Joyful Motherhood in a Rural Family-Chapter 940 - The Smallpox Pandemic
Chapter 940: Chapter 940: The Smallpox Pandemic!
Chapter 940 -940: The Smallpox Pandemic!
Di Yelei sighed and shook his head.
“Big brother, why do you persist in pressing me so hard?”
It wasn’t that he wouldn’t talk, but now was not the right time. Everything would be fine once he spoke up.
“Fine, since you know what you are doing, that’s good enough! Third Sister-in-law, revered as a Princess, may seem amiable on the surface, but in reality, she is of a strong and fiery character. You better think carefully before you act, otherwise…”
Di Hongyuan did not finish his sentence but gave Di Yelei a look that said he was on his own.
Just then, the carriage stopped in front of the Di Residence. Di Hongyuan directly lifted the carriage curtain, “I’ve said all I intend to say, you figure the rest out on your own. We’re home now, what are you spacing out for? Do I have to invite you out myself?”
Instinctively following the lifted carriage curtain, Di Yelei got out of the carriage. The carriage behind him did not stop. The moment he alighted, it drove off, leaving him eating dust.
Eh? Weren’t we supposed to gather at the mansion?
Only then did Di Yelei realize he had been duped by the very brother he had so trusted!
He lifted his foot intending to chase, but from inside the mansion’s gate, Old Cheng hurried over, “Old Master Marquis, you’ve finally returned! Please, you must go see, the Princess’s illness has gotten far worse. Several doctors have been called, even the imperial physicians from the palace have seen her, but there’s no sign of improvement.”
Di Yelei drew his foot back, and turned to rush into the mansion, “What happened? When I left this morning, wasn’t Sisi’s condition improving? How can it suddenly get worse? ”
“Old servant does not know either,” Old Cheng hastily followed.
At the moment, a sizable crowd had gathered in the small courtyard. Before even entering, Di Yelei saw a familiar figure standing not far from the courtyard entrance, blocking his way.
Enraged, Di Yelei confronted him, “Zuo Xingyu, what do you think you’re doing?”
After the incident with Xing Pan’er, Di Yelei was well aware of what Zuo Xingyu had been up to. Considering the help Zuo Xingyu had provided in the past, and the fact that he had always been devoted to ensuring Sisi’s safety, Di Yelei had turned a blind eye to his presence. But now, the man dared to openly challenge his authority, and the rage that Di Yelei had been suppressing flared up.
Zuo Xingyu stared at him intently and only after a while did he shake the big blade in his hand, “If, I’m saying if, you truly cannot give her what she wants, then let go! I missed my chance with her once, but this time I will not let go. I will treat her well for a lifetime!”
Di Yelei was furious!
“Don’t even dream about it! Zuo Xingyu, let me tell you, you’d better give up that idea, or else, don’t blame me, the Marquis, for being ruthless!”
Others might not understand the implication in Zuo Xingyu’s words, but how could Di Yelei not?
He knew all too well why Sisi had broken off her engagement with Zuo Xingyu and why he had been helping her overtly and covertly ever since.
In the past, he had tolerated Zuo Xingyu’s presence because he knew that Sisi’s heart was filled with him!
But just now, his heart suddenly felt disarrayed!
Because the moment those words were spoken, he inexplicably felt panicked! He could no longer be sure whether Sisi’s heart still contained him after all that had happened? He regretted not telling Sisi the whole truth earlier to prevent others from taking advantage!
Zuo Xingyu wasn’t concerned about his threats. A sneer suddenly appeared on his usually indifferent face.
“You can try me!”
Having said that, he turned and walked away.
He, Zuo Xingyu, does not take threats from any man!
Di Yelei intended to chase after them, took a couple of steps, but turned back to look at the courtyard and ultimately gave up on pursuing the enemy, instead bursting straight into the courtyard.
In the courtyard, everyone was gathered around Liu Sisi.
Watching the three imperial physicians sent by His Majesty taking turns to feel Liu Sisi’s pulse and discuss her condition, it became apparent from the increasingly solemn expressions on their faces that something was amiss.
When Di Yelei barged in, this was the scene he encountered.
“Old Master Marquis!”
“Dad——”
“Third Uncle…”
Everyone hurriedly paid their respects.
Di Yelei waved his hand dismissively and walked up to the head of the bed to check on Liu Sisi’s condition.
Just like when he had left before, Liu Sisi was trapped in a deep slumber, her face, however, was alarmingly pale and haggard.
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“Imperial physicians, how is the Princess’s condition now?”
Seeing that the three imperial physicians seemed to have reached a conclusion, he quickly approached to inquire.
The three imperial physicians exchanged glances, and finally, the eldest stepped forward to report, “Old Master Marquis, we have just checked the Princess’s pulse and discussed amongst ourselves. At the moment, the Princess’s main symptoms include chills, high fever, weakness, headache, soreness in her limbs and lower back, convulsions and vomiting during the fever, and even unconsciousness. Her skin has already developed light pox rashes. I, the minor official, believe, believe…”
“Speak! Why are you hemming and hawing?”
Seeing the hesitant look on their faces, Di Yelei felt his heart sinking rapidly.
At his outburst, the three imperial physicians immediately knelt down, trembling as if they were leaves in a cold wind, “Yes, yes… we believe that the Princess’s condition closely resembles a smallpox infection.”
Smallpox, also known as pox rash, was a deadly contagious disease with an extraordinarily high mortality rate. It was a disease that caused great fear. In the history of the Great Zhao, there was an instance when everyone in a big city was infected with smallpox; all succumbed to the disease, leaving behind an empty city. In the civilian world, shrines to the Goddess of Pox Rash were everywhere, and people offered incense on the first and the 15th day of the lunar month, praying for safety.
Di Yelei was, of course, very familiar with all of this.
So when he heard that Sisi had contracted smallpox, his first reaction was that the sky had fallen! The second was disbelief.
He charged forward frantically, grabbing one of the physicians from the ground, “Nonsense! How could Sisi possibly have contracted smallpox? You had better be certain, look carefully! This is a matter that could lead to death, do not speak carelessly! Quick! Look again, examine her more closely and be sure before you speak!”
This conclusion was already the unified result of their long examination, what more was there to see?
However, the unfortunate physician, being held aloft by Di Yelei, his feet unable to touch the ground, turned red-faced, flailing desperately.
The other two imperial physicians also hurriedly stepped forward to explain, “Old Master Marquis! This is the diagnosis we three have come to together, it cannot be wrong!”
The most terrifying aspect of smallpox was not just the shadow of death but also the permanent, pitted scars left on one’s face after surviving the infection, marks from the pustules and scabs, resulting in disfigurement!
It was hard to imagine what condition Sisi would be in if she recovered from smallpox.
Di Yelei suddenly went mad! With a forceful shove, he pushed the three imperial physicians straight to Liu Sisi’s sickbed.
“I don’t care, I don’t believe it! I’ve said it before, Sisi is not afflicted with smallpox, she’s not! You must treat her, you must cure her! Otherwise, I’ll have your heads chopped off!”
