Chapter 203 - 202: Unsuitable for Childbearing

The urgency made the Noble Consort scream.

"Why isn’t anyone moving the charcoal brazier away!"

She also hurriedly ordered someone to start the ground dragon heating system.

Alas, by then, the Little Prince had already started to develop a fever. By night, he was burning with a high fever. The situation was extremely perilous. Despite Imperial Doctor Zhang administering several doses of medicine, there was no sign of improvement.

Noble Consort Shih was completely panicked.

"Emperor... Emperor..."

"Someone, quickly fetch the Emperor!"

Someone from Xifu Palace had already gone to summon him.

Noble Consort Shih held her son, her body trembling as she wept.

Zhao Junyao received the news in the middle of the night and immediately rushed over.

But alas...

He wasn’t a god; he couldn’t save this unfortunate child.

Before dawn, the Little Prince, just a month and a half old, stopped breathing in his coma.

After checking his pulse, Imperial Doctor Zhang knelt down.

"Emperor! The Little Prince... has passed away!"

It was as if a thunderous crash resounded as Noble Consort Shih’s world completely collapsed. If there had been any glimmer of hope before, any bit of light, now, she had nothing left. Her world had turned pitch black.

As if mad, she hurled objects at Imperial Doctor Zhang.

"You’re lying! My child isn’t dead!"

As she spoke, she carefully lifted her still-warm child.

"My child, you are alright, aren’t you? They’re all talking nonsense!"

"Your mother knows, you’re just sleeping! You really are just sleeping!"

She muttered to herself, clutching the swaddling clothes tightly.

Zhao Junyao frowned.

"Shih Wanxin, what madness is this!"

He pitied her, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t disgusted. Putting superstitions aside, consider the Noble Consort herself. If only she had heeded the Imperial Physician’s advice during her pregnancy and rested properly for a few days, the child might not have ended up this way! Who’s to blame! Who is really to blame! What right does she have to be heartbroken?!

Startled by his shout, Noble Consort Shih looked up.

"Emperor... Emperor..."

"Emperor, look, the Imperial Son isn’t dead; he... he’s just asleep!"

Zhao Junyao felt helpless and angry.

"Someone! Take the Prince away!"

Upon hearing this, Noble Consort Shih, once again as if mad, shielded the Prince in her arms.

"Get out, all of you! Nobody is allowed to touch my child!"

"Out! Everyone get out!"

Ying Yue and the others didn’t dare to move forward.

"Emperor... Emperor..."

The palace attendants were so frightened they knelt.

To tell the Emperor to ’get out’! The Noble Consort might not die, but their fate was not as certain! Would the Emperor be enraged and demand their lives?

Indeed, Zhao Junyao’s expression turned dark in an instant.

"Hurry and go!"

He turned his head to look at Li Shengan.

Faced with that expression, Li Shengan was so scared he almost wet his pants.

Yet he still had to brace himself and step forward, trembling.

Using a combination of gentle persuasion and firm action, Li Shengan and Little Zhuzi managed to take the Little Prince from the Noble Consort’s arms.

Noble Consort Shih seemed to regain some clarity, collapsing to the ground and bursting into heart-wrenching sobs.

Zhao Junyao’s heart wasn’t at ease either. He moved forward slowly and crouched down. Just as he was about to offer some words of comfort, the Noble Consort unexpectedly looked up, pointing at Zhao Junyao’s nose.

"It’s you! It must be you, right?!"

"You’re the one who caused my child’s death!"

All of those present inhaled sharply.

The hint of softness in Zhao Junyao’s eyes instantly vanished.

He abruptly stood up.

"Someone! The Noble Consort is unwell. Summon the Imperial Physician for a proper diagnosis!"

"If there’s nothing truly wrong, she is to remain in Xifu Palace to recuperate. There is no need for her to come out!"

"Yes!"

Everyone bowed their heads in obedience, not daring to breathe too loudly.

