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With that, she knelt down, paying her respects to Yingbao.

Yingbao instructed her to stand up: “Go and bring your child to see me.”

Weng Xiuxiu was overjoyed, she knocked her head against the floor three times in front of Yingbao, turned around and ran off to the wooden cage to bring her daughter.

In the wooden cage, the two young girls from before spat at her: “Pah! You’re shameless! You’ve disgraced our father!”

An emaciated-looking woman sitting in the wooden cage said to Weng Xiuxiu: “Xiuxiu, your uncle said he would come to save us, why are you in such a hurry to become someone’s servant?”

Weng Xiuxiu held her three-year-old daughter tightly and replied coldly: “He’s not my uncle.”

“What are you talking about?” The woman said discontentedly: “Even if he’s not your real uncle, he won’t abandon you. Why are you so disobedient? What would happen to me and your two sisters if you left?”

Weng Xiuxiu let out a cold laugh: “What happens to you and them has nothing to do with me. Do you expect me to forever sell myself to ensure safety for you mother and daughters?”

After she spoke, she walked out of the wooden cage holding her daughter.

Yingbao glanced at Weng Xiuxiu and her daughter, then at the wooden cage, turned around and led the group of slaves out.

The shopkeeper locked up the wooden cage and followed behind this group of slaves with a stick, herding them to wait in the corner of the wall for their new master to come pay and handle the slave transaction.

After Yingbao paid and obtained the deed to the slaves, she got on the horse carriage and went home.

The middleman tied the slaves up with ropes and escorted them to the Jiang family with two ox carts.

Seeing her daughter bring back so many servants at once surprised Chunniang a little, but thinking about how they were indeed lacking manpower at home, she didn’t say anything.

However, seeing the three-year-old girl kneeling to her, she suddenly felt a bit uncomfortable.

It was pitiful, such a young child had become a maid.

“What is the child’s name?” Chunniang asked.

Weng Xiuxiu respectfully replied: “My lady, her pet name is Wan Zhu.”

Chunniang nodded, turned around and said to her daughter: “Baobao, you arrange for them. The child is still young, give her and her mother a separate room.”

Yingbao: “Don’t worry, I will make arrangements.”

She renamed the two new young girls as Zhenzhu and Hupo, and arranged for them to serve in her mother’s room and take care of her daily needs.

She kept Weng Xiuxiu for her mother too, whose daily tasks included talking with her, doing some embroidery, and taking care of miscellaneous chores.

The two kitchen maids were given to Chef Liu as helpers.

Four young lads, one for her brother Jiang Jie, one for her second cousin, while the other two were kept to guard the main gate.

The house was soon bustling with activity, as the servants and maids each assumed their duties.

Shortly after, the official documents of Jiang Jie’s appointment came down; as expected, he entered the Hanlin Academy and took up a seventh-grade post alongside the top two students from the highest level.

Li Xu was sent to a local province to serve as a County Magistrate.

One day, two eunuchs from the palace suddenly came to the Jiang family to convey an oral edict, summoning Jiang Yingbao to appear before the Emperor and instructing her to bring her medicine box.

Yingbao did not dare to delay and immediately had Magnolia carry the medicine box and accompany her to the palace.

The two eunuchs glanced at Magnolia and without uttering a word, indicated for Yingbao and her maid to get into the horse-drawn carriage.

Compared to Tokyo, the Imperial City of Jiankang was not as grand, but it was still sufficiently imposing.

Yingbao rode in the palace carriage, smoothly entering the Imperial City, and eventually arrived at a palace.

As the young eunuch announced their arrival, a palace maiden came out to escort Yingbao into the palace, but Magnolia had to stay outside.

Yingbao took over the medicine box from Magnolia and comforted her: “Just stand right here, don’t wander around, and don’t be afraid. I will be out soon.”

“Ok.” Magnolia stood straight, with her arms hanging down, her legs involuntarily trembling.

As Yingbao entered the palace, she saw a group of palace maids surrounding a beautiful woman. This woman was wearing brocade, her head decorated with pearls and jade; indeed, she was remarkably resplendent.

