Epidemic

  Mingfei thought of Yongzheng, and her heart was somewhat inexplicably melancholy. She wasn't afraid of Nian Xialu entering the palace; on the contrary, to some extent, she was looking forward to it. Nian Xialu's arrival not only brought balance to the harem but also weakened Kangxi and Xiaozhuang's gaze on Mingfei, sharing her limelight and making her seem less special.

  She suddenly understood why in the official history, Nian Xialing was able to give birth to Ah Ge, but Tongjia Shi could only adopt and still couldn't record Fourth Brother under her name. She wondered if she should be grateful that this wasn't the official history, or else she would probably still be childless Tongjia Shi.

  She threw aside her complicated thoughts and asked: "How is the second young lady?"

  "The second young lady's injury has almost recovered, the imperial physician said that after drinking two more doses of medicine she will be fine."

  Ming Fei comforted Abao who wanted to get down and patted him, then said after a while: "Didn't the Empress Dowager give you quite a few medicinal materials?"

  Yes

  "Then use the medicine materials of Empress Dowager Cixi to decoct medicine for Second Miss."

  Pai Yu led the order and went down to instruct.

  Mingfei put Abao on the ground and supported him as he walked.

  Ten months old Ah Bao sometimes unconsciously makes "mama" sounds, but it's clear that wanting to make the more difficult sound of "mother" will have to wait a while. Ah Bao is learning to walk, with small fists clenched tightly, and eyes wide open, taking big strides forward with short legs.

  Wang's nanny smiled and said, "Fourth Master's legs are really strong, I think he can walk on his own in a few days."

  Mingfei kissed Abao and smiled: "I don't expect him to leave now, it's better to wait until he is one year old before leaving."

  Mingfei gave Abao a kiss, and Abao puckered up his small mouth and immediately returned a kiss. He made "ah" sounds as Mingfei supported him while walking. Mingfei gently patted him: "Mom is busy now, let Nainai support you while walking, okay?"

  Ah Bao pouted and looked at Nai Nai, who immediately responded with a respectful smile. Little Ah Bao still pouted and continued to pull on Ming Fei's skirt hem.

  The child can already express her own happiness, but seeing the wet nurse's obvious disdain for Abao, she couldn't help but feel a little afraid that the imperial concubine might not be pleased because of this.

  Mingfei didn't notice Nainai's worry, she had to squat down and look at Abao: "Mother has something to do now, can't accompany Abao, Abao be obedient, listen to her words, be a good child, okay?"

  Ah Bao's little face was filled with disappointment, and she reached out to wrap her arms around Ming Fei's neck, pressing her small face against Ming Fei's cheek.

  Mingfei knew she didn't have much time with Abao, and she wasn't a very good mother. Her nose was a bit sour as she picked up Abao: "Mother will take Abao to see his ancestors, okay?"

  Xiao Abao snuggled into Mingfei's arms and made it clear that wherever mother goes, I go.

  Mingfei smiled and held Abao more comfortably, then turned to the servants behind her and said: "Go thank the Empress Dowager."

  Mingfei is not very willing to bring Abao in front of Xiaozhuang and Kangxi at this time, the timing is not right, she hopes that these people can ignore Abao. When they went there, Taizi Da A'ge and San A'ge were both present. Taizi saw Mingfei and was delighted, pulling on Mingfei's hem and asking questions: "Little brother still can't walk?"

  "Now let others support him and he can walk a few steps."

  The big brother was a sturdy boy who said loudly: "Let the fourth brother go for a walk."

  Third Brother was somewhat delicate and said in a soft voice: "Didn't Mother say that Fourth Brother needs to be supported while walking?"

  The eldest brother was pulled down and turned his head to glare fiercely at the third brother.

  Xiang Zhuang smiled and said: "Alright, you few stop arguing. When the Fourth Prince can leave, he will naturally leave. Your arguing is of no use."

  Mingfei said: "Didn't Big Brother go to class today?"

  The elder brother was about to speak up, but seeing that the prince had already opened his mouth, he swallowed his words again.

  "When Master has something on, Empress Dowager will give Big Brother half a day off."

  Mingfei looked up at Xiaozhuang, who said in a low voice: "You should know that this time the capital city has many casualties, and there are some things going on in Da A Ge's teacher's family."

  Mingfei nodded vaguely, as if there had been a death in her family.

  Mingfei saw that Xiaozhuang's expression was not good, so she changed the subject and said: "I came to thank our ancestors for their gift."

  The Empress Dowager's expression finally eased: "This time, you were careful again and found out that the Uya noblewoman was actually pregnant with a dragon heir. If not, who knows what would have happened in this chaotic situation? You should be rewarded."

  The Crown Prince suddenly said: "Ancestor, is Yongzheng going to have a little brother again?"

  Xiangzhuang and Mingfei both burst out laughing, and Mingfei said: "Today, thanks to the crown prince's auspicious words, the child in Uya's belly must be a little prince!"

  Xiangzhuang smiled lightly and said: "Yin's words will definitely come true!"

  Ming Fei glanced at the seven-year-old Da Ge and saw that the corner of his mouth involuntarily drooped, clearly looking disdainful.

  Mingfei's eyebrows slightly raised, are they already not in harmony at this time?

  Mingfei was talking to Xiaozhuang when they heard the little eunuch in front of Mingyue asking to see them. Mingfei asked in surprise, "Does Second Miss have something to say?"

  The little eunuch said: "The imperial physician says Second Miss has contracted the epidemic."

  Xiao Zhuang's face suddenly fell: "What's going on?!"

