There was no way to keep Kangxi's illness a secret from others.
Humans are not made of metal or stone; even emperors are perfectly normal to fall ill occasionally.
The ministers were already used to the Crown Prince overseeing the country, and the affairs of state did not fall into chaos because of Kangxi's illness.
This is one of the advantages of having a good crown prince: the emperor doesn't have to worry about the court immediately erupting into strife and power struggles after he falls ill.
Malaria may not seem like a serious disease, but without proper treatment, a quick recovery is extremely difficult.
After staying up late and getting up early for several days in a row, Yinreng had dark circles under his eyes and was so tired that he could fall asleep standing up.
Hongzhao and Tana were temporarily sent to Ning Shou Palace to prevent them from inheriting the illness from Yinreng.
"What illness does Father Emperor suffer from? You are very worried. Why don't you tell me? Perhaps I have a solution." Tong Wanyan felt heartbroken seeing how exhausted Yinreng was.
Logically speaking, summer is not a season when people are prone to illness. Apart from heatstroke and excessive exposure to cold, other illnesses are rarely contracted at this time.
Yinreng patted her hand: "Don't worry, Father Emperor is not seriously ill. It's just that I can't help but worry when I see Father Emperor's sickly appearance."
Tong Wanyan's hand was held in Yinreng's hand, but she still looked worried.
Yinreng smiled, and the worry that had been weighing on his brow dissipated considerably: "Father Emperor suffers from a fever and chills syndrome."
Tong Wanyan exclaimed in surprise, then quickly covered her mouth.
She was extremely glad she had asked that question: "Sir, have you ever considered Western medicine?"
Yinreng's brow twitched as he was reminded of the time when Yintang had suffered from an ear infection, resulting in a high fever and coma, and was once in critical condition, but was later cured by the Italian missionary Louisot.
“The other day, Lu Yidao was taken by the Imperial Physician to help treat Father Emperor, but he was also powerless to help.” After a brief moment of elation, Yinreng became dejected again.
Tong Wanyan said, “There are many missionaries in the capital, not just Lu Yidao. It’s not that Lu Yidao’s medical skills are bad, but medical skills from different countries are bound to have their own strengths. Why don’t you have someone go and inquire about him?”
"That's the only way. I'll send Orondai to find him," Yinreng said.
Orondai often wandered around the capital, and knew all sorts of people. Moreover, he was Tong Guogang's eldest son, loyal to the royal family, so there was no need to worry about him revealing Kangxi's illness.
Yinreng acted swiftly and decisively. Upon receiving instructions, Orondai immediately went to the place where the missionaries were gathered to inquire.
As luck would have it, the five missionaries sent by King Louis XIV of France to the Qing Dynasty had just arrived in Beijing three days earlier.
When Orondai mentioned malaria, they became excited and surrounded him.
God help them, they encountered Qing nobles as soon as they arrived in the capital, and they will surely be able to complete the king's orders.
The missionary's Chinese was halting and stuttering, but Orondai listened carefully and, after a long time, finally understood what he meant.
They claimed to have a miracle cure for malaria.
“Let me tell you, if this medicine doesn’t work, you’ll be guilty of deceiving the emperor. Even if you’re foreigners, you’ll still be beheaded!” Orondai warned.
He's not stupid; he won't believe everything people say.
The missionaries quickly assured them that their medicine was indeed effective. In France, every summer, the king would distribute the medicine to the common people to prevent the spread of plague.
Seeing their unwavering resolve and knowing that Kangxi's illness could not be delayed, Orondai decided to take a gamble.
“Alright. Choose two of you who speak the best Chinese to come to the palace with me,” Orondai said.
Orondai did not require missionaries to speak Manchu; that would have been too demanding of them.
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