The Overlord of the Red Mansion

Chapter 181 Smallpox Massacre
Cining Palace

Jia Rong and the emperor stood in front of the bed of the retired emperor.

There were also a few elderly people in the room whom Jia Rong had seen before but did not recognize. He remembered that they seemed to be elders from the royal family who were offering sacrifices to their ancestors with the emperor.

The emperor was lying on the bed, still conscious, struggling to hold on to his last breath.

The Grand Emperor not only passed the throne to the Emperor, allowing the Crown Prince to ascend the throne openly, but also cared about the country and the people when he knew he was about to die, and constantly spoke heartwarming words.

"Prince Beijing cannot be kept. He has already shown rebellious intentions."

"The Minister of Personnel is disloyal. I will find a chance to kill him next year."

"Wang Ziteng, you can use it for another three years. You can ask the Prince of Zhongxiao if you can use it again in the future."

The emperor closed his eyes and gave instructions for his final arrangements.

The Prince of Loyalty and Filial Piety? Jia Rong frowned, just remembering that he was the Prince of Loyalty and Filial Piety.

"Now that the country is stable and the treasury is full, you must not reduce taxes after my death. Everything must be maintained as planned. It will take at least five years, or at most ten years, before any changes can be made."

"After I die, the funeral will be simple and will be held by Prince Zhongxiao. Your Majesty is not allowed to leave the palace, and you are not allowed to mobilize troops."

"The Jinyi Army has six battalions. Prince Gongshun will lead the southern battalion, Prince Zhongxiao will lead the eastern and western battalions, and the emperor himself will lead the inner three battalions. The northern battalion will remain unchanged."

"The governor of the nine regions should not make any moves for the time being. Compare the tributes during the Dragon Boat Festival and the Autumn Grain Festival to see what he wants. If there are any problems with the taxation next year, we can investigate and deal with it."

"Don't worry about the people in the East Palace for now. Just kill two of them. Don't make any more moves. Kill them after they stabilize. Kill the leaders and you can give lighter sentences to the others."

"The family of the emperor's uncle will be punished and exiled, leaving the Empress Dowager behind, and the rest of the concubines will be buried alive with him."

Damn, that's really cruel! Jia Rong saw that the emperor was very annoyed, so he reminded him: "Your Majesty, Emperor Taizong, can you let me see if it can be cured first? Maybe I can save him. I am just a doctor. To be honest, other things are not my responsibility."

His words stunned the emperor, who stared at Jia Rong with wide eyes.

Is there any hope?
The retired emperor then remembered that he seemed to have not allowed Jia Rong to come and take a look.

The emperor was also stunned for a second, and quickly said, "Quick! Duke Ning, please take a look for me!"

Jia Rong quickly ordered the eunuchs to take off the emperor's pants, but he couldn't bear to look at the bloodstained pants.

Forget it, I won’t come tonight.

Jia Rong is not a heartless person, and he doesn't want to work overtime for consecutive nights, which is really exhausting.

"There is still hope. I will ride my horse to the Imperial Pharmacy to get medicine!"

Jia Rong's horse was not fed last night. He had originally planned to get up in the middle of the night and pretend that the horse had a problem to waste time and keep his reputation as a miracle doctor. He didn't expect that it could be useful now!
He just wanted to go out and get some fresh air instead of staying here with the emperor and breathing the stinky air.

What could be wrong with that?

Just as Jia Rong was about to leave, Eunuch Wei quickly shouted, "Prince Zhongxiao, please stay! All the things in the imperial pharmacy have been moved here. I brought them all here last night!"

Fuck you!

Jia Rong hated eunuchs who always looked for trouble the most.

Jia Rong was forced by this ballless thing to find something to work with. He asked the eunuchs to help him with anesthesia, cut off the rotten flesh and disinfect it, and then performed a simple operation.

I really don't want to be filial anymore, so let the emperor hold on for a while.

Due to the endless filial piety in recent years, the opera troupes in Beijing are almost out of work.

But Jia Rong felt that he would not live long.

