Chapter 241: Miss Yan is Pregnant
When the two were in a dilemma, Grandpa Ling arrived: “The old Taoist will go! The Central Plains is the old Taoist’s hometown, and as the Empress’s grandfather, I am considered an imperial relative.
Coincidentally, the Taoist temple produces medicine to treat epidemics, so it’s perfect for me to go.”
Jinsui initially disagreed, how could she let Grandpa run so far, and the disaster area was not safe. But she couldn’t resist Grandpa’s stubbornness, and he even angrily asked Jinsui:
“Do you think Grandpa’s old arms and legs are useless? We were still racing with wolves and tigers in the mountains a few years ago! Unless half my body is buried in the earth, no one will stop me from going!”
After he finished speaking, he childishly cupped his arms, showing Jinsui his strong biceps: “Grandpa is still young!”
In the end, Jinsui conceded and agreed to let Grandpa lead this batch of medicine and food to the disaster area to comfort the people. Liu Yun suggested he protect Taoist Master Ling, and Jinsui and Gu Changxiao immediately agreed.
Liu Yun looked at Grandpa Ling with a meaningful gaze. If Senior Sister didn’t want to cultivate immortality and wanted to be Empress, did Taoist Master Ling also understand cultivation techniques? He had to find out during this opportunity.
Grandpa Ling was going to the disaster area on imperial orders. Because he was bringing a lot of supplies, Yan Jiu, upon seeing this, also sent over a dozen carts of supplies in the name of the Yan Clan, with a banner proclaiming ‘Yan Clan Donates to Disaster Area,’ accompanying Grandpa Ling’s convoy to the disaster area.
Gu Changxiao, who was putting on a good act, immediately performed for the Yan Clan in court, bestowing a plaque of righteousness upon them. Following suit, the gentry and rich merchants of Yandi also sent grain, medicinal materials, and daily necessities to accompany Grandpa Ling.
Although not everyone received an imperial plaque of righteousness, they were watched by thousands of miles from the capital to the disaster area. These gentry and rich merchants gained fame and a good reputation among the common people.
As too many people followed suit, the imperial court had to send people to supervise. No one could embezzle these supplies; they were all used for post-disaster reconstruction. Some people were relocated to other prefecture cities and also received generous resettlement fees.
A flood occurred in early May, and rescue was completed by mid-May. The first imperial commissioner, Cheng Yu, rushed to the disaster area at a forced march speed, and by the end of May, Grandpa Ling arrived in his capacity as a royal relative.
This immense natural disaster was rescued with unprecedented speed. Those who wanted to cause trouble during the natural disaster, before they could even fully plan, the disaster was over.
In early June, the people began to migrate all over the country. Taoist Master Ling remained in the disaster area to build hospitals and reorganize post-disaster reconstruction. All the officials in the imperial court and the common people throughout the land witnessed the new emperor’s efficiency.
At the same time, an organization also gained fame: the female official organization affiliated with the Empress, represented by Chen Yunniang. Their medical care team was meticulous and highly skilled, playing an irreplaceable role in the rescue of the disaster-stricken people.
Due to the hot weather, epidemics were highly likely to break out after the disaster. However, with them present and taking preventive measures, for the first time, a major epidemic did not break out after a major disaster.
In addition, the female officials were responsible for distributing relief supplies. Unlike the officials who had previously handled disaster relief, they were gentle, meticulous, and very familiar with rescue operations. They quickly assisted officials in counting the population and distributing aid by village, ensuring that no one was left behind, whether they were orphans or elderly living alone.
In the past, human traffickers were most active after disasters. At this time, boys and girls were very cheap; a bag of grain could lead people to sell their children, pawn their wives, and sell their children. In the worst times, there was even cannibalism.
However, in this great disaster, not a single child was sold into slavery, all because the female officials were there, and they didn’t let anyone starve to death. During the period when Grandpa Ling’s grain had not yet arrived, and everyone could only drink thin rice porridge.
They drank thin rice porridge just like the disaster victims. This act earned the deep respect of all the disaster victims for the female officials. At the same time, they learned that the female officials were sent by the Empress, and unlike the officials sent by the imperial court, they sought neither the people’s favor nor profit, but wholeheartedly worked for the welfare of the people.
Later, when Chen Yunniang left with the female officials, the people saw them off with tears, making some local officials extremely envious. This was the sentiment of the people! If they could have such popular support when they left, it would be of great help to their careers.
In early June, the disaster victims were stabilized, and the main focus shifted to post-disaster reconstruction and the repair of the Yellow River. Neither of these matters concerned Jinsui; they were matters for the imperial court.
Jinsui received a letter from Chen Yunniang stating that a group of female medical personnel would remain in the disaster area to build public hospitals with Grandpa Ling, while the others would return to the capital with Chen Yunniang.
She then took some silver from her private treasury and some special medicines from her space to send to Grandpa Ling, and then calmly devoted herself to her new work.
