Harem Daily Life

Chapter 1036 Prince Jing Learns the Truth

Because Prince Jin's bridal chamber was in Qingyun Palace, the wedding banquet was also held in the palace. Many veteran officials attended the banquet and felt as if they had returned to the time of His Majesty's wedding.

"To be honest, is it really necessary to treat the marriage of an adopted son from the common people as if he were the crown prince?" An old minister asked, frowning in confusion.

"This precisely demonstrates that Prince Jin is deeply favored by His Majesty. What does it matter whether he is His Majesty's biological son or not? It further reflects His Majesty's love for his people as his own children!" Some people took a different approach, praising the monarch.

"If you ask me, it's because His Majesty spoils Empress Tao too much. The younger brother she recognized was eventually adopted by His Majesty as his son. He raised him for so many years and even arranged such a grand wedding for him. How can that not be considered a deep love for Empress Tao?" Some people envied the Empress for winning the Emperor's heart.

"Say less, today's meal is all imperial food, if you don't eat it, I'll eat it all." Some people are easygoing and enjoy the present moment.

Several imperial concubines and several former princesses sat at the Empress Dowager's table. The sisters chatted and laughed, and the conversation always revolved around their beloved grandchildren.

The Empress was with several high-ranking concubines and princesses, and they talked about a wider range of topics, including their children, jewelry, and clothing.

At the main table, several princes sat beside He Linzhang. Prince Jing was somewhat drunk and soon became unable to stand, needing to be helped away from his seat to a side hall to sober up.

Princess Jing next door glanced at it indifferently, not taking it to heart.

A short while later, a young palace maid rushed over and whispered a few words in Princess Jing's ear. Princess Jing's expression changed slightly, and after reporting to the Empress, she left her seat.

When she arrived at the side hall, she found Prince Jing already fast asleep on his bed, unconscious.

"Did you give him the hangover soup? How long has he been unconscious?" Princess Jing stepped forward to check on him and found that Prince Jing's face was pale and his breathing was weak: "Quickly summon the imperial physician, he looks like he's drunk."

The palace servants dared not delay and hurriedly went to fetch him. Fortunately, the imperial physician was dining in a side hall and arrived quickly.

Physician Liu examined Prince Jing's pulse, and the more he examined him, the more something seemed amiss, his eyes gradually filled with disbelief. He dismissed everyone, leaving only Princess Jing and her personal maid in the hall, before saying, "Princess, His Highness's pulse indicates a severe deficiency. Is it... due to excessive indulgence in sexual activity?"

Princess Jing, being an experienced woman, naturally knew what "unrestrained" meant. She blushed and said, "A concubine has entered the manor, young and beautiful... Imperial Physician Liu, tell me how she is now? When will she wake up?"

Physician Liu frowned: "The prince's body is weak and unable to tolerate tonics. It seems he has taken some kind of potent tonic that has stimulated his qi and blood. In short, he is not simply drunk, but also weak. It seems that he can recover after a few hours of rest, but this potent tonic is too strong and may have damaged the prince's health, which may affect his lifespan in the future."

Princess Jing's heart clenched instantly. She took a deep breath and made up her mind, saying, "Please ask Imperial Physician Liu to wake him up as soon as possible, and then tell him about this in person."

Physician Liu was taken aback, recalling the rumors he had heard recently. The rumors said that Princess Jing and Prince Jing were only superficially together, living separate lives, and were no longer the loving couple that were rumored in the capital.

So the rumors were true; they wouldn't even pass them on.

Physician Liu had no choice but to take out his silver needles and prick several acupoints on Prince Jing's body. After waiting patiently for a while, Prince Jing slowly woke up.

Prince Jing, who was somewhat awake, was moved when he saw his princess consort by his side.

"Your Highness, I'm fine, I just drank too much." He tried to comfort her, not wanting her to worry.

Princess Jing glanced at him indifferently: "Imperial Physician Liu just took your pulse. He has something to say to you." After saying that, she left with her maid, showing no concern for Prince Jing whatsoever.

