Free Web NovelChapter 2365: Chapter 2340: Managing the Household and Raising Children?
The court has convened, but with the Lantern Festival still ahead and the weather still cold, the spring matters are not urgent, so everyone is going about their tasks leisurely.
Except for the Imperial Hospital.
Manbao led the Imperial Hospital staff to check on the old and injured soldiers stationed at the imperial estate.
Director Xiao checked their physical condition and found that they could all endure variolation. Oh, wait, some hadn’t been variolated.
Nevertheless, Director Xiao glanced at them, not asking Zhou Man why they had been brought back without variolation. After examining them, he said, "At present, variolation does not seem to have much adverse effect on their bodies."
Manbao nodded in agreement.
Director Xiao then said, "His Majesty has specially approved us to try cowpox. This entire estate has been allocated for our use."
Manbao asked, "Are we still going to use prisoners for our experiments?"
"What prisoners? Now that it’s confirmed cowpox is relatively safe, we’ll use the servants," Director Xiao said. "The Ministry of Justice doesn’t have that many prisoners for us, and using prisoners is more costly."
Servants are more accessible, like the slaves in the imperial estate and the penal servants in the palace, all of whom are suitable.
Of course, these matters don’t concern Manbao and her team directly. Once orders are given, there are others to carry them out.
However, they handle the cowpox inoculation themselves.
Most imperial doctors participated, buying five cows from Zhou Man for the inoculations.
Why buy from Zhou Man?
Director Xiao had strong reasoning, "You succeeded in inoculating cows in the Western Regions; Western cattle differ somewhat from those in the Central Plains, so it’s best to start with Western cattle. What if the dosage you used isn’t suitable for Central Plains cattle?"
Manbao felt his reasoning was valid and brought the cattle she had brought back from the Western Regions for Director Xiao to choose from.
Director Xiao didn’t know how to choose cattle, so he consulted the steward of the imperial estate, selecting five robust cows on his advice.
Thus, the Imperial Hospital began preparing the pox seeds. After inoculating the cows, they set up careful security to prevent outsiders from contacting the cattle.
The people at the imperial estate knew this area had smallpox, so unless someone was deliberately courting death or maliciously intending harm, no one would come here.
However, the Imperial Hospital was very cautious about such matters, setting up three checkpoints on the route, guarded by the Imperial Guard, making it difficult for someone to take the smallpox virus out of the estate.
After watching the cowpox inoculation, Manbao, Director Xiao, and others arranged the duty rota and then changed clothes to head home.
Imperial Doctor Zheng was on duty the first day, so Director Xiao, Imperial Doctor Liu, and others leisurely left the estate with Zhou Man to head home.
At this time, there was nothing growing in the estate; some snow remained in the fields, but the roads were dry enough, so they walked together to the estate’s exit.
Director Xiao asked Zhou Man, "Lord Zhou got promoted and isn’t inviting us for a drink?"
Imperial Doctor Liu also looked over, smiling, "This is a great event; Lord Zhou has passed a major hurdle. Surely the family should celebrate with a banquet for friends and family?"
Manbao said, "There’s no rush; we’ll do it after the Ministry of Personnel’s exams in April."
Director Xiao: "You don’t need to take exams, why wait until the Ministry’s exams are over... Oh, is Deputy Magistrate Bai entering officialdom this year?"
Manbao nodded.
Director Xiao pursed his lips and couldn’t help but inquire about Zhou Man’s marriage, "Have Lord Zhou’s nuptials been arranged?"
Manbao, slightly shy, yet openly nodded, "Yes, once Bai Shanxuan assumes his official duties, we’ll set the date and invite everyone to the wedding banquet."
Everyone naturally agreed with delight.
Director Xiao appeared somewhat worried, discreetly signaling to Zhou Man, and the two of them fell behind the group. After some distance, Director Xiao lowered his voice and asked, "Lord Zhou, can you still serve in the court after marriage?"
Manbao was curious, "Why not?"
She was taken aback, "Director Xiao, you’re not going to dismiss me because I’m getting married, are you?"
Director Xiao: "...What authority do I have to dismiss you? If there were a dismissal, it’d be by His Majesty and the Ministry of Personnel."
Manbao said, "But doesn’t the Ministry listen to you?"
She was Director Xiao’s subordinate; whether she fulfilled her duties was up to him to decide.
Director Xiao gave her a sidelong glance, and Manbao immediately smiled ingratiatingly, "I don’t mean you’re being partial, just that your question has me worried."
Director Xiao said, "After marriage, won’t you need to tend to your husband and raise children? Will you still have time to serve office duties?
Manbao replied, "It should be manageable. Of course, if you grant me a few more days off, I wouldn’t mind. As for tending to my husband, Bai Shan and I already help each other now, so married life won’t be much different. As for raising children, I’ll think about it when the time comes."
Manbao was quite confident, "I think Bai Shan and I are so well-behaved and obedient; our future children will surely be the same, not adding much to my worry."
If there’s much to handle, Bai Shan will undoubtedly help shoulder responsibilities; and in the worst case, she could rely on her parents.
Seeing her confidence, Director Xiao choked on his words and remained silent for a while before finally nodding, "Alright, as long as you have it under control."
Once in the city, Manbao reined in her horse, looking down from her height to bid farewell to Director Xiao and others in the carriage, "It’s time to finish up; it’s getting late. I’ll head home first?"
Director Xiao waved her off, reminding her, "Tomorrow, you need to attend Empress and Crown Princess for their pulses, don’t forget the time."
Manbao acknowledged and rode off.
When she got home, a maid hurriedly approached to take her medicine box and help with her cloak. Xi Bing was a step behind, and noticing she couldn’t compete with the two maids from the Bai Family, she felt a bit aggrieved and decided to assist by supporting Manbao instead, squeezing out a smile and saying, "Lord Zhou, I’ll support you."
Manbao: ...
Seeing her on the verge of tears, she let her assist, asking, "What’s the matter? Why are you all waiting in the front yard? Aren’t you usually attending in the back?"
Junior Ms. Qian heard the commotion and came out. Hearing this, she said, "Manbao, you’re back just in time. Come over quickly, your sister-in-law has something to say to you."
Manbao smiled at Xi Bing and, pulling her hand away, ran over.
The two maids from the Bai Family glared at Xi Bing, one carrying the cloak, the other the medicine box, as they returned to the main courtyard.
Xi Bing also glared back at them, snorting quietly before turning and leaving.
Junior Ms. Qian observed all this, feeling a bit of a headache.
She pulled Manbao into the room for a private conversation, "There were so many things going on before that I forgot to ask you, did you buy those ten girls you brought back?"
Manbao shook her head, "They were a gift."
"But I heard from Liru that they were initially gifted to Young Master Liu?"
Manbao nodded, "Yes, they were sent to Liu Huan, but Liu Huan didn’t want them and sent them to us early on."
She scratched her head, "In the Western Regions, they followed our instructions, and since Liu Huan and Yin Huo didn’t want them upon our return, they simply came back with us. Why?"
Junior Ms. Qian sighed, "You should ask Young Master Liu and Young Master Yin if they still want them. If not, we need to make some arrangements here at home. You don’t know, but suddenly having ten additional people in the household made the little girls originally taking care of you very discontent. Even if Old Madam Liu says it’s fine, I still think even with servants, their disputes aren’t good for you. Watching them, we all feel on edge."
