The Whole Village Thrives After Adopting a Lucky Girl

By the following day, the weather had cleared up and Wei Family’s servants were clearing the accumulated water from the courtyard.

Suddenly, two inner eunuchs, clothed in palace garments, arrived at the Wei family. They announced the Imperial edict to Yingbao, instructing her to immediately enter the Imperial Palace to see the Emperor.

Despite being confused, Yingbao boarded the carriage and, accompanied by two palace maids, entered the palace.

The eunuchs brought her to a palace known as Zichen Hall.

Inside the hall were several Imperial Physicians, the Noble Consort Lv, sobbing uncontrollably, and Emperor Zhou Wuchang.

“Your Majesty, the Commandery Princess of Qinchuan County has arrived,” one of the eunuchs quietly reminded the Emperor, who was sitting in a chair and massaging his forehead.

Zhou Wuchang opened his eyes, saw Yingbao, and gestured for all the Imperial Physicians and palace attendants to leave.

The Noble Consort Lv was also escorted to a side hall.

Now only Zhou Wuchang and Yingbao remained in the hall, along with an infant laying in a crib.

Only then did Zhou Wuchang say to Yingbao, “Go and see my son. He has been poisoned by a strange toxin, even the antidote you provided is ineffective.”

Yingbao, as instructed, went to look at the child. Upon seeing his pallid complexion and weak condition, she was taken aback.

“What poison is he suffering from?”

“Unclear,” Zhou Wuchang replied dejectedly. “The imperial physicians are all giving different diagnoses. I don’t know whom to listen to, so I want you to help me.”

Yingbao furrowed her brow and gently lifted the infant’s eyelid, then placed her fingers on the pulse at his neck to feel it.

Then, she took the infant’s left hand and measured the hue and extension of the infant’s fingerprints, sliding her thumb gradually from the tip of the infant’s finger towards the tiger’s mouth area.

Indeed, the child was severely ill and showing signs of impending danger.

“Your Majesty, Prince Chu has been deeply poisoned. Have you given him the antidote?” Yingbao asked.

Zhou Wuchang replied, “Had I not given him your antidote, I fear he would already be dead. However, since then his condition has been fluctuating, and his body has become increasingly frail. Yingbao, tell me, do you have any way to save him?”

Until now, he only had this one son. The remaining consorts had also given birth one after another, but they had all given birth to daughters.

At the moment, while his daughters were safe and sound, his only son was continuously facing dangerous situations. It was evident to anyone with discernment that there was something strange at play.

Even after he had had a number of palace attendants killed, attempts on his son’s life continued.

This truly infuriated Zhou Wuchang.

However, even if he killed everyone suspicious or completely purged the Imperial Palace, he would still fail to prevent these incidents from recurring.

The enemy was hidden in the darkness, leaving him unable to guard against them.

Furthermore, the child was so young that even if he was held in his mother’s arms all day, they could still not shield him from being harmed in secret.

Yingbao suggested, “How about giving him some more antidote? I don’t think the antidote is ineffective, rather, Prince Chu has been frequently poisoned and has already damaged his internal organs.”

Zhou Wuchang nodded, watching as Yingbao took a small bottle of liquid from her bag and poured it into the infant’s mouth.

The infant subconsciously moved his mouth to swallow, displaying a strong will to live.

Zhou Wuchang leaned forward to watch for a moment, then sighed and said helplessly, “I’ve already had all the food and water in Zichen Palace under strict supervision, and we’re not using any spices. There are people watching over the wet nurse day and night.” But they still could not prevent the hidden attempts on his life.

After wiping the baby’s mouth, Yingbao said, “If it is poison, it may not necessarily be administered directly to the child. It could also be applied elsewhere and conveyed to the child through a medium.”

This significantly broadened the scope.

Given the large number of people in the Imperial Palace, the poison could be placed anywhere – on the ground, walls, furniture, or even the child’s toys. Then, someone might unknowingly bring those items to the child.

