Because he had also had smallpox, he was allowed to serve and relay messages inside and outside the palace. Moreover, all the servants inside the palace, including the imperial physicians, were selected because they had also had smallpox, in order to prevent them from infecting others while serving.
Guarjia's action earned the gratitude of everyone in Yuqing Palace.
Consort Li Jia arrived just in time and reassured her, "Although smallpox is dangerous, everyone inside is experienced, so don't worry, sister."
At this time, the backyard of Yuqing Palace was quiet and desolate, except for the Crown Princess Guarjia and Consort Lijia.
That's why the two of them got along relatively peacefully.
Guarjia was gentle and generous, while Concubine Lijia was cautious and timid, not seeking great wealth or status, but content with simply maintaining her position as Concubine.
"You're newly pregnant, so it's best not to do anything like this. Don't harm the baby."
Lady Li Jia didn't seem to care much. "It's been stable for three months now, so there's nothing to worry about. Besides, the Second Prince is still running a fever, and I'm worried too. In the end, we still have too few princes in Yuqing Palace."
What she didn't say was that although the Crown Prince's position was now secure, if the only remaining prince were to die, then the future would be uncertain.
It's because His Highness the Crown Prince isn't interested in women; there are no women in his harem, and naturally, no children.
Could it be that when Kangxi died, he could really choose someone without an heir to be emperor? Wouldn't that just be waiting for someone else to usurp the throne?
When it comes to the issue of offspring, the Guarjia clan also has their worries.
After talking with Lady Li Jia for a while, she returned to her own courtyard with her maids.
As soon as she entered the room, Yuzhu instructed the palace maids to prepare to change Li Jia's clothes and disinfect her.
Li Jia didn't care, since she had already had smallpox and couldn't possibly be infected again.
But Yu Zhu remained cautious, saying, "My lady, you are pregnant now, so you must not be careless."
Li Jia touched her belly and prayed silently, hoping that God would give her a son.
He didn't seek to use princes to compete for favor; he only hoped that there would be more princes in Yuqing Palace to please the Emperor.
"Master, a letter came from the master, inquiring about your current health and also asking about the Second Prince." Yu Zhu said, glancing cautiously at her master.
Sure enough, Li Jiashi, who had just been all smiles and anticipation, immediately frowned after hearing these words.
"Don't think I don't know what he's up to. He's hoping I'll get pregnant with a prince, and even better, that the second prince will die of smallpox, then I'll be the first person in Yuqing Palace."
Yu Zhu lowered her head, not daring to speak.
Li Jiashi got angry just thinking about it.
Her father was really good to her, but he wasn't very bright and had a lot of ambition.
Everyone in the court knew that Emperor Kangxi favored the Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince favored Prince Hongxi.
Moreover, Prince Hongxi was originally born to a concubine, but was later adopted by the Crown Princess.
Even if Hongxi is gone now, can she raise the prince she gave birth to?
Li Jia glanced at Yu Zhu and said, "Tell Father to give up those inappropriate thoughts. No matter whether I am carrying a boy or a girl, I will not covet that position. I also want him to give up that idea. Otherwise, I will tell the Crown Prince and let him decide."
When Yu Zhu saw that Li Jia was really angry, she hurriedly tried to coax her. When she saw that Li Jia's complexion had finally improved a little, she took the opportunity to go out and deliver a message.
According to the imperial physician, patients with smallpox usually recover after three or four days of fever, but Hongxi has been feverish for five days and there is still no sign of improvement.
Even the usually composed Emperor Kangxi rushed in and launched into a tirade against the imperial physician.
They called them useless, they called them quacks.
When she turned around and saw the exhausted Yinreng, she was so angry that she kicked the imperial physician.
"If you cannot cure the Second Prince, then your entire family will be exterminated."
Yinreng was starting to panic.
In the first few days, although Hongxi also had a fever and couldn't open his eyes, his mind was still clear, and he would occasionally make some complaints.
But he hasn't heard Hongxi complain in the last two days, as if he has really fallen asleep.
Yinreng even began to doubt whether Hongxi would leave.
"Father, will Hongxi just leave like this?"
Yinreng looked at Kangxi with bloodshot eyes, which made the other man's heart tremble.
"Baocheng..." Kangxi had a thousand words to say, but he felt so pale and powerless in the face of the facts.
"I'm going to find a master! I'm going to find a master!"
After saying this, Kangxi quickly left Yuqing Palace and headed straight for Shou Kang Palace.
Only Yuqing Palace knew about Hongxi's smallpox; the rest of the palace was unaware of it.
When the Empress Dowager heard that Hongxi's condition was so dangerous, she was stunned and hurriedly summoned Sumalagu to discuss the matter.
In the end, it was Sumalagu who decided to invite the abbot of Fahua Temple, the monk who had passed away, to interpret Hongxi's fate. Although Kangxi did not believe in gods and Buddhas, he knew that this person was the master that Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang trusted the most during her lifetime.
So they sent Liang Jiugong with men to bring the deceased monk over immediately.
When Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang was alive, the monk Yuanji also visited the palace. Each time, he was politely welcomed in by Zhao Lihe, and it would not be surprising if he were treated as a supreme guest.
But now, Emperor Kangxi actually issued an imperial edict ordering him to enter the palace, without even giving him a chance to say any polite words. Liang Jiugong dragged him straight into the palace.
When I entered the side hall of Yuqing Palace, my cassock almost fell to the ground.
"Amitabha Buddha, this humble monk..."
"Stop talking nonsense," Kangxi interrupted directly.
The monk who had passed away shut up.
"You must already know about the Second Prince's situation. Now tell me what to do," Kangxi said, glaring at him intently.
The monk Yuanji recalled the servants who had just abducted him into the palace... no, invited him into the palace, and the layers upon layers of armed guards at the gate. He was a little scared.
But he was a man of the world, and after walking over to Hongxi and examining him carefully, and asking for his birth date and time, he suddenly understood.
After a deep sigh, he said, "He was not born of this world, yet his story unfolds in this world."
Kangxi frowned. "Tell me the solution."
The monk sighed, "The Second Prince's fate is too strange. If we want to keep him in this world, then we should change his fate."
Kangxi scoffed at this, but Yinreng believed it wholeheartedly.
"Alright, just tell me what you need to do." After saying that, Yinreng glanced at He Yuzhu, who was waiting to the side, and said, "Cooperate fully with this master."
Liang Jiugong glanced at Kangxi, and seeing that the other party nodded, he followed the monk Yuanji and He Yuzhu out.
He Yuzhu could manage all matters, big and small, in Yuqing Palace, but Liang Jiugong could manage the entire palace.
"If you need anything, Master, please just let me know. But one thing is certain: you must cure the Second Prince."
Liang Jiugong bowed to the monk Yuanji, who didn't waste any words and immediately told him what he needed. Liang Jiugong and He Yuzhu then prepared separately.
At the same time, the Empress Dowager arrived with Sumalagu, and Consort Yi and others also arrived.
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