Her new job was to discuss warships with the Ministry of Works, yes, something that didn’t seem to concern the Empress at all, yet she, the Empress, was leading it.
Of course, the duties that originally belonged to the Empress, such as managing the six ministries, arranging concubines, and dispatching palace servants, were not handled by her at all.
In short, Jinsui, as Empress, was somewhat different from all Empresses in history. If one said she meddled in politics, she never managed state affairs, nor did she have her own faction or confidants in the imperial court.
Many officials even opposed the Empress and wished for this strange Empress to step down. However, as time went on, they had to admit that some things could not be accomplished without the Empress.
For example, regarding the warships, the Ministry of Works initially proudly stated that it was their business and the Empress should not interfere. As a result, Gu Changxiao took them to see the gunpowder and asked them to improve the catapults so they could be mounted on warships.
All the officials in the Ministry of Works were so busy that their mouths were chapped and their eyes were bloodshot, but they couldn’t come up with a solution, stating that the Emperor’s request was impossible even for immortals.
Then, someone suggested that they ask the Empress for help, as both the catapults and the gunpowder were developed by the Empress and her team.
This person was naturally Cheng Yu, who hinted at it. He was well aware that in this tug-of-war between the Empress and the Ministry of Works, the Empress would ultimately be the victor.
As expected, the Ministry of Works was unwilling to yield at first and refused to ask the Empress for help. If they asked for help now, wouldn’t they be at the Empress’s mercy in everything from now on? Absolutely not! How could a mere woman understand shipbuilding?
It wasn’t until Gu Changxiao publicly reprimanded the Ministry of Works for their lack of progress in court, saying, “Don’t think the capital is still Chang’an, where you can drag things out for a year or a half. I am not the Former Emperor, who can tolerate incompetence!”
The reprimand was so harsh that the Ministry of Works was also afraid. They gritted their teeth and pleaded with Jinsui. They thought that if the Empress also couldn’t accomplish it, then the Emperor would have nothing to say, and this was indeed something that no mortal could accomplish.
They could even imagine how the Empress would mock them, as they had long heard that the Empress disliked officials from Chang’an and only trusted old officials from the border cities.
However, the outcome was completely unexpected. Not only did the Empress not mock or ridicule them, but she also took them to the military industry workshop again, showing them the improved catapults:
“This is called a turret. Those used on ships are different from those on land. Besides launching cannons, there are also those that launch fish oil projectiles. You know the power of fish oil, right?”
The officials nodded repeatedly: “When we first came to the capital, we were taken to see the old city.”
That is, the area where Jinsui burned the Tartars’ urban area, the most severely burned part was preserved. The land was scorched black, as if one could step on blood.
“In fact, fish oil is even more powerful at sea and is very suitable for naval warfare.”
Jinsui showed them the blueprints for the new warships. She provided Ming Dynasty naval warships because Ming Dynasty warships could be built without the help of space and were extremely powerful.
Of course, compared to later eras, but compared to the warships of this era, they were absolutely dominant on the seas.
She explained the warships as if giving a lecture, breaking down the knowledge points and feeding them into the minds of the Ministry of Works officials. She had no intention of hiding anything, nor did she have the arrogance of a teacher.
No matter how many misunderstandings the officials had about the Empress, they understood from her attitude that the Empress truly wanted them to build such warships and was sincerely helping them.
In an instant, they thought of the past misunderstandings of the Empress by the officials and felt very ashamed. Empress was simply not good at dealing with people and did not understand the rules of Chang’an, but compared to those talented women skilled in chess, calligraphy, painting, and music.
The Empress’s talent was truly a great asset to the nation! They also understood why the old officials from the border cities, both civil and military, admired the Empress so much.
The Ming-style warships provided by Jinsui were divided into two types: warships and transport ships. The warships were equipped with turrets, while the transport ships had a stronger load capacity. All the officials of the Ministry of Works were dumbfounded and exclaimed that Empress was blessed by heaven!
Before, they had said that only immortals could fulfill the Emperor’s request, and mortals could not. They did not expect to be proven wrong so quickly. The Empress not only accomplished it but did it better than immortals!
Undoubtedly, when Liu Yun learned of this, he was filled with pride. My Senior Sister was originally an immortal!
Unfortunately, he couldn’t tell outsiders. While he was itching to share, he also felt very proud. Only I in the whole world know that Senior Sister is an immortal! Perhaps even His Majesty doesn’t know.
With the design blueprints for the warships, the East Sea Base was further expanded, and the construction of warships and the training of the navy officially began.
Meanwhile, due to the natural disaster, Han Xing executed another group of people who intended to rebel in Chang’an. Chang’an completely became a place of lasting peace and stability, with no more capital for usurpation or power struggles.
Gu Changxiao officially transferred Han Xing back to the border city to serve as the Grand General of the Navy, responsible for the entire navy. When this edict reached Chang’an, the powerful people, gentry, and officials of Chang’an were even happier than Han Xing.
