Chapter 75 (None)

As before, Jiang Ling could deduce the most reasonable explanation, but there was no evidence to support it.

Whether in the Dayin Dynasty or the harem, evidence is not important; the most important thing is that Yuan Changsheng is Emperor Yuanming's man.

It's like An Lushan harboring rebellious intentions, which involved the fate of the nation, but Li Longji didn't believe him.

In fact, if it were Jiang Ling herself, she would probably think it was nonsense.

Because Yuan Changsheng was a genuine eunuch, he could conceal his background and had to undergo several physical examinations before entering the palace. When he first entered the palace, he had no connections and didn't have the ability to deceive everyone.

Yuan Changsheng had no troops and could not rebel. If he was wronged, he should try to clear his family's name. If he was resentful and wanted to harm Emperor Yuanming because the emperor ordered the confiscation of his property and exile, resulting in the destruction of his family, he would have had the opportunity to do so every day.

Even if he killed Emperor Yuanming, his actions would be illegitimate and he would be regarded as a traitor who murdered the emperor by court officials, making it impossible for him to become emperor.

After going around in circles, Jiang Ling returned to the starting point.

Yuan Changsheng had no reason to harm Zhuang Meiren.

Like startled birds, Yun Hui and Yun Xia frantically kowtowed, hoping Jiang Ling could save their lives.

Jiang Ling looked at their swollen foreheads, turned around, and hurriedly said, "You two get up quickly, I'm here... Sigh, now that you've come to Fanying Pavilion, who will stay at Huaqing Pavilion to serve you? How is the Fourth Prince?"

Yun Hui's face turned pale, and she answered tremblingly, "The imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital are treating the Fourth Prince. The beauty was taken away, and I was kicked out. I don't know anything about the Fourth Prince's condition."

"You two go and calm down first," Jiang Ling said helplessly, preparing to call Zi Shan to lead the two of them away.

The curtain was lifted, and A'Ruo poked her head in, saying, "Your Majesty, the Emperor has arrived, along with Imperial Physician Zheng, Imperial Physician Wu, and many others..."

Jiang Ling's heart skipped a beat; she instinctively felt that Emperor Yuanming and his entourage were coming with bad news, and she quickly stood up. Yun Hui and Yun Xia were terrified, trembling and on the verge of fainting.

"A'Ruo, take them to rest and give them honey water." Sweetness has a calming effect, so Jiang Ling quickly told A'Ruo to take them out and hurried out the door.

Emperor Yuanming walked at the front with a gloomy expression, followed closely by Huang Liang, who was holding an infant in his arms. Jiang Ling stared at Huang Liang, his eyes widening instantly, thinking to himself, "This is definitely not good!"

"Rise, let's go inside and talk." Emperor Yuanming gestured to Jiang Ling, who was kneeling, and strode into the main room.

"Why is ice here? Remove it immediately!" Emperor Yuanming, sweating profusely from his walk, noticed the coolness in the main hall and saw the ice chest in the corner. He immediately said with displeasure.

Upon hearing Emperor Yuanming's words, Huang Liang quickly stepped back. Wen Juan was playing with the Third Prince in the main room, and Emperor Yuanming, seeing this, was even more enraged. He roared, "You lowly servant, you've been greedy for coolness, leaving the Third Prince in this chilly room! If the Third Prince suffers even the slightest harm, I will exterminate your entire family!"

Wen Juan lowered her head and dared not utter a sound. Jiang Ling was displeased and gestured for her to carry the Third Prince to the side room. He said expressionlessly, "I wonder what brings His Majesty here?"

Because of the Fourth Prince's health, Emperor Yuanming was filled with pent-up anger. Pointing at the ice chest, he said angrily, "You usually act recklessly and I never care. You dote on Xiaozhou like this! How can Xiaozhou's body withstand the cold and dampness!"

"He's fine!" Jiang Ling was too lazy to explain to him. She turned to the side, looked at Zheng Ze, Wu Shishan, and Huang Liang standing outside the door, as well as the swaddled baby in his arms, and said, "Imperial Physician Zheng, Imperial Physician Wu, what are you doing?"

