in2ebook Chapter 243 He caused trouble, but ended up with this kind of benefit?
Chapter 243 He caused trouble, but ended up with this kind of benefit?
She had her expectations and worries, and he had his concerns and anxieties.
In this matter, both of them understood each other's concerns, but neither was willing to back down.
Qin Yizhen said, "You don't need to worry too much. Although having a child is indeed not easy."
But as a princess, I can have the best imperial physicians to treat my illness and the best midwives to deliver my child. Besides, you say my health is a bit poor, then I can move around more, learn some martial arts or something to strengthen my body.”
Cheng Yan replied, "Among the noble ladies and women of aristocratic families in the palace, there are quite a few who suffer from difficult childbirth."
"Many of those were due to the machinations of the inner quarters!"
"In short, it's not very safe."
Cheng Yan suggested, "If you insist on having a child, and I don't want to find someone else, why not raise someone else's child as your own? If you raise them well, they'll be no different from your own."
Qin Yizhen also disagreed with his suggestion: "I can't even guarantee that I'll be filial to my own children, let alone support others. Who knows, when I get old, they might find me a waste of food and abandon me somewhere to fend for myself."
In short, neither side convinced the other, and the matter remained deadlocked.
However, once the matter was discussed openly, although they disagreed with each other's ideas to some extent, they were able to understand and empathize with each other, so the argument could not continue.
Seeing that he didn't have anything important to do today, Qin Yizhen took him back to make mooncakes together.
The fillings for the mooncakes were prepared by Chen Yinniang, and the baking was also her responsibility. She even divided up the dough for each mooncake.
Qin Yizhen pinched the dough into small indentations, then put the filling inside. Cheng Yan used a mold to press out mooncakes and arranged them. When they were almost done, someone took the mooncakes to bake.
At first, the two were a bit flustered. Qin Yizhen either put in too much or too little filling, while Cheng Yan felt that the mooncakes he had knocked out were too loose, so he would subconsciously reach out and press them down to make them firmer.
Seeing Cheng Yan staring at the mooncake with a puzzled look on his face, Qin Yizhen couldn't help but laugh: "What, even the dignified Marquis of Pingxi has moments of self-doubt?"
Cheng Yan reached out to pinch her cheek.
Qin Yizhen dodged repeatedly: "Don't touch me, don't touch me, your hands are dirty."
The couple joked around, but they were both intelligent people. After several unsuccessful attempts, they quickly figured out the best way to make mooncakes, and each one was almost perfect.
After the two finished making the mooncakes, the ones they made earlier were also baked. They washed their hands and shared one to taste.
"I eat mooncakes every year, but this year's are even better." Qin Yizhen said with some emotion. She had eaten all kinds of mooncakes, but today's seemed to be especially delicious.
"What you make yourself will naturally taste better; that's just how people are."
What is easily obtained is often taken for granted, but what is obtained through effort is considered more precious and cherished.
Qin Yizhen said, "Then select some to send to the Empress Dowager. You go and deliver them. When you come back, we'll go to the ancestral hall."
With their status and position, especially Empress Dowager Cheng, who had no shortage of power and wealth, what they cared more about was whether you kept her in your heart and genuinely cared for her.
"Well, I'll go right away."
Qin Yizhen selected some mooncakes and put them in a winter-use box. The box had a narrow-mouthed ceramic basin at the bottom with some charcoal inside. Food could be placed on top of the basin to keep the food warm.
Cheng Yan carried the mooncakes and rode in a carriage into the palace.
The palace also prepared a Mid-Autumn Festival banquet today, but it was a family banquet, and only the members of the Qin royal family were invited. Even Qin Yizhen, who was already married, was not invited. According to Empress Dowager Cheng, the palace banquet was really not very interesting, and it would be more relaxed and comfortable for the couple to spend it together.
The palace banquet was held in the afternoon after the ancestral worship ceremony, so at this time, Empress Dowager Cheng was still handling state affairs in the Imperial Study.
Upon hearing that Cheng Yan had arrived, Empress Dowager Cheng was slightly surprised. After he entered, she asked him, "Why have you come at this time?"
Cheng Yan first bowed, and then said, "Your Majesty and I made some mooncakes, and we thought they were delicious, so we sent some to the Empress Dowager."
"You made mooncakes?" Empress Dowager Cheng exclaimed in surprise. "You can even make mooncakes?"
Cheng Yan explained, "The cook in the manor prepared the filling. The princess and I only made the mooncakes, and the cook baked them in the end."
"I see. Let me try some." Although it was entirely done by the two of them, Empress Dowager Cheng was pleased. She had a palace maid bring up the mooncakes, took one to try, and thought it was quite good.
"It's even better than the imperial chefs in the palace."
With such leisure and refined tastes, it seems she is living a good life. Empress Dowager Cheng was gratified. Even if the mooncakes weren't that delicious, she felt they were better than anything else in the world.
"Things are relatively peaceful lately, so you should spend more time with Yizhen. If war breaks out, you probably won't have any free time."
Cheng Yan's expression darkened slightly: "Is war about to break out? Could it be that fighting is about to break out in Lanzhou?"
"No, not at all." Empress Dowager Cheng scoffed. In the Southern Qi, they valued civil administration over military affairs. Although they were indeed wealthy, they had very few capable military generals.
They've probably been living in peace for too long; unless they actually launch an attack, they'll likely settle things quietly.
It's just suppressing bandits, you can do it.
In other words, the four kingdoms are now in a tripartite balance of power, fighting each other while also being restrained by one another. If Eastern Qin wants to fight, Western Liang will come to its aid; if Western Liang wants to fight, Eastern Qin will also come to its aid. Both sides want to monopolize the territory.
The Northern Wei wanted to surrender, but it did not border the Southern Qi, and neither the Eastern Qin nor the Western Liang allowed the Northern Wei to cross its borders.
The Southern Qi would likely find its home once the Eastern Qing conquered the Western Liang or the Western Liang conquered the Eastern Qin. Fighting against it would be futile, and in the end, surrender would probably be the only option.
"It's from Xiliang." Empress Dowager Cheng's expression was somewhat serious. "We received a letter from Xiliang a couple of days ago, saying that Xiliang has sent another prince and princess, seemingly wanting to exchange Liang Xize for another prince."
"Exchange?" Cheng Yan raised an eyebrow. "He caused trouble, and this is the kind of benefit he gets?"
Being a hostage is not an easy life. Take Liang Xize, for example. In Western Liang, he was a prince of great honor, but in Eastern Qin, the people of Eastern Qin were outwardly friendly to him, but in reality, they would seize any opportunity to beat him up.
Therefore, being able to return to China would be entirely beneficial for Liang Xize.
"Yesterday I summoned the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies and discussed the matter with him. I intend to agree to this matter. However, since he dares to cause trouble in Eastern Qin, we in Eastern Qin are not to be trifled with. I remember that Western Liang is more prosperous than Eastern Qin, and the cities bordering Eastern Qin are especially suitable for our Eastern Qin."
Cheng Yan raised an eyebrow slightly: "Xi Liang has many princes, and now is the time when the legitimate princes are in power. If west Liang agrees to spend such a high price to replace Liang Xize, the situation will likely become even more chaotic."
With the Western Liang in turmoil, the Eastern Qin has too many things to scheme for.
Perhaps he will lead his army to conquer the west again, thus solidifying his title as the Marquis of Pingxi.