A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace Chapter 1495 - 1493: Plague

Li Deming felt very distressed.

He found that as the Chief Steward by the Emperor’s side, he couldn’t share the Emperor’s worries.

Moreover, aside from serving tea, delivering water, and handling petitions for the Emperor, he couldn’t do anything else.

He increasingly felt like a useless person.

With a bitter look on his face, he stood to the side, contemplating that since he couldn’t help with anything, perhaps he could at least accompany the Emperor well.

But...

Before long, Zhao Junyao waved his hand.

"You may leave!"

Before Li Deming had time to express his gratitude, Zhao Junyao added another sentence.

"Your presence here annoys me!"

Li Deming: "..."

Alright, the servant will leave!

He clenched his teeth, suppressing his frustration, and withdrew.

...

That night, the lamps in Zhao Qichen’s room were lit all night.

Originally intending to rest after reviewing the petitions, Zhao Qichen couldn’t sit still after finishing them.

He summoned several Imperial Physicians from their beds to court for questioning.

So.

A group of elderly Imperial Physicians, all over fifty, sat in the presence of the Emperor for most of the night.

Tears streamed down their faces as they yawned, while meticulously explaining to His Majesty the Emperor the current situation in Guangnan City.

"Emperor, the matter began ten days ago!"

"Ten days ago, a female patient experienced high fever and diarrhea. I thought it was simply due to the damp weather or something improper she ate, so I prescribed a remedy to strengthen her spleen and stomach!"

"But who would have thought, seven days ago, the patient’s family suddenly came to make trouble, saying that she died just a few days after taking our medicine!"

"We still didn’t take it seriously, assuming she either ate something wrong or succumbed to some other acute disease, which was entirely possible!"

After all, due to Guangnan’s humid climate and the abundance of wild mushrooms, starving refugees often search for wild food and easily die from poisoning. Such occurrences are very common.

Aside from expressing sympathy, there was nothing else they could do, nor did they pay much attention to it.

Mainly because they encountered too many patients every day, with various diseases of all sorts, and death was not uncommon.

It was just that a single case like this could hardly garner any attention.

However...

"Five days ago, suddenly three such patients came, and three days ago, they all died!"

"Two days ago, the number of such patients suddenly increased to twenty, and most importantly...they are all already critically ill, unsure if they will survive the day!"

The moment the words fell.

The room instantly fell silent, everyone’s expression serious and solemn.

So was Zhao Qichen.

His complexion paled slightly, with clenched fists, and in his piercing gaze lay an indescribable determination and challenge.

After a long sigh, he spoke.

"It’s really... what you fear always comes true!"

The plague... unexpectedly, it’s still such a vicious disease, from discovery to death, spanning not even three full days.

Which means...

They might not have time to isolate the infected areas, couldn’t study the disease, or even cremate the bodies in time!

This is indeed... a huge challenge!

Zhao Qichen, with clenched fist and squinted eyes, calmly asked.

"How did such an incident suddenly occur?"

"Was there no precursor? Is it possible to determine what disease this is?"

Even if it’s a plague, it must have a name!

With a name, with a cause, there lies the possibility of a cure.

Even though it’s merely a possibility, without giving up, there’s always a glimmer of hope, isn’t there?

The several Imperial Physicians hadn’t slept for a whole day and night.

They were aged, and at this moment, their minds were a jumbled mess, unable to recall anything.

So, exchanging glances, they bowed down begging for forgiveness.

"In reply to the Emperor, this old minister... has yet to find out the cause! Please forgive us, Emperor!"

Zhao Qichen waved his hand.

"It’s alright!"

"If the cause is unknown, first send people to quarantine the infected area, isolate as much as you can!"

"Then seal off the infected area, all bodies to be cremated!"

"In non-infected areas, send patrols daily, spread quicklime to prevent illness, any similar cases immediately taken away!"

The people of Guangnan have already suffered so much, so many have already died, saving even one is a victory!

The Imperial Physicians accepted the command, bowed, and left.

Zhao Qichen rubbed his forehead, feeling utterly exhausted.

Glancing at the neatly made bed, he had no intention to sleep, instead he leaned on the desk for a while to rest.

Li Deming sneaked in to cover him with a light blanket, and quietly tiptoed out.

When closing the door, his face was filled with worry.

"What if the Emperor is so exhausted?"

"It’s a pity that I, being a eunuch, cannot share the Emperor’s concerns!"

"If only there was an understanding beauty who could relieve the Emperor’s worries!"

He thought to himself as he silently closed the door and left.

It was merely a thought, he understood the Emperor too well.

The Emperor’s heart was filled with the nation, the people.

He rarely even approached women during ordinary times, much less now.

Alas! Your Majesty!

Thinking about the nation and overworking yourself is good, but you should still think about yourself.

As for previous ancestors, none like the Great Ancestor were ever like this!

...

When he awoke again, daylight had already broken.

Zhao Qichen washed up, changed his attire, and after having a simple breakfast, he walked out.

Li Deming hurriedly stepped forward to stop him.

"Where are you going, Emperor?"

Zhao Qichen frowned and turned to look coolly at him.

"Going out!"

The tone was rather impatient!

Since when does he have to explain his itinerary to a eunuch?

Of course, Li Deming knew the Emperor was impatient.

But since there was danger outside, he couldn’t let the Emperor take the risk, so he cautiously said.

"Emperor, the Imperial Physicians advised that the infected area outside hasn’t been completely isolated yet, perhaps you should..."

"Nonsense!"

Before he could finish, Zhao Qichen pushed him aside and continued walking out.

"Emperor! Emperor!"

Li Deming anxiously chased after him.

"What are you going out for, Emperor? Let the servant go for you, will that be okay?"

"You absolutely must not go out, Emperor!"

In speaking untoward words.

If the Emperor were to catch the plague, even a hundred heads of his wouldn’t suffice to be severed!

Zhao Qichen pushed him aside.

"Get out of the way!"

What plague or no plague.

There are so many people in Guangnan City, only a few dozens are infected.

How could the plague be so easily contracted?

Besides, if he retreats at the sight of such a small matter, he might as well not have come.

Li Deming was terrified to his core.

With no other choice, he dashed forward to block the door with a plea on his kneeling lips.

"Emperor, if not for yourself, please think of the people!"

"Right now is a critical time for disaster relief and rescuing the people. If anything happens to you, what will happen to all the people in this city?"

"Should we hand it over to the elderly Taishang Huang and the Empress Dowager?"

"The servant dares to beg you to return!"

"The Imperial Physicians advised you to stay in for the next two days, wait until the infected areas are fully isolated and the city’s epidemic is under control before you go out!"

Li Deming nearly risked his life to speak these words.

Under ordinary circumstances, he wouldn’t dare say such a thing even with a hundred times the courage, clearly he was also at his wit’s end.

Zhao Qichen withdrew his foot from kicking him away, took half a step back, frowning in contemplation.

’Li Deming’s words aren’t without sense, a spurt of courage isn’t a wise plan!’

’Most importantly, he cannot dump this mess on his father and mother!’