On the way back to the palace, Qingfeng briefly explained the situation. “His Highness the Crown Prince vomited blood and lost consciousness. After the imperial physicians treated him, his condition initially improved. But for some reason, it suddenly took a turn for the worse…”
Although the Crown Prince had recently fallen out of favor, he was still the Crown Prince.
All of the imperial physicians had been summoned to the Eastern Palace to attend him.
Even Divine Physician Xue, who normally served the Crown Princess, had been called over.
At the mention of Physician Xue, Xiao Yunting raised an eyebrow.
“And what is his condition now?”
Before leaving, he had certainly angered the Crown Prince.
But Xiao Yunting did not believe for a second that the man could actually be angered to death.
Someone so ruthless, cold-hearted, and thick-skinned could never die from mere rage.
A man who could use infants to extend his own lifespan was not going to kill himself through anger.
Qingfeng shook his head. “This subordinate was ordered to find Your Highness. I don’t know what happened afterward.”
Xiao Yunting asked no further questions.
Once Qingfeng produced his waist token and the guards opened the palace gates, he headed straight for the Eastern Palace.
Empress Feng had already been waiting there for quite some time.
One disaster after another had struck recently, and her condition was far from good.
Even while clutching a hand warmer, her face remained pale, and her shoulders trembled slightly.
Immediately, Xiao Yunting removed his cloak and draped it around her shoulders. Kneeling before her and holding her knee, he asked: “Grandmother, what did the physicians say?”
The moment Empress Feng saw her grandson, it was as though she had found her pillar of support. Suppressing her emotions, she answered calmly: “The physicians say his heart meridians have been damaged. It is also possible that after vomiting blood, he fell and struck the back of his head.”
“They believe he may have suffered a stroke.”
A stroke.
Xiao Yunting raised an eyebrow.
For the first time, he felt Heaven truly had eyes.
If a person like the Crown Prince had to spend the rest of his life bedridden and unable to move, perhaps that would be a blessing.
Empress Feng set aside her hand warmer. Her hands remained ice-cold as she gripped Xiao Yunting’s. Pressing her lips together, she looked at him firmly. “Yunting, I know what you’re thinking. I know that if he becomes incapable of doing anything, it would be best for you.”
“But not now.”
Xiao Yunting looked up at her.
Empress Feng’s face was deathly pale.
Staring at him, she lowered her voice.
“Yunting…”
“Yongrong fell into a well.”
Xiao Yunting’s expression changed.
Since the deaths of Princess Baorong, Qi Wang, and Noble Consort Xiao Liu, Princess Mingcheng and Yongrong had become Emperor Yongchang’s treasures.
Using their youth and their loss of both mother and brother, the siblings often clung to the Emperor and sought his company.
Emperor Yongchang had genuinely cared for Noble Consort Xiao Liu.
Once a person died, old grievances disappeared.
And she had been the white moonlight of his youth.
It was impossible to overstate Yongrong’s importance in the Emperor’s heart.
Back when Yongrong had been named, officials had submitted memorials objecting that the character Yong violated the naming taboo associated with Emperor Yongchang’s reign title.
The Emperor had ignored them completely.
That alone demonstrated how much he doted on his youngest son.
Xiao Yunting let out a cold laugh. “With that many eunuchs and palace maids accompanying him, he still managed to fall into a well?”
Since the previous incidents, Princess Mingcheng had been terrified someone might try to harm them. Wherever she went, she practically traveled surrounded by attendants.
And despite all that, an accident still happened?
Empress Feng’s expression darkened further. “They say he couldn’t sleep in the middle of the night because he missed his mother. He went to sit in the imperial garden. Then he supposedly saw Noble Consort Xiao Liu. After that, he chased after her and fell into the well.”
As she spoke, anger rose in her own heart.
Indeed, weeds should have been uprooted completely.
Such a young child, yet already capable of causing such enormous trouble.
Once those children grew older, they would undoubtedly become mortal enemies of Xiao Yunting.
With a sigh, Empress Feng squeezed his hand. “Your father is already gravely ill. He cannot do much anymore. Do not make matters worse for him and absolutely do not tell anyone that he suffered a stroke. Simply insist that he is weak and recovering.”
For years, that had always been the official explanation.
The entire empire knew that the Crown Prince’s health was poor.
No one would find it strange.
Xiao Yunting narrowed his eyes. “Has Grandmother visited Yongrong yet?”
Such an important little prince, as Empress, how could she not go and see him?
The reminder immediately brought Empress Feng back to her senses. She nodded. “You’re right. The Crown Prince’s situation has mostly stabilized. It is time for me to see how Yongrong is doing. Come with me.”
Xiao Yunting respectfully agreed.
By the time they arrived, Princess Mingcheng was already clinging to Emperor Yongchang and crying pitifully. “Royal Father! Please bring Royal Mother back! I beg you! Please bring Royal Mother back!”
The dead could not return to life.
Pain twisted in Emperor Yongchang’s heart as well. Closing his eyes, he gently stroked Mingcheng’s hair. “Mingcheng, the physicians have already said that your brother is not seriously injured. He’ll be fine once he wakes up. I’ll have Divine Physician Xue examine him as well. Nothing will happen.”
Princess Mingcheng burst into even louder sobs.
“But I miss Royal Mother so much! So does my brother! He can’t sleep every night! He misses Royal Mother every single night! If he hadn’t missed her so much, he wouldn’t have gone out and fallen into the well!”
Her words filled Emperor Yongchang’s heart with sorrow.
Empress Feng sneered inwardly.
This little girl truly knew how to talk.
And she knew how to act.
Quite remarkable.
Raising an eyebrow slightly, Empress Feng stepped forward and paid her respects.
Seeing her arrive, Emperor Yongchang calmed somewhat.
Nodding, he asked: “How is the Crown Prince?”
Then he noticed Xiao Yunting. Immediately, concern appeared on his face. “Nonsense! Have your injuries fully healed? Why are you running around already?”
A flash of hatred crossed Princess Mingcheng’s eyes.
She could see it clearly. Emperor Yongchang treated Xiao Yunting differently from everyone else.
He genuinely loved and favored him.
Xiao Yunting quickly pounded his chest to demonstrate. “Imperial Grandfather, I’m fine! Your grandson’s health is excellent. Royal Father’s condition is a bit troublesome, but it’s an old illness. Divine Physician Xue says proper recuperation will be enough, though it cannot be completely cured.”
These were the same old explanations everyone had heard countless times before.
Emperor Yongchang had little interest in them.
He merely nodded. “Let him rest and recover. He truly needs time to quiet his mind and reflect on the future.”
Empress Feng’s eyelids twitched sharply.
At that very moment, Yongrong suddenly sat upright in bed.
With terror written across his face, he let out a piercing scream.
Everyone jumped in shock.
Princess Mingcheng immediately threw herself toward him.
“Yongrong!”
“Yongrong, what’s wrong?!”
“Don’t scare me, Yongrong!”
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