For example, just like the handkerchief in her hand, if it were to be tainted with a potent poison, using a poisoned corner of it to wipe the child would be enough to make him unwell again.

Moreover, the person hiding in the shadows does not want this child to live and would continuously attempt to poison him until he dies.

Zhou Wuchang had already thought of this, but he couldn’t possibly execute all the palace attendants.

He might kill a batch only to have another batch take their place.

At that rate, he wouldn’t need to manage state affairs anymore—he would have enough on his plate dealing with affairs of the royal harem.

Tired, Zhou Wuchang closed his eyes. After he had thought for a while, he suddenly said, “Yingbao, I am entrusting this child to you. I want you to raise him.”

As soon as Yingbao heard this, her eyes widened and she immediately refused: “Master… Your Majesty, I can’t stay in the palace…”

She knew that once she entered the palace, thoughts of leaving should be forgotten. Moreover, if something were to happen to this child again, she knew all fingers would point at her.

Zhou Wuchang waved his hand: “You won’t be staying in the palace. I want you to take the boy out of the palace, to grow up outside its walls.”

“But… Won’t that be even more dangerous?” Yingbao was puzzled.

Zhou Wuchang: “I have my own arrangements. Just wait at home for news. Remember, don’t speak of this matter to anyone, not even your husband.”

He paused before adding: “I will grant you Zhouhe County and Qinchuan County as your fiefdoms, and the tax revenue of Zhouhe County will serve as your son’s nourishment fee in the future.”

Yingbao wanted to argue further, but seeing the Emperor already putting pen to paper, she held her tongue.

On returning home from the Imperial Palace, when Wei Zhan enquired about her visit to the palace, Yingbao replied wearily, “The emperor commanded us to relocate to Qinchuan County in a few days. He also granted me Zhouhe County as an additional fiefdom.”

Wei Zhan was surprised: “Why has he done this?” Who has ever heard of a County Princess with two fiefdoms? Even Princesses do not receive such a treatment.

As Yingbao blinked while mulling over things, she casually said: “Perhaps he wants to adopt me as his goddaughter.”

“Adopt you as his goddaughter?” Wei Zhan was somewhat relieved.

After thinking for a moment, he asked: “Should I also accompany you to Qinchuan County?”

Yingbao nodded: “Of course.”

Wei Zhan grinned broadly and said: “That’s excellent.” This way, he wouldn’t need to be separated from his wife.

Several days later, the Imperial Edict arrived, elevating the County Princess of Qinchuan to the rank of Governor Princess of Chuanhe, and instructed her to move to her fiefdom within the next ten days.

Wei Zhan was also granted the position of a guest of the Princess Residence, awarded the rank of a second-level National General.

All these developments caused a stir in the Wei household, especially the head of the Wei family who could not hide his joy.

He immediately commanded his servants to prepare for his departure with his son back to Qinchuan County.

Looking on, the matron of the Wang family asked coldly: “What are you going to Qinchuan County for?”

It was natural for his son to move with his wife, as Wei Zhan was essentially the son-in-law of the Princess Residence.

The master of the Wei family cleared his throat and said, “I want to build a mansion for my seventh son. After all, when they return, they can’t continue living in the countryside, can they?”

“That’s none of your business. There will be officials from the Imperial Household Department to arrange for the construction of the mansion. It has nothing to do with you,” said the matron Wang in a light tone. “You’d better first take care of your illegitimate sons and daughters.”

The master of the Wei family furrowed his brows and settled down in a chair beside him saying, “Then shall I build a large mansion for you? You surely can’t live in your daughter-in-law’s house when you return.”

Lady Wang ignored her husband and ordered her maids to pack her belongings by herself.

Of course, she had to accompany her only child to live in Qinchuan County. With the day her son and daughter-in-law had a baby, she could take care of some things.

The master of the Wei family saw his wife ignoring him but still didn’t get angry. He chuckled and said, “Ajin, I’ll stay with you tonight…”

Lady Wang wrinkled her brow at the suggestion and said with disgust, “You’d better go elsewhere and not disturb my peace.”