Chapter 1555: Chapter 1530: False Alarm

Director Xiao immediately turned around to fetch several bottles of medicine, and then hurriedly left with the eunuch. It was still dark at that time, but the court had already started operating.

He knew that soon the Emperor would be getting up to have breakfast in preparation for the morning court session. Apparently, the Emperor’s fever was just discovered in the early hours, and it was unclear whether it had just started or been ongoing for some time.

“In which palace is His Majesty resting?”

The eunuch whispered, “In the Central Palace.”

Director Xiao breathed a sigh of relief and quickened his pace.

The group jogged to the boat and, upon reaching Daming Palace, jogged again to the sleeping chambers behind the main hall.

In this era, no matter the cause, a fever was considered a major issue. Consequently, it not only alarmed the Empress Dowager residing in another palace but also disturbed Lord Tang, who was on duty at the front.

Director Xiao hurriedly went to examine the Emperor.

The Emperor only had a fever and was not unconscious. At that moment, he was soberly sitting on the bed. Seeing Director Xiao arrive, he couldn’t help but darken his face.

He looked in good spirits, wiping his nose as he said, “It’s not a big deal, taking some medicine will fix it; why disturb so many people?”

Director Xiao was summoned by the Empress, who said, “Since you’ve come, let Director Xiao take a look.”

The Emperor had no choice but to stretch out his hand to let Director Xiao check his pulse.

Director Xiao felt the pulse and took the Emperor’s temperature. Although warm, it wasn’t high, so he breathed a sigh of relief.

The Director immediately saw that the Emperor’s condition was due to catching cold.

Thus he said, “His Majesty caught a chill. I will prescribe a remedy for His Majesty to try first.”

Director Xiao discussed with the two physicians and started writing the prescription. While writing, he felt something was off. Zhou Man had checked on the Emperor yesterday, and the pulse didn’t appear serious. With two doses of medication and acupuncture, the cold energy within should have dissipated.

His hand paused while writing the prescription, and he couldn’t help but ask Gu Zhong, “Did His Majesty eat too many chilled sweet melons yesterday or kick off the blanket at night?”

Though it’s very hot here during the day, it can get a bit cooler at night. Especially since this place is near mountains, making the night breeze carry a chill.

Therefore, it’s necessary to cover oneself with a blanket at night.

Otherwise, the Emperor and others wouldn’t have moved here to escape the heat; compared to the Imperial City, Daming Palace is considered cool.

Gu Zhong wasn’t sure if the Emperor had kicked off the blanket but knew, “His Majesty did not drink the medicine prescribed by Lord Zhou Junior.”

Director Xiao: …

Gu Zhong quietly explained, “His Majesty did not feel uncomfortable; yesterday, he neither had a runny nose nor a fever, and the medicine was very bitter, therefore…”

Director Xiao said nothing further and continued to collaborate with his colleagues on the prescription.

They came up with a prescription and then went to prepare and boil the medicine.

Lord Tang was waiting in the side room, feeling a bit sleepy after being awakened in the early hours. Upon hearing movements, he immediately woke up and asked, “How is it, is it serious?”

Gu Zhong replied, “Director Xiao has already prescribed medicine; it should not be too serious.”

After all, apart from the fever and some nasal discharge, the Emperor had no other symptoms, no dizziness, no weakness, and still planned to have breakfast.

Upon hearing that the Emperor’s spirits were good, Lord Tang said, “Then send someone to inform the Crown Prince in the East Palace.”

Gu Zhong agreed and sent someone out.

The Emperor was ill, and naturally, the Crown Prince needed to be present. Once the Crown Prince arrived, it was also necessary to notify Prince Gong, who was still confined indoors for reflection.

Actually, Prince Gong was closer, residing within Daming Palace, but staying in a half-completed palace at the back.

He was currently undergoing introspection, copying scriptures. Initially, the court officials opposed the Emperor and Empress moving to Daming Palace to escape the summer heat and taking him along.

But the Emperor felt the Imperial City was too hot, and Prince Gong was overweight; leaving him alone there seemed pitiful. What if he suffered a heat stroke?

Thus insisted on bringing him, with an appropriate reason that he wanted to personally supervise Prince Gong’s repentance, ensuring he sincerely copied scriptures and admitted his mistakes daily.

The Empress also wanted to bring him, and the Crown Prince did not object.

The Crown Prince thought that if his parents didn’t bring him, leaving Third in Taiji Palace to reflect, his father and mother would later worry. They’d surely send ice basins and various things.

Isn’t that a waste of money?

It would be better to take him to Daming Palace, with a partially constructed palace where, although clean, the items inside surely didn’t match Taiji Palace’s offerings. Apart from being cooler, there were no other benefits.

Yes, they heard that Daming Palace had many mosquitoes, especially in the half-palace where Third resided, near the mountains. At night, mosquitoes spotting lights would swarm like seeing something delicious, hahaha…

The Crown Prince wasn’t concerned about Prince Gong being closer to the Emperor and Empress since his wife, and their unborn son were there too, most importantly, the Empress was there.

But no matter how reassured, upon hearing of his father’s fever, the Crown Prince quickly threw on his clothes, hurriedly put on his shoes, and rushed to Daming Palace.

On his way, he asked a eunuch about his father’s situation.

How dare the eunuch discuss such matters?

He only said he wasn’t serving in the hall but Director Xiao and two physicians from the Imperial Hospital were there, along with Lord Tang.

The Crown Prince then asked, “Did Director Xiao summon other physicians from the Imperial Hospital? Did Lord Tang call State Duke Zhao and Lord Wei into the palace?”

The eunuch whispered, “I haven’t heard of such orders.”

That meant no further summons.

The Crown Prince relaxed; it seemed his father wasn’t facing any significant issues.

The Crown Prince didn’t wish for anything to happen to the Emperor since he had yet to have a son, only hoping his wife delivered safely.

Moreover, with the sword suspended overhead lifted, he started thinking filial thoughts, worried about his father.

The Crown Prince arrived somewhat worried at Daming Palace but upon reaching the main hall, saw the Emperor and Empress were eating breakfast together.

The Emperor had already finished a bowl of noodles and was biting into a bun, seeing the Crown Prince’s hair messy, he casually pointed to a eunuch, “Help the Crown Prince straighten up; what does going about in disarray show?”

The Crown Prince glanced at his father’s complexion, feeling it more radiant than his own, sensing nothing amiss, hence turned around to tidy himself.

The family of three — no, with the addition of Prince Gong, Mingda, and Changyu made it a family of six — had breakfast together.

Then Prince Gong wished to return to introspection while the Emperor took the Crown Prince to handle political affairs.

Though sick, it didn’t appear severe, with the Emperor experiencing nothing but a slight throat discomfort, aside from a runny nose.

Thus he couldn’t neglect his duties and had to continue attending court.

But by now, the Emperor’s indisposition had spread, alerting those ministers who needed to know.