“Divine Physician, what exactly is it?”
Meng Hui sat down to diagnose his pulse for less than a moment, and Sui Heng couldn’t hide his anxiety and repeated the question three times already.
Jiang Yun gently shook his head at him, indicating him to calm down.
How could Sui Heng remain calm? When this miraculous physician has not arrived, he looks forward to it day and night. He wished he could fly to Muyun Pass to tie him back. Now that he’s really here, he’s like a patient waiting for the medical examiner to pass judgement. Not only has he not been able to relieve some of his tension, but he has become even more anxious and uneasy.
Because Meng Hui is different from others. Meng Hui is too familiar with Jiang Yun’s physical condition, and it was almost impossible for Meng Hui to make a mistake with his diagnosis. Jiang Yun’s old illness has not yet healed, and Sui Heng is very worried that the sudden pregnancy will have any adverse effects on Jiang Yun’s body in this situation.
Meng Hui diagnose for a full half hour before withdrawing his hand.
On the dead winter day, Sui Heng was forced into a cold sweat by his unusually long pulse diagnosis time.
“How’s it?”
Sui Heng asked again.
Jiang Yun also looked up.
Under the gaze of the two Crown Princes, Meng Hui smiled and said. “Don’t worry, The fetal was weaker, but it was still healthy, it’s just a bit strange.”
“How strange?”
Before Sui Heng’s heart managed to fall, it hung in the air once again.
“The month is a bit strange.”
“If the humble physician judges correctly, this fetus is at least five months old.”
Sui Heng and Jiang Yun were both stunned at the same time.
Even if Sui Heng didn’t have much experience in this area, he immediately understood that a five-month-old fetus was supposed to look pregnant according to reason, but Jiang Yun had no significant changes in body shape except for some pregnancy reactions. Although a man’s pregnancy was originally a little different from a woman’s, this difference is a little too big.
“But it may not necessarily be a bad thing.”
Meng Hui smiled and said almost helplessly, “This little guy probably hid inside the auspicious egg too. And he hid very deeply.”
“The auspicious egg that Your Highness took this time was born after the female crane absorbed the essence of the male crane. After entering the human body, the power of the elixir produced is stronger.”
“This little guy is probably wrapped in the elixir.”
Sui Heng specially prepared a first-class guest room for Meng Hui to stay in the mansion.
When Meng Hui returned to his room to rest, Sui Heng looked at Jiang Yun’s waist and abdomen in disbelief and said, “What Divine Physician Meng means is that you’re pregnant with a ball this time.”
Jiang Yun gave him a glare.
“You’re the one who is pregnant with a ball.”
“Cough, Gu just made a casual remark. How is it? Is there any reaction today?”
Jiang Yun nodded. “It moved several times in the morning.”
“Really?”
“En.”
Jiang Yun asked him to close his eyes, just like before, and led Sui Heng’s hand for him to touch.
Sui Heng’s palm lingered on the surface of the jade belt for a moment, and he soon felt two obvious jumps, stronger and more powerful than before. But the little one was still very shy, and after moving twice, he shrank back.
“You sit down first, Gu will go to the kitchen to make a bowl of noodles for you.”
These days, Jiang Yun’s appetite has been poor, and he can only eat the Saozi noodles made by Sui Heng, especially the sour soup.
This craft was originally learned by Sui Heng during his time in the military, following an old soldier from the Huotou Battalion. Whether it was the stir-frying of the meat or the preparation of the broth, it was very tricky and delicate. Even Xu Qiao and the other old men in the Qinglang Battalion couldn’t stop thinking about it after they tasting it once. But as the Crown Prince, Sui Heng would only deign to touch the stove when he was in a particularly good and idle mood. Even if they’re greedy for it, they dared not ask His Highness to personally cook for them, and they could only endure it. After returning to the capital of Sui, Sui Heng rarely cooked his own food, he didn’t expect it to come in handy at this time.
Jiang Yun has a small appetite, so Sui Heng only makes a small bowl carefully every time.
But even so, Jiang Yun only ate half a bowl and couldn’t finish the soup.
Sui Heng took the initiative to grab it and eat the remaining noodles.
Jiang Yun sat across from him, his eyes slightly curved, watching him eat. He picked up a spoon, thoughtfully adding some chili oil and vinegar to it.
