THE EMPEROR FELL SICK
The news telling that the emperor got infected by the contagious disease caused by "The Wrath of Heaven" immediately quacked the entire Ming. The government soon turned into a mess, since the supreme leader was forced to be absent from political stage. Ming government had been designed in such a way as to be centralized, so by the absence of the emperor, all ministers faced a real difficulty in running government. Many administrative issues were neglected. Nothing all ministers could do since their emperor was in so much pain that he could not even spring out of the bed.
"It hurts... It hurts..." That was the kind of moan Zhu Yunwen could murmur, while holding his stomach and lying down in a sideways position like a fetus.
The empress had been taking care of Zhu Yunwen all day long. She was now holding his hand, said worryingly, "Your Majesty... the Royal Physician has boiled herbal medicine for you... so no need to worry... you will get well soon..."
"Your Majesty, you must be very tired, you take care of the Emperor overnight and lack of enough sleep for a few days... please be careful with the baby in your womb..." The senior court lady advised the empress.
The empress lowered her eyes, sadness clouded her features. She indeed appeared very exhausted. Her face was pale and haggard, not a good condition for an expectant mother. "I won't be able to sleep if His Majesty is sick..." She stroked her tiny-yet-slightly-protruding stomach. "I'll be okay. This child will definitely agree with his mother..."
The entourage of royal physicians arrived, they were bringing several bowls filled with steaming medicinal liquid. The empress helped Zhu Yunwen to rise up. "Sire, Royal Physicians have brought the concoction, please drink it."
Panting, Zhu Yunwen forced himself to get up, his left hand was still holding his stomach. Assisted by the empress and the senior court lady, he drank the concoction.
A few moments later, he coughed. He even held his stomach with both hands and curled back into bed.
"I can't take this medicine! My stomach hurts so much!"
"Your Majesty! If you don't drink it then how can you get recovered?!" The empress shouted in panic. Zhu Yunwen was rolling to and fro while holding his stomach with both hands. Everyone could only look down in a lethargic manner.
Physician Qing spoke his mind. "Your Majesty, I do apologize, but please allow me to repeat the advice you've refused before... because the best we can do is only ask Zhou Wang to give help... he will be able to treat you..."
"I've told you! Don't call him!" Although Zhu Yunwen was in great pain, it turned out that he did not lose his awareness. "He's a conman! He is the one who has made me sick!"
"But... Your Majesty... nothing he does to you, doesn't he? He even offers himself to be sacrificed in the ceremony?..."
"It is he who makes me suffer from this illness! I am sure of it!" Zhu Yunwen was panting, anger led him more painful. Then, he behaved as if he would vomit soon.
"Sire!" The court ladies quickly brought pots to put in Zhu Yunwen's vomit - yet it turned out that he vomited nothing. Since Zhu Yunwen had nothing to eat, he would vomit nothing for sure. Instead of vomiting, his stomach turned more painful. His aches forced him to lie on the bed again, eyes were nearly closed. His breathing slowed down.
"Alright! I agree! Summon Zhou Wang to heal His Majesty!" The empress shouted.
"No... don't do that..." It turned out that Zhu Yunwen was still awake, and he could still speak even though his voice was very weak.
The royal physicians seemed to be hesitant. The empress nodded firmly. "I will bear all of the consequences. Summon him."
Physician Qing bowed respectfully. "At your service."
***
A little while later, Zhu Su and Liu Ku had been in the emperor's bedchamber. They bowed, paid their respects to the empress in a respectful manner.
"Your Majesty, you summon me to come here?" Zhu Su asked.
The empress nodded. "His Majesty is suffering from severe illness due to that horrible epidemic. He hasn't eaten any solid food during this time, he just eats the liquid, and now his condition has reached the worst because he can't even drink the medicinal concoction. Zhou Wang, you are our only hope right now. I implore you... Please, heal the Emperor!"
Zhu Su stared at Zhu Yunwen. The young emperor's eyes were now completely closed, yet he was still muttering under his breath "It hurts... it hurts..." and his hands still held his stomach. Keeping staring at Zhu Yunwen, in a sudden Zhu Su felt as if his entire body was infiltrated by an immense electrical waves - a kind of intense emotional turmoil.
The flames of anger, hatred, and revenge - all filled his entire body.
Shortly afterward, those sad memories passed through his mind.
The moment when he, Feng Ruina, and Zhu Youdun were dragged from Kaifeng Palace, they were all treated like the prisoners who had violated the country's vital laws while they actually did nothing. When the three of them were disposed into a dungeon in an abandoned area, the dungeon was cold and dirty, filled with darkness, sobs, and despair. And when he saw Feng Ruina's corpse was lying rigid in his arms.
Feng Ruina's eyes would never open again, forever.
Feng Ruina would never be able to return to this world... It had been over. She had left him forever.
Because of this man! Feng Ruina died... He was guilty of it!
Finally, Brother Di and I have succeeded in attempting our strategy. He gets ill. I should ignore him. And let him die!
Heaven has given me this opportunity. I have the opportunity to take revenge. Now he gets ill... Is it what I hope from the beginning?!...
He has killed my wife... has killed Bai and his entire family... has made many people suffer... Then, why must I be so stupid by healing him?!?