Chapter 204 Claiming Illness

In Jinling, within the imperial palace, life remained peaceful and prosperous.

Inside the warm pavilion, the charcoal burned brightly, and the incense smoke curled gently.

Pei Yan leaned against the soft couch, his brows furrowed slightly, appearing somewhat absent-minded.

Below, several performers were singing newly arranged songs in soft, melodious voices, but they did nothing to dispel the inexplicable irritation in his heart.

"Desheng," he called out lazily.

The old eunuch who had been standing in the shadows immediately bowed and stepped forward, saying, "This old servant is here."

"How many people have complained of being sick today?"

Pei Yan picked up the warm jade wine cup beside him and took a casual sip.

Desheng's face immediately showed just the right amount of embarrassment and worry. He counted on his fingers and replied in a low voice, "Your Majesty... Vice Minister Liu of the Ministry of Revenue, Director Wang of the Ministry of Works, Vice Censor-in-Chief Zhao of the Censorate... and, Commander Qian of the Capital Garrison... including those who took leave yesterday and those who took sick leave today, there are a total of... seven people. They are all important officials."

"Smack!"

Pei Yan slammed the jade cup in his hand heavily on the low table beside him, startling the actors so much that their voices trembled and they fell to their knees with a thud.

"You bastard!"

Pei Yan's face darkened. "Claiming illness? Claiming illness?! Five the other day, six yesterday, and seven today! Do you think my court is a marketplace? Coming and going as you please, taking leave whenever you want! Do you really think I'm made of clay?!"

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, feeling a surge of anger rushing to his head.

Ever since the Lin family fell ill, he has had a string of bad luck!

First, the Lin family caused widespread panic. After finally getting rid of this plague god from the capital, out of sight and out of mind, the result was that more and more officials in the court were reporting illness!

What's going on here?

Could it be true that the old saying goes, "misfortunes never come singly"?

"check!"

Pei Yan abruptly stood up, pacing irritably in the warm pavilion, the hem of his magnificent dragon robe billowing in the wind. "Investigate! Investigate thoroughly! I want to see if it's a real illness or feigned! If anyone dares to deceive the emperor, I'll skin them alive!"

"Yes! This old servant obeys!"

Desheng quickly bowed and accepted the order, then turned to leave to make arrangements.

"etc!"

Pei Yan stopped him again, "You...go yourself! Don't trust anyone else. Bring the imperial physician! Show me clearly what diseases these people have! Don't miss a single one!"

"This old servant understands!"

Desheng replied resolutely, "Your Majesty, rest assured, this old servant will definitely investigate the matter thoroughly."

Seeing his appearance, Pei Yan's irritation lessened slightly, and a rare sense of sympathy arose within her: "Yes, go ahead. You too... be careful not to get tainted by bad luck."

He waved his hand, signaling Desheng to step down.

Only the terrified sobs of the actors remained in the warm chamber.

Pei Yan stared at the flickering candlelight, his eyes filled with malice.

The Lin family... Xie Sangning... are both jinxes!

If it weren't for them, how could the court have been in such turmoil?

The more he thought about it, the more he hated it, feeling that the root of all this should be blamed on Xie Sangning, that troublemaker!

Only when she dies in Xihan and the Lin family is wiped out can his hatred be appeased!

On the other hand, Grandpa Desheng was extremely efficient.

He didn't bring a large entourage, but only two imperial physicians from his own faction. They rode in an inconspicuous sedan chair and quietly began his visit to the sick.

The first family was the residence of Liu, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.

The mansion gate was tightly shut. When the gatekeeper saw Eunuch Desheng's sedan chair, he turned pale with fright and hesitated for a long time before opening the gate.

The atmosphere inside the mansion was oppressive, with a strong smell of medicine faintly wafting through the air.

When Desheng entered the room, Vice Minister Liu was lying listlessly on the bed in the inner room, his face sallow and covered with a thick brocade quilt. When he saw Desheng come in, he struggled to get up and pay his respects, but Desheng held him down with concern.

"Oh dear, Lord Liu, lie down quickly, lie down quickly!"

Desheng looked worried and said with a pained tone, "His Majesty was very concerned when he heard that you were unwell, and specially ordered me to bring the imperial physician to take a look."

The imperial physician stepped forward to take Liu's pulse, examined his tongue, and whispered a few words to Desheng.

After a moment, Desheng sighed and said to Vice Minister Liu, "Oh dear, sir, you have contracted a highly contagious disease!"

His eyes swept meaningfully over Vice Minister Liu's frightened face.

Vice Minister Liu was dumbfounded. This...

It was clearly an act, how come it passed so easily?

Suddenly, he noticed that Desheng hadn't dodged, and was still so close to him even after learning it was the plague. He instantly understood and coughed repeatedly, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty... thank you for your concern. I'm so sickly; I'm afraid I might pass on my illness to my colleagues and Your Majesty..."

Desheng nodded: "His Majesty is well aware of your loyalty and dedication to the country. Take good care of yourself and don't overthink things. After all, it's an epidemic, and everyone in the manor should stay home."

Having said that, he took his leave with the imperial physician, leaving Vice Minister Liu and his family looking at each other in surprise and delight.

Good heavens! The Emperor's most powerful lackey, Eunuch Desheng, is actually one of our own!

That acting is amazing!

Desheng rushed to the second house without stopping, the house of Lord Wang, the Director of the Construction Department of the Ministry of Works.

As soon as I reached the alley entrance, I heard a fierce argument and crying coming from inside.

Desheng gestured for the sedan chair bearers to stop and listened attentively.

"...Why are you locking the door?! My father only has a cold! Not the plague! You're slandering him!" a young voice shouted angrily.

"The entire Wang family is suspected of being infected with the plague! Effective immediately, the residence is to be sealed off! No one is allowed to enter or leave! Anyone who disobeys will be punished for defying an imperial decree!"

A cold voice came from the Five Cities Garrison, but Pei Yan had never given such an order. It must have been the young lady's doing.

Given the Emperor's suspicious nature, it would be abnormal if every household were the same and did not resist.

Desheng smiled slightly and lowered the sedan curtain: "Let's go, to the next one."

The third family was the residence of Zhao, the Right Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate.

This Imperial Censor Zhao was known for his uprightness and outspokenness, and had a reputation for integrity.

When Desheng arrived, the gate of the Zhao residence was tightly closed, and the gatekeeper refused to open it, saying that the master was seriously ill and that he was afraid of passing on the illness to the angels.

Desheng patiently waited outside the door for almost half an hour. Looking at the tightly closed door and hearing the faint, suppressed coughing sounds coming from inside, his worry deepened. He then called out loudly to the closed door:

"Lord Zhao! His Majesty is concerned about your illness and has specially dispatched me with the imperial physician to treat you! You are loyal to the country and surely would not want to delay important court affairs due to a minor ailment, nor would you want to see His Majesty worried, would you? Please open the door and let the imperial physician examine you, so that His Majesty may be at ease!"