Chapter 196 Smallpox? (The child...)
Upon hearing it the first time, Emperor Hongren, unwilling to face reality, even doubted his own ears. But he had just heard Wu Qingdao report that several princes had gathered together to leave the palace for a celebration.
When the old emperor finally realized what was happening, his face turned deathly pale.
"Hurry!!" His hands trembled as he slammed his fist on the imperial desk twice, almost roaring in fury as he gave the order, "Get everyone from the Imperial Hospital over there! Send Physician Ye, who serves me, to examine the Second Prince! There can be no mistake, or I'll take their heads!"
Grandpa Fuman paused for a moment before replying, "Yes."
The messenger reported that the person who might have smallpox was the seventh prince, but His Majesty, without hesitation, blurted out the name of the "second prince." The implications of this are quite thought-provoking.
Another chief eunuch glanced at Zhao Fuman, and said with concern for the emperor, "Your Majesty, please reconsider! That Eunuch Wu just came before the emperor... Why don't you summon Imperial Physician Ye to take a look? This palace, too..."
The most important thing in life is to never speak too much and to only reveal a fraction of what you know.
The Grand Eunuch's words were full of implications, and Emperor Hongren fell silent as soon as they were spoken.
His expression shifted several times before he snapped, "Who asked you, a mere servant, to have to speak up?"
"Yes, yes..." The chief eunuch immediately knelt down and slapped himself in the face. With a crisp slap, he knelt and cried out with utmost loyalty, "But Your Majesty... please consider your health!"
Zhao Fuman watched coldly from the side, his smile seemingly frozen in place. He didn't leave, but instead bowed and waited for the emperor's next order.
He cursed inwardly.
'fool! '
Emperor Hongren's tone was weary and troubled: "...I heard that the princes went to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager today? Have Imperial Physician Ye give them a thorough examination. Lock up the Imperial Study and all places where the princes have had contact with the emperor. Send the Imperial Guards to the residences of the tutors and their companions to keep a close watch. Let the ministers of the Six Ministries reflect on their own affairs first, and place the entire palace under martial law."
"Yes." The chief eunuch then stopped slapping himself and agreed.
Although the emperor didn't say what he would do, the imperial physician Ye, who was exclusively responsible for the emperor's health, had already gone to examine the empress dowager's pulse. Wouldn't it be natural for the emperor himself to be next?
If word gets out, this will also be seen as the emperor's filial piety.
The Grand Eunuch hurriedly withdrew to deliver the imperial decree, giving Zhao Fuman a triumphant glare before leaving. There were three Grand Eunuchs in total. Dai Xiyu was never taken seriously by the other two, because only the two of them were considered important to the Emperor. However, for many years, Zhao Fuman had been the most favored person in the Emperor's court, and he lived a life of constant anxiety.
That's great... He finally got the upper hand over that old geezer!
Zhao Fuman, however, remained standing there like a frozen statue, calmly shrouded in shadow, motionless, watching the other person leave, neither angry nor disappointed.
Even though the emperor had just issued him an order, and was now silent and visibly shrouded in rage, Zhao Fuman waited calmly, as if he could read the emperor's mind.
Emperor Hongren's face was hidden in the shadows, filled with murderous intent as he said, "Investigate! How did smallpox suddenly appear out of nowhere? Also... Zhao Fuman and Tao Zhong unfortunately contracted the disease in a couple of days. I regret that he served me so diligently in my presence. Give him a proper burial."
"Yes, this servant remembers." An old eunuch whom no one had seen before replied, and no one knew when he had been there. Zhao Fuman only reacted to the second half of the sentence. As if he hadn't seen anyone, he then moved and respectfully withdrew.
Tao Zhong was one of only two powerful eunuchs who had influence in the imperial court.
He had a childhood bond with the emperor, and he probably never dreamed that he would suddenly lose his life.
“Loyalty has always been yours… You live up to that name.” Emperor Hongren sat alone in the side hall, his mind somewhat unsettled. He cursed, his expression gradually turning cold. “But you should never have said those words.”
Before today, Emperor Hongren's mind was conflicted, wavering between apprehension and pride. But after the smallpox incident, the shock made it clear to him—the Second Prince, whom he now considered the most likely heir to the throne, absolutely could not be allowed to suffer any harm.
What did Tao Zhong say? He advised Emperor Hongren to keep the old imperial physician for himself.
These words resonated deeply with Emperor Hongren, and he indeed acted accordingly. However… these words could not be uttered by outsiders offering their advice.
Otherwise, if the Second Prince finds out one day, it will ruin the important matter of a harmonious father-son relationship! Emperor Hongren will absolutely not allow this thorn to remain in the Second Prince's heart. Even though Tao Zhong has been by his side for many years... he must kill him.
"..."
Qi Chengming thoughtfully withdrew his gaze.
The princes, all with long faces, were isolated in the private room, while the seventh prince was left alone in the room where they had just eaten. The atmosphere was tense and uneasy. Qi Chengming, having nothing to do, simply turned on the surveillance camera and happened to witness this dramatic scene.
He was not surprised at all by Emperor Hongren's choice.
Emperor Hongren began to show him some fatherly love after he demonstrated his abilities, but no matter what, it would never surpass his own.
But Emperor Hongren was hypocritical... Didn't he ever consider that if he really knew about this, Emperor Hongren might think that he had only killed the eunuch who made the suggestion and that was the end of it?
