Chapter 44: The Sudden Attack (Second Update)

  Sheng Siyan stood with Wang beside him, not far from Zhou Da Jiangjun and Zhou Huai Xuan.

  Upon hearing the father and son's conversation, Sheng Siyan couldn't help but roll her eyes. In her opinion, Zhou Huai Xuan was extremely healthy, so why did he need to find a doctor for a check-up?!

  Sheng Siyan rolled her eyes and quietly glanced at Zhou Huai Xuan again, only to meet his icy gaze head-on.

  Peeping at others but getting caught red-handed...

  Sheng Siyan's face turned red with embarrassment, and she hastily looked away, staring intently at the pillars of the grand hall beside her, as if she had suddenly developed a strong interest in them and was studying them carefully.

  Zhou Huai Xuan nodded at General Zhou and walked towards the stairs.

  As he walked past Sheng Siyan's side, his footsteps paused for a moment.

  Sheng Siyan's heart suddenly pounded like a drum.

  Zhou Huai Xuan smelled that sweet fragrance, similar to the one he had smelled in the medicine, and suddenly felt dry mouth and tongue. He restrained himself from looking at her, lightly brushed his sleeve, and passed by her side.

  Sheng Siyan didn't lift her head until Zhou Huai Xuan left the An He Palace, she slowly turned around, curiously looking at the palace gate that Zhou Huai Xuan went out of.

  In the bedroom of Emperor Xiaoming, Sheng Qiye finally administered all the medicine into Emperor Xiaoming's body through a reed pipe.

  The empress dowager sat on the edge of the bed, her face full of concern, holding a handkerchief to wipe away the medicinal stain from Xiaoming Emperor's lips.

  Zheng Suxin stood beside him with a copper basin in his hand, containing freshly drawn clear water.

  "Empress Dowager, let Ning's aunt come and help Your Majesty bathe," Zheng Suheng advised.

  Niang Gu Gu is an old palace maid beside the Empress Dowager, already over 50 years old, and doesn't want to leave the palace. She plans to spend her old age beside the Empress Dowager.

  Xia Mingdi all these years, it was she who personally took care of them with a few little palace maids.

  In addition to feeding him and wiping his body, he also had to massage his legs, arms and torso every day, otherwise Xia Mingdi would have atrophied long ago.

  But all these are just a drop in the bucket. He has been lying motionless on his sickbed for fifteen years, and Emperor Xiaoming is now very different from what he used to be.

  The Empress Dowager stood up and took the people in the palace out.

  Sheng Qiye and Zheng Suhan followed behind the Empress Dowager out of the palace gate, waiting in the great hall.

  Not long after, Ning's aunt rushed out excitedly and said to the empress dowager: "Empress Dowager! His Majesty just made a sound of 'en' and then his limbs became soft, he can even open his mouth to drink water!"

  The Empress Dowager was both shocked and delighted, hastily walking back to the palace, repeatedly calling out: "Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Can you hear my voice?"

  The little palace maid in the bedroom quickly stood up and paid respects to the empress dowager. She then retreated to one side.

  On the dragon bed, Emperor Xiaoming was still lying there motionless, without making a sound or moving.

  The empress dowager was somewhat disappointed and turned back to ask Ning, who had followed her in, "Didn't you say that she could speak now?"

  Niang's aunt hastily said: "The slave is saying that Your Majesty 'hmm'ed, and they all heard it too!" As she spoke, she nodded towards the little palace maids.

  The little palace maid followed closely behind.

  Sheng Qiye helped Ning Gugu to break the siege. Smiling, he said: "Empress Dowager, this should be the effect of the medicine. However, you also know that the effect of the medicine is not as good as using Gu Shan Feng Du Ye as a guide. So, it can only be a 'hmm' sound, and it's impossible to really open your mouth and talk to you."

  The empress dowager seemed to have let out a sigh of relief. She nodded and said, "So that's how it is." Then she smiled at Ning Spring and said, "It was I who was too anxious, don't blame me, Ning Spring." Ning Spring's surname was Ning and her given name was Spring. Others called her Aunt Ning, but the empress dowager addressed her by her full name.

  "Her Majesty has killed the slaves," Ning hurriedly said. On the other hand, she pointed to Xia Ming Emperor on the bed: "The medicine of Seventh Master Sheng is really good, you smell it. The breath of Your Majesty has changed, and that foul smell is gone."