The eunuch leading the way said, “This is Her Majesty, the Virtuous Consort. Kneel and pay your respects.”

Yingbao bowed towards the woman at the head of the table, “Commoner Jiang Yingbao greets Her Majesty, the Virtuous Consort.”

The Virtuous Consort looked at her with a smile, waving her forward, “Come closer, let me take a look at you.”

Yingbao had no choice but to step forward and bow again.

“Oh my, such a beauty,” the Virtuous Consort tittered, taking Yingbao’s hand, “I once heard His Majesty mention that he has a female disciple, whose medical skills are extraordinary. Today, His Majesty has given the edict to summon you to the palace to check my pulse.”

“I am willing to relieve Your Majesty of her worries.” Yingbao was finally able to relax, she anxiously said to the Virtuous Consort, “Please extend your wrist.”

The Virtuous Consort didn’t hesitate and placed her wrist on the table.

After Yingbao took her pulse, she realized the Consort was pregnant. “Your Majesty, you are pregnant.”

The Virtuous Consort nodded, “It’s been five months already. The reason I requested your presence was to ask whether this child is a boy or a girl.”

Yingbao withdrew her hand, “I apologize. My medical skills are modest. I cannot determine the child’s gender.”

A palace maid nearby expressed her dissatisfaction, “How could you not determine that? Even His Majesty said your medical skills are exquisite. What’s so difficult about determining the child’s gender?”

Yingbao glanced at the maid, having no desire to argue with such a dimwit.

The Virtuous Consort noticed the young girl’s gloomy face and laughed, “Even the Imperial Physicians can’t determine it. Zhenzhu, you must not blame her so recklessly. Miss Jiang, Zhenzhu is a bit hasty by nature, please bear with her.”

Yingbao laughed, “Her Majesty, you jest. I’m merely a commoner, you mentioning bearing with me is simply flattering.”

The Virtuous Consort appeared slightly embarrassed and immediately ordered the palace maids, “Quickly, bring what I have prepared to give Miss Jiang.”

A palace maid came over carrying a box and opened it in front of Yingbao.

Inside the box, she saw ten glittering gold ingots, each weighing no less than ten liangs.

Yingbao stepped back, made a fist and salute, “I haven’t done anything. I can’t accept these rewards without rendering any service.”

The Virtuous Consort laughed, “Miss Jiang, your words are incorrect. In five months, I will be giving birth and I will need you to assist.”

Yingbao furrowed her eyebrows slightly, feeling somewhat displeased inside.

She was not a woman physician from the Imperial Medical Bureau, how could she serve these dignitaries by assisting in childbirth?

If anything were to go wrong, wouldn’t her family become the scapegoat?

But if she refused now, she would definitely offend the Virtuous Consort.

Her nominal master has not been made Empress yet, and likely all the consorts were vying to be the first, striving to give birth to the crown prince.

While giving birth, they would undoubtedly wish for the early demise of the children of others. Frequently visiting the palace, it was almost certain she would become someone’s scapegoat.

Alas, it was an unprovoked disaster.

“Miss, please take it!” A palace attendant urged.

Yingbao gritted her teeth, and accepted the heavy wooden box. “Thank you, Her Majesty.”

Just at this moment, someone outside declared, “The Emperor has arrived!”

The Virtuous Consort immediately stood up, joyously arranging her temples, and headed towards the door to greet him.

Yingbao also followed with the box in her arms.

A resplendent figure dressed in imperial yellow walked in, and all the palace maids knelt down.

Yingbao did not kneel, she just put down the wooden box and saluted the Emperor.

The Virtuous Consort clung to the Emperor and behaved coquettishly, “Your Majesty, why have you only just now arrived? This consort has been waiting for you for more than ten days.”

Zhou Wuchang chuckled, patting her arm, “I’ve been quite busy recently, only today did I manage to get some free time.”

As he spoke, his gaze fell on the standing young girl, “You are… Yingbao?”

Yingbao immediately replied, “Yes, Master, don’t you recognize your disciple anymore?”