Back at Yikun Palace, Hongfu's fever showed no signs of abating. The monks had been setting up an altar at Yikun Palace for three days and three nights, chanting sutras to help his deceased wet nurse pass on to the afterlife.
The little prince was no longer crying as before. He lay weakly in Nian's arms, his body burning hot and his little face flushed red.
As Nian watched Hongfu's condition worsen day by day, his fever escalated to the point where he couldn't even drink water, and the milk he did drink would be vomited up shortly afterward. Nian was at a loss and could only pray that the monk's ritual would be effective and that Hongfu would recover soon.
Lady Nian entrusted Hongfu to the maid's care and secretly went to perform a ritual for her deceased wet nurse. Lady Nian knelt sincerely on the ground, praying incessantly: "I beg you, blame me if you must. Please don't go looking for my son again. I accidentally killed you. I'm willing to copy talismans and chant scriptures for you every day. I only ask that you be reborn soon and stop tormenting my child here... I beg you, I beg you..."
"Something terrible has happened... Your Highness... the young prince has had a seizure..." A maidservant ran crying to find Madam Nian, who dropped the incense she was holding and scrambled back home. Hongfu was foaming at the mouth and trembling uncontrollably. Two imperial physicians held Hongfu's hands and feet down, while another held his head and pried open his mouth to stuff strips of cloth inside.
Mrs. Nian rushed over like a madwoman, hysterically shouting, "What are you doing? Let go of my son! What have you done to my son?"
The maid hugged Lady Nian and cried, "Your Majesty, the imperial physicians are worried that the little prince might bite his tongue during his seizure. Your Majesty, please calm down..."
Lady Nian collapsed to the ground, watching with heartache as the imperial physician took out a long, thin needle and began to prick Hongfu's small body repeatedly.
Suddenly, Lady Nian stood up, ran out of Yikun Palace, and headed straight for Yangxin Hall.
Seeing Consort Nian rushing towards him in a daze, Su Peisheng stopped her and advised, "Your Highness, the Emperor is handling state affairs and has ordered that no one should disturb him. Your Highness should return to the palace..."
Lady Nian glared at Su Peisheng, then knelt outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, crying out, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please go see the young prince... He has been ill for three or four days. I am terrified. Please, Your Majesty, go see the young prince..."
Su Peisheng glanced inside and, seeing no movement, could only softly persuade, "Your Highness, the Emperor has been very busy with court affairs lately and is truly unable to spare the time. Once the Emperor is finished, this servant will certainly convey Your Highness's message..."
Lady Nian stood up, intending to push open the door and enter, but Su Peisheng was startled and stopped her. Lady Nian struggled and cried out outside the door, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please see me... Hongfu is your son..."
The Fourth Prince, his face dark, opened the door. Su Peisheng quickly released Lady Nian, who threw herself into his arms, clutching his clothes and weeping, "Your Majesty, please go see Hongfu! He's having convulsions from the fever, and the imperial physicians are trying to save him at Yikun Palace... I have no other choice but to beg Your Majesty..."
Fourth Master hadn't expected Hongfu to be so ill, and left without a word. Madam Nian hurriedly followed behind, silently praying that Hongfu would be alright...
When the Fourth Prince arrived, Hongfu had already calmed down. After being given some medicine, he fell into a deep sleep. After looking at Hongfu, the Fourth Prince's expression turned serious. He suppressed his anger and asked, "How is the young prince?"
The imperial physicians were so frightened that they knelt down and refused to get up. Not daring to conceal the truth, they had no choice but to reply honestly: "Your Majesty, the young prince's condition is dire. If his high fever continues unabated, his life may be in danger..."
Upon hearing this, Madam Nian, who was standing behind Fourth Master, felt her legs go weak and fainted...
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