Miao is very capable. Taking her to Swamp Prefecture is the right decision," Lady Liang smiled, "All the aunts leaving the palace are highly petent. You’ve found a gem."
"It’s all thanks to Your Grace’s blessing. I think when we reach Swamp Prefecture, His Highness will be pleased," Mrs. Jiang said. "His Highness has always mentioned the urgent need for medical women there. Now that we have a skilled female medical practitioner, he will surely be delighted."
"After the trade conference, will the hospital and Medical College be built?"
"They will, as well as a school..." Mrs. Jiang shared many uping plans for Swamp Prefecture with Lady Liang.
"When you reach Swamp Prefecture, keep an eye out for good young women."
"Your Grace, are you planning to?"
"He only has Tong Xi with him at Swamp Prefecture, with no woman to attend to him. My mind is not at ease." Lady Liang wore a worried expression, "He remains oblivious to these matters. I need to arrange for a young woman to enlighten him. Otherwise, e next year when he’s to marry, he won’t know anything."
"You’re planning to arrange a panion for His Highness?"
Lady Liang nodded slightly, "Yes, he’s to marry next year and should understand these things."
"Your Grace, aren’t you worried that arranging a panion might lead to her being pregnant, affecting His Highness’ marriage next year?"
"He wouldn’t allow it," Lady Liang trusted in her son’s character, "I’m only concerned he might refuse a panion." Before Zhao Yao left for Lingnan, Lady Liang had planned to assign a palace maid to acpany him as a panion. He had refused.
"Actually, my husband also mentioned this to His Highness, but he refused," Mrs. Jiang said, "Perhaps this time, too, he’ll refuse."
"Let Brother Run remind him once more. If he still refuses, then let it be." Lady Liang knew her son’s temperament and wouldn’t force him. "I just want someone to look after him, worried he’ll neglect himself when charged with duties. This child ignores everything once he’s busy. Though Tong Xi has served him since young, he’s not as attentive as a woman."
"Your Grace’s concern is valid." Mrs. Jiang didn’t dare to tell Lady Liang that Zhao Yao often vanished when busy, going days without eating or sleeping.
"His letters only report good news, never troubles. I have no idea how he’s faring in Swamp Prefecture." Lady Liang said worriedly, "This trade conference, mingling with foreigners, who knows if something will go wrong."
Mrs. Jiang thought: Your Grace, nobody can bully His Highness; it’s always the other way around.
"Your Grace, His Highness is incredibly wise, and those foreigners are no match for him." If they dared to underestimate him, they’d regret it.
"The capital’s situation is tense. I’m worried..." Lady Liang didn’t continue. Although Zhao Yao was in Lingnan, away from the capital, its intrigues could still affect him.
Mrs. Jiang didn’t understand court affairs, but she’d heard from Liang Run that Zhao Yao was well-versed in court dynamics.
"Your Grace, my husband said His Highness is always cautious about court politics, so there shouldn’t be any trouble."
"Let’s hope so." Lady Liang knew her son’s abilities would keep him safe, yet couldn’t help but feel anxious as a mother. "When you return to Lingnan, be careful and attentive, especially with those around you."
Mrs. Jiang understood Lady Liang’s meaning, nodded solemnly, and said, "Yes, Your Grace."
Lady Liang, fearing she might have frightened Mrs. Jiang, shifted the topic to talk about female artisans.
Mrs. Jiang stayed for lunch at the palace. When she left, Lady Liang gifted her many items, half of which were for Zhao Yao.
Far away in Swamp Prefecture, Zhao Yao was meeting with an envoy sent by Prince Han.
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