Xiao Zhen gritted his teeth, and after a moment, turned to leave. But after only two steps, he heard a cry from behind him. Turning back, he saw that Xiao Man, who was lying on the bed, had vomited blood.
Hu Wan's mind went blank, and Xiao Zhen had already rushed back to the bedside. "Man'er, Man'er, what's wrong? Someone, quickly call a doctor!"
"Imperial physicians, where are the imperial physicians? Where are they all?" Hu Wan's voice trembled. This was going to be the death of him. Hadn't they said she was fine? Why was she vomiting blood again!
The imperial physician had just fallen asleep when he was yanked up. As he was about to rage, he saw that it was Eunuch Hu, and immediately swallowed the curse he was about to utter.
"The Princess Yongning is not well, go quickly. If anything happens to her, that thing on your neck won't be secure!"
The Empress Dowager had just fallen asleep when she was woken up again, and immediately berated them, "What is going on? Why are you all making such a racket? Do you not want your heads?"
"Your Majesty, please do not be angry." The palace servants knelt on the ground. "We have received news from the Palace of Longevity... it is said... it is said that the Princess Yongning is not well."
The Empress Dowager felt her eyelids twitching incessantly. "Aren't the imperial physicians guarding over there? Why is she not well again?"
"They sent word from over there, saying that the Princess Yongning is vomiting blood uncontrollably, and the imperial physicians are helpless. The Grand General... the Grand General is also there. The Palace of Longevity is in chaos, and even His Majesty and the Empress have gone there."
The Empress Dowager felt her head spin. What was all this? Xiao Man alone was causing the entire harem to be in a state of panic. "Change my clothes, I will go and see."
"Yes."
In the Palace of Longevity, the imperial physicians knelt on the ground, none daring to speak.
"I ask you, what exactly is wrong with the Princess Yongning?"
The imperial physicians looked at each other, none daring to speak. Finally, the head physician was pushed forward, and he carefully, meticulously chose his words. "Your Majesty, the Princess Yongning was injured at her very core by a villain. It is a blessing that she managed to cling to her life. Her body is extremely weak. For ordinary people, it would be a trivial injury, but for the Princess Yongning, even the slightest ailment can be fatal."
The Emperor's face was as dark as the bottom of a pot. "I am asking you, why is the Princess Yongning vomiting blood!"
"Replying to Your Majesty, the Princess Yongning's body is already extremely weak. She also accidentally consumed food containing jasmine pollen, which caused another shock to her already weakened internal organs, hence the uncontrollable vomiting of blood..."
"Is there a cure?" The Emperor felt a headache coming on. He had thought that by keeping Xiao Man in the palace, he could control the General's Mansion. But if things continued like this, Xiao Man might die in the palace, and Xiao Man was Xiao Zhen's lifeblood. If anything were to happen to her in the palace, it would surely cost Xiao Zhen his life!
"Your... your humble servants are incompetent."
The old Emperor grabbed a teacup from beside him and smashed it on the ground. "Useless, what is the point of me keeping you?"
The imperial physicians each wished they could flatten themselves against the ground. This was not their fault. The Princess Yongning was inherently weak, and she was recovering well in her mansion. Why did you have to bring her into the palace to be tormented? And now that something has happened, you blame them for being incompetent? They were also helpless!
"Emperor." The Empress Dowager entered from outside. "How is she?"
"Not well," the Emperor said with a grim expression. "Master Zhong is inside treating her."
The Empress Dowager sat down beside him. "Why did she suddenly start vomiting blood?"
"They say it was caused by an allergy," the Emperor said with a hint of annoyance in his voice. He had clearly instructed that Xiao Man must not have any mishaps, and yet something happened that night!
"Master Zhong is a skilled physician, the Xiao family girl will be fine."
"Let's hope so."
The Emperor and the Empress Dowager waited in the side hall. It was not until the fourth watch that Master Zhong emerged, looking tired. "Your Majesty, Your Highness, the Princess Yongning's condition has stabilized. However, she needs to be carefully nursed. Her body can no longer withstand any stimulation, otherwise, the next time, I will also be helpless."
The Emperor and Empress Dowager exchanged glances. "How about this, let Lord Xiao take the Princess Yongning back to the General's Mansion to recuperate?"
"Your Majesty, I'm afraid that's not possible," Master Zhong sighed. "The Princess Yongning is currently too weak to be moved."
The Emperor felt a surge of blood in his throat. She couldn't be touched, couldn't be handled, and couldn't be sent back?
"How about this, I'll have Madam Zou come to serve her. Madam Zou has always been meticulous and will surely serve her very appropriately."
"It's not a matter of who serves her, it's..." The Emperor felt a headache coming on. "How about this, let the few maids who usually serve the Princess Yongning come into the palace to serve her."
The Empress Dowager frowned, but she also knew there was no other way. After all, with Xiao Man's condition, only those who served her personally knew what she could and couldn't eat. If anything else happened, that kid Thirteen would be the first to jump up and cause trouble for her.
"Alright, Little Li Zi, go to the General's Mansion and tell them that the maids who personally serve the Princess Yongning are to come into the palace to serve her." The Empress Dowager had not had a good rest for two consecutive days and now felt completely dazed. Having people from the General's Mansion serve her, Xiao Zhen should have nothing to complain about, right?
At the fifth watch, the Emperor went to court. Xiao Zhen took leave to stay by his daughter's side. The Emperor granted his request, and the Empress Dowager, unable to bear it any longer, returned to rest. Whether it was due to lack of rest or a chill, she fell ill.
Suddenly, the Imperial Hospital became even busier. The Empress Dowager was ill, the Princess Yongning might fall ill at any time, the Ninth Princess was still in a drunken stupor and had not woken up, and even the Emperor was in a foul mood.
"Head Physician, when will this end? Our Imperial Hospital has been working non-stop for the past two days, and we still can't get any praise. The Princess Yongning was recovering well in the General's Mansion, but you had to bring her into the palace. Even if you brought her into the palace, it caused so many problems. Is His Majesty trying to deal with the General's Mansion?"
"Shut your foul mouth!" The Head Physician roared. "Are you tired of the head on your neck and don't want it anymore? You dare to spout such nonsense."
"This subordinate knows his mistake."
"Those who can't control their tongues don't live long," the Head Physician reprimanded. "Imperial physicians only need to do their duty. As for other matters, you should pretend you haven't heard or seen them."
"This subordinate obeys."
"You may go. The medicine sent to the Palace of Longevity must be checked repeatedly to ensure there are no errors before it is sent. If there is any mishap, the things on your necks will roll to the ground."
"Yes, sir."
The Head Physician also had a headache. He had been in the palace for many years and had some understanding of court affairs. The Empress Dowager had kept the Princess Yongning in the palace, partly to restrain the General's Mansion, and partly to put pressure on the princes and grandsons. The only innocent one was the Princess Yongning.
"Alas," the Head Physician sighed. "A beautiful woman's fate is short."
Xiao Man had only been in the palace for two days, and she had already caused the entire harem to be in a state of panic. The Emperor was annoyed, the Empress Dowager was ill, and those who had originally wanted to get closer to Xiao Man had also given up. If they went to get close to Xiao Man at this time, and she suddenly fell ill, they would be in trouble!