Chapter 447: Chapter 447

"Why has Mother come at this time? Could something have happened at home?"

It was the heart of winter, and the world outside was already a sheet of frosty cold. Heavy snow swirled down, and even though the palace servants swept all day, the ground still held a trace of muddiness.

When Lady Jiang arrived, her violet-grey cloak was dotted with a few snowflakes that hadn't yet melted.

In this kind of weather, as the palace servants had mentioned earlier, judging by her expression, she did seem somewhat anxious. After a quick glance, An Ning quickly formed a guess in her heart.

The attending palace servants soon presented hot tea.

Only after the guest was seated did An Ning speak gently.

At the same time, looking at this newly appointed Princess Consort before her, whose smiling eyes seemed just as they always were, yet also seemed to hold something more, Lady Jiang couldn't help but feel a trace of complexity in her heart.

If one were to speak of the several daughters of the Count's household, their lives these years had actually been quite satisfactory, at least far better than most women of the current era.

Yun now had a son and a daughter at her knee, considered a perfect pair. Although her son-in-law had several concubines, most were very docile, and even one or two children born of them couldn't affect anything.

Third Young Lady's life was initially somewhat difficult to adapt to, with living conditions much poorer, but Third Son-in-law was indeed clever. Six years ago, he passed the imperial examination as a Second-Rank Scholar, and after three years as a Hanlin Bachelor, he quickly entered the Ministry of Revenue, holding a position of real authority, a proper case of a promising future.

Importantly, all these years, her son-in-law was so engrossed in his official career that he didn't even have a single concubine or female companion by his side. Even the early worries about meddling relatives from her mother-in-law's side were all handled by her son-in-law himself over the years, never once troubling Third Young Lady.

The parents-in-law who occasionally came to stay briefly never dared to put on any airs before this daughter-in-law.

And the one before her was even more remarkable. Not only had she lived a carefree and comfortable life all these years, but every time she returned home, one couldn't see any trace of worldly toil on her. Aside from the crisis during her pregnancy, there was simply nothing amiss.

But that little bit of danger had now been repaid a hundredfold, a thousandfold.

The biological mother of the Crown Prince, judging by His Majesty's current posture, barring any accidents, she was the future, ironclad, nailed-on Empress Dowager.

It's a pity that compared to her daughters, the family these years...

Though it seemed like she pondered and sighed over many things, it was actually just a moment's thought. Facing the seemingly puzzled gaze of the person seated above, Lady Jiang quickly pulled back her thoughts and let out an almost imperceptible sigh:

"Ah, His Majesty has just ascended the throne, and palace affairs are complex and numerous. Originally, I did not wish to bother you with household matters, it's just..."

As if finding it somewhat difficult to speak, she fell silent briefly. Seeing An Ning's expression remained unchanged, Lady Jiang then spoke:

"To be frank with the Princess Consort, ever since we learned of His Majesty's ascension a while ago, especially after the designation of the Crown Prince, Master has been exceptionally happy. Every day, a continuous stream of visitors comes to the manor, and Master rarely refuses any drinking banquets or feasts."

"Ah, Master is already getting on in years, and with things being lately, no matter how the household members tried to advise or dissuade him, it was useless.

Unfortunately, just last night, due to excessive drinking, he unfortunately caught a chill..."

"So Father now... what did the imperial physician say?"

Taking a light sip of the clear tea in her hand, An Ning's tone seemed slightly urgent, her eyes also brimming with anxiety. However, the hand holding the teacup never once put it down from beginning to end.

Seeing this clearly, Lady Jiang sighed inwardly, but her eyes timely took on a trace of worry, and the words that came to her mouth changed to:

"Physician Wang said earlier that Master's constitution was already not good. With this incident, there is a high possibility he may be bedridden in the future."

"It's also my fault, I failed to properly advise Master during this time..."

Seeing the other party seemed to have self-reproaching intentions, An Ning quickly set down her teacup and gently "comforted" her:

"Father's temperament has always been strong-willed and used to having his way. Everyone in the entire household knows this, how could it be blamed on Mother?"

Outside the window, snowflakes as large as goose feathers danced incessantly, the chill seeming to grow a bit stronger. As the two spoke, palace servants soon came forward to replenish the charcoal fire.

After this topic passed, the mother and daughter never spoke another word about it, only exchanging a few light words about daily life.

Not long after, Lady Jiang rose to take her leave.

Before departing, An Ning, as usual, ordered the palace servants to pack some of the finest medicinal foods and tonics.

Watching the other's retreating back, An Ning couldn't help but sigh.

What a clever person! What a pity!

"A-Ning, what's wrong? Did something happen at home?"

Seeing that An Ning hadn't returned for over half an hour, Shangguan Huai soon came looking for her in the warm pavilion, feeling somewhat worried upon seeing this.

Don't misunderstand, this wasn't worry for the Count's household, only worry that those two 'sleeping dragon and phoenix' at the manor might have done something distressing again, upsetting his own Princess Consort.

After many years of marriage, Shangguan Huai naturally understood A-Ning's attitude towards those two from the Count's household very clearly. Equally clear were the Empress Dowager, now the Emperor.

Thus, over these years, the two brothers-in-law did occasionally look out for and assist each other, but those two from the Count's household...

Forget it, they had high ambitions but low ability, not worth mentioning lest they cause trouble!

Sure enough, after hearing about Father Zhou's condition, Shangguan Huai's worry quickly turned into speechlessness.

After all, he was her biological father. Considering his wife's feelings in his arms, Shangguan Huai still asked simply:

"No danger to his life, right? Should we send Chief Physician Zhang over to take a look?"

Chief Physician Zhang, currently the best physician in the Imperial Hospital. Aside from regularly checking the pulses of their family of four, he spent most of his time responsible for Prince Yongle's health.

He normally never left the palace at all.

To this, An Ning only smiled. Thinking of Lady Jiang's earlier probing, she immediately said:

"Don't worry, there's no danger to his life!"

Seeing An Ning , Shangguan Huai indeed asked no more, instead enthusiastically bringing up another matter:

"Didn't A-Ning say a while ago that the palace felt stifling? Since there's nothing major happening now anyway, how about in a few days, the two of us go to the hot spring villa in the outskirts of the capital?"

He said 'the two of us'. As for their daughter A-Bao. Although Shangguan Huai also wanted to bring her, now that she was the Crown Prince, and newly designated at that, not to mention handling a myriad of affairs daily, her schedule wasn't much lighter.

Without even thinking, she definitely wouldn't have the time.

Though his heart ached a tiny bit, Shangguan Huai forcefully endured the reluctance and crossed his precious daughter off the list.

Equally forcing down her reluctance was An Ning:

"It's just A-Bao, she's too hardworking!"

Thinking of their young daughter already handling government affairs beside Her Majesty the Emperor at such a tender age, the husband and wife both sighed in unison again.

Even so, it didn't stop the two from swiftly ordering people to pack their luggage and prepare the royal procession, showing not the slightest intention to delay any longer.

Busy with affairs, only receiving verbal comfort from her dear parents, Shangguan Jun: "..."

However, on the very second day after the two entered the villa, the Changping Earl's Manor suddenly sent the dire news that Father Zhou had suffered a sudden stroke!

That wasn't all. Arriving simultaneously with this dire news was the message that Eldest Young Master Zhou, due to worrying about his father, had accidentally fallen on his way back and broken his left leg.

Hearing the latter news, even An Ning couldn't help but be stunned for a moment.