Cui Qi pulled Lin Rong's hand and sighed: "You have been in Jiangnan for almost five months, and you have not stayed in the house for many days. Now that you are gone, how many years will it take for us sisters to see each other again?"
Lin Rong then smiled: "The atlas around Jiangzhou has been finished, but the ones from the surrounding prefectures and counties haven't come yet. We'll probably see them next year and the year after that."
Cui Qi was relieved: "Okay, okay, that's all."
Fearing that the river would be blocked by heavy snow, Lin Rong took a boat north to Luoyang on the second day, stopping and going very slowly along the way. It was already dark when we arrived at Luoyang City, and the city gates were already closed. Lin Rong sat in a very simple sedan chair, and showed the queen's seal. Then the city gate slowly opened, and she arrived at the residence of Mr. Tao. It was already late at night on the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month.
When Lin Rong arrived, Mr. Tao and his female family members were standing at the door to greet him. When they saw Lin Rong, they all knelt down and said, "The guilty minister pays homage to the Queen and asks her to convict you." This was naturally what Lin Rong meant. Having already guessed it, he helped Mr. Tao up and smiled: "No need to be polite, I have one more thing to entrust to Mr. Tao."
Everyone entered the house together, changed clothes, drank hot tea, and warmed their hands and feet. Lin Rong checked Master Tao's pulse and said: "Your illness has gotten better in recent years, but you still need to take care of yourself. Such paralysis, The most important thing is to rely on support.”
After talking about some old talk, seeing that it was getting late, Lin Rong told everyone to leave and there was no need to accompany him.
Chapter 122
The news of Lin Rong's arrival in the city actually reached the desk of Xuanzheng Hall a quarter of an hour later.
Lu Shen was still awake at that time. He was reviewing papers under the lamp with his clothes on. He was annoyed because it was so cold this year and many people died of freezing in the suburbs of Beijing. He didn't know what he saw. He suddenly frowned and threw away his pen.
The foreign ministers waiting in front of him who were waiting to question him at any time were afraid to express their anger. Before Lu Shen could open his mouth to reprimand, they immediately knelt down and apologized: "Your Majesty, please calm down. I am guilty."
Lu Shen looked at everyone coldly and was about to have a fit when he saw the small yellow door outside pushing open the door and coming in. He bowed and said, "Your Majesty, Commander Lu has a message to give."
The fold is just a small piece of paper about a finger or two wide. The handwriting on it is very hasty: "The Queen entered the city from the south gate in a small plain-colored sedan a quarter of an hour ago."
Those small regular script letters that were as big as grains of rice seemed to be big and small at first sight. Lu Shen almost felt dizzy. He stood up suddenly with a roar while holding on to the table. He walked unconsciously and asked, "Where are you going?"
Fortunately, the little Huangmen had already asked the person who was replying carefully in advance, and he could answer at this time: "It's from Lord Tao Pengtao's house."
The kneeling ministers were shocked when they saw Lu Shen standing up with a sullen face and pacing back and forth again. His Majesty was so angry that they were trembling with fear and were not sure what to do when they saw that he had already turned around and left the palace like a gust of wind.
The ministers knelt there for a long time. I don't know how long it took before they came through a small yellow door and said, "My lords, please go back first. Your Majesty has said that we will discuss this matter another day."
All the ministers then stood up and slowly went to the check-in room. They were all glad in their hearts: it was probably because the battle in the north went smoothly and the news was good, so His Majesty did not have an attack.
Lu Shen rode a black horse and took only three or five people with him. When he arrived at Tao Mansion, Tao Peng, Tao Shu and his son had been waiting at the door for a long time. At this time, snow particles began to fall, hitting the flowers and trees in the courtyard. A rustling sound.
Tao Peng and Tao Shu knelt down to apologize: "The guilty ministers Tao Peng and Tao Shu come to your Majesty!"
Lu Shen got off his horse, ignored the two men, and walked straight into the yard. It was just a two-entry courtyard with only seven or eight rooms in front and back. I walked straight in and passed the moon gate. I saw a slim figure reflected on the plain white window screen of the wing in front. Opposite the slim figure was a forty-year-old man. The next-year-old man, not knowing what the two of them were talking about, was stroking his beard and sighing: "I'm afraid this matter will be extremely difficult!"
Lu Shen's face immediately became extremely ugly. Mr. Tao followed him and explained: "Your Majesty, the Queen has brought back several famous doctors from Jiangnan. This person in the room is Mr. Li." He was really old, and he was so troubled. After half a night, I caught a cold and started coughing softly after saying a few words.
Lu Shen waved his hand wordlessly, ordering everyone to leave, and suddenly stopped him: "I have read the letter you wrote begging for the bones. You will go back to your hometown in the spring next year. The eldest son Tao Shu Enyin became an official and became a member of the Ministry of Industry. .”
