That evening, Yuan Shou developed a fever due to indigestion.
After the maidservant announced their arrival, Yinzhen and Qian Shengyan, who were staying at Peach Blossom Village, hurriedly got up, put on their clothes, and went to the next room to see Yuanshou.
The little chubby boy's belly was bulging, clearly indicating indigestion. His round little face was covered in tears, and when he saw Qian Shengyan, he cried and called for his mother, which broke Qian Shengyan's heart.
Holding Yuan Shou, she looked up at Yinzhen expectantly: "Your Highness..."
Yinzhen's face showed some self-blame and guilt, but when he opened his mouth, he couldn't say anything.
However, because of the Geng family's matter, Doctor Zhou just returned to the Prince's Mansion yesterday, and now the Yuanmingyuan Garden doesn't even have a doctor on hand.
It just so happens today.
The servants in the room were at a loss. Although Yinzhen had some prepared medicine pills, they were all for adults and they dared not give them to Yuanshou.
Qian Shengyan knew that saying anything in the middle of the night was useless. She bit her lip and instructed, "Qingxue, go to the kitchen and see if there are any hawthorns and apples left. Core the apples and boil them together with the hawthorns and rock sugar into a thick juice."
"Yes!" Qingxue accepted the order and hurriedly left.
Seeing Qian Shengyan holding the chubby boy and gently rubbing his belly with one hand, Yinzhen sat down and raised his hand to cover Yuanshou's belly: "I will rub it for him."
"Master!" Qian Shengyan was genuinely surprised; this master didn't seem like the type to do these kinds of things.
But Yinzhen gently pushed her hand away and started rubbing it in circles, just like she had done.
His hands were bigger and warmer, and they made Yuan Shou feel more comfortable. The little fat boy hugged Yinzhen's arm with his two chubby paws, humming and calling out "Father," and even gave him a sweet smile with tears in his eyes.
Yinzhen's expression grew increasingly serious, and the hand rubbing his stomach applied even more pressure. A moment later, Qian Shengyan saw Yuanshou kicking his legs. Just as she sensed something was wrong, she heard the chubby boy let out a long, curved fart...
She was startled, and Yinzhen was also taken aback. Yuanshou, however, felt much more comfortable in his stomach and started kicking his legs and laughing loudly. He seemed to find it quite amusing, and he even managed to fart twice more, then laughed even louder.
Qian Shengyan: ...
To be honest, she was wearing a thin nightgown and could feel the hot breath coming out of the chubby boy's mouth just now...
This outfit is unacceptable...
Yinzhen finally realized what was happening, and with a mix of amusement and curiosity, he patted Yuanshou's little bottom: "You're so naughty."
"That's great, Fourth Prince's stomach will feel a bit better now." Granny Yuan happily clasped her hands together in prayer, but then, seemingly unable to contain herself, she said to Qian Shengyan with a hint of reproach, "My lady, Fourth Prince is still young; less food is a blessing..."
“Granny is right, it was my oversight.” Qian Shengyan knew that Granny Yuan truly loved Yuan Shou, so she was not angry.
Yinzhen felt a little embarrassed. Yuanshou's unexpected misfortune was entirely due to him feeding him an extra bowl of fish and meat, but Qian Shengyan never gave him a single resentful look, and even accepted all the nanny's complaints.
He glanced at Qian Shengyan and saw that she was also looking at him.
Seeing Yinzhen looking over, Qian Shengyan smiled and said, "Your Highness, Yuanshou is fine now. He can drink some hawthorn water to aid digestion later, and we'll have a doctor come to check on him again tomorrow morning."
"Hmm," Yinzhen responded softly.
"You should go to sleep first, Your Highness," Qian Shengyan said with a smile. "I have nothing to do during the day and can catch up on sleep, but Your Highness is very busy."
"It's alright." Yinzhen looked at Qian Shengyan, who was wearing a light purple nightgown, sitting there in a small frame, holding his big, chubby son in her arms, and showing concern for him.
His Adam's apple bobbed twice, and he suddenly blurted out, "You're too skinny. Yuan Shou's arms are thicker than yours."
"?" Qian Shengyan looked down in surprise for a moment, then looked up, both amused and exasperated, and said, "Master is teasing me again. No way, Yuan Shou is only a few years old..."
Yinzhen laughed along with her. He slowly took Qian Shengyan's hand and together they carried Yuanshou's soft, chubby little body.
He didn't want to repeat himself, but he really, really wanted her to have more sons.
After drinking the hawthorn water, Yuan Shou's fever gradually subsided, and he quickly fell asleep.
Qian Shengyan told Granny Yuan that she didn't need to keep watch over him all the time, and that she should take a nap if she wanted. Granny Yuan just casually agreed, but she was already holding a cool, soft cloth and gently wiping Yuan Shou's forehead.
Qian Shengyan didn't try to persuade him further; if she didn't sleep, Yinzhen also refused to go to sleep. She didn't want to keep him occupied for too long, and after confirming that Yuanshou was alright, they returned to their bedchamber together.
...Then, surprisingly, Yinzhen wasn't sleepy at all and even dragged her out for some exercise.
Qian Shengyan almost couldn't get up when the doctor came in the morning.
Yuan Shou was generally healthy, and any minor ailment he had quickly healed. However, probably because he ate too much fish that time, the child stopped liking to eat fish afterward.
Each time Yinzhen saw him, he would only sigh a few times and no longer force him not to be picky about food.
The fifth day of the fifth lunar month arrived quickly. The Dragon Boat Festival was very lively, but Yinzhen did not take Qian Shengyan and Yuanshou back to the palace. Instead, he summoned Hongshi, who was studying diligently in the depths of the cave, and set up a banquet on a boat on the back lake.
After being severely disciplined for half a year, Hongshi has changed quite a bit. His chubby cheeks have gradually thinned out, and he now knows to greet Qian Shengyan as "Empress Qian" when he sees her.
only……
Children are children after all; they can't hide their emotions. The contempt and hatred in their eyes were impossible to conceal.
Qian Shengyan had no intention of arguing with him. She told him to get up and tied a colorful rope around his neck before telling him to sit down and eat the zongzi.
Yuan Shou tilted his head and looked at his older brother, seemingly recognizing him yet not recognizing him. After looking at him for a long time, he ran up to Yin Zhen and climbed onto Yin Zhen's knees. He whispered in Yin Zhen's ear, "Father, he is also, Father."
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