Yuan Qingling spoke sternly: "Prince Huai's illness is contagious, and anyone going in and out must wear a mask. I will explain this to Prince Huai clearly so he doesn't feel bad about it."
"Shut up!" Concubine Lu was so angry she didn't know what to say. She had come out of the palace just to keep an eye on Yuan Qingling, and now Yuan was causing trouble before even treating the illness.
Consort Ji smiled and said, "It's alright, just be a bit careful. I've been going in and out these past few days without wearing a...mask, was it? Sixth Brother is very ill and often lost in thought, we should try our best not to make him feel bad."
She casually handed the mask back to Yuan Qingling and turned to go inside, indicating she took no offense.
Yuan Qingling said sternly, "Stop right there!"
Prince Ji said coldly, "What arrogance is this?"
Yuan Qingling looked around at everyone and said, "Since His Majesty sent me here to treat Prince Huai's illness, everything regarding his condition must be left to my judgment. Even Fifth Brother can only transport me here and back. This disease is highly contagious, and can be spread through saliva. Wearing masks is a basic precaution. Anyone who does not wear a mask cannot enter this room."
She turned to look at Gu Si coldly and ordered, "Gu Si, stand guard at the door. Anyone who wants to enter must wear a mask. No exceptions, including Concubine Lu."
"Yes!" Gu Si obeyed. The Emperor had indeed said to follow Princess of Chu's instructions in all matters. He had no choice.
However, Gu Si felt Princess of Chu was quite bold today. He looked at Yuwen Hao, who seemed unperturbed, as if long accustomed to this. Yuwen Hao made no move to argue for Princess of Chu.
Concubine Lu was furious. "You dare stop even me? Gu Si, get out of my way!"
Concubine Lu pulled Consort Ji and tried to enter, but Yuan Qingling took out an imperial scepter from her sleeve, extending it section by section to block their way. "You may enter, but put on the mask first!"
"You...this is..." Concubine Lu looked closely and saw the carved dragon pattern on the scepter. She was greatly shocked. "This was bestowed by His Majesty?"
"The Retired Emperor," Yuan Qingling replied.
Consort Ji's eyes nearly popped out in shock.
Concubine Lu whipped around to look at Yuwen Hao. "Fifth Brother!"
Yuwen Hao spread his hands helplessly. "Mother Concubine Lu, she has the scepter, I'm powerless too. Father and Grandfather's words hold precedence, that she is to decide all medical matters. Even I am only to escort her."
Concubine Lu's expression twisted angrily. The standoff continued.
Princess Wenjing stepped in, "Mother Concubine Lu, it is only a mask. Explain it to Sixth Brother later. Let Princess of Chu in, don't delay treatment. Father trusts her, he must have reason."
Yuan Qingling threw a mask to Gu Si. "Watch them. I'm going in. No entry without a mask."
She looked back at Yuwen Hao. Yuwen Hao cooperated, quickly putting on a mask to set a good example.
The two entered the room. There was a servant inside attending the prince. Yuan Qingling gave him a mask to wear, then went to Prince Huai's bedside with Yuwen Hao.
"Sixth brother, how do you feel today?" Yuwen Hao tucked Prince Huai's blankets and leaned down to ask.
Prince Huai had become very thin, with sunken cheeks and eyes. His eyes were bloodshot, clearly having just suffered a coughing spell. His whole being looked weakened and pale after torment.
Yet he smiled and said, "Fifth brother, I can barely recognize you."
Yuwen Hao reflexively moved to take off the mask, but Yuan Qingling stopped him. She stepped forward with a smile. "Prince Huai, I am Yuan Qingling, Princess of Chu. His Majesty sent me to treat your illness."
Prince Huai's eyes slowly moved to Yuan Qingling, his smile fading somewhat. "I have long admired your great name, yet had no fortune to meet you until now. This humble brother pays respects, sister-in-law."
Yuan Qingling smiled. "We'll be seeing each other often from now on. At least for the next half year, you'll be seeing me."
Prince Huai smiled again. "Half a year? Good, wonderful!"
He knew how seriously ill he was. Let alone half a year, he likely wouldn't last half a month.
He had heard the imperial doctor tell his mother concubine that he only had a few days left, as his coughs were bringing up blood without cease.
Yuan Qingling looked over the doctor's logs. The condition was indeed already severe, with a month of bloody coughs despite constant medication. He would stabilize for two to three days before worsening again, coughing ceaselessly through the night.
Yuan Qingling did a preliminary exam and questioning, then took out medicine kits and injected penicillin.
Concubine Lu and Consort Ji came in wearing masks and saw Yuan Qingling giving Prince Huai an injection.
Concubine Lu rushed over. "What are you doing? What did you inject him with?"
Yuwen Hao held her back. "Mother Concubine Lu, please calm yourself."
Concubine Lu looked at Yuwen Hao in shock and suspicion. "What kind of treatment is this? Does His Majesty know?"
"He knows!" Yuwen Hao said.
Yuan Qingling took out some pills and had the servant bring water. She told Prince Huai, "Swallow these down."
Prince Huai was very cooperative. In the two to three years since falling ill, he had cooperated fully with all treatments, drinking down any concoctions brought by the various shamans and witch doctors his mother had found, without even asking what they were.
So now, he didn't even ask what Yuan Qingling's medicine was, directly swallowing it down with a slight frown.
Yuan Qingling paused in surprise. "These aren't meant to be chewed, they should be swallowed with water."
"Chewing increases the effect!" Yuwen Hao added, so Prince Huai wouldn't feel awkward.
Yuan Qingling had the servant bring more water. Prince Huai drank down a large cupful in one go, but the bitterness in his mouth still didn't fade, lingering in his throat.
"After the medicine, sleep if you feel tired. I've given you strong drugs, the first few days you'll feel very sleepy and listless, with poor appetite. These are normal side effects, don't worry." Yuan Qingling said gently.
Prince Huai nodded and smiled at her, then looked at Concubine Lu. "Mother concubine, treat my sister-in-law well."
Concubine Lu understood her son's meaning. Bitterly, she nodded, "Mother understands. Rest if you're tired."
Her son was so sensible.
Though Concubine Lu had a fiery temper, her background was truly not powerful. In the harem, she had always cautiously survived.
The Empress, Noble Consort, Virtuous Consort, Imperial Consort Qin - their families were influential, while her own father was just a local magistrate.
Her temper was really just a cautious attempt to protect herself. No one wanted to provoke a fiery woman.
Now His Majesty had ordered Princess of Chu to treat her son's illness. Though she opposed it, all she could do was come watch.
Her son feared her rashness would offend and leave him unable to protect her. So he wanted her to defer in all matters.
Her son was so thoughtful.
Consort Ji looked thoughtfully at Yuan Qingling's medicine box and asked, "The medicines in your box look strange, don't they need decocting?"
Yuan Qingling said, "These are all pre-made pills that can be directly swallowed. Concentrated and more potent without decocting."
She exchanged a look with Yuwen Hao - not more effective by chewing, alright? Illiterate!
Consort Ji smiled slightly, then went up to Prince Huai. "Sixth brother, don't blame your sister-in-law. She makes us wear masks to avoid catching your illness."
Prince Huai gave a weary smile. "I understand."
Yuan Qingling added, "Of course Prince Huai understands. Having fallen ill, he knows the misery of this disease, and naturally doesn't want his loved ones infected."
She took out a stethoscope and told Yuwen Hao, "Help him lie on his side, I need to listen to his back."
