"My child." Consort Wen heard the report from someone and was so frightened that she leaned on the female official beside her for support. She didn’t bother to change clothes or maintain her demeanor and headed straight towards the hall’s entrance, walking quickly while asking, "What’s going on exactly? How could he accidentally fall into the lake? Where are his attendants? Who was with him?" It was getting close to Chongyang, and the lake water was already chilling to the bone. Hong’er couldn’t swim...

Consort Wen didn’t dare to think further. Her heart pounded, filled with anxiety and furious anger, as she felt her insides churning and wished she could sprout wings and fly immediately to the West Five Houses.

"To answer Your Ladyship." The eunuch beside her also jogged while gasping for breath: "His Highness was accompanied by Chief Zheng and Xiao Anzi. Neither was by the Third Prince’s side when the incident occurred. By the time they returned, they found the Third Prince already in the water. The two hurriedly jumped into the lake to rescue him." He wiped his sweat and continued, "The Eldest Prince has already had them detained, and they’re tied up waiting for the Emperor and Your Ladyship to interrogate them."

"The Eldest Prince?" Normally gentle, Consort Wen now strode like an arrow: "How did the Eldest Prince learn so quickly? Were they together?"

"No, the Eldest Prince had arranged to meet Lord Tong to prepare to go to Wenhua Hall. He had worked up a sweat playing cuju and went to change clothes first..." Consort Wen didn’t think much of it and nodded. The Eldest Prince and the Third Prince always got along well, and the Third Prince loved to stick by him for play...

After jogging for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, they finally reached the West Five Houses. Indeed, in the center of the large courtyard, two people knelt, trembling and soaked, their faces pale bluish. Even if the Third Prince was unharmed this time, they could not escape death. The fear of waiting for death was more terrifying than death itself; Xiao Anzi, the younger of the two, already lost control.

It wasn’t just them; everyone serving in the Third Prince’s hall would not be spared.

Consort Wen didn’t even glance at the two and went straight inside. People were stationed everywhere, with eunuchs and female officials bustling in and out, carrying hot water, blankets, firepots, and medicine in a chaotic flurry. Consort Wen shouted angrily, "What’s this commotion? Be careful, all of you." Startled by her rebuke, everyone immediately steadied their nerves.

"My child." Although outwardly calm, Consort Wen was flustered as she took three strides into the room. There she saw Min standing in front of the bed, with two Imperial Physicians busy applying acupuncture. The quiet room amplified her footsteps, and her eyes fell on the bed covered by three or four layers of quilts. She rushed over: "My child."

She saw the Third Prince’s face, ghostly pale with a bluish tint, purple lips, eyes tightly closed and lifeless, with needles all over his exposed chest. She was startled, wanting to reach out and touch his face but didn’t dare. Instead, she clutched her handkerchief with trembling hands, tears streaming down.

The Imperial Physician rose to salute her: "Your Ladyship." Min also clasped his hands in greeting, but Consort Wen was focused only on asking the Imperial Physician: "How is he?"

"To answer Your Ladyship, the lake water was extremely cold. The Third Prince caught a chill and was frightened, with water also filling his stomach. I’m applying acupuncture and will use a fire cupping after. He’s unlikely to wake soon." The Imperial Physician bowed his head, while Consort Wen pressed for assurance: "So you’re saying he’s fine, right?"

The Imperial Physician, still bowing, seemed nervous: "...It’s too early to say. If he starts showing symptoms of a fever tonight, I would be more confident. Otherwise..." If he developed a fever, it would mean his body has some resistance, but if not, it’s hard to tell.

Consort Wen’s face changed, and she snapped, "What do you mean otherwise?" She stood up, boiling with anger, when Min’s gentle voice interjected: "Your Ladyship, perhaps we should let them treat Third Brother first. His wellbeing is what matters."

Consort Wen hesitated, swallowing her words and suppressing her anger, then silently sat back down, keeping her focus solely on the Third Prince without further speech.

Min nodded to the Imperial Physician, who then rolled up his sleeves and continued with the acupuncture.

"Third Brother." The Second Prince came in briskly, wearing a deep blue robe with cloud patterns and a silver crown. His skin was pale, perhaps due to his hurried arrival, making his face flushed with a sheen of sweat on his forehead. He greeted Consort Wen and Min courteously, then softly asked Min: "Elder Brother, how is Third Brother?"

Min scanned him quickly from face to foot, then replied: "It’s still unclear. We’ll know more later." The Second Prince nodded and stood beside Min by the bed.

As the Imperial Physician began removing the needles, someone outside announced, "The Emperor is here!" Then a jumble of footsteps sounded in the courtyard. Everyone inside knelt, including Min, the Second Prince, and Consort Wen, as the Emperor strode in with a stern face: "How is he?" He waved his hand indicating everyone could rise.

Le Xiu, following behind, couldn’t help wiping her tears at the sight of the scene on the bed.

Everyone straightened up, and the Imperial Physician carefully repeated to the Emperor what was discussed with Consort Wen. The Emperor stood at the foot of the bed, a cold, hawk-like demeanor growing more intense.

"Your Majesty," Consort Wen wiped her tears, moving closer: "Hong’er, he..." Unable to continue out of sadness.

A female official came over to support Consort Wen, while the Emperor reassured her, "Don’t lose your composure; Hong’er will be fine." He then gestured for the female official to take Consort Wen aside to rest. Le Xiu also went over to support her: "With the Emperor here, everything will be fine." Consort Wen leaned against Le Xiu, sitting on a Taishi Chair, tears falling silently.

The Emperor’s gaze shifted to Min and the Second Prince, without a word...

Shortly after, Princess Consort Ying rushed over, with her own set of greetings and comforts to the Emperor, then sat beside Consort Wen and Le Xiu, accompanying Consort Wen in conversation. Meanwhile, a dozen or so consorts from various palaces arrived in the main hall one after another. Some were genuinely concerned about the Second Prince’s safety, while others took the chance to present themselves before the Emperor, by attentively grooming for the occasion, not willing to miss such an opportunity.

The room buzzed with low conversations, and Le Xiu frowned, looking at the Emperor, who also appeared displeased. She stood up, pulled open the curtain, and said: "At a time like this, how can there be such disorder?" Her eyes scanned the group, and silence fell instantly in the main hall. She continued: "The Emperor and Consort Wen know your concerns, but there’s no need for everyone to remain here; you may return." She gestured dismissively, annoyed.

Some curtsied and took their leave, while others begrudgingly tried to peek inside. Le Xiu narrowed her eyes, prompting those present to cower slightly, lowering their heads and reluctantly departing in obedience.

After the consorts left, Chief Chang led others in through the door: "Your Majesty."

All eyes focused on Chief Chang, who discreetly wiped his sweat and reported: "I interrogated Zheng Huai’an and Xiao Anzi. They confessed that when His Highness reached Yangchun Lake, he realized he had forgotten his handkerchief at the racetrack and sent Xiao Anzi to retrieve it. When Xiao Anzi returned to the racetrack for the handkerchief, His Highness, feeling chilly after sweating from cuju, instructed Zheng Huai’an to fetch a cloak. Although Zheng Huai’an asked a little eunuch to watch over His Highness, upon his return, he saw no little eunuch, only His Highness struggling in the lake..."