novelhk Chapter 192: Epidemic
Chapter 192: Epidemic
When the Emperor of Northern Qi heard that the Queen Mother had a high fever, he wanted to visit her immediately, but was stopped by the chief steward: "Your Majesty, the epidemic is dangerous, you must take care of yourself."
"Your Majesty, the dragon's health is the most important."
Civil and military officials also advised him.
If the Emperor of Northern Qi were also infected with the disease, the consequences would be disastrous.
"Treat it. Find me a way to treat it. And by the way, find out where this epidemic came from."
The gates are closed
The once bustling streets were now deserted. Soldiers and officers were patrolling the streets with their faces covered, and all the medicines in the major pharmacies in the capital had been sold out.
Many people may not be able to buy a single herb even with a silver note.
Concubine Xu smelled the strong smell of medicine outside and couldn't help but frowned. She was trapped in the palace and hadn't eaten for a day and a night.
People from the outside can't get in, and people from the inside can't get out.
"Your Majesty, please go in." The little palace maid advised.
Concubine Xu shook her head and suddenly asked, "How is Caiyue?"
Caiyue was her trusted maid. She sent her out once and when she came back she was infected with the plague without taking a drop of medicine.
"Your Highness, Sister Caiyue is dying." The little maid shrank her shoulders and said with red eyes, "There is no movement in the room, but no one dares to go and see."
The epidemic is so scary and there is no antidote yet. Once infected, death is inevitable.
Concubine Xu thought for a moment, then resolutely walked towards Caiyue's room. The little palace maid was so scared that she stopped her: "My Lady Concubine, you can't go."
"Get out of the way!" Concubine Xu wanted to verify something.
Pushing the little palace maid away, Concubine Xu walked away. She opened the door and saw Caiyue lying motionless on the couch. The sunlight came in and sprinkled on the couch. The room was bright and tidy, not at all dead.
Concubine Xu sat down, her palms clenched so tightly that they turned a little pale.
Caiyue opened her eyes in a trance, glanced at her, and smiled bitterly: "Is this slave dreaming again? I actually saw the Imperial Concubine?"
"Yes!" Concubine Xu said, "I want to see if God will stand on my side."
Caiyue didn't understand what Concubine Xu was talking about.
After staying for a day, Concubine Xu was still in good health, without any pain or itch. Concubine Xu walked out of the room with a sneer on her lips, turned back to the room, picked up a pen and wrote a letter to the personal eunuch, and also put a dragon and phoenix jade pendant on the makeup box: "It must be handed over to the emperor."
Although I can't go out, it's more than enough to send a letter.
Not long after the letter was sent, Concubine Xu was released from house arrest, and she walked towards the Empress Dowager's bedroom with determination.
On the way, Concubine Xu met Xu Feng.
Xu Feng looked at his thin and skinny sister, his eyes full of heartache: "Is it that serious?"
"Brother, have you ever been involved in the epidemic?" Concubine Xu looked up at Xu Feng, staring at his expression.
Xu Feng frowned: "I'm not so cruel as to harm innocent people."
Hearing this, Concubine Xu guessed that Xu Feng must be unaware of this. She curled her lips and smiled: "Brother, in the end you are just a chess piece on the chessboard. We Xu family are really stupid."
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
Concubine Xu shook her head and turned away.
"I'll go and ask the emperor for help." Xu Feng stepped forward and blocked Concubine Xu's path: "The queen mother is sick and will die."
Concubine Xu raised her chin and said, "I would rather be infected with the disease and be buried with great ceremony than be framed and live in disgrace. Besides, the emperor has issued an order that I will fulfill my filial duty on his behalf. Brother, I bid you farewell now."
After saying this, Concubine Xu walked away.
Xu Feng looked at his sister's back with a complicated expression as she walked further and further away.
When she saw the Empress Dowager, Concubine Xu could tell at a glance that her symptoms were the same as Caiyue's. She had taken off her concubine's clothes and was only wearing a light dress. There was only a jade hairpin between her jet-black hair, and her palm-sized cheeks were pale.
"I send my regards to the Queen Mother."
The Queen Mother did not expect that the first person to visit her would be Concubine Xu. She lost her sternness and said, "You come here, aren't you afraid of death?"
Concubine Xu shook her head: "I am just an ordinary person, how can I not be afraid of death? But compared to death, I am more worried about having no place to appeal for my grievances."
The Queen Mother hummed and said nothing.
Over the next few days, Concubine Xu took good care of the Empress Dowager, personally boiling medicine in the corridor, and watched as the Empress Dowager's complexion gradually improved.
After these few days, the Empress Dowager has changed her mind about Concubine Xu.
Concubine Xu suddenly said, "Empress Dowager, I want to take a gamble."
"bet?"
"I have been taking care of the Queen Mother these past few days without taking off my clothes, but there is no reaction from me. Doesn't the Queen Mother find it strange?"
Under Concubine Xu's guidance, the Queen Mother's expression changed slightly.
"I heard that the first person to be infected with the disease was Madam Bo. I want to go see Madam Bo alone. Maybe I can interrogate her to find out something. If I am wrong, I will die without regrets." Concubine Xu said resolutely: "If I die unfortunately, I beg the Queen Mother to clear my name."
Facing Concubine Xu's stubborn eyes, the Queen Mother nodded: "I promise you."
Concubine Xu knelt on the ground and kowtowed to the Queen Mother: "Thank you very much, Queen Mother, for your help."
When she left the palace, she lifted the curtain and looked outside. The street was very quiet until she arrived at the Bo family with the token.
Old Mrs. Bo came to greet him despite herself.
"Your Highness, I pay my respects to the Imperial Concubine."
Concubine Xu glanced at Old Lady Bo, regained her composure, raised her chin and asked, "Where is Madam Bo?"
"Replying to the Imperial Concubine, Bo has contracted an epidemic..."
Concubine Xu was too lazy to talk nonsense with Old Madam Bo. She just pointed and asked someone to lead the way, and ignored Old Madam Bo.
Seeing that everyone had left, Old Mrs. Bo looked a little embarrassed, and quickly sent someone to invite Mr. Bo over, and the mother and son sat together to discuss the matter.
"Why did the concubine come here suddenly?"
Master Bo shook his head, wondering: "Could it be revenge for Xu?"
Old Mrs. Bo couldn't figure it out, so she had to wait patiently.
The door was pushed open, and the yard was filled with leaves and dust. Concubine Xu walked in and went to the inner room without any obstruction.
At first glance, the room was a mess and there was a pungent, unpleasant smell.
Mrs. Bo, who had not seen the sun for a long time, was almost going crazy in the room. When she heard footsteps at the door, she rushed out as quickly as possible until she saw the person coming.
Mrs. Bo rubbed her eyes in disbelief: "Xu... Concubine Xu?"
"Yes, I am the palace." Concubine Xu sat casually on a chair beside her, not caring that the table was covered with dust. She said bluntly, "I came here today to find out what happened to Madam Bo in the Third Prince's mansion on the day she contracted the disease."
Madam Bo frowned, not knowing what tricks Concubine Xu was up to this time. She smiled coldly, "Your Highness, there is no need to extract information from me. I won't tell you anything."
Hearing this, Concubine Xu slammed the table in anger: "Idiot! You don't have the disease at all. If not, why would I risk coming to find you? You were tricked by Ning Xianyun."