Hearing the Crown Prince’s words, Shen Yanshui felt as though a great weight had suddenly lifted from her.
Better to let the Crown Prince worry about it.
Cui Yu lowered his gaze to look at her. Seeing the obvious relief on her face, he stroked her head. Only then did he release her hand and rise to his feet.
“I’ll be out for a moment.”
Shen Yanshui nodded.
Outside the door, Zheng Yuande was waiting. He had originally wanted to ask Chunping what had happened to upset the Liangyuan mistress today, so that he would have an answer ready should the Crown Prince inquire. Yet Chunping’s lips were tightly sealed. Not bad at all.
The door opened, and seeing His Highness the Crown Prince emerge, Zheng Yuande hurried forward. But the Crown Prince did not pause, instead walking several steps down the corridor. Zheng Yuande quickly followed in small steps.
Cui Yu came to a stop. The anger he had been suppressing finally surfaced in his eyes and brows, and his voice was icy.
“Have people keep watch on the Eighth Prince and Third Miss He. Where they go, whom they meet, what they say...”
“Yes!” A flicker of surprise passed through Zheng Yuande’s eyes. Could the Liangyuan mistress’s unhappiness have something to do with the Eighth Prince and Third Miss of the He family?
“And,” Cui Yu paused, “keep an eye on the Seventh Prince as well. Send someone back to the palace and inquire after Beauty Li. Report to me the moment there is any news.”
Zheng Yuande’s heart skipped a beat, but he did not dare reveal the slightest trace of it on his face. He merely answered respectfully, “This servant will see to it at once.”
Cui Yu stood beneath the corridor, his brow tightly furrowed.
What was the Seventh Prince trying to do?
Ever since Cui Yu had begun paying attention to those two younger brothers, they had been nearly inseparable. The Seventh Prince was half a year older than the Eighth Prince, yet from childhood he had always been the Eighth Prince’s shadow.
Quiet and taciturn, stern and unsmiling, never fighting for anything—among all the princes, he was almost invisible.
But being invisible did not mean the Eighth Prince could so brazenly disregard all propriety and carry on an affair with his own brother’s betrothed!
If word of this ever got out, where would it leave the Seventh Prince’s dignity? And where would it leave the dignity of the imperial family?
The more Cui Yu thought about it, the colder his expression became.
It seemed the Eighth Prince’s life had been far too easy, for him to dare commit such an outrage against all moral order!
Abruptly, Cui Yu recalled something from long ago...
He had been frail since childhood. At the age of three, his mother, the Empress, had sent him to be raised by his maternal grandfather’s family.
He remained with them until he was ten, missing the years when he might have grown up alongside his imperial brothers. Later, when he tried to spend time with them, he discovered that... the Eldest Prince and the Second Prince had no interest in playing with him.
Since they did not want to play with him, he naturally had no intention of forcing himself upon them. Outside the palace, there were plenty of people willing to keep him company.
As for the Fourth Prince... he was Noble Consort Lan’s son, and was even more openly hostile toward him. The Sixth Prince had been a good student since childhood and liked to recite lessons before their father, the Emperor, to win praise. And the Eighth Prince had never been particularly liked by anyone.
Though he and his brothers were close in age, they were in truth far from familiar with one another.
In the winter when he was nine, his health had improved considerably, and he often traveled between his maternal grandfather’s residence and the palace. Once, after staying in the palace for half a month straight, he grew restless and took Zheng Yuande along to sneak out.
But just as he quietly rounded a rockery, he heard laughter.
It was Little Eighth’s voice—clear and childish, tinged with smug delight.
“Seventh Brother, hurry and lie on the ground! Yes, just like that—let my cricket jump onto your head!”
Young Cui Yu, not yet ten years old, suddenly halted and turned to look.
In the open space beside the artificial hill, the Eighth Prince stood with a group of eunuchs, laughing so hard they could barely stand upright.
Little Seventh was kneeling on the ground, head lowered, both hands braced against the earth, his back pressed low. He did not move an inch.
A cricket hopped back and forth atop his head.
