Extra: Xiao Shaoduo 7
So far, besides herself and Xiao Lingyan, Zhao Ruxi has also given her Recovery Pill to Kang Shilin, the old lady of the Earl of Suiping's Residence, and Zhao Yuanxun, who is in poor health. All three of them trust her completely and are completely unguarded around her. They don't ask any questions when she gives them the pills.
But she dared not give Xiao Ge the Recovery Pill.
Emperor Xiao Ge was extremely particular about all his food. He would not eat anything of unknown origin, no matter who gave it to him; on the contrary, he would become suspicious.
The Recovery Pill couldn't be separated from Zhao Ruxi's hands, so she couldn't get Xiao Ge to take them without him noticing, and she couldn't explain their origin.
Moreover, after consuming it, Xiao Ge will notice changes in his body and will definitely investigate its origin. He will want to consume it again and again, just like those emperors who believed in and consumed Daoist pills, hoping to achieve immortality. This will cause many unnecessary troubles. Perhaps Xiao Ge will even have the idea of harming Zhao Ruxi's life in order to seize the system from Zhao Ruxi.
Human nature cannot withstand the test.
Therefore, after discussing it with Xiao Lingyan, Zhao Ruxi decided to give up the idea of giving him the Recovery Pill.
Xiao Ge has the best imperial physicians to treat his health and the best medicines. He also has Xiao Lingyan to share the burden of government affairs. If nothing unexpected happens, he will live longer than other emperors.
According to the original plot, Xiao Ge should have died during the coup. The fact that he is still alive and doing so well now is thanks to Zhao Ruxi and the others extending his life. Even if they didn't give him the Recovery Pill, it wouldn't be considered unfilial.
Therefore, Zhao Ruxi had no psychological burden regarding this.
"Alright, alright." Xiao Ge smiled and nodded at Zhao Ruxi, taking the ginseng soup from the palace maid.
Over there, the palace servants had already received the news before Xiao Ge and Xiao Lingyan entered and began setting out the dishes.
Because of the difference between men and women, although they are family, it was inconvenient for Zhao Ruxi, the daughter-in-law, to eat at the same table as her father-in-law. So, although they ate in the same room, they were seated at two separate tables, with a screen in between.
Empress Cen wanted to ask Xiao Shaoduo if he had taken a fancy to any girls at yesterday's flower-viewing banquet, but thinking of Zhao Ruxi's temper, she swallowed back the words she was about to say.
Zhao Ruxi was pampered, loved, and respected by her husband, and had three outstanding children, so she stood taller than anyone else. Although she never raised her voice in front of Empress Cen and was very filial to her, she was definitely not a weak person.
If Empress Cen does something to Gao Xing Zhao Ruxi, Zhao Ruxi will not get angry. Instead, she will hide her genuine care and filial piety and treat her with outward respect but inward distance. If Empress Cen does not repent, she can continue to treat Empress Cen in this way.
If Empress Cen could influence Xiao Lingyan and his three children, that would be fine; she wouldn't care how her daughter-in-law treated her. But Xiao Lingyan and his three children wouldn't listen to Empress Cen; they would only listen to Zhao Ruxi. Moreover, since Zhao Ruxi was distant from Empress Cen, they would also be distant from her.
After Xiao Ge realized the conflict between them, she would not side with Empress Cen, but would speak up for her children and grandchildren.
After two or three clashes between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, Empress Cen became afraid of Zhao Ruxi and dared not provoke her.
Fortunately, Zhao Ruxi was never a petty person. Apart from issues of children's education and matters of principle, she never argued with Empress Cen over trivial matters.
After the meal, Zhao Ruxi and her family of five said goodbye and left, with Zhao Ruxi deliberately pulling Xiao Shaoduo along behind them.
Xiao Shaoduo had always been like a friend to his mother since childhood. He would confide in her about everything. He always admired his mother's wisdom and magnanimity.
He asked with a smile, "Mother, are you trying to ask me about yesterday's flower-viewing banquet?"
Zhao Ruxi patted her son, who was now half a head taller than her, and said, "Do you still remember what I told you? I hope you will carefully choose a good wife, spend your life with her, love and cherish her, instead of having multiple wives and concubines, causing chaos and unrest in the household."
"Don't worry, Mother, I remember everything. Not only me, but my younger brother remembers too," Xiao Shaoduo said. "And not just us, so many people outside are following your example."
This wasn't Xiao Shaoduo flattering his parents; it was a true story.
Despite being the crown prince, Xiao Lingyan only married one wife. His family was so harmonious, and his children were all outstanding. Outsiders, seeing this and then looking back at their wives, concubines, and children who were fighting like chickens, would all reflect on their own behavior.
Therefore, these days it's not fashionable to have multiple concubines. Instead, it's considered an honor to marry only one wife, live in harmony with her, and have a simple and happy family. Those who cause family scandals because of having many wives and concubines will be ridiculed.
Of course, this is also related to the fact that women's status is higher than before, and that newspapers often publicize these things.
"Do you have a girl you like?" Zhao Ruxi asked.
Xiao Shaoduo hesitated for a moment, then said, "Mother, if I find someone I like, I will definitely tell you."
Although he was fond of Wu Miao, it was just a thought in his mind. He hadn't confessed his feelings to Wu Miao yet, and he wasn't sure if Wu Miao was willing to marry him.
"Alright, then take your time choosing. There's no rush. I won't allow you to get married before you turn eighteen. You're not even grown up yet; you can't shoulder the responsibilities of a husband and father," Zhao Ruxi said.
She was aware of her son's feelings. She just wanted to remind him to be careful about marriage and not to think that he could take a concubine if he didn't like the woman after marriage.
Xiao Shaoduo nodded.
Looking at her outstanding son beside her, and then at the pair of twins walking ahead, Zhao Ruxi breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.
For the past ten years or so, she has been very happy. Xiao Lingyan has always treated her well, and her children have also been very successful.
Thanks to her efforts, the agricultural level of the Great Jin has been greatly improved, and its industry has made a qualitative leap.
With the rise of industry, women were no longer confined to the home but stepped out to do what they could. As the economic base determines the superstructure, women's status also improved accordingly.
Xiao Lingyan's efforts were also very effective. The politics of the Great Jin became more transparent. Because industry and agriculture developed in tandem, the economic structure of the Great Jin also underwent significant changes. The court obtained a large amount of tax revenue from industry and commerce, and the people had more ways to make a living. The problem of land annexation was no longer the main contradiction.
Zhao Ruxi and Xiao Lingyan were very satisfied with the current results.
They believe the future will be better.
Two years later, Xiao Shaoduo married Wu Miao.
In the thirty-fifth year of the Great Jin, Emperor Xiao Ge died at the age of seventy-five; Crown Prince Xiao Lingyan succeeded to the throne, changed the era name to Taihe, and the Great Jin entered a prosperous and enlightened era.
In the twentieth year of the Taihe reign, Emperor Taihe, Xiao Lingyan, abdicated at the age of sixty-five, Xiao Shaoduo succeeded him, changing the reign title to Longhe. Emperor Longhe reigned for thirty years.
The fifty years of rule by father and son are known to later generations as the "Great Jin".
In the thirtieth year of the Longhe reign, Empress Dowager Zhao Ruxi passed away peacefully; Emperor Emeritus Xiao Lingyan, grieving, died on the same day. Their loving relationship was a celebrated story.