Chapter 5

Chapter 5

The hall immediately fell into chaos, and Chu Taiyi stepped forward to take a pulse. As soon as he touched Ying Fusheng, he noticed his hand was scalding hot.

Consort Ning was greatly startled and was about to go over to check when she saw Chu Taiyi's expression turn grave. She had no choice but to move closer to Ying Fusheng and began to explain, "Sheng'er hasn't been well these past few days, it might be..."

The next moment, her words froze her in place—

"Not good—the Sixth Prince has fainted!"

The Sixth Prince had just resolved a major incident when he suddenly collapsed in the hall. Even the Empress Dowager could no longer stay seated and came over to check. When she touched Ying Fusheng's arm, she was shocked. Up close, she saw that his closed eyes were covered in cold sweat, and his temperature was so high—how had this child endured it without a word until now?

Empress Xu frowned slightly, casting a sidelong glance at the surrounding attendants.

The servants quickly sprang into action.

The Empress Dowager ordered the attendants to move Ying Fusheng to a couch. Consort Ning broke out in a sweat; she wanted to speak, but the chaos gave her no chance. She had to follow the others, and when she saw the Crown Prince trying to approach, she panicked and reached out to block him: "Your Highness the Crown Prince!"

The Crown Prince looked at her in confusion. Empress Xu and the Empress Dowager, who were walking ahead, suddenly turned back, noticing Consort Ning's strange behavior.

Seeing the odd expressions of the other attendants, Consort Ning realized she had overstepped. She hastily explained, "The miasma of illness is too strong; Your Highness is of great value."

It was fine if she got into trouble, but in a few days, there would be a grand celebration for the entire court, and the Crown Prince could not be risked.

Fortunately, the Empress Dowager, thinking the Crown Prince was still young, did not let him enter the inner chamber.

However, some of those present wore strange expressions. The Sixth Prince had knelt in the hall pleading for Consort Ning for so long, yet she had not shown such concern for his safety then.

Chu Taiyi was the one taking Ying Fusheng's pulse.

Chu Taiyi was the chief physician of the Imperial Medical Bureau, often tending to the Empress Dowager. He knew at a touch that such a high fever was serious. He administered several acupuncture needles, but the fever did not subside. In his sleep, Ying Fusheng's brow was furrowed with lingering unease, his brows tightly knit. The physician had to smooth his forehead, then sent his personal apprentice rushing to the Medical Bureau for medicine.

Ying Fusheng's condition was very poor. After fainting, he seemed half-asleep and half-awake, and the physician struggled to hold him down several times, as if he was anxious about something.

His hot hand touched the Empress Dowager. In his delirium, the child did not know his limits and grasped the Empress Dowager's cool hand, holding on tightly like a lifeline. After a short while, Ying Fusheng seemed to struggle free from a nightmare. When he opened his eyes, his gaze was even unfocused. Gradually, he saw that it was the Empress Dowager in front of him, and he hurriedly let go.

As he released his grip, the Empress Dowager's hand felt empty. Seeing the child about to get off the bed, she reached out to stop him.

Ying Fusheng spotted Consort Ning outside the crowd and concealed the sarcasm in his eyes. His face was flushed, and the high fever was about to overwhelm his senses, but he remembered his long-planned purpose. Feigning a convulsive state, he looked around dazedly and murmured, "Mother..."

Seeing this, the others all looked at Consort Ning outside, only to find that she had not come in.

There had been too many incidents that day. Consort Ning was still looking outside anxiously, relieved only when she confirmed the Crown Prince had not followed. But when she turned back to the inner room, she suddenly noticed everyone staring at her. Startled, she realized Ying Fusheng was lying on the bed, looking at her. She then seemed to understand and quickly walked forward, putting on her usual maternal facade: "Sheng'er."

Suppressing his disgust at the scent of cosmetics, Ying Fusheng pretended to act like a normal, dependent child.

Too many things had happened that day, and they were too coincidental—most importantly, Ying Fusheng’s arrival was too timely. Consort Ning had initially been suspicious, but when she saw his sickly dependence, which seemed genuine, she relaxed slightly. What was she thinking? How could a child manage to stir up so much trouble?

Besides, Ying Fusheng was very obedient to her. Remembering that the incident at Wangyue Pavilion had been resolved because of him, Consort Ning’s heart eased a little. He was somewhat useful after all.

As she pondered the sequence of events, she put on a concerned expression and even squeezed out a few tears, completely failing to notice that Ying Fusheng’s hand had tried several times to grasp her robe but missed.

