Chapter 105 - Contagious

That night, Prince Yi revisited the flower field in his dreams.

This time it was just him and Lei Xing at the scene, alone together in a sea of flowers. Like before, she jumped into his arms and they fell to the ground. She looked at him wide-eyed with shock at first, then she smiled brightly. He smiled back and brought a hand up and caressed her cheek. 

She blushed and looked down shyly, then glanced up at him with wide teary eyes. He could not help himself and rolled over and pinned her down on the soft grass, below him. She was startled and blinked a few times, he gently stroked her face then leaned down to kiss her lips. 

Just as their lips met, he was startled awake by a woman's scream. His eyes flew open and he sat up and looked around to find himself in his bedroom, with no Lei Xing present and one of his concubines n.a.k.e.d on the floor by the bed. He glared angrily at her and she flinched and looked down.

Then he sighed in irritation, annoyed with the rude awakening. He closed his eyes while massaging his aching head and asked through gritted teeth, "What are you screaming about so early in the early in the morning?" 

"Yo-your highn-ness, sp-spots, y-your face, bo-body..." She jumbled her words, confused. She was not sure what she was going on. She had been with him last night and he looked perfectly fine. Then she woke up this morning to find the body next to hers covered with red spots and immediately jumped back, which caused her to fall off the bed, and she screamed in the process. 

Prince Yi was further irritated with her inability to speak properly and barked "Get out!" She immediately got off the floor and quickly put on her robe and ran out.

The poor concubine returned to her room dreading the trouble she had gotten herself into. All the women in his residence knew not to bother the Prince when he was in a bad mood, as he becomes highly irritable and particularly harsh with punishment. And lately, he was always in a bad mood so they all stayed away, but yesterday was different. He seemed to be in a great mood when he returned, and so she had dared to go to his room on her own last night. He did not refuse her and was quite happy too. So she thought that she had gained some merit, but now she had ruined his mood by not controlling her stupid mouth. 

Prince Yi sighed and went to get out of bed. His head was pounding and his body was feeling weak and irritated for some reason. Then he froze when he noticed the red spots on his body and frowned in confusion. He then got up and went to the mirror, only to find red spots scattered all over his body. 

***

Meanwhile, back at the palace. 

The Emperor was enjoying a lazy morning. With no court to attend today, he was happily snoozing away while hugging his Lei Xing. Later waking from his relaxed sleep sometime around to be greeted with the shocking view of his Lei Xing's face and neck covered with red spots. 

He frowned and touched her face, then looked at her hands which were also the littered with spots. He then picked up an arm and moved her sleeve to check her forearm to see the same. He then gently moved her head from his shoulder to the pillow, then quietly got out of the bed. Then properly covered her with the blanket, went out and ordered the servants to quickly go get an Imperial doctor.

Then he went back inside and sat down on the bed observing her sleeping form and quietly sighed.

{...She really needs a lot of care. How did she go out to simply see flowers and return with this?...}

The Imperial doctor quickly came and the Emperor asked him to quietly check on her condition. Then they went outside to discuss her condition, so as not to bother her sleep. On seeing the Imperial doctor's serious expression, the Emperor felt a bit panicked and knit his brows, "Is it serious?"

The Imperial doctor blinked and looked up at the Emperor, "Ah? Oh, I will have to look more into it...but it seems there is a possibility that it might be the start of an epidemic. The Noble consort should be quarantined for now. I advise that Your majesty should also stay away." He finished with a bow.

The Emperor frowned and irritatedly said, "I just spent the night with her, if she's contagious then I already have whatever it is, and as I feel fine, I say she is not." On seeing the Imperial doctor's deepening frown, the Emperor then asked, "Have there been other such cases? Why haven't I been informed if it is widespread."

The Imperial doctor knit his brows and explained, "Well, just one. Early this morning, I was called to Prince Yi's residence. He seems to have the same symptoms as the Noble consort. He also complained of a headache and nausea. Hmm, I will be able to confirm once the Noble consort is awake...I cannot say for certain now until further observation, but it is better to be safe. I beg your majesty to keep a dis-"

"What about the Zou Prince and Princess? Are they ill?" The Emperor suddenly asked cutting him off.

The Imperial doctor shook his head, "There have been repor-

"You stay here." The Emperor coldly said and then walked off with a deepening frown.

{...Only two of them have it? Doesn't that mean that - he wouldn't and she's smarter than that...}

The Emperor took a deep breath and quickly returned to his palace and sent for Bi Lo and Bi Lu, the twin brothers tasked with watching and reporting on Lei Xing's movement. 

The Emperor initially had them following her when she was still under suspicion in order to uncover the secrets she was hiding. After the voice explained itself, he left them to continue to watch over her whenever she left the palace for her protection. The brothers continued to report to him like usual, he did not mind it, and so he left the arrangement as is.

As he was particularly interested in her interactions with the Zou people, he had paid more attention than usual and even specifically asked for details. His brother has been behaving suspiciously around her since the beginning and this illness set alarms off in his head, and he felt like something was missing from the information he received.

After the guards arrived in his study, the Emperor quietly scrutinized them for a while. Then he finally asked, "Is there anything missing from yesterday's report?"

The two looked up at him with confused expressions. The Emperor then frowned and pinpointed, "Anything noteworthy to report regarding my Noble consort and my brother?"

The brothers looked at each other and knit their brows, then Bi Lo's eyes lit up and he went, "Oh! Ah...there was that snake incident."

The Emperor's raised an eyebrow, "Snake?"

Bi Lu explained, "It was nothing special, apparently the Noble consort is afraid of snakes and Prince Yi teased her for a bit..."

The Emperor frowned, "Teased?" 

Bi Lo snickered and said, "It was payback for pushing him. It was quite the scene hahaha..." He immediately closed his mouth when he saw the Emperor narrowing his eyes at him.

"Explain properly." The Emperor irritatedly said.

Bi Lu frowned at his brother, cupped his hands respectfully and explained, "It seems while exploring the flower field, the Noble consort came across a snake. In her fear she jumped and accidentally bumped into Prince Yi, causing them to fall to the ground. After which, she quickly got up and ran off to safety, leaving Prince Yi on the ground...He later picked up the snake and brought it to show her which caused her to cower behind the carriage. That's all."

The Emperor then sighed and relaxed, massaging his head.

{...What am I thinking? Of course, it was an accident...First pregnancy and now this. I'm starting to become ridiculous...}

The Emperor laughed to himself, sighed again and ordered, "From now on, report everything to me, don't leave out details."