Chapter 86 - Little Imperial Grandson

Shen Ziqiao’s voice was quickly drowned out by the loud and soft weeping noises.

Sheng Peiyin covered her mouth, choking. The crown princess’ face was pale like snow. Two palace maids were supporting her right now. The crown prince stood by the empress’ side sorrowfully and in pain, glancing at his imperial son crying nonstop. His eyes were a bit teary.

Shen Ziqiao really wanted to pretend as if she couldn’t hear the child’s crying, but she couldn’t help it.

She walked to the empress to see that delicate and cute baby’s face flushing because he was covered by the blankets too tightly. The color of his lips was really abnormal. She said softly, “Your Majesty, when I was living in the village, I saw that the children by the countryside had displayed the same symptoms as little imperial grandson as well. The doctor said that you can’t cover the child too tightly…”

Sheng Peiyin scolded her by the side, “Jiao Jiao, it’s no place for you to fool around. Quickly stand to the side.”

Shen Ziqiao felt a sense of unprecedented disgust towards this woman. Even if she wasn’t immediately related to the little imperial grandson’s fever, he’d become her stepping stone. Therefore, Shen Ziqiao found Sheng Peiyin to be very dislikable. It made her more determined to try to cure him.

“Your Majesty, the child is about seven or eight months old, the time period where he’d be growing out his teeth. It’s normal that he has a fever. You just need to try to reduce his fever, not trying to cover his body with blankets.” Shen Ziqiao ignored Sheng Peiyin’s scolding and reached over, wanting to carry the little imperial grandson.

Sheng Peiyin walked over and wanted to pull her away.

The empress already placed the little imperial grandson in Shen Ziqiao’s arms. “Then… the countryside child was saved?”

Shen Ziqiao nodded, and moved the blankets to the side. She noticed that he was wearing thick clothes inside as well. Heaven. Even if he didn’t die from a fever, he’d be stuffed to death! “When a child has a fever, they can’t wear that much. This is common knowledge. Who helped the little imperial grandson wear so many clothes? They’re basically increasing his temperature!”

Sheng Peiying was the one that said that the little imperial grandson couldn’t catch a cold, thus persisting on making him wear all those clothes.

Sheng Peiyin’s expression changed colors, and she wanted Shen Ziqiao to hurry and shut up. She had just listened to the imperial physician. How come Shen Ziqiao made it seem like it was her fault now?

Seeing that Shen Ziqiao pulled the blankets to the side for the little imperial grandson, a flicker of worry flashed by Princess Nihong’s eyes. “Jiao Jiao, you… you really know how to save the little imperial grandson?”

Shen Ziqiao didn't dare to agree. She hesitated for a while before looking at the empress. “Your Majesty, I don’t dare to guarantee… but I’ll try by using the countryside’s methods. Just please don’t sentence me to death.”

The empress wanted to laugh but she couldn’t. “I’ll pardon you.”

The imperial physician already said that there was no saving the little imperial grandson. She’d let Shen Ziqiao try using her countryside’s methods then. After all, she’d try anything and everything under desperation.

Shen Ziqiao took off the little imperial grandson’s cotton jacket. He wore only a thin cotton shirt. “Do you have any alcohol? Baijiu is fine too. Then boil some more warm water too…”

Her best friend had a child around the little imperial grandson’s age too. There was a time when he got Roseola, and Shen Ziqiao had taken care of him. Therefore, she knew how to reduce his fever through physical means.

Normally, a child this big wouldn’t have been infected with any serious illnesses. It was normal for them to have fevers.

“How long has the child not eaten anything?” Shen Ziqiao placed the weeping little imperial grandson on the bed and noticed that his limbs were really cold. However, his body was burning.

“From yesterday night to now, he hasn’t eaten anything much.” The wet nurse by the side said.

Shen Ziqiao said, “Let the little imperial grandson drink some salty sweetened water first.”

The empress and crown princess had no time to think about Shen Ziqiao’s rude tone. They had the palace maids listen to her orders.

Quickly, a bottle of baijiu and a bowl of warm water were prepared.

