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Shen Chuwei appeared calm on the surface, but in fact, she was silently shedding tears that no one noticed. She choked up, "There’s a poisonous insect that has crawled into Taotao’s skin. If it reaches his bloodstream, the consequences could be unthinkable."

Xiao Jinyan understood the severity of the situation upon hearing this. Seeing his son crying so hard, he felt an unbearable ache in his heart.

Finally, after Shen Chuwei’s relentless efforts, she managed to extract the little insect that had burrowed into the flesh.

Xiao Jinyan looked at the insect the size of a sesame seed, wriggling across his son’s skin; no wonder his son was crying so fiercely.

Shen Chuwei handed her son over to Xiao Jinyan’s embrace, "Your Highness, hold our son and give him some water to drink, and comfort him."

"Alright." Xiao Jinyan cradled his son, picked up the small teacup from the low table, and coaxed him while helping him drink.

Next, Shen Chuwei checked the pulses of the wet nurses to see if they too had been infected by these black poisonous insects.

When Wanxin returned to the Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager, not seeing the grand prince and princess, was full of doubts. "Wanxin, why have you come back empty-handed? Where are the children?"

Seeing Lady Liang massaging the Empress Dowager’s legs, Wanxin advanced a few steps with her eyes lowered and spoke gently, "Empress Dowager, the Crown Princess said the babies are not feeling well and cannot come."

The Empress Dowager was furious upon hearing this, "What does the Crown Princess mean by this? I only wanted to see the babies; she dares to refuse such a small request? Does she not take me into consideration at all?"

Wanxin tried to console her with a soft voice, "Empress Dowager, perhaps the babies are truly unwell. Please don’t be angry, upsetting yourself can only do harm."

The Empress Dowager snorted, "I see it clearly; the Crown Princess is deliberately making excuses to keep the babies from me."

Lady Liang continued massaging her legs while advising, "Imperial Grandmother, don’t be upset. What can we do when His Highness dotes on her? The other sisters in the East Palace find it difficult even to get a glimpse of him usually."

She didn’t forget to grumble a little at the end.

Hearing this, the Empress Dowager looked down at Lady Liang, "How often do you serve His Highness in bed?"

Lady Liang’s eyes fell, and she replied with grievance, "Imperial Grandmother, with the Crown Prince so fond of the Crown Princess, it’s difficult for us sisters even to meet him, let alone serve in bed."

The Empress Dowager angrily slapped the table, "The Crown Princess is too domineering. Even the Empress wouldn’t dare to behave like this, and here she is, monopolizing the Crown Prince."

Lady Liang quickly tried to soothe her, "Imperial Grandmother, don’t be angry, we’ve grown accustomed to it."

Upon hearing ’accustomed to it,’ the Empress Dowager realized that the Crown Prince had always favored the Crown Princess exclusively, which could lead to a weakening of the Imperial lineage.

"Inform the Emperor that I have something to discuss with him."

"Yes." After the maid left, she went to the Imperial Study Room.

The Emperor entered briskly, and upon seeing the Empress Dowager, he came forward to pay respects, "Mother."

The Empress Dowager, upon the Emperor’s arrival, began to complain, "Emperor, it’s not that I am complaining, but I just wanted to see the grand prince and princess. I sent Wanxin to bring them over, and the Crown Princess made excuses not to let her. I am still their great-grandmother, after all."

The Emperor tried to reassure her, "Mother, could there be some misunderstanding? With the Crown Princess’s gentle nature, how could she refuse to let you see the babies?"

"Would I tell lies about the younger generation?" The Empress Dowager felt some dissatisfaction, "Wanxin, tell the Emperor what the Crown Princess said."

"Yes." Wanxin stepped forward and curtseyed, "Your Majesty, the Crown Princess said the babies are unwell and wishes to bring them to visit the Empress Dowager next time."

The Emperor pressed, "What is wrong with the babies? Did they call for the Imperial Doctor?"

Wanxin shook her head, "Your Majesty, I do not know."

The Emperor, feeling some concern, explained to the Empress Dowager, "Mother, you see, the babies are unwell; it’s not on purpose that they cannot be brought to see you."

The Empress Dowager snorted, "Such an obvious excuse, and you believe it, Emperor?"

"If Mother does not believe it, then I shall go to the East Palace to see for myself. Please try not to be upset in the meantime," the Emperor said and after paying his respects, he left the Cining Palace.

The Emperor left swiftly, also ordering Eunuch Li, "Take several more Imperial Doctors to the East Palace."

Today, he had originally planned to meet with the Empress to discuss the lady Yuyu wished to marry, but an unexpected matter had arisen, necessitating the cancellation of their appointment.

"Go tell the Empress that I won’t be able to visit the Fengyi Palace today due to urgent matters. I shall meet with her another day," he said.

"Yes." Just as the eunuch was about to leave, the Emperor stopped him, "Don’t tell the Empress about the babies being unwell, to avoid worrying her."

"This servant understands," replied the eunuch before proceeding to the Fengyi Palace.

After the Emperor had left, the Empress Dowager then remembered another matter she had failed to mention, sighing, "Indeed, I am getting old, and my memory is not what it used to be."

Wanxin massaged the Empress Dowager’s shoulders, "The Empress Dowager is still young, it’s just the irritation talking."

The Empress Dowager felt consoled and replied, "You always know how to cheer me up."

Inside the East Palace

Shen Chuwei spent a long time removing the black insects from the wet nurses’ arms and had them drink water.

After she had finished treating them, Shen Chuwei rolled up her own sleeves and saw a large red swelling on her fair skin, with a black insect already burrowed into her flesh.

Xiao Jinyan thought all was well, but seeing Shen Chuwei roll up her sleeves and reveal the swollen area, he had a bad feeling, "What happened to you?"

"An insect has gotten in," Shen Chuwei replied, taking out a sharp knife that was always sterilized after use.

Xiao Jinyan placed his son in the crib and came over to Shen Chuwei. As he watched her holding the knife and attempting to cut open her skin, his heart ached unbearably.

"Why didn’t you remove the insect earlier? After all this time, won’t the insect have burrowed deeper inside?"

Shen Chuwei continued without looking up, "I was busy saving the baby just now; I didn’t get a chance. I’ll be fine once I remove it."

Xiao Jinyan, seething with anger, lifted his head and scanned the people in the room, demanding coldly, "Who was looking after the baby today? How could you let the baby come into contact with a poisonous insect?"

The two wet nurses, scared, knelt on the ground, crying and saying,

"Your Highness, we were holding the babies in the garden today, always in our arms, we don’t know how they came into contact with poisonous insects."

Xiao Jinyan then asked, "Has anyone else held the baby?"

The wet nurses shook their heads, "It has always been us holding the babies; we never let anyone else hold them."

ps: Second update