Rebirth: Phoenix Riding the Ninth Heaven

Although Qiao Xinran and the Second Prince were buried in the imperial mausoleum, the aftermath of the smallpox outbreak had not yet ended. Qian Hong, after going through the series of events involving An Zao and Qiao Xinran, felt haggard and wanted to take a break, but things did not go as planned. Although Qiao Xinran and the Second Prince were buried in the imperial mausoleum, the aftermath of the smallpox outbreak had not yet ended. Emperor Qian was reviewing the imperial eunuchs in the imperial study, who hurriedly reported that smallpox had been discovered in the suburbs of Beijing.

After hearing the report, Emperor Qian's face darkened. He slammed his pen down on the table, then stood up angrily and paced back and forth beside it. His heart was filled with resentment and anxiety, and he kept wondering when the smallpox epidemic would end.

"Will this smallpox ever end?" Emperor Qian cursed in a low voice, "Is God deliberately against me? Am I not doing well? Is he not capable of ruling the world? That's why he sent this deadly virus to warn me?" There was a hint of despair and helplessness in his voice.

Emperor Qian stopped, looked out the window at the sky, and sighed deeply. He knew he had to face reality and take measures to control the spread of the epidemic as soon as possible. However, facing such a serious smallpox epidemic, he felt that his power seemed insignificant.

"How should I deal with this disaster?" Emperor Qian said to himself, "Is there really no way to stop the spread of this smallpox epidemic?" There was a determined light in his eyes, as if telling himself that he could not give up and must find a way to solve the problem.

Imperial physicians, following imperial orders, arrived in the suburbs of Beijing and saw many patients in agony. They immediately began treating them, but the smallpox was so severe that the treatment was ineffective. The physicians decided to conduct further research to find a better treatment.

But they had no other choice. The experienced doctors had failed to cure the eldest prince's disease before, and the second prince, who was posthumously named Empress Kun, was stabbed to death in the Heavenly Prison. They had no successful experience or experimental subjects. What should they do?

When these imperial physicians came here, they scratched their heads and could only treat some common colds and typhoid fevers, and prescribe some blood-tonifying medicines to increase people's resistance. However, they had no experience in treating more. They could only explore and experiment little by little from the files of the Imperial Hospital's treatment of Dahongsi, and give medicines to those who had already contracted smallpox to see if there was any effect, and then discuss the changes in prescriptions and dosages as appropriate.

The leader of this team was a physician in his sixties. He had been away from the capital to attend to some matters at home, having been absent from the imperial prisons during the previous battle. Seeing his colleagues, all assassinated for failing to save lives and having offended those in power, he was filled with turmoil. If the smallpox outbreak could not be effectively contained outside the capital, and the outbreak continued, his own life and the lives of his colleagues would be lost.

During his arduous research, a young imperial physician stumbled upon a mysterious herb. Legend had it that this herb possessed miraculous healing properties, particularly against smallpox. Feeling an adventurous impulse, the physician decided to try it himself and incorporate it into his treatment regimen.

A few days passed, and a miracle seemed to have occurred. Those patients who had received the new treatment regimen experienced a marked alleviation of their symptoms, and their conditions began to gradually improve. Their physical conditions improved dramatically, and a glimmer of hope gradually emerged from their once despairing faces. This astonishing news spread like wildfire throughout the suburbs of Beijing, and the people were filled with anticipation and hope for the imperial physicians' efforts.

As time went on, more and more patients recovered from their illnesses and regained their lives. The brave doctor became a hero admired by everyone, and his name spread far and wide. And this mysterious herb was highly praised for its remarkable efficacy, becoming an effective weapon in treating smallpox.

As good news continued to arrive from the outskirts of the capital, Emperor Qian's mood gradually brightened. Although he still felt a little regretful, how could they develop a prescription to treat ordinary people while his beloved concubine and the prince were left with no choice but to drink it? He was both happy about the development of the prescription and distressed, feeling that it had been developed too late.

In this world, no matter whether you are willing or not, no matter how big or small your power is, some irreversible things will attract people's attention and cause regrets.

During one of Emperor Qian's morning court sessions, he suddenly felt a tightness in his chest. A nameless fire surged in his heart, and he felt a burning sensation in his throat, as if something was about to burst out. He tried hard to suppress the feeling, but the force grew stronger, constantly attacking his body and mind.

Finally, he could no longer bear the pressure, and a mouthful of blood spurted out, splashing onto the ground. His vision blurred, and his body began to stagger, as if he would collapse at any moment. But he persisted, step by step, towards the hall.

When he finally reached the main hall, he was exhausted. With his last bit of strength, he placed the things in his hands on the table, then collapsed to the ground, unconscious. The people around him panicked and gathered around, trying to wake him. However, his face was as pale as paper, and his breathing was weak, as if he had already lost all signs of life.