The Empress Dowager happened to be standing nearby, observing the silent exchange between mother and son. Ying Fusheng’s hand slipped several times, and Consort Ning didn’t even notice. Earlier in the hall, when Ying Fusheng fainted, she hadn’t gone to check on him either; it was the other attendants who had reacted first. She cast a cold glance at Consort Ning and couldn’t help but speak: "Child, since you’re sick, rest first. The matter at Wangyue Pavilion is settled."

Hearing that the Wangyue Pavilion matter was concluded, Ying Fusheng finally came to his senses. Before anyone could say more, he seemed to finally succumb to drowsiness and fainted again.

Consort Ning breathed a sigh of relief that the little brat had finally quieted down, unaware that the Empress Dowager’s gaze behind her was growing colder.

Seeing the silence around her, she put on a hypocritical tone and asked, "Physician, what’s wrong with Sheng’er?"

"Wind-cold has invaded his body and has not dissipated for many days. I heard that His Highness fell into cold water several nights ago. It seems the cold pathogenic qi has accumulated until now and has not yet dispersed," Chu Taiyi explained in detail. "Judging by the pulse, His Highness has likely had recurrent fevers since the fall. Today, because of the Wangyue Pavilion incident, the cold evil invaded his heart. With his emotions so tense and then suddenly relaxed, this fever has become severe. If the fever breaks, he will be fine; if not, it may leave lasting damage."

These words shocked everyone. The palace attendants all knew about the Sixth Prince’s fall into the water, and the physicians had visited Weiyang Palace several times. But back then, a few days after the fall, Consort Ning had announced that the Sixth Prince was out of danger. Yet now, it seemed he had never fully recovered from the fall—and the illness was grave!

Consort Ning’s face stiffened.

Impossible! Just a few days ago, Bi Zhu said his fever had broken and he was just weak. How could he still be running a fever!?

She realized the mistake too late. When she turned around and met the Empress Dowager’s accusatory gaze, she was so frightened she fell to her knees. Her mind was in turmoil, and she didn’t know why so many things had happened today. She instinctively explained, "Your son’s condition improved a few days ago. I truly didn’t know his illness had become so severe..."

She looked around for help, but no one would assist her. She had no choice but to look to Empress Xu.

"Consort Ning has been busy with the Wangyue Pavilion arrangements recently and may have been distracted and negligent," Empress Xu said tactfully.

But the Empress Dowager had just developed a favorable impression of Ying Fusheng for turning an ill omen into an auspicious one. Now, hearing this, all her anger flared up in one direction. First, the Wangyue Pavilion incident, then the Sixth Prince’s collapse. Consort Ning had been negligent in managing the birthday celebration and had neglected the sick Sixth Prince. "I see she hasn’t managed a single thing well!"

Everyone had thought the Empress Dowager’s mood had improved after the narrow escape at Wangyue Pavilion, but they hadn’t expected her to fly into a rage.

Only then did they realize that a turn of events did not mean there would be no accountability. How could such a major incident—occurring on the eve of the Emperor’s triumphant return and the Empress Dowager’s birthday—be let off lightly?

Consort Ning was terrified. But no matter how much she tried to explain, the Empress Dowager refused to listen.

Before Empress Xu could plead for leniency, the Empress Dowager had made up her mind and waved her hand to leave.

Consort Ning could only turn to Empress Xu, knowing her kind nature: "Your Majesty, I truly..."

"I once thought you were meticulous, so I entrusted the Wangyue Pavilion matter to you. I never expected such negligence today."

Empress Xu said, "I will hand over the Wangyue Pavilion arrangements to someone else. For the next few days, you shall remain in seclusion and reflect on your conduct."

Consort Ning was anxious and wanted to say more.

But Empress Xu had already turned and left, taking the Crown Prince waiting outside with her.

Soon, the Empress Dowager’s eunuch from Cining Palace arrived—

"Her Imperial Majesty decrees: Noble Consort Ning, having failed in her duties, lax in discipline, and neglectful of the prince’s health, is ordered to reflect on her mistakes in seclusion. Her monthly allowance is reduced by three months, she is to copy a hundred copies of the palace regulations, and she is not to leave her quarters without summons."

Consort Ning’s face turned ghostly pale. This meant she would be confined until the palace banquet.

"One more thing, for Consort Ning’s information."

The eunuch continued, "The Empress Dowager, out of compassion and pity for the Sixth Prince, will have him recuperate in Cining Palace for the next few days. Consort Ning need not trouble herself."

Consort Ning was completely stunned. By the time she came to her senses, the attendants were already supporting her and leading her away.

