Chapter 357 Nine Princes' Mansion Will Soon Have Female Family
Zhan Qingcheng stayed in Ningxi Hall until noon. At noon, a group of eunuchs and maids brought meals, which were basically vegetarian meals.
Empress Dowager Ning looked at Zhan Qingcheng and said, "Ah Jiu, it's so busy outside, why don't you stay and have a light meal with your mother?"
"Is this what the Queen eats every day?" Zhan Qingcheng frowned. No wonder every time he saw her, he felt that she had lost weight again.
Empress Dowager Ning coughed twice and then said: "It's okay for people who believe in Buddhism to eat some vegetarian dishes."
Zhan Qingcheng didn't say anything. Now that he's here, it's normal to have a meal with his mother.
Unexpectedly, before the meal started, the little maid from outside came in and said respectfully: "The Queen Mother, Your Majesty, the Eighth Prince wants to see you."
"Is Lao Ba here?" Lao Ba had just returned to the Imperial City not long ago, and unexpectedly he came over to greet her.
Queen Mother Ning looked happy: "Quickly, let the Eighth Prince come in and have dinner with the Ai family."
"Yes, Queen Mother." The little palace maid stepped back.
Empress Dowager Ning looked at Zhan Qingcheng and said, "You and Lao Ba haven't seen each other for a long time, right? It's good now that both of you are back in the capital, so we can see each other more often."
"Okay." Zhan Qingcheng nodded.
Not long after, the little palace maid led someone in.
The visitor looked to be about the same age as Zhan Qingcheng. Although he was not as handsome as the Ninth Prince, he was definitely a rare and handsome man.
The rough temperament honed over many years on the battlefield not only does not detract from his handsomeness, but on the contrary, adds a touch of masculinity to him.
This person is none other than the Eighth Prince, Zhan Lingtian, who returned to the imperial city a few days ago.
Seeing that Zhan Qingcheng was here, a smile appeared on Zhan Lingtian's eyebrows. He first greeted the Queen Mother and then immediately looked at Zhan Qingcheng.
"Ajiu, you are indeed back too. The army has not yet arrived, but you came back secretly. Is it just to see your mother?"
Zhan Qingcheng didn't say anything, but Queen Mother Ning had already complained: "Why are you coming back to see me, an old woman?"
This guy came back early, but he didn't come to see her. She went to the Holy One's place in person, and the Holy One summoned him back, so that she had the chance to see him.
Zhan Lingtian smiled and said, "Didn't Ah Jiu come over to see our mother? Just come."
That's right, it's good to be here. This son is like this, what else can he complain about?
"It's just the right time for me to come. I'm about to have a meal." Queen Mother Ning looked at the palace maid below.
The little palace maid bowed her head and retreated. Not long after, she presented him with a pair of bowls and chopsticks.
Empress Dowager Ning, the Ning Xi Palace, was very frugal in terms of food and use. Just like her, she looked elegant and simple, a very simple person.
Zhan Lingtian was not polite and just picked up his chopsticks and started eating.
The Eighth Prince's mother died of illness when he was still very young. Over the years, the Eighth Prince was basically raised by Empress Dowager Ning, the then Concubine Ning.
Therefore, the relationship between the Eighth Prince and Queen Mother Ning is very good.
In addition, the Ninth Prince, Empress Dowager Ning's biological son, has been taciturn since he was a child and does not know how to please people. In recent years, the Eighth Prince and Empress Dowager Ning have become closer.
Compared with the Ninth Prince, the Eighth Prince is more like the biological son of Queen Mother Ning, probably because there are no elders in the family. Every time the Eighth Prince comes back from outside the customs, he will definitely bring many good things to Queen Mother Ning.
This time, he came back with a large amount of medicinal materials, all of which he personally found in the deep mountains and wild mountains outside the pass.
After lunch, the young eunuch brought the Eighth Prince's medicinal materials.
Empress Dowager Ning frowned: "Lao Ba, the Ai family has everything here. We really don't need these. You...you went to the barren mountains and ridges to find medicine yourself, right?"
She looked very disapproving, as if she was afraid that something might happen to him while he was looking for medicine.
"Don't worry, Queen Mother, I'm just looking for these medicines along the way." Zhan Lingtian said immediately.
Queen Mother Ning wanted to say something, but she couldn't catch her breath and immediately started coughing again.
Although Zhan Qingcheng didn't talk much, he was still considerate around Empress Dowager Ning.
When she coughed, he protected her with his true energy. Soon, the Queen Mother's cough subsided.
Zhan Lingtian frowned: "Mother, your cough has never been cured, and this is not the solution."
When he and Ah Jiu were around, he could still give her some Qi relief. But when they were away, would she just keep coughing?
Lian'er, who was standing aside, couldn't help but whisper: "When the Queen Mother goes to bed at night, she always has trouble sleeping. She wakes up coughing many times every night."
"Lian'er, don't be too troublesome." Empress Dowager Ning glanced at her.
Lian'er pursed her lips and stopped talking.
Zhan Qingcheng looked at Queen Mother Ning: "Mo Bai has returned to the imperial city. I will ask him to come and check the Queen Mother's pulse tomorrow."
"Don't bother Mr. Mo Bai. He prescribed the prescription for the Ai family half a year ago. The Ai family felt that... the medicine was really uncomfortable to take, so..."
"The Queen Mother feels like vomiting every time she takes medicine. The Queen Mother cannot drink Mr. Mo Bai's medicine." Lian'er couldn't help but added.
Queen Mother Ning was a little helpless. She was probably too used to this little girl, but she dared to speak in front of Lao Ba and Ah Jiu.
However, the Queen Mother has always been kind and gentle to the eunuchs and maids around her, so it doesn't matter if the people below her get close to her.
Although the royal family has royal rules, it can still be humane outside of the rules.
Seeing that the Queen Mother and the young palace maid were getting along well, Zhan Qingcheng and Zhan Lingtian also felt relieved.
The Queen Mother was indeed having a miserable life in the harem, and it was always good to have a caring girl by her side.
"Mother, when my son comes back this time, he should stay with me for a while. If my mother doesn't mind, why not come to the Eighth Prince's Mansion to stay with me for a while."
These words preceded Zhan Qingcheng, so this biological son was often not as close as the Eighth Prince and the Queen Mother.
But Empress Dowager Ning saw that Zhan Qingcheng looked like she had something to say, so she couldn't help but smile and said: "Isn't it possible that Ah Jiu is also willing to let this old woman from the Ai family stay for a few days?"
There was finally a hint of joy in Zhan Qingcheng's eyes: "Thanks to my mother, I don't dislike it."
"Do you still need to be so polite when you are with the Ai family? Don't even think about it, you were raised by the Ai family themselves."
Queen Mother Ning rolled her eyes at him. This son was good at everything. He was handsome and capable, but he was a little too cold. He was indeed not as considerate as Lao Ba.
However, under his cold appearance, he still has a kind heart, but he is not good at expressing it.
"But there are no female relatives in your house. After the Ai family leaves, I'm afraid they will be bored."
Empress Dowager Ning's words certainly meant something: "Look at Lao Ba's house, at least there are eight princesses and concubines chatting and relaxing with the Ai family."
Zhan Lingtian couldn't help laughing loudly: "Ajiu, my mother wants to urge you to get married again!"
Empress Dowager Ning also smiled and said: "Don't be afraid, Ah Jiu has agreed to choose a concubine, and there will soon be a female concubine in Prince Jiu's Mansion!"
