Chapter 106 - Patient Zero (1/2)

Lei Xing woke up in the afternoon, feeling worse than before. Her head was pounding and body aching. The spots weren't bumpy, itchy or painful, but they definitely affected her on the inside as she was feeling very unwell. The head physician quickly arrived to check on her, with two other Imperial doctors, one she recognized from the night before.

When Lei Xing asked what her condition was, the head physician regretfully informed that they were still investigating it. Then he assured her that they will definitely be able to make a breakthrough soon, and she will be back to full health in no time and there was nothing for her to worry about.

After hearing that, Lei Xing just sat on the bed staring at them wide-eyed in shock.

{...No cure? O_O)...}

Seeing her lack of response, the head physician reassured her again that all will be well, and that the entire department was working on her case. He then calmly advised that it was best for her to remain in her palace to prevent it from spreading, as they had not yet completely ruled out that possibility. Then he reassured her again that she will be fine.

All Lei Xing took away from his ramblings was that she was a serious case, possibly contagious, and in general, it seemed like a confirmation of her death sentence.

{...I don't think patient zeros ever survive. I'm going to die T_T)...}

While Lei Xing was still in shock over the looming sense of her imminent, painful demise, the Emperor arrived. He smiled at Lei Xing who was too busy staring off into space to pay him any attention. She was consumed with her pre-mourning, dreading her painful end to come. The eunuch following behind the Emperor handed a tray with a small sack on it to one of the Imperial doctors.

The Emperor then said to the head physician, ”That's the cause, find a cure.” then he walked over to Lei Xing and sat beside her on the bed and asked, ”How are you feeling?”

Lei Xing who was still reeling in grief, quietly murmured to herself, ”I'm going to die?”

The Emperor sighed then pat her head, ”You'll be fine.”

On seeing this, the head physician panicked and immediately said, ”Your majesty, you really shouldn-”

The Emperor frowned and barked, ”I said go find a cure!”

”But Your maje-” The head physician still tried to protest but stopped when Emperor glared at him. He sighed, then bowed and left with the others in the room, leaving Lei Xing and the Emperor alone.

The Emperor stroked Lei Xing's head and reassured, ”There is no need to worry, they will have the medicine soon.”

Lei Xing finally woke up from her stupor, frowned and brushed his hand off then asked, ”Wh-what caused this?”

The Emperor frowned at the hand she brushed off, then sighed, ”Most likely the flowers you fell on.”

Lei Xing knit her brows, ”Flowers? How do you know?”

The Emperor offhandedly responded, ”It's the only thing that makes sense.”

After discussing with Bi Lo and Bi Lu, he concluded that the illness had something to do with the fall, since it was the only instance that affected only her and his brother. They ate the same food as the others and besides that moment, Lei Xing had no direct contact with his brother. Also while Lei Xing touched other flowers, his brother did not.

Although it's possible that she may have touched him after touching the cause. But according to the Bi brothers, she did not make contact with his skin. So after thinking about, the flowers they fell on were the likely culprit. So he sent the Bi brothers to go bring some for testing. If this is wrong, then they will uproot all the flowers in the field to find the cause.

”But -”

”It's nothing for you to worry about. Just get enough rest and get healthy.” The Emperor interjected. He was not keen on explaining the backstory of how he uncovered all this. ”Have you eaten?”

Lei Xing shook her head, then frowned and laid back down, facing away from him and covered herself with the blanket, ”I'm not hungry. You can leave.”