Get ill
Li Qingping had someone find the picture book that Yu Jin read when she was a child. It was full of strange stories collected from the folk. He asked the court painters to add illustrations for the short paragraphs. Not only the children but also adults read it with great interest.
However, when Yu Jin came to Li Qingping, she had long stopped reading this kind of picture books. She had started reading the Four Books and Five Classics, and occasionally read those long policy articles. This was in stark contrast to Yu Zhen, who now seemed to have no interest in studying.
Yuzhen looked at the picture books and became interested, but most of the time she was just looking at the pictures.
But this could not be rushed. After a while, Li Qingping took Yuzhen to visit the teacher who taught her. The teacher was the same female teacher who had taught Yujin before. On the first day of her visit, she accepted the tuition gift from Yuzhen.
Li Qingping even said something to the teacher, avoiding Yuzhen: "The second young lady isn't as fond of reading as the eldest. You don't need to teach her too much profound things. Just teach her to recognize words and lead her to read some simple and easy-to-understand texts."
The master was still thinking that the fire in the harem might have spread to the child, and that Madam Li was planning to spoil the second daughter. But if he said it so openly, weren't they afraid that she would tell others?
But after seeing Yuzhen fall asleep while learning to read, the teacher said: "..." I thought too badly of people's hearts!
The second girl was indeed different from the older girl who was more motivated to study, so the teacher adopted a completely different approach from the older girl. He used reading as a storytelling technique, which finally piqued the second girl's interest.
Li Qingping naturally felt this change, so he followed the teacher.
In June, Hexian turned one. Hexian's mother was a concubine of a prince, so according to tradition, a grand ceremony was supposed to be held. Unfortunately, with most of the imperial family and relatives gone from the capital, there was no way to have a grand celebration. Concubine Li decided to invite the few people who stayed in the palace, along with her family, to hold a small ceremony.
Fortunately, He Xian was still on people's minds. Prince Xuan, his wife, and others who were far away in the frontier ordered their men to rush back with the first birthday gift for San Langjun.
In addition to the gifts, Princess Xuan also sent back letters to the two of them.
"I didn't expect that this time during the trip to the frontier, it wasn't Wan who was favored the most, but Yang who got the advantage." Concubine Li stroked her swollen belly and pouted, "Wan is also useless."
Li Qingping was also reading the letter and asked casually, "What's going on?"
The letters Princess Xuan wrote to each of them were naturally different. Knowing that Li Qingping missed Yujin, Princess Xuan focused on Yujin's interesting experiences in the frontier: horse racing and archery were no longer unusual activities; a few days ago, she had even gone herding cattle and sheep with the Eleventh Princess and many other Mongolian princes and princesses! In short, Yujin was incredibly happy, and of course, she also included a few words about how much she missed Li Qingping, which made Li Qingping smile.
As for the letter to Concubine Li, Concubine Li loved to watch the fun and listen to gossip. In addition to writing about the various things she heard outside the Great Wall, Princess Xuan also wrote about the stories of several women in the backyard who followed her there.
"What else could it be? Isn't it just that Yang is using the story of the third young lady's death to win the prince's pity. She is luring people into her tent." Concubine Li snorted coldly.
Li Qingping looked carefully for a long time and confirmed that there was no jealousy on Concubine Li's face towards Prince Xuan's favoritism towards others. Instead, there was disdain and anger towards Concubine Yang's favor, as well as disappointment towards others, especially Madam Wan, who were not up to the standard.
"We have no right to control whose bed the prince sleeps on," Li Qingping said with a smile.
Concubine Li was childish and unreasonable: "Anyway, I am not happy because I favor Yang."
Li Qingping: "..."
Forget it, I won’t talk too much to pregnant women.
"By the way, has the eldest son been eating less during the day recently?" Li Qingping suddenly thought of this while watching Yuzhen, Heluo and Hexian, the three siblings, eating cakes below.
Concubine Li frowned. "Yes, there are a lot left. Could it be that the child has a poor appetite due to the summer heat?"
Li Qingping said with a headache, "In any case, let's get the court doctor to take a look. If something happens to the eldest son, it will be difficult to explain when everyone comes back."
Concubine Li thought about it and agreed, so she asked Chunhui to take her badge and ask the court doctor to come.
Li Qingping then instructed, "Don't just go to the eldest son. Go check on Madam Zhang, the fourth son, and the two concubines as well. Just say you're checking their pulses according to the customary summer customs. Come back and check our pulses afterward."
Chunhui responded respectfully.
I had just been thinking about checking He Yan's pulse as usual, not expecting anything to happen to He Yan, but Chun Hui came back with a report: "Master, Madam, the palace doctor said that the eldest son might be ill."
Concubine Li stood up suddenly, frightening the eldest maid Chunyu so much that she quickly supported her. "Are you really sick? Then why didn't the servants come to report it?"
Chunhui was, after all, a capable maidservant beside Concubine Li, and she calmly said, "I have already ordered the servants who serve the eldest young master to be under guard. Nanny Shangguan, who was left behind by the prince, is in charge over there."
"Well done. Shall we go over there?" Li Qingping looked at Concubine Li with a serious expression.
Over there, Zhang had just coaxed He Yun to sleep when the eldest maid Cailan came in through the curtain and said, "Master, when I was escorting Doctor Huang out just now, I passed by Madam Wan's courtyard and found people kneeling all over the courtyard."
There are two doctors in the palace. Doctor Huang is in charge of Zhang's mother and son and the two concubines, while the other one goes directly to see the eldest son.
I just checked his pulse and it's like that. I know something might have happened to the young master.
