When Su Peisheng returned after delivering the coroner, the private room was deathly silent. Looking at Fulu's pleading eyes, Su Peisheng also felt a headache coming on. He had no choice but to step forward and cautiously call out, "Master, do you think... we should go and detain Xianxin?"
He no longer calls her "Xianxin Girl".
The Fourth Prince suddenly narrowed his eyes, his anger now palpable: "Go and fetch Physician Xia first. Hasn't Lady Xilin Jueluo gone home yet?"
Su Peisheng asked Fulu to invite him, but shook his head at the same time: "Not yet."
"If Lady Xilin Jueluo brings Xianxin into the manor in the next few days, we will have her detained on the way and sent to the estate. If not, we will arrest her and send her to the estate when Xianxin goes out to get spices."
Fourth Master no longer cared about appearances; the facts were already out in the open. Now that he had investigated thoroughly, he would not let it go. If Xianxin were in front of Fourth Master right now, she would probably be dead already.
Su Peisheng was shocked, but he still agreed.
"Has the calming pillow been replaced?" Fourth Master asked again.
Su Peisheng said, "Last time, Xia Cao changed them while they were being aired out. All the things that the Princess Consort usually uses have been changed..."
Even so, Su Peisheng's heart was still heavy.
Those are insects that burrow into ears and eat brains, who knows how long the Princess Consort used them...
No wonder even the imperial physicians couldn't find the cause; no wonder the medicine prescribed by Physician Xia didn't help the Princess Consort...
Fourth Master lost his appetite for lunch: "Put the things away."
The Fourth Prince could cover the mouth of the coroner, but the mouth of the imperial physician might not be so easily covered.
Su Peisheng understood and stepped forward to collect the boxes containing spices and small insects.
The Imperial Medical Academy was neither too far nor too close to the Ministry of Revenue. It took about 15 minutes for Physician Xia to arrive. The weather was still cold in February, and Physician Xia was covered in sweat when he arrived.
The Fourth Prince didn't mince words and went straight to the point: "The Princess Consort has been recuperating for a while now. Can Physician Xia give me a definite answer? How exactly is the Princess Consort's health?"
Physician Xia felt as if sweat had gotten into his eyes, and under the Fourth Prince's gaze, he couldn't utter a single polite word: "Your Highness, the Princess Consort's health... really can't be improved by any tonics... I'm afraid that in less than two years, the Princess Consort's health will be completely depleted."
The result given by Physician Xia was better than the Fourth Prince had expected, but he did not speak up immediately, which startled Physician Xia.
He was truly at a loss; lately, he had even begun to doubt his own medical skills.
The Fourth Prince quickly "let him off the hook": "The health of the Princess Consort will depend on Physician Xia. Thank you for your help, Physician Xia."
Physician Xia was stunned for a second, then quickly bowed and said, "Yes, yes, Your Majesty, I dare not be negligent and will certainly do my utmost."
The Fourth Prince hummed in agreement: "I will trouble Physician Xia to make another trip to the manor today."
Physician Xia naturally agreed.
Then the Fourth Prince went straight back to the Ministry of Revenue. He had a cold face, and anyone who saw him would be terrified.
...
Unlike the Fourth Prince's cold demeanor at the Ministry of Revenue, Li Chenjiao was whispering with her mother in the east courtyard of the mansion.
Her mother seemed unusually curious about palace secrets, and Li Chenjiao understood that this was her mother's concern, so she told her everything she knew. However, she was also a little puzzled as to why her mother was so curious about the matter of Prince Zhi being demoted to a Beile.
"Fourth Master didn't say much to me, but it seems to be related to the assassination attempt during the New Year. He probably provoked his wrath."
Seeing her daughter's confusion, Madam Shen squeezed her hand and said, "Today, Prince Zhi was demoted; who knows what might happen to someone else in the future..."
Whether it was the Crown Prince being deposed or Yinti being confined to his quarters, it seemed to have happened several years earlier than in history. It was hard to guarantee that something might have happened to Shen Shi, so she naturally wanted to know some inside information. Besides, she was indeed quite curious about these royal secrets, cough cough.
After all, in their past lives, they knew these things either from historical records or various unofficial histories, so who wouldn't be curious now?
The Fourth Prince would sometimes talk to Li Chenjiao, and Li Chenjiao would tell him everything she knew. After listening, Madam Shen seemed to be deep in thought.
As in history, His Majesty does indeed favor Prince Hongli, but this Prince Hongli is the son of his own daughter…
Hopefully nothing unexpected will happen...
In February, the weather in the capital was still slightly cold. Li Chenjiao went into labor almost half a month prematurely, on the 16th of February, before dawn.
As Li Chenjiao's due date approached, her belly grew increasingly frightening. The experienced midwife had long been prepared for premature birth, so a premature delivery by ten days wouldn't be too unexpected.
Li Chenjiao was awakened by the pain. Having learned from experience, she remained relatively calm and let out a cry.
Li Chenjiao's belly was too big, and Madam Shen didn't dare to sleep with her. So, she spent most of the nights she stayed at the mansion on the couch in the outer room.
Upon hearing Li Chenjiao's voice, she first instructed the maids to prepare, and then went in to comfort her daughter.
Since it was still early, Dongsheng didn't have time to send the Fourth Prince to the front courtyard for his studies. He rushed to the front courtyard to deliver a message. Fortunately, the Fourth Prince hadn't left the mansion yet, and he turned around and headed to the east courtyard.
When Shen had a moment, she asked Chen and Zhen to take Aman and Wanwan to the front yard. With two children around, the maids would have to be distracted, and Aman was a little worried. Seeing this, Wanwan also refused to leave. When the Fourth Master arrived, he told the two children to wait in the side room and have Fulu watch over them.
The midwife was going in and out, while the Fourth Master waited behind the screen, familiar with the place. Li Chenjiao had already covered her hair with a headband. She vaguely saw the Fourth Master, but she couldn't bring herself to smile.
It hurts a little...
She didn't want the Fourth Master to stay too long, otherwise he would see her hideous expression. She tried to be as proper as possible in front of him so that he could see how difficult and painful her childbirth was. There was no need for her to look ugly.
The Fujin (Prince's wife) had received the news and was originally prepared to come, since the Fourth Prince had arrived. However, she did not sleep well last night, and when she got up this morning, she felt dizzy before she could even stand up, and almost fell down again.
Then her mother came in a panic and said that Xianxin was missing, that she had disappeared on her way to visit her.
The princess was initially just feeling dizzy, but after hearing her mother's words, it turned into a headache.
We can only send Granny Qian to make the trip first.
When Granny Qian arrived at the East Courtyard, she only met Granny Lin. The two old foxes exchanged nothing but polite words.
"It's kind of you, Madam, to come all this way since you're not feeling well. Our concubine is just starting labor, and it'll probably be a while. As you know, no one can predict when it comes to childbirth."
"Of course. The Princess Consort was also worried, so she specifically asked me to come and see if there was anything I could do to help..."
Granny Lin gave a forced smile: "Then I'll go with you."
The two went back and forth for a while, and soon a cry of pain came from inside.
Granny Lin's expression turned serious, and she stopped talking to Granny Qian.
Twins, they're always a good thing...
I just pray that my baby will have a safe delivery.
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