This cold-faced Yama was finally transferred away! They could finally sleep soundly!
“Husband is not some cold-faced Yama at all; he is the gentlest man in the world!” Miss Yan, who was brought back to the border city by Yan Shiyi, went to the palace to see Jinsui.
When they met, it felt like sisters who hadn’t seen each other for a long time. Jinsui met Miss Yan at the palace gate, exempted her from bowing, and seeing her slightly bulging belly, specially made a soft cushion for her to lean on.
They had endless things to talk about. Miss Yan had no one her age in Chang’an to confide in, so she could only talk to Wei Yingniang.
Wei Yingniang, being so young, was already full of gossip.
At this moment, she told Jinsui about the comments Chang’an people made about Han Xing, defending him: “They privately call my husband that, ‘cold-faced Yama,’ it’s so unpleasant! Sui Sui… no, Your Majesty, do you think my husband looks like Yama?”
Jinsui chuckled. To be honest, Han Xing’s killing in Chang’an did give him some potential to be Yama. She could imagine Han Xing, with a cold expression, beheading a group of traitorous officials at the Vegetable Market Mouth in the morning.
At noon, he would go home to have lunch with Miss Yan, even worrying that the smell of blood on him would offend Miss Yan, and would definitely take a bath and change his clothes before returning to the backyard with a gentle expression to accompany Miss Yan.
It was more severe than split personality, more skillful than a face-changer. Han Xing outside the backyard was a knife left by the Emperor in Chang’an, while Han Xing inside the backyard was Miss Yan’s gentle husband.
“I think Yama is a compliment, it means General Han can deter evil people! I hope that after General Han takes command of the navy, he will still have such a good reputation at sea.”
Jinsui took Miss Yan’s pulse again and found that Miss Yan’s belly was larger than normal for her month. Upon inquiry, she learned that Miss Yan couldn’t get used to Chang’an cuisine, and the cook she brought from home ate very delicately.
Coupled with Han Xing’s busyness, he was afraid of her going out and encountering danger, as there were many people who would want to capture Miss Yan to threaten him.
Miss Yan ate delicately, liked sweets, rarely went out for exercise, and had no experienced elders around her. The matrons dared not scold her harshly, so she ate until her belly grew larger.
Jinsui was very worried that if the fetus was too large, it could easily lead to difficult labor. She could perform a cesarean section, but the risk in this era was very high.
She quickly told Miss Yan about the problem, personally wrote some pregnancy diet recipes, and asked Miss Yan to walk in the courtyard daily.
She also called Yan Shiyi and explained the seriousness of the problem to him. Yan Shiyi was startled, not expecting that Han Xing hadn’t neglected his sister, but had taken too good care of her.
He quickly promised that he would supervise Miss Yan’s meals every day and accompany his sister for walks.
Jinsui wanted to keep Miss Yan in the palace: “It’s safer with me accompanying you. As you get further along, premature birth is also possible.”
Miss Yan naturally did not want to stay in the palace. As a minister’s wife, staying in the palace would easily lead to gossip. Even with her pregnant belly, if someone wanted to slander the Emperor, any gossip could spread.
Seeing that both she and Yan Shiyi disagreed with Miss Yan staying in the palace, Jinsui immediately said, “Then I’ll go to the Yan family to accompany you.”
This made them even more anxious. They knew Jinsui was overly worried about Miss Yan, but they were well aware of their elder brother’s thoughts. If the Empress moved into the Yan family, the gossip would be even more terrifying!
Even more terrifying was His Majesty. He would exile their elder brother overseas!
Miss Yan immediately raised her hand and swore that she would eat according to the diet Jinsui provided and promised to see Jinsui every few days for a check-up.
Jinsui still felt uneasy. She had originally planned to build a women and children’s hospital in the capital, but because some medical personnel were transferred to the disaster area, the public hospital was prioritized in the disaster area, and the progress of the hospital in the capital slowed down.
She immediately personally supervised the construction of the hospital. While the Ministry of Works was busy building warships, she still managed to forcibly allocate some manpower to build the hospital.
Then, it was common to see scenes of the Empress in simple casual clothes at the hospital, with Ministry of Works officials on her left asking about warships, and Ministry of Works officials on her right asking about hospital construction.
Gu Changxiao, after leaving court several times, found that Jinsui was not in the palace and knew without asking that she was at the hospital.
He smiled at Jinsui and said, “The Empress is even busier than I, the Emperor!”
Jinsui explained Miss Yan’s situation and that she had intended to build a women and children’s hospital. Gu Changxiao couldn’t help but think about what if Jinsui encountered similar problems during her pregnancy.
He immediately urged the Ministry of Works to follow the Empress’s instructions and complete the hospital as soon as possible.
In addition, she had to squeeze out time every day to go into her space to craft medical tools, because due to technical reasons, the craftsmen could not create precision medical tools.
It was easy to craft them in her space, but it was too time-consuming. She couldn’t go in while sleeping, as Gu Changxiao would notice.