Zhang lowered her voice and asked, "Where are the concubine and Madam Li?"
"I saw Chunhui, who was beside Concubine Li, heading towards the West Garden. Those two should be arriving soon after receiving the news."
Zhang nodded and said, "Since Concubine Li and the others haven't said anything, let's just pretend we don't know. Stick to the skins in the courtyard and don't run around right now, to avoid getting involved in their trouble."
He Yan is the eldest son of Prince Xuan. If something really happens to him, she, a mere concubine, will not be able to take the responsibility. It is better for her not to get involved.
Cailan responded and went out to call the servants.
Li Qingping and Concubine Li settled several children and then went to the eldest son's place. The yard was already full of people kneeling. Li Qingping looked around and went into the main hall. Concubine Li had a chair brought in and sat under the eaves, her face sullen and silent.
This was agreed upon when they arrived. Firstly, Concubine Li was pregnant, and if she got sick and harmed the fetus, they wouldn't go in. Secondly, in the eyes of the servants, Concubine Li was a favored concubine, one of the two concubines, with great authority and the highest status in the mansion. Compared to Li Qingping, who usually lived in their own courtyard, it was naturally better for her to question them.
But Concubine Li was not in a hurry and decided to wait until she could figure out what was going on. However, this made those kneeling there even more uneasy.
As soon as Li Qingping entered the main hall, Nanny Shangguan bowed to her and took the initiative to say, "Good luck to Madam Li. Doctor Lin is inside taking the eldest son's pulse. However, Doctor Lin is not good at treating children's illnesses. Do you think we should call in an imperial physician?"
"Please." Li Qingping nodded.
We cannot be negligent at this time, it is better to consult a royal physician.
Concubine Li outside heard this and directly ordered Chunhui: "Go, pass my card into the palace to invite Deputy Court Judge Liu Rongxing to come."
This deputy court judge is good at gynecological and pediatric diseases. He was previously in charge of the pregnancy of Princess Anxuan, and he played an indispensable role in the safe birth of Hexuan. Concubine Li also asked him to diagnose her two pregnancies, so Concubine Li naturally trusted him.
Doctor Lin came out from the inner room. Li Qingping looked up and asked him, "How is the eldest son?"
"In my humble opinion, the eldest son has some intestinal blockage, which has been going on for some time. He is still young and doesn't know how to speak, but he doesn't like to eat. Over time, he will become thinner and I'm afraid he will become seriously ill."
Doctor Lin was putting it mildly, considering it was a serious illness. Li Qingping knew that a child who didn't eat would become weak and could die at any moment. Who wanted to kill the eldest son? And when Prince Xuan and the others had already left the capital? Did they think they wouldn't notice if they stayed here without paying attention? If their negligence really caused the eldest son to get hurt or even die, even the protection of Prince Xuan's wife would be useless... Who was so bold! They dared to plot against her, Concubine Li, and the eldest son! If she hadn't been so careful, who knows who would have succeeded!
Li Qingping's eyes were gloomy, and his fingertips tapped on the handle of the chair, making a crisp sound.
From her angle, she could see a circle of people kneeling outside. From the wet nurses and nannies to the maids and eunuchs, she shuddered inexplicably. Why did she feel that Madam Li was even more terrifying than Concubine Li?
Even Nanny Shangguan, who had seen a lot of things around Prince Xuan, couldn't help but feel weak in her legs.
Fortunately, Deputy Court Judge Liu Rongxing arrived just in time and greeted the two masters. Li Qingping followed him into the inner room. Liu Rongxing took He Yan's pulse, and Li Qingping sat down beside the bed to accompany him.
The two-year-old lay in bed with a pale face, somewhat frightened by the scene. He was about to cry when his familiar mother and wet nurse were gone. He recognized Li Qingping, though not familiar, having only met him during regular greetings. But the child could distinguish between good and evil, and knowing Li Qingping meant no harm, he sobbed.
"Mrs. Li, is He Yan seriously ill?"
"Don't talk nonsense." Li Qingping stroked He Yan's head gently, his voice quite gentle: "Wait and drink the medicine and you will be fine."
Li Qingping looked at Deputy Judge Liu. What Liu Rongxing said was similar to what Doctor Lin said. To be more specific, he said that it was probably because he ate too much food such as glutinous rice, which made him feel bloated and unable to digest it properly. The next day, the same thing happened. Day after day, his stomach was damaged.
"From now on, the eldest son's diet must be light and easy to digest. He must not eat foods like glutinous rice. In addition, you can massage his abdomen to promote digestion. He should take a few doses of medicine and he will be well in less than half a month. But he must not overeat after he stops taking the medicine. He must eat according to the fixed amount." Liu Rongxing gave detailed instructions, and Nanny Shangguan took notes carefully.
Li Qingping had someone boil some medicine for He Yan to take. Once the medicine was in his stomach, he had to go to the toilet to clear his bowels. After a few tossings and turnings, He Yan fell into a deep sleep. After sending off Deputy Court Judge Liu and Doctor Lin, it was time to settle accounts with the servants.
Nanny Shangguan felt a little uneasy. After all, she was specially appointed by Prince Xuan to take care of the eldest son. Now that the eldest son was in trouble, she felt responsible for not taking good care of him. She simply knelt down and apologized.
"Madam, please get up. I, the servant, have concealed it on purpose. It is understandable that you have just arrived. I will deduct two months' salary as a fine. Now the eldest master cannot live without someone, and he still needs your care." After all, Concubine Li is the most prestigious person now. Li Qingping signaled with his eyes, and Concubine Li understood and said this.
Nanny Shangguan kowtowed to express her gratitude.
Next came those kneeling in the yard.
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