In the whole month of August, whenever the concubines went to Yonghe Palace to pay their respects to Ning Wanshuang, they hardly saw Consort Hui there.
She was also extremely worried about Chengjing's paralysis, and had been working herself to exhaustion over it.
Zhao Hua and Yunfei had gone to see Consort Hui together a few days ago. Her eyes were red and swollen, and her body had become gaunt, which made people pity her.
However, her diligent care for Chengjing was rewarded.
That day, Xiao Jingheng summoned a troupe from the Southern Manor into the palace to sing for Zhao Hua, to cheer her up.
While the two of them were listening to the performance, Imperial Physician Zhang happened to come to check Zhao Hua’s pulse and wish her well-being. After he said Zhao Hua was fine, Xiao Jingheng asked him,
"Some time ago, the chief judge said that your golden needle technique might be able to cure Chengjing's paralysis. Have you seen any improvement after treating him these past few days?"
Imperial Physician Zhang respectfully replied, "Replying to Your Majesty, the Third Prince originally had no sensation at all in his lower body, but after I needled him three times a day, he was able to feel pain the day before yesterday. This is an extremely good sign, indicating that the Third Prince's lower body may not be completely paralyzed and there is still a possibility of recovery!"
Xiao Jingheng only had Chengjing, this one healthy son, but he was paralyzed by a senseless disaster. Now hearing from Imperial Physician Zhang that there was a turning point, he was naturally overjoyed.
"Then in your opinion, is it possible for Chengjing to recover completely?"
Imperial Physician Zhang said, "I dare not make definitive statements, I can only do my best in treatment, but there is hope overall."
Zhao Hua was also smiling happily. "As long as there is hope, that's good. Chengjing is still so young. If he had to lie in bed for the rest of his life, it would make anyone's heart ache to hear it."
Then she looked at Xiao Jingheng and couldn't help sighing, "Xiao Lang doesn't know that on the day of the terrible incident at Changle Palace, Consort Hui and I saw it with our own eyes. If it hadn't been for Consort Hui's palace maid, who risked her life to cover Chengjing's mouth and nose, blocking most of the poison powder and saving Chengjing's life, I'm afraid that even if Chengjing had survived, there would be no hope of a turning point like now."
Xiao Jingheng's rewards and punishments were always fair. At this moment, with great joy on his face, he said,
"She was loyal to protect her master, which is commendable. The deceased has passed away, but the living can be rewarded. Call Little Imprint," he ordered, "Find out the name of that maid and have the Imperial Household Department send 100 taels of silver to provide for her family."
Little Imprint was clever and knew the backgrounds of all the palace maids on duty like the back of his hand. He immediately responded to Xiao Jingheng,
"Replying to Your Majesty, the maid who loyally protected her master was named Chunlan. She was alone and destitute, with both parents dead, and had no family ties."
Hearing this, Zhao Hua couldn't help joking, "So she was a pitiful person. Perhaps over the years she had long regarded Consort Hui as her own family, so at the critical moment she sacrificed herself to protect Chengjing. It shows Consort Hui usually treats her palace maids extremely well."
But Little Imprint said, "This Chunlan was originally working at the Fourth Treasury. She had only been transferred to Consort Hui's palace three months before the incident. She didn't serve Consort Hui for long. But she was indeed loyal."
Zhao Hua was surprised and said, "How could that be? I saw with my own eyes that day Chunlan nearly sacrificed her life to protect Chengjing. I thought she must have served Consort Hui for a long time, never expecting she was a newcomer. That's even more remarkable."
As she spoke, she glanced at Xiao Jingheng from the corner of her eye.
She noticed the originally bright look in Xiao Jingheng's eyes had darkened somewhat,
but he soon spoke as usual, "It is a servant's duty to protect their master. Those who contribute will be rewarded. Perhaps Chunlan was loyal on one hand, but on the other hand she may have wanted to secure a better future for herself."
Hearing this, Zhao Hua knew Xiao Jingheng was beginning to have suspicions. As clever as she was, she understood when to stop and subtly changed the subject, "Imperial Physician Zhang said Chengjing has improved. This is wonderful news. I visited Consort Hui a few days ago and saw her attending to Chengjing day and night until she was exhausted. Since we have time today, why don't you and I go visit them together?"
Xiao Jingheng also intended to do so. He dismissed the troupe and rode with Zhao Hua in the imperial carriage to Zhaochun Palace.
At the same time, in Zhaochun Palace.
"My son, drink this medicine quickly."
Consort Hui sat at the edge of Chengjing's couch, propping him up to sit leaning against the headboard.
She also placed a soft goose down cushion behind him to make him more comfortable sitting up.
The bowl of medicinal soup on the small table beside them had cooled to a suitable temperature. She picked it up and stirred the bottom with a spoon, scooping up a spoonful and bringing it to Chengjing's mouth.
The medicine was extremely bitter. Just the smell of it was nauseating.
The child's brow furrowed into a little lump. He forced down a mouthful with great difficulty, then made a bitter face and started to throw a tantrum.
"Mufei, this medicine is so bitter. I don't want to drink it."
"Chengjing darling, you have to be good and drink the medicine in order to get better quickly, understand?"
Consort Hui scooped another spoonful and held it out. But Chengjing was quite stubborn. He slapped the spoon away and screamed,
"I don't want to drink it! I don't want to!"
"Good boy, you have to be strong. You want to get better quickly too, don't you?" Consort Hui patiently persuaded him, saying with a smile, "Come now, be good. After you drink the medicine, Mother will give you candied fruits, alright?"
"I don't want to drink it! I don't want Imperial Physician Zhang to prick me with needles either! It hurts! I don't want it!"
He was making an awful fuss, constantly pushing Consort Hui's hands away, eyes full of grievance.
Consort Hui had been smiling just a moment ago, but seeing Chengjing like this, her expression instantly darkened. She said coldly,
"I'll ask you one more time. Will you drink it or not?"
"I won't drink it! I won't drink it! I..."
Before he could finish his tantrum, Consort Hui suddenly snapped. She pinched Chengjing's jaw with a tiger mouth grip, forcefully prying his mouth open, and poured the medicinal soup down his throat.
"You will drink this! If you're paralyzed, what can I expect from you in the future? Drink!"
She usually looked innocent and harmless,
but now with such a hideous expression even the child didn't dare cry out.
Only after she finished pouring the medicine did Consort Hui angrily throw the bowl aside. Lowering her voice, she said to Chengjing,
"Stop crying. You are my son. If you can't even endure this bit of bitterness, what can I expect from you in the future?"
"His Majesty arrives!"
Hearing the shrill announcement from the eunuch outside, the ferocity on Consort Hui's face instantly vanished.
She looked to the doorway with red-rimmed eyes. The moment Xiao Jingheng and Zhao Hua entered, tears fell from her eyes.
"This concubine pays respects to Your Majesty and Noble Consort."
Seeing Xiao Jingheng, Chengjing's suppressed sobs grew louder.
"Wah...Father Emperor! Father Emperor!"
"What's going on here?"
Seeing mother and child in tears, Xiao Jingheng felt an instant headache. He demanded of Consort Hui,
"What is Chengjing crying about for no reason?"
Just as Consort Hui was about to reply, Chengjing sobbed and complained to Xiao Jingheng first,
"Wah...the medicine is so bitter. I don't want to drink it, but Mother forced me to drink it. Mother is so fierce...I'm scared!"
