Chapter 937: Why Were They All Crying?

The next morning, Cheng Ru'an prepared generous gifts and brought Tuan Tuan to the gate of Fengyi Palace.

She adjusted her daughter's hairpin and told her, "Little brother is ill; after we go in, don't keep playing with him."

"Although your father asked us to visit, the Empress is already very busy caring for little brother, so we can't stay long; we'll just have a look and leave."

"Got it, Mother!"

Mu Rongjin heard the news, her hand holding the tea cup froze, and she wondered why Princess Consort Ning had arrived.

Besides the Hundred‑Flower Banquet, I have invited her several times, and she always avoided me, didn't she?

Why would she take the initiative to come today?

She suppressed the turmoil in her heart, brushed the phoenix hairpin on her head, smoothed her collar and said, "Si Yu, please escort them to the Main Hall."

"Yes."

Cheng Ru'an led Tuan Tuan into the Main Hall, where Mu Rongjin sat at the head seat with a gentle smile.

As soon as Tuan Tuan entered, she shouted brightly, "Empress! Mother and I have come to see little brother!"

"This child," Cheng Ru'an said with a smile, shaking her head, and led her daughter in a respectful bow.

"No need for formalities," Mu Rongjin said with a smile, raising her hand slightly, "Si Yu has just brought out some snacks; hurry, try them."

"Thank you, Empress!" Xiao Tuanzi said without any modesty, swinging her legs on the brocade stool, picking up a piece of cake and eating it.

"Princess Consort Ning, please sit."

"Thank you, Mother," Cheng Ru'an said as she sat down, "I heard the young prince has developed a rash that hasn't healed for many days."

"My heart has been worried, so I came today especially to see him."

Mu Rongjin's smile froze for an instant.

Since Xiao Che developed the rash, she has even more logically blocked everyone who wanted to enter Fengyi Palace to visit him.

Of course, except the Emperor and the Crown Prince.

But she dared not block Princess Consort Ning and Tuan Tuan.

Mu Rongjin lowered her eyelids, gently set down the tea cup, and said, "Princess Consort, you're thoughtful; follow me."

Having said that, she rose and walked toward the Sleeping Hall.

Tuan Tuan slipped off the brocade stool, grabbed her mother's hand, and followed behind.

Si Yu felt a sudden thump in her heart at the sight and hurried after them.

The group arrived at the Sleeping Hall, where a faint scent of medicinal herbs floated in the air.

Xiao Che was sitting in a cradle, wearing a pale‑moon‑colored nightgown.

His little face was pure white and bright, full of spirit; when he saw Tuan Tuan, he grinned and stretched both tiny hands toward her.

Mu Rongjin walked to the cradle's edge, leaned down and gently lifted the boy's nightclothes, revealing the rash on his arm.

The rash formed a continuous, dense patch, stark against his snow‑white skin.

"Princess Consort, please look; it's been treated for many days," she said, gazing at her son's little face, her voice trembling slightly, "It keeps recurring—gone today, back tomorrow."

"All the imperial physicians have examined him, yet they can't explain why."

"I have kept watch over him day and night, and seeing these rashes I always can't…" She choked off mid‑sentence, lifted her handkerchief and dabbed at the corner of her eye.

Cheng Ru'an glanced at the rash, then at Xiao Che's rosy cheeks and sparkling eyes, and felt something was off.

A child who falls ill repeatedly would be listless, yet this child's spirit is so vigorous that he hardly looks sick.

She showed no expression and whispered, "Empress, you've worked hard."

Tuan Tuan stood at the cradle's edge, holding Xiao Che's little hand, tilting her head and staring at him for a while, "Little brother isn't sick."

Mu Rongjin's whole body tensed.

Si Yu's hand clenched tightly inside her sleeve.

Cheng Ru'an lowered her head and asked her daughter, "Tuan Tuan, what did you say?"

"I said little brother isn't sick," Tuan Tuan said earnestly, pointing at the rash on Xiao Che's arm, "He doesn't feel uncomfortable at all."

