The woman's wail came from the depths of her heart, moving everyone present.
The commotion grew, and soon people began to gather.
Yu Shan's gaze held a hint of compassion. She glanced at Ling Yao, who still had her eyes closed. The princess seemed tired, having fallen asleep as soon as she got into the carriage. The loud noise outside hadn't woken her, suggesting she hadn't slept much the previous night.
"Perhaps I should go out and see. It's not good to have so much noise," Yu Shan whispered to Yu Liu.
She lifted the felt curtain and took a look. The child in the woman's arms indeed had an unhealthy pallor and was completely silent.
"Madam, please find another carriage! Your child cannot wait."
Everyone knew that such luxurious carriages were only used by nobles from the palace, and no one dared to approach. Some bold individuals from a distance advised the woman.
Yu Liu couldn't stand it any longer. She tossed out a piece of silver and said loudly, "Don't waste time here. Find a carriage quickly and take your child to see a doctor!"
"Is that a goddess inside? This humble woman doesn't want silver. Please, goddess, save my son! He's not doing well. The doctor said even going to Baohetang might not save him. You have divine power, please save my son! This humble woman is willing to set up a longevity tablet for you and offer sacrifices daily!"
The woman ignored the silver on the ground and continued to kowtow.
"It's a goddess inside!"
The onlookers pointed and whispered, their curiosity drawing them closer from afar.
The guards, not having heard the goddess speak, were unsure how to proceed. However, they knew they couldn't let this continue. Approaching the carriage, they asked in low voices, "Your Highness, should I have the person removed, or..."
Yu Shan said again, "I'll go down and handle it. You all leave."
With that, she prepared to alight.
Yu Liu grabbed her arm. "Don't be rash. Have you forgotten the General's instructions? Outside the palace, don't meddle in other people's affairs. Listen to the Princess!"
Then, she approached Ling Yao and gently shook her. "Princess, Princess?"
Although her movements were gentle, Ling Yao seemed startled and woke up with a shudder.
Her eyes, devoid of any sleepiness, held a sharp glint. She looked at Yu Liu with a piercing gaze, a chilling coolness emanating from her.
Yu Liu felt a chill run down her spine, vaguely suspecting she might have done something wrong.
"Princess, your servant..."
"Yu Shan, go handle it. We're leaving!" Ling Yao commanded calmly.
Having received permission, Yu Shan alighted from the carriage, with one guard following her.
Outside, the woman had stopped her cries. Yu Shan first asked the onlookers to find a carriage and then began to examine the child.
The child, about seven or eight years old, was a boy. His lips were blue, and his teeth were clenched. Yu Shan had a bad feeling.
His appearance stirred up her deepest, most unwelcome memories.
If her child were still alive, he would be about this age.
"Miss, my son..." the woman looked at Yu Shan with hope.
"Give him this medicine first and take him to Baohetang as soon as possible."
Yu Shan asked the woman what the child had eaten. After listening, she found nothing amiss and couldn't determine the cause. She could only advise taking the child to Baohetang, as the woman had mentioned.
Baohetang was quite famous in the capital. Two of its doctors had retired from the Imperial Hospital and were very experienced.
While Yu Shan was handling the situation, the carriage, escorted by guards, safely entered the Imperial Palace.
Ling Yao remained silent the entire way. Upon returning to her chambers, she instructed Yu Liu not to allow anyone to disturb her and then tried to fall asleep again. However, she couldn't sleep at all, tossing and turning, appearing somewhat agitated.
Ling Yao sighed, unable to sleep any longer.
What did the dream from earlier signify?
In the deep quiet of the night, she had followed a shadow to a desolate wilderness.
The shadow was digging at something.
She wanted to get closer to see clearly, but Yu Liu had woken her.
Alas, what could it mean?
Yu Liu was certain she had caused trouble and regretted it terribly outside. She eagerly entered the room when she heard Ling Yao calling her.
"Princess, your servant... your servant, did I cause trouble?" she asked nervously.
Ling Yao had never had a precognitive dream during the day before. Knowing Yu Liu hadn't intended any harm, she couldn't blame her.
However, she needed to clarify things to prevent future mistakes.
"If you ever find me unable to wake up again, do not disturb me forcefully."
Yu Liu's face turned pale. "Princess, Princess, were you having a precognitive dream? And I interrupted it?"
Oh heavens! What could be done?
Was there another disaster somewhere?
Because of her mistake, the Princess couldn't foresee it, and then, thousands upon thousands of people might die because of her.
Her sin was immense.
"Princess! Please execute me!"
Yu Liu knelt, tears of regret streaming down her face. The General had only just left, and she had committed a grave sin. She deserved to die a hundred times over.
How could such a sinful person remain by the Princess's side!
Ling Yao said helplessly, "Get up, it's not that serious. This wasn't a major disaster. Contact the brothers from the Immortal King Sect. Have them patrol the outskirts more often and report any findings, no matter how small."
Yu Liu's ashen face brightened again.
"Yes! Princess, your servant will arrange it immediately!"
She wiped her tears with her sleeve, grinned, and ran out.
Ling Yao thought about it again but still had no clue.
By afternoon, Yu Shan returned and reported the outcome of the matter to Ling Yao.
The child had died. The doctors at Baohetang couldn't find any cause. The woman had vomited blood on the spot and fainted from excessive grief.
After examination by an old imperial physician at Baohetang, it was suspected that her body also showed abnormalities, not just simple grief. There was congestion in her chest, and her breathing was abnormal, suggesting a lung problem.
"I left some silver, asking Baohetang to provide good treatment."
"Mm."
Ling Yao did not dwell on this minor incident.
The two then went to see the twins. The wet nurses chosen by Xiao Shan were both young, clean, polite, well-behaved, and kind-faced.
Qing He had mentioned that they were selected from over a hundred people, all from respectable families. Their lineage had been investigated for three generations, with no hidden ailments, and even the family backgrounds of their husbands had been scrutinized.
Now two months old, the once weak kittens had transformed into plump, rosy babies resembling figures from New Year paintings, delightful to behold.
It was no wonder the Emperor visited so often.
"You're taking good care of them," Ling Yao nodded at the two wet nurses.
"It is our duty."
The two wet nurses, one surnamed Qin and the other Wei, were overwhelmed with joy and gratitude at the praise.
Ling Yao held the slightly weaker sister for a while. This child had nearly cost her life, and she herself had suffered. Qing He had stayed to care for her for half a month before she recovered.
Even now, she appeared a bit smaller than her brother, which was heartbreaking.
Both children were well-behaved, only crying when hungry; otherwise, they would play with their dark, round eyes.
Yu Shan, feeling unlucky after touching the deceased child at the clinic, kept her distance from the babies, watching from a few steps away.