Chapter 713: with translation of chapter title

Several people hid behind the roof ridge, looking bewildered; normally at this time of day, the Palace isn't this lively.

What's happening in the middle of the night?

Tuan Tuan tugged at Xiao Ran's sleeve and asked softly, "Ninth Brother, what are they doing?"

She wrinkled her little nose, raised her small hand to cover it: "It smells awful!"

After saying that, she raised her other hand and covered Xiao Er's big nose.

Xiao Er stared for a moment, then broke into a fond smile: "Miss is really nice!" He lifted Tuan Tuan up.

Xiao Ran frowned, tightly watching the eunuchs below.

More than a dozen eunuchs were walking while carrying copper basins, splashing something around.

Several others held trays with celadon jars and porcelain bowls, hurrying past.

"Not good!" Xiao Ran suddenly realized, "There's an epidemic in the Palace! They're splashing hot vinegar!"

Everyone was startled; Xiao Ningyuan hastily took out a clean handkerchief and tied it over Tuan Tuan's face, leaving only her bright, shining eyes visible.

The others did the same, each covering their faces.

Tuan Tuan looked at Xiao Feifei, who had popped out of Lu Qi's arms, and said, "Oh no, what should we do with Xiao Feifei?"

"It's a fox spirit, not a person," Xiao Ran laughed, "Little one, you don't need to worry about it."

"Oh," Tuan Tuan thought, "that makes sense."

"With such a big show," Lu Qi asked quietly, "can you tell what epidemic they're guarding against?"

"Can't tell," Xiao Ran shook his head, "but how could there be an epidemic in the Palace at this juncture?"

Tuan Tuan blinked and asked, "Could Imperial Aunt be sick? Shall we go see her?"

Xiao Ningyuan, worried about his sister, coaxed her: "Let's go to the kitchen first, Tuan Tuan; take some food and follow your Second Uncle and Ninth Brother back first."

"I'll go with Lu Qi to see the Eldest Princess, okay? Brother will tell you later."

"You'd better not go; if you somehow catch the epidemic, it would be disastrous!"

Tuan Tuan pouted: "But I want to go see Imperial Aunt!"

Xiao Ran rolled his eyes at Xiao Ningyuan: "You really can think! If you go and get infected, can we escape? We'd all be the same!"

"Little one, I'm not at ease about the aunt either; I also want to go together."

Xiao Ningyuan was left speechless by his retort.

"Exactly!" Tuan Tuan nodded: "Ninth Brother is right! We should go together!"

Xiao Er agreed: "Yes, Young Master, looking at this situation, the kitchen won't be any better; we'll wait until fewer people are around, then go—first to the Eldest Princess's place."

Lu Qi kept nodding: "Xiao Er makes sense."

Xiao Ningyuan looked at them helplessly: "Why isn't anyone on my side? You're all taking her side! Forget it, let's go, to Chenghui Hall!"

They exchanged glances, chuckled, and turned toward the Eldest Princess's bedchamber.

The Eldest Princess was pacing back and forth in the room; upon seeing Tuan Tuan, she hurriedly pulled her into her embrace, raised her head and said sternly, "Xiao Ningyuan! Your courage is too great!"

"There's an epidemic in the Palace, yet you dare bring her here? Aren't you afraid she'll catch it? You're her older brother—how can you be so lacking in foresight?"

Xiao Ningyuan: "......"

"I came of my own accord! Imperial Aunt," Tuan Tuan hurriedly interjected for her brother, "Big Brother didn't let me come, but I was worried about you!"

The Eldest Princess glared at Xiao Ningyuan: "Then you should have stopped her some."

"How could I not have stopped her? Would it have helped if just I tried?"

Xiao Ningyuan looked at the other three; Xiao Ran turned his head elsewhere, while Xiao Er and Lu Qi lowered their heads, pondering their sword hilts.

"Yes," Xiao Ningyuan ground his teeth, "a bunch of ungrateful lot! The Eldest Princess is right."

Everyone sat down and removed the handkerchiefs from their faces.

