Free Web NovelChapter 390: Chapter 392: Loser
The infant survival rate was already low in ancient times, and since Li Qiong was born prematurely, his constitution was even weaker than a normal baby’s.
In his current condition, his chances of survival were extremely low.
Hua Manman reached out and touched the Seventh Prince’s forehead.
Scorching hot!
If this was left unchecked, even if the fever didn’t kill him, he’d be left brain-damaged.
Hua Qingqing hugged the Seventh Prince tightly, tears streaming down her face.
"It’s all my fault. Mommy is useless; I can’t protect you."
On the way over, Hua Manman had already taken a quick look around. This dump didn’t even have a clean cup, let alone any high-proof liquor.
Using physical methods to lower his temperature was impossible. The conditions for it simply didn’t exist.
Hua Manman could only speak to the system.
’Didn’t I still have that special lucky bag I haven’t used? Exchange it for a Life Reviving Pill for me.’
’It was a bit extravagant to use a Life Reviving Pill for this, but she had no better option.’
’She could only afford to be extravagant this once.’
The system quickly exchanged the special lucky bag for a Life Reviving Pill and added a friendly reminder.
"The elixir is in your right sleeve."
Hua Manman reached into her sleeve and, sure enough, her fingers brushed against a small, cool porcelain vial.
She snapped at Hua Qingqing.
"The big one’s crying, the little one’s crying. What’s the use of just crying? Can tears cure an illness? I remember a well in the courtyard. Go fetch some water, wash your face, and bring some back to give this little guy a cold compress."
Hua Qingqing stopped her tears. "You watch Qiong’er for me. I’ll go get the water right now."
Ever since the Seventh Prince had fallen ill, she had been a nervous wreck.
It wasn’t that she hadn’t considered going out to find a cure for the Seventh Prince, but she couldn’t bear to leave him, not daring to leave him in the room all by himself.
But if she carried him outside, she feared the draft would worsen his condition.
Thank goodness her younger sister had come.
With her younger sister there to help watch the baby, Hua Qingqing no longer hesitated. She laid the baby down and hurried outside.
As soon as Hua Qingqing was gone, Hua Manman immediately sat on the edge of the bed.
The hem of her dress was dirtied by the dust accumulated on the bed, but she was in no mood to worry about such trivial matters.
She placed the baby on her lap, holding him with one arm while pulling the porcelain vial from her sleeve with the other.
She bit down on the stopper, yanked it free, and poured the Life Reviving Pill into her palm.
This was different from the last Life Reviving Pill.
This Life Reviving Pill was unexpectedly pink and gave off a sweet strawberry fragrance.
The system explained, "I was afraid the little treasure wouldn’t eat it, so I specially made the elixir strawberry-flavored."
Hua Manman clicked her tongue. "I didn’t realize you could be so thoughtful."
The system urged, "Hurry up and give it to him."
Hua Manman looked at the pill, then at the baby in her arms, hesitating slightly.
’This pill is so big. Can a baby swallow it? What if he chokes?’
"He won’t," the system replied. "The Life Reviving Pill melts the moment it enters the mouth."
Hua Manman brought the elixir to the Seventh Prince’s lips and coaxed him softly.
"Little treasure, open wide. Time for some candy~"
The Seventh Prince smelled the sweet strawberry scent, and his crying immediately subsided.
He eagerly opened his little mouth.
Even though the system said the Life Reviving Pill would melt in his mouth, Hua Manman still broke it into small pieces and fed it to the Seventh Prince bit by bit.
The Seventh Prince seemed to really enjoy the taste, eating with relish and making little smacking sounds with his mouth.
He finished the entire elixir in no time.
He hadn’t had his fill. He looked at Hua Manman with teary eyes, as if asking for another.
The system’s heart melted at the sight. "As expected of the female lead’s son! He’s just so adorable!"
Hua Manman was already used to the system viewing the female lead through a thick pair of rose-colored glasses.
She touched the Seventh Prince’s forehead. His temperature hadn’t returned to normal yet, but it was no longer as scalding as before.
The Seventh Prince seemed to feel more comfortable as well. He stopped crying and fussing, lying obediently in his aunt’s arms and occasionally blowing a spit bubble.
The system exclaimed, "Quick, wipe his drool!"
Hua Manman took out her handkerchief and wiped the drool from around the baby’s mouth.
Hua Qingqing returned, carrying a full bucket of water.
The moment she entered, she saw that the Seventh Prince was no longer crying. Worried he might have fainted from the fever, she quickly put down the bucket and rushed over.
When the Seventh Prince saw his mother, he immediately reached out his chubby little hands to her.
He clearly wanted his mother to hold him.
Hua Qingqing took the child from her. When she touched the Seventh Prince’s forehead, she was overjoyed to find it wasn’t so hot anymore!
As if she couldn’t believe it, she lowered her head and pressed her forehead against her son’s, carefully checking his temperature for a moment.
Finally, she confirmed that the Seventh Prince’s fever had indeed broken.
Hua Qingqing was absolutely ecstatic.
"Qiong’er is getting better!"
Hua Manman huffed. "You got lucky."
Hua Qingqing was completely immersed in the joy of her son’s recovery and didn’t stop to think about the reason behind it.
She hugged her son tightly, laughing and crying at the same time.
"My sweet boy, you’re finally all right. This is wonderful, truly wonderful!"
...
「In the imperial residence on Yuqing Mountain.」
Wu Wang knelt on the ground. His right arm was wrapped in gauze, and blood was seeping through the bandages. His hair and clothes were soaked, his face deathly pale. He cut an extremely wretched and miserable figure.
"I tried to persuade him for a long time, but Prince Dongyang refused to see you.
He even ordered his men to attack me, intending to kill me.
I only managed to escape thanks to the desperate protection of four members of the Flying Dragon Cavalry."
The Emperor had yet to recover from his illness, and his spirits were already low. His expression darkened further upon hearing this.
He asked in a hoarse voice, "Why is he unwilling to see me?"
Wu Wang hesitated.
The Emperor said, "Speak freely. No matter what you say, I absolve you of any blame."
Only then did Wu Wang dare to speak.
"Prince Dongyang suspects you want to kill him to avenge the Fifth Prince. I told him you only wished to speak with him in person, to find out the truth of the matter, not to kill him, but he wouldn’t believe me."
The Emperor had the four members of the Flying Dragon Cavalry brought in for questioning, and their accounts were much the same as Wu Wang’s.
At this, the Emperor was left completely speechless.
He fell into a long silence.
’So it wasn’t just the Empress who didn’t trust him. Crown Prince Li Cheng, Fifth Prince Li Yan, and now Prince Dongyang, Li Hao... none of them trusted him.’
’Whether as a husband or as a father, he was a failure.’
A pain flared in his chest again.
The Emperor endured the pain, gritting his teeth as he spoke.
"Return to the palace immediately."
’Since Li Hao refused to come to him, he would go to Li Hao himself.’
’He had to ask him in person: what had he done as a father to wrong him so terribly? What could make him feel that he couldn’t even trust his own father?!’
Zuo Ji tried to dissuade him but was frightened into silence by the Emperor’s cold gaze.
Meanwhile, a scout from the Tiger Roar Camp galloped to Yuqing Mountain at top speed.
He leaped from his horse and, without even pausing to catch his breath, rushed forward, grabbed a member of the Flying Dragon Cavalry on guard duty, and yelled.
"Quick, inform Prince Zhao! Princess Consort Zhao is in trouble!"