  It's not a stale smell, but a foul odor. Now it has all disappeared without a trace.

  Without anyone saying it, Empress Dowager could also see that Emperor Xiaoming's physical condition had reversed its decline and was recovering to its former state.

  Maintaining the status quo is exactly what the Empress Dowager wants most.

  "Sheng Qi is indeed worthy of being the legitimate heir of the Sheng family from Shen Nong Fu! As soon as the Sheng family makes a move, it's clear whether they have what it takes or not!" Yao Nu Gong chimed in beside her, intentionally flattering Sheng Qi and stepping on Zheng Su Huan.

  Before the appearance of Sheng Qiye, the most powerful medical skill in the Great Xia Dynasty was Zheng Suhui. However, because all the members of the Sheng family were beheaded by the Empress Dowager in a fit of rage, only Zheng Suhui remained as the sole closed-door disciple of Old Master Sheng.

  Zheng Suxin, however, seemed completely unbothered, and her eyes even had a hint of tears.

  "Master must be delighted in the underworld to see his youngest son turn out like this." Zheng Suheng said, wiping away tears with her handkerchief.

  Upon hearing the mention of his own father, Sheng Qiye's expression turned solemn and somewhat sorrowful. He shook his head and said: "In terms of medical skills, I am far inferior to my father. If my father were here, Your Majesty would have recovered long ago..." As he spoke, Sheng Qiye knelt down before the Empress Dowager.

  "Your Majesty, I have no other requests, only ask Your Majesty to pardon the crime and let the Sheng family rest in peace!" The Seventh Master Sheng kowtowed repeatedly to the Empress Dowager.

  The empress sighed softly and said after a long while, "Get up. I was also too hasty about this matter. To say the truth, Old Master Sheng has worked hard for our Great Xia Imperial Court for most of his life. I should give him a chance to speak. Alas, he was wrong, no matter what. He made the emperor live a life worse than death all these years. You, the Sheng family, should atone for the emperor's sin. Do you admit it or not?"

  Sheng Qiye's whole body shook, he knew he couldn't ask for more, so he lowered his head and said: "Your humble servant knows his fault."

  The empress dowager's lips curled up into a satisfied smile, "However, this time, you can also be considered to have saved the emperor's life. Since your merits and demerits cancel each other out, I will allow you to give the entire Sheng family a proper burial. Moreover, since only you are left from the main line of the Sheng family, it is only right that you inherit this title of national duke. I can let you inherit the title, but you must personally take care of the emperor. If the emperor were to pass away before me, I will not forgive you lightly!"

  The implication is clear: Sheng Qiye must be responsible for keeping Xia Mingdi alive until the day Empress Dowager dies...

  Sheng Qiye's heart tightened, but he had no other choice. Whether he agreed or not, the Empress Dowager would not let them slip away easily.

  "I obey the Empress Dowager's decree!" Sheng Qiye gritted his teeth and fell to the ground with a thud.

  The Empress Dowager smiled and raised her hand, "Get up. - Come on. Pass the edict! Sheng Qi inherits the title of Duke of Shen Nong Fu from the Sheng family, proclaim it to the whole world!"

  Yao Nu Guan was the one who helped Empress Dowager draft the imperial edict. Upon hearing this, she hastily said: "I obey the imperial edict!"

  Zheng Suxin's face was filled with joy, waiting for Sheng Qiye to get up. She said: "I want to congratulate Sheng Guogong! And your wife, the young lady of your house." She also said: "I am the gate disciple of Sheng Laozu. The Sheng family has finally reopened its doors, what a great joyous event!"

  The Empress Dowager smiled and said: "Zheng Yiren, your long-cherished wish has finally been fulfilled. You should also set up a banquet table and invite everyone to attend the feast!"

  "That's right! That's right! —— If the Empress Dowager can grant us an audience, it would be even better!" Zheng Suxin struck while the iron was hot and took the opportunity to invite the Empress Dowager to the Wu residence.

  The Empress Dowager thought for a moment, then said: "Alright. I haven't been out of the palace for many years. When you set up the banquet, send me an invitation. I will definitely go!"

