pdf-ebookys Chapter 177 The Princess is Sick
Chapter 177 The Princess is Sick
Concubine Liu has always had complicated feelings towards Shen Zhinian.
He felt that she was a capable ally who had helped him a lot, but he was also jealous of her because she had received the attention and favor of His Majesty.
Hearing Empress Dowager Liu's words, Concubine Liu lowered her head and said, "Aunt, I understand."
"Lady Rou has always listened to me. If she gave birth to a prince, she would definitely be willing to let me raise him."
Empress Dowager Liu wanted to give some advice, but she was afraid that Concubine Liu and Shen Zhinian would come into conflict, giving Empress Jiang an opportunity to take advantage of the situation.
That's all. Giving birth is like going through the gates of hell. When the day comes, she will leave the baby behind.
To survive in the harem, besides the emperor's favor, a distinguished family background is also indispensable. The Dingguo Mansion has produced so many queens and concubines, and its power in the harem is deeply rooted. It is too easy to get rid of someone quietly.
"As long as you know what's going on."
"Okay, it's getting late, you should go back and accompany Yun'er."
Concubine Liu bowed and said, "Yes. Aunt, please have a rest early. I will take my leave now."
When she returned to Yongshou Palace in the warm sedan chair, she found the palace in chaos.
Xiao Weizi came forward and said anxiously, "My Lady Concubine, you are finally back. I was just about to go look for you!"
Concubine Liu asked slowly, "What's going on? All of you are so unstable."
Xiao Weizi wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said, "Your Majesty, the eldest princess has had a high fever since she came back. Doctor Xie is already treating her inside."
"What did you say?!"
Concubine Liu walked inside quickly and asked in a stern voice, "Such a big thing has happened, why didn't anyone go to the Cining Palace to inform me?!"
Just when I was about to leave, the imperial concubine came back.
Xiao Weizi knew Concubine Liu's temper, so he didn't dare to speak his mind. He said carefully: "As soon as the wet nurse found out, she sent for the imperial physician. I think it won't be a problem."
Concubine Liu's bright face had become so gloomy that water seemed to drip out of it!
Although she always felt that princesses were not as useful as princes, no matter what, the eldest princess was also her flesh and blood that fell from her body after ten months of pregnancy, how could she not feel sorry for her?
Seeing Concubine Liu coming in, the palace servants hurriedly saluted: "Hello, Concubine!"
She strode to the bedside, looked at the eldest princess's flushed cheeks, and was so distressed that tears were about to fall: "Imperial Physician, what happened to the eldest princess? Is there anything serious?"
Xie Yan said respectfully: "Your Highness, it is common for children to catch a cold in this season. The eldest princess just has a slight fever. Wait for me to prescribe some medicine. After taking a few doses, she will be fine."
Concubine Liu finally breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good, that's good... Thank you, Imperial Physician."
Xie Yan cupped his hands and said, "This is all my responsibility. Your Majesty, your words are too kind."
After he left, Concubine Liu cast a cold gaze on the wet nurses: "How did you take care of the princess that she caught a cold?!"
The wet nurses were so frightened that they fell to their knees with a thump: "My Lady Concubine, please calm down! We are taking care of the princess, so we dare not neglect it!"
"I guess... I guess it's because you told the princess not to dress too bulky when she was attending the palace banquet tonight, lest His Majesty see her and think she's not cute, and that's why the princess caught a cold..."
Concubine Liu slammed the table hard and said angrily, "How dare you! You didn't serve the princess attentively, and you dare to put the blame on me?"
"Come here, drag these slaves away and beat them to death, and have the Ministry of Internal Affairs select a few new wet nurses and send them over!"
The people in Yongshou Palace were already accustomed to the imperial concubine's temper, and they immediately dragged the wet nurses into the yard.
Several wet nurses were so frightened that their faces turned pale, and they kept begging for mercy: "Your Highness, please spare us! We really know we are wrong, please spare us, Your Highness!"
Concubine Liu's bright face was full of impatience: "Hurry up and shut up these slaves. What if they disturb the princess?!"
"Yes!"
Soon, the only sounds in the yard were the sound of sticks hitting flesh and the groans of the wet nurses.
The eldest princess is already three years old and has long been weaned. These wet nurses have been nursing her since she was young and are now responsible for taking care of her daily life.
Being able to enter the palace as a wet nurse means that there are children in their family who are about the same age as the eldest princess.
If it wasn't for the purpose of supporting their family and making their family live a better life, why would they have abandoned their newborn children and entered the palace to take care of the eldest princess three years ago?
The nurses thought that as long as they served the eldest princess well, the imperial concubine would give them many gifts during the New Year. Their children would get new clothes and go to better academies in the future.
But they could never imagine that the nobles in the palace were so capricious. Just one word could take their lives and end the happiness of their family...
Several wet nurses were beaten to death, with turbid tears flowing from their eyes. The only thought before they died was that their poor children would not be able to wait for their mothers to come home this New Year...
Cuizhu knew Concubine Liu best, and knew that although Concubine Liu usually had a bad temper, she rarely lost her temper like this. She must have been irritated by His Majesty's concern for Concubine Rou, and then the eldest princess fell ill, so she took her anger out on the wet nurses.
She held the teacup and handed it to Concubine Liu, coaxing her carefully, "The wet nurses are useless, just replace them. Why do you have to be so angry about them? It's not worth it to ruin your health."
After letting out some vent, Concubine Liu felt a little relieved. She waved her hand and said, "Alright. Give each wet nurse's family 100 taels of silver so they can be buried properly."
"My queen is really kind-hearted."
Concubine Liu walked to the bedside and took the medicine bowl from the maid: "I will feed it."
"Yes."
Looking at the eldest princess's red face, Concubine Liu's heart ached: "Yun'er, be good, drink the medicine and you will be well soon."
Cuizhu comforted her, "Your Majesty, don't worry too much. Doctor Xie is very skilled in medicine. With the medicine he prescribed, the princess will surely get better soon."
Concubine Liu frowned and said, "Mother and daughter are connected by heart. When a child is sick, the mother always feels distressed. A woman who has never raised a child will not understand this feeling."
Cuizhu flattered, "That's right. In the entire harem, only you, the queen, have such a blessing."
Thinking of the fact that there are several pregnant concubines in the palace, Concubine Liu's eyes darkened: "Where is His Majesty now?"
Xiao Weizi said respectfully: "Your Majesty is still accompanying Concubine Rou in Tingyu Pavilion. I heard that... Your Majesty took Concubine Rou back in a dragon sedan chair..."
"What did you say?!"
Concubine Liu's eyes were filled with astonishment: "Your Majesty attaches great importance to rules. Even the sick queen is not qualified to ride in the dragon sedan. Why would Your Majesty bring Concubine Rou up?!"
Cuizhu hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, calm down! Concubine Rou is nothing, just a plaything. Your Majesty is also worried about the baby in her belly."
Concubine Liu's expression improved a little: "You are right, His Majesty values offspring the most, it is normal to make an exception for the sake of the royal heir..."
"Xiao Weizi, go to Tingyu Pavilion now and ask His Majesty to come over, and tell him that the eldest princess is ill."