“Hey, it jumped down!” the Eighth Prince exclaimed. “Seventh Brother, hurry up and find it. Don’t lose my cricket!”
The Seventh Prince said nothing. With his head bowed, he slowly felt around on the ground.
The palace servants standing nearby covered their mouths as they laughed. Not one of them stepped forward.
Seeing this, young Cui Yu felt a surge of hot anger rush straight to his head!
He strode forward. “Little Eighth! What are you doing?”
Zheng Yuande, who was not very old himself but was already a chubby little boy, immediately followed behind him.
The Eighth Prince turned around and saw him. The smile on his face froze for a moment, but he soon began to giggle again. “Third Imperial Brother, Seventh Brother and I are just playing!”
“Playing?” Young Cui Yu looked at the Seventh Prince on the ground and ordered furiously, “Get up.”
Little Seventh kept his head bowed and did not move.
The Eighth Prince impatiently lifted his foot and kicked him hard. “Seventh Brother! Hurry up and find my cricket!”
Caught off guard, Little Seventh’s body tilted and he fell to the side.
The imperial garden’s pond was right beside the bank. In the winter, a thin layer of ice covered its surface.
With a loud crack, the ice shattered, and water splashed in every direction.
The bank fell silent for a moment. Then the Eighth Prince’s hearty laughter rang out.
“Seventh Brother, how could you be so careless?”
The palace servants were startled. They exchanged glances, and one of them hesitantly took half a step forward before retreating again. The pond water was bone-chilling in winter—who would be willing to jump in?
More importantly... without the Eighth Prince’s orders, they would certainly be tormented by that little demon afterward. Even if they survived, they would suffer terribly.
The fate of the two little eunuchs who had once served the Seventh Prince at close quarters was proof enough.
Besides, the Eighth Prince never truly did anything to the Seventh Prince. If they waited a little longer, they could pull him out then.
Young Cui Yu’s expression changed drastically. He immediately shouted at the palace servants to rescue him!
Zheng Yuande jumped in without the slightest hesitation at his master’s command to save him. Unfortunately... his master had treated him too well. He had eaten himself into quite a stout figure, and with his thick winter clothes on, he was about to sink before he could even reach the Seventh Prince, let alone pull him out...
The other palace servants had heard Third Prince’s order and no longer dared disobey. Otherwise... if Empress found out afterward, they could forget about keeping their lives.
Several of them gritted their teeth and jumped into the water. Just as they were about to lift the Seventh Prince out—
“You—you lot! None of you are allowed to come back up without my order!” the Eighth Prince shouted, his face flushed with fury.
How dare these eunuchs disobey him!
He ran forward and raised his foot to kick the Seventh Prince, who had just been hauled onto the bank.
Young Cui Yu was so furious that he kicked the Eighth Prince squarely in the backside.
“Ah—!”
The six-year-old Eighth Prince fell onto his bottom. Once he realized what had happened, he immediately burst into tears.
“Waaah! Sob, sob, sob—drag him away and beat him to death!”
All the eunuchs: “............”
Young Cui Yu could not be bothered to pay him any attention. Seeing that Little Seventh and Zheng Yuande had both been hauled ashore, he noted that although Zheng Yuande was shivering violently from the cold, at least his ample flesh would keep him from freezing for the time being. Little Seventh, however, was all skin and bone. The moment Cui Yu touched him, he felt nothing but bones, and the boy’s face and lips had already turned purple from the cold...
Cui Yu hurriedly took off the fur-trimmed cloak he was wearing and draped it over him, then had someone carry him straight back to Kunning Palace.
Seventh Prince was soaked through. His face was as pale as paper, and when he looked at Cui Yu, the rims of his eyes suddenly reddened.
“Thank you, Third Imperial Brother.” His voice trembled. It was impossible to tell whether it was from the cold or something else.
Young Cui Yu shivered as well. He told him not to speak, then immediately sent for the imperial physician...
Later... later, he fell ill.
