Chunyu went to the Imperial Hospital to get medicine, and when she returned, she brought Xiuning some shocking news.

The prince's son, Cheng Rui, is very ill; he may soon pass away.

Xiu Ning was somewhat surprised upon hearing this. It was only April, and she was going offline a month early? Hmm, it didn't seem like that much of a difference.

"You found out, but why?"

Although Cheng Rui had been ill, his condition improved a few days ago, which relieved Consort Ma Jia greatly. However, she was in low spirits, so how could she be on the verge of death again?

Chunyu put the medicinal herbs aside and walked to Xiuning's side. "I heard that she caught a chill while sleeping last night and developed a high fever that wouldn't go down."

The prince has already suffered several seizures, and the imperial physicians are at a loss.

This is quite serious.

Xiu Ning sighed inwardly, thinking how young Cheng Rui was, that such a small child had suffered several seizures and probably had no chance of survival.

Now, Xiuning understood why the imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital had all gone to the Prince's Residence and Kunning Palace... Wait, Kunning Palace?

"What's going on at Kunning Palace? Could it be that Prince Chenghu is really ill?"

Chunyu nodded, "Yes, I heard that Prince Chenghu cried incessantly after spitting up milk."

The imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital are administering acupuncture to treat you. This servant went to inform you of your condition; it was Her Majesty the Empress who ordered the physicians to prescribe medicine to stabilize the pregnancy.

Chunyu didn't understand the Empress's purpose in doing this, but she was sure it wasn't out of genuine desire to help her master.

After listening to Chunyu's words, Xiuning suddenly recalled the scene she witnessed when she almost fell off the sedan chair.

Ah, if Chenghu were truly ill, the Empress wouldn't have remained so calm.

The Empress was putting on an act, deliberately showing an anxious expression in front of them. As for her ultimate goal, it was self-evident which was more important, the Kunning Palace or the Prince's residence.

'I think I understand why the Empress died young.' The evil deeds she committed had come back to haunt her. She had several lives to spare for all that trouble.

"Go down, and remember to take the herbs you brought back to the small kitchen to be decocted."

Relaxing her body, Xiu Ning leaned against the soft pillow. As for whether she would drink the medicine she had prepared, that was a matter for later.

Chunyu nodded in agreement, covered Xiuning with the blankets, and then turned to leave with the medicinal herbs.

That night, everyone's attention was focused on the Prince's Residence and Kunning Palace.

As the biological father of two children, Emperor Kangxi had no choice but to give up his eldest son and stay by the side of his legitimate son.

With his company, Chenghu was out of danger and fell asleep before dawn. Meanwhile, in the other prince's quarters, Chengrui never saw the sunrise again, and his small body died alone on the bed.

Cheng Rui's death dealt a severe blow to Consort Ma Jia.

Consort Ma Jia fainted on the spot, and the entire Prince's quarters were thrown into chaos. Even Chengqing, who was only a few months old, was affected and screamed in fright.

Xiuning received the message when she woke up in the morning.

It is said that Consort Nara pleaded with Emperor Kangxi for Chengqing's sake, but unfortunately Chengqing still could not move out of the princes' quarters. However, Emperor Kangxi tacitly allowed Consort Nara to visit him a few times.

"Your Majesty, Consort Ma Jia has not yet regained consciousness, which shows that she has been seriously injured."

Spring rain sighs. He was perfectly fine when I paid my respects yesterday, but in less than one night, he completely broke down.

"My son is gone, and the man I've always relied on isn't here anymore. What's wrong with me?"

Xiu Ning sneered. This is only the beginning. When Consort Ma Jia's children die and she becomes numb, she will finally see through the illusions of the world. Of her five sons and one daughter, only one son and one daughter survive. That will be a real collapse.

"This isn't over yet; there's more to come."

Regardless of the circumstances, Cheng Rui's matter must be explained, even if it's just a perfunctory excuse.

...

After regaining consciousness, Consort Ma Jia immediately went to the Qianqing Palace to plead with Emperor Kangxi to send someone to investigate.

Consort Ma Jia could not accept Cheng Rui's death, especially since Cheng Rui was so young. Just thinking about Cheng Rui's lonely figure at the end made her heart ache terribly.

Emperor Kangxi was also heartbroken, but he was not as deeply in love with Consort Ma Jia as he was with her. Even though he promised Consort Ma Jia that he would do his best to investigate, when his men found that Cheng Rui's case involved many concubines in the harem, and possibly even the Empress herself, he could only choose to downplay the matter.

In the end, Kangxi ruled it an accident and only punished the palace servants around Chengrui and the imperial physicians who had been treating Chengrui.

"Is this the result?"

In a side hall of Zhongcui Palace, Consort Ma Jia listened to the news brought back by her maid, and tears involuntarily streamed down her face. "I've waited and hoped for so long, and this is how it is?"

Your Majesty, you are truly heartless! Chengrui, like Chenghu, is his own son!

"My lady, please calm down," the maid said, reaching out to support Consort Ma Jia, afraid that her mistress might faint again if she got too agitated.

"Calm down? How am I supposed to calm down?" Consort Ma Jia angrily slapped away the maid's arm, stood up, and stared intently out the window. "Cheng Rui left so inexplicably. I'm heartbroken, and the Emperor is being so perfunctory. Isn't it because he thinks Cheng Rui is inferior to Cheng Hu? Why?"

They are all the Emperor's own sons, does that mean Chengrui deserves to die?

The maid felt helpless looking at her mistress's reckless words.

However, Prince Chengrui was indeed inferior to Prince Chenghu, and the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children was inevitable.

Besides, the Emperor has already made his decision on this matter. What's the use of the master continuing to hold on to it? It will only add to the sadness and displease the Emperor.

“My lord, you are still young. There will be other princes in the future.”

The maidservant tried to persuade her mistress, but Consort Ma Jia was completely unmoved. She smashed the entire side hall to pieces, injuring even the maidservant.

With such a commotion at Zhongcui Palace, other concubines who were paying attention would also receive the news.

Some gloated, like Consort Nara; some empathized, like Consort Sun and Consort Borjigit; and some had no particular thoughts, like Xiuning.

Perhaps because she had a preconceived notion about the children born to Emperor Kangxi in his early years, Xiuning paid less and less attention to them.

It's the kind of thing that will eventually go offline, so it doesn't need much attention.

Aside from Consort Ma Jia, the matter of Cheng Rui was quickly forgotten by everyone else.

At the end of April, an epidemic suddenly broke out outside the palace and spread into the palace during the time when the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager were about to return to the palace.

The disturbance started at Yonghe Palace, with Consort Borjigit bearing the brunt. This directly led to the isolation of the entire palace, and the servants who had been in contact with her were temporarily sent to the Cold Palace.

Subsequently, the epidemic spiraled out of control, spreading from Yonghe Palace to the surrounding areas, including Yanxi Palace, Zhongcui Palace, and Jingyang Palace.

The entire Forbidden City was gripped by panic. After discussing the matter, Emperor Kangxi and the Empress were forced to send Chenghu to live in the Princes' Residence and to close off both the Princes' Residence and the Princesses' Residence, prohibiting anyone from entering.