"Xuan Yin."
"Um."
Empress Yan shook her head: "My tongue is numb, I really can't drink anymore."
"Your Majesty, good medicine tastes bitter. The imperial physician instructed you that you must finish it before you are fully recovered," the Seventh Prince advised in a low voice.
Empress Yan revealed a shy, girlish expression.
Outside the screen, the Third Prince's wife glanced at Princess Jia Hua out of the corner of her eye and said casually, "The two of you have known each other for a long time, so don't take it to heart, Seventh Sister-in-law."
Princess Jia Hua smiled without saying a word.
Why would she care? As long as the Seventh Prince can protect himself, she'll let him do whatever he wants. She's just afraid it's all a scheme, and that the Seventh Prince is being misled, which will prevent her from returning to Northern Chu.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have intervened.
"His Highness mentioned his past with the princes at the Prime Minister's residence when he was young. Now that the Empress is ill, it is only right for a son to serve her at her bedside." Princess Jia Hua's tone was indifferent, revealing no emotion whatsoever.
The Third Prince's wife asked in surprise, "Seventh Prince, you mentioned this?"
Princess Jia Hua nodded.
The Third Prince's wife's smile was somewhat ambiguous: "He doesn't hide anything from you."
It took him half an hour to finish that bowl of herbal soup.
The Seventh Prince was very patient, while Empress Yan sighed from time to time, frowned after taking a couple of sips of her drink, and almost finished a plate of candied fruit.
Finally, after finishing the last sip, Empress Yan clutched her chest, her brows furrowed: "You haven't been home for quite some time now. You should go back and keep the Seventh Prince's wife company today. It's really not easy for her all alone in the Southern Frontier."
The person outside the screen heard this and a hint of sarcasm flashed in their eyes.
She didn't believe that Empress Yan was unaware that the Third Prince's wife had summoned her to the palace.
The Seventh Prince said, "Very well."
Empress Yan was taken aback, seemingly not expecting the Seventh Prince to agree so readily. After composing herself, she continued, "You are not young anymore, and you have no children. I am truly worried for you. I would like to summon the Seventh Prince's wife to the palace and have Imperial Physician Zhang help regulate her body so that she can have children for you as soon as possible."
The seventh prince nodded.
Not a single extra word was said.
Princess Jia Hua almost laughed.
The atmosphere inside was awkward. The Third Prince's Consort cleared her throat and, with a smile, led Princess Jia Hua around the screen to appear in front of the two of them.
"Greetings to Her Majesty the Empress." The two bowed.
The Seventh Prince looked at Princess Jia Hua in surprise, and his feet moved involuntarily toward her. He asked in a low voice, "You've come?"
"Um."
The Third Prince's wife caught a glimpse of Empress Yan's gradually cooling face out of the corner of her eye and teased with a smile, "I thought the Seventh Prince didn't care about his wife, but I didn't expect him to cling to her as soon as they met, as if he was afraid that his wife would be wronged."
Princess Jiahua really wanted to crack open the Third Prince's wife's head to see what was inside; why bring up such a sensitive topic?
She quickly looked at the Third Prince's wife: "What are you saying? How could I have been wronged in the Phoenix Palace? Her Majesty treats me very well. I was ill for a few days and it was inconvenient for me to come and pay my respects. It was my fault."
Princess Jia Hua curtsied to Empress Yan, saying, "Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
"What are you saying?" Empress Yan smiled and beckoned to Princess Jiahua: "Come and sit down. Third son's wife is really something, why did she invite you here? It's not a serious illness, I have the imperial physicians, there's no need for so many people to watch over me every day."
Princess Jia Hua smiled faintly. No matter what Empress Yan said, she just listened obediently and didn't get angry.
Even when Empress Yan wanted to arrange a concubine for the Seventh Prince right in front of her.
"The eldest daughter of Minister Xu has long admired the seventh prince. At twenty years old, Yunying is still unmarried, just waiting for the seventh prince to speak up. Now that the war is over, the seventh prince is shy and wants an heir. Regardless of whether he is legitimate or illegitimate, he must have at least one heir."
Empress Yan held Princess Jia Hua's hand and asked softly.
The Seventh Prince's expression changed instantly, probably because he didn't expect Empress Yan to bring this up. He looked at Princess Jia Hua with a nervous expression.
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