Panpan refused to let the Imperial Physicians examine the pills given to the eldest Prince.
She knew that, even if the Imperial Physicians of the Imperial Hospital had the pills, they wouldn’t be able to replicate the effects achieved by the Xiao family.
Every time Panpan gave Che’er the pills, he would improve; going a few days without them would cause issues.
Therefore, it was the Xiao family and Doctor Xiao who truly had the power to save Che’er’s life.
Yet, the Emperor personally cut off Che’er’s lifeline by mistakenly executing Doctor Xiao.
Thinking about how this tragedy was caused by the struggles within the women’s quarters incurred great hatred.
A young girl, blooming in first love, met him one spring, and they truly fell in love at first sight.
Only later did she discover his identity as a Prince.
She wanted to back off because she was well aware of the lack of familial bonds within the royal family.
Who would have thought he would have the Late Emperor decree their marriage, making her his consort.
Newlyweds, he promised to treat her well for a lifetime.
A man’s words are just to be listened to.
When she became pregnant with Che’er, he then took two secondary consorts, and upon Che’er’s birth, he added two more junior consorts.
Whether they were secondary or junior consorts, his constant explanation was always for the greater good, because the fathers of these concubines were useful.
Over the years, with such excuses, his three palaces and six courts were filled to the brim.
As a wife, one must not be jealous, much less as the Empress, the mother of the nation.
Regardless of how obsessed and infatuated she was with him in her youth, with one selection after another, the palaces and courts filled to the brim, the Empress’s heart also died.
The only thing sustaining her was the presence of Che’er.
Moreover, among all his numerous concubines, Che’er was the only Prince, the rest were all Princesses.
So, the Empress felt she still had a reason to persevere: at least that position would be handed to her son.
He was unreliable, so the son must be well-educated; the Empress even wanted to raise a wise ruler.
But who knew the son would suddenly fall seriously ill, and until now, show no improvement, especially after Doctor Xiao’s death, his condition worsened.
Executing Doctor Xiao cut off Che’er’s lifeline!
Upon realizing this, the Empress became colder and more rigid.
She even fostered a trace of resentment towards the Emperor.
However, she clearly knew her identity and couldn’t display dissatisfaction towards the Emperor, so she suppressed all her bitterness and grievances, only praying for her son’s recovery.
The court’s bulletin had been posted for over two years, yet no capable person had come forward to solve the predicament.
Who would have thought that Doctor Xiao’s eldest granddaughter would come to file a complaint, making the Empress recall Doctor Xiao’s kindness.
When the Emperor suggested she smooth things out, the Empress generously gave Xiao Chunyu an estate.
This was to thank Doctor Xiao for his past care and protection of Che’er.
Who would have thought that this tiny gesture of gratitude would indirectly save Che’er once again.
Xiao Chunyu’s daughter, the little Panpan, gave her a sense of hope.
Indeed, every time Panpan visited the palace, gave Che’er some pills, his energy and appetite improved.
So, the Xiao family surely had a way.
Knowing that Xiao Chunnuan was making pills, the Empress was even more convinced of this.
However, at the moment, she dared not conspicuously seek out Xiao Chunnuan.
After all, they were in distant Shu City, and should the news leak, Chun Nuan would be in danger.
"Panpan, what other pills does your second aunt make?"
The eldest Prince asked curiously, "Can I take them all?"
"You can’t take them all," young Panpan wisely replied, "Medicine is three parts poison; big brother should eat well and sleep well to grow tall and strong."
"Are all the pills you take sent by your second aunt?"
"Yes, indeed, because Panpan is so good, second aunt sends Panpan tasty pills," Panpan tilted her head, "Panpan is not picky and knows her limits; doesn’t take medicine haphazardly, uses throat lozenges for sore throat, hawthorn pills for indigestion..."
She listed several kinds of pills in one breath.
Listening to the innocuous chatter of the two children, the Empress marveled in awe: truly an apricot forest family, such a young age to understand so much, imagining how much more Chun Nuan must know.
"Come here," she called.
"Your Highness," a palace maid immediately entered, bowing her head awaiting orders.
"I’ve been feeling a bit restless these past few days, summon the Duchess to the palace."
"Yes, Your Highness," the maid replied.
The Duchess was her elder sister-in-law.
As her mother grew older, she became increasingly timid, and the Empress no longer summoned her to the palace for affairs, relying on her sister-in-law instead.