After Xiao Jingheng called out to her several times, Song Zhao finally managed to sluggishly regain consciousness.
She lightly knitted her brows, her eyes dazed, pressed a palm to her forehead, and had an uncomfortable look on her face.
Xiao Jingheng anxiously asked her, "Zhao'er, how are you feeling?"
Song Zhao weakly responded, "This concubine feels a bit dizzy, it is likely due to not having rested well last night."
Xiao Jingheng said: "Jiang Deshun, go summon the Imperial Physician to take a look at Consort Zhao."
The Empress also caringly said from the side: "Since you are feeling unwell, you should first go rest for a bit in the side palace of this palace."
Song Zhao bowed her head in thanks, while Xiao Jingheng supported her to get up.
But as soon as she stood up and had not yet taken a step, Song Zhao felt her feet were as heavy as lead, numb and tingling, and she could not even stand steadily.
Her body tilted and she fell into Xiao Jingheng's embrace, appearing weak and helpless,
"Your Majesty...this concubine's legs and feet feel severely numb..."
Xiao Jingheng did not force her and helped her sit down again, and ordered the palace maid to bring her a cup of hot tea.
Seeing Song Zhao had broken into a sweat on her forehead, Consort Hui said,
"Is it because the heated floor in the Empress's palace is too warm? I see Sister Song's forehead is sweating profusely. Why not open the windows to air out the room, it may make Sister feel a bit better?"
Xiao Jingheng had been holding Song Zhao's hand the entire time, he could feel Song Zhao's palm was cool,
so the perspiration on Song Zhao now should be cold sweat, not caused by external heat.
He shook his head, "It is frigid outside, Consort Zhao is already suffering from chills, she should not be exposed to the evil winds."
Song Zhao was dizzy and weak, with numb limbs, showing no signs of improvement for a long time.
Everyone could only stay by her side and wait for the Imperial Physician to come and see exactly what was going on.
During this time, the Empress Dowager also arrived.
She was close to Song Zhao, and was originally going to participate in Song Zhao's conferment ceremony today,
but the Empress Dowager had to pay respects to Buddha for an hour every morning after waking up, so she came a little late.
When she entered, she saw Song Zhao leaning against Xiao Jingheng looking very ill.
So she asked, "What is going on here?"
When everyone saw the Empress Dowager arrive, they greeted and paid respects to her under the lead of the Empress.
Song Zhao also wanted to get up, but her limbs were still weak, she could only give up after trying unsuccessfully to push against the chair handle to stand.
"Empress Dowager, this concubine..."
"You may remain seated since you are unwell." The Empress Dowager walked over to Song Zhao and took out her handkerchief to wipe the beads of sweat on her forehead,
"What is it that you are feeling uncomfortable about? You have just given birth and your body is naturally weak and deficient. On top of that, you have been working hard these days for the conferment ceremony, could it be that you are exhausted?"
Song Zhao said weakly, "Thank you for your concern, Empress Dowager. It was this concubine's own weakness, yet I have burdened everyone."
The Empress Dowager said, "You worked hard to give birth to a precious prince for the Emperor, it is only natural for everyone to care about you. You..."
Just as she was speaking, a sudden dizzy spell surged into the Empress Dowager's mind.
Her vision went dark, her limbs swiftly became numb and she could not stand steadily.
Fortunately, Qingzhu had been attending to her closely, and swiftly supported her arm, preventing her from crashing to the ground.
"Mother!"
"Empress Dowager!"
Everyone swarmed over again to help seat the Empress Dowager next to Song Zhao.
Song Zhao looked at her in puzzlement and concern, asking "What is the matter, Empress Dowager?"
The Empress Dowager's complexion turned somewhat bluish for a moment, sweat also gradually emerged on her forehead, and her hands trembled uncontrollably.
Seeing her condition was quite similar to Song Zhao, only her symptoms were slightly more severe.
With Song Zhao and the Empress Dowager successively becoming dizzy and weak, this matter was clearly out of the ordinary.
An imperceptible gloomy shadow also crawled onto the Empress's face.
Just as everyone was anxious, Jiang Deshun rushed over with the Imperial Physician.
The arrival was Guo, who had just been appointed as Chief Imperial Physician of the Imperial Medical Bureau by Xiao Jingheng.
He did not dare to delay at all, and without even properly performing the courtesy greetings, he immediately began taking the pulse for the Empress Dowager and Song Zhao.
After carefully examining their pulses, Guo said urgently,
"Replying to Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager and Imperial Consort Zhao are suffering from palpitations due to medicinal incompatibility."
"Medicinal incompatibility?" Xiao Jingheng did not understand, "What incompatibility is this? And what is the cure?"
Guo explained, "This servant asked Qingzhu and Yun Shan which medicines the Empress Dowager and Imperial Consort Zhao have taken recently.
Imperial Consort Zhao had just given birth, and was mostly taking medicines to nourish qi and blood, nourish yin and protect the uterus.
The Empress Dowager has been taking longevity medicines for many years.
The only medicine they took in common was the Mahuang Defeng Powder for treating wind-chill."
Guo basically understood the cause for the Empress Dowager and Song Zhao's sudden palpitations, so he further asked,
"May I ask if the Empress Dowager and Imperial Consort drank any wine today?"
Although the Empress Dowager's vital energy was damaged, irritation could still be heard in her tone,
"What nonsense are you talking about? This Dowager and the Consort are perfectly fine, why would we drink any wine?"
Guo explained, "The reason this servant dared to ask is because the mahuang used in the Mahuang Defeng Powder taken by the Empress Dowager and Imperial Consort was processed together with Herba Cistanche.
Although this medicine is very effective, alcohol must be avoided when taking it, otherwise it can cause palpitations. Even just smelling the aroma of alcohol can have an effect, although the symptoms will be milder."
His words had made it quite clear already.
Since neither the Empress Dowager nor Song Zhao drank any wine, and they both suddenly developed palpitations in the main hall of Kun Ning Palace, it meant there must be a barely noticeable scent of alcohol lingering in this main hall.
Xiao Jingheng's gaze flickered. He reflexively looked to the Empress,
but before he could say anything to interrogate, he saw Concubine Li walk out from the crowd carrying a soup warmer, flustered as she timidly said,
"Could it be...that this concubine had spiked the soup warmer with artemisia wine, which led to the Empress Dowager and Imperial Consort feeling unwell like this?"
As soon as she stepped forward, the discomfort experienced by the Empress Dowager and Song Zhao seemed to worsen slightly.
Guo quickly took the soup warmer from her hands, walked farther away, then opened the sealed cover. Inside was extremely mellow white liquor, but its aroma was entirely masked by the artemisia. That was why it was not easily detectable.
He hurriedly said, "Quick, open the windows to ventilate, and take this soup warmer outside."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Deshun immediately ordered the palace maids to do so.
Everyone also looked towards Concubine Li at the same time.
She was scared out of her wits, shaking her head in terror,
"This concubine had no ill intentions, I did not know this thing would have such side effects..."
As she spoke, she pulled Consort Tong next to her and faltered,
"Some time ago, this concubine had chilly hands and feet. Concubine Tong accompanied me to see the Imperial Physician. The Imperial Physician said it was due to the winter chill invading my body and causing a cold uterus.
This condition makes it hard to conceive, so I asked the Imperial Physician for methods to regulate the body. It was the Imperial Physician who taught me to use artemisia wine to heat the soup warmer and apply it to the lower abdomen. The warmth of the wine steams and the artemisia warms the womb, it is the most useful for dispelling cold-dampness."
"Your Majesty can ask Consort Tong if you do not believe me!"