It was the depths of winter, with the bitter winds of the coldest days of the year blowing all the way. Once he had recovered, he learned that Noble Consort Lan and the Eighth Prince had both been punished. Noble Consort Lan had been docked six months’ salary and confined to her palace for half a year, while the Eighth Prince had been sentenced by the Empress to kneel for three days...
Seventh Prince...
Cui Yu’s gaze darkened.
And then there was He Wan. The He family had certainly grown bold. No matter what, Seventh Prince was still a true imperial prince. How could the He family dare trample on his dignity like that?
Dusk settled over the land. Mountain winds swept through the bamboo grove, setting the leaves whispering and rustling. Cui Yu stood there for a long while, until he heard a familiar, clear voice. Turning instinctively, he saw A-Yan poking her head out from the window beside the couch and waving at him.
“Your Highness, the wind is picking up outside. It looks like it’s about to rain. Come in quickly.”
The furrow between Cui Yu’s brows eased slightly. He answered, then turned and walked toward her.
At the same time, he instructed, “Wang Chun, go fetch the imperial physician.”
Wang Chun hurriedly acknowledged the order.
The imperial physician arrived very quickly. After taking Shen Yanshui’s pulse and confirming that she had not been frightened or otherwise harmed, Cui Yu allowed him to withdraw.
That night, once the Crown Prince had gotten into bed, Shen Yanshui habitually rolled into his arms. Knowing that the Crown Prince would handle everything properly, she felt the heavy stone in her heart lift. Clinging to him, she soon fell into a deep sleep.
Seeing how carefree she was, Cui Yu poked the soft, puffy cheek pressed against his chest with the pad of his finger. The furrow between his brows relaxed a little more.
The next morning, daylight had already brightened the sky.
When Shen Yanshui awoke, the place beside her was empty.
She sat up groggily, and Chunping lifted the curtain and came in with a smile.
“Are you awake, Mistress? His Highness left early this morning to attend to affairs in the front court. He instructed us not to disturb you.”
Shen Yanshui rubbed her eyes and glanced out the window.
The sun was already high in the sky.
She had long since grown accustomed to the Crown Prince’s early-to-rise, late-to-return schedule. His Majesty had been holding one meeting and grand inspection after another these past few days, so there was truly no shortage of business. The Crown Prince accompanied him every day, and sometimes even had his midday meal in the front court.
“What time is it?” she asked.
“It’s just past nine,” Chunping replied as she hung up the bed curtains. “Breakfast is being kept warm in the small kitchen. You’ve woken at just the right time.”
Shen Yanshui nodded and let the maids help her dress and wash.
When breakfast was served, she held her bowl of porridge but seemed somewhat distracted.
Little Sister Xu...
After witnessing something like that yesterday, would she have been frightened once she returned?
The more Shen Yanshui thought about it, the more uneasy she became. After finishing breakfast, she set down her bowl and instructed the maid beside her, “Dongyi, go to Qiyun Pavilion and see how Second Miss Xu is doing.”
Dongyi nodded and hurried off.
After about half an hour, a burst of hurried footsteps sounded outside.
Shen Yanshui looked up and saw Dongyi lift the curtain and enter. She was walking quickly, and her expression looked troubled.
“My lady.” Dongyi came swiftly to her side and lowered her voice. “Second Miss Xu developed a high fever last night. She’s been burning all night, and it still hasn’t gone down. Madam Xu is terribly anxious and is preparing to send someone down the mountain to fetch a physician.”
Shen Yanshui’s brows immediately drew together.
A high fever?
In these times, a high fever was no trivial matter. She looked at Dongyi and said, “Go and summon an imperial physician.”
Dongyi was startled for a moment, then understood at once and hurried away.
Shen Yanshui added, “Have a sedan chair prepared.”
The imperial physician arrived very quickly.
By now, everyone in the Eastern Palace knew that Worthy Lady Shen was the Crown Prince’s favorite. The moment her request was delivered, the imperial physicians at the temporary palace did not dare delay in the slightest. One of them grabbed his medicine chest and followed Dongyi over.
