Upon hearing this, Wei Ersao couldn't help but exclaimed: "Oh my! What's going on? This is a matter of life and death!"
As she spoke, she tightly grasped her third sister-in-law's arm, her knuckles turning white from the force.
The young man continued crying, "The court issued a death order to suppress the news. Now, people outside are unaware of it, and the people inside are in a panic. The wealthy families dragged their families and sold their property, trying every possible way to escape. The poor people with no money could only watch helplessly as the disease gradually eroded, and eventually died of the disease on their own beds!"
When the young man said this, he was already sobbing and his shoulders were shaking.
"I escaped with the people from the mansion, hoping to find a way to survive. But who knew that the mountain road would be so rugged and difficult to travel, and it was raining heavily. It was dark and gloomy, and I accidentally got separated from the others. I was cold and hungry, and I had no other choice but to hide behind this temple to find something to eat. I didn't have any bad intentions. Please spare my life!"
As the young man spoke, he kowtowed repeatedly, and his forehead made a "bang bang" sound when it hit the ground. After a while, his forehead became red and swollen.
Su Huaiyue looked at the pitiful young man in front of her, her heart aching. She couldn't help but persuade him, "Master Li, this child is really pitiful. I'm sure what he said is the truth. Let's not embarrass him for now, and see if we can help him."
Wei Che also echoed: "This child is alone and has suffered so much. If we continue to embarrass him, how can we bear it."
Lord Li nodded slightly, turned his gaze to the young man, and spoke more slowly, "Don't be afraid. Stand up and talk. Since you are from the Qin Mansion, do you know the extent of this epidemic? Are there any ways to prevent it?"
The young man stood up trembling, his body still shaking uncontrollably. "My lord, I'm just a servant and don't know much. I only know that the plague is spreading rapidly in the city, and coughing and groaning can be heard everywhere. As for prevention and treatment, I've heard that some wealthy families use wormwood to fumigate their houses and drink herbal soups, but I can't say for sure whether they are effective."
After hearing what the young man said, everyone looked at each other, and the worry on their faces deepened.
The situation in the southwest is far more dangerous than they imagined.
The boy's words were like a bombshell, exploding among the crowd in an instant.
There was an uproar in the temple, with exclamations and discussions one after another.
"What? The plague in the southwest is so severe, and the enemy is coveting it. What should we do?"
"We are jumping into a fire pit! No, we have to take a detour. Saving our lives is the most important thing!"
"How can the imperial court block the news? Isn't this just sending us to our deaths?"
Everyone was talking at once, and panic quickly spread.
Lord Li frowned, he was well aware of the seriousness of the matter. On the one hand, there was the court's order, and on the other hand, there was the cruel reality before him, which really put him in a dilemma.
Upon hearing this, Wei Ersao immediately jumped up, her face filled with panic. "How can this be? We are exiles to begin with, our lives are miserable. If we go any further southwest, we will surely lose our lives there. Lord Li, please make a decision for us. Let's take a detour. Even if it means taking a few more detours, it's better than committing suicide!"
As she spoke, she looked at the people around her, trying to seek support.
People from other families also echoed: "Yes, the second sister-in-law of the Wei family is right. We can't joke with our lives. Let's take a detour!"
Su Huaiyue hugged Wei Li tightly, and her heart tightened.
She looked up at Wei Che, only to see that Wei Che's eyes were serious and he shook his head slightly, signaling her not to act rashly.
Su Huaiyue took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down.
She knew that she had to remain calm at this moment, otherwise the situation would only become more chaotic.
Lord Li raised his hand to signal for silence and said loudly, "Everyone, please be quiet! As an official appointed by the court, I am loyal to the emperor and receive his salary. The people of the southwest are suffering, and the enemy is ready to strike. If we take a detour, where will the people be? The court has its own considerations for suppressing this information. We cannot just focus on our own safety."
"Sir, it's easy for you to say that. We are unarmed. How can we help? If the plague breaks out, we will all be buried with it!" A man couldn't help but retort.
Lord Li surveyed the crowd with a determined gaze. "Though our forces are limited, we cannot stand idly by. Tomorrow morning, when the rain stops, we will continue our journey southwest. We must exercise extreme caution along the way, while Miss Su devises a cure for the plague. I believe that with everyone working together, we can overcome this difficult situation."
However, Lord Li's words did not reassure everyone.
The complaints and arguments continued unabated. Second Wife Wei's face flushed with anger. She walked up to Old Madam Wei and cried, "Grandma, look at this, what can we do? We, the Wei family, can't go along with them to our doom!"
Madam Wei opened her eyes, a look of helplessness and determination in her eyes. "Nifeng, I know you're worried, but Lord Li is right. Our Wei family has always been based on loyalty and righteousness. If we retreat now, how will we face our ancestors in the future?"
When Mrs. Wei Er heard this, she was stunned. She didn't expect Mrs. Wei to say that.
For a moment, she stood there, not knowing what to do.
Seeing this, Su Huaiyue stood up and said loudly, "Everyone, listen to me. I understand your concerns. I also have children, and I'm more afraid than anyone else that they might get hurt. However, we've already come this far. If we take a detour, not only will the journey be long, but the hardships along the way may not be any less than going directly to the southwest."
"Besides, the people in the southwest need us. Even if we can only help a little, it is better than doing nothing. We brought medicinal herbs, and maybe we can save many lives."
Wei Ersao snorted, "That's easy for you to say. Where can we get the herbs now?"
"I will find a way to deal with the medicinal materials. Please believe me, I will make sure everyone is safe." Su Huaiyue's words were like a reassurance.
After hearing Su Huaiyue's words, everyone gradually quieted down.
At this time, Wei Zhi, who had been silent the whole time, stood up. His small figure revealed an incomparable determination: "I'm not afraid. I want to go with my mother and uncle to help the people in the southwest."
Wei Li also raised his head in Su Huaiyue's arms and said weakly: "I'll go too. I don't want to be a coward."
The children's words warmed everyone's hearts, and some people who were originally wavering began to hesitate.
Seeing this, Lord Li struck while the iron was hot: "Look everyone, the children are so brave. Are we adults any less brave than them? As long as we unite as one and take protective measures, we may be able to stay safe."
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