Physician Zheng stepped forward and replied, "Your Majesty..."

"Come inside and talk." Jiang Ling looked at their sweaty faces and roughly guessed what was going on.

Zheng Ze and Physician Wu entered the room, and a cool breeze swept over them, causing them to secretly breathe a sigh of relief. Huang Liang remained standing outside the door, not daring to move. Jiang Ling said to him, "You come in too!"

Without Emperor Yuanming's decree, Huang Liang dared not move, looking caught in a dilemma, frozen in place.

Jiang Ling sighed inwardly, walked to Huang Liang, and looked at the swaddled baby in his arms. As if to protect the baby from the wind, a layer of gauze was draped over the swaddle. Lifting the gauze, she revealed the Fourth Prince's flushed face. He had been rather thin at birth, and now he was still a tiny bundle, crying like a kitten, occasionally letting out a weak whimper.

"How pitiful." Jiang Ling felt sorry for him and reached out to pick up the fourth prince. Without saying a word, she took off his swaddling clothes and undressed him.

After all, the Great Yin Dynasty was backward, and in later generations, some people even caused infants to develop heatstroke from overheating. Her anger dissipated, and she stopped being so demanding.

Zheng Ze looked shocked, Wu Shishan looked at Jiang Ling thoughtfully, and Emperor Yuanming jumped up in anger, taking a few steps to stand in front of her, "What are you going to do?"

"Can you save him?" Jiang Ling ignored Emperor Yuanming and asked Zheng Ze and Wu Shishan directly.

Both of them were stunned. Zheng Ze said with shame, "Your Majesty, I have never seen anyone like the Fourth Prince who could recover from such a condition."

Wu Shishan said, “Your Majesty, the Fourth Prince has been suffering from a fever for less than two months, and he is also very thin. Your Majesty and Physician Zheng are at a loss and dare not use medicine or acupuncture.”

Jiang Ling could understand their concerns. After all, it concerned the prince's life. He had only escaped death last time thanks to her, so how could they dare to take such a risk again?

However, it's a good thing that no medicine was needed. Someone the Third Prince is so young can't even drink water, let alone take medicine.

Jiang Ling said decisively to the ashen-faced Emperor Yuanming, "Since Your Majesty has brought the Fourth Prince to Fanying Pavilion, I have a method that, while not guaranteeing his recovery, can at least ease his discomfort. If Your Majesty approves, I will use it. If Your Majesty does not approve, I will no longer concern myself with it. I will only say this: Your Majesty, the Fourth Prince is on the verge of death!"

She wasn't exaggerating, nor did she have the ability to guarantee saving the Fourth Prince.

Deep inside, a voice kept mocking her: "Don't stick your neck out. It looks brave, but it's actually stupid. What about your social anxiety and introversion? You're courting death, doing nothing but wasting your time!"

As if possessed, Jiang Ling finally blurted it out without hesitation. A bitter smile appeared on her lips, and I clenched my fist to encourage myself.

Zheng Ze felt a lump in his throat, and his nose stung with tears. Wu Shishan felt the same way, staring blankly at the resolute Jiang Ling, his eyes burning with emotion.

As a physician, I am well aware of the perilous state of the Fourth Prince's condition. Not to mention the Imperial Medical Academy, no one in the entire Great Yin Dynasty has a cure. The Fourth Prince's status is so high that, apart from Emperor Yuanming, no one in the court dares to make a decision.

Jiang Ling is the person who should be avoided the most. Thinking about it more deeply, the fact that Emperor Yuanming has not yet established an heir and that the fourth prince is alive is of no benefit to either her or the third prince.

Although Jiang Ling has nothing to do with the fact that the Fourth Prince cannot be cured, it is hard to guarantee that Emperor Yuanming will not take his anger out on her, and both she and her son will be implicated as a result.

However, she resolutely stepped forward and took on the heavy responsibility.

Emperor Yuanming stared intently at Jiang Ling, his Adam's apple bobbing, his lips moving slightly, before finally uttering only a soft "Yes."

