Chapter 23 1. Li Lianying's head tied on Empress Dowager Cixi's belt (1)

"The slave's head is tied to the master's belt day and night."... Li Lianying sacrificed herself to try "foreign medicine tablets" for Lafayette herself. Firmer? It is an early summer morning.The sun has just risen above the horizon, flickering in the sea of ​​clouds, sometimes dyeing the clouds red, and sometimes a few blood-red rays of sunlight shine through the gaps in the clouds, making the gaps in the clouds look like a blood-red gap.The soft breeze blows through the weeping willow trees on both sides of the street, and the weeping willow branches sway gracefully, and then blow on the faces of early risers, making people feel itchy and quite comfortable.

At this time, a large group of people were already standing in front of Shenwumen, the north gate of the Forbidden City.A leading eunuch yelled at a dozen or so junior eunuchs under him and two imperial doctors in the palace, and they were carefully checking the people who entered the Forbidden City through Shenwumen.After checking one, let one go, and then check the second, third... "What are they doing?" Some good-natured people gathered around and asked each other curiously when they saw that among the inspected, some were stopped from time to time and refused to let them go, and went back dejectedly.

"Don't you know there's a falciparum malaria epidemic going on right now?" "Of course I know. I heard that many people have already got it. Could it be that they have something to do with it?" "Of course it does." "Presumably they're checking for malaria?" "You're pretty smart. But you're not quite right. To be precise, they're checking people for malaria. Once they're found out, they won't let you into the palace until they're cured." "why?" "I'm afraid of infecting other people. Think about it, the emperor and Lafayette live in the Forbidden City today, and if they are infected, is that okay?"

"Hey! Do you know that person?" One person pointed to the head eunuch and asked the other. "I don't know. Judging by his style, he has a lot of background. Who is he?" "Let me tell you, he is Li Lianying's most capable general, the chief eunuch today, and his name is Li Sanshun." "Oh, my fellow! It was him!" "Hush! Keep your voice down! You've got a few heads and you don't want to live, do you? Let him hear it and still have your life?" "..." The birthplace of this falciparum malaria is a tiny village in the Indian province of Punjab.It is a highly contagious disease, and it spreads very quickly.If the air flow is good, it can infect hundreds of miles a day, or even hundreds of miles.Since the first patient was discovered in that small village, this type of falciparum malaria has spread rapidly in India, and within a month, it has spread to the whole of India, and from India to the whole of Southeast Asia.Later, it spread rapidly to the south of my country through the southwest monsoon on the Indian Ocean in summer.A month later, the first case of malaria was also found in the capital, and it has appeared frequently since then.

This kind of falciparum malaria is characterized by a long incubation period in the human body after infection and severe attacks.Generally, after infection, it usually lasts for more than ten days before the onset; and once the onset occurs, although the symptoms are similar to the usual malaria, the severity is more terrible than the usual malaria.When it gets hot and cold, it’s hot and cold. When it’s cold, it makes people feel like they’ve entered the cold winter, and they’ll shiver when they get under the three-layer quilt; and once it gets hot, it’s like they’ve entered the scorching heat. In midsummer, people can't wait to peel off a layer of skin to release a little heat.The reason for this is that this kind of cold and heat comes from the inside of the human body, and is not affected by the outside temperature at all.This has been going on for a month, and it really makes people unable to eat, sleep well, survive, and die.If the patient is well taken care of, although he will not be killed, after a month, he will still be skinny.So after this disease appeared in the capital, people spread it to ten, ten to hundreds, and discussed it one after another.

"I heard that this disease was brought from India. There are so many bones in India that there are almost no bones left." A man wearing thick reading glasses said that he seemed to be a teacher. "Oh, you don't know what it's like for people with this disease. It's so scary! If I get this disease, I'd rather die at once than stay in the world and suffer." An elderly man shrugged. , said in an almost trembling voice, probably having seen such a patient with his own eyes. "I heard it's popular in the capital now. Let's hide somewhere else, maybe we can avoid this disaster," a young man said slowly, his expression was very depressed, but he showed his desire for life, " It's better than staying here and waiting to die or suffer?"

