Chapter 96: Hidden Ailment

Zhu Xu's expression changed. "What happened?"

Yao Qingqing's voice trembled. "I don't know. Miss Qing didn't explain clearly when she came, but it's more serious than last time. She said to go over immediately upon your return."

Zhu Xu turned and hurried toward Kunning Palace, his heart burning with anxiety.

What illness did Empress Zhang actually have? Last time he'd only gotten the three words "a woman's ailment." Naturally, he couldn't press for more details in such a situation, but this time, Zhu Xu had a bad feeling.

In history, Empress Zhang ultimately gave birth to a stillborn child. The historical records stated the cause was Madam Ke sending someone to strike her heavily in the waist, causing severe injury and harming the fetus.

But in his archaeology class, Zhu Xu vaguely remembered the professor once speculating that a heavy blow to the waist might not have been the cause—Empress Zhang likely had some hidden ailment that led to it. Generally, such outcomes resulted in miscarriage or disability, not a stillbirth.

Arriving at Kunning Palace, it was the same as last time—Emperor Zhu Youxiao and nearly all the imperial consorts had come, crowding Kunning Palace into a jumble.

Naturally, no one had time to pay attention to Zhu Xu at this moment. People came and went, all gathered around Empress Zhang's phoenix bed.

Zhu Xu stood not far from the entrance, watching the crowd inside, his expression grave and his heart unsettled.

"Your Highness."

Maids carrying basins of hot water came and went, bowing slightly as they passed Zhu Xu.

Zhu Xu looked at the blood-stained cloths and the reddened water in the basins, his heart growing heavier and heavier, as if a great stone pressed down on it, impossible to ease.

Time passed in agonizing increments. Zhu Xu had no way to inquire about anything, so he could only wait in silence.

A group of imperial physicians bustled about inside. Zhu Youxiao stood nearby leaning on a cane, half his head visible; everyone else was consorts and maidservants.

After Madam Ke's death, Empress Zhang's status had become prominent. Moreover, this was a legitimate son—if it were a boy, he would be destined to be the eldest legitimate son, holding a special position throughout the Great Ming court and beyond. No one dared to be negligent.

After who knew how long, Zhu Youxiao emerged from the crowd leaning on his cane, his face pale and his demeanor listless, as if he had suffered a tremendous blow. He walked over, glanced at Zhu Xu, said nothing, and turned to leave through the palace gate.

Zhu Xu's heart sank instantly. His gaze remained fixed on the interior.

The consorts also left one after another. Wu Qing and Wu Rou both walked over but said nothing, clearly finding the matter highly taboo.

Zhu Xu felt heavy at heart, yet he knew this was likely some sensitive ailment of women that could not be divulged.

He kept waiting, wanting to go in and see Empress Zhang.

It was almost dark before Huan'er found a moment to come over. Her expression looked as though she had cried who knew how many times. She pursed her lips, her eyes red, still seeming on the verge of sobbing. "Your Highness, please return. Her Ladyship has already gone to sleep."

Zhu Xu breathed heavily through his nose, looking at Huan'er. "Tell me honestly—is my sister-in-law's illness very serious?"

Huan'er knitted her brows, glanced around, and bit her lip as she whispered, "The imperial physicians said Her Ladyship's qi and blood are deficient and her body is weak—not well suited for childbirth. For now they can only protect the pregnancy and see how things go."

Zhu Xu looked at Huan'er, knowing there was certainly other important information she wasn't telling him, but he could more or less guess it already.

"Mm, I understand." Zhu Xu nodded slowly, turned, and left the palace.

Walking out of Kunning Palace, Zhu Xu slowly made his way back to his own palace, sighing deeply in his heart.

Indeed, history was history. Its powerful inertia could not be changed by some trivial matter. If Empress Zhang could not bear a prince, then the future Chongzhen Emperor would still ascend the throne normally, and everything seemed to return to the starting point.

