The Enchanting Imperial Concubine (Book 2)

Chapter 205 - Illness

Since everyone was at Jiuchen Palace, it was naturally Ye Yun who attended to Ning Chen that night. She had managed to secure an early advantage in Lingxi Garden. With the Empress absent from the garden, there was no need for formal greetings, and Ning Chen didn't have to attend court. The next day, the two of them slept until the sun was high in the sky.

While they were leisurely having breakfast, they suddenly heard hurried footsteps outside. Yuan Jiu soon entered the hall, accompanied by Bai Lu, who had a worried expression on her face.

Bai Lu knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, the First Prince has been coughing since early morning, and it seems he has phlegm in his lungs, blocking his throat. He can hardly breathe, and the Empress is in a panic. Please, Your Majesty, go and have a look."

It was serious when a child's airway was blocked by phlegm. Ning Chen immediately instructed Yuan Jiu to summon Imperial Physician Zhang and got up to head to Yulan Garden, where Wen De Fei resided. Ye Yun naturally followed.

She couldn't help but sigh inwardly at the bad timing; they had just arrived at Lingxi Garden and were already faced with such a situation. But the child was innocent; no matter what, the First Prince was still a clueless child, which elicited a measure of sympathy.

Upon arriving at Yulan Garden, they found Jing Fei, who lived closest, already present, along with the skilled pediatrician, Imperial Physician Liu.

"Have you figured out what the issue is?" Ning Chen asked, frowning. The First Prince's face was turning a shade of bluish-purple from the difficulty in breathing.

When children are in distress, they tend to cry, and crying is the most exhausting activity, making it even harder for him to breathe. Wen De Fei, holding the child, was also in tears from anxiety.

After handing the First Prince to a wet nurse, she came over to grasp the physician's arm, asking, "The First Prince only had a slight cough. Why has he suddenly developed phlegm?"

Imperial Physician Liu cupped his hands and replied, "Your Majesty, Your Highness, based on my examination, the First Prince's cough shouldn't be serious, but it has persisted for three days. Has his diet been too oily in the past few days?"

Bai Shuang quickly stepped forward to respond, "The First Prince is weak, and we have been following the physician's advice, not daring to give him oily or greasy foods. He mostly has breast milk, supplemented with some vegetable meat puree."

"Anything else besides that?" Physician Liu pressed further, thinking for a moment before asking, "Has he been given anything sweet or cloying?"

At this point, Bai Lu's gaze slowly turned towards Wen De Fei. This unnatural behavior didn't escape Ning Chen's notice, and his expression darkened instantly.

"If you know something, say it quickly! If anything happens to the First Prince, I will make you all pay!"

Wen De Fei tightened her grip on the handkerchief in her hand, bit her lip, and finally spoke softly, "I... I gave the First Prince some candy..."

"Absurd!" Ning Chen shouted in a low voice.

The sound frightened Wen De Fei so much that her legs gave way, and she knelt down immediately. Filled with both guilt and fear, her voice trembled as she tried to explain, "I read in a book that maltose syrup strengthens the spleen, boosts energy, moistens the lungs, and stops coughing. The First Prince loves the sweet taste, so when he cried, I gave him some..."

"Oh no, Your Highness, this is a grave mistake!" Imperial Physician Liu sighed heavily in frustration. "It's true that maltose syrup can moisten the lungs and stop coughing, but if there is already phlegm, it should never be given. Sweet and cloying foods tend to generate more phlegm. With old and new phlegm combined, and a child's narrow windpipe, it naturally becomes blocked."