Chapter 39: May You Be Free of Illness and Live a Long Life

Unexpectedly, the Queen Mother ended the matter there. “Today is my birthday, a day of celebration. Your petty schemes should not be presented before me. If you upset me, you might not find yourself in a favorable position either.”

Everyone: ?

Was the Queen Mother… admonishing them?

It sounded like she was defending Concubine De.

“At a birthday banquet, I do not like disturbances, especially with little Ah Bao present. The princess is still young; I do not want to scare her.”

Concubine Rou covered her mouth and smiled softly, “It seems the Queen Mother truly likes the little princess. Sister Concubine De is indeed fortunate.”

In the past, when a royal heir was born, whether a princess or prince, the Queen Mother had never shown such affection.

The Tenth Princess was indeed an exception!

Although the others were displeased, they could only grumble silently, not daring to show their feelings.

After the banquet ended, Concubine De left Cining Palace holding Ah Bao.

Zhilan, on the way, couldn’t help but apologize, “Your Highness, I’m sorry. It was my carelessness. If I had been more careful, you wouldn’t have been reprimanded at the Queen Mother’s birthday banquet.”

Fortunately, the Concubine De did not pursue the matter, otherwise Zhilan would have been held responsible even to the point of death.

“It’s not your fault.” Concubine De had realized that the beads must have been swapped when they fell.

“Concubine De, you’re really lucky. After giving birth to the little princess, your fortune has grown even stronger,” Concubine Rou, who had appeared beside Concubine De, said with a smile, “In the past, such incidents at a festive banquet would lead to confinement. I didn’t expect Sister Concubine De to only receive a few words of reprimand.”

Concubine De frowned slightly.

Concubine Rou continued, “Next time, be more cautious. Luck may come once, but it doesn’t guarantee repeated good fortune.”

Concubine Rou laughed and left with her maid.

Zhilan was furious, “Your Highness, Concubine Rou must have swapped the beads. Only she picked them up when they fell. Now that Your Highness is being reprimanded, Concubine Rou is adding insult to injury. It’s too much!”

Concubine De glared at her, “Zhilan, how many times have I told you? In the palace, without solid evidence, you must not speak recklessly. A small mistake could cost you your life.”

Zhilan’s eyes were red as she followed Concubine De to Yihe Palace, “I’m sorry, Your Highness. I understand. I’m just worried about you. What if something happens? What will happen to the little princess?”

Concubine De furrowed her brows. Zhilan was her dowry maid, a trusted servant for many years. Even though she had been demoted to the Cold Palace, it was thanks to Zhilan’s diligent care that she was able to safely give birth to Ah Bao.

But Zhilan was overly protective and had a straightforward temperament.

“Ah Bao is beloved and inevitably attracts jealousy. We must be cautious and careful from now on.”

Today it was just the beads that fell; other situations might arise in the future.

Ah Bao was lying on Concubine De’s shoulder, sitting up and touching Concubine De’s cheek with her little hand, her eyes full of joy.

[Don’t be afraid, Mommy. Ah Bao will protect you.]

“Ah Bao, Mommy is not afraid of anything, just afraid that I cannot protect you.”

Ah Bao’s eyes curved into crescent moons as she waved her little hands, looking proud and a bit smug.

[Mommy, don’t worry about me. I’m super capable!]

She might be small and some things might be hard to manage, but protecting her mother and herself was more than enough.

……

At night, after the Queen Mother took her medicinal meal, she fell into a deep sleep.

Lately, she had been feeling her health decline day by day.

Thinking of the little Tenth Princess she had held during the day, the Queen Mother, usually in a poor mood, found her face softened with a hint of a smile, feeling warmth in her heart.

After Ah Bao fell asleep, she seemed to hear a groan near her ear.

The sound of someone enduring pain and coughing painfully was very clear to her.

She saw an old person lying on a bed in a white mist, tossing and turning in agony, seemingly on the brink of passing away…

It was the Queen Mother; she was ill and looked to be in great suffering.

Ah Bao entered the Queen Mother’s dream.

Ah Bao floated into the white mist and gently landed in front of the Queen Mother’s bed.

With her eyes curved into a smile, looking like a little child, she said, “Grandmother, give your hand to Ah Bao.”

The Queen Mother was startled to see Ah Bao, “It’s Ah Bao.”

Instinctively, she extended her hand. “Is it because Grandmother is about to die? Ah Bao came to see Grandmother, come, let Grandmother hold you.”

Ah Bao took the Queen Mother’s hand, drawing in her palm and writing the character ”longevity” with her small fingers. “Grandmother, you have been benevolent and loyal throughout your life, you are a blessed person. Ah Bao bestows upon you the gift of complete recovery from all ailments and a long life of one hundred years.”

The Queen Mother looked at the character “longevity” in her palm.

For some reason, the character began to shine with golden light and gradually seemed to disappear into her hand, as if it had entered her body.

The Queen Mother’s eyes widened as she watched Ah Bao smiling and disappearing in front of her. “Ah Bao!”

The Queen Mother woke up with a start.

Seeing the familiar bed curtains, she realized it had been a dream.

She looked at her right hand, which was smooth and bare, with nothing in it.

The Queen Mother couldn’t help but laugh self-deprecatingly.

How could she have felt that dream was so real?

It was just a dream.

“Your Majesty, the Imperial Physician has arrived.” The maid, having heard the Queen Mother’s voice, quickly came to attend her. The Queen Mother’s condition had worsened, and her health had been deteriorating.

The maid noticed the Queen Mother’s condition was not right and had called the Imperial Physician ahead of time.

The Queen Mother sat at the head of her bed, clearly still not fully awake from the dream.

She raised her arm and felt her body was lighter than before, not as heavy as usual.

“The Queen Mother’s condition has improved significantly compared to the past few days, and her complexion is also better. Continue with the medication, and I believe Your Majesty’s health will continue to improve.” The maid saw the Imperial Physician out, feeling the physician’s words were merely polite remarks.

The Queen Mother had been suffering from old ailments for many years and new illnesses for over a year. Her condition had worsened recently, prompting her return to the palace.

Rumors were rife in the palace, and everyone privately knew the Queen Mother’s days were numbered, though it was never openly spoken.

The maid came in and said softly, “Your Majesty, please rest easy. I will stay by your side.”

For some reason, in the darkness of the night, she noticed the Queen Mother’s face seemed much rosier than during the day.

It couldn’t be that the Queen Mother was experiencing a temporary recovery, could it?

The maid felt increasingly distressed.

It seemed that today’s birthday feast hadn’t succeeded in bringing good fortune, sobbing inwardly.

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