Lord Tang personally led people to Changqing Alley to fetch the dicine. Manbao divided the dicine into three portions and sealed them in jars. Seeing Lord Tang bent over, looking curiously, she shoved one jar into his arms. "Let’s go. Be careful; the dicine is rare, don’t break it."
Lord Tang turned around and handed it to soone to carefully store away, then asked, "I just saw it’s blue. Is the dicine actually blue?"
Manbao said, "Their bodies should be getting better, right?"
"Yes, the doctor says the situation has improved a lot, the antidote is working." Lord Tang pondered for a mont and then asked, "We have recently co into contact with this toxic stone. Do we..."
Manbao turned and went back inside the house, bringing out ten porcelain bottles. "There are a total of one hundred portions, ninety sealed in jars. These ten are for the people escorting the stones along the way. As for you, having been in contact for just a few days, there’s no need for the dicine. Just jump a little, sweat it out, and in a week or two, your body will naturally clear it out. But during this ti, avoid having children, as it could affect them."
Lord Tang: ...
Lord Tang accepted the ten porcelain bottles.
Only eight people returned from escorting the toxic stones and witnesses, so it seems Manbao knows quite well, having prepared two extra portions.
Lord Tang quickly sent those two extra antidote portions to the palace.
The Emperor didn’t ask how he arranged the remaining antidote. The Crown Prince agreed to send antidotes to Gaochang and look for the remaining toxic stones on the way.
He opened the porcelain bottle, looked at the dicine inside, thought for a while, and then summoned Director Xiao.
Director Xiao took half a bottle to study, and the rest the Emperor kept.
Zhou Man was unwilling to disclose the formula; he couldn’t force her to hand it over. There are many secret recipes, especially within the noble families’ foundations.
Such matters can be done secretly by the nobility, but as the Emperor, he must not do it. Otherwise, setting such a precedent would lead to endless troubles.
Therefore, not only could he not do it, but he also had to ensure others could not force Zhou Man to reveal the formula.
After putting away the porcelain bottle, the Emperor told Gu Zhongdao, "Have the Internal Departnt make a set of the fifth-grade inner official’s robe for Zhou Man and send it to her."
Gu Zhong was startled for a mont and said, "Your Majesty, Doctor Zhou Junior has not been conferred an official position. This..."
The Emperor said, "Whether she accepts the official seal is up to her, but the robe can be given. Doesn’t she want to re-establish the Imperial dical Departnt? Send her the official robe first."
Gu Zhong’s eyes flashed. He imdiately bowed his head in agreent.
The Emperor had many things to attend to. Now it was spring planting ti; so places were already showing signs of drought, while in others, it was too much rain, washing away the newly planted seedlings.
The unsmooth agricultural affairs, coupled with the several cases involving Hou Ji, put the ministers in a foul mood, sotis leading to quarrels during discussions.
Even the Emperor lost his temper twice in court, and at this ti, Prince Gong brought a team into the capital by imperial decree, detaining people sent to Luozhou by Hou Ji twice.
He then entered the palace, knelt to greet his father, but before he had a chance to stand, a eunuch hurriedly ran in to congratulate, "Your Majesty, there is joyous news from the Eastern Palace!"
The one who reported was a young eunuch from the Eastern Palace, his face full of joy, excitedly shouting, "Your Majesty, the Crown Princess felt unwell this morning and called for the imperial physician. The physician said the Crown Princess is more than three months pregnant!"
The Emperor knew long ago, but he didn’t expect the Crown Prince to reveal it at this ti. Still, he cooperated and showed a happy smile.
Then he repeatedly ordered the sending of gifts to the Eastern Palace.
But the room full of ministers and Prince Gong, still kneeling on the ground, were thunderstruck, too shocked to speak.
The Emperor had already sent people to deliver gifts to the Eastern Palace. As he turned around and saw his ministers with their mouths agape in surprise, he felt proud and said with a smile, "The Crown Prince has been married for years, and finally, there is to be a child. I am finally going to be a grandfather, hahahaha..."
Minister Li and others ca to their senses, imdiately congratulating the Emperor.
Especially State Duke Zhao, intending to diate, he was happier and spoke without restraint to the Emperor, "Your Majesty, let’s have a good drink tonight."
The Emperor loved drinking with his brother-in-law and gladly agreed.
Wei Zhi, below, furrowed his eyebrows, wanting to seize the opportunity to criticize State Duke Zhao for leading the Emperor astray, but seeing how joyously the Emperor was squinting his eyes, he held back.
Forget it; maybe tomorrow.
Prince Gong was paralyzed on the ground, lips pressed tight upon hearing the Emperor say he’s finally going to be a grandfather. Isn’t his son not his grandson?
Just as he thought so, the Emperor noticed him, sighed, and gestured for him to rise.
Because of the sudden joyous news from the Eastern Palace, neither the ministers nor the Emperor who knew beforehand had the heart to listen to Prince Gong report on Hou Ji.
Prince Gong also suddenly found no will to defend himself, so they dispersed abruptly and unsuccessfully.
The people Prince Gong brought were temporarily detained by the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Justice and Punishnts, while Prince Gong himself returned to his residence to wait.
Prince Gong had just entered the palace, and within half an hour, he was out again, his eyes a bit red. He sat in his residence before the division, feeling very wronged.
Prince Gong’s advisor, learning the news from the palace, was silent for a while, then regained his spirits and said, "Your Highness, don’t worry. It’s only three months. There are more than six months until the birth. The Crown Prince’s infertility might an this child won’t be healthy, and it might not even be a boy!"
Seeing Prince Gong silent, the advisor continued to encourage, "Prince, now is the ti to handle Hou Ji’s matters. You are completely innocent in this and even took the initiative in detaining Hou Ji’s people. If you express your sincerity, His Majesty will surely believe you..."
The advisor talked a lot, but Prince Gong sat there blankly. Who knows how much he heard.
anwhile, the day after the imperial physician left, the Crown Prince looked at the flow of gifts to the Eastern Palace and snorted coldly.
"Isn’t it just maneuvering? Who can’t do that?"
The news of the Crown Princess’s pregnancy spread throughout the palace city almost instantly and then flew outside the palace.
First, the Emperor sent a large number of gifts, then the Empress, and the Empress Dowager was only a step behind her.
The three main figures in the palace demonstrated their stance through their actions, so everyone in the palace beca cautious; no one dared to offend the Eastern Palace at this ti.
As the news spread outside the palace, the Crown Prince graciously pointed to a pile of things and said to Manbao, "Choose so at will; consider it a reward from ."
Manbao politely declined, "This isn’t appropriate, considering it’s a reward from His Majesty and the two consorts to the Crown Princess."
The Crown Prince thought for a mont and nodded, "Indeed, it’s not quite suitable."
Manbao: ...
However, the Crown Prince suddenly rembered sothing and was pleased, saying, "I recall when I asked you to enter the palace to diagnose my mother, I said if you could save her, I would give you five hundred gold. Just as well, I’ll give it to you now."
With that, he turned his head to look at Eunuch Wu beside him.
Eunuch Wu imdiately smiled and presented a box forward.
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