"Princess, the Princess Consort is truly gravely ill..." Upon reaching the main courtyard gate, Qingxue continued to urge Qian Shengyan, "Even if you don't think of yourself, you must consider the Fourth Prince's well-being..."
"Don't worry, the Princess Consort won't see me." Qian Shengyan pursed her lips. "It's just that Fifth Prince... perhaps mothers are all soft-hearted, so I just wanted to come and see him."
Seeing that Lvyun had already knocked on the door, Qingxue had nothing to say and could only sigh, doing her best to stay by Qian Shengyan's side.
Sure enough, they entered the door, but the Princess Consort was nowhere to be seen. Qian Shengyan hesitated before offering a purse and a peace knot, saying, "Since the day I gave birth, this servant has not seen the Fifth Prince... I wonder how the Fifth Prince is doing now?"
"The Fifth Prince is doing well, thank you for your concern, Princess Qian," said Granny Wu with a smile. She looked at Qian Shengyan's expression, understanding something yet not quite grasping it. "Does Princess Qian wish to see the Fifth Prince?"
Qian Shengyan bit her lip, unsure of what to say, but still said, "I heard that the Fifth Prince was ill, and I'm really worried..."
Qingxue took out the prepared items at the right time: "These are the clothes that the Fourth Prince wore when he was a child. They have all been washed clean. Please take a look, Granny."
Granny Wu probably couldn't understand why Qian Shengyan was worried about the Fifth Prince, but the Fourth Prince was fair-skinned and chubby with excellent health. Apart from the time he was harmed by Geng Shi, he had never been sick again. Things used by such a child would naturally be good for an infant.
She accepted the soft, clean clothes and thanked them with a smile. Just then, the wet nurse next to the Fifth Prince rushed over and said that the Fifth Prince had vomited milk again.
Granny Wu's expression changed, and she started walking towards the east wing. Qian Shengyan followed without hesitation.
But when she saw the Fifth Prince, Qian Shengyan couldn't help but cover her mouth.
She was so small and thin, her eyes were swollen into slits, her face was yellowish, as if the jaundice hadn't faded yet, her neck looked thin, but her head was swollen to an unusually large size...
Even if Yuan Shou could only drink goat's milk while running around with his mother for two months after birth, he was still not like the Fifth Prince!
Qian Shengyan and Qingxue dared not say anything more, and hurriedly delivered the things and went back. After entering Dongyou Courtyard, Qian Shengyan did not have time to change her clothes. She first glanced at Yuan Shou, who was laughing and making a ruckus, through the window before she felt her heart, which was beating like a drum, calm down a little.
After returning home, changing her clothes, and washing her hands and face, Qian Shengyan was helped by Qingxue to sit on the low couch by the bed. Both mistress and servant had things to say, but didn't know what to say. After a moment, Qingxue sighed first, "What a tragedy..."
"Fifth Prince..." Qian Shengyan twisted her hands together, wanting to intervene but unsure how. She was very hesitant; getting involved in this matter would bring her no reward if she did it well, but would also be a huge mistake if she did it poorly.
But children are always innocent.
Qian Shengyan sighed deeply and decided to leave the matter to that scoundrel.
It wasn't that she was telling Yinzhen to handle it himself, but rather... if that scoundrel came today, she would mention the Fifth Prince; if he didn't come, then there was nothing she could do.
Given her status, if she were to interfere with the Fifth Prince, she would likely incur the wrath of both the Princess Consort and Lady Geng.
With something on her mind, Qian Shengyan was somewhat absent-minded while playing with Yuan Shou that day. When feeding her complementary food, she even fed her with an empty spoon twice, which made Yuan Shou angry and kick his legs. Then, her chubby little hand slapped her wrist, making her jump.
The blow wasn't heavy, but it made a loud noise. The wet nurses were all laughing, and some even praised Yuan Shou for his strength. Qian Shengyan felt comforted looking at her chubby son, but she also wanted to save that child even more.
