Upon hearing the news that the First Prince was beyond saving, Emperor Taixiang directly collapsed to the ground, his eyes vacant, frightening all the eunuchs into kneeling on the ground, trembling like sieves.

After a long while, Emperor Taixiang stretched out his finger, pointing at the imperial physicians and hoarsely said: “Go examine the First Prince! If anything happens to the First Prince, I’ll exterminate your nine clans!”

The imperial physicians ran out with trembling legs, and the hall instantly emptied.

Emperor Taixiang’s eyes rolled, and he angrily shouted: “Leave a few imperial physicians to treat the Second Princess!”

The three imperial physicians running at the back paused in their steps and returned.

Emperor Taixiang was helped to his feet by the eunuchs, saying with a cold face: “If you can’t cure the Second Princess, I’ll have your lives all the same!”

The three imperial physicians who remained watched Emperor Taixiang sweep his sleeves and leave, then looked at each other with bitter faces. Finally, one of them sighed softly: “At least it’s better than exterminating nine clans.”

Emperor Taixiang rushed to the First Prince’s residence, just in time to see Director Li performing acupuncture on the First Prince. The young child, just over a year old, had his eyes tightly closed, his small face pale with a bluish tinge.

With just one look, Emperor Taixiang suddenly felt an ominous premonition rise in his heart, his body swaying and nearly collapsing.

Wei Wuxie hurriedly supported Emperor Taixiang, but his outstretched hand was ice-cold.

With several princes and princesses falling ill one after another, the situation that had just stabilized seemed about to change again.

“The Grand Empress Dowager arrives—”

As soon as the announcement fell, Empress Dowager Yang, supported by attendants, quickly walked in.

“Imperial Grandmother—” Upon seeing Empress Dowager Yang arrive, Emperor Taixiang’s eyes welled up with tears.

“What on earth is happening? How could several children fall ill one after another?” Empress Dowager Yang asked with a stern face.

Originally, when she heard that the Second Prince was ill, she hadn’t taken it too seriously. Children of that age were naturally prone to illness and wouldn’t improve until after age three.

But unexpectedly, the Second Prince had died in the blink of an eye. Before she could catch her breath, the Second Princess and First Prince had fallen ill in succession.

Hearing that the First Prince was critically ill, Empress Dowager Yang was truly panicked.

His Majesty only had these two princes. The Second Prince was already gone—if something happened to the First Prince as well, it would truly be trouble.

At this moment, Director Li withdrew his needles, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead while paying respects to Emperor Taixiang and Empress Dowager Yang.

“What’s the point of formalities at a time like this! How is the First Prince exactly?” Empress Dowager Yang asked urgently.

“Reporting to the Grand Empress Dowager, the First Prince has contracted wind-heat symptoms.”

“Wind-heat symptoms? Why would wind-heat symptoms be so severe? Earlier, you said the Second Prince and Second Princess had wind-heat symptoms, now, you’re saying the First Prince also has wind-heat symptoms. Are you imperial physicians all helpless against mere wind-heat symptoms?” Empress Dowager Yang grew angrier as she spoke. “Director Li, do the princes and princesses have wind-heat symptoms, or is there another problem you dare not speak of?”

“Another problem?” Before the imperial physicians could respond to Empress Dowager Yang’s pressing questions, Emperor Taixiang was greatly shocked. “Could someone have poisoned the princes and princesses?”

Director Li fell to his knees with a thud: “Your Majesty, this subject dares not deceive the sovereign. The princes and princesses indeed contracted wind-heat symptoms, but—”

“But what?” Emperor Taixiang demanded.

Director Li glanced left and right, then lowered his head.

“All of you withdraw.” Empress Dowager Yang spoke.

Soon, only Director Li remained as the sole imperial physician in the hall.

“Speak.” Empress Dowager Yang said coldly.