The palace attendants have become accustomed to such scenes and are secretly lamenting that their Crown Prince was just the best husband in the world. How many men in the world can enjoy the food that their other half has tasted? Although there are not many elegant and charming young gentlemen like the Crown Prince of Jiang, who made them unable to forget him at first sight in the world.
“Aren’t I bullying you too much like this? Next time, you can just make half a bowl.”
Jiang Yun said.
Sui Heng held silver chopsticks, took a big bite of noodles, and shook his head.
“How can it be? What if your appetite is good next time and you don’t have enough to eat?”
This statement is straightforward, but it warms people’s hearts.
Jiang Yun felt that he had been raised to be lazy lately. Seeing Sui Heng sweep away the rest of the noodles in a few moments, he couldn’t help but think back to the time when the two of them first met, this man was the same. He had to set rules for him and force him to eat on time and drink all his remaining congee.
Now, he has become accustomed to him doing such things.
“What are you looking at? Gu is this good-looking?”
Sui Heng put down his chopsticks and raised his eyebrows to ask.
Jiang Yun smiled and took out a handkerchief from his pocket, wiping away the soup from the corner of his mouth.
“Yes, Your Highness is charming and unparalleled in bravery. Anyone can’t help but take a second glance.”
Sui Heng couldn’t help but seize the opportunity to hold Jiang Yun’s hand, unwilling to let go for a long time.
Even though it has been more than half a year since they got married, looking at him close at hand, smiling and laughing, he still couldn’t help but feel something akin to gratitude and fear.
Sui Heng was impressed by Jiang Yun’s appetite and his picky eating habits during this special period.
He really can’t imagine how he ate and took care of himself when he was pregnant with a baby at Muyun Pass before. And how he hid the birth of the baby from so many advisors and generals.
Sui Heng specifically inquired with Meng Hui and learned from him that Jiang Yun did not eat well at that time and relied on elk antler soup to feed the little guy in his stomach.
After all, soup is soup, and even if it is rich in nutrients, it cannot meet the original needs of the stomach for food.
“What did he do in his spare time?”
Meng Hui rolled up his sleeves, ground the herbs, and thought for a moment before saying, “At that time, His Highness the Crown Prince didn’t want to reveal his pregnancy. He directly took advantage of his arm injury and recuperated for half a year, almost only staying indoors. Only when there were few people at night would he go to the river alone for a while.”
“The river?”
“That’s right.”
Sui Heng fell silent.
What can be seen by the riverside of Muyun Pass is naturally the north.
Sui Heng could almost imagine that under the night sky, Jiang Yun was dressed in a green robe, sitting with his sleeves spread out, facing north, and his black eyes were pure and calm.
With the thought that Jiang Yun once held the idea of not letting him and the little boy recognize each other, Sui Heng couldn’t control his discomfort.
Sui Heng also vaguely understood the root of his own anxiety. So during his leisure time, the place where Sui Heng most often went changed from the Imperial Medical to Meng Hui’s room. One is to thoroughly investigate the old situation, and the other is to learn more about how to take care of him during pregnancy.
Meng Hui came prepared this time, not only did he bring a large amount of dietary supplements, but also adjusted the prescription of Zilong Gu ointment, removing any harmful herbs for the fetus, and replacing them with similar and relatively mild medicinal properties.
Despite this, many of Sui Heng’s questions still remain unanswered by this Divine Physician.
“Which pollen is allergic?”
Meng Hui didn’t understand where His Highness had heard the horrible rumor that exposure to undesirable pollen could directly kill a person. He said, “The pollen that Your Highness mentioned mostly grows in the mountains off the beaten path, it’s hard for ordinary people to come into contact with it. Furthermore, common allergies, which are not fatal, can be safely treated with timely medication. Most mild allergy cases can even heal on their own. The humble physician understands Your Highness’s mood, but Your Highness doesn’t have to be so anxious and suspects that all grass and trees are soldiers1Basically suspicious and panic at everything..”
Meng Hui suddenly realized that, no wonder since he moved into the Crown Prince’s mansion, he felt that the entire courtyard was green, with only some cold-resistant trees such as pine and cypress, and he had never seen a single flower. It turned out that it was all because His Highness was scaring himself.
In the blink of an eye, it’s New Year’s Eve, Xiao Jiang Nuo’s birthday.
Emperor Sui and Empress Yan specially held a grand birthday banquet in the palace to celebrate the birthday of their beloved little grandson, which was even more grand than the one they had previously hosted for Xiao Junwang, Sui Zhang.
