Warm Plague!
At least in the eyes of the common people, this is a Warm Plague—or at the very least, something as terrifying as one.
In just two days, symptoms of Ancient Corpse Poison had already spread among the citizens of the Imperial Capital. Because these people lived farther from the city center, by the time the officials inside the city noticed, the situation was already slipping out of control.
"The impact of the Warm Plague is immense. I respectfully request Ninth Royal Uncle to issue an order: all those who fall ill must be quarantined, and their bodies cremated on site after death." This was one of the practical-minded officials.
"I request Ninth Royal Uncle to send imperial physicians to reassure the people."
"The Warm Plague is spreading in the city. For the safety of His Majesty and Ninth Royal Uncle, I respectfully ask that the Emperor relocate the capital, or move to another palace." It's not wrong to worry about the Emperor's safety, but to urge him to abandon the people and flee like a coward is a crime worthy of death.
At first, the civil and military officials earnestly discussed how to handle the situation, but as the debate went on, they gradually veered off course...
"Ninth Royal Uncle, the Warm Plague is Heaven's punishment for a ruler's failings. You have governed as regent for less than half a year, yet misfortune keeps striking. I respectfully ask His Majesty to issue an edict and hold you accountable." The speaker was an official from the Censorate—one of the Taishang Emperor's men.
Although Ninth Royal Uncle had purged a batch of officials, he couldn't dominate the court entirely. Naturally, the Taishang Emperor's faction remained, led by Fulin. Normally, these men wouldn't dare speak out, but now that they've caught Ninth Royal Uncle in a mistake, they refuse to let go.
As soon as those words were spoken, others immediately echoed the sentiment. Officials from the factions of Prince Jason (Zhou King), Prince Evan (Yong King), and others joined in, openly and covertly claiming that the Warm Plague was Heaven's displeasure with Ninth Royal Uncle's regency, insisting that he had lost virtue and must be held accountable by imperial decree.
They even dug up old history to pressure Ninth Royal Uncle, saying that when the Taishang Emperor once imprisoned him, Heaven sent thunder as a warning. For the sake of the people, the Taishang Emperor released Ninth Royal Uncle unharmed and issued a self-reproach edict, admitting his mistake before Heaven. Now, they insisted, Ninth Royal Uncle should learn from the Taishang Emperor—dare to act and dare to admit fault.
"Ridiculous!" Officials from Ninth Royal Uncle's faction lost their patience, even blurting out curses: "What exactly has Ninth Royal Uncle done? When has he ever shirked responsibility? You people open your mouths and spout nonsense, talking someone to death without knowing the facts. Did you even investigate what’s really going on before you started accusing him?"
"How could we not investigate? Of course we did. Ninth Royal Uncle mobilized the Commander of the Nine Gates’ troops for one woman—Serena Feng—and used the constables of the Capital Prefecture Court like household servants. If not for this, the Warm Plague wouldn’t have spread."
"A beauty who brings disaster—a woman who ruins a nation! If everyone acted like Serena Feng, treating official troops as personal servants, the realm would fall into chaos. I beg Ninth Royal Uncle to reconsider and not destroy Eastlyn for the sake of a woman's charms."
Thud, thud, thud... Instantly, six or seven officials dropped to their knees, each one begging Ninth Royal Uncle to think twice—not to jeopardize the state for a woman.
Just like that, responsibility was instantly shifted from Ninth Royal Uncle to Serena Feng. Other than his supposed weakness for beauty, Ninth Royal Uncle was blameless; all the fault was Serena's—for seducing him into error.
"A beauty who ruins a nation? How can you even say that? What was seized from that coffin shop—have you all forgotten? As for treating constables like servants or using them privately, that's pure nonsense. Miss Feng is the daughter of the Duke of Grace to the Realm, and Young Master Feng is the legitimate heir. If the heir goes missing, shouldn't the authorities search for him?"
Officials from Ninth Royal Uncle's faction refuted each charge one by one, but the opposition refused to listen, shouting only that Serena Feng was a calamity-bringer and demanding Ninth Royal Uncle make a decision...
The throne hall was in uproar; the officials were bickering more viciously than market fishwives. William Wang Jinling shook his head, glanced up at Ninth Royal Uncle, and saw exactly what he expected: Ninth Royal Uncle wasn't taking their words seriously at all. Only when the shouting had nearly died down did he finally speak, slowly: "Who told you this is a Warm Plague?"
As soon as Ninth Royal Uncle spoke, the hall fell silent. Except for William Wang Jinling, who already knew, everyone else—including Fulin—looked at him in confusion. Somewhere among the officials, a tiny doubtful voice piped up: "If it’s not a Warm Plague, then what is it? What other illness looks like this?"
No one knew who had said it; they only knew it came from somewhere in the crowd. Ninth Royal Uncle didn’t bother to pursue it—he simply let out a cold snort, and that sound made all the officials’ hearts skip a beat.
They hadn’t forgotten: this master was nothing like the Taishang Emperor. The Taishang listened to officials’ remonstrance and cared about his reputation, but this one didn’t. He was always domineering; if you angered him, you might not be killed for no reason, but you’d definitely suffer for it.
Everyone lowered their heads, not daring to look at Ninth Royal Uncle. The Taishang Emperor’s faction secretly congratulated themselves—they had targeted Serena Feng this time, not offended Ninth Royal Uncle too directly. If he punished them for a woman’s sake, it would only prove their accusation that Serena was a calamity-bringer.
Ninth Royal Uncle took in all their expressions. Except for the prime minister and a few veteran ministers, whose minds he couldn't read, he could guess the rest. He didn’t waste words; he simply summoned the Chief of the Imperial Medical Directorate to speak.
In this setting, the Chief dared not waste words—he explained in just a few sentences: After consultation among the imperial physicians, the illness spreading through the city is not a Warm Plague, but a poison—Ancient Corpse Poison.
"Rest assured, gentlemen. The entire Imperial Medical Directorate is researching this corpse poison, and we’ll have a treatment plan soon." Of course, the so-called consultation was really Serena Feng arguing down all the physicians and convincing them it was poison, not plague. As for the treatment plan...
The Chief credited the Imperial Medical Directorate, but those truly in the know understood it was Serena Feng’s achievement. Yet so few knew the truth that, no matter how much she did, Serena still had to bear the reputation of calamity-bringer.
The imperial physician stepped out to dispel rumors, and the Taishang Emperor’s faction had nothing to say—but...
"May I ask, Chief, how many days will it take to produce a treatment plan? The people are panicked; if we could give them a definite timeline, it would put their minds at ease." This was a trap, and it wasn’t for the Chief—it was for Ninth Royal Uncle.
The Chief’s pupils contracted sharply, sweat instantly beading on his forehead. He didn’t dare answer at all.
How could anyone make such a promise, let alone announce it to the public? If they failed to produce a cure in time, who would face the people's wrath?
"Chief, how many days will it take? Give us a concrete date—the Emperor and Ninth Royal Uncle are waiting, and so are the poisoned citizens." The Taishang Emperor’s faction pressed on relentlessly, but the Chief just stood there, mouth open, unable to say a word.
Ninth Royal Uncle let out a cold laugh and shot a glance at Fulin. Fulin stepped forward, and—just like the Taishang Emperor’s faction—pressed the Chief: "Chief, would ten days be enough? Or does your whole Directorate need half a year, waiting until everyone dies before producing a cure?"
The Taishang Emperor’s faction, seeing their leader speak up, all looked delighted—just waiting for the Chief to answer...