Chapter 299 The Emperor Reaps What He Sows
The Third Prince walked to her side, and like an ordinary couple, gently placed his hand on her shoulder. "Now even Zhao'er is going to be a father. We're getting old!"
Aunt Zhou looked up at him and smiled, "Yes, we're getting old."
In the courtyard, Zhou Zhao carried Nan Fengling around for a while before putting her down and taking her inside.
Seeing this, the crowd didn't disturb the young people and turned to go to the front yard.
Aunt Zhou went to the kitchen and told Granny Zhuang the good news.
Granny Zhuang was delighted to hear this, picked up a kitchen knife, went to the backyard, slaughtered another chicken, and stewed a pot of chicken soup.
The family enjoyed a harmonious and happy dinner together.
Compared to the bustling Zhou family, the palace was much quieter.
Ever since the emperor returned from Cheng'an County, he has lost all interest in the women in the palace.
After much deliberation, he decided to hold his own talent show.
She thought to herself that it would be great if she could choose a common woman like Xu Niangzi.
Once the emperor had this idea, he immediately became enthusiastic and wrote an imperial edict ordering all women of marriageable age in the country to participate in the imperial selection, regardless of whether they were daughters of officials or peasants.
When Zhou Ruiyuan received this example, he was quite angry.
The fifth prince, who was standing nearby, came over and said, "I didn't expect that Father Emperor, at such an old age, would still be thinking about taking a concubine."
The emperor was probably in his forties, which wasn't very old. It was common for emperors to be selecting concubines even in their fifties or sixties.
However, this time the emperor didn't even spare women from the common people.
Zhou Ruiyuan put away the example text and said slowly, "Isn't he going to choose a concubine? Well then, you help find a few ugly girls in the village and send them over."
The Fifth Prince replied with a smile, "Alright, elder brother."
Now, all the other counties are arresting people, and those who are not married are being sent to Qingzhou Prefecture for screening.
Many women who did not want to enter the palace found other men and married them overnight.
After a month of this commotion, Prefect Li and Zhou Ruiyuan conspired to send several ugly and sick women to the imperial concubine selection.
The other women were all sent home.
When the palace held its first selection of concubines, only one woman was chosen.
The woman was a girl from a brothel, carefully selected and prepared by Prefect Li to be sent to the palace.
The woman contracted an illness and, knowing her days were numbered, was willing to go to the palace to become a favored concubine.
The moment the emperor saw this woman in the palace, he was reminded of the graceful Lady Xu, and his heart immediately fluttered. He then ordered someone to keep the woman there.
In addition, several beautiful young women were also left behind.
With new concubines by his side, the emperor gradually forgot about finding an empress.
He doted on this woman every night until she developed a persistent high fever, at which point the emperor realized something was wrong.
He then immediately summoned the imperial physician.
The imperial physician examined her and exclaimed in surprise, "Your Majesty, the Empress has contracted syphilis."
The emperor was shocked. "What disease? Syphilis? How could a common woman possibly have such a disease?"
Just as he was racking his brains and preparing to reprimand the woman,
The woman suddenly fell seriously ill and died without uttering a single question.
The emperor, seeing the woman lying dead before him, was horrified. "Imperial physician! Quick! Save her!"
The imperial physician bowed his head and said to the emperor, "Your Majesty, this woman is critically ill. You should..."
The emperor quickly asked, "What's wrong with me?"
The imperial physician gritted his teeth and said, "This venereal disease is contagious. Your Majesty, please allow this old minister to examine you."
The emperor's face turned ashen. "You mean I've also contracted syphilis?"
The imperial physician knelt down and said, "I did not say that. Please allow me to take your pulse first."
The emperor slowly sat down, his hand trembling as he extended it. "Very well, you take my pulse."
The imperial physician stepped forward and took the emperor's pulse. After a long while, his hand began to tremble.
Seeing his complexion, the emperor was greatly alarmed. "How are you? How am I?"
The imperial physician lowered his head and knelt down, saying, "Your Majesty, you and the Empress both suffer from the same illness."
In the past, the selection of imperial concubines was very strict; only daughters of fifth-rank officials could be selected.
This was the first time the emperor had ever taken a commoner woman as his concubine.
Even if he wanted to investigate now, he wouldn't find anything.
The emperor was stunned, as if struck by lightning, and sat there dumbfounded. "What will happen if I get this disease?"
After hesitating for a long time, the imperial physician whispered, "He will die from rotting flesh all over his body."
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