Chapter 45: The Vast Ocean's Frozen Shores Stretch for Hundreds of Feet

  The first snow of winter fell gently, lasting for several days. In the quiet and cold night, it covered the ground with a layer of white, making the moonlight even clearer. The layered glazed tiles on the roof of the Daqing Palace were thickly covered with snow, as if the entire palace had transformed into a pure white world.

  The snow quietly covered everything, and everything was quietly growing in the snow. No one noticed, nor could they notice.

  The night was deep, but Qingchen had not yet slept. She held a scroll in one hand and leaned against the headboard, carefully studying it. A fox fur coat was draped over her body, its soft color rivaling the white snow outside, making her skin as pale and luminous as jade.

  Last night, Ye Tianling sent someone to deliver this fox fur coat. As she read her book, she subconsciously reached out to touch it, and suddenly remembered Ye Tianling's solid embrace, which also brought warmth and care, wrapping around her like layers, making her feel grounded from the bottom of her heart. Nowadays, standing in the Taiji Temple every day, seeing his tall and steady figure among the crowd, she feels that everything is not difficult, and there is always hope at all times. She can wait, she can endure, and unknowingly, his shadow has been deeply carved into her heart, becoming more and more profound with the passage of time.

  There were several medical books on the table. Within a few days, the number of people infected with the disease in Yiga City increased again, and this sudden epidemic was like a flood beast that swallowed people's lives mercilessly, getting worse and worse. Due to limited conditions, Qingchen knew many methods that could not be used, so he had to study traditional Chinese medicine carefully, hoping to make new discoveries.

  Before she knew it, the third watch had arrived and she finally went to sleep. Just as she was dozing off, she heard a faint voice outside her window calling out: "Young Mistress, Young Mistress..." The voice was soft and urgent, and seemed to be Bi Yao's.

  She threw on her clothes and got out of bed, opened the door, and saw Bi Yao wearing only a thin gown, shivering in the snowy ground. As soon as she came out, she rushed forward and fell to her knees: "Young lady, save us sisters, please...please..."

  You hastily pulled her up and said in a low voice: "What are you doing? How dare you come to Zhiyuan Hall privately at midnight?"

  Bi Yao knelt in the snow and just didn't get up: "We have no way out, we can only come to beg the county master."

  You saw her like this and knew that something must have happened. Supporting her with one hand, he said in a low voice, "Don't alarm others, let's go inside first."

  Bi Yao Fang got up with her, Qing Chen looked at her coldly and shrank back, found a piece of clothing to put on her: "What happened? You can tell me slowly."

  The queen's eyes were filled with bloodshot threads, and her expression was anxious: "Empress Dowager... Empress Dowager has a headache and high fever tonight, and now she is unconscious and unaware of anything."

  "You fool! Why haven't you summoned the imperial physician? How dare you come here instead?"

  Bi Yao sobbed: "I don't dare... Dan Qiong... she also has a high fever that won't subside..."

  Her eyes suddenly tightened: "What!" She grasped Bi Yao tightly: "Is there anyone else?"

  Biqiao was so frightened that she could only shake her head, and Qingchen asked in a cold voice: "What are the symptoms?"

  "Biyao cried: 'Headache... all over fever... cough... all dizzy and faint...' "

  You dust listened to her words, a chill suddenly rose in his heart, this was exactly the same as the symptoms of the plague in Yige City, he immediately grabbed his cloak and said: "Let's go take a look."

  Arriving at the Yanxi Palace, Ziwei, who was on duty with Biyao tonight, was anxiously pacing back and forth in front of the main hall like an ant on a hot pot. As soon as she saw Biyao bring Qingchen, she looked like she had seen a savior and tearfully begged: "Princess, save us."

  You dust saw Ziwei unexpectedly dared to deceive with Biyao together, felt strange in heart, but came not in time to investigate deeply, said to them: "Guard at the door."

  She entered the empress dowager's palace alone, and Bi Yao and Zi Wei could only hold hands and shed tears. Not long after, Qing Chen came out, her face hidden under the dark eaves, making it impossible to see clearly. Bi Yao asked urgently: "Young Mistress..."

  "Take me to see Dan Qiong. Zi Wei is guarding here, no one, including yourself, is allowed to enter the bedroom."

  Dan Juan and Bi Yao lived together in one room, covered with a quilt, unconscious and asleep, their faces flushed with abnormal redness due to high fever. Qing Chen covered her mouth and nose with a silk handkerchief before entering the house, and now she was taking her pulse, her eyes becoming increasingly serious. She quickly left the house, not saying a word, and hurriedly went to the Empress Dowager's bedroom. Bi Yao followed behind her, running quickly, but didn't dare call out to her. Qing Chen thought deeply with her head down, and when they reached the corridor outside the palace, she asked: "When did this happen?"

  "It's today."

  You suddenly stopped and stared at her: "Has Danqiu ever been out of the palace?"

