CHAPTER 95: CHAPTER 95: EMERGENCY (PART 2)

An hour later, Doctor Ji also arrived.

With pulse diagnosis and acupuncture, he was busy for half the day, yet the Young Master lying on the bed showed no reaction. Duchess An quietly reddened her eyes, turning her head to the side to wipe away her tears.

Returning from the Ministry of War, Duke An’s expression was particularly solemn.

The Zheng family was prosperous with over twenty sons in this generation. He was not lacking in sons, having four from concubines, but only this one legitimate son.

Zheng Chen, talented in both literature and martial arts, was the most outstanding son of the Zheng family. Raised in the palace, he was as close as brothers with the Crown Prince and deeply favored by Empress Dowager Zheng and Emperor Taikang.

Whether it was a father’s love for his son or concern for the family heir’s health, Duke An felt particularly heavy-hearted at this moment.

The Crown Prince gently said, "Let Doctor Ji stay here and return to the palace when Zixian wakes up."

Doctor Ji was a master in medicine, one of the top talents in the Imperial Hospital.

Duke An was grateful to tears, hurriedly saluting to express his thanks.

Princess Jiang Bao Hua softly comforted Duchess An.

Dongping County Princess Jiang Yuehua and Huaiyang County Princess Jiang Wan Hua, not wanting to overshadow the Princess, stood quietly aside, occasionally glancing at the unconscious Zheng Chen.

The Jiang family was known for their good looks. Jiang Bao Hua was beautiful and gentle, Jiang Yuehua tall and charming, Jiang Wan Hua petite and cute.

Everyone stayed in the Zheng Mansion for two hours, refused the dinner invitation, and returned to the palace together.

Empress Dowager Zheng, upon learning of the incident, was worried, sending Mr. Zhao to Duke An’s Mansion with half a cart of supplements.

Two days later, Duchess An, with swollen eyes, entered Jingyang Palace.

"... Zixian hasn’t woken, and has had two days of high fever." Duchess An began to cry upon speaking, her voice choked with sobs: "Doctor Ji tried everything, barely bringing the fever down. But he still hasn’t opened his eyes."

"My entry into the palace is to ask the Lady to allow Doctor Ji to stay at Duke An’s Mansion a little longer."

Raising a child is not easy. The death of infants was common, even at the age of ten or so, many died from a cold. With her son suddenly afflicted with an acute illness, Duchess An had not closed her eyes for two days and nights.

Empress Dowager Zheng sighed deeply: "These past two days, I have been unable to eat or sleep, hoping heaven will show mercy, and Zixian will soon open his eyes."

"Doctor Ji will remain at the Zheng Mansion until Zixian wakes. You shouldn’t worry too much or get upset; perhaps by the time you return from the palace, Zixian will have overcome this ordeal."

Duchess An wiped her tears, thanked the Empress Dowager for her grace, and hurried back to her son’s bedside.

The court was abuzz over the Nanyang County Princess presenting a new type of plow, which also elevated Empress Dowager Zheng’s reputation. The Empress Dowager faction and Prime Minister faction took the opportunity to make a point, and the Ministry of Industry rushed to manufacture new plows based on the design, naturally rewarding the Nanyang Prince Mansion officials.

Such matters were of no concern to Duchess An.

She only hoped her son would open his eyes and wake up.

Fortunately, after Zheng Chen’s fever subsided, the medicine could be administered, and he could be fed some rice soup.

All branches of Duke An’s Mansion took turns to visit, each showing concern outwardly, while inwardly each harbored their calculations. Duke An’s four sons from concubines were particularly active, visiting every day.

Duchess An gritted her teeth in silent hatred.

That morning, without warning, the Young Master, who had been unconscious for six days, opened his eyes.

Overwhelmed with joy, Duchess An burst into tears: "Zixian, you finally woke up. You slept for six days, and if you hadn’t woken, I would have gone with you."

The men and women, young and old, surrounding the bed hurriedly spoke: "Zixian, you’re finally awake."

"You’ve slept for six days, and we’ve been anxious for six days, fearing for your safety. Now that you’ve opened your eyes, we can finally be at ease."

"Ninth brother, it’s so good you’re awake now..."

"Ninth brother..."

Voices surged like waves, echoing in his ears.

The pale and handsome young man struggled to gather his scattered gaze, slowly seeing everyone’s faces clearly, his body trembling under the quilt.

In a fleeting moment, countless chaotic images flooded his mind.

A thousand words stuck in his throat, neither swallowable nor spittable. His eyes were sore; warm fluid rose but was held back before spilling over.

After a long while, the young man finally squeezed out one sentence: "I’m hungry."

...

Two days later, the now-recovered Young Master Zheng entered the palace to pay respects to Empress Dowager Zheng.

Empress Dowager Zheng, holding her grandnephew’s hand, looked him over, her brows relaxed: "Good, good, good. Look at you now, full of spirit and complexion. I can finally be at ease."

Zheng Chen looked at the concerned Empress Dowager Zheng, his heart filled with complex emotions, but he showed nothing on his face, smiling as he said: "This unworthy grandnephew inexplicably fell ill, causing worry to the Lady."

Empress Dowager Zheng laughed: "It’s not like you wanted to get sick. Where’s the unworthiness in that? I’m just anxious for you. Now that you’re well, I can relax."

Zheng Chen, showing sincere affection, said: "With Grand-Aunt taking care of me like this, I must be filial to you in the future."

Empress Dowager Zheng was overjoyed by his words.

Suppressing his inner turmoil, Zheng Chen casually smiled and said: "By the way, Mr. Zhao returned to the Capital City eight days ago, and Cousin Shao Hua came into the palace with him, didn’t she? I heard Grand-Aunt mention her a few times, but I’ve never met her."

Empress Dowager Zheng casually replied: "That girl stubbornly claimed that Prince Nanyang came to her in a dream, insisting on staying in Nanyang County and not entering the palace. So I let her be."

Zheng Chen: "..."

Zheng Chen was momentarily shocked, his eyes flashing disbelief and then ecstatic joy, his voice trembling slightly: "In the palace, there’s the Lady’s guidance, the company of the Princess and the two County Princesses, the learned Grand Tutor, and the best music and embroidery masters in Da Liang. Even in martial arts, there are plenty of experts. Cousin Shao Hua is all alone in Nanyang County. It’s better to bring her into the palace early."

These words spoke to the heart of Empress Dowager Zheng.

She indeed had some calculations and selfish motives in wanting to bring Jiang Shaohua into the palace, but she also truly cared for Jiang Shaohua’s well-being.

With her mother passing early and her grandfather gone, only an adoptive father, Lu Xuan, remained. How could a girl of this age manage without proper elders? In a few years, when she comes of age, where can she find a suitable husband?

Empress Dowager Zheng sighed: "She doesn’t want to enter the palace for now, and I can’t force her. I’ll send someone to fetch her after a year or so."

A year or so is too long.

He couldn’t wait that long.

Since she didn’t want to come to the Capital City, he would go to Nanyang County to see her.

This thought lingered on his tongue but was swallowed back by Zheng Chen.

He and she were "strangers who never met," with no connection in others’ eyes. What reason did he have to travel a thousand miles to find her?

"Empress Dowager," Mr. Zhao, who regained his position as the top favorite in Jingyang Palace after delivering the new plow, walked in briskly, holding a thick envelope:

"The Nanyang County Princess sent a letter by express to be read by the Empress Dowager."