"Stop dreaming, this disease is spreading everywhere now, where else can you hide? If you escape the first day of junior high school, can you escape the fifteenth day?You can still run away from the temple after hiding from the monk?Resign yourself to fate! "A middle-aged man who seemed to have seen the world said nonchalantly, but there was a blank expression on his face. The young man lowered his head and remained silent. ... Of course, those people living in the Forbidden City would not be ignorant of such a big event.First, there was a lot of discussion among the maids and eunuchs, and then it gradually reached Li Lianying's ears. "Could it be someone else is plotting against me?" Li Lianying thought secretly, wanting to understand what was going on, so she called Li Sanshun.

"San Shun, have you heard of all the discussions in the palace these days?" Li Lianying asked. "I've heard some, but I don't know which one the master said?" Li Sanshun blinked at Li Lianying with sly eyes, not knowing what Li Lianying had heard outside. "It's that sickness." Li Lianying said, leaning back on the chair. "Back to my master, I dare not speak nonsense." Li Sanshun replied.According to the rules established in the palace long ago, it is not allowed to spread rumors indiscriminately.If you catch the rumormonger, you will be punished.

"But it's okay to say." "That's right," Li Sanshun replied slowly after seeing what Li Lianying said. He heard that there was a kind of infectious disease outside. It was called falciparum malaria, and it seemed to have come from India.The attack of this kind of disease is very severe. It is said that the attack lasts for about a month. Even if the person who has the disease does not die, it is said that it will be a serious injury. " "How many people have this disease?" Li Lianying asked again. "I heard that hundreds of people have already got it. Because it came so suddenly, there is no medicine in the pharmacy that can cure this disease." Li Sanshun replied.

"Is someone dead?" Li Lianying continued to ask. "I haven't heard of dead people yet. It will automatically heal after a month of onset. But... After a month, the sick people are all skinny, which is really scary. " Li Sanshun replied while gesticulating. "Go down first," Li Lianying waved her hand, and said to Li Sanshun, "Come back and report to me anytime you hear anything." "Yes, master!" Li Sanshun slowly retreated to the door, turned around and went out. After Li Sanshun left, Li Lianying sat there blankly for a while.Suddenly, he saw his gloomy eyeballs bulge, and at the same time he slapped his thigh happily, and said to himself: "Okay, let's do it like this!" A plan to please Empress Dowager Cixi was formed in his mind.

The next day, the weather was not very sunny, and it was raining. Although it was a bit muggy, the occasional cool breeze made people more comfortable.But Empress Dowager Cixi was in a very cheerful mood. Empress Dowager Cixi returned to Chuxiu Palace after dinner.Li Lianying and a group of personal maids hurried up, waiting for the Empress Dowager Cixi's order. The Empress Dowager Cixi sat on the kang and looked at the cigarette pot next to her. Li Lianying and her maid knew that Lafayette wanted to smoke.Empress Dowager Cixi does not like to smoke dry tobacco, which is commonly known as Kanto tobacco.I like to smoke hookah after meals, but the palace doesn't like to hear the word hookah, which is a taboo, thinking that it means "watery flowers".This kind of shredded tobacco is slender and has a kind of aroma. It is a tribute from the south, and it is all wrapped in green paper.Probably because of the turquoise paper bag, people in Chuxiu Palace call this hookah "green bar". Chunxiang, a court lady close to her, walked up quickly, took out a scythe, arranged the flint and thin wool, and took out two pre-filled hookahs.This kind of hookah pipe is very long, so it is called "crane leg pipe".When smoking, the Empress Dowager Cixi smoked one pot and changed another pot until she was addicted to smoking. There was no interruption in the middle, so there were two cigarette bags and pots. When everything was ready, Chunxiang turned her face away, and lightly stroked the flint with the fire scythe. After the tinder was lit, she stuck it on the paper brow, blew with her mouth, and held the fire upside down, holding it lightly. Gently rubbed it with your hands, turned around, took up the cigarette pouch with one hand, and brought it to the front of the Empress Dowager Cixi's