  Bi Yao knelt down on the ground, knocking her head and crying: "I dare not deceive the young lady, Zi Yuan's family has only one mother at home, and at noon she secretly went out to send some medicine. Dan Qiong was young and playful, taking advantage of my ignorance to follow her, who knew that when she came back it would be like this." She sobbed and knocked her head on the ground.

  "You are really courting death! Did I not instruct you just a few days ago? Bringing the plague into the palace, even if I were willing to cover for you, Dan Juan would not be able to survive. What's more, this is such a big matter, who can keep it under wraps?"

  Biyao's face turned pale: "The princess saves lives."

  "You get up, what's the use of crying? You and Ziwei are lucky to have not been implicated. The two of them left the palace, who else knows?"

  "No one knows, behind the Jian Ning Palace, there is a locked palace gate that no one guards. Over time, the lock has rusted and they can sneak out from there."

  "You immediately go to the Imperial Hospital and report that the Empress Dowager is unwell, summoning the imperial physician. If the imperial physician asks questions after examining her, you absolutely cannot admit that anyone has left the palace. Just say that Dan Qing has been attending to the Empress Dowager all along, and Zi Yu and you have been together. As long as no one saw anything, no one can investigate it, and at most, you will be punished for dereliction of duty, which is much lighter than your current crime."

  Bi Yao was so frightened and said: "If...if this is found out, it would be a great crime of deceiving the king."

  Your eyes sank for a moment: "The crime of deceiving the king, if no one knows, it's as if it never happened. Remember, what you and Ziwei say must be consistent, life and death depend on this." In the darkness, the uncertain light from Yanxi Palace cast over, casting a dark figure in the snowy ground, the shadows swaying, the lanterns sinking heavily.

  Bi Yao was supported by her calm tone, and her mind cleared up a lot. She knocked her head and said: "The county master took such a risk for us, we will be grateful to her in the next life and do our best to repay her."

  "You can't escape this calamity, it's still unknown whether you can or not. This illness I currently cannot cure, and there is no good prescription to treat it, the outcome depends on fate." Bi Yao knew things were serious, bowed her head, and hastily left.

  You quietly returned to Zhiyuan Hall, and soon after, someone came from Yanxi Palace to report to the Emperor that the Empress Dowager was seriously ill.

  It was not until the depths of night that the disturbance occurred, and it must have been extremely bad. The Heavenly Emperor heard the news and immediately set out for the Yanxi Palace. However, when he arrived at the Yanxi Palace, he was blocked by the people from the Imperial Hospital outside his bedroom. Sun Shi stepped forward and shouted: "How dare you! You actually dare to block the imperial carriage, don't you quickly move aside!"

  The Empress Dowager's condition, the imperial physician He Ru Yi who was on duty to take her pulse had long suspected that it was related to the epidemic that had been going around. Although he reported it to the Emperor, he did not dare to let the Emperor take any risks and knelt down saying: "Your Majesty's body is of utmost importance, I beg for your pardon, but I do not dare ask Your Majesty to enter the palace."

  It was Tian Di who remained calm and said in a stern voice: "He Ruyi, you tell me why you can't go in!"

  He Ruoyi said: "The Empress Dowager's pulse is weak and floating, with high fever and unconsciousness... This matter is of great importance, I dare not speak rashly, but please Your Majesty first take care of the dragon body."

  Qing Chen saw that the Emperor's expression was gradually turning angry. He knew that He Ruyu was a senior disciple of Song Defang, and although his medical skills were not bad, he was notorious in the Imperial Hospital for being stubborn and ignorant of human affairs, earning him the nickname "He Yumu". Qing Chen feared that if he spoke carelessly, it would provoke the Emperor's anger. So he stepped forward and said: "Your Majesty, He Ruyu blocking Your Majesty's carriage is also part of his duty. Why not let me go in first to take a look, and then ask Your Majesty to make a decision?"

  Sun Shi also sensed that things were not simple and did not dare to let the Emperor take risks, so he followed beside him and advised: "Your Majesty, calm down, it's better to let the princess go and take a look first."

  The Emperor had some trust in Qingchen's medical skills, and after some thought, he finally agreed. Qingchen followed He Ruyi into the palace, she was already clear about the Empress Dowager's symptoms, it was just a formality, then she asked He Ruyi: "I'm afraid it's really that illness, what do you think should be done?"

  He Ruoyi shook her head and said, "Since the princess has already determined that it is that epidemic, I'm afraid there's no mistake. This disease is very severe, we must advise the emperor not to come near, if it spreads in the palace, it would be unbearable."

  "Now the first thing to fear is that we must first lock down the source of the disease, otherwise it will be difficult to prevent its spread."

  He Ruoyi said: "The matter should not be delayed, I will go and report to the Emperor now, and ask the Emperor to make a decision."

