The Eldest Prince was carried to the nearby Yikun Palace.
A little boy dressed in eunuch clothes, with a face as pale as gold paper, startled Concubine Wei. He tried hard to suppress his urge to speak, his face full of reluctance, but ultimately swallowed his words, "Don’t let him die in my palace," and started tending to the Eldest Prince, waiting for the Imperial Physician to arrive. She also instructed, "Send two quick-footed little eunuchs to Jianzhang Palace and Qixiang Palace to inform them."
Then, she picked up Ruyi, who had been woken up, and coaxed her back to the room: "If the Emperor comes, inform this palace immediately."
Before long, Yikun Palace was filled with people.
All on-duty Imperial Physicians from the Imperial Hospital were present. As soon as Princess Consort Jing arrived, she immediately embraced the Eldest Prince lying on the bed.
"Mother Consort..."
"Mother Consort is here, don’t be afraid, Jing’er."
Princess Consort Jing soothingly patted his back: "Did someone push you into the water? Tell me, and I will surely seek justice for you!"
Rarely visiting Jianzhang Palace to greet, Princess Consort Jing wasn’t feigning illness; her complexion was no better than the drowned Eldest Prince’s when she entered. She comforted her son while coughing herself to a flushed red face. The Eldest Prince spoke in a voice as faint as a mosquito’s, "It’s not like that, Mother Consort. I was just playing around, stole You Chun’s clothes to wear and sneak out, afraid of being caught by the nanny, I hid by the pond, and didn’t realize it was so slippery there. I twisted my ankle and fell in."
After being carried back inside, the servants promptly took off his wet eunuch clothes and changed him into warm, comfortable, and luxurious attire, wrapping him securely from head to toe.
"His Highness is slightly startled and caught a chill, tonight is particularly dangerous, he needs to be carefully watched, and it is not suitable to move him."
Just as Concubine Wei came out from the inner room, she overheard the Imperial Physician’s words.
Not suitable to move! Doesn’t that mean he has to stay here overnight! Princess Consort Jing looked up, her eyes red from crying, glanced at Concubine Wei, who reluctantly said, "Then Princess Consort Jing and His Highness should spend the night here."
Princess Consort Jing nodded and thanked her.
Having taken the medicine, the Eldest Prince was groggy, and upon seeing his mother, he was completely at ease, clutching his little blanket, falling into a deep sleep.
When the Imperial Hospital learned of the Eldest Prince falling into the water, all the Imperial Physicians were disheartened.
The Eldest Prince’s frail health was well-known to them. Princess Consort Jing had rotated through all the Imperial Physicians, yet none could completely bring her son back to health. Now, falling into the water in the snow, could he still be saved?
Upon seeing the Eldest Prince, although pale, his pulse wasn’t as bad as they feared, and they were immensely relieved: "Fortunately, Concubine Xi rescued him promptly, took off her coat to wrap him, otherwise, the cold entering his body would have made matters difficult."
Princess Consort Jing, desperate in saving her child, then realized there was still a Concubine Xi in the side hall.
Yun Jiao, under the care of two palace maids, changed into clean clothes provided by Concubine Wei, holding a bowl of ginger sugar water. Xue Ya boiled a bucket of water for her master to soak her feet and ward off the cold, even throwing in some ginger slices.
Yun Jiao stared at it for a while and said, "Add some yellow wine, soy sauce, sugar, and scallion, and it’ll be braised pig’s trotters."
"Lady! You’re joking at a time like this."
Xue Ya was amused through her tears.
Yun Jiao said she wasn’t joking, asking her to find a way to get a bowl of braised pork, as she was hungry.
"Alright, alright, we’ll get it for Lady; since Lady is now a hero for saving the Eldest Prince, she can eat whatever she desires."
Xue Ya spoke with eyes filled with admiration.
After all, in the eyes of those around her, Concubine Xi had sprinted into the water like a diving dragon, accurately finding where the Prince’s legs were tangled in water weeds, untangling them to save him. A mistake in any of the steps could have resulted in tragedy for the Eldest Prince.