I really want to save him, but the medical environment and equipment are not up to par with my medical skills!
Jia Rong didn't want to ruin his reputation as a miracle doctor, which was more important to him than the title of prince or duke.

Of course, it is more important than the emperor’s life.

Jia Rong was busy until noon, and finally finished his busy work, having gained a lot of simple medical treatment experience of that era.

The emperor fell asleep, so Jia Rong went out to talk with the emperor.

Jia Rong immediately said, "It's fine for now. We can let the imperial doctors take care of him from now on."

The emperor looked at the bloodshot in Jia Rong's eyes and could not help but say with emotion: "Thanks to you, my dear minister! I have not caused such a big cauldron!"

Jia Rong comforted him, "Your Majesty, please stay with the Emperor Retired. I will go back and get some medicine. These few days are critical, and Your Majesty should take care of your health!"

Jia Rong looked around and whispered, "Your Majesty, I'm afraid the emperor's health won't last long. It's mainly because those imperial doctors delayed him for too long."

The emperor nodded, "I know. Thank you for your help, my dear! You can stay in the palace first. If my father wakes up, he will be able to see you."

Jia Rong said, "The Emperor has done so many things for Your Majesty, and now Your Majesty should be by his side. I am not going back to rest, but to find some painkillers for Your Majesty. I have used up all the stock in the palace today."

"Your Majesty, you may not know this yet. The reason why the Emperor was angry yesterday was because someone went to the Imperial Pharmacy and took away all the imperial medicines. It was the Emperor's uncle and several princes who did it. As a result, when the Emperor needed to use them, they were gone. Fortunately, I left some at home. Otherwise, alas!"

Jia Rong was determined to kill those mediocre doctors who always pushed the blame onto him, as well as the emperor's uncle who had been disrespectful to him today.

The emperor, like Jia Lian when he first held the funeral, now felt an unprecedented fatherly love and would not tolerate anyone hurting their father.

"How ridiculous!" the emperor said angrily, "What a bunch of traitors! We should kill them all!"

Many people nearby heard the emperor's words, but there was nothing they could do.

The emperor is not as outstanding as the emperor emeritus. If he were the emperor emeritus, he would not say what he said.

But being an emperor doesn’t require you to be that outstanding. You can just kill anyone you want.

Jia Rong went back to bed quickly. The emperor had not slept the whole night before and was now sleepy and tired.

As for the Seventh Prince and Queen who were infected with smallpox...

When he was almost at the door of his house, Jia Rong suddenly remembered this matter.

Quickly, he didn't dare to go home anymore, and hurriedly shouted at the gate: "Don't come over! Stand still!"

The gatekeepers of Ningguo Mansion were all very confused, but they still stood where they were.

Jia Rong quickly covered his mouth with his sleeve and shouted, "Something happened in the palace these few days. I will stay in the palace for a month. Let Madam control everyone, including the children, and make sure they stay in the garden and don't move. No one from outside the garden is allowed to enter!"

"Whoever leaves the garden even a step or meets any outsider, no matter if it's grandma, madam, young lady, or maid, even if it's my son or daughter, get out!"

"Did you hear me?!"

The servant came over quickly: "Master! I heard it!"

Jia Rong was afraid that these people would cause trouble, so he told them, "Tell them that if anyone is infected with smallpox, send them to the front yard for care. They should not come to pay respects for a month, and they should all stay in the yard. I have had smallpox before, so it's no problem. Let Madam count the mothers-in-law, daughters-in-law, and girls, and give them an extra ounce of silver if they have had smallpox. If anyone is sick, these people will take care of those who are fine!"

The servant immediately understood what was going on and said hurriedly, "Yes, Master!"

Jia Rong quickly rode back to the palace.

Jia Rong went directly to the Qianqing Palace. The Crown Princess had not yet officially taken over as the Queen, but she was here with people cleaning the house for the Emperor.

When she saw Jia Rong running in, the Crown Princess smiled and said, "What's the matter, Prince Zhongxiao? The Emperor has just fallen asleep."

Because she was about to become the Queen, the Crown Princess, who was already beautiful and virtuous, now had a face as warm and kind as if the spring breeze had bathed her.

