Qi Zhenzhen didn't know how to comfort Bai Su. This was a matter between Bai Su and Xie Chen, and it was not easy for an outsider to intervene.
"I don't want to listen to him," Bai Su said indignantly. "Zhenzhen, can I stay with you?"
"You can, but aren't you afraid that the Earl of An Kang will be unhappy?"
"He doesn't care if I'm happy or not, so why should I care about him?" Bai Su pouted. "You and I get along well, and I'll stay here. He can't control it."
Xie Chen soon learned of Bai Su's decision. He couldn't force her to leave, and besides, even if he did, could he keep her bound forever? He knew Bai Su's capabilities; she could be confined for a while, but not for a lifetime. He could only let her have her way.
Bai Su could eat and loved to eat. After settling down, she quickly became friends with Qi Xuanxuan and even taught her several specialty dishes from the Southern Border.
One day, Qi Zhenzhen was resting when Chunfeng came in to wake her.
"Madam, someone from the palace is here."
"Who?"
"This servant has never seen her before, but the token she carries is indeed from the palace."
"Where is the person now?"
"Waiting outside."
Qi Zhenzhen quickly got up. "Please invite her in."
It was an unfamiliar face; Qi Zhenzhen had never seen her.
"May I ask what this嬷嬷 is called?"
"This old servant is from the Empress's side. My surname is Yang. I have been ordered by the Empress to invite the 世子夫人 into the palace." Madam Yang said with a smile.
The Empress wanted her to go to the palace?
"Did the Empress say anything else?"
"The Empress said she misses the 世子夫人 and would like to invite her to the palace for a chat."
The Empress missed her? How could that be?
If anyone missed her, it should be Consort An.
Qi Zhenzhen remembered Gu Sinian's instructions in his letter, telling her to stay at Taihe Temple and not to go to the palace no matter what excuse was used. She had notified Consort An, and she would not summon her to the palace during this time.
Therefore, regardless of whether this Madam Yang was truly acting on the Empress's orders, Qi Zhenzhen would not go to the palace.
"嬷嬷, you must be tired from your journey. Please have a cup of tea and some snacks while I inform the elders." Qi Zhenzhen stood up, holding her belly. She swayed and looked like she was about to fall. Chunfeng quickly stepped forward to support her, while Erxi hurriedly went to call the monastic physician. In the ensuing chaos, who would pay attention to the person from the palace?
The monastic physician arrived soon after. After taking Qi Zhenzhen's pulse, he frowned and said, "Why is Madam Gu so weak?"
"My lady is worried about the 世子爷 and has lost her appetite..." Erxi said with a crying voice.
"Excessive worry and unstable emotions have led to an unfavorable fetal condition. If this continues, both mother and child may be in danger," the monastic physician said worriedly. "I will prescribe some medicine first and see how things go."
"Then, can my lady travel now?" Chunfeng asked.
"Nonsense! The most important thing now is to rest in bed!" the monastic physician reprimanded.
After speaking, the monastic physician left with his medicine box.
"Madam Yang, you heard what the physician just said. My lady's current condition does not allow for bumpy travel, so she cannot accompany you to the palace!" Chunfeng said apologetically.
"The imperial physicians in the palace have gathered the best medical experts in the world. The 世子夫人 should go to the palace so that the imperial physicians can examine her properly. After all, a monk's medical skills cannot be that good," Madam Yang said.
"This嬷嬷 is mistaken. Monastic physicians have extremely high medical skills. The Emperor once summoned a monastic physician to be the head of the Imperial Academy, but the monastic physician refused. If his medical skills are not good, then there would be no one with good medical skills in this world," Chunfeng said seriously.