Wen Yanran had already sat up.
At that time, the imperial physicians were under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Household. Upon receiving the news, to avoid any delay, Chi Yi directly issued a written order to dispatch doctors to the southern regions.
Just then, a notification flashed before Wen Yanran’s eyes.
[System:
Several generals in the south have suddenly fallen ill. Regional [Stability] -2.]
[System:
The leader of the Qingyi tribe has suddenly fallen ill. Regional [Stability] -3.]
[System:
Side quest [The Never-Ending Years of the Protagonist] has begun. Wishing you a pleasant gaming experience.]
In the original version of Monarch’s Conquest, players could view the stability values of various regions – though in Guide to Becoming a Tyrant, these figures were deliberately obscured.
This message shouldn’t have appeared either, yet as Wen Yanran’s rule grew increasingly stable, the game’s built-in emergency protocols gradually activated. The system began subtly prompting its host, trying to steer them from straying too far off course.
Wen Yanran’s gaze fixed on the notification before her.
Ever since her ascension to the throne, she had encountered a steady stream of adverse events – including, but not limited to, assassination attempts by those close to her and rebellions stirred by powerful figures in distant lands. Yet aside from the very early days of her reign, the system had offered few overt warnings.
Those initial alerts could be chalked up to consideration for a novice player. But now, a prompt appearing meant only one thing: this matter was truly significant.
Wen Yanran thought to herself that the system was most likely hinting that she must find a way to resolve the illness plaguing those in the southern lands. After all, by the late stages of her reign, when the Central Plains were in turmoil, Xiao Xichi, backed by the Qingyi tribe, would naturally be able to carve out her own domain swiftly, objectively escalating the chaos across the realm.
Even without the system’s emphasis, she had already intended to take action. Guide to Becoming a Tyrant was probably concerned that she might focus only on the immediate turmoil while overlooking the long-term hidden danger, hence the additional prompt.
From outside the tent, the attendants heard the Sovereign’s voice. “Where is the messenger who brought the news? Summon him immediately.”
Chi Yi knelt upright before the couch, bowed deeply, and spoke with sincere earnestness. “The envoy has just rushed from the southern lands and may unavoidably carry the taint of illness. Would Your Majesty not consider sending someone else to inquire on your behalf?”
The concept of contagion existed in this era. Although people did not yet understand the principles of disease transmission, they were aware that those in contact with the sick could also fall ill. In truth, the messenger had traveled from the south to the capital and then all the way to the Northern Park without falling sick over many days, making it unlikely he carried the illness. However, with the weight of state affairs resting entirely on the sovereign, Chi Yi dared not take any risk, erring on the side of caution.
Wen Yanran glanced at Chi Yi and, seeing no need to insist, offered a slight smile. “How meticulous you are,” she remarked. Then she added, “Very well, send someone to question. Ensure every word and phrase is relayed precisely, with nothing omitted or misstated.”
Chi Yi bowed once more and conveyed the Emperor’s orders. She had already dispatched a medical officer to attend to the messenger who brought news from the south, and Xiu Zhui had volunteered to go personally and assist in his care.
Xiu Zhui was a young eunuch under Zhang Luo’s command. As the authority of Chi Yi and Zhang Luo grew with each passing day, they had begun to cultivate assistants to share their mounting workload.
“…According to the local physicians, General Wen’s symptoms include fever, chills, profuse sweating, and coughing. Several doses of medicine were administered, and though there was slight improvement in between, the fever soon returned.”
Wen Yanran asked, “What of the others in the rear camp? How many have fallen ill?”
According to the messenger, quite a number of people had fallen ill this time. Although Wen Xun was sick, her mind remained clear. She immediately halted all activities in the rear camp, isolated the patients for dedicated care, and restricted the movement of personnel within the camp. Up until the messenger’s departure, there had been no sign of the illness spreading.
Wen Yanran’s gaze sharpened slightly, and then she said, “Summon all the skilled physicians in the capital.” She added, “Also, ask that messenger what General Wen and the others have been doing recently.”
The messenger’s reply came quickly: There had been no military engagements lately, and the troops in the rear camp had mainly been resting and recuperating, engaging in no particular activities. As for Wen Xun herself, her family had been poor in her early years, and even after rising to a position of responsibility, she maintained her simple, frugal habits. She did not indulge in leisure or entertainment in private, but instead continued to share both hardships and comforts with the soldiers.