The ministers hurriedly invited the imperial physicians, who concluded after consultation that Emperor Qian was ill due to overwork and an unresolved emotional issue, which caused his qi and blood to attack his heart.

It's nothing serious, so you need to rest and not get angry. Just rest like this for more than a month and you will recover slowly. When the ministers heard this, they were relieved. Alas, just when an empress and a prince passed away, such a thing happened in the suburbs of the capital. I'm really afraid of trouble. Alas! The sighing minister didn't dare to say anything more. Although the minister didn't say anything else, the others all understood what he meant and began to think secretly in their hearts.

After five long and tense hours of emergency treatment by the imperial physicians, Emperor Qian finally woke up in the middle of the night. He slowly opened his eyes, only to be greeted by his mother's worried face and Wang Yuyan's concerned eyes.

"I...what happened?" Emperor Qian asked weakly, his voice a little hoarse.

"My son! You're finally awake!" The mother was so excited that tears welled up in her eyes and she held the emperor's hand tightly. She described in detail the situation after the emperor fell into a coma and the full efforts of the imperial doctors to treat him.

Wang Yuyan also hurried forward, her eyes full of anxiety: "Your Majesty, how are you feeling? Are you feeling unwell?"

Emperor Qian looked at them with gratitude, a warm feeling welling up in his heart. He knew that they had always been by his side, protecting him when he needed them most. Although he was still weak, he still managed to force a smile to show that he was fine.

"I'm much better now, you don't have to worry." Emperor Qian comforted and gently patted his mother's hand.

However, Consort Mother and Wang Yuyan were not completely relieved. They knew that Emperor Qian's condition was still serious and would require long-term recuperation and treatment. In the days to come, they would accompany Emperor Qian through every difficult moment, hoping for his speedy recovery.

During Emperor Qian's illness, all matters of the court, big or small, were handed over to Wang Yuyan's father, Prime Minister Wang. Military affairs and reports from various places were temporarily drafted and approved by him.

The emperor's power is supreme, and the emperor's health directly affects the fate of the country. Once the emperor's body is not in good condition, the normal operation of the state machinery will be affected. At this time, the proper entrustment of the government becomes particularly important. The following is the government entrusted to the ministers when the emperor was on his deathbed.

In late autumn, within the inner chambers of the Imperial Palace, curtains were drawn low. A ray of setting sunlight barely pierced through the heavy drapes, illuminating a corner beside the Imperial bed. Lying on the bed was the current Emperor, his face as pale as paper, his eyes sunken, devoid of his former radiance. Imperial physicians came and went, the aroma of medicine and herbs filling the room, but they seemed powerless to restore his youth. Emperor Qian knew his condition was grave, requiring a period of rest and recuperation. He had to make arrangements quickly to prevent the country from plunging into chaos.

At dusk, Emperor Qian summoned Prime Minister Wang, the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, the Ministers of the various ministries, and several other key officials. These officials were usually busy with their respective duties and rarely had the opportunity to gather together, but at this critical moment, they all put aside their work and quickly gathered outside the Imperial Study. Emperor Qian's voice, though soft, revealed an undeniable authority: "Come in at once."

In the Imperial Study, Emperor Qian sat on a specially designed couch, a small table beside him, upon which lay a map and some important documents. His gaze swept over the assembled ministers, and he spoke slowly, "My health is failing, and state affairs are burdened. I must temporarily step aside. You are the pillars of our dynasty. You must work together to maintain order. I will return to the throne once I have recovered."

Hearing this, the important ministers were shocked, and then knelt on one knee and answered in unison: "Your Majesty, we swear to be loyal to you until death, and will perform our duties to the best of our ability to maintain peace and prosperity in the country until Your Majesty returns in good health." One of the old ministers, with tears in his eyes, took the imperial edict handed over by Emperor Qian with trembling hands, which meant that he would temporarily take on the important task of handling the country's highest decision-making.

Afterward, Emperor Qian discussed the specific allocation of government affairs with his ministers. From border defense to food reserves, from tax adjustments to disaster relief, each task had a clear responsibilities. The emperor even designated several young princes to participate in court training, preparing them for a possible succession. All of these arrangements were conducted in complete secrecy to prevent any leaks that could cause widespread unrest in the court.

Finally, Emperor Qian cast a final, expectant glance at his ministers, his tone filled with hope for the future: "Although we are in adversity, we must know that the prosperity of our nation cannot be achieved by one person alone; it depends on the concerted efforts of all of you. I hope you will remember my words today, stay true to our original aspiration, and work together to overcome these difficult times."

As the emperor closed his eyes to rest, the ministers gradually left the imperial study and returned to their posts to carry out their new tasks. The outside world was still bustling and bustling, but on this day, everyone participating in the meeting understood that they had a heavy responsibility on their shoulders, a responsibility that concerned the future of the empire and hundreds of millions of people.