Director Li prostrated on the ground, trembling like a sieve, stammering: “This subject has examined them repeatedly. The princes and princesses indeed began with wind-heat symptoms. The reason their conditions deteriorated so rapidly is most likely because the princes and princesses have congenital weakness from the womb.”

“Congenital weakness from the womb?” Emperor Taixiang cried out, suddenly retreating several steps, his eyes gradually becoming motionless.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty, what’s wrong?” Wei Wuxie asked anxiously.

Emperor Taixiang’s reaction also startled Empress Dowager Yang.

After a moment, Emperor Taixiang’s eyes moved, and he asked despondently: “How could this be? The princes and princesses were fine when they were born!”

Director Li lowered his head and remained silent.

With such small babies, how could one tell at birth? Some conditions only gradually reveal themselves.

“Director Li, your medical skills are foremost in the Imperial Medical Bureau. You must not speak recklessly!” Empress Dowager Yang warned.

Director Li kowtowed heavily: “This humble subject dare not!”

Originally, he wouldn’t have dared say even half a word of this. If it were just one prince with congenital weakness, that would be one thing, but now three were like this—this could only mean the problem likely lay with His Majesty himself.

If future-born princes were also like this, then—

Just thinking slightly about the consequences, Director Li broke out in a cold sweat.

But now the First Prince was in mortal danger. As Director of the Imperial Medical Bureau, if he couldn’t explain what was happening, his life wouldn’t be spared either.

“You mean the princes and princesses are constitutionally weak from birth, so even a minor illness could threaten their lives?” Empress Dowager Yang asked.

Director Li pressed both hands to the ground and nodded slightly.

Empress Dowager Yang drew in a sharp breath and couldn’t help but look at Emperor Taixiang.

This grandson had several children in earlier years who had died young, one after another. Now this situation was occurring again. This way, what Director Li said was probably true!

“Impossible, impossible!” Emperor Taixiang clearly couldn’t accept this fact, shaking his head continuously. Suddenly remembering something, he shouted sternly: “Summon Judge Chen!”

Judge Chen was the chief physician of Prince Rui’s residence. After Emperor Taixiang ascended the throne, he was promoted to Judge of the Imperial Medical Bureau, with status second only to Director Li.

Judge Chen quickly arrived.

“Judge Chen, come with me!” Emperor Taixiang swept his sleeves and walked toward the inner hall.

Judge Chen glanced at Director Li and hurriedly followed.

Emperor Taixiang entered the inner room, placing both hands on the desk, trembling slightly.

Judge Chen stood to one side, not daring to make a sound.

The atmosphere was frozen for a moment before Emperor Taixiang spoke heavily: “Judge Chen, Director Li just said the princes and princesses have congenital weakness from the womb, so they cannot withstand even the slightest disturbance. Do you think… do you think this could be related to my premature breaking of vows?”

Judge Chen’s whole body shook. Looking at the despair revealed in Emperor Taixiang’s eyes, he finally gathered courage after a long while: “This subject… this subject dare not make rash judgments…”

“What should I do? What exactly should I do?” Emperor Taixiang grew more panicked the more he thought, pacing back and forth in the room.

If it was truly because of prematurely breaking vows that led to the current situation, did this mean all future children would be like this?

Thinking of the deceased Second Prince and the critically ill First Prince and Second Princess, Emperor Taixiang’s heart was breaking.

Urgent footsteps approached, and Wei Wuxie shouted from outside: “Your Majesty, something, something has happened!”

Upon hearing this, Emperor Taixiang’s heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly walked out.

The eunuch following beside Wei Wuxie crawled on his knees to Emperor Taixiang: “Your Majesty, the Second Princess has… passed away…”

Emperor Taixiang’s vision went black, and he fell straight down.

“Your Majesty—” Wei Wuxie was horrified and caught Emperor Taixiang.

Emperor Taixiang’s entire body weight pressed on Wei Wuxie as he said with breath like gossamer: “The First Prince… must preserve the First Prince!”