Li Shimin drew a light breath and said, “That is to say, you have no way to treat those soldiers, correct?”

“If it were just a few people or dozens of people, we two ministers could still think of some solution, but now with so many people, and no medicinal materials, there really is no way to think of anything. Please forgive us, Your Majesty!”

Li Shimin slammed the table hard and said through gritted teeth, “Luoyang has not yet been conquered, and now an epidemic has inexplicably emerged. What exactly is going on?!”

Liu Hongji advised, “Your Majesty, please calm your anger. The most urgent matter now is to isolate them from contact with the sick soldiers and find the source to prevent more people from falling ill.”

Du Ruhui frowned tightly and said, “Once Your Majesty orders isolation, the epidemic matter can no longer be concealed. This will inevitably cause panic among the soldiers. If Li Jiancheng sends troops out of the city to attack at this time, it would be greatly disadvantageous to us.”

“Though Li Jiancheng gained advantage in the battle the day before yesterday, he is trapped defending Luoyang, not much better off than us. Before he knows for certain our situation, he likely won’t rashly emerge from the city to attack, so this point need not be worried about for now.” Liu Hongji’s thinking was the most calm, and he quickly analyzed Li Jiancheng’s situation crystal clear. However, he didn’t know that this epidemic poison was entirely Li Jiancheng’s doing.

“But regarding the soldiers…” Du Ruhui hesitated without speaking. Liu Hongji understood his meaning and sighed, “Looking at the current situation, this matter will inevitably escalate and cannot possibly be concealed forever. Rather than being passive after the fact, it’s better to take the initiative now.” After a pause, he continued, “The most urgent matter now is to find the source. These soldiers all fell ill together, which means they contracted the epidemic at the same time. There must be something in common among them, and this commonality is very likely where the source lies.”

Upon hearing this, Du Ruhui immediately cupped his hands and said, “Your Majesty, please entrust this matter to me to investigate.”

“Good.” Saying this, Li Shimin also instructed, “Though you have taken medicine, you must still be careful and not careless.” Yuchi Jingde had not recovered from poisoning, Zhangsun Wuji had returned to Chang’an to transfer troops, and Yin Kaishan had been wounded in the previous siege battle. If Du Ruhui also had problems, there would truly be few capable generals left to shoulder important responsibilities.

“Thank you for Your Majesty’s concern. I will certainly be careful.” After Du Ruhui left, Liu Hongji said, “The matter of pacifying the soldiers and stabilizing military morale still requires Your Majesty’s efforts.”

“I know, but…” Li Shimin rubbed his forehead and said in a heavy voice, “Sir Liu, how long do you think my pacification can hold out?”

Regarding his question, Liu Hongji sighed deeply without speaking. Though Li Shimin held incomparable prestige in the hearts of the soldiers, how long this prestige could hold out in the face of the terrifying epidemic was something even he had no confidence in.

“I shall go see those soldiers.” As soon as Li Shimin stood up, he felt dizzy and the world spinning around him. Fortunately, he grabbed the table in time, preventing himself from falling.

Seeing this, Liu Hongji quickly stepped forward to support him, “Your Majesty, what’s wrong?”

Li Shimin shook his head vigorously, and after the dizziness lessened somewhat, said, “Nothing, I suppose I stood up too quickly, so I felt momentarily dizzy. It’s nothing serious.”

“Your Majesty has not rested properly these past few days, so your dragon body is inevitably fatigued. Rest a while before going.” Faced with Liu Hongji’s words, Li Shimin waved his hand and said, “I’m fine now, don’t worry.” As he spoke, he was about to push away Liu Hongji’s hand and walk outside.

So hot!

This was Liu Hongji’s first sensation when Li Shimin’s palm touched the back of his hand. The next moment, his face had already become extremely unsightly. Such high body temperature was clearly a fever, just like those soldiers outside. Could it be that…

Liu Hongji didn’t dare think further. While forcibly pulling Li Shimin back and pressing him into his seat, he said to the two physicians Jiang and Qi who had not yet left, “Quickly! Immediately take His Majesty’s pulse, quickly!” Excessive tension and fear made his voice sound like a different person – sharp and urgent, completely lacking his usual calm composure.

Though Physicians Jiang and Qi didn’t know what was happening, seeing Liu Hongji’s state, they knew something serious had occurred and quickly stepped forward to diagnose Li Shimin’s pulse.

Li Shimin was bewildered by their actions and looked at Liu Hongji, saying, “Sir, what are you doing?”

“Does Your Majesty not feel uncomfortable anywhere?” Liu Hongji gripped his hands tightly because if he loosened them even slightly, his hands would shake uncontrollably.

Being asked this way, Li Shimin recalled that from early this morning, he had felt weak and powerless in his hands and feet, and also felt somewhat cold. He had only thought it was from not sleeping well these past days, causing physical fatigue, and hadn’t taken it to heart. Only when Liu Hongji asked now did he realize something was wrong.

Over there, Physician Qi’s face had already turned iron-blue, and Physician Jiang, who subsequently took Li Shimin’s pulse, was also pale and trembling all over.

“How is His Majesty’s condition?” These seemingly casual six words nearly exhausted all of Liu Hongji’s strength. His eyes stared unblinkingly at the two physicians Qi and Jiang, continuously praying in his heart that it wouldn’t be the answer he feared, absolutely not!

Physician Jiang’s lips opened and closed several times but couldn’t make a sound, only trembling constantly with a panicked expression. Now even Li Shimin sensed something was wrong, “Two physicians, what illness does I have?”

Upon hearing this, Physicians Jiang and Qi immediately prostrated themselves. Finally, Physician Jiang lifted his head slightly and said tremblingly, “Your Majesty suffers from… from… from the epidemic!”

When those final two words entered his ears, Li Shimin’s vision went black. The epidemic… it was actually the epidemic. Did this mean he might die?

Over the years, Li Shimin had repeatedly fought on battlefields, earning the title of God of War. Death… was not distant to him; on the contrary, it had brushed past him several times. To put it bluntly, any soldier who drew the sword at his waist to fight the enemy had to be prepared to die. But he had never imagined that one day he would die from an epidemic!

Liu Hongji bit his tongue hard, using the sharp pain to suppress the panic in his heart, and stared fixedly at Physicians Jiang and Qi, saying, “I don’t care what methods you use, you must cure His Majesty. If His Majesty suffers any mishap, you two will answer with your heads!”

Physicians Jiang and Qi knelt on the ground, not daring to speak or plead for themselves. No one knew better than they how terrifying the epidemic was. Not to mention that medicinal materials were currently insufficient – even if they were complete, there was no certainty of success!

Over there, Li Shimin had calmed down somewhat and said, “Didn’t I already drink the medicine you brought? Why would I still contract the epidemic?”

Physician Qi said with a bitter face, “In response to Your Majesty, the medicine I brought earlier can only prevent epidemic transmission but cannot provide treatment. Observing Your Majesty’s condition… you should have been infected before this, so although you took medicine afterward, it was of no use.” After a pause, he raised his head and said carefully, “May I ask Your Majesty, have you been to any unusual places these past few days, or perhaps touched anything? If we can find the source, we ministers would have greater confidence in treatment.”