mouth about an inch away.The Empress Dowager Cixi closed her eyes gently, tilted her head forward slightly, held the cigarette holder in her mouth, took a deep breath, and then spit out the cigarette again.Immediately, the room was filled with a slightly spicy tobacco smell. After about seven or eight pots like this, the Empress Dowager Cixi slowly opened her eyes, waved to the maids next to her, and signaled them to back down.When only Li Lianying was left in the room, the Empress Dowager Cixi smiled at him and said, "Xiao Lizi, what are you going to do to make me happy today?" Li Lianying had already stood by the side for a long time, and was already impatient to wait. Seeing Cixi asking him, she hurriedly walked forward and said, "Lafayette, the slave is not here today, as she gently patted Cixi's back." What a happy way. However, I can make you a bet, I can assure you that you will lose." "Hey! Are you so confident?" Seeing what he said, Cixi couldn't help showing a strong interest in this matter. Tell me first, what kind of bet are you going to bet with me? " "My servant will tell you a joke," said Li Lianying, "this joke will not only make you laugh, but also make you laugh out loud. If you can't laugh out loud, you've won; if you can hear you laugh out loud If it comes, then the slave will win. Just make this bet, how about it?" Seeing what he said, Cixi was relieved. "Just bet on this, what do I think I'm betting on?" Cixi thought in her heart, "I'll just hold back my smile, let's see what else you can do to me? You will definitely lose when the time comes, so I've made a deal with you on this bet." Now." Thinking of this, Cixi looked at Li Lianying with a smile, and said, "Okay, I'll make a bet with you. Let's make a deal." Judging from Cixi's tone, they looked like a mother and child. "But, tell me, what are we betting on?" "If you Lafayette lose, I only ask you to agree to one thing." Li Lianying said mysteriously when Cixi agreed to the bet. "Then you have to tell me first what kind of thing you asked me to agree to." Cixi felt that as the queen mother of a country who listened to politics behind the curtain, she could not agree to things casually, so she said to Li Lianying. "I can't tell you about this in advance, but it will definitely not be a big deal. You can rest assured." Li Lianying said anxiously. "Okay, if I lose, I promise you." Seeing what he said, Cixi felt relieved. "Now it's up to you, Lafayette, if the slave loses, what conditions do you have?" Seeing that Cixi finally agreed, Li Lianying let out a long breath and said happily. Empress Dowager Cixi thought for a while, and felt that she had nothing to ask a slave; even if she asked a slave, she would lose her identity if she said it.I bet with him for nothing more than to have fun, relax my nerves that have been tense when dealing with political affairs, and relieve a little fatigue. "If you lose, just learn how to bark three times. However, you must pretend to be a dog when learning." Cixi finally spoke. "Yes, if the slave loses, the slave will bark like a dog." Li Lianying readily agreed.In fact, learning how to bark like a dog is nothing to Li Lianying. As long as she can please Empress Dowager Cixi, Li Lianying can do anything. "Then tell your jokes quickly!" The Empress Dowager Cixi was a little impatient to hear the jokes. "My slave will tell you a story about a silly son. I'm sure you won't laugh after hearing it." Li Lianying looked at Cixi and said, "Once upon a time there was an official who had to travel a long way because of some business. Before he left, he sent his son away." Called and asked: "Son, Dad is going on a long trip now, and I'm afraid he won't be able to come back for a few days. If a guest comes to ask your dad within a few days, you can say: "I'm going out for a small matter, please come in and worship tea." The official knew that his son was not good enough, and he was afraid that he would not be able to think of it temporarily, so he was still a little worried. Finally, he came up with an idea, wrote these two sentences on a piece of paper, gave it to his son, and asked him to read it to his face. Go out for small things twice, please come in and worship tea. Go out for small things, please come in and worship tea, and then leave with confidence. "The son put the note in his cuff, took it out from time to time, and read it twice. No one came on the first day, no one came on the second day, and no one came until the third day. At night, the son took the note out of