As Consort Ning was taken out, she was still calling Ying Fusheng’s name. The Empress Dowager dismissed the other attendants on the pretext of the miasma of illness, leaving only the physician to attend to him. The Crown Prince cast a sidelong glance at the chamber, and only when he could no longer see anyone did he follow Empress Xu and said quietly, "So Sixth Brother will stay here?"

Empress Xu glanced at him.

His gaze drifted, and only after he saw several of the Empress Dowager’s personal maids enter the side chamber did he look back and say, "Grandmother rarely lets people stay over. I only stayed twice as a child. It’s a bit surprising."

He paused, then sympathized, "Consort Ning seems very concerned about Sixth Brother, yet she can’t visit. It’s a pity."

Empress Xu’s eyes settled on the inner chamber, hidden behind a thick curtain. Her expression remained unchanged. When she heard the Crown Prince’s words, she finally said, "The matter has been resolved, but Consort Ning still made mistakes. If the Empress Dowager didn’t punish her severely, it would be hard to convince the court."

She finished and walked away: "The miasma of illness is too thick. Don’t get too close."

The Crown Prince agreed and said no more.

The matter of Wangyue Court was ultimately placed under the responsibility of Empress Xu. The Empress Dowager declined to receive visitors, pleading fatigue, and Consort Ning was confined to Weiyang Palace, forbidden to go out. The uproar over Wangyue Court eventually spread as an auspicious omen concerning the Sixth Prince, while details such as the catnip powder were suppressed, and the palace gossip gradually subsided.

In Cining Palace, no guests were received, and only the Empress Dowager’s personal eunuch dared to approach.

The Empress Dowager warmed her tea in silent thought, surrounded by the scent of sandalwood. “How goes it?”

The eunuch reported the matter of Wangyue Court in detail. After the incident today, the palace attendants had inspected again, and indeed the problem lay with the incense. What the Sixth Prince said had guided the guards’ investigation, but there were too many puzzling aspects.

Wangyue Court and the Imperial Animal Garden were a considerable distance apart. On ordinary days, the beast tamers would lead the beasts along secluded paths rarely used by people. Even if some catnip scattered during transport over such a distance, it would not have so easily lured the beasts to Wangyue Court.

The Imperial Guard determined that a significant amount of catnip—far exceeding the usual quantity in incense—would have been needed to draw the caged beasts there.

That is, unless someone had been scattering catnip powder along the entire route, it would have been very difficult to achieve.

However, the incident was so sudden that only Consort Ning was exposed, with no one else appearing. Because of the chaos and destruction, it was hard to find any trace at Wangyue Court. The only person who could clarify matters was the Sixth Prince, but he could not have plotted this—any mistake would implicate Consort Ning and the Ning family.

All things considered, it seemed someone had done this deliberately. Any discerning person could see that Consort Ning had been framed, but no evidence of the framing could be found.

Having been in the palace so long, at this point it was clear that Consort Ning had offended someone. There were many underhanded schemes in the harem; if one wanted to frame and incriminate, there were plenty of means. The Empress Dowager had seen many in her youth. In recent years, the Ning family had been greatly favored by His Majesty, so even if Consort Ning did not contend, she would become a target for others to attack.

“How is the investigation at Weiyang Palace?”

“Consort Ning has been leaving early and coming back late in recent days. The Sixth Prince fell into water and has been ill for over half a month, hardly leaving his bedchamber,” the eunuch replied. Then he added, “I have gathered information that the Sixth Prince is indeed fond of miscellaneous books, and Consort Ning often brings him such volumes.”

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager frowned deeply. As a prince, he should be reading the Four Books and other elementary classics, yet he read miscellaneous books—Consort Ning truly did not know how to raise a child.

The eunuch added some details: “When I inquired at the Imperial Hospital, I found that the Prince, not wanting to worry Consort Ning, had sent his personal attendant to fetch medicine. I asked, and it was all medicine for wind-cold, the same as the prior prescriptions from the imperial physicians.”

Recalling Imperial Physician Chu’s diagnosis, the Empress Dowager’s expression grew even colder. Consort Ning left early and came back late every day, attending to everything personally—could she not spare a moment to care for her own son? If not for Little Six risking himself to plead for her this time, the matter of the ill omen would never have ended peacefully.

“Let this matter be told to the outside as an auspicious omen, following what Little Six said.”

The Empress Dowager closed her eyes to rest. “Order the consorts to behave themselves.” There was nothing but coldness in her eyes. “In this time of nationwide celebration, if anything happens again, I will not show leniency.”