"Your Highness!" The maid was startled. "Your Highness, what's wrong?"
Song Tangli feigned weakness and lightly touched her forehead, managing to break out a few drops of cold sweat.
"My stomach is a little uncomfortable, quickly summon the imperial physician!"
And so, all the imperial physicians in the mansion were summoned to the Crown Princess's bedchamber, while Song Tangxue was left unattended. Cuixi was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. She couldn't trust any of the doctors outside, so what else could she do?
Cui Xi suddenly thought of someone, her eyes brightening slightly: "Your Majesty, this servant will go and return quickly, and will definitely bring back the imperial physician to examine you."
......
She lost track of time; all she could see was darkness. Song Tangxue tried to move her fingers, but she couldn't muster any strength.
Before him was a blur of dim light and shadows. After a long while, his strength gradually returned.
It was completely dark outside the window. Why hadn't Cuixi returned after so long?
"Tang Xue!" Song Tang Xue seemed to hear Xie Qianzhong's voice. She shook her head, realizing she was becoming increasingly disoriented. He should be in her own residence; how could he be here? Then the voice rang out again, "Tang Xue..."
The voice was clearly coming from beside me; it couldn't be my imagination.
Song Tangxue opened her eyes groggily and indeed saw Xie Qianzhong.
He was dressed in a crimson court robe, the chill on his face still lingering, and an old imperial physician followed behind him.
"Tang Xue, you're finally awake."
Song Tangxue was helped up, and Xie Qianzhong handed her a cup of tea.
The hot tea warmed my body, and my mind cleared up considerably.
"Your Excellency, what are you doing here?"
Xie Qianzhong was still wearing his official robes. Upon learning about Song Tangxue's situation, he hurried along, losing his usual composure.
Upon arriving at the palace gate today, I spotted Song Tangxue's personal maid, Cuixi, and a bad feeling welled up inside me. After carefully inquiring, I learned that something had indeed happened to Tangxue.
Xie Qianzhong felt extremely guilty. If he had been more careful yesterday, Tang Xue wouldn't have gotten sick. Seeing her like this now was heartbreaking.
"Your Excellency, the Crown Princess has caught a cold. She will recover after a few days of rest. If you wish for her to recover faster, you can simply obtain the medicine and prepare it according to this prescription." The imperial physician's words reassured Xie Qianzhong. He could hardly imagine what crazy things he would do if Tang Xue were to leave his side.
"I was unaware that the Left Prime Minister was here as a guest. I apologize for not welcoming you properly. But surely it's best that outsiders don't bother to see my Crown Princess?" A boastful voice came from outside the door. It was Li Zhaoxian.
He deliberately emphasized the word "outsider," revealing his sarcasm. Even Xie Qianzhong, with his good temper, was angered at this moment.
"The Crown Princess has been bedridden for several hours without anyone coming to treat her. I only brought a royal physician to take a look after hearing about this."
It seems that what Ali told me—that the Left Prime Minister and the Crown Princess had a close personal relationship—was true. She dared to visit him in the mansion, showing that she really didn't take him, the Crown Prince, seriously.
Today, I was simply kept a little longer by my father. After learning about this, I rushed over to see him. Why should I thank Qianzhong for his concern? If word gets out, wouldn't the entire Crown Prince's residence become a laughing stock?
"I appreciate your kindness, Prime Minister, but may we leave now? It's not good to have too many people outside the bedroom."
Xie Qianzhong bowed in acknowledgment, but the smile didn't reach his eyes: "I apologize for my rudeness, but the Crown Princess's illness..."
"Does the Left Prime Minister need me to spell it out any clearer?" Li Zhaoxian interrupted him impatiently. "Song Tangxue is my person, I don't need you to remind me! Left Prime Minister, don't forget, you are just a court official, while I am the Crown Prince. Your status is no match for mine."
He had served the emperor for many years before finally becoming the Left Prime Minister, but he knew he was still far from achieving his ambitions. He had never been in a hurry, but now he was somewhat annoyed. If he had more power, he wouldn't be looked down upon, and Song Tangxue wouldn't be bullied.
Xie Qianzhong suppressed all his emotions in the blink of an eye: "Your Highness is right. I am here on the Emperor's orders. The Emperor would not want to see the Crown Princess suffer any harm."
Xie Qianzhong gave a slight bow, and finally looked at Song Tangxue with a deep gaze: "Then I shall take my leave."
He was actually threatening me!
Li Zhaoxian stared at the direction he left with a gloomy expression. What did he think he was, daring to threaten him? He was just a commoner. He didn't know what his father had seen in him to promote him to the position of Left Chancellor, thinking that he could jump over his head.
Li Zhaoxian sat on the edge of the bed: "The Crown Princess is truly cunning, daring to collude even with former court officials. Do you know what crime this is?"
Even though she was dizzy, Song Tangxue refused to back down: "Your Highness is afraid of being disappointed. The Left Prime Minister said that he came on the Emperor's orders."
She's so stubborn. It's just a cold, nothing to be so uncomfortable. She's probably just putting on an act to impress Xie Qianzhong. And after learning that Ali was pregnant, she didn't visit her even once. Such a vicious woman should be ignored.
"I see you are doing well and should not need to take medicine. It is late at night, so please get some rest, Your Highness."
Li Zhaoxian flicked his sleeves and left. Song Tangxue finally collapsed onto the bed, unable to hold on any longer. Cuixi rushed over to her, crying.
"Your Highness is really going too far. You're in so much pain, how could you be faking it? If all else fails, I'll beg Your Highness to have the imperial physician prepare some herbal medicine!"
"Why are you crying?" Song Tangxue's voice was weak. "I'm fine, aren't I? You heard what the imperial physician said earlier. It's just a cold. I guess I'll be fine after a nap."
That being said, Song Tangxue's cold was more severe than others', and she was so unwell that she did not get better until the next day. Cuixi thought it best to ask His Highness the Crown Prince for help, but Li Zhaoxian was going to the morning court and would not be back for several hours.
Having exhausted all other options, Cui Xi went to Song Tangli and said, "Your Highness, the Crown Princess is your sister. You can't just stand by and watch her die!"
Cui Xi knelt down with a thud. A new face appeared among the guards beside Song Tangli, wearing a black veil and exuding a cold aura.
"Cuixi, get up quickly. I'm very worried about my sister catching a cold. I'll have the imperial physician go and take a look right away!" Song Tangli suddenly looked troubled. "But you know I'm pregnant and can't be without an imperial physician by my side. I'd better go outside the mansion to find one to take a look at your lady."
Her words were full of concern for Song Tangxue, but that was not the case. It would take quite a while to get from the mansion to the nearest clinic and back, and Cuixi was worried that Song Tangxue wouldn't be able to wait that long.
Don't underestimate the power of a cold; it can be fatal. The former empress died from a cold, so it's absolutely not something to be taken lightly.
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