his cuff again, and after reading it twice, he thought the note was useless, so he burned the note on the lamp." When Li Lianying said this, she glanced at Cixi, and saw that Cixi was listening carefully, but she didn't respond, so she continued to speak: "That's the problem. Unexpectedly, on the fourth day, a guest came suddenly. As soon as he entered the door, he asked the son, "Where did your father go?" When the son became nervous, he couldn't remember anything, so he hurriedly looked for the note in his cuff, but of course he couldn't find it. He said, "No more! This guest He was very surprised when he heard it, and quickly asked: "Why, your father is gone? When did he disappear?" The silly son replied: "It burned last night." When Cixi heard this, she couldn't help it anymore, and just about to laugh out loud, she suddenly remembered the bet she had made with Li Lianying, and hurriedly covered her mouth with her hand, trying not to laugh out loud.Seeing that Cixi didn't laugh out loud, Li Lianying became anxious, and quickly lay down in front of Cixi, shaking her head and shaking her slumped butt at the same time, pretending to be a dog wagging its head and tail, and kept looking at Cixi. "Wow, woof, woof".This time Cixi couldn't bear it anymore, so she laughed "heh, heh". Seeing this, Li Lianying hurriedly got up and said to Cixi: "Lafayette, you have lost! Lafayette, you have lost! You have to promise this slave one thing." "Why did I lose? I didn't laugh out loud after you told the joke. I only laughed after you learned how to bark like a dog. How could it be considered a loss? Aren't you cheating?" Cixi laughed even louder at this time Yes, he said to Li Lianying in a joking tone. "It was you, Lafayette, who lost! You only laughed after hearing the slave's joke." Li Lianying continued to argue. "Sophistry! Give me a slap!" Cixi pretended to be angry. "A slave deserves ten thousand deaths! A slave deserves ten thousand deaths! Please forgive me!" Li Lianying knew that Cixi was pretending to be angry, so she quickly knelt down in front of Cixi and kowtowed for mercy. "Get up, there's nothing wrong, look at the way you're scared!" This is what Cixi wanted, and now that the goal has been achieved, she is satisfied. Li Lianying quickly got up, stood beside Cixi, and said to herself: "This matter is over, but it concerns Lafayette! Oh, what should I do?" When the Empress Dowager Cixi heard Li Lianying say that this matter was related to her, she suddenly became interested again. "Little Li, what are you talking about? You say this matter concerns me?" "Of course it has something to do with Lafayette. But since you don't agree, Lafayette, then I won't say anything." Li Lianying said cryptically. "Tell me what's going on first, let me listen." Now Cixi urged Li Lianying to speak. "It's okay to let the slave say it, but after the slave says it, don't be afraid, Lafayette." "Of course I won't be afraid." The Empress Dowager Cixi became more interested. "My servant first asks you, there is an infectious disease circulating outside the palace, do you know it?" "What infectious disease? Is it serious?" Cixi said anxiously when she heard this, with a look of fear on her face, although she said she was not afraid.For an elderly person like Cixi, what he fears most is getting sick.Once you get sick, maybe there will be troubles at any time.Indeed, what Cixi is most afraid of is her own illness, and her body is usually the best maintained.On the one hand, this is because Cixi hopes to live a long life, which is also human nature; there is also a more important reason here is that Cixi does not want others to see herself as a weak woman, and does not want others to see that she is sick because of illness. Lying in bed and unable to deal with political affairs. So when Li Lianying said that an infectious disease was spreading outside, Cixi seemed quite frightened. "It's a severe form of malaria. As for whether it's severe or not, how do you say it? If you say it's serious, it won't kill you; if you say it's not serious, you'll suffer a lot physically if you get sick. But , after getting sick, it's hot and cold, which makes people feel very uncomfortable." "What kind of uncomfortable method?" "It gets so hot that even with a single layer it feels like a fire, and when it's cold it's so cold that even with a three-layer fur coat it feels like it's going straight to the bone Take cold air. In this way, of course people will not be able to eat well, sleep well, and of course the body