Smallpox

Chengqian Palace was one of the Eastern Six Palaces, and foremost among them. Its very name made it clear that the consort living there must be a favorite of the emperor.

Chengqian-to follow and uphold the will of Heaven!

Sunset clouds spread across the sky, and the dying sunlight shone on the glazed roof tiles, bathing the entire palace in something like a sacred glow.

Children's laughter drifted from the palace on the wind. A passing cat took fright, leaped down from the palace wall, and vanished who knew where.

A smile touched Zhu Youjian's lips, and he stepped inside.

The courtyard was spacious, with several pear trees planted on its eastern side. Their bare branches only deepened the bleakness now, but come spring, they would surely offer a scene of "unpatterned white brocade, fragrant blossoms in profusion; jade trees and jeweled flowers heaped with snow."

"Father! Father!"

Several boys playing in the courtyard saw Zhu Youjian and ran over. One looked barely two years old, wobbling along on his short little legs. Bundled in thick winter clothes, he looked just like a roly-poly toy.

"Oh, slow down! Your father isn't going anywhere!" Zhu Youjian could not help crouching down and opening his arms, catching the boys as they threw themselves into his embrace.

Judging by this reception, Emperor Chongzhen certainly played favorites! The Empress's children reacted to him like mice encountering a cat. Their trembling fear was pitiful to behold.

But these boys showed no trace of fear. Their eyes were full of laughter, just like ordinary sons greeting their father.

The palm and the back of the hand were both flesh-but even flesh could be thicker in some places than others!

"All right, all right, your father can't even walk now. Down you all get!" Consort Tian Lifen emerged from the hall with a smile and nodded to Begonia. The three princes' wet nurses immediately came over from beneath the covered walkway, took the little princes by the hand, and led them a few steps away.

"It's all right." Zhu Youjian rose with a smile. "Thank you for all your hard work looking after three children!"

"What hardship could there be for me? I feel only joy!"

The two took the children into the hall. Begonia ordered the meal served, and before long, several simple dishes were brought out.

They were delicately prepared, but a closer look revealed scarcely a drop of oil or fat.

Zhu Youjian frowned and looked at the three princes seated neatly at the table. "They're still little, still growing. Is this all they eat?"

Consort Tian Lifen was taken aback. Food and supplies were scarce in the palace, and the fighting at the front was urgent. Upon learning that His Majesty would be dining here today, she had already sent someone to make arrangements with the imperial kitchen for a few meat dishes.

Besides, the Empress had previously asked the women of the palace to contribute their silver and jewelry. There was not enough silver left to add extra dishes.

Seeing Consort Tian Lifen's expression, Zhu Youjian understood. In the end, it all came down to one word: poverty.

He sighed and stroked the little head of the youngest, Zhu Cican. The boy was too young to understand what his parents were saying. He only knew it was time to eat and was waiting for his father to pick up his chopsticks.

Zhu Cican stared at the few slices of meat and swallowed, then grinned at Zhu Youjian. "Father, I'm hungry!"

"Go ahead!" Zhu Youjian drew Consort Tian Lifen down into her seat, picked up his chopsticks, and placed a thin slice of meat in Zhu Cican's bowl.

"Thank you, Father!" A grain of rice still clung to Zhu Cican's lip. Delighted at the sight of the meat, he popped it into his mouth.

As emperor, Zhu Youjian naturally ate far better than his consorts. They had scrimped on food and clothing before because there was no silver, but things were different now. The Imperial Treasury had money!

However hard life became, the children should never have to suffer!

If things were like this even for Consort Tian Lifen, the other consorts' circumstances must be much the same, if not worse.

The food in the palace needs improving!

At that moment, Zhu Youjian was not the only one worrying about food.

At Prince De's Residence in Jinan, Dorgon had gathered several commanders to discuss provisions.

Dorgon sat in the central seat in the hall, his expression grave. Below him sat a pale-faced Yoto and a dark-faced Hao Ge.

