How could there be so many estates and shops? It took him half a month just to go through the accounts once, and he still hadn’t figured out exactly how much money Mu Jiulu had under her control.

Add to that the bride price, dowry and monetary gifts from guests at their wedding, and Gu Sui was dizzy from counting money.

“Mmm, baby I don’t want to get up. My head hurts, I feel awful.”

On this day of Mu Jiulu’s rest, she had planned to take Gu Sui out to play at Leyuan Plains outside the city. But when she called him to get up, he hugged her and began whining in a muffled voice.

“What’s wrong? I didn’t do anything last night, where does it hurt?”

Mu Jiulu felt something was off and asked softly. Gu Sui, his head spinning, said hazily.

“I don’t know, I’m so cold. Why are you so cold too?”

Mu Jiulu’s eyes darkened as she placed her right hand on his forehead. The unusual temperature alarmed her.

“You have a fever. Don’t move, I’ll go call for the imperial physician.”

Mu Jiulu made to get up, but Gu Sui refused to let go of her, his muffled voice pitifully hoarse.

“Don’t go, I’m cold. Holding you… feels a bit better.”

Mu Jiulu was extremely anxious. She could already clearly feel the unusual temperature of his body. They couldn’t delay like this.

But he was so dizzy he couldn’t open his eyes, just curled up in her arms, clinging to her like a drowning child. Mu Jiulu couldn’t just leave like that either.

“Alright, I won’t go. I’ll call someone.”

Mu Jiulu called for Sui Yu who was guarding outside, telling him to notify Yan Wu to enter the palace and summon the imperial physician.

Hearing that his master was ill, Sui Yu didn’t dare delay at all. He also had Yun Mu boil some hot water. The entire Weirui Courtyard suddenly became busy.

Gu Sui was in a daze. Even with two extra blankets he still felt cold. Though it was now May, a charcoal stove was lit in the room.

“Come, sit up and drink some water. Wait a bit for the imperial physician to come prescribe medicine. After drinking it and sleeping, you’ll feel better.”

Mu Jiulu brought a teacup and carefully blew on it. Gu Sui, wrapped in blankets and shivering, spoke haltingly.

“I… I don’t want to move. No… strength. My chest feels so tight, uncomfortable…”

Mu Jiulu’s brows furrowed tightly. How could he suddenly fall ill like this? His whole body was like a boiled shrimp, curled up on the bed, making one’s heart ache.

“Your Highness, the imperial physician has arrived.”

Yan Wu had summoned the imperial physician at top speed. As the elderly physician was about to lift her robes to bow, Mu Jiulu directly excused her.

“Don’t delay, quickly examine the Prince Consort.”

“This humble one obeys.”

The physician sat down by the bed and placed her fingers on Gu Sui’s right wrist that was extended from under the blankets. After a moment, she revealed a grave expression.

Not long after, she lifted Gu Sui’s sleeve to look at his forearm. Only then did Mu Jiulu notice large red rashes on his originally fair skin.

“What is this?”

Mu Jiulu asked with furrowed brows, her tone unfriendly. The physician drew in a sharp breath in alarm, then lifted Gu Sui’s eyelids to look, her expression solemn.

“Your Highness, I’m afraid this is no ordinary cold, but an epidemic. It would be best to quickly move the Prince Consort to a separate room!”

A cold light flashed in Mu Jiulu’s eyes: “What did you say? Where did this epidemic come from? Explain clearly to me!”

In the silent room, only the chattering of Gu Sui’s teeth from the cold could be heard. Unable to withstand this anger, the physician quickly knelt down.

“Your Highness, this humble one also does not know where this epidemic came from. The urgent matter now is to prevent the disease from spreading!”

Mu Jiulu took a deep breath, sitting by the bed and forcibly suppressing her anger, her voice cold.

“Issue the order to seal off Weirui Courtyard. Without my permission, no one is to enter. All of you go out first and stay in your own rooms. Do not move about randomly. Those who violate the order will die.”

“Your Highness! The young master cannot be without anyone by his side. Let me and Yun Mu stay to take care of the young master!”

Sui Yu said urgently. Mu Jiulu pursed her lips.

“I am here. All of you go down. Report immediately if you feel unwell.”

Yan Wu wanted to stop her: “Your Highness, how can you stay here? If you get infected…”

“Shut up, all of you get out. Physician, go wait in the side room. I’ll come find you in a bit.”

Mu Jiulu gave orders that brooked no objection. The room quickly emptied.

Gu Sui was so dizzy he couldn’t even hear clearly what they were saying, only vaguely catching the words “epidemic”. His heart panicked.

“Baby, you should… stay away from me. I don’t want to… cough, cough cough.”

Mu Jiulu placed a finger on his lips, brushing aside the messy hair on his forehead, her voice slightly hoarse.

“Don’t be afraid. I’ll be fine, and I won’t let anything happen to you. We’ll cure this, believe me. Don’t be afraid.”

She was so gentle that Gu Sui felt a sudden surge of sadness. They had only been married for such a short time, if he really died from this illness, how heartbroken would she be.

“I… will take the medicine. I’m not afraid of bitterness, cough cough, I don’t want to leave you, baby.”

“Mm, good boy. You sleep for a while first, I’ll go discuss solutions with the physician right away.”

“Okay.”

Curled up in the thick blankets, Gu Sui’s soft response made him look like a young beast. Mu Jiulu’s fingers clenched tightly, waves surging in her dark eyes.

Is this damned fate really unchangeable?

As Mu Jiulu walked out of the room, her whole body carried a chilling aura, her eyes as deep and cold as millennia-old glaciers.

Things are done by people. She refused to believe everything was predetermined.

Just like being emperor – if she said she wouldn’t do it, then she wouldn’t!

What about the Mandate of Heaven!

*

While Mu Jiulu was in the mansion, news from the outside world kept coming in, but none of it was good.

In the inner palace, the Empress Dowager and the Empress Consort successively showed symptoms similar to Gu Sui’s, along with dozens of palace servants.

The epidemic showed signs of spreading.

The imperial physician was confined by Mu Jiulu in the side room of Weirui Courtyard. Medical books and herbs sent from the Imperial Medical Office filled the corners as she searched for an effective cure for the epidemic.

“Your Highness, currently there is only one prescription that can barely control it. Please give this old servant more time. I will do my utmost to find a good cure for the disease.”

“Time is pressing. Write out the prescription first. Are there enough medicinal materials in the Imperial Medical Office? There are already dozens of people with these symptoms now. This is probably not the end.”

The imperial physician also understood how serious the situation was and dared not be negligent. She hurriedly wrote out the prescription to control the epidemic and handed it to Mu Jiulu.