Prince Jing felt somewhat frustrated and embarrassed that the princess had ignored him in front of the imperial physician.

Physician Liu kept his eyes downcast and waited until the princess left before saying, "Your Highness, there's a serious problem with your health..."

Physician Liu was now the most authoritative doctor in the Imperial Medical Academy, and Prince Jing dared not disbelieve his words. When he learned that he had taken a large amount of highly tonifying but harmful medicine, he broke out in a cold sweat.

"This... Although there are highly nourishing medicinal meals in the manor, they are all prescriptions from the Imperial Hospital, so there couldn't be any problem!" Prince Jing was completely baffled as to how he had ingested such nourishing medicine.

Physician Liu recalled a few cases and said, "Actually, the medicine Your Highness is using doesn't come from medicinal cuisine. The Imperial Hospital has all the recipes for medicinal cuisine on file; it only nourishes the body, it doesn't deplete it. This official... this official must say, you're over forty years old. Taking too much of that kind of aphrodisiac is harmful to your health, so you should be more moderate!"

"What?" Prince Jing blushed instantly upon hearing this. Fortunately, only he and Physician Liu were in the side hall at the moment; otherwise, if anyone heard that he was taking such a potent tonic to enhance his virility, he would have lost all face.

"Impossible, absolutely impossible. I have never taken the kind of medicine you mentioned. How could I be so foolish as to take medicine? I..." Suddenly, something occurred to Prince Jing, and his eyes changed. He then shut his mouth.

Physician Liu coughed lightly: "In short, Your Highness should prioritize your health. No matter how much you love your young and beautiful concubines, you should exercise restraint. And don't give them random medications just to please them. I'll prescribe a mild tonic for Your Highness to take home and use it slowly to gradually replenish what you've lost. Otherwise... dying from exhaustion is no joke."

Physician Liu said nothing more and went to the side to write a prescription. Prince Jing's face was even paler than when he had fainted. He had a bad feeling that he had left a poisonous scorpion by his side, and that scorpion would do him a terrible harm.

When Prince Jing returned to the table, he was like a puppet whose body had been drained, completely dazed and confused. Everyone else thought he was just drunk and acting foolishly, but only Princess Jing knew that he had probably guessed something from Physician Liu and was in disbelief.

Regardless of his mood, Princess Jing had no intention of paying attention. Men, if you're too attentive to them, they'll take advantage and you have to give them attitude and cold shoulders to be worthy of them.

The wedding banquet lasted until very late before the families gradually left the palace. The guests and hosts alike enjoyed themselves immensely; the palace hadn't been so lively in many years.

As the festivities subsided and the quiet night descended, He Jin'an returned to the bridal chamber dressed in a bright red wedding gown, feeling both exhausted and excited.

Several plates of snacks were laid out on the table. As soon as He Yanran, He Min, and He Yinuo saw him return, they quickly made room for him.

"Second Brother, you've finally arrived. Second Sister-in-law has already eaten something, why don't you eat some more with her? We'll head back now." He Min pulled He Yinuo along and left with He Yanran.

Hua Yue Rong sat on the couch, her veil still on her head. When the prince was not back, her younger sisters would keep her company, feeding her from under the veil. She was quite tired after wearing the phoenix crown and veil all day.

He Jin'an quickly lifted the veil and personally removed the phoenix crown from her head. He gently massaged her forehead and neck with his hands: "Are you tired? It's all my fault for coming back so late. There were so many guests, and they all pulled me to toast them. I neglected you."

Hua Yurong's cheeks were flushed, whether from embarrassment or heat, she didn't know: "It's getting late, let's get settled in." Getting up in the middle of the night to do her hair and makeup, getting married is really tiring, even more tiring than running around to inspect dozens of shops, Hua Yurong can't take it anymore.

Upon hearing this, He Jin'an immediately stepped forward and picked the person up in his arms, saying, "I'll take you to take a bath; we can wash together faster."