Chapter 83: Qiao Qingyun Falls Ill

In the end, her body was nearly ruined before she finally managed to save the last person. Only a few elderly patients could not be saved due to their bodies’ irreversible decline; all the others had recovered and were out of danger.

“All right, for the time being, you must take care to protect your own lives, do you understand?” Qiao Qingyun admonished them gently. Yet optimism was scarce within the palace walls.

During this period, Yuan Zaichun maintained close proximity to Bu Shenglian, but every time Bu Shenglian attempted to get closer, Yuan Zaichun rejected her advances. Bu Shenglian thought it was because she had been married before and that Yuan Zaichun resented her for it. However, in his sleep, Yuan Zaichun murmured Qiao Qingyun’s name, driving Bu Shenglian to the brink of madness. Why, just a little more, just a little...

As soon as the clinics and the Hundred Flowers Courtyard opened their doors, everyone breathed in fresh air and basked in sunlight once again. Qiao Qingyun finally relaxed. But when she took her first step outside, her legs gave way, her vision darkened, and she collapsed at the threshold.

“Your Highness!” Everyone rushed to her side, crowding around anxiously. Xu Lu and Chun Cheng quickly scrambled to find a way to carry Qiao Qingyun upstairs. At that moment, Zhong Shi bent down and, without hesitation, lifted Qiao Qingyun in his arms and hurried upstairs.

Qin Hao’s injuries had improved considerably, so he had already left. In this luxurious sickroom, only Qiao Qingyun remained.

“Your Highness? Your Highness?” Qinglu came forward, touching Qiao Qingyun’s forehead, but it was not warm.

“Miss must have fainted from exhaustion. Quickly, bring some glucose—perhaps it will help her feel a bit better.”

“Yes.”

Matters in the palace were growing increasingly complicated, but news that the epidemic outside the city had been resolved reached the emperor and empress.

“Oh? Is that so?” The ministers nodded vigorously. “Indeed, it’s said that Taihe Clinic is to thank. The doctors there and the owner of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion are acquaintances.”

“Who is it?” The emperor frowned and asked, while the empress grew visibly anxious.

“It is the Crown Princess.”

“What?” The emperor exclaimed.

“Yes. It’s said the Crown Princess brought along a group of attendants—all close servants—and bowed before the quarantined citizens, declaring that if the plague could not be cured, she would offer her life in apology.”

“All her attendants did likewise, facing death without fear, caring only that lives were at stake, not who these people were.”

“This morning, word arrived that all the citizens can move about, so long as they wear cloths soaked in wine over their faces. Once the plague is truly over, normal life can resume.”

“Your Majesty, I suggest letting the Crown Princess oversee matters regarding the epidemic.”

Yuan Zaichun stood aside, his gaze vacant. He never expected Qiao Qingyun would sacrifice her dignity to bow before them, all for the sake of healing the plague. What great courage this required...

“Yes, I second the motion.”

“I second the motion as well!”

A chorus of voices recommended Qiao Qingyun. The emperor frowned and glanced at Yuan Zaichun. “Crown Prince, what do you say?”

Yuan Zaichun was startled, stepped forward, and replied, “Father, though Qingyun possesses medical skills, it does not mean she alone can cure the illness. Perhaps the rumors have been exaggerated.”

“Your Highness, that is surprising. One of my own servants was among those quarantined and contracted the plague, but the Crown Princess worked tirelessly—without even stopping for meals—to observe and adjust the prescriptions, saving them from the jaws of death.”

“Therefore, Your Majesty, only the Crown Princess is capable of such feats!”

“Very well. Issue my decree: summon Crown Princess Qiao Qingyun for an audience!”

“Yes.”

The eunuch hurried off with the imperial edict, accompanied by a group of attendants, all wearing face cloths, for it was said this would help.

When the eunuchs arrived at Taihe Clinic, they found it eerily quiet, with no sign of anyone inside.

“Is anyone here? Your Highness?”

Upon hearing someone call out, a worker hastened out. Seeing palace eunuchs, he quickly approached. “Are you here for the Crown Princess?”

The eunuch nodded. “Indeed. How is Her Highness?”

The worker sighed. “Eunuch, best not to seek her now. Her Highness has fainted and is surviving only through glucose infusions. No one can say when she’ll wake; her pulse is extremely weak. According to Xu Lu and Chun Cheng, she may remain unconscious for half a month.”

“Half a month! But this matter cannot be delayed any longer!”

The eunuch was astounded, never expecting Qiao Qingyun would collapse—this caught them completely off guard.

“But eunuch, no matter how urgent it is, Her Highness is unconscious. We cannot wake her—what else can be done?”

At last, after the eunuch insisted, he was led upstairs to the sickroom, where he found Chun Cheng and Xu Lu keeping vigil. Qiao Qingyun lay quietly, receiving fluids through her hand.

“What is this peculiar method of treatment?”

Turning around, the group realized the eunuch was from the palace and quickly explained, “It was taught to us by our teacher’s master. Eunuch, are you here for our teacher?”

“Yes, I am. The epidemic in the palace is worsening. His Majesty hopes—”

Zhong Shi stepped forward. “His Majesty may be disappointed. Miss has slept scarcely two hours a day, including mealtimes. Her health is severely depleted.”

“Please report to His Majesty and see if he will allow some leeway. Otherwise, Miss’s life may soon be forfeit.”

“Ah, very well.”

The eunuch returned despondently to the hall, still clutching the imperial edict, and knelt before the emperor.

“Your Majesty, the Crown Princess is gravely ill and cannot come.”

“What?”

Yuan Zaichun’s heart sank, staring in disbelief at the eunuch; the emperor was equally shocked.

How could she suddenly be so unwell?

“Is what you say true?”

“I would not dare lie, Your Majesty. I saw with my own eyes that Her Highness’s hands were pierced with tubes, and they said it was to provide her with nutrients. Only she knows how to treat the plague; the others merely follow instructions.”

“Moreover, all the medicine she prepared has been used up. She slept less than two hours a day, including meals, and her body is severely exhausted—she is now unconscious.”

At these words, the court exchanged uneasy glances, at a loss for what to say.

“What about her apprentices? Didn’t some of them help?”

“Yes, I asked, but they said all the medicine was prepared by Her Highness. They do not know the proper dosages. She said that too much would be fatal, and too little would be useless.”