will be damaged." Li Lianying tried to explain this tragedy clearly, and also tried to put it tactfully. As for making Cixi feel harsh. "How is it popular outside?" Cixi only thought about this disease, not what kind of words Li Lianying used to express it. "Many people outside have gotten this disease, and I heard that some people who have contact with the palace have also got this disease." "We have to find a way to prevent this disease from being transmitted to the palace again. If an old man like me gets that disease--" Cixi found that she had slipped her mouth when she said this He said casually, "Why don't you think of a way for me?" "The slave is also worried about Lafayette!" Li Lianying said, "Let the slave think about it carefully, what method should we use?" "Hey, there it is!" Li Lianying suddenly clapped her hands and shouted loudly. "Say it quickly! What solution did you come up with?" Cixi asked impatiently. "It can be done like this," Li Lianying finally said slowly, "We can send people to close all the east, west, and south gates of the palace, leaving only one north gate. Then Two imperial doctors were sent to the north gate to check the people who came and went one by one, and those who were found to be suspected of malaria were forbidden to be allowed to enter the palace. In this case, wouldn’t infectious diseases be contagious? " Li Lianying said so, and some with their own considerations.On the one hand, Li Lianying wanted to please Cixi through this incident, and on the other hand, it could also prevent the infection of herself.Now I am loved by Cixi in every possible way, once I get seriously ill, even if I am alive and skinny, I will never win Cixi's favor again. "That's a good idea," Cixi said after thinking about it, "but who will be assigned to handle this matter?" "Li Sanshun is also very good, and has a strong ability to handle affairs. According to the slave, I can just send him to handle it." "Well, that's the only way to do it." Empress Dowager Cixi said with the final word. The next day, Empress Dowager Cixi issued an edict, roughly meaning: Due to the prevalence of infectious diseases, starting today, the east, west, and south gates of the palace will be temporarily closed.A checkpoint was set up at the north gate, and anyone who was found to have hidden dangers of infectious diseases was prohibited from entering the Forbidden City, so as to prevent the spread of infectious diseases in the palace.Li Sanshun is solely responsible for all affairs, big or small.And explain that this is just a stopgap measure, and the ban will be lifted naturally once the epidemic period is over.The task of checking the people coming and going is the specific responsibility of the two imperial doctors in the palace. However, under the protection of such strict measures, the spread of falciparum malaria to the palace was not stopped.The Empress Dowager Cixi and Li Lianying only knew that the infection could be avoided by avoiding contact with the sick, but how did they know that germs could also be transmitted through the flow and contact of the air.As long as they can't completely surround the Forbidden City, the prevalence of falciparum malaria in the palace is inevitable.In fact, although people like the Empress Dowager Cixi and Li Lianying can cover the sky with one hand and can turn their hands into clouds and rain, it is absolutely impossible for them to do this. A few days later, a young eunuch in the palace suddenly felt unwell all over, and then fell ill with fits of cold and heat.The little eunuch also knew that falciparum malaria was prevalent outside, and knew a thing or two about its symptoms, so he guessed that he might be infected, but he dared not say it.Would it be strange to say that he didn't lose his job? The young eunuchs who were with him saw that he was always sneaky these days, hiding in the house alone when he was free, so they couldn't help becoming suspicious. "Is this kid up to some tricks?" said one of them. "We should pay attention to him, don't let him play us." Another said. The next time the little eunuch closed the door and stayed alone in the room, these little eunuchs started to act.They sneaked under the window.The windows were too high to see what was going on inside. "Come on, you carry me on your back, I'll go up and have a look." A skinny man said to a fatter eunuch. The thin man stepped on the fat man's shoulders and slowly climbed up.He first licked the window paper with his tongue, and then poked it with his index