After finally getting to nightfall and putting Yuan Shou to sleep, Qian Shengyan still didn't return to her room. She initially waited in the main hall, but later, unable to wait any longer, she stood in the corridor. Before long, Xiao Shunzi, who was guarding the courtyard gate, ran over and bowed, saying, "Princess, the Prince went to the main courtyard after returning, and was with Physician Li."
"Imperial Physician Li is here?" Qian Shengyan felt relieved. She realized that her shallow knowledge was no match for that of an imperial physician, so she didn't meddle any further. Seeing that it was already late, she prepared to leave.
In the main courtyard, Yinzhen sat on a chair in the outer room of the west hall, listening to the cat-like weeping sounds coming from inside, feeling extremely irritated. Just then, someone sneaked in furtively from the doorway. The person looked familiar, but he couldn't recall their name, so he angrily demanded, "What are you doing!"
"Oh dear, the master is asking you! What have you been doing?" Su Peisheng frantically tried to signal with his eyes.
Zhang Defu knelt down abruptly, crawled a few steps closer to Yinzhen, kowtowed, and then cautiously said, "Your Majesty, when I came over just now, this servant felt someone following me..."
"Who?" Yinzhen frowned.
Zhang Defu looked at Su Peisheng for help, but Su Peisheng didn't look at him. He could only kowtow again: "It's...it's Xiao Shunzi from Dongyou Courtyard..."
Dongyou Academy? Qian Shengyan's people?
Yinzhen instinctively felt it wasn't a bad thing, so he glanced at Zhang Defu, who said with a bitter face, "This servant was just about to ask him what happened, but that boy... when he saw Master leave the garden, he... he ran back..."
The path to the main courtyard is different from the other courtyards; it leads straight north after leaving the garden.
Seeing that he had arrived at the main courtyard, they went back.
Was it to find out his whereabouts, or was there something she wanted to tell him?
Yinzhen wasn't angry. Qian Shengyan had never done anything against the rules, and she would never intercept someone halfway to her room—she would probably be happier if he didn't go over, as she could sleep with her son.
Thinking of Qian Shengyan and Yuan Shou, Yinzhen's agitation subsided somewhat. He gestured for Zhang Defu to stand up, then closed his eyes, sat down in a chair, and picked up his prayer beads, patiently awaiting the diagnosis from Physician Li.
Zhang Defu had narrowly escaped death. He didn't dare wipe the sweat dripping from his forehead. He simply turned over and stood next to Su Peisheng.
Su Peisheng couldn't help but feel surprised, and even wanted to kick the kid. What incredible luck! He hadn't even done his job properly and had angered the prince, but because it was found that he was from Dongyou Academy, the prince didn't hold it against him.
Su Peisheng pondered this in secret, while simultaneously increasing his respect for Dongyou Academy.
After examining the prince for a long time, Physician Li cautiously came out to report. He said a lot, but it boiled down to two points: the Fifth Prince was weak from birth and had poor health, and this illness was quite serious, damaging his health.
Yinzhen paused in his hand, which was holding a string of beads: "Do you need medicine?"
"This..." Physician Li shook his head at first, but he did prescribe some medicine for the wet nurse and emphasized that the Fifth Prince needed to take good care of himself, that he should not get cold, and that he should not get sick again.
Yinzhen closed his eyes, personally saw the imperial physician Li out, and when he returned, he glanced at the sleeping Fifth Prince, feeling anxious no matter how he looked at him.
Wu Mama, sent by the Fujin to drive people away, stood before Yinzhen, meek and submissive, not daring to speak. Yinzhen glanced at her and immediately understood the Fujin's meaning, and couldn't help but sneer, "So, this time do you want me to go to Linglong Pavilion or Chunyang Garden?"
"The Princess Consort said that the weather is getting colder, and since the Fourth Prince is still young, she asks Your Highness to take good care of him," Wu Mama stammered.
Yinzhen raised an eyebrow slightly.
Did the Fujin actually push Qian Shengyan forward?
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