The fourth prince lay there listlessly, and the imperial physicians were at a loss.

The Huaqing Pavilion was sweltering, filled with a faint, pungent stench. Zhuang Meiren's shrill cries seemed to linger, echoing from the roof beams.

Emperor Yuanming was heartbroken and for some reason thought of Jiang Ling, the lively and sturdy third prince who was let crawl around on the ground by her when the weather was still chilly.

In a moment of panic, Emperor Yuanming instinctively issued an edict to bring the fourth prince to Fanying Pavilion.

She truly lived up to his expectations, becoming the person he trusted most. Even though he wasn't her biological son, she showed no jealousy or resentment, displaying great generosity and kindness. She was a devoted wife to him, shouldering the heavy responsibility during this crucial time.

The huge weight on his heart seemed to be lifted in an instant, and Emperor Yuanming was finally able to catch his breath. His gaze involuntarily followed Jiang Ling, vulnerable yet affectionate.

Jiang Ling had no time to care about Emperor Yuanming's reaction. She kept reminding herself that she was a mother, a concubine, and, above all, a human being.

"Put crushed ice into the leather bag, take plenty, and wrap it tightly in a cloth. Bring the fine cloth robe worn by the Third Prince..."

Jiang Ling gave a series of orders, and everyone else who was not involved was sent out. She directed Wu Shishan to drag the felt mat that the Third Prince was playing on to the ice chest. She placed the Fourth Prince on the felt mat, stripped him naked, and changed him into the Third Prince's dry and loose clothes.

The temperature was even lower by the ice chest, so Jiang Ling took a fan and fanned the Third Prince's body to cool him down, avoiding his head.

The leather bags filled with ice and cold water were gradually brought into the room. Following Jiang Ling's instructions, Wu Shishan and Zheng Ze placed the leather bags filled with ice around the Third Prince. They then wet the cloths in the cold water and placed them on his forehead, gently wiping his thighs, armpits, and other areas.

"Where's the wet nurse?" Jiang Ling asked as she watched them busy themselves, remembering that the Fourth Prince needed to replenish his water.

"This servant will go and fetch them right away," Huang Liang, who was waiting outside the door, said hastily.

"Have the wet nurse wash herself clean and change into clean clothes before she goes to wait." Jiang Ling thought of something and said, "Have Yun Hui and Yun Xia also go and wash up so they can serve you later."

A'Ruo hurried away, and Jiang Ling returned to the Fourth Prince's side, squatting down to gently touch his forehead, armpits, and back.

“I feel a bit cooler, why don’t you try it?” Jiang Ling paused, then said uncertainly to Wu Shishan.

Just as Wu Shishan was about to reach out, Jiang Ling saw that he was holding a cloth soaked in cold water and said, "Your hands are cold, let the Emperor try them."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Yuanming stepped forward. Jiang Ling touched his hand. He was wearing three layers of dragon robes, but the room was cool, and his hand was at a comfortable temperature.

Following Jiang Ling's instructions, Emperor Yuanming checked the fourth prince's temperature and said with great joy, "I also feel that it is no longer hot to the touch, and his complexion has improved a lot, not as red as before."

Zheng Ze, with his keen observation, said, "I feel that the Fourth Prince's spirits have recovered somewhat. He was clearly in great pain before, crying frequently. His cries were weak, but now his legs are moving more strongly than before!"

"Your Majesty is truly amazing!" Wu Shishan exclaimed with delight.

Jiang Ling did not dare to accept this credit, as this knowledge is readily available in later generations and anyone can learn it if they are willing.

Not everyone is as lucky as the Fourth Prince. First, he only showed signs of heatstroke. If he truly had heatstroke, he would have already fallen into a coma. Second, being in the royal family, he had access to ice to cool down during the sweltering summer.

"I believe that comfort should be the priority for everyone, young and old. We don't feel hot or cold, and babies are people too..."

Jiang Ling meticulously and thoroughly explained everything she knew to Zheng Ze and Wu Shishan. They listened attentively, their gratitude evident.

The fourth prince finally felt better, but Jiang Ling dared not let his guard down and had the wet nurse come in to feed him.

