Chapter 51, "The Sixth Year of Dingyuan, the Great Law of Time..."
Chapter 51: The Sixth Year of Dingyuan ==
Once the epidemic broke out, everyone in the capital was in danger. The imperial physicians of the Imperial Hospital searched through ancient books day and night, trying to find a cure for the epidemic. Officials, on the emperor's orders, posted imperial edicts, offering a large reward for anyone who could cure the epidemic, but the situation still did not improve.
The first thing Xie Cheng and the others did upon arriving at the Prince Cheng's study was to wash their hands. Due to the epidemic, everyone looked unwell. The weather was cold, so charcoal had been lit early in the study, and the heat continuously flowed over them.
Xie Cheng's gentle and refined expression was now solemn. "Today, quite a few people still took down the imperial edict at the city gate, but the prescriptions they offered were all for treating common colds and were of no practical use."
This is the first time in a century of prosperity that an epidemic has broken out in the capital. The number of casualties is increasing every day. If the epidemic cannot be controlled before the end of the year, there is a high possibility that unrest will break out in the capital.
In this peaceful and prosperous era, no one wants to see this scene.
Among those present, Xie Cheng was exceptionally talented, Mu Ziyi was superb in martial arts, and Luo Qi was eloquent, but none of them were proficient in medicine. The only one who was proficient in medicine was the person in the main seat.
Xiao Yu then spoke up, "The prescription from the Imperial Medical Academy has been sent to Abbess Jinghui, and we will have the results soon."
When it comes to medical skills, no one in the world can surpass Master Jinghui. If we had known this would happen, we should have kept Master Jinghui's disciple, Bai Shuang, in the capital. Her medical skills are the true teachings of Master Jinghui.
"There is another matter. I heard that His Highness the Crown Prince has recently been inviting court officials to the Eastern Palace, ostensibly to discuss prescriptions for the epidemic."
But based on Xie Cheng and the others' understanding of the Crown Prince, this was clearly impossible. The Crown Prince was most likely taking advantage of the chaos to win over these court officials to his side.
This is precisely what Xie Cheng finds strange. Ever since the Crown Prince was punished by the Emperor to reflect on his mistakes in the Eastern Palace half a year ago, he has kept a very low profile. But recently he has started to act recklessly again, especially at this critical juncture. The Emperor probably won't be too happy if he finds out.
"Your Highness, should we report this to His Majesty?" Mu Ziyi asked.
"Not for now." Xiao Yu's phoenix eyes were narrow and his expression was indifferent.
Seeing his composed and confident demeanor, the group bowed and left.
Inside the Zixia Palace, Qin'er poured Su Wanyue a cup of tea. "Your Highness, please rest assured. Abbess Jinghui's medical skills are superb. In the thirteenth year of Chengqian, the epidemic on the southern border of Qiong was resolved, thanks to Abbess Jinghui's prescription. As long as there is a prescription, all problems can be solved."
At this point, being anxious won't help.
Su Wanyue: "That will definitely take another three to five days."
They can wait, but can the people of the capital wait that long?
There is no cure, and those who contract the epidemic are in constant danger of losing their lives. The imperial court has already distributed a lot of food and medicine to every household, but it is still far from enough.
At this moment, Qin'er curtsied to the newcomer, "Your Highness."
Xiao Yu strode in and stopped the woman from getting up. "I have to go to the palace. I may not be back for a few days. During this time, you should stay in the Prince Cheng's residence and not run around. Master Jinghui's prescription will be picked up by Xie Cheng and sent to the palace."
Su Wanyue was startled, and already had a guess in her mind. She asked him if there was an epidemic in the palace as well.
As husband and wife, Xiao Yu had no intention of hiding anything from her. His voice was deep and gentle, with a hint of reassurance, “Just now, Eunuch Zhou came to report that Father Emperor suddenly felt unwell this morning and is now suffering from a persistent high fever and is unconscious.”
The news of the Emperor's illness had been completely suppressed, but as his son, Xiao Yu could not possibly not go.
His Majesty is the ruler of the country; if something truly happens…
Su Wanyue felt a chill run down her spine; her right eyelid kept twitching. Seeing that her complexion was not good, Xiao Yu, as if no one else was around, pulled her into his arms and asked in a low voice, "If I were to die, would the Princess be heartbroken?"
Even at this moment, he still had the leisure to joke. Su Wanyue stepped out of his embrace and glared at him with some annoyance. "If Your Highness were to encounter any accidents, then I would have no choice but to find another suitable husband."
Whether it was this "finding another suitable husband" that provoked the man, Xiao Yu pulled her back into his arms and roughly kneaded her waist, as if he wanted to crush her. "Don't worry, I won't give the princess that chance."
He doesn't care about her past, but from now on, in the next life, and the life after that, she can only be his wife.
Releasing his wife from his arms, Xiao Yu gave the maids some more instructions, telling them to keep a close watch on the princess and prevent her from wandering off. He also told them to send someone to the palace to inform him if anything happened.
"Yes." The maids quickly curtsied.
Although the situation is dangerous, with His Highness and the Princess Consort present, they do not feel afraid.
