Lanqin looked at the plate of purple dumplings and saw that there were only three dumplings left. The last golden melon seed was hidden in one of the three.
“This looks like it, Master.” Nianxue and several other maids gathered around, all watching to see if Lanqin would get to eat the dumpling with the golden melon seed inside.
“I think this one is more like it,” Xi Cha said again.
Lanqin listened to their chatter, but she remained unmoved. She carefully examined the three dumplings and finally picked one up.
Everyone watched as Lanqin put the dumpling in her mouth, then stared at the expression on her face.
Lanqin took a bite with utmost elegance, only to feel a slight nausea before spitting it into the plate in front of her, revealing a gleaming golden melon seed.
"My sister is so lucky, you even got to eat the last one," Song said happily.
Everyone praised Lanqin's good luck, as she actually managed to eat the last golden melon seed, as if she was the one who truly had good fortune.
At this moment, the South Courtyard was immersed in the atmosphere of welcoming the New Year and wishing for good luck in the coming year. No one noticed that someone was knocking on the gate of the South Courtyard.
Outside the door was none other than Ye Ying from Madam Yin's quarters. She pounded on the door a few times, but because Granny Wang was eating dumplings with everyone in the inner room, no one heard her.
Meanwhile, Madam Yin was keeping vigil by the Third Prince's bedside. The Third Prince was lying on the bed, his breathing becoming rapid. Lanqin had originally intended to call the Third Prince to the South Courtyard, but his health was still not fully recovered, and Madam Yin had been taking care of him. Calling only the Third Prince without inviting Madam Yin would be inappropriate. Therefore, Lanqin did not come to call the Third Prince.
"Third Prince, please be patient, the doctor will be here soon," said Madam Yin anxiously, holding her son's hand. These past few days, with the New Year approaching, the Third Prince's health had gradually improved. But with the New Year so close, he became playful and wanted to build a snowman, and Madam Yin let him. However, after playing for a while, he felt his hair was heavy and his limbs ached, and he soon lay down on the bed and fell into a deep sleep.
Lady Yin looked at the Third Prince's face, which appeared somewhat flushed, but when she touched his forehead, he didn't seem to have a fever.
Just then, Ye Ying stumbled in, dragging Doctor Wu along with her.
"Doctor Wu, please take a look at the Third Prince! He's having trouble breathing!" Madam Yin was so anxious that tears welled up in her eyes. She didn't know why the Third Prince had become so weak since the beginning of winter. He was such a healthy child, how could he have gotten sicker and sicker?
Doctor Wu took out a diagnostic pillow from his medicine box, then pulled out the Third Prince's hand and placed it on it to begin taking his pulse.
Lady Yin hurriedly pulled Ye Ying aside and asked, "Why did you take so long? Did you see the concubine?"
Ye Ying hurriedly said, "This servant went to the South Courtyard and knocked on the door for a long time, but no one came to open it. This servant had no choice but to go and ask Doctor Wu for help."
Upon hearing this, Madam Yin frowned and said, "The people in the South Courtyard aren't opening the door?"
Ye Ying nodded and said, "Princess, I heard that the concubine invited a shadow puppet show. I guess everyone is watching it."
Madam Yin quickly scolded, "Don't talk nonsense. Perhaps the sound of the shadow puppet show's gong masked your knocking. No, the Third Prince doesn't look well. You stay here and wait, I'll go and invite him myself."
Ye Ying said angrily, "Let Ying'er accompany the princess. It's late at night and very cold outside. You should be careful."
Without saying much, Madam Yin immediately put on a plain cotton cloak with fur trim and, with Ying'er's help, went to the south courtyard.
Looking at Doctor Wu's tightly furrowed brows, Ye Ying subconsciously said, "Doctor Wu, what's wrong with the Third Prince? Since the beginning of winter, his condition has been fluctuating. Today, the Third Prince looks very unwell, as if he's even worse than before."
Doctor Wu ignored Ye Ying's words, pried open the Third Prince's mouth, looked at his tongue, and then carefully examined the Third Prince's fingertips before continuing to take his pulse.
“The Third Prince’s condition is probably not as simple as the original cold that caused internal heat and external cold. Why didn’t the Third Prince fast? Or did you not take good care of the Third Prince?” Doctor Wu said. “The prescription I wrote should be effective for the Third Prince, but the dampness in his body is getting worse and worse, while the external heat is not decreasing.”
When Ye Ying saw that Doctor Wu was implying that she and Madam Yin hadn't taken good care of the Third Prince, she couldn't help but say, "We've been getting the medicine for the Third Prince according to your prescription. He was already better, but who knew that he would relapse after just a short trip out. You only say that we didn't take good care of him, but why don't you say whether your prescription can even cure the Third Prince's illness?"
When Doctor Wu was questioned like this by a maid, he angrily said, "There is nothing wrong with my prescription. A cold with internal dampness and external heat like the Third Prince should have recovered long ago, but he keeps getting better and worse. It really makes people wonder if he has been poisoned?"
Ye Ying's eyes widened, and she said tremblingly, "Poisoning? How is that possible? Who would poison the Third Prince?!"
Doctor Wu held up the Third Prince's hand and said, "Look, his fingertips have turned slightly purplish-blue. If it's not poisoning, what is it?"
"Water, water, thirsty, thirsty!!" The Third Prince was groggily awakened by their argument.
Ye Ying hurriedly said to the Third Prince, "Okay, this servant will go and pour it out right away." After saying that, she turned to the wet nurse and two maids who had been standing in the corner taking care of the Third Prince and said, "How have you been taking care of him? How did the Third Prince get poisoned? When the master returns, you should all take a close look at his head."
The wet nurse and the two maids were so frightened they were almost crying. They were the ones who directly cared for the Third Prince, and if anything happened to him, none of them would escape.
Meanwhile, Madam Yin, supported by Ying'er's hand, arrived at the entrance of the South Courtyard. Remembering Ye Ying's words, she hesitated for a moment, then reached out and grabbed the copper door knocker on the red lacquered gate, and began to knock.
At this moment, Granny Wang had already come out of the house. She immediately heard someone knocking on the door, so she came out, unlatched the door, and opened it.
"Oh, it's Princess Yin." Granny Wang bowed to Madam Yin.
"Is the concubine here?" Madam Yin stepped across the threshold and glanced at Madam Song and Madam Geng, who were setting off fireworks under the porch of the main house, but she did not see Lanqin.
"The concubine is coughing and hasn't come out; she's inside. Please come this way, Lady Yin," said Granny Wang.
With Ying'er's hand in hand, Madam Yin walked into the courtyard. Madam Song and the others were all taken aback when they saw Madam Yin suddenly walk in.
As she walked, Madam Yin looked around the courtyard; this was her first time stepping into the South Courtyard.
When Nianxue spotted Madam Yin, she immediately turned around to inform Lanqin.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