Shen Ziqiao grabbed a thin silk handkerchief and mixed the baijiu into the water. Then, she went to remove the little imperial grandson’s clothes and said, “...Close the windows and don’t leave that many people here. Remain the fresh air. Also, go get the little imperial grandson’s undergarments. It’d be used to reduce his fever…”

The palace maid quickly listened and brought the little imperial grandson’s undergarments over.

Shen Ziqiao tested the water temperature with her elbow before carefully placing the little imperial grandson inside the bronze basin.

Sheng Peiyin shrieked and immediately walked over to carry the little imperial grandson from Shen Ziqiao’s arms. In an aching expression, she interrogated, “What are you doing? The little imperial grandson has a fever right now. How can he touch the water?”

“It’s to help dissipate heat for the little imperial grandson. That way, we can reduce his fever.” Although there was no thermometer, she tested the little grandson’s temperature. It should be above 38C. She needed to hurry and reduce his fever.

“The imperial physician said that he can’t be near water!” Sheng Peiyin said and looked at the crown prince and the empress in heartache, “Your Majesty, Jiao Jiao enjoys playing around, so she doesn’t consider the consequences when she does something. The little imperial grandson’s health… is no small matter. Please invite the imperial physician over.”

Isn’t there a group of imperial physicians on the ground outside? Didn’t they say that they couldn’t save the little imperial grandson?

Shen Ziqiao didn’t dare to grab the little imperial grandson over. She just looked at Sheng Peiyin speechlessly.

“Hand the little imperial grandson to Third Miss Shen.” The crown prince said deeply.

Sheng Peiyin wore a shocked expression. A palace maid carried the little imperial grandson from her arms over to Shen Ziqiao.

Shen Ziqiao hurriedly placed the little imperial grandson in the bronze basin. After she massaged him near some main arteries, she hurriedly lifted him up with a dry towel. Under the palace maid’s assistance, she helped the little imperial grandson wear his clothes again.

Then, she forcibly made the little imperial grandson drink a small cup of sweet salted water.

“Let the little imperial grandson drink some milk. Don’t let him become dehydrated.” It’d be serious if he became dehydrated. It was just a normal fever. It was curable.

Shen Ziqiao found it questionable why the imperial physicians said that it was incurable.

The wet nurse carried the little imperial grandson to the side for him to drink some milk.

At this time, the empress and the others weren’t in the mood to care about Shen Ziqiao anymore. Everyone’s attention was on the little imperial grandson.

Only Sheng Peiyin looked shockingly and questioningly at Shen Ziqiao.

“He drank it! The little imperial grandson drank the milk!” The wet nurse exclaimed happily.

Of course. He must’ve been starving since he hadn’t eaten anything for a while. He has had a feverish temperature, and Sheng Peiyin still covered him up that tightly. When he was sucklingly on the breast, he obviously couldn’t take any milk in from how warm his body was. Now that his cotton jacket was taken off, and that they tried to reduce his fever, the little imperial grandson obviously could take in the milk now.

The empress and crown princess slightly sighed in relief. They shifted their gazes to Shen Ziqiao and asked, “Is this really effective?”

Shen Ziqiao smiled coquettishly and said shyly, “I… I see that the women by the countryside would do this, so I wanted to try it. I just took a look at him. The little imperial grandson is in the process of growing his teeth out. It’s normal that he has a fever.”

It was actually because she took the little imperial grandson over in her arms and asked the wet nurse about his situation that she confirmed he just had a normal fever. It was no big issue.

Thankfully, it worked out. Otherwise, her rash actions would lead her to death.

Suddenly, the little imperial grandson started crying loudly. His crying was much louder than before too.

“What happened now?” The empress asked shockingly.

Shen Ziqiao didn’t know either. She recalled the imperial physicians outside and said, “Why don’t we let the imperial physicians come in to take a look?”

The empress’ face was dark and scary when the imperial physicians were mentioned.

Sheng Peiyin kept on staring at Shen Ziqiao. This was the first time she doubted her memory since she was reborn. This wasn’t the Shen Ziqiao she knew. In the past life, she was an idiot. Besides being infatuated with the Ninth Prince, she couldn’t do anything. How could she possibly reduce fever for the little imperial grandson that calmly? How could she possibly steal her spotlight?

