...
Liang Jiugong received the instructions and was about to go down to carry them out.
Just then, his apprentice, Xiao Linzi, rushed in from outside.
Liang Jiugong originally intended to reprimand him, but what kind of behavior was this, rushing around like this? When working in front of His Majesty, one cannot be so petty.
Before he could even raise his head to reprimand him, he heard the news that came to his ears.
Liang Jiugong was jolted awake.
He immediately disregarded his image and hurriedly reported back to Emperor Kangxi, who was sitting at the head of the table.
He whispered a few words in Kangxi's ear.
"Your Majesty, smallpox has appeared in the harem... in the harem."
Upon hearing this news, Emperor Kangxi narrowed his eyes and sat up straight.
Looking at the table where the Fourth Prince was sitting, he immediately realized the seriousness of the situation.
His gaze shifted to Empress Niohuru, his previously languid expression turned dignified, and his voice carried an irresistible force.
"Empress, you shall take all the women of the harem back first. Seal off the harem; no one shall leave without prior notice."
"Princes and princesses, please stay here for now."
Empress Niohuru looked at the expressionless Emperor Kangxi, and silently closed her mouth, which had been open.
Empress Niohuru felt very uncomfortable looking at the Emperor like this.
He was his empress, yet he never told her anything. Aside from the slightest respect shown to her on the first and fifteenth of the lunar month, there was absolutely no trust between husband and wife in any other aspect.
"Your Majesty, I obey."
"Your Majesty, I take my leave."
Empress Niohuru immediately sent someone to convey His Majesty's message.
He was the first to leave his seat and walk outside.
He asked in a low voice to Du, the old woman serving him.
Do you know what happened?
"Could something have happened at Chengqian Palace?"
Empress Niohuru merely relaxed her control over palace rules, allowing those who carried smallpox to move about the palace more easily.
She wasn't foolish enough to get involved with these things herself.
Wouldn't it be better to reap the benefits without lifting a finger?
Granny Du answered in a similarly low voice.
"It should be that His Majesty issued an edict to seal off the inner palace, and people are not allowed to move freely among the palaces."
"It is possible that smallpox occurred not only in Chengqian Palace, but also in the Imperial Palace."
"Otherwise, His Majesty wouldn't have wanted to seal off the inner palace."
Empress Niohuru's expression changed upon hearing this.
"Hurry back to the palace, lest you get tainted by something unclean outside."
"Your Majesty will be disappointed in me again, won't you? How could smallpox occur in another part of the palace?"
"Forget it, it's not convenient to talk about these things outside. Let's hurry back."
...
Upon hearing the Empress's order, the concubines in the harem reacted in various ways, some with joy and others with sorrow.
Those unfavored concubines had finally managed to see Emperor Kangxi today, and now they were about to leave. How could they be willing to accept that?
There was nothing they could do, even if they were unwilling; the Empress had already taken the lead and left.
Who would dare to rebel if they weren't favored?
Those concubines of the rank of Pin or above, who knew some of the news, wore expressions of schadenfreude, while those who didn't felt somewhat bewildered.
"Sisters, even the Empress has left."
"This concubine will certainly obey His Majesty's decree, and will take her leave now."
After speaking with understanding, Consort De, of the Uya clan, also left her seat and walked briskly outside.
The remaining concubines looked at each other and immediately ordered their men to return to the palace.
In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the once lively banquet became quiet and deserted.
...
After Empress Niohuru left, Emperor Kangxi immediately issued an order.
"Send men to control him, and summon the imperial physician."
"Suppress the news first."
"Send people to guard outside each palace, and they are not allowed to make announcements or go out."
"The princes and princesses will stay behind and be separated."
"First, send the imperial physician to the Empress Dowager and the Grand Empress Dowager to see if there is anything wrong."
"Liang Jiugong, investigate him for me. I want to exterminate his entire family."
"Neither the former dynasty nor the harem will be spared."
Kangxi's eyes were hidden in the darkness and could not be seen clearly, but his voice was frighteningly cold.
...
Emperor Kangxi sat in the main hall, his aura so oppressive that no one serving him dared to utter a sound.
They all clutched their skin tightly, afraid that if they made a sound, they would be dragged away and beaten to death by the enraged Emperor.
That kind of death is truly a wasted death.
Liang Jiugong ran in, covered in sweat, and knelt on the ground, panting heavily.
"Your Majesty, everything is fine at Shou'an Palace, and the Fifth Prince is also fine."
After saying that, he lowered his head and took a deep breath.
"As for the Fourth Prince, ... the imperial physician has diagnosed him with smallpox."
"Apart from His Highness the Crown Prince, the other princes..."
Liang Jiugong gritted his teeth and blurted it out in one breath.
"They've all been infected too."
After saying that, he banged his head firmly on the ground and dared not move.
Kangxi stared intently at Liang Jiugong, his face ashen, his eyes red, and his voice icy.
"who?"
"Who wants to harm me?"
With a bang.
Everything on the desk was swept away.
A crackling sound.
It struck Liang Jiugong hard.
Liang Jiugong breathed a sigh of relief that the Emperor was willing to smash things.
The worst thing is that instead of smashing things, His Majesty would just drag him out and behead him.
Liang Jiugong kept his head down, speaking at a rapid pace.
“This servant has discovered that the smallpox was brought in from the eastern suburbs outside the palace. Smallpox has been present in the eastern suburbs for some time, but it has been hidden. Last month, a young eunuch brought in smallpox shavings from there.”
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