Chapter 12: Hey, where are you heading?

Upon hearing Bi Yun's words, Empress Changsun felt dizzy and lightheaded, her legs went weak, and she collapsed.

Fortunately, Li Shimin was nearby and instinctively steadied Empress Changsun.

"Guanyin Maid, don't rush, don't rush!"

He hurriedly offered comfort, then kicked Wushe, who was kneeling on the ground, and shouted angrily, "Scoundrel, why are you still kneeling? Go summon the Imperial Physician!"

"Yes, yes, yes, I will go summon the Imperial Physician right away!" Wushe quickly stood, his feet a blur, and sprinted toward the Imperial Physician Office.

"Sizi, my Sizi..." Empress Changsun clenched Li Shimin's sleeve, tears streaming from her eyes.

At this moment she was no longer the dignified and virtuous empress, but simply a mother whose heart was bound to her daughter.

Princess Jinyang, Li Mingda, had been obedient and sensible since childhood, beloved by all.

Li Shimin gave her the nickname Sizi, hoping she would be as strong as a rhinoceros.

But fate did not grant the wish; Sizi had been frail and sickly since youth, afflicted with the same Qi illness as Empress Changsun.

The Empress knew all too well the agony when this disease flared.

Thus, at the first sign of Sizi's attack, she panicked.

"Second Son..." Empress Changsun choked, "Take me to Fengyang Pavilion quickly, right now..."

At this point, the Empress could no longer mind outsiders' presence; she stopped addressing Li Shimin as His Majesty and used their private titles.

"Alright, alright, Guanyin Maid, I'll take you to Fengyang Pavilion now. Don't worry; I've already sent Wushe to summon the Imperial Physician. It will be fine, it will be fine."

While comforting Empress Changsun, Li Shimin was also soothing himself.

But he knew he must not panic, for if he did, the Empress would only become more frantic.

In the meantime, the Li Shimin couple could no longer attend to Chen Yan and Princess Gao Yang, and hurried toward Fengyang Pavilion.

Bi Yun stood up at the sight, about to follow, but was seized by Princess Gao Yang's arm from behind, "I remember you; you're Sizi's maid, aren't you?"

"What exactly happened to Sizi, why did she suddenly become gravely ill?"

Although Princess Gao Yang could be somewhat spoiled, she truly liked and cherished her sister Sizi.

Hearing Sizi's critical condition now, she couldn't help but feel anxious.

Bi Yun sobbed, "Your Highness Princess, today my master and Little Highness were playing in Fengyang Pavilion as usual. Suddenly Little Highness began breathing rapidly and coughing heavily. I was about to brew medicine for him, but he already developed a high fever and fell unconscious."

"I won't delay; I'll report to His Majesty and Her Majesty at once."

Upon hearing how severe Little Highness's condition was, Gao Yang lifted her skirt and waddled toward Fengyang Pavilion.

When Gao Yang left, Bi Yun and Xiang Lan hurried after her.

At the scene, only Chen Yan remained, looking bewildered.

Watching their backs as they left, Chen Yan glanced around, hesitated, then decided to follow and see.

If it had been another princess who fell ill, he might have turned and left.

Had Princess Gao Yang been the one ill, he might have gone back to Pingkang House to celebrate.

But… now it's Princess Jinyang, Li Mingda, who is gravely ill, and that piqued his interest.

After all, he was quite curious about this legendary ultimate "milk dumpling".

"......"

Fengyang Pavilion, the residence of Princess Jinyang, Li Mingda.

Li Shimin and Empress Changsun rushed in and at a glance saw a maid standing by the bedside, wiping sweat from the unconscious little Sizi.

Little Dumpling had already slipped into unconsciousness; her cute face was flushed, her tiny eyebrows knit from pain, and her body was covered in cold sweat.

Seeing that was heartbreaking.

"Sizi!"

Empress Changsun's heart felt like it was being torn by a knife, and tears instantly flooded her eyes.

She staggered to the bedside, trembling as she reached out to touch her daughter's cheek.

Her fingertips brushed Sizi's face and felt the scorching skin.

Another maid of little Sizi, Dong Xue, saw them enter, was frightened, and hurriedly knelt, "Your Majesty, Empress!"

Li Shimin could no longer attend to Dong Xue; looking at his daughter on the bed, his heart seemed about to shatter.

He shouted angrily, "What is Wushe doing, and where's the Imperial Physician? Why hasn't he arrived?"

"Er Lang, it's all my fault! All my fault!" Empress Changsun wept profusely; she didn't understand what inheritance meant.

She only knew that because she herself suffered from the Qi illness, her elder daughter Princess Changle and little Sizi also contracted it.

All the suffering little Sizi now endured was blamed on herself.

Li Shimin felt the same anguish, yet he could not blame Empress Changsun; he suppressed his worry and tried to make his voice sound calmer.

"Guanyin Maid, how could this be blamed on you?"

"The Grand Historian once said that little Sizi has three tribulations in her fate; if she can overcome them, she will enjoy boundless blessings and a lifetime of happiness and health."

"Surely, the first tribulation has arrived!"

"Tribulation... tribulation!" Empress Changsun muttered, recalling the words Grand Historian Li Chunfeng said when Sizi was born, like a drowning person clutching the only straw of salvation.

"Yes, yes, Your Majesty is right; since the Grand Historian can speak of three tribulations in Sizi's fate, there must be a way to break them."

"Why not summon the Grand Historian to the palace?"

Li Shimin thought it reasonable, went out, fetched a young eunuch, and ordered, "Go, quickly summon the Grand Historian to the palace for me!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" The young eunuch bowed and hurried away.

Coincidentally, Princess Gao Yang and two young maids arrived at that moment.

Chen Yan followed behind them.

Li Shimin was about to ask when Wushe, carrying an elderly man with a medicine box on his back, rushed over.

"Your Majesty, the Imperial Physician has arrived."

"Good, good, good, Imperial Physician, I order you, you must cure Xiao Sizi, otherwise I will hold you accountable!"

Imperial Physician had just been set down from Wushe's back, not yet steady on his feet, when he heard Li Shimin's words, and immediately staggered.

He understood Li Shimin's meaning.

If he can cure the little princess today, rewards are sure to follow.

But if he cannot cure her.

His nine clans will not be spared!

However, there is no other choice now; he can only clasp his hands and say, 'I will certainly do my best.'

A group of people walked into Phoenix Sun Pavilion together.

Empress Changsun, upon seeing Imperial Physician, immediately made space beside the couch, walked to Li Shimin's side, and nervously grabbed his hand.

Li Shimin gently patted the back of Empress Changsun's hand to comfort her.

Imperial Physician stepped forward, lifted a corner of the blanket, and placed his hand on Xiao Sizi's wrist.

Everyone held their breath and focused, not daring to disturb.

Imperial Physician then used his fingers to feel Xiao Sizi's breathing, and sighed inwardly: 'Her breathing is rapid, her pulse weak, while her whole body burns with fever, she also sweats profusely.'

'This time, it's difficult.'

After a moment's hesitation, Imperial Physician recalled Li Shimin's earlier threat, and still decided to use a safe treatment: first apply acupuncture to see if he could try to awaken Princess Jinyang, then combine with medication.

Having made the decision, Imperial Physician immediately took out a bundle of assorted-length silver needles from his medicine box, pulled one out, and reached toward Princess Jinyang's face.

Behind him, Chen Yan, who had been silently observing, raised his eyebrows and couldn't help but say, 'Hey, old man, where are you going to prick?'

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