Consort De paced back and forth with her hands behind her back, pondering the matter, but still felt something was amiss.
This is quite strange. How could a child the size of a carrot's head have arranged all of this?
Consort De couldn't understand it no matter how she thought about it. It seemed unlikely that it was just a coincidence, but it also seemed unreasonable that it was intentional.
"Chunhua, go and call the Third Prince in." Consort De rubbed her temples and sat down, leaning on a chair for support.
To find out what really happened, you'll have to ask your son.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Chunhua bowed and went outside to call for someone.
Yun Yishu was forced to kneel outside as punishment for not being able to recite the next line of "Who first saw the moon by the riverbank?" When he saw Chunhua come out to call him, he tried to stand up, but his legs were already numb.
"What are you all standing there for? Quickly help the Third Prince up!" Chunhua shouted at the palace maids and eunuchs standing outside.
The eunuchs and maids quickly lifted Yun Yishu to his side and, half-carried and half-dragged, carried him into the main hall.
"Alright, there's nothing more for you to do here. You may leave." Consort De waved her hand.
Seeing her son's face red from the cold, Consort De felt a pang of pity. However, she thought of how all the princes were learned and proficient in poetry, calligraphy, chess, and painting, while her own son was good at nothing but eating.
Besides kneeling as punishment and sighing, she couldn't think of any other good solutions.
[Useless! A grown son is no longer under his mother's control!]
"Who first saw the moon by the riverbank? In what year did the river moon first shine on man? Life goes on endlessly, generation after generation, but the river moon remains the same year after year." Consort De looked at Yun Yishu, who had a pained expression on his face.
Yun Yishu's legs were terribly numb, which was very uncomfortable. He hadn't eaten for a long time, and his head was feeling dizzy.
"How can you not memorize such a simple poem?" Consort De gritted her teeth and unsuccessfully poked Yun Yishu's forehead.
"Ah! Mother! Your son is just not cut out for this, why are you wasting your time?!" Yun Yishu said to Consort De, his tone very impatient.
"You've grown quite bold, haven't you? As you get older, you've started to talk back, haven't you?!"
"Your Majesty, please calm down. The Third Prince is still young," Chunhua comforted her from the side.
Consort De took a sip of hot tea and swallowed the mouthful of blood that was about to gush out of her chest.
"You'll drive your mother to her death sooner or later."
"What are you saying, Mother?" Yun Yishu muttered softly.
Consort De glanced at Chunhua, who, with great tact, dismissed the palace maids in the bedroom and went out herself, closing the doors and windows.
Only Consort De and Yun Yishu remained in the main hall.
"Shu'er, your mother is asking you a question, and you must answer honestly."
Seeing his mother's expression suddenly turn serious, Yun Yishu's heart tightened for no reason.
"On the day of your younger sister's first birthday banquet, did you have any contact with Consort Nan?" Consort De grasped Yun Yishu's hand.
"A first birthday banquet? Mother, that was so long ago! How could I possibly remember?!" Yun Yishu frowned, not understanding why his mother had suddenly asked such a question.
"Think about it carefully!" Consort De pinched Yun Yishu's arm.
"Ouch! That hurts!"
"This is extremely important!"
"Son, think back. I remember there was green leaf cake in my sister's palace that day, so I went there." Yun Yishu's gaze was somewhat unfocused as he tried his best to recall the events of that day.
When I arrived, the concubines and guests who had visited the imperial sister's palace were just walking out.
"Well, later..." Yun Yishu scratched his head.
"Later, it seems, oh right, Consort Nan somehow came back and sat next to me. She and my sister were chatting away, but I didn't pay attention. Oh dear, Mother, it's been too long, I can't remember!" Yun Yishu slumped in his chair, not wanting to rack his brains anymore.
A hint of surprise flashed across Consort De's face. [Sure enough, Shu'er was led to Fu Shuang Palace. Consort Nan left and then returned; it seems this was all pre-arranged.]
[Nanfei was a princess of the Hongxiu Kingdom who was married off to the Northern Liang. The medical clan of the Hongxiu Kingdom is most skilled in using and curing Gu poison. Presumably, just one glance at the book would be enough to understand what's going on.]
[Yun Duoduo is quite a strange girl. How did she discover that Shu'er had been bewitched?]
However, since she treats her son like her own brother, she, as her stepmother, cannot mistreat her.
"Did you know that your imperial sister is going to examine the palace maids?"
"I know." Yun Yishu patted his empty stomach; all he wanted to do right now was have a big meal.
"Son, hurry up and find some high-quality tools needed for the medical examination, then send them to your imperial sister." Consort De pulled him up from the chair.
"Mother, I heard that my younger sister is going to open a clinic to treat patients! I thought you would make sarcastic remarks!" Yun Yishu's face showed joy.
"What opening? That's called a free clinic."
"Go quickly. Your imperial sister is going to provide free medical care. She will definitely need a lot of things. She's just a little kid and probably doesn't know how to handle many things. The people in Fushuang Palace are also too busy."
"Go and get a few people to help!"
"Alright, son, I'll go right away!"
"Mother, money!" Yun Yishu spread his hand and placed it in front of Consort De.
"Chunhua!" Consort De called out to the outside.
"Your Majesty, your servant has arrived."
"Give Shu'er some money and let her go buy some things."
"Your Highness, it's cold outside, and besides, you can't leave the palace without permission!" Chunhua looked at the weather outside with concern.
"Shu'er is a grown man now, how can he be afraid of the cold? He's not a delicate young lady anymore. As for leaving the palace, I'll go find His Majesty!"
Upon hearing that he could leave the palace to buy things for his younger sister, Yun Yishu was so happy he almost jumped for joy. He walked to the table with a beaming smile and began to grind ink and write.
"Shu'er, so you know how to practice calligraphy and reading now?" Consort De asked Chunhua in surprise.
"That's good. Your younger sister is ambitious, so you, as her older brother, can't be too shabby. You have to be ambitious too and set a good example!" Consort De rubbed her hands together, looking very satisfied.
"That's right!" Chunhua nodded hurriedly. "The Third Prince understands the Empress's good intentions!"
Chunhua helped Consort De to the table.
When Consort De entered, she discovered that what Yun Yishu had written on the paper was not timeless poetry or romantic tales, but rather things like "rouge, hair oil, and the little tiger hat that my younger sister likes..." Consort De immediately felt dizzy and steadied herself by holding onto the corner of the table.
Seriously, this is hopeless...
...
Inside the Jade Palace, melodious and graceful zither music drifted out. Unlike the rich and sensual songs in the Red Mansion of the capital, this music was fresh and bright, like a clear spring washing one's face.
Gradually, the music became enchanting and tender, as if countless women were pouring out their hearts.
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