It can only be said that Qi Chengming and the original owner of this body never expected Emperor Hongren's affection from childhood to adulthood. Emperor Hongren thought that this was the only person he was tormenting emotionally, but in reality, he had already pierced the Second Prince's heart long ago.
There was already a rift between them, how can it be bridged?
...
Before long, a group of imperial physicians rushed over and entered the restaurant with grim expressions.
Those diners who were locked in the main hall and not allowed to leave were another matter. The imperial physicians had to examine the princes one by one and stay there to keep a close watch on them for half a month before they could determine if they were alright.
Qi Chengming looked out the window at the dense crowd below. It was all the Imperial Guards who had been called in, shouting and preventing diners from leaving, and crying and rioting. There were also ordinary people watching from a distance, not knowing what was going on.
He sighed: "Hey, take my purse and token to the Imperial Guards and have them help the manager settle all the diners during this time. When the imperial physician is done, give them a check-up too. Don't mistreat them."
"What time is it? Second brother, are you still thinking about this?" The sixth prince, being young, almost cried as he complained. He seemed to have come to hate the seventh prince. "...Seventh brother, you'd better pray we're alright!"
The eldest prince's expression was also unpredictable.
He would normally definitely participate in such face-saving and reputation-building activities, but when his life and safety were truly at stake, he couldn't care less about such trivial matters. The eldest prince was deeply thinking about something else.
if……
If something were to happen to them all, wouldn't the third prince, who was left outside, easily reap the benefits? Father Emperor would have no other choice!
The thought of the Third Prince laughing all the way to the bank upon hearing the news, possibly becoming the Crown Prince and then the new Emperor, was more unbearable than killing the First Prince himself. He was filled with intense hatred.
Qi Chengming gave the two teenagers an understanding look, handed the token through the crack in the door, and said nothing more.
If he hadn't possessed a special ability and knew his own limitations, he probably wouldn't have behaved much differently from the two princes. But precisely because he maintained a calm and thoughtful mindset, he couldn't turn a blind eye.
The imperial physicians filed in and began examining the diners with apparent overstaffing, but none remained downstairs to check on them. Given the lockdown, whether doctors would be found for them, when they would be available, and even whether they would receive medicine were all uncertain.
If he hadn't mentioned that, it's hard to say how many people might have died during the delay.
After a while, several more rooms became available on the second floor. This time, the imperial physicians politely invited the eldest prince, and Qi Chengming and the sixth prince parted ways. Three imperial physicians stayed with Qi Chengming, while Xiao Chengzi waited outside the door, ready to assist him.
After the restaurant was sealed off, there was a shortage of manpower, so these little eunuchs could help out—except for the two who were the seventh prince and couldn't come out yet.
"Your Highness...don't be afraid! This servant is right here!" Xiao Chengzi mustered his courage and comforted her through the door, but his voice was still trembling as he tried to appear calm.
"Yes, I'm fine, and you'll be fine too." Qi Chengming sat on the hard chair, clenched his palms, and softened his voice.
Even though he knew he was unlikely to be in any danger, when the other princes were asked to leave and each had their own room, and the imperial physicians entered the room with their medicine chests and grim expressions, the unusual atmosphere made even Qi Chengming's heart race.
Xiao Chengzi was afraid that he would be scared, so he stepped forward to comfort him despite his own feelings, right?
Silly.
Qi Chengming looked at his system store.
The unfortunate shop still only had six items, among which the [Health and Wellness Pill] cost only 50 points each and could heal injuries and dispel toxins. Qi Chengming had relied on this magical little pill to overcome countless hardships along the way. One pill wasn't enough, so he had to take more; when Qi Chengming was poisoned by mercury last time, he took it for a long time in a row.
Will it be able to cure smallpox this time too?
Qi Chengming had always showcased his extraordinary abilities to his close advisors and confidants, but he subtly avoided mentioning Xiao Dezi, Xiao Chengzi, and Granny Liu. He always offered a plausible explanation to them: the three of them had grown up alongside the original owner of this body. Qi Chengming was always worried that they would notice something amiss.
But this time, if Xiao Chengzi also contracts smallpox, and if he has to take the system's pills to survive it, Qi Chengming is determined. He will still do it, even if the price is that Xiao Chengzi might harbor suspicions…
What kind of developments will occur after that? We'll think about that later! Anyway, he's determined to save Xiao Chengzi.
Back in Beijing, Qi Chengming, exhausted from all his worries, covered his face with his hand and fell into a state of blank tranquility, stubbornly refusing to think about it anymore.
Seven days later.
The eldest prince, the second prince, and the sixth prince were all diagnosed. The seventh prince's rash had completely turned into blisters, and he was groaning incessantly, lying in bed.
Some clever individuals secretly went to the Imperial Clan Court to curry favor with the commoners. Upon hearing this, the former Third Prince laughed a few times, no longer dejected or indulgent. He tidied himself up, strengthened his body, and did nothing else.
Having learned his lesson, the Third Prince specifically instructed the messengers who came to deliver the good news: "Go back quickly! Don't do anything, just pretend you were never here. We must remain calm at this time!"
He was overjoyed, while the still-unyielding Emperor Hongren slumped onto his throne, his eyes glazed over: "..."
His world has finally collapsed!
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