Chapter 199 The Plague 2

The atmosphere inside the Lin family mansion was heavy and oppressive.

The air was thick with the smell of medicine, and the servants all looked terrified, walking on tiptoe.

The head of the Imperial Medical Academy, accompanied by his left and right vice-directors and three experienced imperial physicians, arrived at the Lin residence with grave expressions under the supervision of Eunuch Desheng.

Lin Zhijie forced himself to come out to greet them despite his illness. He looked like a candle in the wind, panting after just a few steps, and his face was shrouded in a deathly gray aura.

The treatment has begun.

The imperial physicians took precautions, and only two entered the residence to immediately examine the pulse of Madam Lin, whose condition was considered the "most serious."

When the imperial physician placed his fingers on the wrist with its erratic pulse, his brows furrowed deeper and deeper.

He lifted Madam Lin's eyelids and made her open her mouth to check her tongue coating.

The two imperial physicians took turns examining him, their expressions growing increasingly grave.

The two spoke in hushed tones and then went to check on several other members of the Lin family's collateral branches who had fallen ill; their symptoms were largely the same.

"Recurring high fever, rapid and forceful pulse, thick and greasy tongue coating like accumulated powder, and purplish-red tongue body..."

"Coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, blood in sputum, and excruciating chest pain..."

"There are faint bruises appearing on the skin..."

"The entire household, except for a few servants who hadn't been in contact with the divine physician, was almost entirely infected with this disease; it's highly contagious..."

The symptoms matched seven or eight parts of the characteristics of several dangerous epidemics recorded in ancient books!

Especially their distinctive tongue appearance and almost identical infectious symptoms!

Upon receiving the news, Chen Yuanzheng, who was standing at the door, broke out in a cold sweat.

In his decades of medical practice, he had never seen such a dangerous, highly contagious, and concentrated outbreak of disease!

The imperial physicians gathered together and discussed the matter in hushed tones for a long time.

Finally, under the watchful eyes of Eunuch Desheng, Chen Yuanzheng reluctantly wrote down the diagnosis and affixed the official seal of the Imperial Medical Academy.

The diagnosis, along with the joint report from the imperial physicians, was delivered to Pei Yan's desk as quickly as possible.

"...After repeated examination, we have confirmed that the illness afflicting the entire Yongning Marquis's household is indeed a highly contagious and deadly epidemic! Its symptoms are severe, its course is rapid, and its infectivity is extremely high! Although we have tried our best to provide treatment, the results have been minimal..."

"To protect the safety of the millions of people in the capital, we, your humble servants, tearfully beg Your Majesty to issue a swift decree to strictly control the Lin family and isolate the source of the disease to prevent its spread! Delay... or great calamity may ensue!"

The bright red words "epidemic" on the report made Pei Yan's eyelids twitch!

He slammed the report onto the imperial desk, his face terribly grim.

"A highly contagious and deadly epidemic..."

He muttered those words to himself, a barely perceptible glint of excitement in his eyes!

Xie Sangning, are you finally going to fall?

"Desheng! Issue the decree!"

"Effective immediately! Seal off the Yongning Marquis's residence! No one is allowed to enter or leave! No one inside the residence is permitted to leave without permission! Anyone who disobeys will be killed without exception! The Five City Garrison Command is hereby ordered to maintain strict guard; anyone who trespasses will be punished equally!"

His first priority was to ensure that this damned plague did not spread and destroy his capital!

"As you command!" Desheng replied immediately.

The order to blockade the Lin family spread quickly.

The soldiers of the Five Cities Garrison were on high alert and quickly surrounded the Lin residence, strictly prohibiting anyone from entering or leaving.

The entire street where the Lin residence was located instantly became deathly silent, with everyone feeling insecure and trying to avoid it at all costs.

When Xie Zhenting received the news, he was struck dumb!

Lockdown?! The imperial physician has diagnosed it?!

What about Ning'er... what will happen to Ning'er?!

He was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, but due to the imperial decree, he could not approach the Lin family, nor could he defend his daughter. He felt an intense sense of powerlessness that almost swallowed him up!

He punched the pillar in anger, oblivious to the blood flowing between his fingers.

Meanwhile, in the palace, Pei Yan paced back and forth in the imperial study; the lockdown was only the first step.

What should we do with the Lin family, this source of the epidemic? Keeping them in the city will always be a major threat!

Exile? Exile to where? What if the infection spreads during the exile...?

Just as he was getting anxious, Eunuch Desheng came in again, holding a new report in his hands.

“Your Majesty,” Desheng’s voice carried a subtle hint of guidance, “the Imperial Physician Wang has submitted another secret memorial.”

"Speak!" Pei Yan said impatiently.

"Judge Wang reported that this epidemic is exceptionally dangerous and unprecedented. According to ancient records, this type of disease is averse to cold and wind. If it is left in the warm city of the capital, it may... may become even more rampant and beyond the reach of medicine..."

Desheng carefully observed Pei Yan's expression.

Pei Yan frowned: "Afraid of the cold? In a desolate and cold place?"

"Exactly!" Desheng was pleased to see that Pei Yan had taken his words to heart, but his expression grew even more worried. "Judge Wang also said that this epidemic is spreading rapidly, and the Lin family... I'm afraid... I'm afraid they won't last more than a few days. If the entire family perishes in the capital..."

The rest is self-evident.

While it would be clean if everyone died, dying in the capital city would always be a huge hidden danger and a stain!

Not to mention the even more frightening spread after death.

Pei Yan waved his hand impatiently: "Then, in your opinion, how should we deal with this hot potato?!"

He needs a solution to the problem.

That's exactly what Grandpa Desheng was waiting for!

A glint flashed in his eyes, and he stepped forward, lowering his voice:

"Your Majesty, this servant has a plan that will both preserve Your Majesty's reputation for benevolence and eliminate future troubles. Perhaps... it will also make certain people feel uneasy and unable to eat or sleep..."

"Oh? Tell me quickly!" Pei Yan became interested.

“Your Majesty,” Desheng’s voice was even lower, “Miss Xie Sangning…didn’t she just receive Your Majesty’s favor and be granted the Western Cold Land as her fief? That Western Cold Land…is bitterly cold and desolate, with snow all year round and few people venturing there. Isn’t it exactly the ‘cold-fearing’ land described in ancient books?”

Pei Yan's eyes suddenly lit up! Xi Han?!

Desheng continued to persuade him patiently: "Your Majesty, why don't you issue an imperial decree to relocate the entire Lin family estate to Xihan!"

"They said: Xihan is Miss Xie's fiefdom, and Miss Xie is the Lin family's granddaughter. Going there can not only isolate the source of the epidemic and protect the capital, but also fulfill Miss Xie's filial piety and allow her to do her best to take care of her mother's family at her bedside."

"In this way, outsiders will only praise His Majesty for his benevolence and compassion for his subjects, and even for the families of the plague patients, he will take care of their kinship and provide them with proper accommodation."

"As for whether the Lin family can survive this bitter cold and epidemic, whether they can 'take good care' of themselves, and whether they can control the epidemic in Xihan... that depends on fate and Miss Xie's ability. Even if... the entire family perishes in the Xihan snow, it is their fate, and they cannot blame others, much less... His Majesty."

Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!

The gloom on Pei Yan's face vanished instantly!

"Hahaha! Good! What a way to fulfill his filial duty! What a well-arranged solution!"

Pei Yan clapped his hands and laughed, his eyes full of pleasure. "Desheng! You old fool, you really know my heart! This plan is brilliant! Brilliant indeed!"

He could almost see Xie Sangning's expression when he received the imperial edict, as if he had swallowed a fly!