Zi Cheng looked at the refined prescription and said with a smile, "It's okay even if my aunt takes it to sell. We are all family. If my aunt makes money, I make money too, right?"
Upon hearing this, Sheng Lengshuang had to marvel at how good an emperor Zi Cheng was. "Your Majesty indulges me so much, I'm afraid I'll become arrogant."
Zi Cheng was amused. "If my aunt truly becomes arrogant, then my uncle will have an excuse to discipline you, won't he?"
Mentioning Mo Lingxi, Sheng Lengshuang's eyes dimmed slightly. "I wonder how Mo Lingxi is doing now. According to the journey, the vanguard he led should be nearing Chengmen Pass by now, right?"
Zi Cheng patted his lips twice, regretting bringing up the topic. "According to the journey, in another two or three days, the vanguard led by my uncle will reach Chengmen Pass."
"Aunt, don't worry too much. My uncle will rest for two days upon arriving at Chengmen Pass, and only after understanding the situation will he decide whether to enter the palace. Besides, my uncle is the commander-in-chief and will not easily go into battle."
Sheng Lengshuang cheered up. "Your Majesty doesn't need to comfort me. I know the stakes involved. It's just that I can't help but worry."
"The battlefield is dangerous... Forget it, let's not talk about this. Let's continue discussing the matter of refining salt."
No matter how much was said, it was just talk, and nothing useful could be done. It was better to save that energy for something useful.
Zi Cheng understood her thoughts and feelings perfectly and followed her lead. "Since my aunt can refine salt, can she refine other things? Like ores?"
Sheng Lengshuang didn't hide anything. "Theoretically, yes. I haven't actually done it." In medicine, many things needed to be refined, and there were many things in both Chinese and Western medicine, so she was not unfamiliar with refining. To be precise, she had refined all sorts of things countless times.
Zi Cheng had an idea. "Aunt, I'm thinking about something. If the weapons and troops of my Eastern Jin Dynasty were much stronger, then the other three kingdoms would not dare to initiate war so easily."
Speaking of this, Sheng Lengshuang remembered a question. "Your Majesty, have you found out why the Southern Jin Dynasty suddenly declared war?"
Zi Cheng nodded, his face showing sarcasm. "The old emperor of the Southern Jin Dynasty suddenly passed away. This sudden death indicates a significant problem. What's more, the one who ascended the throne is the previously unremarkable Twelfth Prince."
"This Twelfth Prince is only eighteen years old this year. His mother was a palace maid. She was favored by the old emperor due to her beauty, but he soon grew tired of her, and she eventually died during childbirth. This new emperor has been like a transparent person since childhood. No one expected him to be the one to ascend the throne, which shows his capabilities."
Sheng Lengshuang had read too many such power struggles in history books. Since it was none of her business, she asked calmly, "He declared war right after ascending the throne? That's very strange."
Zi Cheng also understood this point. "It is indeed very strange. Logically, he should first focus on handling domestic affairs and consider going to war only after consolidating his power. Yet, he rushed into war."
"Is it possible that his objective isn't to go to war?" Xiao Feng interjected.
Sheng Lengshuang and Zi Cheng looked at him. Xiao Feng spread his hands. "If it were truly for war, would he be so unprepared? Perhaps this emperor's objective is not war itself, but to use war to achieve other goals."
Sheng Lengshuang and Zi Cheng found this plausible.
"Currently, the Southern Jin Dynasty is in constant turmoil. Those princes and grandsons are all thinking of seizing power amidst the chaos, and the ministers are in disarray. No one truly cares about the border war."
"It could also be a smokescreen. In any case, this war must be fought, and we can only continue to investigate."
Zi Cheng said, "Yes." This war had to continue, and they also had to deter the other two countries, otherwise, there would be endless trouble in the future.
After Sheng Lengshuang finished her discussion, she took Xiao Feng's hand and left the side hall. The mother and son chatted and laughed, thinking of strolling around the palace, and talking about what delicious food they would eat later.
Suddenly, a blinding flash of light shot past, stinging Sheng Lengshuang's eyes. She instinctively shielded Xiao Feng in her arms, blocking him with her body.
She heard a "thud" – the sound of a sharp blade piercing flesh.
Sheng Lengshuang broke out in a cold sweat from the pain. Ignoring the pain, she flung a handful of powder and shouted, "Catch the assassin!"
She turned her head and saw an unfamiliar palace maid, holding a bloody dagger, running away quickly. The maid looked back at her. With that glance, Sheng Lengshuang recognized her: Sima Min! So, Sima Min was truly alive! It truly lived up to the saying that a wicked person lives a thousand years.
"Mother! Quickly send for the imperial physician!" Xiao Feng cried out in panic, startling the dazed palace servants. Several maids screamed.
Meanwhile, the imperial guards had already gone in pursuit of the assassin. A quick-witted palace servant brought out a chair and helped Sheng Lengshuang sit in it, pressing a handkerchief to her wound. "Quick, quickly summon His Majesty!"
Sheng Lengshuang took out some hemostatic powder and handed it to the maid. "Help me sprinkle it on the wound." She then took a pill and leaned weakly against the back of the chair. The stab from Sima Min probably hadn't injured her spleen or anything vital. Fortunately, she had managed to protect Xiao Feng in time, otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
"Mother!" Xiao Feng's eyes were red, but he held back his tears.
Sheng Lengshuang stroked his head and forced a smile. "Don't cry, Mother is fine. It's just a small injury, and it will heal soon."
Xiao Feng gripped her hand tightly and nodded heavily. "Xiao Feng will stay with Mother." Sheng Lengshuang knew the child was afraid something would happen to her. "Okay, Xiao Feng will stay with Mother."
"Aunt!" Zi Cheng, who had rushed out upon hearing the news, his pupils contracted sharply as he saw the pool of blood on the ground. "Has the imperial physician not arrived yet?"
"Your Majesty, I'm fine. Have you forgotten that I am also a physician?" Sheng Lengshuang exhaled, not daring to move lest she aggravate the wound.
Zi Cheng knew this. He instructed strong palace maids to carry Sheng Lengshuang to a soft couch to lie on her stomach and ordered someone to hurry them along. "Xiao Feng, don't be afraid. Your cousin will stay with you." He took Xiao Feng's hand and followed them into the hall, but stood outside.
Sheng Lengshuang asked a palace maid to fetch warm water and then asked another maid to use scissors to cut open her clothing at the wound to examine the specific condition. Once the exact situation of the wound was determined, she took out the corresponding wound medicine and asked the maid to help her bandage it.
After a flurry of activity, the imperial physician and medical women also arrived. After being examined and confirmed by the medical women that Sheng Lengshuang's spleen was not injured and her condition was not too serious, Zi Cheng and Xiao Feng were finally relieved. However, Sheng Lengshuang would have to recuperate in the palace for the time being.
"Our mother and son truly have a deep connection with this palace," Sheng Lengshuang quipped. "First Xiao Feng, and now it's my turn."
Zi Cheng spat a few times. "Nonsense, nonsense!"