The hall was completely silent, and the atmosphere was extremely somber.

Wan Anran felt extremely uncomfortable under the emperor's gaze, and almost lost her composure. She lowered her head guiltily, staring at the back of her feet, feeling quite depressed.

It was clearly the Emperor's illness that made him so thin, so that she could easily lift him up. How could she be blamed? Wan Anran became more and more convinced of the logic. Her cheeks puffed out slightly as she was about to raise her head to speak, but the Empress beat her to it.

Startled, the Empress, who had been weeping, finally came to her senses and regained her composure. She nodded, turned her head and ordered the palace servants to fetch the Crown Prince, while simultaneously ordering the imperial physician to take the Emperor's pulse.

The Empress breathed a slight sigh of relief.

She's still quite optimistic; at least the Emperor seems to be of sound mind, which is much better than she imagined when she was standing at the door.

The imperial physicians were not as optimistic as the Empress.

They stepped forward with serious expressions, taking turns to take each other's pulses and talking in hushed tones, while Wan Anran took the opportunity to slip out along the corner of the wall.

After confirming that the emperor's condition was better than she had expected, and after giving the imperial physicians advice on the artemisia annua prescription, Wan Anran's thoughts turned elsewhere.

For example, the palace where you almost fainted from the stench as soon as you walked in.

The hall was pitch black, filled with a strong medicinal smell and an indescribable stench. With all the windows tightly shut and no ventilation whatsoever, it was clearly unsuitable for a patient to live in.

Wan Anran had the palace servants in the courtyard running around like headless chickens.

The luggage she had prepared for the emperor was quickly unearthed. Wan Anran quickly made a batch of simple disinfectant, deciding to sterilize the entire room later. In addition, Wan Anran had someone bring ice, cut it into small pieces, and put it in a cloth bag to cool Kangxi down. Of course, some was also sent to Consort Hui.

Also, prepare insect repellent.

Malaria is transmitted by mosquitoes. If the emperor could get it, others might too. Wan Anran's only consolation was that malaria is not transmitted from person to person. Otherwise, she would have to prepare masks and gloves... no, she might have to cover her whole body.

Then there's food.

Wan Anran personally visited the kitchen to inquire about the emperor's eating habits during this period. He then instructed the cooks to prepare some unseasoned rice porridge, steamed egg custard, chicken and meat broth, and fruit and vegetable juices.

Although it tastes terrible, the Emperor has no choice but to bear with it.

While Wan Anran was busy and doing very well, the atmosphere on the other side was not so good.

Emperor Kangxi was not in a good mood.

He felt extremely embarrassed when Qi Fei picked him up earlier, but after the initial awkwardness subsided, a feeling of depression welled up inside him. Just thinking that even the delicate and frail Qi Fei could lift him up so easily showed how weak his body had become.

Emperor Kangxi was filled with mixed emotions, feeling that his time was drawing near.

Lying on his sickbed, he gently recounted the past to the Crown Prince. He spoke emotionally about the Crown Prince's childhood, and his greatest regret was that he had never even seen a grandson. Overwhelmed with emotion, Kangxi couldn't help but cough heavily several times, feeling his stomach churning again.

He was panting heavily.

His thin fingers gripped the edge of the bed tightly. Kangxi felt a buzzing in his ears and his vision blurred in waves. Finally, he vomited violently once again.

The prince suddenly stood up.

Kangxi reached out with relief, but no one came forward to help him for a long time. Kangxi became a little puzzled. He looked up slightly and saw an unbelievable scene.

The crown prince took a few steps back.

He stood cautiously not far away, looking as if he were a source of pollution...?

Kangxi's excited emotions froze instantly.

Was he seeing things wrong? His heart sank to the bottom. He repeatedly denied it, but a surge of blood and qi overwhelmed him, and Kangxi fainted again.

The crown prince, who subconsciously took a few steps back, was startled.

He rushed forward in a panic, shouting, "Imperial Physician—Imperial Physician!"

The imperial physician, who had stepped outside, rushed in.

