无翼乌工口里番无色无摭挡

Jiang Ning stayed by the bedside, wiping Xiaoqian’s face, hands, and feet with a towel.

It was only when she felt the child’s forehead gradually cooling down that she could breathe a sigh of relief.

Li Tingqian’s fever subsided, making him feel more comfortable. He opened his eyes and said he was hungry, wanting something to eat.

As Xiaoqian had just recovered from a fever, Jiang Ning didn’t dare to feed him too much. She asked Chunlai to prepare a small bowl of yellow sticky millet porridge and fed him one spoonful at a time.

Unusually for the emperor’s eldest grandson, who didn’t care much about food, he opened his mouth wide and ate every bit of the porridge in one breath.

When he finished, he wanted more.

Jiang Ning had no choice but to ask for another half bowl.

To her surprise, he ate it all without hesitation.

Huang Ying said softly, “The emperor’s eldest grandson never ate like this before, especially when he’s sick.”

“Did the East Palace not feed him?” Xiachu was puzzled.

Jiang Ning did not respond, instead asking the doctor, “What caused His Highness’s illness?”

Knowing that she did not like to hear those long-winded explanations, the doctor directly said, “Based on my diagnosis, His Highness probably fell ill from exhaustion, hunger, and some stimulation, which led to the fever.”

Jiang Ning’s face darkened.

A five-year-old child shouldn’t feel hungry even after missing one meal, especially since she brought him some snacks yesterday.

Perhaps he was treated badly.

It must be that despicable Ms. Ma.

Thinking of Xiaoqian’s fearful expression when he saw Ms. Ma yesterday, Jiang Ning regretted not taking him back with her immediately, due to her hesitations.

In her life, Jiang Ning hated people who bullied the old and the weak, as well as those who tormented children.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She wished she could storm into the palace and slap Ms. Ma hard.

At that moment, Jiang Yi arrived with a lot of parcels, smiling and saying that he came to visit his little nephews.

However, he saw the sick emperor’s eldest grandson instead.

“What happened?” he asked curiously.

“Maybe he was abused,” said Jiang Ning. “I haven’t asked him yet.”

Li Tingqian’s fever receded, and after finishing the porridge, he felt energetic enough to sit and play with the little maids.

Jiang Ning asked the maids to leave, sat next to Li Tingqian, and gently questioned him.

“Did the Princess Consort not give you food?”

“Um,” he first nodded and then immediately shook his head, “No.”

Jiang Ning frowned, sharing a glance with Jiang Yi.

Jiang Yi remembered something and squatted down. He spoke softly, “Your Highness, after the morning court, I heard that a palace maid from East Palace was caught stealing. She was beaten to death. Did you hear about it?”

Li Tingqian’s small face turned pale as he cried out loud, “Mo’er, sister Mo’er is dead…”

“Mo’er?” Jiang Ning frowned.

Jiang Yi looked at her, “Do you know her?”

“Mo’er was a good palace maid who had always been taking care of Xiaoqian. I’ve met her a few times. She was gentle and considerate; she genuinely cared for him.”

Jiang Yi said, “For a palace maid like her, who should have some dignity, how could she be beaten to death at the Princess Consort’s whim? She’s too domineering.”

Li Tingqian cried out, his words broken by sobs, “Sister Mo’er went to find me something to eat… when she came back at dawn… she was all bloody, and her snacks were crushed…”

Jiang Ning asked, “Why did she go to find you food at night? Didn’t the Princess Consort give you meals? What else has she done?”

Li Tingqian wouldn’t answer any further.

No matter how much Jiang Ning asked, he refused to speak again, his little mouth tightly shut.

Fearing to further upset him, Jiang Ning let Chunlai play with him while Xiachu, who could read, read books to him.

“Brother, let’s talk outside.”

Jiang Yi nodded and ushered her out.

“The child doesn’t dare to say,” Jiang Ning said.

“I can see that,” Jiang Yi frowned.. “Could it be that the Princess Consort really dared to abuse him? How dare she? If she truly did abuse him, why doesn’t the emperor’s eldest grandson dare to tell? Wouldn’t His Majesty stand up for him?”