finger, and a hole the size of a copper coin was exposed in the window paper.The thin man followed the small hole and looked inside. "What did you see?" asked a little eunuch next to him. "Shh!" The thin man waved his hands to the people below, then looked inside again. "I said big brother, can you hurry up, I really can't stand it down there!" The fat man panted from below. After touching like this for about ten minutes, the thin man motioned to the bottom to come down. "What did you see? Tell us about it." As soon as the thin man got down, several companions surrounded him and asked. "Don't worry, I'll tell you when I get back." The thin man said calmly. On the way back, the companion once again asked the thin man to tell everyone what he saw.At this time, the thin man couldn't help but want to tell everyone what he saw. "Guess what I saw?" the thin man pretended to be mysterious, "I first saw him sitting on a chair, shaking a fan desperately in his hand, and yelling, "Oh, damn it!" Yes, why is it so hot? However, after a while, he got under the quilt. Do you think this is strange?" "I think he probably has malaria. There's malaria out there, do you know?" said one of the companions. "Hey, yes, it's malaria, I'm absolutely sure." The other said in a non-negotiable tone. "I've also heard that the attack is hot and cold. Could it be that he is having an attack?" another asked. "The investigation of malaria is being carried out very closely now, so as not to spread it in the palace. He has this disease now, and we will be implicated if we don't report it." A seemingly timid person said. "Yes, we should report it." Another echoed. "Let's report together." They said almost in unison. If such a big event happened, who would dare to delay it!The report went up level by level, and it reached Li Lianying's ears in less than an hour.It was naturally Li Sanshun who reported this to Li Lianying. "Ah! What's the matter?" Li Lianying was sitting on the grand teacher's chair with her eyes closed and rested. After listening to Li Sanshun's report, she stood up from the grand teacher's chair and stammered, "Why...how did this happen? What? Didn't you lead people to check one by one at the north gate?" "The small ones are checked one by one," Li Sanshun answered Li Lianying's question cautiously, "However, after this incident, I heard from the people under them that even if no patient enters the palace, sooner or later it will be passed on." From the palace, some things are always unpredictable." "Oh, how can I ask Lafayette for this?" Li Lianying paced back and forth in the room impatiently, seeing that Li Sanshun was still standing by, she raised her hand and said to him, "You go down first!" After Li Sanshun left, Li Lianying really fell into distress: This matter was planned by herself, but it didn't work now. Will Lafayette blame herself?Thinking of this, he couldn't help scolding the little eunuch: "You son of a bitch! It's nothing to cause trouble!" But can the little eunuch be blamed?No one wants to get sick, and everyone wants to live well. He couldn't help feeling sorry for that little eunuch again. He had to suffer this unexpected illness secretly, but he didn't dare to tell it, and he couldn't get any care from others; he was locked in the deep palace, Even the family members are not allowed to meet each other, let alone get the care and care of the family members.Thinking back then, didn’t I climb from this position step by step to the current throne of chief eunuch? The more Li Lianying thought about it, the more she forgot what she was thinking about.When he suddenly returned to his original thoughts, he couldn't help but sighed heavily again: "Hey, accompanying you is like accompanying a tiger!" After much deliberation, Li Lianying did not come up with a perfect plan to report this matter to Cixi. "Let's see how Lafayette reacts before deciding what to do!" In the afternoon, Li Lianying finally found the opportunity to report the matter to Empress Dowager Cixi. The Empress Dowager Cixi finally succeeded in forcing Emperor Guangxu's father, Prince Chun Yixuan, to agree to allocate naval military expenditures to build the Summer Palace.After returning to Chuxiu Palace, he was still in high spirits. Li Lianying stepped forward to meet her, flicked her sleeves "shua shua" and said, "Slave pays respects to Lafayette!" "Get up, little Lizi!" Empress Dowager Cixi said with a red face and a smile. "What makes you so happy today, Lafayette? Do you want a slave to congratulate you?" "Use