  You thought that just sealing off Yanxi Palace and isolating the people inside would be enough, but this is no easy task. Just as you were about to advise He Ruyi to speak more tactfully to the Emperor, He Ruyi had already entered the Rui Chun Pavilion to pay his respects. You followed him in and reported the Empress Dowager's illness to the Emperor in detail. The Emperor also knew a bit of medicine, and the more he listened, the graver his expression became. "What does the Imperial Hospital say?"

  He Ruoyi stepped forward and said: "The Empress Dowager's symptoms match the epidemic in both Beijing and Henan, I dare to request that Your Majesty temporarily seal off Yanxi Palace."

  As soon as the words fell, Tian Di was indeed displeased and said: "How dare you! Yan Xi Palace is the Empress Dowager's bedroom, how can you say seal it just because you want to?"

  "He Ruyu immediately knelt down and knocked his head, saying: 'I speak the truth, I beg your majesty to consider carefully. If Yanxi Palace is not sealed off, everyone in the palace will be in danger of losing their lives.'"

  "The Emperor sternly said: 'Nonsense! The palace is heavily guarded and cautious, how could the plague spread in?'"

  He Ruoyi kowtowed again and said: "I don't know how the plague entered the palace, but the Empress Dowager's illness is severe and cannot be taken lightly."

  The Emperor angrily said: "He Ruyi, you can't cure the Empress Dowager's illness, and you're arbitrarily pushing it onto the epidemic. I must go see for myself! If there's any discrepancy, how many heads do you have?" After speaking, he wanted to head towards the Empress Dowager's palace, but Sun Shi and others hurriedly advised against it. However, the Emperor's body was too majestic, and no one dared to stop him forcefully. Instead, Qingdeng rushed forward, kneeling in the snow and saying: "Please Your Majesty, stay your step!" Sun Shi and others also knelt down, repeatedly advising him.

  The Emperor was blocked by her and said, "You are also very bold, dare to block my way! My mother is bedridden and cannot get up, but I am not allowed to visit her. Is this reasonable in the world?"

  Qing Chen bowed his head and said, "Even if I were to disobey the Emperor, I would never allow him to enter the inner palace. The Emperor is not only the son of the Empress Dowager, but also the Son of Heaven; how could he abandon the world for personal reasons?"

  The Emperor did not expect you to be so straightforward, but she was reasonable, and for a moment, it was difficult to refute her. She paced back and forth in the snow, feeling anxious: "Fine, you all know medicine, tell me what to do!"

  "Your Majesty, please issue an edict to seal off the palace immediately, so that the epidemic cannot spread. I, Qīn Chén, am willing to volunteer to stay in Yanxi Palace, first to serve the Empress Dowager, and second to seek a cure for this disease."

  Although the Emperor was anxious about the Empress Dowager's situation, he was not confused. The Imperial Hospital and Gongchen concluded that the epidemic had entered the palace, how could they be careless? After calming down, he asked: "Are you sure?"

  "You have no choice, but to do your best." She had made up her mind from the moment she helped Bi Yao and the others conceal the truth. The Empress Dowager was the closest person to Ye Tian Ling in this palace, and yet, how could she not blame Zi Yuan Dan Zhuo for recklessly causing trouble? However, even if she spoke out, apart from sacrificing a few more lives, what would be the use?

  At this time, Ziwei, who was attending to the Empress Dowager, hastily came over and knelt down to report: "Your Majesty, Dandan, a palace maid who has been attending to the Empress Dowager all afternoon, suddenly fainted and seems to have... also developed a high fever."

  Everyone was shocked at the same time, but only Qingchen continued to gaze calmly at the snow in front of her. This was exactly what she had just instructed Ziyu to report, so as to let the Heavenly Emperor make up his mind to seal off Yanxi Palace, and once investigated, it would be easy to say that Danjing had contracted the disease while serving the Empress Dowager, without implicating the reasons behind the incident and the two of them, Ziyu and Bixiao.

  "What about the palace maid who was just following the Empress Dowager? Does she have the same symptoms as the Empress Dowager?" He Ruoyi hastily asked Ziwei.

  Zi Wei nodded: "Yes, Dan Qiong and I have been attending to the Empress Dowager. Symptoms... symptoms this servant dare not rashly diagnose." In the Yan Xi Palace, there were many palace maids, and He Rouyi couldn't possibly know them all by name, so he just assumed that the one from earlier was Dan Qiong attending to the Empress Dowager.

  Taking this opportunity, Qing Chen bowed deeply to the Heavenly Emperor once again: "Please Your Majesty issue a decree to seal off the palace!"

  He Ruoyi also knelt down in the snow and bowed her head: "Please Your Majesty issue a decree to seal off the palace."

  A crowd of people knelt around, the Heavenly Emperor stood facing the direction of Yanxi Palace for a long time, and slowly said: "Pass on my decree, seal off Yanxi Palace." In that instant, Qingchen saw an extremely painful expression on the Heavenly Emperor's face. She was prostrated in the snow, her whole body icy cold, the snow melting into water with her body temperature, wetting her clothes, piercing through to her skin.

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