At this age, Mr. Tao doesn't really care whether he wants to become an official or not, but because of his Majesty's temperament, he is bound to retaliate. The incident in Jiangzhou was caused by the empress's refusal to attack, so he was quite worried. Returning home safely like this is the best thing.
Immediately he pulled his eldest son to his knees and said, "I and my son have made many mistakes. Your Majesty is generous, so I am not very alarmed."
Lu Shen waved his hand and passed the moon cave door. After about ten steps, the beautiful shadow on the plain white window screen became clearer and clearer.
In the room, Lin Rong stretched out her hand and added a few pieces of silver wire charcoal to the copper stove. The dark red flames soon brightened and extinguished. She slowly added water to the teacup. Mr. Li held the teacup in both hands and said, "Mother, it's me. Bar."
Lin Rong shook his head and continued: "You said this is extremely difficult, and I agree. The doctor's medicine directions come from the broomstick. If you teach others, wouldn't you teach the apprentice and starve the master to death? If you fail to learn literature, you will die. It's better to study medicine. Doctors in the countryside always only teach the family. Even if they accept apprentices, it's like buying them for life. This is a great way to do things. Keep the prescriptions yourself and pass them on to four or five generations. That's pretty good, but I don't know how many have been lost since they were passed around."
That Mr. Li nodded repeatedly: "Your Majesty is right."
Lin Rong continued: "That's why we want to gather famous doctors from all over the world to set up a school in Luoyang. My body is getting heavier and heavier, and I'm afraid I will have to rely on Mr. Zhong to make preparations for me later. If you want someone or something, all you have to do is write a statement. "
That Mr. Li agreed, and then discussed the matter of running a school, saying: "Literaturemen seek fame when they study. If you want to start medicine, how will you settle down after completing your studies?"
This was a self-question and answer, and Lin Rong was not asked to speak. The man continued: "I think the medical officials in the prefecture and county government hospitals, if your Majesty agrees, can hire people who have completed their studies..."
The two talked for a long time. Mr. Li said something meaningful, and Lin Rong nodded repeatedly.
Lu Shen stood outside the door, already extremely impatient. Just as he was about to open the door and go in, he heard Mr. Li admonishing: "Your Majesty is already seven months old. Although her pulse is steady and strong, it is not unusual, so it is better." Life and rest are the key. There is no need to rush into the pharmacopoeia. Several counties in the south of the Yangtze River cannot be completed in half a year, let alone the rest of the land. In fact, according to the wishes of the minister, the empress should not go to the south of the Yangtze River at this time. "
Lin Rong remained silent after hearing this, caressing his bulging belly, and sighed: "Maybe it's because I always think about the past and don't want to accept the reality. I always think about the day I wake up and go back completely."
That Mr. Li seemed to have Lin Rong's trust. After hearing this, he nodded in understanding, but did not ask further questions, saying: "No wonder I always had a gloomy look on my face when I was in Jiangnan."
Lin Rong laughed when he heard this: "Sir, he is an expert in fortune-telling and knows every detail." However, he did not talk about it in depth. Lu Shen did not know about such a thing, nor did the relatives in Jiangzhou. It seemed that there was no one to tell him. No one can understand it, it’s just my own obsession.
He also changed the topic and talked about the grade of this medical official.
Then Mr. Li asked: "Official positions are a national matter. Should I report it to His Majesty before handling it?"
Lin Rong just said calmly: "I will talk to him tomorrow. However, there are some seventh- and eighth-grade miscellaneous officials who are not of the highest rank, and they are not senior officials of the Sixth Department. I won't object if I think about it."
Lu Shen stood outside the window and listened to Lin Rong's exchange with Mr. Li. He stood there blankly. He was extremely happy, but after hearing these words, his heart became empty. The snow outside became heavier and heavier. After a while, the tiny snow particles turned into heavy snow like goose feathers, floating on Lu Shen's bun and shoulders. When the biting cold wind came, he suddenly felt that there was no place on his body. not cold.
He stood there silently. Lin Rong and Mr. Li said something else later, but they couldn't listen at all.
I don't know how long it took, Mr. Li who was inside pushed the door open and came out. After walking three or five steps, he saw Lu Shen beside the cedar. He was shocked and confused for a while. He was about to call someone when he suddenly caught a glimpse of the dragon pattern on Lu Shen's robe. He immediately knelt down and said, "Your Majesty!"
Lu Shen waved his hand and did not ask any questions. He only asked: "Is the Queen feeling depressed in Jiangzhou?"
Mr. Li thought that the conversation just now must have been heard. He nodded and shook his head: "The common people can't say..."
