Chapter 170 The Powerful Minister Returns to His Youth 24.
"What? The young princess and the young prince are both sick?"
As soon as Yu Shiqing entered the villa, he heard some unexpected news.
“Yes,” said the chief eunuch beside Prince Yong, his brow furrowed with worry, “just last night, he suddenly fell ill and developed a fever. The accompanying imperial physicians examined him and said it was probably due to the sudden drop in temperature, causing him to catch a cold. Poor young masters, suffering like this, may Heaven protect them and grant them a speedy recovery…”
Yu Shiqing frowned slightly, vaguely sensing that something was amiss.
Although many things can no longer be judged by the standards of the previous life after being reborn, it is too much of a coincidence that Ye Zhixia and Ye Hanzhang both caught a cold overnight.
Huai'an is located in Jiangnan, and even during the Great Snow solar term in winter, there is no need to wear fur coats. Although there was wind last night, it was by no means particularly cold.
"The imperial physicians have all examined him, so what about the renowned physician who was invited to treat the prince's headache?" Yu Shiqing asked.
Something happened in the villa, and it was related to the illness. Yu Shiqing immediately suspected the doctor who was suspected of curing headaches and was a member of the rebel party of the empress.
However, even if it were the Empress Dowager's faction, their current goal should be to cooperate with or sow discord between Prince Yong. Why would they suddenly target the young princess and the young prince? Unless…
“I haven’t seen him,” the head eunuch replied. “The prince went out these past two days and took Doctor Rong with him. He’s not in the other courtyard right now.”
Yu Shiqing paused, remained silent for a moment, and then said, "Since the young princess and the young prince are ill and unable to get up, then today's lesson will be canceled and will be postponed for another time. However, I am also worried about the health of the two students. Since I am here today, I wonder if I may go and visit them?"
"This..." The chief eunuch hesitated.
Yu Shiqing cupped his hands in greeting: "I would be grateful if you could inquire with the Princess Consort, Your Excellency."
The head eunuch glanced at Yu Shiqing, thought of the attitudes of the masters in the mansion towards him, nodded slightly, and turned to leave.
Fifteen minutes later.
Yu Shiqing was led into the courtyard.
"Mr. Yu, I apologize for the neglect." Princess Yong greeted him, her face pale, her eyes bloodshot, and her body reeking of medicine, as if she hadn't slept all night.
"I dare not accept this, Your Highness has worked hard." Yu Shiqing bowed.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Princess Yong then had someone take Yu Shiqing to visit the two young masters, while she herself left the courtyard to avoid suspicion.
Ye Zhixia and Ye Hanzhang's courtyards were next to each other. Yu Shiqing, led by the chief eunuch, went to see Ye Zhixia first.
The young princess, whose childhood name was Afu, was curled up in a ball, lying in the brocade quilt. Her face was red and swollen, her lips were pale, and she was in a deep sleep, completely unaware of Yu Shiqing's arrival.
Yu Shiqing gently called her name twice, but when she did not wake up, he stopped talking and just looked around the room.
When Ye Zhixia arrived, the young prince was awake, but his complexion looked even worse than Afu's, and he was emaciated.
Yu Shiqing's heart sank.
Given their appearance, it's no wonder Princess Yong looked so distressed. A simple cold can be fatal even to adults with weaker constitutions, let alone toddlers who haven't yet grown up.
“Sir… please forgive me for not being able to rise and bow,” Ye Hanzhang said with difficulty, his dry lips parted and his voice barely audible. “A few days ago, Afu said that the sir’s delayed arrival meant he was going to change his mind.”
Yu Shiqing sighed inwardly and softened his voice: "The calligraphy and painting tutors of the Prince's mansion are, in a way, officials who receive the emperor's salary. Naturally, they should share the emperor's burdens. How could they not come? Besides, the little princess and the little prince are so clever and adorable. Who could be heartless and abandon them without teaching them?"
The young boy was panting heavily and about to speak again when Yu Shiqing immediately stopped him: "Your Highness, there's no need to waste your breath. I just heard that the Princess and Your Highness are ill, so I came to check on them. I have nothing else to say, so I'll be leaving right away."
With the two children in this state, he was truly heartless and unable to continue testing them; he could only wait.
Yu Shiqing calmed down and stopped asking for more, but Ye Hanzhang suddenly shook his head, raised his hand forcefully, and grabbed Yu Shiqing's sleeve: "No, sir, don't go, it's me... I have something to ask you!"
Yu Shiqing was taken aback, and then immediately looked to the side.
Two eunuchs who were serving in the inner room rushed over to help Ye Hanzhang.
But the young prince, with a sudden burst of strength, shoved the two away and gasped, "Go outside and stand guard. Don't come in without my orders!"
Although he was young, he was the next master of the Prince's mansion and naturally held prestige. The two eunuchs did not resist, but only glanced at Yu Shiqing, saying, "Please take good care of him, Mr. Yu."
“Of course,” Yu Shiqing replied.
Everyone else had retreated to the outer room. Ye Hanzhang gripped Yu Shiqing's sleeve even tighter, so tightly it almost turned blue: "Sir, no... Afu and I didn't catch a cold. I went out yesterday, but Afu didn't sleep well the night before and stayed in the courtyard the whole time. He didn't even step out of the courtyard gate. How could he have caught a cold? With just a little bit of wind in the courtyard?"
The young boy's voice was childish and weak, but his tone was calm and firm: "Sir, this cold is not right. It must be caused by a villain. Please save us and catch him!"
