Song Zhiyuan walked out of the Imperial Study, carrying a pile of medicinal herbs rewarded by Emperor Chu, and exited the Palace Gate.
"Prime Minister." Jiang Fula approached him.
Song Zhiyuan said, "The Emperor has bestowed some tonic herbs to replenish my mother's health. Give these little angels the rewards."
Jiang Fula respectfully complied, and with a servant named Fu Quan, stepped forward to take the items from the two young eunuchs, then cheerfully handed them two wallets.
The two young eunuchs thanked him with beaming smiles and turned back to return to the palace.
Song Zhiyuan stepped onto the footstool and got into the carriage. Inside, he closed his eyes to rest, his expression calm and unruffled. However, the string of glossy black sandalwood prayer beads in his hand was being flicked one by one, increasingly faster.
"Have someone gather all the rumors about my mother's illness from the market these past two days, large and small, and organize them all."
Hearing the voice from inside the carriage, Jiang Fula promptly responded, "Yes, Prime Minister."
In the Imperial Study, Emperor Chu listened to the report from the Dragon Guard Commander, waved his hand, and dismissed him.
"Song Yunzhi is still so witty and humorous; his sarcastic remarks hurt more than outright insults. Prime Minister Fan is now probably as uncomfortable as if he had swallowed a fly," Emperor Chu said with a smile.
In the entire Imperial Study, only he and Grand Steward Zhou Sheng were present, and this remark was clearly aimed at him.
Eunuch Zhou, fiddling with the ambergris in the gilded six-sided crane-topped incense burner, laughed, "That's why back when the High Traitor's remnants were stationed in Jiangxia, clamoring for Great Chu to be divided, Prime Minister Song went as an envoy, single-handedly engaging in verbal battles with many, and it's still a celebrated story. Outside, they all say never to engage in a war of words with Prime Minister Song; he can insult without using foul language, making you especially upset while disgracing only yourself."
Hearing this, Emperor Chu laughed even more heartily, recalling the past, "Indeed, in my youth back in my hometown of Yu Hang, I remember him verbally insulting a pedantic scholar. How did it go? Ah yes, he said, 'Could you stop shaking your head? It's filled with sloshing water,' which made that scholar storm off in anger. He was only thirteen at the time."
"It seems Prime Minister Song honed this skill from an early age. Perhaps there's some credit to the Emperor's guidance as well," Eunuch Zhou chimed in playfully.
Emperor Chu, lost in thought, softened his expression and toyed with the large thumb ring on his finger, saying, "In the blink of an eye, decades have passed, and both Yunzhi and I are becoming grandfathers. Yet, the court still has some old diehards, like Fan's faction, who strongly oppose my reforms. Fortunately, Madam Song has pulled through this time. Otherwise, I would be struggling alone."
Eunuch Zhou dared not comment on court affairs, only speaking of Song Ci: "Madam Song also has her own fortune. Perhaps she was truly overjoyed this time and couldn't catch her breath, plus her health has indeed declined, and age has caught up. She can't compare to her younger days."
"It's the toll from enduring hardships in the past; she couldn't even bear to eat a mouthful of meat back then." Emperor Chu sighed and said, "Select some top-quality medicinal herbs from the Ministry again and send them over. As long as she lives, Yunzhi and I can accomplish more."
Emperor Chu stood up, "Prepare the carriage for Cining Palace. The Empress Dowager is also very concerned about Madam Song's illness."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Eunuch Zhou waved the horsetail whisk and sang out in a sharp voice, "Prepare the carriage for Cining Palace," then bent his body to offer his arm to support Emperor Chu.
When Song Zhiyuan returned to the Prime Minister's Mansion, the imperial rewards from the palace soon arrived. Besides the Emperor's gifts, there were also those from the Empress Dowager, and the various Ladies of the palaces, upon hearing the news, rewarded some nourishing items, all of which were brought to Song Ci's Chunhui Hall.