  Zheng Suxin was overjoyed, never expecting the Empress Dowager to agree. She was so happy that she couldn't help herself, pulling Yao Nu Gong's hand and asking her questions nonstop. As for Yao Nu Gong's deliberate provocation earlier, Zheng seemed completely oblivious.

  Yao Nu Guan was secretly shocked in her heart, and quickly collected her thoughts, also happily chatting with her about the Empress Dowager's preferences.

  Sheng Qiye walked out of the grand hall, looking at Wang Shi who was standing anxiously at the entrance. He smiled warmly and said, "It's all right now. The Empress Dowager has issued an edict to let us bury the Sheng family with full honors. Moreover, the title of Duke Guo will be passed down to me."

  Sheng Siyan turned her head around. A joyful expression appeared on her face, "Congratulations, Father!"

  Sheng Qiye stroked her head and sighed, "Siyan, Father has let you and your mother suffer. From now on, you will be the legitimate eldest daughter of the Sheng Guo Gong Fu! Father will definitely invite a good teacher to come back and teach you to read books and recognize characters!"

  Sheng Siyan smiled and said: "Dad, Mom has already taught me..."

  Mr. Wang suddenly burst into loud coughing.

  Sheng Siyan's heart was clear and her thoughts were quick, and she immediately changed her words: "Mother taught me to recognize some characters, so I won't be a blind fool."

  Sheng Qiye glanced at Wang Shi and said, "Nothing's wrong, let's talk about it when we get back."

  As they left the palace, the three of them let out a long sigh of relief at the same time.

  It's like being reborn from death.

  Indeed, great calamities will not kill one; there must be good fortune afterwards!

  Ruan Gonggong hastily ran out of the palace and said to Sheng Qiye: "Sheng Guogong, the Empress Dowager has ordered that the former Shen Nong Fu is somewhat inauspicious, so she has instructed the Ministry of Works to build a new Guogong Fu next to Shen Nong Fu for your family to live in. The original Shen Nong Fu will be converted into an ancestral temple to worship the Sheng family."

  This was a veiled apology to Sheng Qiye.

  Sheng Qiye and Wang Shi were both moved to tears, kowtowing in the direction of Empress Dowager Cixi's Anhe Palace.

  Sheng Siyan bit her lower lip and followed with a bow. —— In her opinion, the lives of more than 300 people in the Sheng family were just lightly crossed out like this. Such compensation was not even called compensation. But Sheng Qiye and Wang Shi were both satisfied, she was just a little maid, no one would care about her opinion.

  Sheng Siyan knew that she had different ideas from the people here, and she didn't try to stand out or show off her uniqueness. She just kept silent when she couldn't agree with others. If she was really forced to respond, she would make a strong counterattack.

  They returned to Wangjiacun, and it was already dark.

  Wang and Sheng Siyan did not want to disturb the villagers of Wangjia Village.

  Sheng Qiye agreed not to spread this matter out.

  After a while, the newly renovated Sheng family's national duke mansion was completed. The seventh master of the Sheng family and Wang Shi quietly got into a horse-drawn carriage with Sheng Siyan and moved into the national duke mansion, becoming one of the old-brand new nobles in the capital city.

  ……

  Zhou Huai Xuan returned home and rested for a while. He felt that his body was better than before, but the dryness in his throat was more pronounced.

  He was at his wit's end when an urgent report came from the border, and it turned out that the barbarians had recovered after a winter of rest and had once again invaded the borders of Dashan.

  The border is in crisis again.

  Urgent military news flew into the capital like snowflakes and landed on the desk of the Empress Dowager.

  As usual, it was led by General Zhou. Previously, the eldest son of the three houses, Zhou Huairi, had been following him on expeditions since he was 15 years old and had been tempered on the battlefield.

  This time, his third brother Zhou Sizong came over and told him that his eldest son Zhou Huairi was ill and could not go to war for the time being.

  1 o'clock in the morning is the first shift, this is the second shift. There will be a third shift in the afternoon. Come on, everyone's guaranteed pink powder is out? No need to nurture the article, chasing the article is more interesting haha. o(n_n)o~~~

  ……

  PS: I updated the first update at 1 am, don't forget to check it out. This is the second update. The third update will be at 2 pm this afternoon. Today's three updates are a bit early because it's the first day of launch. Tomorrow should be back to normal update time. The first update is in the morning, the second update is in the afternoon, and the third update is at night.