the Navy's funds to build the Summer Palace. Ha, then I won't have to work as hard as I do now. At that time, we'll all move in, enjoy our happiness and be happy." Li Lianying also heard about the construction of the Summer Palace.He knew that the Empress Dowager Cixi was very busy with the funding for the construction of the Summer Palace in the past few days.Naturally, I am very happy to have solved the funding problem today. "My servant congratulates Lafayette!" Li Lianying hurriedly knelt in front of Empress Dowager Cixi's feet and kowtowed, "This servant is waiting to receive Lafayette's reward!" "Here, take it!" The Empress Dowager Cixi was in a particularly good mood today, and she seemed very generous.She took out an ingot of ten taels of silver and handed it to Li Lianying, saying, "Take it and have fun with them!" The "they" that Empress Dowager Cixi said refers to a group of young eunuchs under Li Lianying. "Lafayette, my slave has something to report to Lafayette." Li Lianying got up from the ground, put the money in her arms, and felt that it was time to tell the Empress Dowager Cixi about that matter.Li Lianying knew that to speak to the Empress Dowager Cixi, she had to wait until the Empress Dowager Cixi was in a good mood.Bad things can turn out to be good when you are in a good mood, and even good things can get out of hand when you are in a bad mood. "What's the matter with you, just speak up!" "Yes, Lafayette. Now there is an infectious disease in the palace, and the servant just heard the report from the people below." Li Lianying was very careful when speaking carefully. "What, what did you say? There was an infectious disease in the palace? Didn't they check one by one at the north gate? Who the hell is it?" Empress Dowager Cixi said so much in one breath, the smile on her face just now disappeared, replaced by A look of panic and even annoyance.It seemed that there was no cloud in the sky just now, and the sun was shining all over, but after a while, there were lightning, thunder, and heavy rain. Li Lianying was terrified when he heard that, he knew that today might be a bad day.But the Empress Dowager Cixi's questions can't be answered without answering. "Yes...it's a little eunuch," Li Lianying murmured, "They were checked one by one at the north gate. There may be another way of infection besides contact." "A little eunuch! Immediately drive him out of the palace and never let him in again!" Empress Dowager Cixi almost screamed. "Yes, I'll do it now, slave!" Li Lianying was looking for a chance to escape, when she saw what the Empress Dowager Cixi said, she immediately walked out. Empress Dowager Cixi did not blame Li Lianying, she also knew that Li Lianying had done her best, and it was useless to blame. "Severe infectious diseases, falciparum malaria, a young eunuch, skinny." After Li Lianying left, all these scenes appeared in front of Empress Dowager Cixi.The more she thought about it, the more frightened she became, as if a catastrophe was imminent. Li Lianying came out of Chuxiu Palace, quickly summoned Li Sanshun, and conveyed the order of Empress Dowager Cixi: expel the sick little eunuch from the palace as soon as possible, and never use it again. "Yes, Master!" Li Sanshun replied, turned around and wanted to leave. "Hey, wait!" Li Lianying stopped him again, and took out from her waist a piece of silver that the Empress Dowager Cixi had just rewarded him, and handed it to Li Sanshun, "Give this to him. If anyone treats him wrong If it's okay, I'll ask you when I come back." "Yes, master, I will do as you tell me." After the little eunuch was sent out of the palace, he returned home.Under the care of his family, the malaria disease gradually recovered, but his body looked very thin.After a year, the body slowly recovered.Later, the little eunuch asked Li Lianying to intercede, and returned to the palace to work again.This is something. I don't know whether it was karma or other reasons, but within two days after the little eunuch was kicked out of the palace, the Empress Dowager Cixi fell ill.Now Li Lianying is very busy.Li Lianying first sent someone to invite the imperial doctor, and then sent someone to the Qianqing Palace to inform Emperor Guangxu.After the imperial doctor arrived, he was diagnosed with falciparum malaria.However, the two imperial doctors were in a hurry, but they still couldn't do anything, because there was no medicine that could cure this disease at that time.Sure enough, after a while, Empress Dowager Cixi began