in2ebook Chapter 278 How about we call her Qin Hongying?
Chapter 278 How about we call her Qin Hongying?
Chapter 278 Let's call her Qin Hongying
Winter comes early to Qindu, and spring comes early as well. Not long after the New Year, the winter snow showed signs of melting.
However, since the snow had not yet melted, it was not a good time for military training, so Cheng Yan remained unemployed at home, enjoying the snow and plum blossoms with his wife, brewing tea and wine together, and living a leisurely life.
He would occasionally enter the palace to discuss political affairs with Empress Dowager Cheng and Emperor Jing'an.
The new year had passed, and Emperor Jing'an was already thirteen years old. At the New Year's Day court ceremony, Empress Dowager Cheng announced to the court officials that Emperor Jing'an should begin to handle state affairs and mature as soon as possible.
A boy under the age of twelve can be considered young and ignorant, but a boy over the age of twelve can be used as a half-adult.
He is the ruler of a country and needs to mature quickly; no one can wait for him for long.
Empress Dowager Cheng also secretly told Qin Yizhen that she was already looking at several girls and that next year she would arrange for Emperor Jing'an to marry an empress. Even if they could not consummate their marriage, the empress would be considered an adult.
The matter of exchanging hostages between Xiliang and Xiliang was also settled at this time.
Xiliang was no fool either; they held on stubbornly and refused to cede the city.
It's a sign of incompetence to lose a war and cede cities, but for the sake of returning to the capital and ceding cities, the people would spit on the imperial court.
After discussion, everyone had no choice but to raise the ransom to eight million taels of silver.
The envoys from Xiliang discussed their journey, and remembering the instructions given to them by the emperor of Xiliang when they arrived, they finally gritted their teeth and agreed. They decided that the people from Dongqin would escort Liang Xize to the border, and once the silver was delivered from Xiliang, the goods would be exchanged for money.
Cheng Yan strongly recommended that Song Nian escort Liang Xize to the border and then escort the silver back to Qindu.
After a moment's thought, Empress Dowager Cheng granted her request.
Just after the Lantern Festival, Song Nian was about to lead his troops on a journey. Before leaving, he came to say goodbye to Qin Yizhen.
"Although it's called escorting, Xiliang is still a foreign country, so we have to be careful. You must be very careful," Qin Yizhen instructed him.
"Please rest assured, Your Highness, I will be extremely careful. When I return safely, I would like to ask the Marquis and Your Highness to officiate at my wedding ceremony with Hongying."
"Definitely," Qin Yizhen replied with a smile.
Since Songnian and Hongying had no elders, it was perfectly appropriate for them to preside over the wedding ceremony.
"Once you return, I will set a wedding date for you."
"Your subordinate thanks Your Highness."
Two days later, Song Nian led his troops to set off. Qin Yizhen was afraid that Hongying would worry, so she invited her to stay with the Marquis of Pingxi for a few days and asked Lü Qiao to keep her company.
However, Hongying took it all in stride, eating and drinking as she pleased, and even embroidering her wedding dress along the way.
"Are you really not worried at all?"
“Worry? What’s there to worry about?” Hongying seemed unconcerned. “Instead of worrying, I’d rather embroider a few more stitches on my wedding dress. Doesn’t he want to marry me? If I finish the wedding dress before he comes back, he’ll probably be very happy.”
Granny Gui gave Qin Yizhen a different hot water bottle to hold, and shook her head upon hearing this: "You're quite carefree, but it's good this way. Even if you worry every day, there's nothing you can do but wait."
"Princess, are you still cold?"
"It's cold." The snow has started to melt these past few days, and Qin Yizhen feels especially cold. Even a slight breeze outside makes her hands and feet tremble. Right now, she can only lie on the kang (heated brick bed) wrapped in a quilt and talk to everyone.
Granny Gui touched her forehead and found it was neither hot nor cold: "Weren't you fine a few days ago? Why are you suddenly so cold again?"
This winter, Qin Yi's health has improved a lot, and she is not as afraid of the cold as in previous years. However, she has been acting very strangely these past two days.
"Perhaps it's because the snow has melted."
"Even after the snow melts, I still feel incredibly cold."
"Granny Gui," Hongying called out to her, "If you're really worried, why don't you ask Mr. Hu to come and take a look? If he's ill, we'll know as soon as possible; if he's fine, then we can rest assured."
"Mr. Hu caught a cold these past two days, and it's quite serious," sighed Granny Gui. These past two days were supposed to be his doctor's days, but Mr. Hu caught a cold and has been coughing, so she was afraid he might have infected the princess and therefore didn't come.
Hongying continued, "Granny, you're confused. Mr. Hu has caught a cold. Can't you go and invite a royal physician to take a look?"
Granny Gui was stunned, and then she and Lü Qiao looked at each other in bewilderment.
Yes, they're confused. Since the princess is unwell and Mr. Hu has caught a cold and can't come to treat her, they should go and fetch the imperial physician.
“It’s my fault. Mr. Hu has always been here at the manor, and I completely forgot that we could invite the imperial physician. Lüqiao, immediately arrange for someone to take the manor’s token to invite an imperial physician over.”
Lüqiao quickly agreed, then put down the ball of yarn in her hand and hurried away.
Qin Yizhen shook her head: "She's still so loud and boisterous. I wonder what kind of person she'll marry in the future?"
Hongying smiled and said, "Whether you marry or not, it doesn't matter if you're by the princess's side. The treatment depends on whether you want to marry or have the life you want. It's not too late then."
Qin Yizhen thought about Hongying's complicated marriage and agreed, "Then let her be."
When it comes to matters of marriage, true happiness and fulfillment come only when one comes to a clear understanding of one's own destiny.
"This time, Songnian has returned with merits, and who knows, he might even be able to win you a title of Lady of the Imperial Decree. Fortunately, the good fortune has not gone to outsiders, otherwise it would be such a pity."
Hongying was a little embarrassed, but she stubbornly said, "What does it matter if he earns it? I'm happiest when I earn it myself. I'm going to be a female general."
"Yes, yes, General Hongying." Qin Yizhen said, then remembered something and asked her, "We're going to process your new household registration in the next few days. What surname would you like?"
Previously, Hongying and Lüqiao were both women of official rank and were considered slaves. Now that they were about to get married, Qin Yizhen naturally wanted to set them free and register them under a separate household, so that they would be respectable women from then on.
Hongying paused, and for a moment she seemed to be mute.
Qin Yizhen thought for a moment and said, "How about we call her Qin Hongying?"
Hongying's hand trembled slightly: "Wouldn't this be inappropriate...?"
If it were just Qin Yizhen's surname, there wouldn't be any problem with her using it. But Qin Yizhen is a princess, and the surname Qin is the imperial surname. If Qin Yizhen were to bestow the surname upon her, it would likely cause gossip.
"There's nothing wrong with it. There are plenty of people with the surname Qin in the world, not just the royal family. Besides, I'm a princess, so what's wrong with being a little willful?"
She's not abusing her power or committing any heinous crimes, so why can't she be willful?
Moreover, if she hesitates and thinks this is inappropriate and that is inappropriate, then she shouldn't be a princess anymore.
“That’s settled then. And this name is really nice, Qin Hongying, Qin Hongying. It really sounds like a female general. I hope you achieve your wish and really become a female general.”
Upon hearing this, Hongying had no reason to refuse and quickly bowed in gratitude: "Thank you, Princess. Hongying will certainly live up to your expectations."