Chapter 22 A Clear Conscience
The next morning, in the dim light of dawn, Zhu Wenqin went to wake Jing Siye up with sleepy eyes as usual.
But when he got closer, he found the bed was empty. He woke up instantly and felt an inexplicable panic in his heart.
He rushed out anxiously to look for her, and happened to run into Qi Feng. He grabbed his arm and asked anxiously:
"Guard Qi, where is the prince?"
Qi Feng looked at Zhu Wenqin's anxious expression and replied calmly:
"The prince left last night."
"Last night? Liar, you said you left this morning."
Zhu Wenqin was so angry and anxious that she couldn't help but blurt out.
Qi Feng was no longer surprised by Zhu Wenqin's scolding of his master. He just shook his head helplessly and explained:
"Guard Zhu, the prince is worried about your safety. He only took away eight of the sixteen secret guards in the palace."
"Eight," Zhu Wenqin's eyes widened. Although he had never actually seen the appearance of the secret guards with his own eyes, in the storybooks, the secret guards were all people with unique skills and high martial arts skills, and they were unpredictable when they moved.
Now, with so many secret guards missing from the prince's side, Zhu Wenqin's heart was instantly hanging in the air, and she couldn't help but think to herself:
The journey to Hangzhou Province is long and full of dangers, and the places where the epidemic is rampant are even more dangerous. Wouldn't it be too dangerous to reduce the number of guards around the prince?
If because of this, the prince encounters an accident on the way, I am afraid I will live in guilt for the rest of my life and will never be able to rest in peace.
Besides, he had already planned to confess to Jing Siye the purpose of coming to the palace. During these days of getting along, I found that Jing Siye was not as cruel and heartless as people said, and he could not distinguish between loyalty and treachery.
Maybe there is really something else behind my uncle's case.
Thinking of this, Zhu Wenqin looked at Qi Feng with a firm gaze:
"Guard Qi, I want to go find the prince."
When Qi Feng heard this, he immediately showed an embarrassment on his face:
"No, the prince will blame us. Before he left, the prince repeatedly told us to protect you."
"The prince also ordered me to teach you martial arts during his absence."
Zhu Wenqin: "Guard Qi, I won't make things difficult for you. If the prince blames me, I will bear the consequences alone. It would be too dangerous for the prince to assign so many secret guards to us."
Qi Feng: Yes, the prince is in danger, and Xue Nian must be in danger too. Even if I am really blamed, I have a clear conscience.
Qi Feng hesitated for a while and said, "Okay, I promise, I will take you to find them."
"Well, thank you, Qi Feng."
——
Jing Siye and Chen Lian traveled day and night, sleeping in the open air, and finally arrived in Hangzhou Province in the evening of the fifth day.
Hangzhou Provincial Prefect Zhai Qing and Post Station Manager Chu Heng had already been waiting at the post station outside the city. When Zhai Qing saw Jing Siye, it was like a drowning man finding a life-saving straw.
He walked forward quickly, knelt on the ground with a plop, and bowed deeply, with a bit of excitement and eagerness in his voice: "Your humble servant greets His Majesty, may His Majesty live a thousand years..."
"No need to be polite, let's talk inside."
Jing Siye looked at the prefect in front of him with a calm expression. He handed the reins to Xue Nian and strode into the post station.
As soon as Jing Siye sat down, Zhai Qing couldn't wait to speak:
"Your Majesty, the epidemic in Hangzhou Province is getting worse. There are new patients every day. The people are in a panic. I am really helpless. I hope Your Majesty can save us."
Jing Siye frowned slightly, looked at Zhai Qing with a sharp gaze, and said calmly:
"Now that I am here, I will do my best. Please tell me the details of this epidemic and the measures taken before."
Zhai Qing nodded quickly and began to explain in detail.
Chen Lian, who was over fifty years old, sat aside, squinting his eyes with a focused look.
She did not miss any details from his words and nodded slightly from time to time, signaling Zhai Qing to continue.
Occasionally, he would raise his hand slightly and stroke the small tuft of gray beard on his chin, falling into a brief moment of contemplation, his mind quickly searching through past experiences in dealing with similar epidemics.
After Zhai Qing finished explaining the details of the epidemic, the atmosphere in the room became so solemn that it seemed as if water could be squeezed out of it.
Jing Siye turned his gaze to Chen Lian and asked:
"Chen Lian, in your opinion, do you have any countermeasures?"
Upon hearing this, Chen Lian hurriedly bowed, leaned forward, and said respectfully and humbly:
"Your Majesty, this epidemic is a complicated matter. It is difficult to make a conclusion based on what we have heard so far. Each epidemic has its own unique features, and the symptoms vary. Tomorrow, we have to go to the scene to investigate and carefully observe the symptoms of the patients. Only then can we combine past experience and formulate effective countermeasures."
Jing Siye nodded slowly after hearing this:
"What Chen Lian said is absolutely right. We really can't jump to conclusions on this matter."
He paused, then continued, "This epidemic concerns the lives of millions of people. We must be cautious in every step. Tomorrow, I will go with you."
"Your Highness, this journey is full of dangers. You have a body worth a fortune, so you should stay at the post station. I will accompany Doctor Chen on the journey." Upon hearing this, Zhai Qing hurried forward to dissuade him.
Jing Siye waved his hand: "No need to say more, only when I see it with my own eyes can I grasp the most real situation and make the most accurate judgment."
Chen Lian bowed and saluted, her expression solemn: "Your Highness is considerate of the people, and it is a blessing for the people. Your Highness, rest assured, I will do my best. But the situation on the scene is complicated, so I hope Your Highness will be more careful."
"Um."
Following Chen Lian's suggestion, Jing Siye covered his nose with the gauze he brought and patrolled the city carefully.
The streets were dead silent. The former prosperity had vanished like smoke. The few pedestrians who were around were staggering and looked haggard.
When we walked to an open area, a temporary patient accommodation site came into view.
Painful groans and coughs were heard from inside the tent.
Jing Siye wanted to go in, but was dissuaded by Chen Lian: "Your Majesty, I can go in alone."
Jing Siye waved his hand, said nothing more, lifted the curtain and walked in.
Chen Lian had already walked quickly to the side of an elderly woman who was in a serious condition. She saw that the exposed skin of the elderly woman was already ulcerated and crusted.
Chen Lian leaned over and carefully felt her pulse through her handkerchief. After a while, her eyes became serious.
He immediately took the pulses of several sick people, stood up in disbelief, and bowed to Jing Siye, saying, "Your Majesty, please move aside and talk."
Jing Siye walked out of the tent: "Chen Lian, just say what you want to say."
At this moment, a young man suddenly rushed out of the tent and was about to pull Jing Siye's sleeve, but was blocked by Xue Nian with his sword.
The young man was startled and knelt on the ground crying and begging: "My lord, I beg you to save us."
Chen Lian looked at this situation with a complicated expression.
Zhai Qing quietly closed his hands hidden in his sleeves.
Jing Siye signaled Xue Nian to put away his sword, then turned around and asked Chen Lian:
"What did you find?"
Chen Lian thought thoughtfully: "Your Majesty, let's look at a few more places."
Jing Siye: "Okay," he turned to look at Zhai Qing, "Prefect Zhai, lead the way."
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