Chapter 140:

“What else? Just say it all at once.” Layue stared directly at Zhang, the imperial physician.

“If it is truly smallpox, then all of us who have had contact with Your Majesty might also be at risk. This disease is highly contagious. To minimize the source of infection, the best course of action would be to isolate the Emperor.”

Zhang had already braced himself for possible execution when voicing this opinion, but as a physician, he felt compelled to speak the truth.

Layue had already considered this herself.

She had heard of smallpox before. Even without further explanation from the physician, she understood. Although she hadn’t read many medical texts lately, she was still very clear on the matter.

“If we isolate the Emperor, news of this could easily cause political unrest at court.” Layue could hardly imagine what would happen then. If the Emperor were to pass away, all the young princes would be too young, and the only viable candidate would be Prince Liu.

Thinking again about Liu’s character, Layue felt a chill run through her.

“We must not let this news spread. The information must be contained. If anyone attempts to take advantage of the situation, it will escalate into a major issue.”

“Yue… Yue’er…” Surprisingly, Emperor Jing had awakened.

“Your Majesty—” Seeing him wake, Layue hurried over to support him, tears welling in her eyes.

Although the Emperor was still groggy, he had clearly heard everything they had said.

He himself had never imagined that he might have contracted smallpox—smallpox…

But his moment of vulnerability lasted only briefly.

From childhood, he had faced death countless times.

“Lai Xi, immediately send a message to Lai Fu via carrier pigeon, activate the secret guards, and take full control of the palace.” After saying this, the Emperor felt somewhat exhausted.

But after a brief rest, he continued speaking.

“Isolate me, leave only Lai Xi to care for me, and have all others who have had contact with me confined to this courtyard for isolation. Have the outer perimeter guarded. Keep the number of people who know the truth to an absolute minimum. Inform Zhou Nan of the situation. Anyone suspected of leaking information or acting suspiciously is to be executed immediately. If, if I should pass away, then all those infected must be…” The Emperor paused.

His voice turned cold: “Killed without mercy. Then burn everything. Immediately return to the capital and proclaim Yan Yu emperor. Promote Fu Jinyu to the highest rank, and grant him the marriage to Yue Feng. Jiang An, Fu Jinyu, and Zhou Nan shall serve as regents for the new Emperor. As for Prince Liu and Consort De, kill them without mercy.”

Layue supported the Emperor, never expecting him to make such arrangements in such a short time. Through this incident, she now understood that General Jiang An, who often seemed to oppose the Emperor, was actually someone the Emperor deeply trusted.

Yet the Empress Dowager was not mentioned at all.

As for Zhou Nan, he was the commander of the guards accompanying the Emperor during this trip for the Heaven Sacrifice.

The Emperor gave detailed instructions, but Layue’s heart sank into an abyss. She understood that by making these arrangements clear, the Emperor also indicated she would have no opportunity to reveal them.

If he died, she would not survive either.

Layue forced herself to suppress her chill. At a time like this, arranging her cousin’s marriage to Fu Jinyu was likely also a measure to protect her three children?

How had it come to this?

At this moment, Layue felt cold all over. After years of struggle, she had finally seen some hope, only to find everything was an illusion.

Everything had become different from her previous life. Why had the Emperor contracted smallpox?

Layue even felt this was a cruel joke from heaven, continuously mocking her presumption.

After arranging everything properly, the Emperor closed his eyes: “Only Lai Xi shall remain to serve me here in this room. Shen Guifei and others who have had contact with me should move to other rooms.”

Layue looked at the Emperor’s expression and knew he was also suffering greatly.

In fact, she had had more contact with the Emperor than Lai Xi, so she was probably at even greater risk of infection. Moreover, she also knew that if the Emperor were to die, she would have no chance of survival anyway.

Looking around the room, Layue let a single tear slide down. Was she really incompatible with this place?

After properly settling the Emperor, Layue suddenly knelt down on the floor with a loud thud.

Everyone was puzzled.

Though extremely exhausted, the Emperor noticed Layue’s movement and slowly opened his eyes to look at her.

“I request the honor of personally caring for Your Majesty.”

“Foolishness!” Though the Emperor called her foolish, his voice lacked any real force.

“Your Ladyship, please go outside. I am here to take care of him,” Lai Xi urged beside them.

Layue did not move.

The Emperor closed his eyes again: “Go to the next room. If you remain uninfected, Zhou Nan will arrange for someone to send you back to the capital so you can take care of your children.”

He had finally softened.

Perhaps at this moment, it was easy for him to be lenient. Looking at her, he thought of the three infants still in their cradles.

Layue still did not move. She hadn’t expected the Emperor to say such words.

But she could not leave.

She had slept beside the Emperor every day, so her chances of infection were already very high. Even if she left, she might not escape unscathed. Rather than that, she might as well stay. After all, as his concubine, it was her duty to serve him.

Thinking about her three children, Layue bit her lip.

If she had had no contact with the Emperor at all, she would be willing to obey and want to preserve her life to return to her beloved children. But the reality was that she had had extensive contact with the Emperor.