After Lin Rong finished talking, she was already extremely tired. She was afraid that giving birth would be as difficult as giving birth to Azhao, so she deliberately controlled her weight. In addition, she was already thin, so during the seven months of pregnancy, she was only one or two fatter than before. Just a dozen pounds.
Because I need to control my blood sugar, I not only avoid eating anything too sweet, but also eat small meals frequently every day. After talking on the phone, I feel extremely hungry again. Xiaohe was the girl that Lin Rong took in in Jiangzhou. She didn't know how old she was, but she estimated that she was about fifteen years old. She immediately brought half a bowl of coarse-grain fish fillet porridge: "Mom, please use a little."
Lin Rong nodded, took two or three mouthfuls, washed up, then lay down, and told the little girl: "You should go to sleep too, it's so cold."
The little girl shook her head: "I'm not sleepy, and I'm not cold. In the past, I wasn't afraid even if I was covered with straw. Wearing such a thick cotton-padded jacket, I'm not afraid of the cold. Besides, when we were in Jiangzhou, the Sixth Girl and the nuns all gave orders , saying that the master is very heavy now and cannot leave people for a moment."
Lin Rong had no choice but to follow her and told her to rest on the soft couch next to the copper stove. He also asked her to be careful not to fall down in the middle of the night and cause the copper stove to burn. The little girl listened and nodded with a smile: "Mother, I can save it."
While the two were talking, they saw the door creaked and someone pushed it open. Lin Rong had to be served by Xiao He alone. He did not bring anyone else back to Luoyang. The little girl immediately stood up and asked: "Who is it?"
Lu Shen opened the curtain and walked in slowly. He was still wearing the bright yellow gold-woven dragon-patterned uniform he wore when he summoned ministers, and there was a thick layer of snowflakes on his shoulders.
He looked at Lin Rong solemnly, and neither of them spoke for a while.
The little girl came from a rural background and had little knowledge, but she was very courageous. She asked: "Who are you? This is not a place where everyone can come. Get out quickly..."
If he wanted to say more, he asked Lin Rong to hold him back and said, "It's okay. This is Your Majesty. Go down and have a rest."
The little girl was so frightened that she didn't dare to say a word and hurriedly retreated.
Seeing him standing three steps in front of the bed, not saying a word, with a cold face, as if he was here to accuse him, Lin Rong didn't bother to pay attention to him, he was very sleepy, opened the quilt, and was about to put down the bed curtain, then There was cramping in the calf and calf. I gritted my teeth and endured it, and I groaned unconsciously.
Lu Shen heard the sound and hurriedly came forward and asked, "What's wrong? Is it fetal gas?"
Seeing Lin Rong rubbing her calf and ignoring herself, she hurriedly went to the side to warm her hands, then silently sat on the edge of the bed and massaged her calf. He sat there and rubbed it for a long time. It was warm in the room, and the snow on his brow and shoulders melted away, and his bun was wet.
The two of them remained silent, only the sound of the wind and snow outside the window could be heard.
Lin Rong looked at him silently, and saw the snow water on his bun slowly flowing to the corners of his eyes, as if he was crying. He sighed, and suddenly took out a handkerchief and wiped it carefully for him. Hair, and finally asked: "How long have you been standing outside? I went to change my clothes, and they were all wet with snow." Then she scolded him again: "How come you don't even change your clothes when you come out, and you are so arrogant?"
Lu Shen still sat there motionless, and the movement of his hands paused. Then he raised his head slightly and asked her: "You have been gone for so long, why don't you write me a letter? Why are you so busy? You can’t spare the time to write dozens of words in a letter?”
Lin Rong replied: "Oh, it's not because I'm too busy..."
When Lu Shen heard this, he sat there dejectedly and replied: "Oh, it's not that I'm busy..."
For some reason, seeing Lu Shen like this, Lin Rong's depression dissipated by a third. He smiled and nodded his forehead: "You don't have any clothes, so just take them off. Your inner clothes are wet. Let me see." What to do tonight?”
When Lu Shen heard Lin Rong's words, it seemed that all the darkness and suffering in the past five months had been worth it. He didn't dare to take Qiao anymore, and immediately went outside to take off his clothes, freshen up, and then opened the curtain and went to bed. went.
He slowly stroked Lin Rong's belly and said, "I thought you didn't want this child?"
Lin Rong leaned against him and felt that his body was like a furnace in winter. The place next to him immediately felt warm. She hummed in comfort and said, "No!"
Lu Shen seemed in disbelief. He didn't dare to ask, and he was really unwilling to do so. He gently kissed the woman's hair: "No?"
Unfortunately, Lin Rong did not answer any more.