Lu Qi took Xiao Feifei out of his arms, looked around, unsure where to put it.

The Eldest Princess widened her eyes: "Is this the great fox immortal?"

Tuan Tuan hurriedly held Xiao Feifei out and handed her to the Eldest Princess: "Yes! It's my Xiao Feifei! Isn't it pretty?"

The Eldest Princess reached out and gently touched Xiao Feifei's little horn: "Nice, really nice—no wonder the eunuchs called it a great immortal; it truly has a pair of horns on its head."

Tuan Tuan stroked Xiao Feifei's big tail: "Imperial Aunt, may it run around here? It's quite smart—it won't knock things over."

The Eldest Princess smiled: "All right."

Tuan Tuan placed Xiao Feifei on the ground: "Be good! Don't make a sound, go play."

Xiao Feifei shook off its long fur, spread its short legs, and ran off happily.

The Eldest Princess passed the pastries on the table to Tuan Tuan: "The imperial physician ordered that the Palace's meals these days should be light on meat and pungent foods, and more on heat-clearing items."

"The kitchen probably doesn't have anything good left; are you hungry? Quickly feel your stomach."

"Thank you, Imperial Aunt!" Tuan Tuan took it, nibbling as she asked, "Imperial Aunt, how serious is this epidemic?"

Her nostrils flared: "Why is this smell everywhere!"

"I've been worried," the Eldest Princess sighed, "Consort Rong and her son are ill."

"Little Eleven?" Cough cough cough—!' Tuan Tuan's heart lurched, she choked on a mouthful and started coughing.

The Eldest Princess hurriedly gave her gentle pats on the back.

Xiao Er leaned forward to help, Lu Qi reached out to assist but pulled back, while Xiao Ran and Xiao Ningyuan stood up directly.

Once Tuan Tuan's coughing eased a bit, the Eldest Princess brought the tea to her lips: "Come, take a few sips to soothe it, drink slowly, don't rush."

Seeing Tuan Tuan drink the tea and steady herself, Xiao Ran and Xiao Ningyuan then sat down again.

"Aunt," Xiao Ran finally asked, "Eleventh Brother and Consort Rong are ill? What are the symptoms? How serious is it? What did the imperial physician say?"

The Eldest Princess replied slowly: "At first, the Eleventh Prince developed a few rashes on his hands; later the rashes increased, appearing on his face and body as well."

They summoned an imperial physician to examine him; he said there was heat toxin, and after taking several doses of medicine it had little effect.

Afterward, Consort Rong and the few palace maids who attended her closely all gradually broke out in rashes, exactly the same as Eleven's symptoms.

Consort Rong and Eleven were the first to fall ill; now, besides the rashes, they have also developed fever, vomiting, diarrhea and other symptoms. The Grand Physician said it might be an epidemic.

So, throughout the Palace, everyone is dousing things with hot vinegar and burning mugwort.

"What disease is it?" Xiao Ran furrowed his brows, "Could it be…"

"The Grand Physician didn't give any explanation," Princess Chang interrupted her, "It's very inauspicious. Everyone in the Palace is anxious, all fearing they might be infected."

She sighed, "The Water Cloud Pavilion already had few people, and now, besides the few close attendants, even the Guards keep their distance."

"I truly worry about mother and child."

"Has Grand Physician Grandpa examined them?" Tuan Tuan recalled Guo Taiyi, "Did he say when Little Eleven's illness will recover?"

Princess Chang was startled, "You mean Guo Taiyi?"

"Yeah!" Tuan Tuan nodded, "Dad's illness was cured by him; his medical skill is superb!"

"Eleven is now the Emperor; who would dare say such a thing?" Princess Chang shook her head, "If it doesn't heal by then, that would be a capital offense."

Xiao Ningyuan lowered his head to think, recalling Consort Rong's words, "I will spare no effort to keep him from going to the city walls."

"Could it be a ruse?" He looked up at Princess Chang, the more he thought the more possible it seemed, "Did Consort Rong, for the sake of Prince Eleven not having to go to the city walls, feign illness?"