Yao Qingqing watched Zhu Xu walk into the room listlessly and collapse onto the reclining chair with no energy at all. Worried, she asked, "Your Highness, is Her Ladyship the Empress all right?"

Zhu Xu's gaze was dim. He had always believed Empress Zhang would give birth to a prince, which would give him ample room to maneuver in the future. But if Prince Xin still took the throne and Chongzhen came again, then never mind doing what he wanted—even surviving would be difficult.

"She's fine." Zhu Xu waved his hand. "I'm tired. Don't disturb me unless it's important."

Yao Qingqing also understood Zhu Xu's relationship with Empress Zhang. She fetched a blanket for him and quietly withdrew.

Several days passed. Zhu Xu ate poorly and slept poorly, and Empress Zhang still wasn't fit to receive visitors.

These days, there was nothing but good news from outside the palace. The Huimin Chamber of Commerce was very successful, its distribution channels being built at a rapid pace. Combined with the original channels, profits exceeded a thousand taels daily. The Huitong Trading Company was also gradually getting on track, planning to open its first branch.

Fu Changzong had already resolved the coal problem—intercepting a batch from official ships entering the capital, which shouldn't attract too much attention.

As for the salt works, Fu Changzong had used the residual authority from Zhu Xu's investigation of the Six Ministries to clear all the obstacles in the Transport Commission. Now all that remained was to arrange for people to enter the salt works and take full control.

Another ten days or so passed before word came from Empress Zhang's side that she could receive visitors.

Upon hearing the news, Zhu Xu practically scrambled out the door. Giving birth to a prince was important, but the person was more important.

Empress Zhang sat at the table, her pale face touched with a hint of rosiness. Watching Zhu Xu rush in flustered, she laughed softly and chided, "Enough, don't act like a monkey. You're a prince, after all—be a bit more proper."

Then she turned to Huan'er beside her. "Go, bring some of the pastries Prince Hui likes."

Seeing Empress Zhang, Zhu Xu secretly breathed a sigh of relief. With a forced smile on his face, he said, "Sister-in-law, you've worried me to death these past days."

Empress Zhang nodded gently, then as if thinking of something, she smiled and said, "All right, sit down."

Empress Zhang's complexion had recovered fairly well, and her spirits were good, but looking at her, Zhu Xu still felt she lacked some vitality.

Zhu Xu sat down across from Empress Zhang, studying her complexion, and asked with concern, "Sister-in-law, you're all right now?"

Empress Zhang took the plate from Huan'er's hands and handed it to Zhu Xu, speaking warmly, "Your sister-in-law is fine. You—listen to my advice and stay put and behave yourself. Otherwise, I won't be able to help you in the future. In a few years, I'll have the Emperor send you back to your fief. There, you can do whatever you please."

Zhu Xu vaguely sensed something beneath Empress Zhang's words. Taking a pastry, he said vaguely, "Sister-in-law, I'm relieved as long as you're fine. You and my brother are still young—a prince will come in time. If it doesn't work this time, there's always next time."

Empress Zhang smiled, still magnanimous and composed, sitting quietly there—only, her hands were missing the embroidery.

Zhu Xu didn't joke and tease as he usually did either. After sitting in silence for a while, he was shooed out by Empress Zhang.

Huan'er draped a thin cloak around Empress Zhang's shoulders and said softly, "Your Ladyship, isn't it good to have Prince Hui keep you company in conversation? Why send him away again?"

Empress Zhang sighed lightly, somewhat wearily. "That little monkey is worried about me. A single look was enough. If he sat too long, I feared he'd feel ill at ease."

Huan'er looked at Empress Zhang's somewhat gaunt, desolate profile, pursed her lips, and said quietly, "Your Ladyship, if you ask me, in this palace, even the Emperor may not care for you as much as His Highness does."

At such taboo words, Empress Zhang only smiled faintly. "Mm, I know. Go on—let me be alone for a while."