The next day, when Lin Rong and Lu Shen returned to the palace, Ah Zhao had already called his grandma to wake him up, put on festive clothes and was waiting there.
Seeing that Lin Rong was always happy and had always forgotten the rules, she smiled and rushed over, hugging Lin Rong: "Mother, you are back, it happens to be my birthday?"
Then he stretched out his hand: "Where's the birthday gift? Where's the beautiful bamboo you promised me?"
Lu Shen held her in his arms, and the family of three entered the palace. Someone brought many novel gadgets from the south of the Yangtze River. Azhao smiled and held them all in his arms. Suddenly he walked up to Lu Shen and said, "Dad, you What about yours?"
Lu Shen flicked her forehead, picked up a brochure from the case, and said with a smile: "Here, this is the only one, there are no others, but if you don't work hard, you may not recognize most of the words on it."
Azhao took it and handed it to Lin Rong with a pouted mouth. Lin Rong opened it and saw an edict on it, sealing the wealthy county in the south of the Yangtze River as a fief for A Zhao.
A-Zhao was standing next to her. She was a child at heart. Only then did she notice that Lin Rong's belly was bulging. She stretched out her little hand to touch it curiously. Suddenly she felt something moved there. She was so frightened that she retracted her hand and hugged Lin Rong's belly. Arm, curious and embarrassed to ask.
Lin Rong smiled and touched her cheek, fearing that she would feel disappointed, and asked tentatively: "If I have a sister or a brother in the future, will Azhao be happy?"
Ah Zhao is the youngest in the royal family, and all the children in the clan are older than her. I thought she didn't know what younger siblings are, but unexpectedly she nodded: "Are they small followers like the fourth cousin's younger siblings? Follow me wherever you go?"
Lin Rong laughed, then felt relieved and nodded: "Yes, he is a little follower."
On this day, since it was the princess's birthday and the day before New Year's Eve, Lu Shen held a banquet for all the ministers and led Azhao up the city wall to watch the fireworks. Because Lin Rong was heavy and there were no female relatives in the palace, he did not ask his wife to enter the palace, but it seemed deserted.
March passed like this, and it was time for the grass to grow and the orioles to fly. It rained heavily that night, and there was lightning and thunder. Lin Rong's body became heavier and heavier. She had slept in a daze that day, and suddenly she felt abdominal pain, and she heard an oops. .
It was almost time to give birth. Lu Shen heard the sound and hurriedly got up and asked: "Are you going to give birth?" He didn't even bother to put on his shoes for a while, so he hurriedly got out of bed and went to the outer hall and ordered: "Quick, call Po Wen and the imperial doctor." Come."
Then he carried Lin Rong into the delivery room. The imperial doctor and Mrs. Wen rushed in, urging: "Your Majesty, please go out first. The empress has opened the cervix and she is about to give birth."
Lu Shen stood there motionless, holding Lin Rong's hand. Seeing that her face was pale from pain, he said warmly: "Don't be afraid!"
Lin Rong was in pain and irritable, and said angrily: "Can you help me just by saying a few words? Get out quickly, the bacteria all over your body are not disinfected." At that moment, he ordered someone to drive him out, and Lu Shen called Kingfisher Please go to the door and refuse to move anymore. When you see the sound of pain gradually coming from inside, you can't stop pacing.
I don't know how long it took, but suddenly I heard a baby crying inside. Just as Lu Shen was about to open the curtain and go in, he saw someone running over: "Your Majesty has a great victory, Your Majesty has a great victory, General Wuwei has defeated the Huns..."
Chapter 123
Lu Shen paused and took the memorial, took a quick glance at it, and said happily: "Very good, very good!"
As soon as she said a few words, the palace maid opened the curtain and the midwife came out with the baby in her arms. She leaned over and congratulated her: "Your Majesty, this is a little prince. Mother and child are safe."
After finishing speaking, before Lu Shen could say anything, a thunder suddenly struck in the dark night, making the Xuanzheng Hall seem like daylight, and a heavy downpour came in an instant.
The baby in the midwife's arms was crying softly, but suddenly it started crying louder. Lu Shen couldn't explain why, he just felt that something was wrong. He didn't bother to look at the newborn child, so he immediately opened the curtain and went inside, only to be bumped into by Gong E, who was carrying a copper basin.
With a crash, the palace maid, the copper basin, and the warm water were all scattered on the ground. The little palace maid was so frightened that she knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. Your Majesty, please forgive me. This servant was in a hurry, and then I bumped into Your Majesty..."
Before Che Zulu, who was begging for mercy, could finish his words, he heard screams inside. Who knew who was shouting loudly: "Your Majesty? Your Majesty?"
Someone was sternly ordering: "Quick, go and ask the imperial doctor to faint..."