Emperor Sui also decided on the spot to let his two obedient grandchildren enlighten together after the beginning of spring.
At this moment, Lan Guifei stood up with a smile on her face and said, “Your Majesty, since that’s the case, Qie2I, used by concubine. also has an idea.”
Emperor Sui was in a good mood and asked her to speak.
Empress Yan sat aside and silently rolled her big eyes.
Lan Guifei said, “Since the two Imperial Grandsons are enlightened together, the selection of this Grand Tutor must be carefully considered. Qie thinks…”
Before Lan Guifei could finish speaking, a strong voice interjected, “Gu also has an idea about this selection of the Grand Tutor.”
Sui Heng stood up and said, “Emperor Father, Erchen believes that when choosing a Grand Tutor, it is not necessarily limited to only officials in the court. Some well-known civil scholars can also be hired.”
Lan Guifei’s complexion pale.
Since ancient times, the selection of the Grand Tutor after the enlightenment of the Emperor’s son and imperial grandson has been a top priority. Because the word ‘Grand Tutor’ is not only a simple position, but they’re also likely to be able to support them in court in the future. How will they help her Zhang Er in the future if they select a country bumpkin from the private sector to be her Zhang Er’s Grand Tutor? But Sui Heng’s aura is too strong, and even if Lan Guifei is dissatisfied, she dares not directly refute Sui Heng’s words in person.
Lan Guifei looked at Emperor Sui eagerly.
Emperor Sui hesitated and said, “The Crown Prince’s idea is good, but the enlightenment of the Prince and Imperial Grandsons is not a small matter. The two Imperial Grandsons are still young, so wouldn’t it be too hasty to invite people from the private sector?”
Sui Heng smiled and said, “It is precisely because these two young children are young that people from the private sector should be invited. The most important part of enlightenment is to set the mind and learn knowledge, and the great Confucian scholars are not in court, so they can eliminate distractions and focus on preaching and imparting knowledge. Besides, Erchen has many talented advisors under Erchen’s command, all of whom came from the private sector at first, aren’t they all now becoming ministers of our Great Sui?”
Emperor Sui nodded.
“Then let’s just follow the Crown Prince’s words.”
“It’s just that this candidate must be carefully selected.”
Lan Guifei urgently exclaimed, “Your Majesty, Zhang Er’s enlightenment is a big event, not a child’s play.”
Emperor Sui faintly said, “Guifei, you have violated the law.”
Lan Guifei immediately dared not say more and sat down.
The palace banquet ended, and heavy snowflakes drifted in the sky. Empress Yan left Xiao Jiang Nuo to stay in the palace, and Sui Heng returned to the Crown Prince’s mansion alone.
The indoor air is as warm as spring, and Jiang Yun is sitting behind the table writing.
Sui Heng guessed that it should be a New Year’s greeting for Emperor Jiang, so he sat aside and waited for Jiang Yun to finish writing before wrapping him in a cloak and saying, “Gu will take you outside to see the snow.”
Sui Heng walked out directly with Jiang Yun on his back.
Upon seeing the situation, Ji An quickly approached to hold the umbrella, but was refused by Sui Heng.
Sui Heng said, “We’re just wandering around the mansion casually.”
The two walked deep and shallow in the snow, with Jiang Yun resting on Sui Heng’s shoulder, squinting at the snowflakes fluttering in the sky and smiling lightly.
Sui Heng then talked about the situation at the palace banquet and said, “You are really well prepared. That Lan Guifei has indeed set her mind on your Master, that Left Prime Minister of ours.”
Jiang Yun said, “I didn’t see that coming either. I only found out these past few days that the set of books that my Master gave me was sent to the Left Prime Minister’s mansion by the Lan family with the help of a scholar from the Qingtan Association. Xiao Junwang is about to start his enlightenment in spring, and the purpose of the Lan family’s move is very clear.”
Sui Heng asked, “Who do you mean by the mysterious folk scholar you mentioned?”
Jiang Yun spoke in a roundabout way and said, “Tomorrow, I’ll take you to see it with your own eyes.”
Recently, Jiang Yun has been showing signs of pregnancy, and Sui Heng was almost unwilling to let him walk on the ground. Upon hearing this, he said, “You just name a place, and Gu will go see it himself. There are still places in this capital city of Sui that Gu can’t find?”
Jiang Yun shook his head. “This matter is not that simple. Once you go, you will know.”