And His Highness and His Highness the Princess, they truly embody the saying "a loving couple, living in perfect harmony."
Su Wanyue watched Xiao Yu leave, and Qin'er added a cloak for her. "What would Your Highness like to eat tonight? I'll have the kitchen prepare it."
The princess has not had a good appetite these past few days, eating only a little bit at each meal. Qin'er knows that she is worried about the people in the capital, but she still has to eat.
Su Wanyue ordered two pastries, desperately trying to recall why an epidemic had suddenly broken out on the border in the thirteenth year of the Chengqian reign.
She covered her head, suddenly realizing something, "Qin'er, wasn't the sudden outbreak of plague at the border back then caused by a problem with the soldiers' drinking water?"
"Your Highness suspects something?" Qin'er hesitated, understanding why the princess asked this question. The capital was not a harsh place, and there had been no natural disasters recently. Even if there was an epidemic, there must be a reason, but there was no epidemic in any of the major prefectures and counties.
Qin'er dared not be careless and hurriedly said, "This servant will go and invite Lord Zhou over."
At this moment, the carriage of Prince Cheng's residence was already heading towards the palace. The emperor was unwell, and the atmosphere in the entire palace was somber. Because it was winter, the sky was foggy and the treetops were bare. Standing outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Eunuch Zhou bowed deeply to Xiao Yu, "Your Highness Prince Cheng."
"Eunuch Zhou, how is Father?" Xiao Yu greeted Eunuch Zhou as he walked toward the Emperor's bedchamber. The bedchamber had been divided into two halves by a brocade screen. The room was filled with the strong scent of mugwort. Apart from the maids and eunuchs who served him closely, the imperial physicians were discussing matters outside the screen.
Eunuch Zhou discussed the Emperor's health with Xiao Yu. The Emperor had been unconscious for several hours and had not yet woken up. Eunuch Zhou asked Xiao Yu whether they should summon the vassal kings to the capital.
Although the news of the Emperor's illness had been completely suppressed, all the concubines in the palace knew about it and were inquiring about it. Midway through, Consort Qin went to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, where the Empress's attendant, Granny Gui, brought news: "Your Majesty, Prince Cheng has already entered the palace. We wonder if we should also invite His Highness the Crown Prince to the palace?"
This is the perfect time to show filial piety. No matter how ruthless the royal family may be, they cannot afford to be careless in such a life-or-death situation. This is also when the emperor is most easily moved.
Currently, the only adult princes in the royal family are His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness Prince Cheng. Since His Highness Prince Cheng has already entered the palace, it would be truly inappropriate for His Highness the Crown Prince not to come and attend to him when he is ill. Moreover, His Majesty will definitely have some thoughts after he wakes up.
However, the Empress did not think so. After all, she only had one son, and the safety of the Crown Prince was related to the fate of the Northern Li Kingdom and the stability of the country. If something happened to the Crown Prince, wouldn't the country be without a successor? Moreover, the Crown Prince was punished by being confined to the Eastern Palace for half a year. The Empress always harbored a trace of resentment in her heart. This also made her see clearly the ruthlessness of the imperial family. If the emperor was already so cold and ruthless, why should the Crown Prince gamble his life and future?
And what if...
If the Crown Prince could ascend the throne ahead of time, the Empress braced herself against the corner of the table, suppressing the surging anxiety and excitement. Once the Crown Prince ascended the throne, she would be the rightful Empress Dowager. What would the Consort and her son be? They would be nothing in front of her then.
The Empress, who had always been overshadowed by Consort Qin and her son, breathed a sigh of relief, as if she had already foreseen the tragic end of Consort Qin and her son.
Seeing the undisguised coldness and excitement in the Empress's eyes, Granny Gui was terrified. Could it be that the Empress was planning to...?
That's treason!
The Empress's next words confirmed Gui Mama's guess: "The Crown Prince has been troubled by the epidemic these past few days, so there's no need to let him know about this."
Granny Gui was startled. Had the Empress gone mad? With an epidemic breaking out in the capital, everyone would be worried. Didn't Prince Cheng worry? Yet Prince Cheng still went to the palace to attend to the Emperor. If the Crown Prince didn't go to the palace at this time, wouldn't people think he was hiding? If the Emperor found out, he would definitely think that Prince Cheng was a cold-blooded and heartless person who didn't even care about the bond between father and son. Even if something really happened to the Emperor, the Crown Prince's ascension to the throne would be used as a reason for people to criticize him behind his back.
Granny Gui gritted her teeth and advised, "But Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince is His Majesty's own son. As the heir apparent, whether as a son or a subject, he should enter the palace. Otherwise, people will think that His Highness is afraid."
The Empress snorted coldly. At this critical juncture, who would care whether the Crown Prince had entered the palace or not? And what was there to fear? Xiao Yi had been ordered by the Emperor to repel the bandits of Qingzhou and returned to the capital in triumph. He had made such a great contribution to the court, yet he died such a tragic death, and the Emperor had not sought justice for him. What did she have to fear?