Yu Shiqing frowned, not expecting Ye Hanzhang to say such a thing to him.
"Why don't you say these words to the Princess and the Sixth Prince? Although the Prince is not here, if there is a real problem, they can definitely handle it. They are much better than an outsider like me who has no power or influence."
Ye Hanzhang slightly widened his bloodshot eyes: "Mother knows and is investigating, but... half a day has passed and there is still nothing. This must be unusual. As for the young imperial uncle, he is not in the other courtyard and has not returned for several days. Mother said he was visiting friends outside."
“The Prince Yong’s mansion has many talented people, but none of them are of any use. I know that Mr. Yu is extraordinary, so I beg you to lend a hand…”
Did Ye Zangxing not return to the villa last night?
Yu Shiqing's mind raced slightly. After a moment of silence, he asked, "Is the young master truly sincere in asking for my help?"
“Of course!” Ye Hanzhang replied.
“If that’s the case, then Your Highness should tell me the truth,” Yu Shiqing said, looking at the sickly-looking boy. “Winter is here, and the weather is cold. Children and teenagers are weak and can easily catch a cold. Your Highness is so sure that the little princess couldn’t have caught a cold just because she didn’t go out, and you even said it was caused by thieves. That’s really unfounded.”
"How can the young master know that the little princess didn't catch a cold because the window wasn't closed properly and she was exposed to the wind, or because she was playing and sweating and got chilled?"
Ye Hanzhang's expression hardened slightly.
“Your Highness is not a fool; you must know something to speak so confidently,” Yu Shiqing said calmly. “If you want me to find the problem, please tell me the truth.”
Ye Hanzhang was still young and couldn't hide his feelings; a slight movement of his eyes revealed his emotions.
“I didn’t mean to hide it from you, sir, but…” Ye Hanzhang’s lips trembled, and after a moment of hesitation, he finally uttered the words, “I can’t tell the truth about this matter either.”
"What is it?" Yu Shiqing's heart skipped a beat, and he vaguely sensed something was wrong.
“It’s Afu,” Ye Hanzhang said. “A few days ago, she often said that she dreamed at night that there was a dark figure in front of her bed. It was dark and tall, and it was neither a nanny nor a maid.”
"Father and Mother, along with their guards, kept watch all night long, but they saw nothing... The imperial physician came and said it was a nightmare, and prescribed some calming medicine. After taking the medicine, Afu stopped saying those things, but last night he suddenly developed a high fever."
"I went to see her, and not long after I came back, I also developed a fever, and it seemed even worse..."
Yu Shiqing frowned slightly. Why would such a strange thing happen out of the blue?
"During the days when the young princess had nightmares, when she went to see a doctor and took medicine, was the physician Rong who was invited involved?" Yu Shiqing asked.
“No,” Ye Hanzhang shook his head. He seemed to know what Yu Shiqing was suspicious of. “My mother said that Doctor Rong is a master at treating headaches, but he may not be proficient in treating common ailments, so she didn’t ask him to come here… He lives in the small herb garden and rarely comes here.”
"Furthermore, he has no reason..."
Yu Shiqing didn't say much about it, but looked at Ye Hanzhang and said gently, "Your Highness, please rest assured. I will investigate this matter carefully."
Ye Hanzhang's expression relaxed, and he showed a relieved look.
Yu Shiqing stood up, took a couple of steps, then suddenly stopped, turned back and said, "Your Highness, is asking for my help because you're desperate, or... do you think I really have some skills?"
Ye Hanzhang was caught off guard and subconsciously revealed his expression.
Yu Shiqing glanced at Ye Hanzhang, smiled before Ye Hanzhang could answer, and walked away.
Ye Hanzhang stared blankly at the bed curtains, drenched in cold sweat. He didn't know if he had done the right thing or the wrong thing. He only hoped that Mr. Yu, whom Afu was calling out to in his heart while he was in a coma with a high fever, could solve the mystery.
"...Someone come here!"
After a moment of contemplation, Ye Hanzhang called out to someone.
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"
Upon hearing the sound, the eunuch in the outer room immediately rushed in.
“Go,” Ye Hanzhang said. “Have someone follow Mr. Yu. He needs to investigate at the villa. He might go to places like the pharmacy or the kitchen. Although Mother Consort would probably allow it, it would be quite inconvenient. You can help him out and report back immediately if anything happens.”
"yes!"
The young eunuch accepted the order and left.
Ye Hanzhang breathed a sigh of relief, then collapsed back into the quilt, extremely weak. He closed his eyes and tried to calm his breathing, relieving the dizziness and vertigo caused by lack of energy and illness.
However, before he could truly recover, the little eunuch who had run away quickly returned.
"Your Highness, that...that Mr. Yu has left..."
Ye Hanzhang said, "I know he's gone, he..."
"No, Your Highness," the little eunuch frowned, "He's gone... he left the courtyard. He didn't go to the pharmacy or the kitchen, he didn't investigate anything, and he just took his leave!"
"What?"
Ye Hanzhang suddenly opened his eyes.
In an instant, a flurry of emotions flashed across Ye Hanzhang's eyes, finally settling on a look of regret. "Yes, he's only seven years older than me... I was really delirious from my illness, and I was really fooled by him, by Afu's constant calling me 'Mr. Yu,' and I actually believed it..."
"Or perhaps it's him... no, it's... the young imperial uncle?"
Before he could think any further, the young boy, who had been overthinking, felt dizzy and his eyelids drooped heavily.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com