They took turns taking his pulse, their faces all showing a hint of doubt and shock. The imperial physicians exchanged bewildered glances, and seeing the expressions on their colleagues' faces, they broke out in a cold sweat.

The crown prince was so anxious he jumped up and down, demanding an explanation.

The imperial physicians, however, stammered and couldn't bring themselves to say anything, so they could only try to deflect the blame onto the emperor's illness. Just then, the first bowl of artemisia annua decoction was ready, and the physicians quickly and carefully served the emperor the medicine.

No one dared to say it aloud.

The Emperor's sudden fainting was clearly due to extreme anger!

As for why the emperor would...

Seeing the Crown Prince's deep concern, which of the imperial physicians dared to ask? They could only swallow their questions.

Wan Anran rushed back.

While the imperial physicians were feeding the emperor his medicine, she instructed the palace servants to open the windows for ventilation and pull back all the curtains covering the room, letting the warm sunlight into the dim room.

Disinfect and clean, remove the messy incense.

When Kangxi awoke again and opened his eyes, he almost thought he had been moved to a different place.

The air was filled with the refreshing scent of mint, and the bedding around him was fluffy and smelled of sunshine. Kangxi propped himself up, his body weak, and managed to look around. He quickly spotted the Empress and Wan Anran sitting at the round table. They both had their heads down and their hands were busy, seemingly sewing something.

Even the slightest movement caught their attention.

Seeing that the Emperor had actually sat up on his own, the Empress covered her mouth and cheered with delight, while Wan Anran stepped forward and put a few soft pillows under his waist, her eyes full of joy.

Artemisia annua soup worked.

For two consecutive days, Kangxi's high fever was lower than usual, and he was even able to get up and drink a bowl of rice soup, though he looked a little disgusted.

Everyone in the palace was overjoyed.

However, this joy came quickly and went just as fast. On the evening of the third day, Kangxi's condition suddenly deteriorated again.

This time, the emperor was delirious with fever and even started talking nonsense.

The Empress and Wan Anran did not sleep all night, and the Emperor's high fever did not subside until the next morning.

The head of the Imperial Medical Academy looked very unwell.

He rushed to the Empress's side, his knees landing flat on the ground. The imperial physician's forehead was pressed tightly against the ground. He dared not look at the Empress's expression, and only managed to squeeze out a few words in a trembling voice: "...Your Majesty, Your Majesty has done your best."

The Empress's vision went black.

The initial improvement gave them a glimmer of hope, only to cruelly snatch that hope away again!

Consort Hui and Consort Duan were also pale-faced.

The tension that had been building for so many days completely dissipated at this moment. They stumbled out of the palace, hiding in the corridor, sobbing softly.

Soft sobs lingered in the courtyard, reaching the ears of the Crown Prince who had rushed there. He paused, frozen outside the door.

The prince's face was blank.

The palace servants following behind, however, wore sorrowful expressions, but a hint of excitement flashed in their eyes.

When one person attains enlightenment, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven.

If the crown prince were to ascend the throne, those who serve him would naturally be included as well—just thinking about it is incredibly exciting.

Of course, no one showed it.

The palace maid suppressed her excitement and feigned sadness: "Your Highness... please take care of yourself."

The prince did not understand the servant's meaning.

Filled with fear and helplessness, the Crown Prince pushed open the door forcefully. He brushed past the Empress and strode to the bedside. Looking at the gaunt and emaciated Emperor Kangxi, the Crown Prince could not hold back his tears, which streamed down his face: "...Father."

The empress bit her lip.

Wan Anran gripped the powder hidden in her sleeve tightly—this was her last chance.

Unlike in history, no missionaries appeared at all, and the emperor's illness became even more severe, to the point that he was on the verge of death, leaping left and right like a roc spreading its wings.

Will it really work?

History has been altered far too much; Wan Anran wouldn't be surprised if Kangxi died at this moment.

But...but...

Wan Anran reached out and grasped the Empress's hand, her voice trembling as she said, "Your Majesty, I have something to say."