Yoto was pale because he was unwell. Hao Ge's face was dark because his defeat at Hu Dawei's hands had cost him face.

Dorgon glanced at the pair, and a profound sense of helplessness welled up within him.

But he was the commander. His every action would affect the morale of the more than thirty thousand men in the city. Forcing himself to remain calm, Dorgon asked, "Have you found any food?"

Once he learned they were besieged, Dorgon had ordered the soldiers to search thoroughly, overlooking nothing that could be eaten.

"We found some pickled vegetables and cured meat in a few houses, but not much," Yoto replied.

Dorgon pinched the bridge of his nose. Looking up, he noticed a painting hanging on the wall, depicting the beautiful scenery of Jinan's Great Ming Lake.

A lake...

"Send men to catch fish in Great Ming Lake!"

"Fish? How are fish supposed to fill our bellies?" Hao Ge muttered discontentedly from the side.

"Then what do you suggest?" Dorgon was already seething, and Hao Ge's attitude only sharpened his impatience. He slammed the table and roared at him.

"You're the commander! Why are you asking me?" Enraged that Dorgon dared slam the table at him, Hao Ge sprang to his feet and shouted, "You ordered us into the city, and now look! We're all trapped here. Let's see how you explain this to my imperial father when you get back!"

"That is my affair, and it is not your place to interfere!" Dorgon thought that whether they could return at all was still in doubt. If they could not, he would slaughter Hao Ge first thing.

Yoto listened to the pounding of his own heart. The two men's quarrel crashed into his ears, and his head began to ache as well.

He stood, intending to tell them to stop arguing, but his vision suddenly went black. His body swayed beyond his control, and then he collapsed.

"Yoto? Fetch the army physician, quickly!"

Yoto sank into darkness as though drowning. Gradually, he felt cold all over, yet every part of him seemed to hurt.

His head hurt, his back hurt, his hands and feet hurt. His whole body hurt!

What is happening to me?

Yoto drifted in a daze. Voices faintly reached his ears. What were they saying...?

Small... small...

Smallpox!

Could I have caught smallpox?

Beside Yoto's bed, the army physician pointed at the small spots appearing on his face, his own expression troubled. "It is indeed smallpox. The rash has already appeared. There is nothing we can do at present except let His Highness rest in bed, and then... then see..."

Did that mean they were to leave his fate to Heaven?

Dorgon kicked him viciously. "You insolent slave! Instead of finding a way to treat him properly, you tell me to wait and see? See what? What use are you to me in this army? I might as well cut off your head and feed it to the dogs!"

"Spare me, Your Highness! Spare me!"

The physician rolled over and knelt before Dorgon. Dorgon was a military man and had held nothing back in that kick. The physician felt as though his bones were about to snap, but he did not dare rub the injury now. Enduring the pain, he kowtowed over and over.

"I will do everything I can! Everything I can! Spare me, Your Highness!"

Upon hearing that Yoto had smallpox, Hao Ge had already moved farther away from the bed.

What kind of illness was smallpox? A deadly one-a plague!

His imperial father feared the thing so much that every campaign beyond the passes took place in winter. He had even ordered that, should they encounter Ming troops with pox eruptions, soldiers and officers who had never had smallpox were to disperse immediately.

And now Yoto had caught it, while they were trapped in this city. Were they not doomed?

No, I have to leave Jinan. I must get out of this cursed place!

Dorgon turned and caught sight of Hao Ge's wretched expression. He immediately barked, "Word of Yoto's illness must not get out. If you shake the army's morale, I'll cut off your head, even if you are the emperor's eldest son!"

Hao Ge's eyes remained fixed on Yoto. He had not heard a word Dorgon said and merely nodded instinctively.

It was the first time Dorgon had seen Hao Ge so obedient. Reflecting that he was young, after all, and fear was only natural, he continued, "Now that Yoto has contracted this disease, we have even less reason to sit here waiting for death. We must find a way out of the city and call for reinforcements!"