When the pandemic started, these ministers were naturally fearless, but at this critical juncture, there were some things that only they could do.

With a slight flick of his sleeve, Emperor Yuanhe dismissed the ministers, who then left the imperial study in an orderly fashion.

As soon as they left, Emperor Yuanhe suddenly clutched his forehead, a wave of dizziness washing over him, almost causing him to lose his balance.

Liu Rencai was startled and quickly stepped forward to support Emperor Yuanhe: "Your...Your Majesty?"

His heart skipped a beat. Could it be that the Emperor also...?

His face turned deathly pale: "Your Majesty, please wait! This servant... this servant will go and fetch the imperial physician immediately!"

However, just as he took two steps away, he heard a "thud" behind him, and Emperor Yuanhe fell straight off the dragon throne to the ground.

Liu Rencai panicked completely, his legs even began to go weak, and he rushed forward: "Someone! Someone come quickly! Quickly fetch the imperial physician! The Emperor has fainted! Quickly fetch the imperial physician!"

Meanwhile, messages kept arriving at the villa on the outskirts of Beijing.

Even though the palace kept the news a secret, thanks to the machinations of Yu Nanqing and Su Wanyan, the news of Emperor Yuanhe's fainting still spread like wildfire throughout the capital.

If the common people didn't understand what was going on before, now that they see the city gates closed and hear that Emperor Yuanhe has also fainted without warning, just like them, what else is there to not understand?

Those who contracted the disease were too weak to move, while the uninfected people began to stir, running to the city gates and demanding that the city guards open them so they could leave.

They had no symptoms, could still run and jump, and if they could live, no one would want to stay and wait to die, especially since some of them had two children to support.

The reason Emperor Yuanhe dispatched the Imperial Guards was to prevent such a thing from happening.

The capital city has four gates, and now all four gates are crowded with people who are all clamoring to leave the capital.

Without Emperor Yuanhe's order, the city defenses dared not open the city gates and could only join forces with the Imperial Guards to try their best to keep the people back.

However, the whole city was thrown into panic at this time, and almost all the people rushed over. In the end, even the people who were infected with the plague wanted to come and join in the fun. They did not want to wait to die in the capital. Perhaps there were too many infected people in the capital, and their epidemic would be over once they left the city.

With this mindset, the capital became increasingly chaotic, and the situation became increasingly difficult to control.

At this critical moment, Emperor Yuanhe fainted, and the officials could only do their best to stabilize the situation.

However, one wave subsided only for another to rise. The epidemic spread rapidly, affecting both the palace and the city. How could these officials who were handling affairs possibly escape unscathed?

By the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, more than half of the court officials were bedridden at home, the manpower was rapidly reduced, and the pressure on the court was unprecedented.

However, the imperial physicians of the Imperial Medical Academy were unable to develop a medicine to prevent the epidemic in a short period of time, and for a time, the fight against the epidemic was at a standstill.

Not only Emperor Yuanhe, but also other concubines in the palace were affected by the epidemic. The situation was not optimistic, and there was a general sense of desolation, both inside and outside the palace.

On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, the Empress, who had been confined to the palace, appeared in Emperor Yuanhe's bedroom with a worried expression.

The palace is now poorly defended, and when Xia Yunshang arrived, her maid carried a food box with her.

However, the snacks in this food box were not intended for Emperor Yuanhe.

The guards pushed open the palace doors of Emperor Yuanhe's bedroom, and Xia Yunshang stepped in with poise.

Liu Rencai was staying by Emperor Yuanhe's bedside at this moment, never leaving his side.

When Xia Yunshang entered, Liu Rencai was slightly startled. All the palaces were currently under lockdown, and no one was allowed to leave the inner palace without being summoned, not even the Empress.

Regardless, Liu Rencai immediately stepped forward and bowed, saying, "This servant greets Your Majesty."

"Get up," Xia Yunshang said gently.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Your Majesty, what brings you here?" Now is not the time to wander around.

"Now everyone in the palace is in a state of panic. After the Emperor fell ill, the harem has lost its pillar of support. I have come to see if there is anything I can do to help."

Liu Rencai frowned, glanced at Emperor Yuanhe who was still bedridden, and sighed deeply, not knowing what to say.

Following Liu Rencai's gaze, the bright yellow imperial tent completely concealed Emperor Yuanhe. The imperial physicians must have come to see him, as the room was filled with the smell of Chinese medicine. However, the Imperial Hospital was currently helpless against the epidemic.

Liu Rencai comforted her, saying, "Your Majesty need not worry too much. His Majesty is blessed with good fortune and is protected by a true dragon. Nothing will happen to him."

The Empress, also looking exhausted, forced a smile despite the dark circles under her eyes: "How can Eunuch Liu's body withstand such hard work day and night?"

She gestured with her hand, and her personal maid handed her a food box: "This is a small token of my appreciation, specially sent to Eunuch Liu. As for His Majesty, I will take care of it."

"This..." Eunuch Liu hesitated.

This epidemic is contagious, and Liu Rencai had already prepared himself for the possibility of contracting the disease.

To prevent this from happening, most of the palace maids and eunuchs have left, leaving him as the only one serving in this bedchamber.

After the emperor contracted the plague, the empress came to serve him without ever leaving his side. Although Liu Rencai was in a dilemma, he also felt that the empress was truly loyal and devoted at this moment.

"Eunuch Liu, there's no need to worry. The epidemic is severe now, and even if I hadn't come, it wouldn't have been avoidable. I will be careful."

Upon hearing this, Liu Rencai finally felt relieved. The atmosphere in the palace had been unusually tense lately, and he was indeed exhausted both physically and mentally.

He reached out and took the food box from the palace maid: "Then this servant thanks the Empress."

The palace maid quickly replied, "It was all ordered by Her Majesty to be made by the kitchen. It's still fresh. Eunuch Liu should eat it while it's hot."

Liu Rencai smiled and said, "Yes, Your Majesty's kindness is appreciated."

After Liu Rencai left, Xia Yunshang glanced at the palace maid, who immediately understood and withdrew from the hall with her eyes lowered.

Inside the magnificent palace, only Emperor Yuanhe and Xia Yunshang remained.

Xia Yunshang slowly stepped forward, lifted the imperial tent to both sides, and secured it.

She looked at Emperor Yuanhe lying peacefully on the bed, as if he were asleep.

She walked to the incense burner, took out a packet of incense powder from her body, poured it into the burner, and lit it. In a short while, a delicate fragrance slowly spread throughout the hall.

Xia Yunshang was flustered, so much so that her fingertips trembled slightly when she crumpled the wrapping paper in her palm.

She steadied herself and slowly closed the lid of the incense burner.

She got up and went to the bedside. She glanced at the still sleeping Emperor Yuanhe, pursed her lips slightly, and left the palace.

"Your Highness," a palace maid standing guard at the door called out.

Xia Yunshang clenched her fist in her sleeve: "Let's go back."

"yes."

Night falls.

The inner palace grounds were completely silent, with only the flickering candlelight in each palace.

Inside Emperor Yuanhe's palace, the emperor, who had been fast asleep, suddenly twitched his eyes slightly, and the next second, he slowly opened them.