When Shen Yanshui saw him, she was exceedingly courteous. “I’m sorry to trouble you with this journey, Imperial Physician. A close friend of mine has been suffering from a high fever since last night, and it still hasn’t subsided. I was truly worried, so I rashly used my token to request your presence. I hope you won’t take offense.”
The imperial physician hurriedly bowed. “You’re too kind, Worthy Lady. If you have need of me, you need only give the order. This is my duty.”
Shen Yanshui thanked him and, without exchanging further pleasantries, led him outside.
She had just reached the door when Nanny Wang, standing nearby, furrowed her brows and said worriedly, “My lady, Second Miss Xu is ill, so it’s only natural that you’re concerned. But you’re with child now. If you happen to catch whatever illness she has…” She hesitated. “That would not be good. Why not let this old servant make the trip in your place?”
At her words, Chunping immediately looked ashamed. She, too, had been distracted since yesterday and had failed to remember this important point. If her lady caught the illness… she would never be able to make amends for her negligence, even if she died a thousand times!
A look of remorse also appeared between Dongyi’s brows. If only she had known, she wouldn’t have told her lady the truth…
Her small face became tangled with indecision. But then again, that didn’t seem right either…
Shen Yanshui cast them a reassuring glance. “Don’t worry. Your mistress is as healthy as can be. When have you ever seen me fall ill?”
The women exchanged looks and were about to continue persuading her, but their mistress had already left with the imperial physician. Nanny Wang tried to follow, but Shen Yanshui was afraid she would have to listen to a lecture, so she quickened her pace and called back without turning around, “Nanny, just wait here in the courtyard. I’ll be back shortly.”
Nanny Wang: “…”
She stood where she was, watching that figure disappear through the courtyard gate. Her brows drew together slightly, and she let out a soft sigh.
Their mistress truly did have a good temper. She never beat or scolded the servants and rarely lost her temper. But… it was also because the Crown Prince indulged her far too much that she had developed these willful habits. She would have to find an opportunity to mention it to His Highness later.
Shen Yanshui had no idea that Nanny Wang was already preparing to report her behavior.
She knew her own limits. If she had not possessed her special ability, she would never have dared to be so bold. After all, she was made of flesh and blood too—she could fall ill, and she could suffer.
And now she was carrying a child. Fortunately, the baby was exceptionally well-behaved, so well-behaved that she often forgot she was pregnant.
But... one of her younger half-sisters had been taken by a bout of chills and fever at the age of five.
It was only after that tragedy that she had begun teaching herself medicine...
In these times, even among the imperial family, it was not uncommon for children to die from a high fever. If all she had to do was ask an imperial physician to take a look, why would she have needed to make the journey herself?
Along the way, she deliberately chose some secluded paths, avoiding the busier parts of the imperial resort so that no one would see her and cause unnecessary trouble.
Qiyun Pavilion stood on the western side of the resort. It was a small, neat courtyard where the wives and families of several officials accompanying the imperial entourage were staying.
The moment Shen Yanshui stepped down from her sedan chair at the courtyard gate, someone came out to greet her.
It was a woman in her early forties, dressed in an indigo jacket. She had dignified features, though anxiety showed between her brows and in her eyes. She was the wife of Lord Xu, the Vice Minister of Works, and the birth mother of Xu Qingle.
The moment Madam Xu saw Shen Yanshui, she hurried forward and bowed. “I didn’t know Worthy Lady Shen would be coming. Please forgive me for failing to welcome you properly.”
Shen Yanshui quickly reached out to help her up. “Please, Madam, there’s no need for such formalities. I came without notice and have imposed upon you.”
As she spoke, she glanced into the courtyard, concern appearing on her face. “I heard that Sister Xu developed a high fever last night, and I couldn’t put my mind at ease. So I took the liberty of bringing an imperial physician to examine her. I wonder if Madam...”
Only then did Madam Xu notice the imperial physician standing behind Shen Yanshui, carrying a medicine chest. For a moment, she was stunned.
An imperial physician?
She had been so frantic with worry that when she sent someone down the mountain to find a doctor, it had never even occurred to her to seek an imperial physician.
It was not that she did not want to. She simply did not dare.
