In the side hall of Yuqing Palace, Concubine Xi was still carefully checking her dance costume.
Ever since she developed a rash on her face, the emperor had never summoned her to sleep with him. Now that her father had won the battle, she couldn't waste such a good opportunity.
But not long after, bursts of commotion were heard from the main hall of Yuqing Palace, and even the sound of stringed instruments stopped.
Concubine Xi was full of curiosity. Just as she was about to go out to check, she saw Qiancao rushing in, "Your Majesty, something bad has happened. The eldest prince has contracted smallpox."
"What?" Xipin was also shocked. "Then where is the emperor?"
"Everyone has gone to Fengqi Palace."
Concubine Xi angrily ripped off her hair ornaments and said bluntly, "This eldest prince really knows how to pick the right time."
"My Queen, don't dare say such things." Scared, Qiancao quickly closed the door and said with lingering fear, "My Queen, let's go back first. The party outside is over anyway."
"What else can I do if I don't go back?"
Concubine Xi sat listlessly on the chair. She had practiced this sword dance for a long time and had endured countless hardships. She wanted to use this to regain the emperor's favor.
The result was a complete failure.
The eldest prince's illness came on very suddenly, and the disease was transmissible. Zhao Yuancheng immediately isolated Fengqi Palace and prohibited anyone from getting close.
The eldest princess was also sent out and temporarily lived in Ci'an Palace.
The harem burned mugwort three times a day to dispel the epidemic. Because the queen had never had the disease, she could not go to the side hall to take care of her young son. She could only kneel before the Queen Mother of Smallpox every day and pray for her beloved son's health.
Qiulan Palace.
Concubine Liu lay peacefully on the couch. Although there was chaos outside, she had a peaceful look on her face.
Yun'er brought over freshly cooked bird's nest and whispered, "Your Majesty, I heard that the eldest prince is not well. The Empress's eyes have been blinded by crying."
Liu Zhaoyi took the bird's nest, a bright smile on her lips, "I'm afraid even if the Queen really cried herself blind, she wouldn't be able to get her precious son back."
Just as Liu Zhaoyi said, the young eldest prince died after being tortured by smallpox for seven days.
After witnessing her son's death, the queen's frail body could no longer bear it and she fainted on the spot and never recovered.
Zhao Yuancheng had infinite expectations for this legitimate son. When he learned that his beloved son had passed away, he was heartbroken. He appointed the eldest prince as the crown prince and posthumously named him Chende.
Prince Chende was the legitimate son of the Empress and the eldest son, so his funeral ceremony was extremely grand.
But no matter how grand the ceremony was, it couldn't bring back the little child's life.
In the autumn of the first year of the Chongli reign, the entire palace was shrouded in gloom due to the death of Crown Prince Dechen. However, on the ninth day of the ninth month, Consort Liu gave birth to the second prince in Qiulan Palace.
The ninth day of the ninth month coincides with the Double Ninth Festival. Being born at this time, the second prince is undoubtedly a blessed child.
However, due to the death of the eldest prince, Zhao Yuancheng did not show much joy on his face, and even the third-day bath banquet was held according to the rules.
Compared to the eldest prince's original style, it is much simpler.
Yun'er was quite dissatisfied with this, but Liu Zhaoyi herself did not care. The biggest stumbling block blocking her son was gone. Compared with the future glory and wealth, what was the current grievance?
On the day when the second prince was one month old, Zhao Yuancheng named him Jingyou, which means peace, happiness, longevity and health.
That day, Zhao Yuancheng went to Qiulan Palace after court. Looking at the sweet sleeping face of the second prince, he couldn't help but think of the appearance of Prince Chende when he was just born.
He was suddenly filled with sadness, sat for a while, then stood up and left.
The imperial garden in early autumn gradually became desolate. Zhao Yuancheng had been depressed during this period. He did not dare to go to Fengqi Palace, for fear of being saddened by the scene.
But as they walked, they arrived at Huayang Palace.
Zhu Yu cautiously observed the emperor's expression, "Your Majesty, would you like to come in and sit down?"
Zhao Yuancheng looked unhappy and was about to leave when he turned around to see Lingyun hurriedly approaching with the imperial physician.
Lingyun was also startled when she saw the emperor standing at the door. She knelt down and greeted him, "Your Majesty, may the emperor be blessed with good health."
"Get up." Zhao Yuancheng glanced at the imperial physician following Lingyun and frowned, "Is your queen feeling unwell?"
"In reply to the emperor, ever since the Mid-Autumn Festival, the queen has always felt a tightness in her chest, and has been unable to sleep or eat these past few days."
"Since Consort Yi was feeling unwell, why didn't she come and report to me earlier?"
Lingyun replied carefully, "Your Majesty knows that the Emperor is saddened by the passing of Crown Prince Dechen, so she couldn't bear to disturb him."
"Nonsense." After saying these two words, Zhao Yuancheng flicked his sleeves and walked in.
Fu Qianyu has indeed been feeling uncomfortable recently. When Zhao Yuancheng came in, he saw her lying weakly on the couch. It was clear that he had not seen her for more than half a month, but she had lost a lot of weight.
"Your Majesty, why are you here?"
Seeing Zhao Yuancheng coming, Fu Qianyu quickly stood up to greet him, but as soon as she stood up, she felt dizzy.
"You're not feeling well, why are you still bothering with these conventional etiquette? Lie down immediately."
Zhao Yuancheng looked at Fu Xiyu's pale face. There was no trace of the innocent look she had when she was eating meat at the Mid-Autumn Festival dinner. He also remembered that he had not visited her during this period because of the death of Prince Chende, and he couldn't help feeling a little guilty.
Here, the imperial physician has stepped forward to take the patient's pulse.
Time passed little by little, and everyone in the room held their breath. In fact, Fu Qianyu knew what was going on with her, and she wanted to quietly ask the imperial physician to come over.
But I didn't expect that the emperor would come too.
After a long while, the imperial physician stood up and said with a smile, "Congratulations, Your Majesty, and Your Majesty."
Zhao Yuancheng was stunned for a moment, then he couldn't help but understand something. A sense of joy spread quietly from the bottom of his heart, "You mean, Concubine Yi is pregnant?"
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