Chapter 407 Yixiu 85
As soon as Yixiu woke up early in the morning, she heard Jianqiu hurriedly reporting to her that Shen Da Ying had contracted an epidemic.
Yixiu, who had been feeling rather drowsy, immediately came to her senses and immediately made Cunju Hall a prison, forbidding anyone who had come into contact with Consort Shen from leaving Xianfu Palace. Consort Jing and several other concubines were also quarantined for a month, waiting to be assured of their safety. Then, each palace underwent self-examinations, and the prepared medicinal herbs for epidemic prevention were distributed to each palace. Then, there were the rituals, and so on and so forth.
The issue of epidemics is not an unfamiliar topic in the Qing Dynasty. For some reason, the epidemic in Beijing broke out earlier this time, but Yixiu had made preparations early. She originally thought that Shen promised to lose completely this time, but Liu Bin was somehow found by the Nian family first, and there was no evidence to prove his mistake.
She originally thought that since Nian Shilan hated Shen Meiyu so much, she would take action once all the obstacles were knocked down. However, she didn't expect that she would endure from spring to winter, and finally take action against Shen Meiyu.
Yixiu's guess was correct. Although this incident seemed to be directed at Chen Da Ying, it was actually aimed at Zhen Huan.
Given her deep affection for Shen Meizhuang, she was unwilling to wait another month. She endured for half a month, but when she sent someone to inquire, the situation was indeed not good, which made her even more anxious. Finally, she couldn't help herself and secretly ran to visit her. Through the curtain, she asked about Meizhuang's recent situation. When she returned to Changchun Palace, she didn't dare to see the child. She carefully washed herself and burned all her clothes and handkerchiefs. She endured for eight or nine days, only daring to glance at her through the door every day.
Zhen Huan thought she was cautious enough but did not consider that the problem might not necessarily lie with her. When she heard that her son suddenly had a high fever, she finally understood what Concubine Hua felt like that day.
This time, during the day, the Emperor and Empress both received the news. When they reached the door together, Liu Zhu knelt before them. "Your servant greets the Emperor and Empress. Imperial Physician Wen just diagnosed the Eighth Prince and said he's contracted the plague. Our young mistress has instructed me to stop the Emperor and Empress. Please, Your Majesty, prioritize your health."
"Your Majesty, Wanpin is right. You are a precious person, and you must not let anything go wrong." Upon hearing this, Yixiu naturally followed suit and offered a few words of advice. Then, turning to Liuzhu, she said, "How could the Eighth Prince have contracted the plague? I'm afraid someone in Changchun Palace has also been infected, especially the nannies around the Eighth Prince. Does Wanpin have any idea?"
"Our queen thinks the same. She has ordered all the personal attendants to be locked up together, waiting for the imperial physician to come and treat them one by one." Liu Zhu finished the last sentence slowly. "Our queen also said that mother and child are connected by heart. She hopes that the emperor will allow her to stay with the eighth prince until he recovers."
The emperor was about to disagree, but Zhen Huan was already in the room, obviously determined to accompany her son. This reminded him of Concubine Hua and the Sixth Prince, and he felt sad, but he finally agreed.
Unfortunately, the prematurely born Eighth Prince was already weak, not to mention that he had contracted an epidemic that even adults would find difficult to overcome. When Zhen Huan held the child whose body was gradually cooling down, she also developed a determination to die. If someone told her that they could save her child at this time, she would be willing to do anything.
Unfortunately, matters of life and death are never up to anyone.
The emperor, sitting outside, heard the heart-wrenching wail. He turned around to see Yixiu's expressionless face, as if she had found an excuse. He asked with a tone tinged with anger, "The empress remains calm upon hearing this. Don't you even have a shred of pity?"
"Your Majesty, please calm down. I just... thought of Honghui."
Yixiu stood up and saluted. When she raised her head, her desolate eyes seemed both familiar and unfamiliar to the emperor.
The memories of the past came flooding back to the emperor at this moment, and he realized that he had never forgotten that look.
The emperor stood up without a word, feeling dizzy. He stumbled a few steps, refused Su Peisheng's support, and walked out slowly without even a word of comfort.
For the next three days, the emperor did not set foot in the harem again until the empress came to him in person with the results of the investigation.
The evidence that Wanpin had visited Shen Meizhuang was placed at the top, and Wanpin herself even admitted it very straightforwardly. This gave the emperor a way out, and he also had a little more resentment towards Wanpin's love. Feeling that he was sufficiently understanding, the emperor put the matter aside, but sent a letter to the Imperial Hospital. In the end, Shen Meizhuang could not survive the epidemic and died of the illness.
The emperor allowed her to be cremated and buried as a noble lady because of her father's diligence.
Concubine Zhen, Noble Lady An, and Lady He who changed her mother's surname, finally ushered in their era.
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"This concubine pays homage to Her Majesty Zhen Fei."
After the newlyweds met Concubine Zhen, they heard her smile and say to Concubine Shun below them, "I got a new batch of jadeite yesterday. The colors are quite good. Come back and pick some for yourself."
An Lingrong, who had become a Shunpin, smiled gently: "Thank you for the gift, Your Majesty. However, I am not as graceful as you, so the jade is wasted on me. These newlyweds, on the other hand, have bright complexions and are truly a pleasure to look at."
"Hey, I was so busy talking to Shunpin that I forgot about you. Get up."
Concubine Zhen finally called out, her eyes sweeping over the dazzlingly beautiful Concubine Qi and the other women from the Han army banners behind her. This year's selection wasn't as good as the previous two in terms of status, but it was better in terms of beauty and wealth.
Pretty, gentle, cool, sweet, most of these young girls came from the five banners of the Han army and did not have complicated family backgrounds. In other words, the emperor had no scruples when it came to favoring them.
Naturally, they are more eager for grace.
Just like Shunpin and He Changzai.
Zhenfei was very angry about the queen's magnanimity, but she could do nothing about it. With the retirement of Hua Guifei and the silence of Wanpin in recent years, Zhenfei, who had become successful again, paired with her brother who looked exactly like her. Obviously, both parties felt that the cooperation was very pleasant.
Nian Shilan, who was still paying more attention to the Han army flag at this time, did not notice at all that the only Manchu army flag among these people was the one most relevant to her.
After the Queen sent Concubine Qi to Changchun Palace, which in her eyes was no different from the Cold Palace, she simply forgot about her.
At the same time, the emperor, who was listening to Zhen Yuandao's summary of the impeachment memorial against Nian Gengyao in the Yangxin Palace, opened his eyes and saw Su Peisheng scratching his head anxiously at the door. "Why don't you get in?"
Su Peisheng hurriedly slipped in and whispered in the emperor's ear, "Jingren Palace has sent someone to deliver the news. Concubine Hua, something bad has happened."
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