The imperial physicians accompanying the imperial entourage were reserved for His Majesty, the Empress, the princes and princesses, and other members of the imperial clan.
Without special permission, ordinary officials’ families could not easily call upon them.
To make such a request, they first had to submit a letter to the administrative office of the imperial resort. The office would verify their identity before forwarding it to the Imperial Medical Bureau. Once the bureau accepted the request, it still had to determine whether any physician was available and could be spared. By the time the entire process was completed, half a day would have passed—and there was no guarantee that an imperial physician could even be sent.
That was why she had planned to send someone down the mountain instead. There was a town at the foot of West Mountain, and a swift horse could make the round trip in an hour or two.
Yet she had never expected...
Worthy Lady Shen to bring an imperial physician directly to her door.
Madam Xu looked up at Shen Yanshui. Her eyes grew slightly warm, filled with gratitude and emotion.
“Worthy Lady...” Her voice trembled faintly. “This... this is far too much. I... I truly thank you, Worthy Lady...”
Shen Yanshui hurriedly said, “Madam, there’s no need to be so polite. Sister Xu and I are friends. How could I stand by while she was ill? Let the imperial physician examine her first. We can discuss everything else afterward.”
Madam Xu was just about to agree when she suddenly remembered something. A trace of hesitation crossed her face, and she glanced at Shen Yanshui’s belly, wanting to speak but holding back.
She remembered... Worthy Lady Shen was pregnant, wasn’t she?
With an expression of respect and gratitude, she said, “Worthy Lady, you are truly kind. This concubine is deeply grateful. However, you are pregnant now. Why don’t you wait in the outer room while the imperial physician and I go inside? That girl is ill, and if Your Ladyship were to catch her sickness by accident... what would we do?”
Given how highly and dearly the Crown Prince regarded Worthy Lady Shen, if anything happened to her here, their entire Xu family would be unable to bear the consequences!
The imperial physician also lowered his voice and urged her, “Your Ladyship, Madam Xu is quite right. This humble physician will certainly do everything in his power to treat the patient. Please rest assured.”
Shen Yanshui looked at the two of them, then glanced back at Chunping, whose face was filled with concern. With a sigh inwardly, she stopped making things difficult for them.
She nodded. “Then what if I don’t enter the inner room and simply sit in the outer room, speaking a few words with her through the curtain? What do you think, Imperial Physician?”
The imperial physician replied, “If you remain in the outer room at some distance, with a curtain between you... that should be acceptable.”
“Good.” Only then did Shen Yanshui turn to Madam Xu. “Madam, I won’t enter the inner room. I’ll sit in the outer room and speak with your daughter through the curtain, while the imperial physician examines her inside. I’ll wait outside. Would that be all right?”
With the imperial physician’s assurance, Madam Xu finally relaxed and immediately instructed someone to make the necessary preparations.
Only then did the group cross the small courtyard and proceed toward the inner residence.
As they walked, Madam Xu frowned and said, “The girl already seemed distracted when she returned yesterday. Fortunately, the maid keeping watch that night noticed something was wrong early on... I was so anxious that I didn’t sleep at all. First thing this morning, I sent someone down the mountain to fetch a physician...”
As she spoke, they arrived at Xu Qingle’s bedchamber.
Through the gauze curtain, Shen Yanshui saw a figure lying on the bed. It was Xu Qingle.
She stepped closer and looked through a gap in the curtain. The pretty, delicate face that had been so lively just a few days ago was now nearly devoid of color. Her lips were dry and cracked, and a cloth rested against her forehead. Leaning weakly against the bolster, she looked utterly listless, with none of her former cheerfulness.
Hearing the commotion, Xu Qingle forced her eyes open. When she saw Shen Yanshui, a flicker of surprise crossed her eyes, and she struggled to sit up.
“Sister Shen...?!”
Shen Yanshui hurriedly said through the curtain, “Don’t move, don’t move. You’re this sick already—why are you still trying to get up?” As she spoke, she sent some of her supernatural power into Xu Qingle’s body.
