Chapter 684: Chapter 684. Hundred Flower Garden
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Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
She had plenty of money she could not spend in a few lifetimes. Since she could not carry it when she was alive or dead, she would do some good deeds!
The orphanage was established because of that pregnant woman. Zhang Song killed that pregnant woman to spread rumors and slander her. Otherwise, that child would not have lost his mother.
The old people’s home was built because of the rule of the imperial court. If a person did not die at the age of 60, they would have to dig a hole and bury them alive or throw them into the mountains to fend for themselves. The main reason was that there was not enough food to eat. The old people could not work to support themselves and were mercilessly abandoned.
Su Qing had set up the nursing home to take care of these old people who had lost their ability to work and were about to be sent to the mountains to wait for death.
Poor hospitals were opened for the poor who couldn’t afford to see a doctor. Su Qing trained a group of female doctors and discussed with Xiao Zeyu to break the commandment that women couldn’t enter the court as officials. Women could also become officials if they were talented and capable. After a year, Su Qing raised the status of women in society.
It was no longer like the past, where men were superior to women. With Xiao Zeyu as an example, the officials in the court did not have three wives or four concubines. They all obediently watched over their wives. Unless their wives were infertile, they could only report to the court to take in concubines.
However, Su Qing did not give them this chance. Some infertile women would give birth to a baby the following year after taking a few pills.
There was an official who wanted to kill his wife to marry his beloved concubine. Zhang Jinglin found out and beheaded him in the market.
With this precedent, no one dared to have any other thoughts.
“Taoist priest, Happy New Year.”
Luan Hong was wearing a purple-red cotton robe with white fox fur at the collar. She looked as beautiful as an unmarried girl. She held her sleeping daughter m her arms and smiled as she wished the Taoist priest a happy new year.
“This child?”
Zhou Bo’s eyes lit up when he saw the daughter in Luan Hong’s arms. Luan Hong looked at him nervously.
“Taoist priest, what’s wrong?”
“Train this child well. She will bring glory to your family.”
Zhou Bo stopped there. He didn’t elaborate on the girl’s fate. He took out a talisman and handed it to Luan Hong.
“Put this on her. The doll is too weak now.”
“Thank you, Daoist Priest.”
Luan Hong knew that Zhou Bo’s talisman was very effective, so she took it and thanked him excitedly.
Yun’ er tilted her head and looked at Zhou Bo. This child did not have stage fright at all. Her big eyes sparkled as she greeted him in a childish voice.
“h.e.l.lo, Grandpa.”
“h.e.l.lo!”
Zhou Bo liked Yun ‘er very much. He bent down and picked her up.
“This child is amazing!”
Zhou Bo looked at Yun’ er and smiled at Su Qing.
She has to marry far away. You have to be willing!”
When she heard that her daughter would marry far away, Su Qing thought of Xiao Ying. She almost lost her life because of that! Therefore, Su Qing would never let her daughter marry far away.
She could find a good family in the Tang Empire, and if anyone dared to bully Yun’ er under her nose, she could live a carefree life.
Zhou Bo saw through Su Qing’s thoughts and laughed.
“You can’t stop a child from growing up.”
Su Qing didn’t think much of it. She didn’t believe that she couldn’t stop her. She didn’t want to talk about it anymore, so she changed the topic to the wine that Zhou Bo was most interested in.
Old Daoist, come in and taste my newly brewed Qu wine.”
Alright, alright. I came back just to drink the wine that Qing girl brewed!” Zhou Bo couldn’t wait any longer when he heard about the wine. He put Yun ‘er on the ground and happily followed Su Qing into the house to drink.
A good snow was a sign of a b.u.mper harvest. The following year, the weather was good. Su Qing’s seeds had been planted in over half of the city. Her manor was growing high-yield rice and wheat this year. The coa.r.s.e grain was enough, and the fine was the main meal.
The rice that was grown was polished until it was crystal clear. It was worth as much as gold in other countries. It was precious.
The ordinary people of the Tang Empire lived a comfortable life by farming. They were naturally grateful to the Empress. Some families even burned incense to Su Qing daily, praying to the heavens to bless the Empress with a long life.
This year, Su Qing’s second child was born. She gave birth to triplets, all boys. There were five children, four boys and one girl. Yun’ er was even more doted on.
Yang Rubing gave birth to a son, and Luan Qingshan went to the ancestral hall to thank the ancestors for their blessings.
Yang Ruxue gave birth to a daughter, and she used all the love she owed Su Qing to her daughter. Little Chen was now an older brother who doted on his sister. He no longer chased after Xiao Qi and Little Lingling. He spent his free time by his sister’s side and loved her very much.
In the blink of an eye, three years had pa.s.sed. In April this year, the flowers that Su Qing had grown in the Forbidden City had bloomed. She had gathered all the womenfolk of the ministers’ families into the palace to admire the flowers.
Who wouldn’t want to take a look at the Empress’s Hundred Flower Garden? Almost all the young ladies from Jingzhong had come. Su Qing feared they would be too reserved, so she thoughtfully prepared some snacks. She took out the tomatoes, cantaloupes, cuc.u.mbers, and radishes she had grown in the greenhouse and placed them on the small table for everyone to eat as they pleased.
Although Su Qing had given birth to five children, she still looked young and elegant. She was so beautiful that she looked like she had walked out of a painting. She sat on her seat and looked at the young ladies who had come to admire the flowers.
It had been three years, and Li Daniu’s mourning period had ended. She and Shuisheng had promised to find a suitable wife for Li Daniu, and now it was time to choose one.
To be honest, Su Qing wasn’t even so concerned about choosing a consort for him. This guy’s eyes were hurting from watching.
“Qing ‘ er, do you have any suitable candidates?”
After Xiao Zeyu returned from court, he went straight to the Hundred Flowers Garden to look for Su Qing. The first thing he asked was if he had found a suitable person.
Drink some tea. There’s no hurry. You have to choose carefully.”
Su Qing handed Xiao Zeyu a cup of tea. The tea culture of the Central Plains was extensive and profound, and she had researched this for the past year. She had visited all the mountains and felt that the climate in the province of Anhui was the best, and the tea leaves produced were also the best, so she had reserved the tea from Anhui for Imperial Tea.
When the tea leaves came down, the imperial court would purchase all of them, package them, and sell them abroad to make a lot of money. Su Qing’s tea house was the most profitable in the country. Even Su Hanxuan admired his daughter’s business skills.
She was a business genius whom the position of Empress had delayed!
“Not bad, Qing ‘er is thoughtful!”
Xiao Zeyu drank tea and saw the tomatoes and melons on the table. His eyes lit up.
“Try this.”
Su Qing handed Xiao Zeyu a cup of milk tea. This was something she made for fun. It was much better than the one she drank in Tartan. She had added the pearls in it according to modern methods.
“Delicious. Qing ‘ er, what is this?”
Xiao Zeyu took a sip and began to praise her. His mouth was already filled with love from Qing ‘ er. She always made delicacies that he had never tasted before and had never disappointed him.
“Milk Tea.”
Su Qing smiled and picked up the cup. She made herself a red bean milk tea. It was good for beauty and taste. Not only did she drink it herself, but the ladies also had a good time today.
She made milk tea, ice cream, and egg tarts, girls’ favorites in ancient times.
Just as Su Qing was about to order the palace maids to send milk tea to the young ladies, she saw a young lady using a fan to catch b.u.t.terflies. She pointed at her and asked Xiao Zeyu,
“Emperor, what do you think of that girl?”