After giving his orders, Zhao Junyao turned back and slowly walked over to Li Shengan. He took the child, not even two months old, into his arms. He gazed deeply at the child for a few moments. Before sorrow could well up in his eyes, he handed the baby back to Li Shengan.

With only a single instruction, "Bury him well!"

He then turned and strode away, his footsteps as firm and powerful as ever, without a hint of lingering!

Li Shengan also left, carrying the Little Prince.

Noble Consort Shih hadn’t truly lost her mind; she had heard everything.

The truth, no matter how hard to accept, is still the truth!

「 」

Having just lost her child, vying for favor was the last thing on her mind. Perhaps this kind of forced seclusion suited her better.

At the very least, come dawn, she wouldn’t have to see the Empress’s self-satisfied smirk, mocking her. At the very least, she wouldn’t have to pay respects; she could numb herself, act recklessly, and no one would know.

Noble Consort Shih sent everyone away, knelt on the ground, and cried her heart out.

"My child, my child!"

Ying Yue, anxiously stamping her feet, watched from the window.

"Your Grace! Your Grace, you..."

Suddenly remembering something, she paused, then bit her lip and pushed the door open to enter.

"Your Grace..."

If Her Grace can’t be consoled, then perhaps... it’s better to let her cry it out.

"Your Grace, if you feel awful, just let it out and cry!" Ying Yue said, and began to cry herself.

Perhaps, she’ll feel better after crying.

After half a Shi Chen, Noble Consort Shih indeed seemed to feel somewhat better. She slowly sat up, her gaze sharp.

"Ying Yue, do you think... someone could have harmed my child in a way the Imperial Physician couldn’t detect?"

Ying Yue shook her head.

"It shouldn’t be possible!"

"Even if Imperial Doctor Zhang couldn’t detect it, there’s still the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Who would dare tamper with anything Your Grace touches?"

The Empress, perhaps? Although the Ministry of Internal Affairs is under the Empress’s control, all its personnel ultimately answer to the Emperor. How many could the Empress possibly bribe? Besides, if it were common palace substances like musk or safflower, how could Imperial Doctor Zhang not detect them? If it was poison smuggled in from outside the palace, that would be even less likely. The Imperial Forest Army isn’t just for show. Aside from the Emperor, who else has the authority to command them? There might be many intrigues within the palace, but the Emperor is still present. Who would truly dare to be so utterly lawless?

Noble Consort Shih was stunned.

She had pondered this question countless times. But still...

She slowly caressed her stomach.

"Could it... really be me?"

Ying Yue tried to comfort her again, "Your Grace, you’re still young. You will have other children!"

"Please get up, Your Grace; the floor is cold!"

Noble Consort Shih’s gaze was vacant, her mind full of worries, as she was helped to bed.

Ying Yue hurriedly called for servants to clean, prepare wash water, and so forth; but let us not dwell on these details.

「 」

The news of the Little Prince’s death spread throughout the Harem by early the next morning. After all, arrangements for his burial had to be made, and such news couldn’t be hidden.

Upon hearing the news, the Empress Dowager fell ill once again. For the past two months, she had not been eating or sleeping well, and had become significantly more haggard. She took Sister Qing’s hand, her voice trembling and weak as she spoke.

"It’s my ill-fortune. I had but one grandson, and now..."

Sister Qing also felt distressed. She could only try to offer consolation, "The Noble Consort is still young, Your Majesty. Please don’t be anxious. The young couple shares a deep affection; they will surely have another child!"

The Empress Dowager waved her hand, a tear tracing a path down the corner of her eye.

"Enough, enough! Even if there is another, I cannot bear it. It’s better not to have any at all!"

What if another child is born simple-minded?

"Consort Ning and Consort Hui Pin, when they were pregnant, didn’t have so many issues. They were both calm and composed!"

"And the two Princesses are both bright and clever!"

"It surely wasn’t the Imperial Son’s fault!"

Muttering to herself, the Empress Dowager’s gaze suddenly turned cold as she said,

"Maybe... she’s simply not fit to bear children!"