At Prince Yi's residence, the Thirteenth Prince fell ill and, citing his poor health, had been absent from the morning court sessions. Because the Fourth Prince was preoccupied with state affairs, he dispatched a palace physician to treat him. To stay informed about the Thirteenth Prince's condition, the Fourth Prince also sent a eunuch to shuttle between Prince Yi's residence and the palace every morning and evening.
On this day, the eunuch came to the Hall of Mental Cultivation again to report the Thirteenth Prince's condition to the Fourth Prince.
"Your Majesty, I have urgent news to report! The Thirteenth Prince's condition has worsened, and the imperial physicians are at a loss," the eunuch said.
The Fourth Prince was startled and hurriedly asked, "How did the imperial physician diagnose it?"
"Your Majesty, Imperial Physician Yang, Prince Yi, has been in poor health for many years, and due to his constant overwork in state affairs, he has almost exhausted himself. Now his old illness has flared up again, and it is quite severe," the eunuch said.
Upon receiving the news, the Fourth Prince immediately led several other imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital to Prince Yi's residence.
The Thirteenth Prince lay on the bed, his face pale, his eyes closed, and only a faint sound of his breathing could be heard in the air.
Upon entering and seeing the situation, the Fourth Prince excused the Thirteenth Prince's wife, Lady Zhaojia, from the formalities and quickly said, "Let the imperial physician I brought take a look."
Thirteenth Prince's Consort, Lady Zhaojia, kept wiping away tears, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Has this been the case recently?" Fourth Master asked Madam Zhaojia.
“The prince has always been in bad shape. I have advised him many times, but he just won’t listen,” said the Thirteenth Princess, rubbing her eyes with a handkerchief.
"Why didn't you report this sooner?" Fourth Master frowned gravely.
Thirteen was right; he should have told him he was feeling seriously unwell.
“The Prince is worried that the Emperor is overworked with state affairs and will have to worry about him as well. He is truly concerned. Today, I saw that the Prince’s complexion was worse than the Emperor’s, so I sent someone to the palace to report to him,” said Lady Zhaojia.
Fourth Master comforted him, "Don't worry, I believe Thirteen will be alright."
After examining the prince, the imperial physician shook his head and sighed, "His pulse is unstable; he may not live much longer."
The Fourth Prince was shocked, and the Thirteenth Prince's wife, Lady Zhaojia, fainted upon hearing this, and was supported by her nanny.
"Send the Thirteenth Prince's wife back to her room to rest," the Fourth Prince said to the nanny, then raised his voice to the imperial physician, "You must save the Thirteenth Prince no matter what! I will not allow him to die!"
The imperial physician was so frightened that he immediately knelt down, "Your Majesty, the Thirteenth Prince's lifespan has been damaged! He is too weak to return!"
"Is that really true?" Fourth Master's steps swayed slightly.
The imperial physician hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, I am useless. Please punish me."
"How much longer do you have to live?" Fourth Master's voice turned cold.
He couldn't believe that Thirteen, who had clung to him since childhood, struggled alongside him as adults, and reminisced about the past with him in their old age, would pass away before him. But now, with the imperial physician's words, he had no choice but to accept them.
"At most three months! At least one month!"
Fourth Master suddenly trembled, “We must do everything we can to prolong Thirteen’s life.”
"Your Majesty..." This faint voice came from the Thirteenth Prince.
Seeing that his lips were pale and he was weakly trying to open his eyes, Fourth Master quickly sat down by the bedside. "Thirteenth, you'll be alright."
"Your Majesty... I am nearing my end. Please... let the Thirteenth Prince go." The Thirteenth Prince on the bed opened his mouth with difficulty.
"Don't say anything, I will definitely have the imperial physician cure you. You can't die, you absolutely can't die!" The Fourth Prince said, unwilling to let go of his close brother.
Thirteen's mouth was open, but it was impossible to hear what he was saying.
The imperial physician stayed to take care of the Thirteenth Prince, while the Fourth Prince returned to the palace after some time.
When news of the Thirteenth Prince's serious illness reached Lanqin at Changchun Palace, she was shocked.
Historically, Prince Yinxiang, the thirteenth prince, died of illness in the eighth year of the Yongzheng Emperor's reign. It is unexpected that he would die at this time this year.
Lanqin knew that Fourth Master must be heartbroken and in tears because of Thirteenth Master's matter, so she came to the Hall of State Affairs to see Fourth Master and offer her condolences.
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