Just as Yi Hua was showing her claws to the little wolf, everyone was worried about the child.
Yuqing Palace
Niohuru looked at the imperial physician with a face full of horror, her voice shrill an octave higher: "What did you say?!"
The imperial physician, steeling himself, continued, "Judging from your condition, your constitution is weak. Forcing conception will inevitably have a backlash on the mother's body. You must take the medicine to prevent miscarriage every day. If you still experience spotting, you will need to use moxibustion to prevent miscarriage."
Empress Niohuru could not accept that she was carrying an unhealthy child. Her son, Hongli, was a famously "perfect" old man who would continue his longevity genes and live to be eighty or ninety years old without any problem.
The imperial physician found the Crown Prince's concubine, Lin Gege, to be terrifying. Observing her pulse, her entire body seemed to have been hollowed out, and she was extremely weak. He wondered what secret method she had used to conceive the child, and if things continued like this, it was highly likely that the child would not be able to be born.
It turns out that although Lady Niohuru had a miraculous encounter, after the elixir took effect, she appeared no different from an ordinary person. In reality, she needed to replenish her nutrition and recuperate properly. During that time, she hid among beggars and lived a precarious existence for a while. It was fortunate that it was a miraculous medicine; otherwise, she would have collapsed long ago.
The Crown Prince was not particularly concerned about this matter. He already had a legitimate son and a grown-up eldest son born of a concubine, so he didn't care about the one in Niohuru's belly at all.
He gave her the child as promised; whether she can give birth to it is up to her.
Tong Guining was teaching Hongzhao his first lessons. She patiently recited the Three Character Classic over and over again, while little Hongzhao sat on the bed playing with a puzzle, seemingly oblivious to whether he was listening or not.
"Your Majesty, things seem to be going badly over there," a palace maid reported upon receiving the message.
“The Lin family is the Crown Prince’s favorite. We don’t need to keep an eye on them. We know nothing about them.” Tong Guining stopped, and Hongzhao opened his big eyes and stared at his mother, as if asking why she had stopped reading.
Some of the palace maids felt sorry for Tong Guining: "Your Highness, you are the principal wife and have a young prince. If Lin Shi is so unruly, you should teach her a lesson, otherwise she will become even more arrogant."
Tong Guining ignored her and continued reading to Hongzhao for a while. When she felt her mouth was dry, she moistened her throat and then called over the head eunuch: "Keke, who serves me, is not very clean. I gave her a chance to correct her ways, but unfortunately, old habits die hard. According to palace rules, she should be expelled. However, considering that she has served me, I will let bygones be bygones and send her to the laundry department. Keep an eye on her and make sure she is not bullied to death."
"This servant obeys."
Tong Guining smiled as she looked at the healthy and lively Hongzhao. She would do anything as long as her child could grow up safely!
******
The Eighth Prince's Residence
Hongwang, who is usually well-behaved and adorable, suddenly started a hunger strike. It is a big deal that the only son in the family is not eating.
Guo Luoluo hurriedly came over and asked, "Hongwang, tell your mother, is the food unpalatable?"
Hongwang blinked his big eyes, looking very aggrieved. He wanted to rush into his mother's arms and kiss her, but he held back. "Mother, I heard that my biological mother died. Is it true?"
Upon hearing this, Guo Luoluo's eyes widened, and she glared fiercely at the servants in Hongwang's room. Then she looked at Hongwang gently and said, "I am your biological mother. If Hongwang continues to talk nonsense like this, your mother will be heartbroken."
Seeing that Guo Luoluo's eyes were red, Hongwang disregarded his grievances and quickly grabbed her hand: "Mother, did the wet nurse lie to Hongwang?"
“If anyone says anything similar to you again, come directly to your mother or your father. You may not believe your mother, but you should believe your father!” Guo Luoluo coaxed and cajoled Hongwang into submission.
Hongwang had been fasting for most of the day and was indeed hungry. He couldn't resist the temptation of the delicious food and ate quite a bit with Guoluo's company. Afterwards, he fell asleep, exhausted.
"Where's the wet nurse? Let her come with me." Guo Luoluo gave Hongwang's servants a warning look and then took her wet nurse away.
This wet nurse was actually chosen by the Eighth Prince's wife herself from the Prince's residence, but unexpectedly, she was pecked in the eye by an eagle.
"Tell me, who instructed you to sow discord between my son and me!"
"I'm innocent! The eldest prince was asleep, and I was just chatting with the people in the courtyard. In the heat of the moment, I let slip half of what I was saying, and who would have thought that the eldest prince would hear me!"
"My lady, it must be that little vixen Grape who has ill intentions; she's the one who instigated it!"
Knowing the Eighth Prince's wife's methods, the wet nurse grasped at a straw.
Just as the Eighth Prince's wife ordered the arrest, Grape had already hanged herself in her room.
Looking at the already dead corpse, the Eighth Princess Consort suddenly felt that something in the manor had gotten out of her control. There must be someone behind Grape. Who could it be?
When Hongwang woke up, he found that his wet nurse and Grape Sister were no longer there. This time, he didn't cry or make a fuss, but calmly accepted it.
It wasn't that he suddenly grew up, but that he found a note next to his pillow.
Although Hongwang is only in the early stages of learning, he can still understand a few familiar characters.
"Watch out for your mother!"
******
Prince Cheng's Mansion
"Your Highness, the First Prince did not return yesterday. The Prince said that you must keep an eye on him and interrogate him when he returns."
Upon hearing the servant's report, Dong Eshi's good mood from the morning was completely ruined.
This father and son must have been enemies in a past life, they argue all the time, and even when they don't see each other, they can still get into a fight.
"Where did the eldest prince go?" This wasn't the first time Hongqing had stayed out all night; as his mother, she couldn't control him anymore.
"After much questioning, the servants around the eldest prince finally said that it seemed he had gone to a newly opened theater."
"The theater!" Dong Eshi was furious when she heard those two words. "At such a young age, he has learned all of his father's bad habits perfectly, but thankfully he doesn't learn any of them. What a rebellious son!"
"Go, bring him back to me," Dong Eshi ordered. In fact, the guards in the manor were familiar with this matter; they already knew the young master from the places he frequented.
While Dong Eshi was still angry, she saw Hongsheng peeking in at the door. She waved to her second son and said, "Why are you here? Shouldn't you be studying at this hour?"
"The master is very happy today and has given his son half a day off." Hongsheng moved closer to Dong Eshi, "Mother, you mustn't frown, or you won't look pretty."
Lady Dong'e was amused by his words: "If I were to become any more beautiful at my age, I would be considered a demon."
Hongsheng shook his head in disapproval: "Mother is the most beautiful in my heart."
"But did my eldest brother make Mother angry again?"
Dong E sighed with some worry: "I don't know what's wrong with your eldest brother, he always has to go against your father. Is studying really that difficult?"
Hongsheng rubbed her temples and said, "Your elder brother is intelligent and has been guided by a famous teacher in the palace, so Mother, don't worry."
"If your elder brother were half as well-behaved as you, your mother would be content," Dong Eshi sighed sincerely.
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