While she praised her master, Gong Mei had already efficiently gone to find a palace maid from Yikun Palace to ask the Kitchen for a serving of braised pork. Seeing Concubine Wei nearby, Gong Mei respectfully saluted, "The master spent too much energy saving His Highness and is terribly hungry now, and we can’t leave her side. May we trouble Concubine Wei’s palace maid to make a trip?"
Concubine Wei: ?
One wants to stay overnight at her palace, while another is ordering food right in her palace.
This place might as well be called Yikun Inn now.
She forever despises concubines without boundaries!
"Seems Concubine Xi isn’t in any trouble after all, still thinking of food, making me worry for nothing."
Concubine Wei sarcastically said, "Go and fetch some braised pork for Concubine Xi, put it on my account, so others won’t say Yikun Palace is stingy."
"Hold on!"
At this moment, Yun Jiao poked her head out, "On Concubine Wei’s sister’s tab?"
"Mhm."
"Then I’d also like crystal liver sausage, hand-grabbed lamb, sweet potato porridge, steamed knife fish, and Buddha Jumps Over the Wall."
"... Can you eat that much?"
"Is it that sister’s tab means I can only order what I can finish?"
Yun Jiao feigned tears brimming in her eyes.
A dignified concubine master truly shouldn’t say no to such things; Concubine Wei glared at the palace maid, "Hurry and go!"
A step slower, and Concubine Xi would be adding more dishes.
Apart from those requiring time to cook and not readily available in the Kitchen, the rest were simple and quickly prepared, right as the Emperor and Empress arrived at Yikun Palace shortly thereafter.
Since the Eldest Prince had already fallen asleep, the Emperor specifically instructed not to wake him, merely lifting the curtain to take a quick look, then turned to discuss the condition with the Imperial Physician. Princess Consort Jing, exempt from formalities, couldn’t hide her sorrow, watching as the Emperor asked the Physician repeatedly, deliberating on the Eldest Prince’s treatment plan, then instructing Chief Su to thoroughly investigate the day’s event, interrogating every eunuch and palace maid on duty from Qixiang Palace to the pond at Yikun Palace, then rose, "Have all palace attendants responsible for the Eldest Prince’s welfare kneel in the courtyard, awaiting punishment."
Sure enough, with the Emperor’s presence, everything had a sense of direction.
This was when Princess Consort Jing could no longer hold back: "Your Majesty!"
Xie Zhixing turned to look at Princess Consort Jing, his gaze calm, waiting for her to speak.
"Jing’er has just escaped danger, I implore Your Majesty to pay more attention to Jing’er, can’t these servants be set aside for now..."
Princess Consort Jing struggled to suppress the resentment in her words.
"I just saw him, he is asleep and should not be disturbed. What you think could be set aside is actually the most pressing matter right now. The Imperial Physician will be very attentive in treating the Eldest Prince, but they have reservations regarding medication and require my consent, and Doctor Zhang has repeatedly asked you for instructions, and you, immersed in grief, had no time to respond. I empathize with you, so I shall handle it,"
Xie Zhixing’s voice was cool, yet hit the nail on the head: "Children are playful and oblivious, they should not be blamed. If any incident occurs, the responsibility lies with the palace maids, eunuchs, and nannies around them, as well as your failure to guard properly. Whether it was a dereliction of duty or a deliberate indulgence for benefits, I shall punish severely."
Princess Consort Jing lowered her head.
She had to admit, the Emperor was right; it’s just that his demeanor was too cold for her to accept.
Xie Zhixing also found it hard to accept.
Without having to pay daily respects at Jianzhang Palace, besides the servants responsible for sewing, laundry, candles, and cooking, there were at least twenty people attending the Prince, yet he still managed to run amok in the palace, even reaching the pond; Qixiang Palace’s management must have serious issues.
He pressed against his forehead and asked, "Where is Concubine Xi?"