The way the crown prince looked at Shen Ziqiao made Sheng Peiyin feel as if her heart was seized.

She liked the crown prince. She liked him a lot. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have cut off ties with the Ninth Prince. But he didn’t even look at her at all...

Three imperial physicians were summoned. Under the empress’ dark gaze, they checked the little imperial grandson’s pulse in fear.

“Replying to Your Majesty, the little imperial grandson...has defecated.”

Shen Ziqiao tched. She walked over to look at the little imperial grandson. There was black poop. He must have internal heat inside his body. She smiled at the empress and exclaimed, “Your Majesty, the little imperial grandson has pooped. It’s fine, it’s fine. As long as he isn’t dehydrated.”

The empress’ dark expression soothed immediately.

The crown princess walked over and carried the little imperial grandson in her arms, softly weeping ears of happiness.

“Imperial Physician Li, you’re the one that said that the little imperial grandson will die soon?” The empress had someone carry the little imperial grandson off to get his diaper changed. After confirming that his temperature has decreased, she shifted her stern gaze towards the three imperial physicians present.

Imperial Physician Li got on his knee fearfully.

At this time, a sliver of yellow appeared outside the palace door.

“The emperor has arrived—”

Before Shen Ziqiao could see what the emperor looked like, she was pulled by Luo Zhaohua to kneel down. Greeting calls rang in the room.

Shen Ziqiao had trouble processing what happened next.

The five imperial physicians were all punished. Two of them were sentenced to death. Many palace maids and eunuchs taking care of the little imperial grandson were reprimanded by the emperor. She saw a glimpse of sternness and severeness on the empress’ kind and friendly face.

The empress seemed to hate those imperial physicians a lot.

If she summoned the courage to help the little imperial grandson reduce fever, but failed, would she land herself the same consequences as those imperial physicians?

When Shen Ziqiao thought of this, she wanted to chop herself badly. She shouldn’t have been that rash!

The crown prince mentioned Shen Ziqiao and praised her greatly, looking at her friendly. Shen Ziqiao lowered her head and acted shy.

The empress’ tone was faint however. “Right, thankfully this child knows some countryside methods. We need to reward Third Miss Shen greatly.”

Shen Ziqiao thought that the empress’ attitude was the same as the weather. It was nice sometimes, and bad the other times. She couldn’t understand her. She thought that life in the palace was really difficult. Thankfully, she hadn’t transmigrated into the palace.

The emperor happily rewarded Shen Ziqiao quite a few items, making her delighted inside.

She should be able to exchange it for some silver taels.

After what happened with the little imperial grandson, the empress’ birthday banquet had lost its energy. Plus, it had long past the time for the banquet. When she left the palace, Shen Ziqiao still had lingering fear. Whenever she recalled the empress’ hatred to the imperial physician, she thought that she had stepped into the coffin halfway.

Qi Zheng was right. She did remember his words, but her heart couldn’t help but soften.

“Did you think that the imperial physicians had died wrongfully?” Princess Nihong watched as the two young ladies weren’t chattering about like usual, so she knew that they must have something on their minds.

Didn’t they die wrongfully? Shen Ziqiao looked silently at Princess Nihong.

“Humph! They died rightfully!” Princess Nihong also revealed an expression of hatred. “You really think that the imperial physicians couldn’t save the little imperial grandson? They’re just trying to stall on purpose and kill the little imperial grandson.”

Luo Zhaohua exclaimed in surprise and shook her head incredulously. “How dare they? The little imperial grandson…”

Princess Nihong sneered. “They naturally don’t dare, but the person behind them refuses to let the little imperial grandson live. Just forget whatever I said to you guys. I only told you guys because I don’t want you to misunderstand the empress. She has her difficulties.”

Shen Ziqiao was shocked inside. It was because when she was reading, she just skimmed through the novel. She neglected a lot of content. She had no idea about the schemes in the palace, and the empress’ enemies, and such. Could it be that someone in the palace dares to oppose the empress and the crown prince?

Then did she… offend a noble today?

Shen Ziqiao swallowed her saliva speechlessly. She knew that she shouldn’t have entered the palace casually!