A maid helped Xu Qingle settle back against the pillow. Perhaps it was because she had suddenly seen Sister Shen, but Xu Qingle felt that her muddled head had become somewhat clearer, and she had regained a little of her strength. Still, she was concerned.
“Why has Sister Shen come...? I’m still ill. Sister Shen, you should leave quickly, or you might catch my sickness.”
Shen Yanshui furrowed her brows. “You’re this ill. Why didn’t you send someone to tell me?”
Xu Qingle pressed her lips together and said softly, “It isn’t anything serious... My mother has already gone to fetch a physician. Perhaps I’ll be better after taking a couple of doses of medicine. There was no need to trouble you, Sister, or make you go to the trouble of summoning an imperial physician for me...”
Shen Yanshui shot her a glare through the gauze curtains, but seeing how wan and feeble she looked, swallowed the words that had risen to her lips. “Never mind. Let the imperial physician examine you first. We can discuss everything else later.”
The imperial physician stepped forward, took a seat on the embroidered stool by the bed, and focused as he felt her pulse.
For a moment, the room fell silent.
Madam Xu stood to one side, anxiously watching the physician’s expression.
Shen Yanshui held her breath as well.
After a while, the imperial physician withdrew his hand and asked a few questions. But upon seeing Second Miss Xu’s expression, he tactfully refrained from pressing further. He examined her complexion and tongue coating before rising to his feet and bowing to Worthy Lady Shen and Madam Xu.
“How is she?” Madam Xu hurriedly asked.
The physician’s expression was fairly relaxed as he replied, “Madam Xu need not worry too much. Second Miss’s condition is the result of... excessive fright and anxiety. The inner fire has attacked the heart, allowing pathogenic heat to enter the body and bring on a high fever.”
Excessive fright and anxiety?
Madam Xu froze, instinctively glancing at her daughter.
Xu Qingle lowered her eyes without saying a word.
The physician continued, “Fortunately, her constitution is sound, and this was discovered early. I will prescribe a formula to clear heat and toxins and calm the mind and spirit. Have her take three doses first. Over the next few days, she must rest quietly. She must not overexert herself mentally or dwell on troubling thoughts. Her diet should be light, and she should drink plenty of warm water. If she can rest peacefully, the fever should subside within two or three days.”
At last, Madam Xu let out a breath of relief and thanked him repeatedly. “Thank you, Imperial Physician...”
The physician waved a hand and went out to speak with Worthy Lady Shen and write the prescription.
After following the physician outside, Madam Xu saw Worthy Lady Shen give a slight nod and thoughtfully withdrew first.
It seemed Worthy Lady Shen had something to say to the second girl.
Once Madam Xu had left, Shen Yanshui dismissed all the servants nearby. She specifically instructed Chunping to have them keep their distance, leaving only the two of them in the room.
Through the gauze curtains, she looked toward Xu Qingle on the bed.
Xu Qingle was looking back at her, her eyes faintly red around the rims.
“Sister Shen...” she called softly, her voice carrying traces of frightened unease. “I couldn’t sleep at all last night. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the Seventh Prince and the others... Sister Shen, I’m afraid...”
At the time, she had not immediately understood what the sounds coming from inside the artificial rockery meant. But she had seen the abrupt change in Sister Shen’s and Chunping’s expressions and demeanor. Besides... she herself would soon be married. When her elder sister had returned to her maiden home some time ago, she had privately told Xu Qingle a little about matters between men and women.
Before long, Xu Qingle understood what the Eighth Prince and He Wan had been doing inside... and she became even more frightened.
“After witnessing something like that, I don’t even know how I’m supposed to face the Seventh Prince in the future...”
Shen Yanshui sighed.
That truly was a problem.
After considering it, she said, “Face him as you normally would. Think about it—the Seventh Prince stood there in such a situation without changing expression or saying a word. That means he knew what was going on. Since he did not expose it at the time, you need only pretend nothing happened and carry on as usual.”
Shen Yanshui felt that the Seventh Prince most likely knew something; otherwise... he would not have remained so calm.