"He himself doesn't even know this thing has grown!"

After that, she stared at Mu Rongjin for a moment.

Mu Rongjin's heart pounded wildly.

Tuan Tuan's little eyebrows furrowed, "Empress, there's a grayish lump on your head."

Mu Rongjin felt a chill run up her spine, and her complexion changed instantly.

A grayish thing? On my head?

Hearing this, Si Yu hurriedly rebuked the palace attendants, "The Empress wishes to speak privately with the Princess Consort; everyone step back!"

"Yes."

The attendants filed out in succession.

Si Yu sealed the hall door, walked to the cradle's edge, and forced a smile, "Princess Consort, the Empress has been unable to eat or sleep these days because of the young prince's condition."

"It's because of that, her complexion has worsened."

Tuan Tuan shook her head, turned, and ran toward the hall's exit.

"Tuan Tuan! Where are you going?" Cheng Ru'an reached out to stop her daughter, but only caught a hem of her dress.

"I'm going to tell Imperial Uncle!" Xiao Tuanzi shouted while running, "The Empress has a gray thing on her head, little brother isn't sick!"

Though her legs were short, she darted quickly and reached the sleeping hall's doorway in a few steps.

Si Yu was stunned, completely frozen.

Mu Rongjin's face turned pale in an instant.

She lunged forward, pounced at Tuan Tuan's feet, and clutched the little arm tightly; Tuan Tuan let out a startled "Ouch."

"Don't go!" Mu Rongjin's voice trembled so much it was almost inaudible, "I beg you, please don't go!"

Cheng Ru'an hurried forward, shielding his daughter in his arms, lowered his head to look at the Empress still kneeling on the ground, his eyes full of astonishment and doubt: "How could the Empress request Tuan Tuan?"

"That's too heavy a matter; Tuan Tuan can't bear it!"

She deliberately set a stern face: "Si Yu, the Empress has accidentally fallen, why are you still standing? Quickly help the Empress up!"

Si Yu, as if waking from a dream, ran to Murong Jin's side and reached out to help: "Empress, please get up quickly; let me fetch an imperial physician to examine you?"

Murong Jin ignored her, still sitting dazed on the ground.

She lifted her head to look at Cheng Ru'an, her lips moved a few times as if to say something, but she never managed to speak.

After a moment, she slowly lowered her eyelids and let out a long sigh: "I can hold back today, but not tomorrow."

"Tuan Tuan has a pair of eyes that can see through anything, and His Majesty trusts her so much."

"If she shows even the slightest sign before His Majesty and arouses his suspicion, I will be doomed for ten thousand eons."

"Che'er is still so young; if I'm not here, who will protect him?"

Cheng Ru'an turned Tuan Tuan behind him and glanced at the bedchamber's main door.

Why did the Empress suddenly lose composure like this? Has she gone mad?

What does it mean for Tuan Tuan to cause His Majesty to doubt her?

Cheng Ru'an protected his daughter behind him with one hand while his other hand reached for his waist.

The daughter gave him her small pistol; fortunately, having listened to the Prince's words, he took it with him when he left.

If the Empress intends to harm Tuan Tuan… I will use the pistol to block her, and send Tuan Tuan running toward Zichen Hall.

Oh no! I still don't know how to use it!

She stared at Murong Jin with a face full of tension.

Murong Jin, with Si Yu's assistance, slowly stood up, but never glanced at the mother and daughter again.

She walked to the cradle, bent down and gently lifted her son.

Xiao Che let out a whimper, and his two little arms clutched her neck tightly.

Murong Jin lowered his head to look at that pink little face, could no longer hold back, and tears surged out wildly.

Si Yu stood beside him, clutching her mouth tightly so as not to cry out, while her shoulders trembled violently.

Tuan Tuan poked his little head out from behind his mother: "Why are they both crying?"

Cheng Ru'an stared at the woman weeping while holding her son, utterly stunned.