Upon arriving at the Summer Palace, the Emperor’s affairs of state were also moved here for him to handle. He was busy all day, forming a stark contrast with the leisurely concubines who spent their time playing.
The Empress took the concubines of lower status hunting today, barbecuing tomorrow, and going on a lake excursion the day after.
At night, the Empress brought people to the Emperor’s quarters.
When the Chief Eunuch reported that the Empress had come to deliver a nourishing soup, the Emperor even felt flattered and quickly had the Chief Eunuch lead the Empress in.
"Your Majesty, please take care of your health." Tianmiao softly said after the soup was set down.
"Why has the Empress come? Did you enjoy yourself today?" The Emperor asked after setting down the memorial he was holding.
"Your Majesty has been busy with state affairs since arriving at the Summer Palace, working tirelessly, so I came to visit." Tianmiao smiled and continued, "Seeing Your Majesty frowning deeply, it seems you’ve encountered a problem. However, the back palace should not interfere in state affairs, so I’ll pretend I didn’t ask."
The Emperor sighed: "An epidemic. There is a city, where an epidemic has broken out. I sent people long ago, and the situation is more serious than I thought. The city is already quarantined, and Imperial Physicians have been dispatched. But there’s no improvement. If this continues, the entire city..." It will have to be abandoned, and everything will be burned, including the infected residents who cannot be cured.
"Quarantined? The people in the city..."
"Yes. I am powerless, if those people are allowed to leave, it will only infect more." The Emperor picked up the memorial again, with a complex expression, "To save, I naturally want to save them. But I cannot... No matter what I do, it’s wrong."
"Could Your Majesty tell me the specific symptoms of this epidemic?" Tianmiao asked, "When I was young, I read some medical books, maybe they could be useful." This was said on behalf of the original Empress.
"Oh? I didn’t realize my Empress was so learned and talented." The Emperor said with some surprise, partly in praise, partly in jest, "Then let me describe the symptoms of this epidemic, maybe the Empress really has a solution."
The Emperor originally just wanted to relieve his stress by chatting with the Empress, but after describing the symptoms, the Empress smiled and said: "There really is a way."
"What?" The Emperor was surprised, "Empress, you’re not joking, are you?"
"Would I jest about such matters?" Tianmiao said seriously, "Moreover, I have a person to recommend. He has just entered the Imperial Hospital, he is my cousin. This prescription is something we saw together when we were young."
"Is that true?" The Emperor became a bit excited.
"It is true." Tianmiao nodded.
The Emperor excitedly set down the memorial and immediately instructed the Chief Eunuch to summon the person. The Empress’s cousin, who happened to also be at the Summer Palace, was summoned promptly. He was Doctor Wu, sharing the Empress’s surname.
After Doctor Wu saluted the Emperor, the Emperor urged him to rise and asked excitedly: "About the epidemic in Le City, you must have heard, the Empress says you have a solution, is that correct?"
Doctor Wu hesitated slightly, looked up at Tianmiao, and was taken aback.
"Yes, there is a way. But my cousin might have forgotten that prescription. I remember it, I’ll write it down. My cousin knows what to do." Tianmiao said.
"Good, excellent!" The Emperor immediately had Tianmiao write down the prescription.
The Emperor immediately decreed, and sent Doctor Wu to Le City. It was also partly a desperate attempt.
Doctor Wu received the decree and was about to leave when the Empress requested permission to bid farewell to her long-unseen cousin.
The Emperor agreed gladly.
Tianmiao escorted Doctor Wu to the door and smiled: "Take care."
Doctor Wu looked up steadily at the Empress, and after a long while, said softly: "You are not her. Where is she?"