Of course, that was only her guess. Whether she was right or wrong, her priority was to soothe Xu Qingle, who had clearly been badly frightened.
“What matters most right now is getting your health back...” She launched into a long stream of comforting words.
At last, a little light returned to Xu Qingle’s eyes. Well... things had already come to this. At worst, the Seventh Prince might never want to see her again, let alone take her as a secondary consort.
The worst that could happen was that she would have to marry beneath her station—or go to a convent and become a nun. When she thought of it that way, perhaps it would not be so terrible after all.
There was no use worrying and being afraid. It would only leave her mother and Sister Shen fretting over her.
Seeing that she had finally come around somewhat, Shen Yanshui stayed and chatted with her for a while before saying, “Get some good rest. I’ll come see you again in a few days.” Just before leaving, she remembered something and added a few more words.
Xu Qingle hurriedly nodded.
Shen Yanshui left the inner room. Outside, Madam Xu was speaking with the imperial physician. The moment she saw Shen Yanshui emerge, she hurried forward to greet her.
“Thank you so much for coming today.” Madam Xu’s face was full of gratitude. “If not for you, who knows how long this girl’s fever would have lasted. I... I truly don’t know how to thank you...”
Shen Yanshui let out a soft sigh. “Please, Madam, don’t say that. If anything, I’m partly to blame. Yesterday, I insisted on taking Miss Xu to that cave. Who could have known that a snake would suddenly dart out from inside and land right in front of her? Though it didn’t injure her, it must have frightened her terribly.”
Madam Xu was startled for a moment, then understood. “So that was what happened... This child has always been rather timid. I’ve caused Worthy Lady trouble.”
“The imperial physician has prescribed some medicine. Just have someone go and fetch it. Your daughter is young and has a strong constitution; after a few days of rest, she should recover completely. There’s no need to worry too much.”
Madam Xu nodded repeatedly and personally escorted Shen Yanshui out of the compound. Only after watching her palanquin disappear into the distance did she turn and go back inside.
When she returned to her daughter’s room, she found Xu Qingle still awake, leaning against a bolster pillow and staring blankly into space.
Madam Xu sat down beside the bed and reached out to feel her forehead. It was still burning, though it seemed somewhat better than it had been the night before.
“This Worthy Lady Shen truly is a woman of feeling and loyalty,” Madam Xu sighed. “You’ve always been close to her, and I used to criticize you for it. Now it seems your mother was the one who failed to see clearly.”
Back then, Worthy Lady Shen had only been the daughter of a secondary wife in the Duke of Loyalty’s household. Though she possessed an exceptionally beautiful face, she had also been notorious for being lazy and fond of food. Madam Xu had looked down on her somewhat at the time. But now...
Who could have imagined that she would transform overnight and become the woman dearest to the Crown Prince?
Xu Qingle pressed her lips together, feeling vaguely unhappy. She knew her mother only wanted what was best for her, but sometimes... she disliked the way her mother was always calculating and scheming.
Still, she would never dare say anything that went against her elders.
Madam Xu continued, “From now on, you must maintain a good relationship with Worthy Lady Shen. Once you’ve recovered, we’ll have to thank her properly.”
In the past, she had felt that her daughter’s closeness with Worthy Lady Shen was somewhat inappropriate.
Worthy Lady Shen belonged to the Eastern Palace, while the Seventh Prince could hardly be said to be on friendly terms with that side. But now...
Noble Consort Lan was ill, the Fourth Prince had been confined, the He family had lost its influence, and the Eighth Prince did not appear to enjoy His Majesty’s favor either.
The Crown Prince, however, was the rightful heir. Behind him stood the Qi family of the Duke of Fengguo’s household, while the Crown Princess had the Wen State Duke’s household and the Li family supporting her. Between them, they commanded the strength of both the civil and military factions.
Apart from having somewhat few heirs, the Crown Prince himself was both learned and capable in martial matters, and conducted himself with steadiness. His position as Crown Prince seemed as secure as could be.
Since that was the case... it would naturally be better to stay on good terms with the Eastern Palace.