  The little eunuch knelt down and said: "Second Miss, you haven't been feeling well for the past few days. After taking the medicine today, your condition didn't improve. You looked weak and spiritless all along. Two hours later, you vomited once. I immediately went to invite the imperial physician. The imperial physician took a look and said that you have contracted the epidemic disease."

  "Move the second miss out of the palace." After a pause, she turned to Pei Huan and said: "Have all the palaces fumigated with mugwort now. Let the imperial physician take everyone's pulse in the palace. Anyone who is ill during this season will be moved out, but promise that they will be taken back later."

  Xiao Zhuang nodded: "Let's do as Guifei said, in any case we can't let anyone get sick."

  After a great disaster, there must be an epidemic, even a more terrible disaster than the earthquake. Now, suddenly someone has contracted the plague, how can we not let these medically backward ancient people panic and become so nervous that they might overlook some things that are not quite right.

  Mingfei stroked the ring on her finger, who did it this time? Yihuan? Wei Guiren?

  Mingfei carried Abao out of the tent in Xiaozhuang, and instructed the attendant beside her: "You go and tell the Emperor that Second Miss has contracted a seasonal illness."

  Mingyue lived alone in a tent, not far from Mingfei. Mingfei stood far away and looked over, seemingly still able to hear the vomiting sounds coming from inside, but all the servants were standing outside, with no one willing to go in. Yet these people were destined to follow Mingyue out together. How could Kangxi let someone who could predict the future die so easily right under his nose?

  Who will be more fierce?

  Mingfei smiled secretly in her heart and shook her head, then turned around with Abao in her arms and returned to her own tent.

  It wasn't long before Kangxi arrived.

  Kangxi had lost a lot of weight and was not in good spirits, with some fatigue sitting on the couch, his whole body leaning against the backrest with his eyes closed: "What's going on?"

  Mingfei massaged Kangxi's shoulders and said softly, "She just said that she hasn't been feeling well for the past few days, and today she vomited several times. The imperial physician was summoned and said it was a seasonal epidemic, so I've already arranged for someone to move her out."

  Mingfei always thought that a person who could predict the future would be attractive to Kangxi, but she didn't know that in Kangxi's heart, such a person was like an opium poppy, attracting people while also having a deadly danger. He himself was always hesitating between staying and leaving, and now that heaven didn't want to spare her life, he even felt a sense of relief, and actually fell asleep with a snore in the comfortable massage of Mingfei's forceful hands.

  Mingfei was still thinking about what Kangxi would say next and how she should respond, but when she heard Kangxi's snoring sound, she was rarely stunned.

  Li Dequan whispered beside her: "Noble Consort, the Emperor is asleep."

  Mingfei looked down and saw that when Kangxi was asleep, his eyebrows were tightly furrowed. Although he was only 26 years old, there were already very obvious wrinkles between his eyebrows, apparently due to frequent frowning. His lips naturally relaxed, seeming to curve upwards as if smiling, giving off a kind of approachable feeling. Mingfei unexpectedly discovered that Kangxi's eyelashes were actually quite long, and she thought that Abao's long eyelashes probably inherited this trait from Kangxi.

  Mingfei took the blanket brought by Peiyu and gently covered Kangxi with it, while Li Dequan removed Kangxi's shoes to make him look more comfortable.

  Mingfei hinted to Li Dequan to come out of the inner chamber: "Li Gonggong will guard the emperor here, if there's anything, it's easy to wake up the emperor immediately. The palace goes to the small kitchen to take a look and prepares some food for the emperor."

  Li Dequan respectfully said: "Thank you, Your Highness. The Emperor will also rest for a while in your quarters."

  Ming Fei smiled slightly.

  Kangxi had slept for only half a watch when another minister came to request an audience, and Li Dequan had no choice but to wake Kangxi up.

  Although he slept for a short time, this brief rest made Kangxi feel much more comfortable, and the quality of sleep during this period was surprisingly good, giving him a refreshing feeling.

  Li Dequan had already brought over the clothes and was helping Kangxi change into his formal attire to meet with the ministers.

  Kangxi looked around and said: "Why isn't the Imperial Noble Consort here?"

  Li Dequan hastily said: "The imperial concubine served the emperor until he fell asleep, then went to the small kitchen, saying she was preparing some food for the emperor."

  Kangxi almost burst out laughing, then covered it up with a cough.

  Li Dequan's face lit up at once, the emperor's daily worries and troubles seemed to have eased in the presence of the noble consort, if only he could come a few more times that would be great.

  Mingfei didn't actually do anything special, she liked to cook in her past life too, but at that time there were two female servants at home and all sorts of modern household appliances, so it wasn't necessary for her to do anything. Now even more so, they wouldn't let her lift a finger, she just watched and gave some directions, finally adding some space water between the transfers.

  She had no other ideas, just wanting to make Kangxi's memory of her more special. What she wanted was that in the harem, no matter how many people came, she would always be the only one.

  Kangxi looked at the bowl of ginseng porridge held by Mingfei, his hand clenched into a fist in front of his mouth: "Cough, Empress, you've gone to so much trouble, why did you have to do it yourself."

  Mingfei said: "I didn't do anything either, I just watched and pointed out a few sentences."

  Mingfei looked at Kangxi as if she had let out a sigh of relief, and her heart was filled with surprise.

  The author has something to say: I suddenly thought of the story about eunuchs and emperors. After careful consideration, most of the stories about eunuchs and emperors that I have seen in history show that eunuchs are extremely loyal to the emperor, often surpassing anyone else around the emperor, although there are exceptions.

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