"You feed him yourself, why call him a wet nurse?" Emperor Yuanming said gently.

Jiang Ling glanced at him, but in front of Zheng Ze and Wu Shishan, she didn't say that she wasn't a wet nurse. She said, "Xiao Zhou wants to eat."

The Third Prince chuckled loudly in the side room. Emperor Yuanming felt embarrassed for a moment, but couldn't help laughing along with him. "This kid, he just can't stop laughing for a moment."

"There's someone stopped on the carpet!" Jiang Ling cursed inwardly. Seeing the wet nurse standing at the door, she beckoned her in and asked, "Have you washed up yet?"

Yun Hui was quick-witted and knew that Jiang Ling was giving her a chance to live, so she quickly replied, "Your Majesty, this is Nurse Xia. This servant and Yunxia personally supervised her after she washed up, so Your Majesty can rest assured."

Even with the wet nurse's diligent washing, and with no ice available at Huaqing Pavilion, the journey had left her drenched in sweat, making her susceptible to bacterial growth. The Fourth Prince was too weak to withstand any further risks.

Jiang Ling chased Emperor Yuanming and the others out, lowered the gauze curtain at the door, and left Wu, the wet nurse, in the room to feed the fourth prince.

Wu, the wet nurse, carefully picked up the fourth prince and undressed him. Jiang Ling stared at him intently, her nerves on edge, and silently said, "You must eat, you must eat! As long as you can drink milk, you'll be much better!"

The fourth prince's little mouth moved a few times, and he finally started to nurse. Jiang Ling breathed a long sigh of relief, only then realizing that her clothes were already soaked with sweat and her limbs were weak.

After nursing, the fourth prince yawned, urinated all over his wet nurse, and then fell into a deep sleep.

Jiang Lingyuan and the others entered the room and said, "Your Majesty, the Fourth Prince has improved somewhat and has eaten and fallen asleep. It's getting late, Your Majesty should take the Fourth Prince back. I can only ensure he eats and sleeps comfortably; I don't know anything else."

Emperor Yuanming was taken aback, and said vaguely, "His health is weak and he should not be moved. Let him stay by your side to recuperate for now."

That bastard, he's even clinging to her now!

She already has a son, and raising the third prince has exhausted her energy; she would never create more trouble for herself!

Jiang Ling's mind raced as he pondered Yuan Changsheng's actions.

Whoever wants to raise the fourth prince is the mastermind behind it all and is in cahoots with him!

Just then, the Third Prince started shouting at the top of his lungs. Jiang Ling said apologetically, "The children of the Noble Consort, the Virtuous Consort, and the Wise Consort are all well-cared for. Any of them can look after the Fourth Prince. The Third Prince is still young and cannot be separated from me for even a moment. I really don't have the energy to take care of the Fourth Prince. Besides, the Third Prince is making so much noise that it can be heard for miles around. The Fourth Prince needs to rest quietly and should not stay in Fanying Pavilion."

Emperor Yuanming grunted and pondered for a moment before saying, "Once the Fourth Prince is better, I will make the arrangements. You have rendered meritorious service in saving the Fourth Prince, and I will not treat you unfairly."

Jiang Ling scoffed at Emperor Yuanming's favor and allowed the Fourth Prince to stay behind for the time being, secretly waiting to see how the others would react.

To everyone's surprise, they all refused. Even Consort Liu, whom Jiang Ling had chosen, firmly refused, citing that seeing the Fourth Prince would remind her of her son who had died young.

Jiang Ling was caught off guard; the clues went cold, and he was completely lost.

What's even more troublesome is that Emperor Yuanming added the character "Hui" before her title, turning her into Consort Huishu, making her the only consort with an honorific title.

The insignia signified respect and nobility. In terms of status, although the Imperial Concubine was ranked first, if Jiang Ling bowed to Imperial Concubine Lin, she had to return the full bow. The two implicitly implied an equal footing.

Jiang Ling didn't care about these empty titles. What mattered most was that after her status became noble, the hot potato that was the Fourth Prince would most likely fall into her hands!