“Undercover work” required a large number of personnel, composed of eunuchs and palace maids, distributed across various departments, including the Emperor’s department and those of his wives and concubines. Any wind or grass movement had to be reported promptly, letting Wan Zhen’er understand their every move and firmly control the inner palace.
Wan Zhen’er’s precious son was sick, with a fever, accompanied by cold limbs and a grayish complexion. This had been going on for several days. The high fever not only did not subside but had also led to convulsions. The duration of these episodes varied, sometimes long, sometimes short, recurring repeatedly.
The imperial physician said that the prince was suffering from external evil qi that had entered and transformed into heat.
Imperial physicians came and went, replaced by batch after batch. The son’s condition did not improve; in fact, it was getting worse. The imperial physicians had exhausted all methods, whether traditional Chinese medicine or acupuncture, to no avail.
Wan Zhen’er was anxious like an ant on a hot pan, spinning around. How could she not be anxious? She had finally given birth to a son, and the pain was unbearable. This was a piece of flesh that had fallen from her own body. More importantly, this precious son was her hope, her support, her guarantee of future happiness.
In her state of distraction and extreme anxiety, Wan Zhen’er suddenly remembered how, when the Emperor was young and had a fever with no physicians around, she would often take a wet towel and wipe the Emperor’s body. With this thought, the furrows in her brow slightly relaxed. She called a palace maid, brought water and a towel, and began to wipe her son’s body.
The son was thin and weak due to frequent illness. Seemingly in great discomfort, he kept his eyes tightly closed and cried continuously. His cries were like an iron hammer, repeatedly striking Wan Zhen’er’s heart. Wan Zhen’er stood nearby, gesturing and instructing the palace maid how to do things.
Eventually, finding the maid’s movements too slow, she snatched the towel.
Wan Zhen’er shouted: “Fool, can’t you do this?”
The young palace maid, terrified, knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly: “Forgive me, Your Highness! Forgive me!”
