Rong Fei is not honored

After listening to Li Mama's account, Ji Nai learned that something had happened at Jingyang Palace the previous night.

Granny Li concluded, "Noble Lady Nara is quite daring."

According to palace rules, once the palace gates are locked, no one is allowed to walk around freely, let alone knock on the gates.

However, there are exceptions. For example, if the master falls ill or there is a sudden emergency, one cannot simply watch the master die because of palace rules.

Laws are not without human sentiment; rules are rigid, but people are flexible.

Especially after Empress Niohuru ascended the throne, considering that there were several weak princes and princesses in the palace, she once issued an edict that in matters concerning the imperial heirs, she could act expediently in times of emergency and open the palace gates directly without needing to obtain a warrant.

However, this rule was only to facilitate the summoning of imperial physicians, and did not mean that anyone would be woken up in the middle of the night when the emperor was already asleep.

If everyone imitates Noble Lady Nara and tries to gain favor, how can His Majesty sleep peacefully?

Moreover, Xiao Anzi had already inquired and learned that the imperial physician had handled the situation very well last night. By the time the palace servants from Jingyang Palace came to invite His Majesty, Prince Wanfu's condition had already stabilized.

To put it bluntly, the man wasn't on his deathbed, yet he was so eager to see the Emperor one last time, to fulfill their father-son bond in this lifetime.

Ji Nai's attention was no longer on Nara. She scolded, "His Majesty went out in the middle of the night, and you didn't even think to put a coat on him? He came back feeling cold."

Granny Li was speechless for a moment, and finally managed to stammer out, "At that time, everyone knew the specific situation of Prince Wanfu. His Majesty left in a hurry, and no one had time to take care of him."

Ji Nai understood that things must have been quite chaotic at the time. Even Emperor Kangxi probably thought he was rushing to see him one last time, racing against time. No one dared to say anything.

But she was still dissatisfied, saying, "And what happened after you came back? You didn't do anything?"

Granny Li and the others exchanged glances, and finally Yu Sheng tentatively asked, "Did you wake up last night? Could it be that you were awakened by the cold air that His Majesty brought back from outside?"

"No." Ji Nai was half asleep at the time. Although he clearly felt that Kangxi was a little cold, he didn't think much of it.

If she were truly awake, she would have already instructed the palace servants to prepare ginger soup; it's late March, and it's nighttime, so it's quite chilly. However, it's probably not too late to remedy the situation now.

"Have the kitchen cook a bowl of ginger soup... no, cook two bowls," Ji Nai suddenly realized that his health was not as good as before, and he didn't want Kangxi to be fine while he himself fell ill.

"Send a bowl to the Qianqing Palace. Remember, make sure Liang Jiugong watches His Majesty drink it."

Li Mama's lips twitched. Her master was dissatisfied with Liang Jiugong and wanted to give him a warning.

That's true. It's one thing if they don't think of it, but Liang Jiugong is someone who serves His Majesty. Why doesn't he think of it more?

After her mistress's expression softened somewhat, Granny Li reminded her, "What should we do next with Consort Nara?"

Ji Nai looked at Granny Li with a puzzled expression. The seven-day agreement had passed, and even if Consort Nara was still unwilling to give up, she would not come to visit again in the short term.

After some time, she will have completely eliminated any remaining threats, and even if the other party has any ideas, it will be too late.

Li Mama said helplessly, "When the imperial physician was summoned from Jingyang Palace last night, it was already past midnight. Although the villain must have committed the crime within seven days, but..." Noble Lady Nara could use this as an excuse to act shamelessly.

"How could it be so unlucky?" Ji Nai's expression was rather unpleasant.

Regardless of how the servants and mistresses of Qianqing Palace felt upon seeing the ginger soup sent from Zhongcui Palace, things weren't going well for Ji Nai.

As Li Mama's reminder proved correct, that afternoon, Consort Nara came to visit again.

Now Ji Nai was truly at a loss. She interrupted Consort Nara's lament and directly refused, saying, "No matter how pitiful you and Wan Fu make yourself sound, I will never let anything I make enter Wan Fu's mouth."

"Miss!"

"This time it was ginseng juice, but what if next time it's poison? I wouldn't be able to explain myself then. However..."

Ji Nai knew that Noble Lady Nara would not give up until she achieved her goal. If it were her, Ji Nai would do anything, whether it was coercion, bribery, moral blackmail, or even resorting to shamelessness.

Therefore, simply refusing is useless.

Ji Nai then decided to try a different approach. She said, "The food I make cannot be eaten by Wan Fu, but it can be. You are Wan Fu's mother, you wouldn't harm your own son."

"What do you mean, empress?"

"Why did you ask me to make you this food? It's because it tastes good and also has health benefits."

People who are unwell often have poor appetites, and constantly taking medication only worsens their digestive system. Could these foods help to slightly replenish their lost appetite?

In particular, the way children were raised in the palace meant that they would go hungry if they got sick.

Headache? Go hungry for a few meals. Catch a cold? Go hungry for a few meals. Indigestion? Go hungry for even longer.

Otherwise, if the sick imperial heir vomits due to nausea, it will not only offend the master's eyes, but also upset the imperial heir's mother, who will eventually lash out at the servants who serve the imperial heir.

But if your stomach is empty, even if you feel nauseous, you won't be able to vomit anything.

However, this method was not entirely useless. The royal heir's illness was either an accident or caused by human intervention. If it was the latter, then imported goods were naturally the most suspicious.

If you stop eating anything, the likelihood of being harmed again naturally decreases.

But hunger, especially for sick people, is unbearable even for adults, let alone children.

One or two days is fine, but over time, especially for someone like Wan Fu who was sick every few days right after birth, he might not have eaten a proper meal by the time he's four years old.

Of course, nourishing human milk and expensive supplements would certainly not be lacking.

However, Yuan Xu once said that imported things are not necessarily better the more expensive they are. Whether it is grains, vegetables, fish and meat, they are all good for the human body, and some of them cannot be compensated for by supplements.

"I'll make it myself?"

"Yes, I'll teach you. The Empress is kind and has opened small kitchens for the concubines who are raising the imperial heirs. Your Jingyang Palace naturally has one too. Once you learn how, you can cook for Wan Fu every day. Wouldn't that be better?"

If Lady Nara truly believed that the food prepared by Jinai was useful, she would not have refused it.

"It can't be that only those made by me are effective, can it?"

Even if Consort Nara harbored hopes for Consort Rong, she wouldn't think of it this way—it's about useful food, not just Consort Rong herself. If she really thought that way, wouldn't she be associating Consort Rong with supernatural matters?

Noble Lady Nara is not stupid. Right now, she is only focused on her son and is not plotting any schemes.

However, Consort Nara still had doubts. A diet that could truly nourish the body could be considered a secret recipe, a family heirloom in any family, and Consort Rong would not easily bring it out.