Jia Rong said quickly, "Help me find an empty room nearby. I will be staying in the palace for the next few days."

The Crown Princess frowned and said earnestly, "Prince Zhongxiao, please respect yourself."

Jia Rong quickly and politely said, "Your Highness, I lost my manners in my haste. Please forgive me and don't tell the Emperor."

At this time, the emperor got up from the inner room and shouted, "Duke Ning is here. Don't tell me what's going on."

Your Majesty, you must have been confused after sleeping! Jia Rong said politely, "Your Majesty, I am seeking an audience with you! I was so anxious just now that I said something reckless, asking the Crown Princess to clean up an empty room nearby for me to move into the palace. This was really disrespectful to Your Majesty and the Crown Princess. Please forgive me, Your Majesty and the Crown Princess!"

The Crown Princess did not have the golden seal and golden book, although she could be called the Queen, but Jia Rong continued to call her the Crown Princess, and she had no way of complaining.

The emperor was the heir designated by the retired emperor, and he personally watched him take the throne.

But it is still hard to say whether the Crown Princess can become the Queen.

In theory, it should be possible, but it is not absolute. Some emperors are just unwilling to establish a queen.

To be precise, the correct title for the Crown Princess now is Imperial Concubine, but Jia Rong deliberately didn't call her that, calling her that in a disgusting way.

The emperor came out quickly, accompanied by two eunuchs.

There were at least twenty eunuchs in the hall. The Crown Princess and her maids saluted the Emperor and said, "Your Majesty."

Jia Rong knelt down and said, "Your Majesty! I request to stay in the palace!"

The emperor was delighted to see Jia Rong and said, "Get up quickly. I have already given you a place to stay. Just stay in the room next to mine. Just clean up a room."

The Crown Princess disliked Jia Rong very much and said directly: "Your Majesty, this is unreasonable. This is your bedroom, and there are many concubines here to serve you. Duke Ning is young and energetic, and he is a man, so I am afraid it will be inconvenient."

Seeing that his daughter had deliberately forgotten her status as a prince, Jia Rong also said tactfully, "Your Majesty, what the Crown Princess said makes sense! Your Majesty has just ascended the throne, and I am used to living an idle life by the side of the retired emperor. I have been punished for misbehaving in front of the palace more than once or twice. It is indeed not suitable for me to live by your side."

The Crown Princess took the initiative to say, "Don't worry, Duke Ning. The Emperor is magnanimous and knows that you are loyal. He will not hold it against you. But you should respect yourself more in your daily life. You are a father now, so you should be more mature."

The emperor felt that what the two said made sense, and that it was indeed not good for others around him to know when he was being intimate with the Crown Princess and other concubines.

Moreover, Jia Rong is still the emperor's man. Although he is one of his own, he does not want his affairs with women to be reported to the emperor.

"In that case, my dear minister, you should go back and live there. I will reward you with the Prince of Loyalty and Filial Piety's Palace in a few days." The emperor was merciful and gave Jia Rong a good reward.

"I don't want it." Jia Rong didn't want it because it was too close to the palace and he would have to get up in the middle of the night to work overtime.

The emperor frowned, "Why not?"

The Crown Princess looked at Jia Rong with a smile, "Why doesn't Duke Ning want it? Could it be that he wants to retire and return home?"

Damn, Jia Rong really wants to retire and return home.

The Emperor hurriedly said to the Crown Princess, "Don't be so nosy. If it weren't for Prince Zhongxiao awakening me in front of the palace today, I would have almost caused a disaster!"

The emperor felt more and more that something was not right. Looking at Jia Rong who was still kneeling on the ground, he bent down in shock and reached out to help Jia Rong up.

"My dear, please stand up. Your father has granted you the imperial surname and asked you to worship the King of Loyalty and Filial Piety. According to the royal family tree, you are my elder brother. Please sit down with me and let's talk about what is going on!"

The emperor helped Jia Rong to the couch and sat down, then looked at the Crown Princess standing beside him.

