in2ebook Chapter 10 Wet Nurse: Su Yueniang
Chapter 10 Wet Nurse: Su Yueniang
After Physician Liu carefully checked the pulses of both herself and Cheng'er and confirmed that they were both safe and sound, Su Nuannuan finally breathed a sigh of relief.
She gently tidied her slightly messy hair, then did a simple grooming in front of the mirror. Afterward, she summoned Jinse and solemnly instructed her, "Jinse, when I am not in the palace, you must take good care of Cheng'er and not be negligent in the slightest." Jinse nodded quickly in agreement, indicating that she would certainly live up to her trust.
After arranging everything, Su Nuannuan took Yaoqin and set off for Anning Palace, where the Empress resided.
Cheng'er is still very young and needs a wet nurse to take care of her, but she has already drunk medicine to stop lactation and no longer has any milk in her body. Helpless, she has no choice but to find a suitable wet nurse to enter the palace.
This time, she already had a plan in mind, intending to have her mother select a reliable wet nurse from the family and send her to the palace, preferably a servant born into the family who had worked in the family for generations.
However, it was no easy task to successfully send someone from outside the palace into the heavily guarded imperial palace to serve as a wet nurse; the Empress's consent was required first.
According to palace rules, wet nurses brought in from outside the palace could only stay in the palace for a maximum of three years.
However, Su Nuannuan already had a plan in mind: when Cheng'er turned one and a half years old, she would let the wet nurse leave the palace and go home.
After all, by then, Cheng'er will be able to drink some cow's milk or goat's milk and can also start trying some simple complementary foods.
Before long, Su Nuannuan and her entourage arrived at the gates of Anning Palace. She took a deep breath, composed herself, and then walked into Anning Palace with light yet dignified steps.
Upon seeing the Empress playing with the Crown Prince, Su Nuannuan quickly curtsied respectfully and said, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to the Empress and the Crown Prince."
Upon hearing the voice, the Empress slowly turned her head, a kind and amiable smile on her face, and softly replied, "Sister Zhuang, please rise quickly, there's no need for such formality."
"Sister Zhuang, you've come to my palace today. Is there something important you wish to discuss?" the Empress asked with a smile as she sat on the carpet.
Consort Zhuang bowed slightly and replied softly, "Your Majesty, I have come here today to report something to you. I am thinking of having my maternal family send a wet nurse to the palace."
After speaking, Consort Zhuang pursed her lips and then recounted in detail the various behaviors of her wet nurse, Chen, to the Empress.
The Empress frowned slightly, shook her head, and sighed, "I advised my sister to choose someone else, but she insisted on choosing this Chen woman. I couldn't say anything more, so I had to give up."
Consort Zhuang looked ashamed and lowered her head, saying softly, "It was all my fault for misjudging people, which almost harmed Cheng'er and myself."
"In that case, I'll trouble your mother to bring the person in! I will immediately send someone to the Imperial Household Department to inform them," the Empress said, nodding slightly and speaking in a calm tone.
"Your Majesty, I am deeply grateful for your kindness." Su Nuannuan quickly bowed and greeted you, her face full of gratitude.
"What grace or not? We are all mothers, it's only natural to think more about our children," the Queen said gently, waving her hand and smiling warmly.
After hearing the Empress's words, Su Nuannuan felt a surge of emotion. She thought to herself, "Her Majesty the Empress is so kind, gentle, and understanding, and so approachable!"
"Your Majesty, I must once again express my heartfelt gratitude for your kindness," Su Nuannuan said earnestly.
As soon as she finished speaking, Su Nuannuan noticed that the Crown Prince was playing with a small and cute cloth tiger in his hand. A brilliant idea flashed into her mind.
"Your Majesty, I specially asked my third brother to craft a set of building blocks. Once the blocks are finished, I would like to send them to His Highness the Crown Prince first. Is that alright?" Su Nuannuan smiled, her eyes filled with anticipation as she looked at the Empress.
"Jingyun thanks Lady Zhuang." As soon as little Jingyun heard that there were new toys to play with, he immediately thanked Su Nuannuan like a little adult.
"Oh, you little rascal, you're such a clever and mischievous one!" The Empress couldn't help but chuckle as she reached out and lightly tapped her son's forehead with her finger, scolding him playfully.
"Mother~" Little Jingyun snuggled into the Empress's arms in a coquettish manner, looking extremely adorable.
That clear, soft, sweet, and endearing baby voice would melt anyone's heart; who could resist such cuteness!
Upon hearing this voice, Su Nuannuan was completely captivated, and couldn't help but imagine the heartwarming scene of Cheng'er calling her "Mother Consort." She seemed to see little Cheng'er toddling towards her, calling out in his childish voice, "Mother Consort..." Just thinking about it made Su Nuannuan's face involuntarily light up with a gentle smile.
"Then I won't stand on ceremony with Sister Zhuang." The Empress was perfectly aware of what was going on. She knew that Su Nuannuan definitely had more than just one set of building blocks, but since the other party was willing to sell her something nice, she couldn't refuse their kindness and simply agreed.
After leaving the Empress's palace, Su Nuannuan rushed back to Cuiwei Palace without stopping. As soon as she entered the palace, she instructed Jinse to leave the palace immediately and return to her parents' home, taking with her the carefully drawn building block diagrams she had prepared earlier.
The blueprint not only detailed the shape and size of the building blocks, but also clearly indicated what kind of wood was used to make the set.
During the time she waited for Jinse to return, Su Nuannuan was restless because it was almost time for her son to be fed.
Finally, just before dinner, Jinse hurriedly entered the palace with a wet nurse. This wet nurse had naturally been registered with the Imperial Household Department according to regulations.
The wet nurse bowed respectfully to Su Nuannuan and said, "This servant, Su Yueniang, greets Your Highness. May Your Highness be blessed with longevity and good health."
When Su Nuannuan saw that it was Su Yueniang, she was shocked and exclaimed, "How could it be you?"
It turned out that the woman standing in front of her, named Su Yueniang, was none other than the biological daughter of the nanny who served Madam Su, and also her playmate.
"If you go to the palace, what will happen to your child?"
If it were someone else, Su Nuannuan might not have cared so much, but she did care about Su Yueniang in front of her.
Back then, they used to play and frolic together, inseparable. It's a pity that Su Yueniang married someone else early on; otherwise, the position of head palace maid would probably not be Jinse's now, but Su Yueniang's.
Upon hearing Su Nuannuan's question, Su Yueniang calmly replied, "Your Highness, please rest assured, Madam has arranged everything perfectly." A look of gratitude and relief appeared on Su Yueniang's face.