Chapter 38

After two days and two nights of high fever, the Crown Prince suddenly developed red marks and rashes all over his body.

The physicians took turns examining him, but were still unable to determine whether it was a severe case of chickenpox or smallpox.

If it’s just the usual chickenpox, it might pass with time.

If it is smallpox, and the Crown Prince is only six months old, he might not survive.

Empress Dowager Cui, burning with rage, violently threw the tea cup in her hand to the ground, making a mess, but still felt it was insufficient.

“If anything happens to the Crown Prince, I will make sure the Emperor kills all of you!”

“Forgive me, Empress Dowager! Forgive me, Empress Dowager!” The Head of the Imperial Hospital, nearly at his wits’ end, quickly took a few steps back in fear.

His knees gave way, and he fell to the ground, kowtowing uncontrollably.

The royal physicians at the back also hurriedly knelt and kowtowed, “Please forgive us, Empress Dowager! We will do our utmost to treat His Royal Highness!”

Seeing the Crown Prince crying and wailing again, with his little fat hands scratching at the red marks on his body unconsciously, Empress Dowager Cui’s heart felt as if it were being crushed.

“Grandmother’s little heart, if only I could bear all this suffering for you…” Empress Dowager Cui held the Crown Prince and sobbed softly.

The Emperor’s exclusive favor for Kang Yu Yi had resulted in many years of empty knees, and Empress Dowager Cui had always had something to say about it.

However, recalling that she herself had been loved exclusively by the late emperor since childhood, she did not, like Empress Dowager Lu, urge the Emperor to select consorts and fill the harem.

Nevertheless, Empress Dowager Cui had secretly been urging Kang Yu Yi to seek medical help to conceive an heir as soon as possible.

After finally obtaining such a legitimate grandson, Empress Dowager Cui naturally doted on him immensely.

Seeing the Crown Prince tormented by illness for the past two days, and his once-chubby body now greatly diminished, Empress Dowager Cui felt as if her heart were being torn apart.

Meanwhile, in the residence of Empress Dowager, Cishou Palace.

The Imperial Hospital was supposed to send a royal physician every morning to check Empress Dowager’s pulse, but no one had arrived even by late afternoon.

Empress Dowager instructed, “Have someone find out why the people from the Imperial Hospital have not arrived.”

The maid beside her hesitated, unsure whether to speak.

“What is going on?” Empress Dowager’s wrinkled eyes narrowed slightly.

The maid lowered her head and respectfully replied, “Empress Dowager, all the royal physicians from the Imperial Hospital were summoned by Renshou Palace today.”

“Oh? What’s going on?” Empress Dowager Lu felt a secret joy, wondering if Empress Dowager Cui might be nearing her end.

The maid added, “It’s the Crown Prince who has developed pox, and it doesn’t seem to be improving…”

“Alas it seems that I, Empress Dowager, am not even as good as a concubine’s son.”

Despite her words, the heavily powdered face of Empress Dowager Lu showed no displeasure instead, she seemed to relish the unfolding drama.

Recalling how they had tried to win over Consort Kang, only to be brushed off by her feigned illness, Empress Dowager felt very aggrieved.

Now hearing that the Crown Prince might be in grave condition, she felt a sense of relief.

She looked down at the bright red cardamom in her hand and said, “This noble consort appears rich and well-nourished but is childless; it’s not easy to have a commoner son, and now he’s about to be gone.”

The surrounding palace staff were immediately silent and did not dare to respond.

Empress Dowager gazed toward the northeastern Jehol Palace, secretly hoping that her granddaughter Pei Yuqian might prove herself…

Although the Empress Dowager Cui had already sent a messenger to the Jehol Palace early in the morning to inform the Emperor of the crown prince’s serious illness, the Emperor and the Noble Consort who were recklessly riding through the enclosure, remained unaware.

The Emperor embraced the delicate, soft person in his arms and urged his horse toward a lush, verdant pasture.

He carefully lowered Kang Yu Yi from his arms to the ground before dismounting himself.

Kang Yu Yi gazed at the tall, dense green grass swaying with the wind, creating a soft rustling sound. In the distance, cows and goats were partially obscured by the thick foliage.

“Your Majesty! It’s true that ‘the wind blows the grass down and you see cattle and sheep’! There is such a tall and rich expanse of grass!” Kang Yu Yi’s eyes shone with wonder.

The Emperor inwardly smiled at her amazement and gently turned her around by the shoulders to look back.

The majestic Yinshan Mountain range loomed above, its peaks piercing the clouds and exuding grandeur.

Kang Yu Yi was awestruck by the breathtaking view, her mouth slightly open in awe.

Seeing her so mesmerized stirred something within the Emperor, causing a subtle thrill.

He bent his head and kissed her slightly parted cherry lips, the contact soft and lingering, just their lips meeting without deepening.

His rough large hands caressed her smooth, porcelain-like face with tenderness.

Kang Yu Yi blushed deeply, bewildered by his sudden affection. Despite pushing against his firm chest with all her strength, she couldn’t make him move.

After an indeterminate time, her neck, strained from the awkward angle, became sore, and she began to grumble in discomfort.

The Emperor finally released her lips but while Kang Yu Yi was still disoriented he effortlessly lifted her with one arm.

Kang Yu Yi’s feet were abruptly lifted off the ground, and she gasped in surprise.

The contrast in their sizes was striking. The Emperor, tall and muscular from years of martial arts training was more than two heads taller than Kang Yu Yi.

He supported her under her bottom with one hand, bringing them to eye level.

Kang Yu Yi’s face was flushed with embarrassment as her chest pressed firmly against the Emperor’s warm, solid torso.

The Emperor kissed her again, his lips urgently sucking and exploring her soft, tender mouth.

He delved his tongue into her mouth, intertwining with her small, responsive tongue for an extended period, fervently tasting the sweet nectar of her kisses.

After a long time, Kang Yu Yi who had been held by the Emperor with one hand was gasping for breath. Her small head rested against the Emperor’s broad shoulder as she took deep heavy breaths.

Once she had regained her composure, the Emperor took down the water bottle from the horse and brought it to Kang Yu Yi’s lips so she could drink.

After the two of them had rested, they remounted their horses and headed back to the camp where they had been earlier.

On the way back to the camp, they encountered the two siblings from the Laku tribe and returned together.

Yanduo’s eldest brother, the Laku Prince, glanced up and saw the petite delicate princess in the Emperor’s arms. She was wearing a revealing fiery red riding outfit that accentuated her figure. After just one glance, he was too embarrassed to look directly again.

Although the Emperor of Zhongyuan had previously brought this princess with him on his visits to the Jehol Palace, the Prince had never seen her up close because the men and women had separate banquets.

The women of the North are known for their rugged and martial nature and take pride in their bold and spirited demeanor. This was the first time the Prince of the Lakubu tribe had seen such a strikingly beautiful, elegantly dressed and bashful woman from Zhongyuan.

His face was burning red, but his dark skin made the flush less noticeable.

The Prince rode his horse a bit ahead and tried to discreetly glance over Kang Yu Yi’s figure.

He could even distinctly hear the rapid pounding of his own heart.

Meanwhile, his sister Yanduo who was also riding beside him spoke urgently: “Your Majesty, I have something important to report!”

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