"Crown Princess! Why are you disrespecting my brother?! I just woke up and heard you making things difficult for Prince Zhongxiao. How can a woman like you who doesn't know the big picture and stirs up trouble rule the six palaces?!"

The Crown Princess knelt down hurriedly and shouted, "Your Majesty! This is unfair! I was just talking to the palace maid when the Emperor's uncle barged in from outside. I wanted to hide but couldn't. So I ask the Emperor's uncle to respect himself. Every day when other princes come, even when the prince who is more than ten years old comes, I stay behind the curtain. There is no reason for me to show my face in public!"

The emperor's uncle felt that what the crown princess said made sense.

Jia Rong quickly stood up and knelt with the Crown Princess. He straightened his back and said to the Emperor, "Your Majesty, please understand! I have something important to report, but I was so busy arguing with the Crown Princess that I forgot about it!"

The Crown Princess saw Jia Rong kneeling with her, and while moving away, she said angrily: "Uncle, please respect yourself!!"

The Emperor suddenly felt that the Crown Princess's blame on Jia Rong was not unreasonable. Jia Rong was too unruly to kneel with his woman.

The emperor said quickly: "My beloved concubine, please get up and go to the inner room first. I will talk to my uncle about this matter."

Seeing that the emperor wanted to teach him a lesson to respect himself, Jia Rong did not delay any further.

"It's almost too late!" Jia Rong suddenly said, "Your Majesty! Please give me time to finish my words, and then I will accept the punishment!"

The emperor said calmly, "Go ahead."

The Crown Princess stood up and was about to leave.

Jia Rong quickly told the story that had delayed him for a while.

"Only when I returned did someone tell me what happened last night. Last night, the assassin threw the old diaper stained with the seventh prince's highly toxic smallpox on the head of the emperor. Everyone kept it a secret from me and refused to tell me about what happened last night. As a result, I was powerless to save the situation. I am afraid that everyone may have contracted smallpox now!"

"Including the emperor." Jia Rong specifically reminded.

The emperor was so frightened that he almost pissed himself!
Jia Rong was as humble as ever, kneeling on the ground to pass on the pressure.

Keep arguing if you can!

If you have the guts, continue to distinguish between men and women!

keep going!
Damn it, keep arguing with me!
Jia Rong was kneeling on the ground while others were standing, looking down on others from above.

The responsibility lies entirely with you!
I told you not to call me for a meeting tonight!

Those who were kneeling did not feel insulted, and those who were standing did not feel respected.

The emperor opened his mouth, his eyes filled with disbelief and horror!
Jia Rong said righteously: "Since it is inconvenient for the emperor to stay here, I would like to ask to be taken care of by the emperor or the queen. I have already had smallpox, so I am not afraid of these."

Jia Rong added, "But I also know that smallpox is a fatal disease. I am powerless to save the patient. I just want to do what I can! I beg the emperor for permission!"

At this moment, a eunuch ran quickly from outside to the palace gate, knelt down and kowtowed.

"Your Majesty! The Seventh Prince... has passed away!"

The emperor didn't care at all about the death of his own brother. At this moment, there was only fear in his heart.

Jia Rong quickly stood up and helped the emperor sit down.

At this time, no one asked Jia Rong to follow the rules, not even the Crown Princess dared to do so.

Jia Rong asked, "Has the Empress Dowager contracted smallpox?"

The eunuch outside the door replied, "The Empress Dowager is not feeling well, and the imperial doctors are all in the Cining Palace, so there is no free imperial doctor to visit her."

Jia Rong looked at the frightened emperor.

"Your Majesty, rest assured. Do not be afraid to seek medical treatment and handle state affairs normally. Although I don't understand state affairs, I will take care of the medical treatment and funeral affairs!"

The emperor finally understood why the retired emperor valued Jia Rong so much and why he conferred the title of Prince Zhongxiao on Jia Rong.

"Thank you, my brother!" The emperor stood up and grabbed Jia Rong's hand, as if he had grabbed the last straw to save his life. "My brother, you must save me! You must save me!"

Jia Rong soon settled down in the palace and would go to the Crown Princess's bedroom to check on her whenever he had nothing to do. The Crown Princess wanted to say something but in the end she endured it.

