Chapter 14 Wind Chill

In the afternoon, Qixiang Palace was in a flurry of activity. Consort Jia, supporting her waist with one hand, looked pale and full of anxiety. Imperial Physician Luo pressed his hand against Yongcheng’s forehead and sighed in relief. “Reporting to Your Highness, the Fourth Prince has caught a minor cold. There is no fever, so it’s nothing serious. A few doses of my prescription will ensure a full recovery.”

The nanny murmured a prayer to Amitabha, and Consort Jia’s expression brightened. A young eunuch attending Yongcheng explained that the Fourth Prince had been studying too diligently, burning the midnight oil without adding an outer robe, which led to his illness.

She punished all the servants around Yongcheng, her heart still burning with anger. Yongcheng was not exceptionally gifted, but he was far more intelligent than the Third Prince, Yongzhang. He had always ranked first in the assignments given by their tutors. However, after the Fifth Prince, Yongqi, began his studies, Yongcheng’s performance slipped to second place. During a visit to pay respects, he had lamented, “Mother, I don’t want to study anymore.”

How could a seven-year-old prince say such a thing? Consort Jia cupped his face and said earnestly, “My Yongcheng is the best. Just work a little harder, and you’ll surpass the Fifth Prince… If you can’t outdo him during the day, why not study harder at night?”

When she heard that her son had begun studying late into the night after returning to the Prince’s Residence, Consort Jia was pleased. Focusing on his studies now and laying a solid foundation would surely benefit him in the future—as long as he got enough sleep.

Who would have thought Yongcheng would push himself to the point of falling ill?

She wasn’t angry that he studied late; she was angry that he hadn’t worn an outer robe, exposing himself to the cold.

Now that the imperial physician confirmed Yongcheng was not seriously ill, Consort Jia’s thoughts quickly shifted.

After dinner, she asked the nanny, “Has someone been sent to the Palace of Eternal Spring?”

The nanny whispered, “That clever girl Hua Ping went at just the right time.”

Consort Jia smiled faintly. After seeing the physician off, she sat before her dressing table and carefully applied her makeup. Despite being pregnant, she didn’t hold back—applying thick powder, drawing delicate willow-leaf brows, and after a moment’s consideration, dabbing flesh-toned rouge between her lips.

The sound of the ceremonial whip announced the emperor’s arrival. Consort Jia, supported by the nanny, instantly assumed a sorrowful expression, tears welling in her eyes as she cradled her belly, appearing utterly frail.

The sight of blue-green dragon-embroidered boots came into view. Consort Jia gave a slight curtsy and choked out, “Greetings to Your Majesty…”

The palace servants knelt in unison. “Greetings to Your Majesty and the Empress. May Your Majesties enjoy boundless blessings!”

Consort Jia’s tears froze at the corners of her eyes. She looked up to see the Empress, dressed simply and without makeup, gazing at her indifferently.

The next moment, a soft “ah-ah” sound came from the emperor’s arms. Yongcong, gnawing on his chubby little hand, blinked his bright black eyes and flashed a toothless grin at her.

The Empress’s presence was one thing, but the emperor had even brought the Seventh Prince along?!

Consort Jia’s face stiffened, and her belly ached faintly. But she hadn’t finished her greeting, so she continued, “Greetings to the Empress…”

Qianlong, holding Yongcong, glanced at her and asked, “Where is Yongcheng?”

He held no particular affection for this son, but he was still his child. Hearing that he had fallen seriously ill, even delirious with fever, he couldn’t help but feel some concern.

Inside the chamber, Yongcheng lay on the bed, his cheeks flushed and eyes tightly shut, clearly suffering. A servant placed a bowl of medicine nearby, waiting for it to cool before serving it.

“What did the physician say?” the Empress asked, pressing the back of her hand to Yongcheng’s forehead. The illness indeed looked severe.

“In his eagerness to earn His Majesty’s praise, Yongcheng studied late into the night and caught a chill. The imperial physician prescribed medicine, saying he must rest for several days, otherwise… otherwise…” Consort Jia’s tears flowed even more fiercely as she clutched her chest, gasping for breath. Were it not for the supporting arms of her maidservant, she would have collapsed entirely.

This was Yongcong’s first glimpse of the dramatic talents of the imperial harem women—how effortlessly they could weep on command. Even as a mute infant, he felt an instinctive pity. Yet he disliked Consort Jia instinctively; there was something indescribably odd about the occasional glances she cast his way.

Children are sensitive to good and evil. Yongcong let out a whimper, thinking: Imperial Father, don’t be fooled!

Qianlong tightened his grip around Yongcong and asked sternly, “An illness from studying?”

The presence of the Seventh Prince before him was an eyesore in every way.

Consort Jia choked back a sob, weeping softly, “The child is so determined. I tried to dissuade him, but even in his fevered state, he kept calling for Imperial Father, insisting on studying. What could I do?”

The Empress’s lips curved faintly as she lowered her gaze to touch Yongcheng’s burning forehead, sighing silently.

Spinning a cocoon only to trap oneself—what a fool.

Yet the child was pitiable, burning with such a high fever that this couldn’t continue. She turned slightly and whispered instructions to Yu Momo, who nodded and mouthed a message to Liang Shuangxi.

Liang Shuangxi, chief eunuch of the Palace of Eternal Spring, immediately dispatched runners to the Imperial Hospital.

The commotion here was subtle, but as Consort Jia finished her lament, Qianlong suddenly laughed.

Suppressing his anger, he enunciated each word: “Wasn’t it you who encouraged him to study by lamplight at night?”

A seven-year-old child is still growing. Even if studies are important, how could they outweigh sleep? The Empress had mentioned this to him before, but he had dismissed it as a jest.

What kind of mother urges her son to study in the dead of night?!

He never imagined Consort Jia would actually do such a thing.

Qianlong hadn’t expected such stupidity from Consort Jia. She had always been gentle and seemingly well-mannered. Though not particularly favored, she had never lacked in dignity.

Ah, but women of the bondservant class were inevitably shortsighted. Even if her family had been elevated to the banners, it couldn’t mask her pretentiousness.

Consort Jia froze. How did the Emperor know she had urged Yongcheng to study at night?

Before she could defend herself, Qianlong’s heavy, oppressive gaze pinned her in place!

Her mind went blank as she mechanically knelt, her subconscious still protecting her rounded belly.

Noticing her pregnancy, Qianlong rubbed his temples, his anger dissipating slightly. “Confine yourself to Qixiang Palace and focus on your delivery. No more schemes. As for this act of deceiving your sovereign… I shall overlook it for Yongcheng’s sake…”

The head of the Imperial Hospital arrived in haste with his medicine chest. The Empress patted Qianlong’s hand. “Your Majesty, the child is the priority now. His fever has worsened. I’ve summoned Imperial Physician Li…”

Yongcong was returned to his Imperial Mother’s arms. As dusk fell, he grew drowsy, on the verge of drifting off when Imperial Physician Li mused aloud: “How curious. I happened to review recent medical records earlier. The report Imperial Physician Luo submitted this afternoon clearly stated the Fourth Prince had only a mild chill—no fever at all. How has it worsened so suddenly?”

The palace was full of sharp minds, and many faces paled at once.

Yongcong jolted wide awake!

Imperial Physician Li was highly skilled in medicine. It was he who took the Empress’s Peace pulse when she was pregnant with Yongcong. With his vast experience and the backing of the Emperor and Empress, he had no fear of offending others.

“This humble official believes the Fourth Prince fell ill with fever after being soaked in cold water,” he said.