Since she was already at risk, she might as well stay.

Perhaps, perhaps he would be fine.

They would both survive.

“I cannot leave. No matter how well Lai Xi serves you, he is not your family. At a time like this, you need me.”

Layue spoke only briefly, but the Emperor’s expression showed some emotion.

“You… what did you say?” His voice was low.

“I am your family. I cannot leave.”

Without waiting for the Emperor’s approval, Layue gave her orders: “We cannot follow your instructions exactly. Your political arrangements are beyond my interference. But here, we will not follow your orders.”

The Emperor looked at Layue in surprise, as if he no longer recognized her.

“I will not go out. Zhang the physician must also stay. Others who had contact with you can all stay in this courtyard. These people will be taken care of by Wang, the other imperial physician. Wang, you must carefully explain the necessary precautions to everyone, even those outside this courtyard. Myself and the Emperor will reside in the inner chamber. Lai Xi and Zhang will stay in the outer room. There must always be a physician by the Emperor’s side.”

After Layue issued her instructions, the Emperor just looked at her without speaking.

However, Zhang knelt down: “Your command shall be obeyed.”

Both he and Wang, the other physician, understood clearly that if anything happened to the Emperor, even if they themselves were not infected, they would still face certain death. They might as well take a chance. Perhaps the Emperor’s illness was only similar to smallpox and not as serious as they feared. Even if it was smallpox, there was still a glimmer of hope. There were precedents of people recovering from smallpox.

Strangely, even though the Emperor said nothing, everyone still followed Layue’s arrangements.

Jin Xin and Tao Er were both weeping, wanting to come in and accompany their mistress, but Layue scolded them away.

Perhaps Layue’s expression was too severe, and the two of them quickly steeled themselves.

Once everything was properly arranged,

Only four people remained in the room. After all the previous commotion, the Emperor seemed even weaker and drifted into a drowsy sleep.

“Physician Zhang, explain to me all the necessary precautions and taboos. We must not fail to save the Emperor and then collapse ourselves.”

Zhang had not expected that Shen Guifei, who usually seemed unremarkable, could act so decisively today. If it were someone else, the Emperor had already given permission for her to leave.

Most would have left, but she did not. She said she was the Emperor’s family.

At that moment, Zhang understood why Shen Guifei had enjoyed the Emperor’s exclusive favor all along.

“Although we cannot be entirely certain that the Emperor has contracted smallpox, the symptoms are largely consistent. Proceeding cautiously and treating it as smallpox is not wrong. The course of smallpox usually lasts about half a month, and this period will be crucial for us. Judging from the rash already appearing on the Emperor’s body, if this is the second stage, then it is likely the illness began during the Emperor’s prayers at the temple. Therefore, we may not even have half a month. The patient’s clothing, bedding, excretions, and secretions must all be thoroughly disinfected. We must also focus on preventing other complications. We must ensure the cleanliness of the mouth, nose, throat, and eyes. Of course, these precautions apply equally to those of us caring for him.”

Zhang carefully explained the specifics and precautions of smallpox.

Layue nodded. Outside, large cauldrons were already being set up for high-temperature disinfection, and large quantities of vinegar were being prepared.

“What should we do about the Emperor’s persistent high fever?”

Zhang continued: “We can use alcohol to reduce the Emperor’s fever. Additionally, the patient must receive sufficient nutrition. Later, Lai Xi will arrange for nourishing supplements to be prepared outside. In terms of traditional Chinese medicine, during the initial fever stage, modified Mulberry Leaf and Chrysanthemum Decoction (Sang Ju Yin) can be used. During the early rash stage, modified Cimicifuga and Pueraria Decoction (Sheng Ma Ge Gen Tang) is appropriate. When pustules form, modified Adenophora and Ophiopogon Decoction (Sha Shen Mai Dong Tang) can be employed. Smallpox itself is dangerous, but its complications are also numerous. Severe cases can even lead to blindness. Additionally, we must continuously monitor the Emperor without interruption. Ideally, there should be no break in attendance. Smallpox patients typically develop blisters. If not properly managed, these often leave permanent pitted scars, especially on the face, leading to disfigurement and causing severe psychological trauma to the patient.”

Layue had never imagined she would have to endure all this, but at this moment, she had no choice but to be strong.

Nodding to indicate her understanding, Layue went over to wipe the Emperor down.

Looking at his once vigorous and energetic face now so haggard, Layue felt an indescribable emotion.

Besides the boiling water and vinegar being prepared outside,

Lai Xi was also steaming vinegar in the outer room. Perhaps because he rarely did such tasks, he looked rather disheveled. Seeing this, Physician Zhang went over to help.

Layue knew that if she were to properly care for the Emperor, she herself could not fall ill.

After taking care of her own hygiene, she tapped the window a few times.

Immediately, a basin of hot water was placed at the door. Physician Zhang opened the door slightly and brought the hot water inside. Layue took it and focused on wiping the Emperor down.

Strangely, her heart now felt completely numb.