“I am aware of this matter. Send someone to the East Palace now and tell him that Prince Cheng has entered the palace and that I am still in the harem. Tell the Crown Prince to relax and discuss the prescription for the epidemic with the ministers. He doesn’t need to worry about anything else.”
Granny Gui's face turned ashen. She wished she could die trying to persuade him. Everyone knew perfectly well whether the Crown Prince was discussing the plague medicine with the ministers or trying to win them over. The Emperor hadn't even suffered any mishaps yet, and the Crown Prince was already acting like this. Wasn't he plotting a rebellion? And the Empress was even strongly supporting him. Did she really think the Emperor knew nothing?
Granny Gui looked hesitant, caught in a dilemma. Seeing that she didn't move, the Empress glared at her and said, "Hurry up and go."
Granny Gui had no choice but to leave and head to the East Palace.
The Empress paced around three times, then ordered a young palace maid dressed in green to inquire whether the Emperor had woken up yet. Since the Crown Prince could not fulfill his filial duties, she, as the Empress, certainly could not back down. However, even if she were to die, Xiao Yu would definitely die before her.
The Empress was truly grateful that Xiao Yu had stepped forward. If the Emperor had sent the Crown Prince to the palace to attend to the ailing Emperor, the Empress would have been truly filled with anxiety.
Granny Gui arrived at the East Palace soon. Xiao Ruofei was still extremely polite to the nanny by the Empress's side. He had never intended to use martial arts to care for the sick. Granny Gui's words were exactly what he wanted. After listening, he nodded and said, "I understand what Mother means. Since my third brother is willing to fulfill his filial duty, I am willing to give this opportunity to my third brother."
Since his father is so biased, and Xiao Yu loves to show off so much, he will give him this opportunity to shine.
Seeing this, Granny Gui's eyes went black. She spoke tactfully, "But His Highness the Crown Prince is the Emperor's legitimate son. The Emperor has always placed high hopes on him. In my humble opinion, it would be better for His Highness to go to the palace to visit the Emperor."
Even just going to take a look is better than pretending to be completely unrelated. The Emperor, that wicked man, is too busy to care about the Crown Prince. But when the Emperor settles his scores later, it will be too late.
Despite Granny Gui's earnest advice, the Crown Prince waved his hand dismissively, saying, "I know what I'm doing. Granny, you should go back to the palace now."
If the Emperor truly placed high hopes on him, he wouldn't have confined him to the Eastern Palace for half a year. During those six months, Xiao Yu was incredibly powerful. It even seemed that Xiao Yu was the one who initially considered the top three positions in the imperial examinations, and the Emperor made the final decision. If the Emperor didn't take him, the Crown Prince, seriously, then why would he still try so hard to get ahead?
All he has to do now is wait for the epidemic to pass, and then reveal two earth-shattering secrets to his father.
Xiao Ruofei truly hadn't expected that the commoner woman from the martial arts world would give him such a big surprise. Because of the confinement, Xiao Ruofei gave his strategist an order: kill...this commoner woman after leaving the capital.
The strategist, ordered by the Crown Prince to pursue Bai Shuang out of the capital, discovered another secret: the man who came to pick her up looked remarkably like... the Seventh Prince, whom they had chased down the cliff and whose body was never found.
This startled the strategist. The Seventh Prince had been dead for several months; surely he couldn't have come back to life?
The strategist immediately sent a message to Xiao Ruofei. Xiao Ruofei's first reaction was that this person was useless. He showed no mercy when killing the prince, but he was timid and cowardly when killing a commoner woman, and he even came up with such a reason.
But the other party insisted that he had seen the Seventh Prince.
Xiao Ruofei was so angry that he burned the letter and wanted to summon the other party back. At this moment, the eldest son of the Left Prime Minister's residence narrowed his eyes and said, "Could it be that His Highness the Seventh Prince is not dead after all?"
Xiao Ruofei felt a chill run down his spine. If Xiao Yi wasn't dead, then all the sins he had suffered would have been for nothing. He instinctively wanted to have the strategist bring Xiao Yi and that bitch back.
Yan Wushuang stopped him, saying that since the Seventh Prince was still alive, there must be a bigger conspiracy behind it. Xiao Ruofei thought this made sense, so Yan Wushuang went to Fuzhou in person and then returned to Nanqiong with them. On the day the Crown Prince left the Eastern Palace, he brought back a shocking secret about the Princess Consort of the country and a portrait.
In a hurry, Yan Wushuang was afraid of alerting the enemy, so she did not bring Xiao Yi and Bai Shuang back. There was only physical evidence, but no witnesses. In addition, Princess Nanqiong Weiyang and Princess Zilu were sisters and had similar features. Based on this painting alone, they might be accused by someone else. Therefore, Yan Wushuang handed the portrait to Xiao Ruofei and left the capital again.
Then an epidemic broke out in the capital. Xiao Ruofei now just needs an opportunity to expose the true colors of the couple. The princess of the Southern Qiong clan is marrying in place of the legitimate princess, and the prince of this dynasty, who is highly respected, is using despicable tricks to frame the crown prince. If this gets out, I'm afraid the whole world will be in uproar.
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