boyutpedia Chapter 1763 You Ning gives gifts
Chapter 1763 You Ning gives gifts
Cheng Youning had no choice but to walk up the steps towards the gate. A eunuch carrying a ram's horn lantern walked cautiously at the front, closely following behind Cheng Youning. The young man, Qiao Rong, was coldly observing the Hong family's every move. Behind Cheng Youning followed a group of highly skilled guards. The group silently entered the mansion.
Passing through two covered corridors, they arrived at the main house of the inner courtyard. Hong Zhekai, the Waterways Official, had already led his entire family to the eaves in a hurry. Upon seeing the Crown Prince, they were about to bow in greeting when Cheng Youning quickly stepped forward and took Hong Zhekai's arm, saying crisply, "Lord Hong, there's no need for such formality. I heard that Madam Hong is unwell and have come to visit. There's no need for such formalities between ruler and subject." He then gestured for everyone to rise, his gaze sweeping over them. Cheng Youning noticed their anxious expressions. Was everyone so tense that he was visiting the Hong residence to inquire about her health? Shouldn't he have come? No! His parents had given him a severe scolding before he decided to come, just to put on a show.
Cheng Youning, though young, was shrewd and had seen plenty of ministers who put on an act. He had learned how to do it all. Then, with just the right amount of concern in his eyes, he looked at Madam Hong, who was standing next to Hong Zhekai.
Hong Zhe and his wife both looked extremely grateful, especially Madam Hong, whose voice was choked with emotion, "Your Highness is so busy with state affairs, yet you still remembered my humble illness. My whole family is deeply grateful."
Lady Hong bowed to the Crown Prince again. She was genuinely grateful to him for allowing her daughter, Hong Jiutong, to return and serve her during her illness. However, she never dared to hope that the Crown Prince would personally visit her. Her status was merely that of a minister's wife and the mother of the Crown Prince's concubine. Who could know how many wives and concubines the Crown Prince would have in the future? She had just heard Hong Jiutong mention that the Southern Yan Kingdom had presented a princess to the Crown Prince as a tribute. She had also asked Hong Jiutong about this; Jiutong's relationship with the Crown Prince was merely superficial, nothing more than a casual acquaintance with no affection whatsoever.
Cheng Youning raised her hand in a gesture of support, "Madam, there's no need for such formalities. I've brought the imperial physician with me, so he can examine you."
Cheng Youning was ushered into the room. Under the bright light, Cheng Youning noticed that Madam Hong, who was still able to walk, looked unwell. He hadn't noticed it at all when his mother, Shang Xi, said anything, even though he was at the Prince's residence the other day.
Cheng Youning could smell the faint scent of mugwort and bitter medicine in the room with just a sniff, indicating that the person had indeed been ill for some time.
The imperial physician inquired about the cause of Madam Hong's recent illness, then began to examine her pulse, and finally concluded, "Madam's symptoms are due to cold stagnation and qi stagnation accompanied by food stagnation affecting the stomach and intestines. I will prescribe a formula to clear and warm the food, which should relieve the symptoms."
Cheng Youning looked at the imperial physician and said, "I brought some herbs for Madam Hong today. I wonder if they can be used in medicine."
The imperial physician examined the medicines brought by the Crown Prince one by one, bowed and said, "These medicines are all precious, and half of them can be used as medicine, which will greatly benefit Madam Hong's condition."
Cheng Youning was very satisfied with this answer. He had sent someone to the Imperial Hospital beforehand to learn about Madam Hong's condition before bringing the medicine. It was impossible for the medicine to be of no benefit to Madam Hong's health. If it were, wouldn't his trip have been in vain? Everything was going according to plan.
Having met with Mr. and Mrs. Hong Zhekai, and with the imperial physician having examined their pulses and prescribed medicine, and with the herbs he brought having taken effect, it was the perfect time to leave now, after staying here for exactly the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.
Cheng Youning rose to take her leave, and before leaving, she instructed, "If there is any need, you can go directly to the palace and submit your petition. I will instruct the Imperial Hospital to provide full treatment."
The Hong family members were all filled with gratitude, including Hong Jiutong, who was standing beside Madam Hong. Cheng Youning gave her a few words of advice: "Consort, there is no need to rush back to the Crown Prince's residence. Once Madam Hong's health improves, I will send someone to pick you up."
Hong Jiutong bowed to Cheng Youning, saying, "Thank you for your consideration, Your Highness. I am deeply grateful."
Having done everything he could, Cheng Youning finally left. After getting into the carriage, he breathed a sigh of relief, realizing for the first time how difficult it was for his great-uncle to balance power among his ministers and to use both kindness and severity.
Cheng Youning's every move was under Wan Lianxing's control. No sooner had this man gone to the Hong residence with the goods than someone informed him. Upon learning of this, Wan Lianxing praised Cheng Youning highly, saying, "The Crown Prince has grown up and knows how to stabilize people's hearts and win over the hearts of his ministers."
The old steward, who was walking with him on the wet stone road, chimed in, "The Crown Prince is intelligent and kind. He has been observing how the Emperor governs the country and balances the ministers in court every day. He has learned a thing or two from this. If he is properly nurtured, he will surely become very skilled at managing people in the future."
Wan Lianxing put his hands behind his back, nodded slightly, and expressed his deep agreement with the old butler's words, "Such a young child is already imitating others, and knows to give gifts that suit their tastes."
Wan Lianxing couldn't help but laugh when he thought about Cheng Youning sending someone to the Imperial Hospital to ask Madam Hong what was wrong with her and what medicine to bring.
Seeing Wan Lianxing smile, the old steward smiled back, "I heard from the spies that the Crown Prince's every smile, gesture, and word at the Hong residence was just right. Your Majesty, we can already see your shadow in the Crown Prince."
Wan Lianxing's smile deepened, but he said, "There's too much of an element of performance involved; his temperament still needs to be honed. He needs to genuinely be respectful and courteous to those of lower rank. You can tell from his attitude towards Song Qianyuan, who topped the list in this autumn examination, that he's still immature, too impetuous, excessively jealous, and arrogant."
The old steward smiled and defended Cheng Youning, "Your Majesty, you are exaggerating. The Crown Prince is just a ten-year-old child. If he were born into an ordinary family, a child this young would only go to a private school in the morning or study at a school for half a day. The rest of the time he would run around and play in the streets."
Wan Lianxing laughed: "You old man, you always like to speak up for the Crown Prince, and you like to cover up his mistakes. Isn't the Crown Prince just like any other child? He spends his days playing with cats and dogs, catching fish in the river, and searching for crickets in the meadows. Aren't all of these things he does? He's also done his fair share of selling grasshoppers from street to street!"
What Wan Lianxing said was all true, and the old steward couldn't cover it up for him, but he still tried his best to speak up for the Crown Prince: "Although the Crown Prince is playful, he hasn't neglected his duties! Look at this autumn examination, he stood out with an excellent score of thirty-fifth place, leaving more than a thousand candidates behind! Isn't that simple? The Crown Prince has endured just as much hardship as others. While Song Qianyuan was still sleeping in bed, the Crown Prince was already attending court under the stars. This old servant feels sorry for him just thinking about it. He's only a few years old, yet he's attending court with a group of ministers. Sometimes even the ministers are yawning all the time. How could the Crown Prince not be sleepy? But the Crown Prince is well-behaved and never complains."