to heat up.Empress Dowager Cixi took off her clothes until only a layer of red satin gown was left, and she was still sweating profusely from the heat. While Li Lianying kept fanning the Empress Dowager Cixi, she kept comforting her. "Lafayette, you are blessed and blessed, and everything will be fine." "Ah," said the Empress Dowager Cixi with a long sigh, "it's unexpected that I still can't escape this disaster. After this illness, maybe what will happen." "Lafayette doesn't have to take it too seriously. As long as you take it easy, it won't take long. Many people get better on their own." Li Lianying used to say that this disease is so serious, but now she is trying her best Playing it down, "A little more adjustment and you'll be back to full health in no time." "I hope so!" Empress Dowager Cixi said weakly. While speaking, Empress Dowager Cixi suddenly felt chills all over her body, the cold piercing through her bones. Li Lianying hurriedly stopped fanning, and helped Lafayette onto the bed with the maid next to her.It was almost midsummer, but the Empress Dowager Cixi was still shivering after covering her with two layers of quilts, so she had to add another layer of quilts. After Emperor Guangxu heard the report from the little eunuch in Qianqing Palace, he trotted over without even having time to prepare the sedan chair, followed by a large group of court ladies and eunuchs. "Dear father!" Emperor Guangxu burst into tears when he saw the Empress Dowager Cixi lying on the bed covered with three layers of quilts, "how could he be so sick? God, why didn't I let me replace my father What about Qubing?" "Don't be stupid, Emperor, the disease is irreplaceable. It's hard that it didn't happen to you. It's God's blessing and your blessing. How can you say that stupid thing?" Empress Dowager Cixi patted Emperor Guangxu's head lovingly, feeling relieved that Emperor Guangxu had such filial piety. "Dear Dad! Kiss Dad!" Emperor Guangxu held Empress Dowager Cixi's cold hand, and heard Empress Dowager Cixi say such words, crying even more sadly.Emperor Guangxu couldn't say anything else, just shouted "Dad" in a loud voice. Empress Dowager Cixi was ill for four or five days.During these four or five days, no matter day or night, the Empress Dowager Cixi was always hot and cold. Not only could she not eat well, but she could not sleep well.When eating, the eunuchs in the imperial dining room sent them to Chuxiu Palace. Although all the delicacies were sent, the Empress Dowager Cixi always ate very little, but Li Lianying gave a lot of food. And what about Li Lianying?Always around the Empress Dowager Cixi, serving the Empress Dowager Cixi.Sometimes he told some jokes to the Empress Dowager Cixi to relieve boredom, and sometimes he picked one or two memorials from ministers that he thought were the most important and reported them to the Empress Dowager Cixi.Sometimes when I was so sleepy that I couldn't bear it anymore, I just sat on a chair with my clothes on and took a nap or two to count as sleep. "Xiao Lizi, my illness has made you hard these few days." Once, the Empress Dowager Cixi looked at Li Lianying's red and swollen eyes and suddenly said emotionally, "When I recover from my illness, I will definitely give you a few days off." , let you take a good rest." "Hey, Lafayette, where did you go? Serving you is the duty of a slave. No matter how hard it is, it should be. I serve you, don't I hope that you, Lafayette, will recover soon and be able to preside over the great affairs of the country?" Li Lianying sounded dignified said. "It's you, little Lizi, who loves me the most and understands me the most. I just don't want these princes and ministers to see me fall ill and not be able to preside over political affairs." Empress Dowager Cixi said. Although the Empress Dowager Cixi received the meticulous care of Li Lianying and a group of maids and eunuchs, she still lost weight day by day.Li Lianying, Emperor Guangxu and a group of princes and ministers were so anxious that they all sent people to seek a good medicine to cure this disease. 正当人们都束手无策之时，庆亲王奕劻突然让人禀报要见慈禧太后，说他找到了一种可以治这种烈性疟疾的药。慈禧太后一听找到了药，当然是求之不得的事，便命小太监赶快去传庆亲王进宫相见。 "你找到了什么药？"慈禧太后躺在病榻上问道。 "芬泰克，是德国制造的一种专治疟疾的药。" "你是如何搞到的？" "臣在前天和德国公使德璀林的一次公事谈话中，曾提到我国正流行一种烈性疟疾，问他是不是他们国家有能治这种病的良药。他说他也知道正流行这种病，并从他们国家带来了一种治这病的药。他还说道这种药正在他的使馆里放着。臣便让他取了一些过来。"庆亲王并没有说是慈禧太后得病，因为慈禧太后并不希望自己的病情被大肆张扬。 "那听你说这种药的疗效你还不知道？" "听德璀林说，来到中国以后这种药他还没有用过。不过，听他说，这种药在印度疗效挺不错的。" "这种药今天你带过来了吗？" "臣带过来了。" "拿来我看看。" 庆亲王便命跟随的人把药带进来。庆亲王接到药以后，便双手托着，举过头顶，恭恭敬敬地把它递给慈禧太后。