The Empress, overwhelmed with grief, stared blankly at the sound and looked at Consort Qi. The unprecedented seriousness on Consort Qi's face made the Empress hold her breath. The Empress pulled her aside and asked, "What is wrong?"

Qi Fei's hands were wet.

The Empress could only try her best to calm him down, while her mind raced. Could there be something wrong with the Emperor's illness? And what if there was something wrong with the imperial physicians here?

Wan Anran's words broke her train of thought.

The Empress's eyes widened suddenly, and Consort Qi's words echoed in her mind: "I have another medicine... perhaps... perhaps it can save Your Majesty! But this medicine comes from missionaries in Europe, and I'm afraid the imperial physicians dare not use it."

The Empress's heart skipped a beat.

The imperial physician's words suggested that the Emperor's life might be in danger if they weren't taken seriously, but... she held Qi Fei's hand tightly: "How confident are you?"

Wan Anran lowered her eyes.

The situation is completely different from history now, and she can't be sure if the emperor will survive. Wan Anran pondered for a moment, then gritted her teeth: "Perhaps seventy or eighty percent." Maybe fifty percent is the best they can hope for.

The Empress's heart pounded like a drum.

She looked up at the unconscious Kangxi Emperor, then at the tearful Crown Prince, and finally gritted her teeth: "The imperial physicians have run out of ideas, so we have no choice but to give it a try. Consort Qi, just do as you wish! I'm here!"

Wan Anran gritted her teeth and agreed.

The Empress, fiddling with the prayer beads on her wrist, watched Consort Qi leave before walking forward herself.

Here, only she can stop the Crown Prince.

Here, she is the only one who can make decisions.

Although Wan Anran didn't know how the Empress had persuaded the Crown Prince and the imperial physicians, judging from the solemn faces of the physicians and the unusually somber atmosphere, it was probably far more complicated than she had imagined.

At least medication can be used now.

After all, if medicine isn't used, even if the emperor wakes up, he'll probably be burned into a fool.

Within half an hour, the imperial physician would report on the emperor's condition.

Wan Anran leaned on the Empress's shoulder, staring blankly into the inner room, all she could do was pray.

After more than a decade of getting to know each other, the emperor was not only the father of her child but also a friend she had known for many years. Wan Anran did not want to hear such terrible news at this time, and she murmured softly, "Live on...you must live on...there are still decades to go."

The Empress was also filled with anxiety.

If the Emperor were to die, she, as the Empress Dowager, would likely be unharmed, but what about Consort Qi? What about her two children, Yinzhen and Yintao? She feared that she herself might not be able to save Consort Qi's life...

Thinking of this, the Empress felt a pang of regret.

Why would she let Consort Qi take such a risk?! The Empress concealed the fear in her eyes and held Consort Qi's hand tightly.

The two of them looked into the inner room at the same time, waiting and hoping for good news, which was undoubtedly agonizing.

The palace servants tiptoed in and out.

The entire Chengde Imperial Palace seemed shrouded in dark, heavy clouds, and everyone's hearts were gripped tightly.

On the first day, the emperor's condition did not change at all.

The emperor's high fever subsided slightly the next day, but he remained unconscious.

The third day, the fourth day...

By the fourth night, everyone was in despair. The prince, who had been grieving for days, had become indifferent and even showed other emotions after accepting the reality.

Am I about to ascend the throne?

He stood blankly in the courtyard, a mix of emotions welling up inside him.

A ray of sunlight pierced the sky and fell upon the palace.

On the morning of the fifth day, the flame of hope in Wan Anran's eyes gradually died out. Just then, a joyful shout came from inside the room: "Your Majesty—His Majesty has awakened!"

As the morning glow pierced through the sky, the entire world gradually brightened.

Wan Anran's eyes were also ordinary, with starlight blooming in her eyes. She stood up, but she was unsteady. The fatigue from not sleeping for several days surged up in an instant, and Wan Anran's vision went black and she fainted.