An Lingrong is reborn to live for herself.

After barely managing to finish speaking, Cao finally couldn't hold back her tears and burst into tears.

It is said that women are inherently weak, but become strong when they become mothers. Everyone thought that Cao was taking on the responsibility to protect her young son, and that she was prepared to die for it.

Who would have thought that there was more to the story?

Consort Duan was taken aback, then asked, "Is the child suffering from some kind of acute illness? Or is it because you conceived at an advanced age, and the child has congenital deficiencies?"

With tears streaming down her face, Madam Cao shook her head and said, "When the child was first born, he was perfectly fine, a chubby little boy with a strong mouth. It's just that I'm really not old enough to have children anymore. The doctor said that my body was weak after giving birth, so I stopped producing milk during my postpartum period, and my hair started falling out in clumps. The doctor came to see me, prescribed medicine, and said that I must take the medicine carefully to recuperate, otherwise my life might be in danger."

Even so, the servant girl still endured without taking medicine and insisted on breastfeeding for a while, but in less than half a month, she had no milk left at all.

The doctor said that this pregnancy had really damaged her health and she would no longer be able to be a wet nurse, but that was a matter for later and didn't matter much compared to my son.

Then I asked someone to find a young and strong wet nurse, but although the child was fed enough milk after the change, he became weaker and weaker. I was worried that it was the wet nurse's fault, so I asked someone to find another wet nurse, but the same thing happened. I watched helplessly as my son grew thinner and weaker every day.

Later, I heard that goat's milk was also good, so I looked for goat's milk, but no matter how I fed him, my son just got weaker and weaker. When my child died, he was as thin as a motherless lamb, his face was sallow, and you could count his ribs one by one... In the end, it was my fault as his mother... I was a wet nurse all my life, but in the end, I couldn't even raise my own child..." As she spoke, Cao was already sobbing uncontrollably and could not say another word.

Women are naturally more likely to understand each other, and hearing Cao's heartbreaking words, everyone present felt a pang of sympathy. Even the Empress, who had been sitting upright at the head of the table, couldn't help but look somber, and Consort Qi secretly wiped away a tear.

An Lingrong sighed almost imperceptibly, thinking of her own mother. Her mother was gentle by nature, yet always risked her life to protect her. Thinking of this, her eyes welled up with tears. Suddenly, she realized that Cao Shi wasn't entirely wicked; perhaps she was simply powerless to resist.

But then Consort Duan sighed softly and asked again, "Besides being thin, is there anything else unusual about the child?"

Cao wiped away her tears, her eyes red, and said, "It seems... there's no difference. I've seen the wet nurse feeding the baby, and his appetite is alright..." Cao seemed to suddenly remember something, her eyes flickered for a moment, then dimmed again, and she continued, "When we called the doctor before, he also examined the baby. He said the baby was fine, but it seemed he had some deficiencies from birth, hence his weak appetite. He also said his skin seemed slightly darker than other babies... but that's nothing special. My eldest son was also born with dark skin, but he grew up safely..."

Cao was still lost in thought, but her words made Consort Duan's expression change. She asked, "You said the doctor said the child's skin seemed a little dark? Does the child have any blue or purple spots?"

Cao was momentarily dazed, but her eyes instantly sharpened as she stared intently at Consort Duan. "Your Highness is right. My son has some small bluish-purple spots on his ankles and wrists, which look like moles or birthmarks. However, they disappeared after about a month. I've seen some birthmarks on babies disappear over time before, so I didn't pay much attention to it. Does Your Highness think there's anything wrong with it?" Seeing Consort Duan deep in thought, and knowing it concerned her own child, Cao disregarded the difference in their social status and couldn't help but ask.

Consort Duan nodded, pondered for a moment, then rose and bowed to the Emperor and Empress, saying, "Your Majesty, I am but a fool. I have a guess, but I am not sure if it is accurate. I would like to ask Your Majesty to summon a royal physician to consult with you. It would be best if the physician is skilled in pediatrics."

The Imperial Medical Academy has a daily duty schedule, and today's doctor is the refined and scholarly Physician Qin, who is waiting at the door.

The imperial physicians of the Imperial Medical Academy have always been divided into specialties. Some imperial physicians are good at gynecology, some are good at pediatrics, and some are good at orthopedics or acupuncture. However, the occasional need for imperial physicians is usually to take the pulse of noble ladies in the morning and evening or to prescribe some nourishing prescriptions. Such cases usually do not require specialization.

Therefore, Consort Duan's request for a doctor specializing in pediatrics today has given Su Peisheng, who was preparing to take on the task, a headache.

Although the emperor did not know what Consort Duan intended to do, he trusted her quite a bit, so he instructed Su Peisheng to take action.

Knowing the gravity of the situation, Su Peisheng hurriedly left the palace to carry out the task.

As soon as I stepped out of the palace gate, I saw Imperial Physician Qin waiting outside.

Although it was early spring and the weather had warmed up a bit, it was still freezing to stand outside the door for a long time. The outside of the palace was not like the inside. There was a charcoal fire burning behind the curtain, and as soon as Su Peisheng lifted the curtain to come out, he was shivered by the wind. Not to mention Qin Taiyi, who had been waiting at the door for a long time, whose cheeks were already slightly red from the cold.

Seeing this, Su Peisheng quickly came over, bowed, and asked, "Does Physician Qin know which physician in the Imperial Hospital specializes in pediatrics?"

Upon hearing this, Physician Qin was taken aback at first, and then replied leisurely, "When I was learning medicine, I studied pediatrics under my master."

Su Peisheng was overjoyed; this was indeed convenient. He was about to return to the palace to report when Physician Qin, seemingly unaware of Su Peisheng's thoughts, continued speaking slowly and deliberately, "I have only been in the Imperial Medical Academy for a short time and do not know which other physicians specialize in pediatrics. However, when I am reviewing prescriptions and medical texts, I occasionally exchange ideas with Physician Wen and have discovered that Physician Wen also has considerable insights into pediatrics. If it is convenient for Eunuch Su, you could have someone invite Physician Wen to come as well, so that we can discuss this matter and perhaps come up with a better solution, since it is of great importance."

Su Peisheng frowned as he listened, thinking to himself that this Physician Qin was truly making people anxious. However, after hearing Physician Qin's words, he was also enlightened and hurriedly instructed the eunuch to invite Wen Shichu, specifically instructing that no matter whether Physician Wen was consulting elsewhere or resting at his own residence, he should be brought over as soon as possible.

Today's events were truly life-threatening; it seemed as if everything was aimed at the emperor's sore spots. Even though Su Peisheng had served the emperor since childhood, he had never seen the emperor so angry, and dared not be negligent. Su Peisheng repeatedly instructed the young eunuch to go and return as soon as possible.

The young eunuch received the order and ran out as fast as he could. Su Peisheng was unsure of what to do, so he didn't go inside again, but paced anxiously outside the hall waiting for a reply.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, they finally saw the little eunuch leading Wen Shichu through the gate of Jingren Palace. Su Peisheng was sweating profusely with anxiety. When he saw Wen Shichu arrive, he went to greet him from afar and gave him a few important instructions.

Wen Shichu quickly bowed in thanks, then wiped the sweat from his forehead and neck with his sleeve before following Su Peisheng into the hall with Imperial Physician Qin.