On the first night, the emperor was killed by a group of quack doctors!

The emperor didn't dare to kill the doctor at this time. He just wanted more people to save lives. The imperial physicians simply couldn't handle them all.

Several princes and the civil and military officials who had followed the retired emperor in restoring order were now so frightened that they stayed indoors and desperately sent people to call for the imperial physician.

Whoever cannot enjoy medical resources at this time will die.

The next day, everything was normal in the palace.

On the third day, everything was normal.

On the fourth day, everything was normal.

On the fifth day, everything was normal.

On the sixth day, the Crown Princess insisted that everything was fine, and cried to the Emperor about Jia Rong going to her room to check on her in the middle of the night while she was taking a shower.

The emperor blamed Jia Rong a few words and Jia Rong decided not to go.

……

On the ninth day, the Empress Dowager developed pox, had a high fever, and vomited, with severe reactions.

The Crown Princess was sent by the Emperor to take care of the Empress Dowager that same day to show her filial piety. It was not that she was truly filial, but that she was angry and afraid.

On the tenth day, King Gongshun had a high fever and fell into a coma.

The Empress Dowager's face and body were covered with pimples, which was a horrible sight. No one dared to approach her. Only Jia Rong helped her feed water and wiped her with alcohol for disinfection to check the true lethality of the severe smallpox virus.

On the eleventh day, Prince Beijing got smallpox, and the frightened emperor also lay down with a high fever.

All the civil and military officials in the court were on vacation at home, and everyone was in danger.

On the twelfth day, the Crown Princess had a high fever. Jia Rong took care of the Emperor during the day and the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law at night.

On the thirteenth day, more than a dozen royal family members and loyal ministers died in one day. The emperor wet his bed and began to write his will to summon the nearest prince to take charge of the situation.

Fourteen days later, the Empress Dowager died, and the eunuchs around her also died.

……

On the fifteenth day, the Crown Princess had a miscarriage. Prince Fu and other princes disobeyed the order and refused to come to take charge of the situation.

A month later, the virulent virus quickly killed all the powerful people.

Jia Rong also completely understood what the virus that people were so afraid of was.

Highly contagious, and 99% fatality rate!!
After thousands of people died, the emperor and the empress luckily survived under Jia Rong's care.

One was that she got the best medical resources of that era, and the other was that Jia Rong used her for a detoxification experiment. Although the empress dowager could not be saved, the queen managed to survive. Generally, pregnant women have stronger resistance, and although she had a miscarriage, it was still a life saved.

Jia Rong specially wrote a very long list, using a very long piece of examination paper, and wrote down the names of all the deceased royal relatives and officials.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, this is the list of those who did not make it."

Jia Rong squatted on the ground and walked forward, spreading out the long list that was more than ten meters long. He showed the list, which was so densely packed that it looked like smallpox bugs, to the two lucky people who had just survived.

If more people could live, the smallpox virus would no longer be such a terrifying disease.

Highly toxic, violent, highly contagious, extremely lethal, and invincible!
The only weakness is not that I am weak, nor that my opponent is strong, but that I have a relative who is a bad teammate.

Jia Rong can happily watch jokes all day long because he has vaccinated himself in advance.

Only the Emperor and the Empress, who have truly experienced the pain, weakness, hardship and despair, and who heard various news of deaths from Jia Rong every day, can truly understand that kind of horror.

The Emperor and the Empress looked at the densely packed numbers on the ground, and the fear that had just subsided was brought back by Jia Rong.

The emperor quickly waved his hand, "Brother, please put these away quickly. I don't want to see them."

"Yes!" Jia Rong quickly and obediently kicked the scroll back. He had spent several days working hard on it just to make this shiver.

He did not do this to commemorate the deceased royal family members and civil and military officials, nor did he do it to tell future generations about the horror of the smallpox virus.

It was simply to scare the Emperor and the Empress.

For such an immoral thing, Jia Rong could work seriously for several days, going door to door to compile the death list and do everything that should be done for a dead Zongzheng.

(End of this chapter)