Chapter 92 Two-Pronged Approach
Wei Jingchen chuckled softly, as if coaxing her, "As expected of the young master, then we'll have to let Second Master Xu give it his all."
Yun Zhao looked at him in surprise and quickly sat up to cover his mouth.
"Shh, it's a secret!"
Her eyes widened, her little face flushed with nervousness, making her incredibly adorable.
Wei Jingchen laughed so hard his chest was shaking, and nodded in agreement.
Yun Zhao then withdrew her hand, and then, as if she remembered something, she looked at him with bright eyes.
"Brother Jingchen, can you do me a favor?"
"What kind of help?"
"You have to promise me first!"
She shook his hand and said coquettishly.
"Okay, go ahead and tell me. I'll definitely help if I can."
Wei Jingchen had no choice but to agree.
"My second uncle has never learned how to read account books. Could you teach him, Brother Jingchen?"
Wei Jingchen laughed.
So, she wasn't sure who would read the ledgers, so she brought them all back?
"Okay, but learning to read account books isn't easy."
He wasn't very familiar with Master Xu, but his glib tongue was indeed well-suited for business.
However, being good at business and being able to calmly look at the books are two different things.
"No rush, no rush, we have plenty of time! We can learn slowly later; the most urgent task is to solve the plague."
If he agrees, then things will be easy!
Firstly, it would solidify the relationship between their two families, and secondly, her second uncle might be able to go into business in the future!
She felt that her second uncle had the potential to be a shrewd businessman, especially considering the profits from the gambling den.
Even if I don't become extremely wealthy in this life, I will at least have enough to eat and drink.
Speaking of the plague, Wei Jingchen asked again, "Does Li Dali have any medicine to cure it...?"
Before he could finish speaking, the officials came out of the county government office.
Seeing him filled me with joy.
"Young Master Wei, you're finally back! Lord Wei has been looking for you!"
"My father?"
Why would his father be looking for him at this time?
Wei Jingchen was suspicious. After saying goodbye to Yun Zhao, he followed the officers inside.
As soon as he entered the main hall, he sensed that something was wrong.
"Lord Yang, Father, Second Uncle, what happened?"
"It turns out Li Dali works for the Fifth Prince. He relayed a message that he has a way to find the medicinal herbs."
But that person is under the Fifth Prince's command. If we go through the Fifth Prince, it will probably take even more time.
Wei Mingde looked distressed.
As the Minister of Revenue, he knew perfectly well that the medicine would be sent over only after the imperial court had allocated funds and resources.
At least half a month has passed.
I don't know how many people will die in the next two weeks.
"With Medicine King Valley's help, could we borrow a batch of medicinal herbs first?"
Wei Jingchen frowned.
"The problem is that he has the Fifth Prince's backing. If we don't give him money, he won't give us the medicine. We need to be prepared for both possibilities."
Wei Mingde had dealt with the Fifth Prince in the court; the prince was narrow-minded and pleasure-seeking.
It's normal for nobles to have other businesses on the side, but for a prince of the current dynasty to run a gambling den to amass wealth, while his maternal grandfather's family also held military power, is quite something.
He even had a close private relationship with the commander of the Imperial Guard.
If His Majesty knew this, he would surely become suspicious of him.
Wei Jingchen pondered for a moment, relieved that he had struck first.
"Father, we should prepare for both possibilities. On one hand, we can send people to nearby prefectures to procure medicinal herbs."
On the one hand, they reported this to His Majesty, and on the other hand, they sought to buy the medicinal herbs on credit from the merchant.
Yang Jingyan was somewhat troubled: "Merchants are profit-driven. With the Fifth Prince backing him, he certainly isn't afraid of a mere county magistrate like me. If he refuses, what should we do?"
Wei Jingchen lowered his eyelids, concealing the sinister look in his eyes.
"If he refuses, then he can't blame us."
Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed in Yang Jingyan's eyes.
What he meant by saying that he had already made some preparations?
"Lord Yang, why don't we first approach the old Valley Master and see if he's willing to intervene?"
Wei Mingyu suddenly spoke, interrupting Yang Jingyan's thoughts.
"Okay, I'll go arrange it right away."
Yang Jingyan agreed and left quickly.
Sometimes, we don't need to take things so seriously.
After watching Yang Jingyan's men leave, Wei Mingde pulled his son aside.
"what you up to?"
"Don't worry, Father, I know what I'm doing."
Wei Jingchen had no intention of telling him.
He was always thorough in his work, but being young and impetuous, Wei Mingyu was immediately worried.
"Jingchen, this matter involves the Fifth Prince. Do not go too far. Offending him will not do you any good."
"Second Uncle is right. I have already made arrangements for this matter. If he insists on disregarding the lives of the people, then there is nothing I can do."
Wei Mingyu breathed a sigh of relief as soon as he said the first part of the sentence.
When he said those last few words, Wei Mingyu almost choked.
“Jingchen…”
"Alright."
Wei Mingde tugged at his younger brother's hand, signaling him to shut up.
He looked at the twelve-year-old boy and said earnestly, "Jingchen, if you truly believe this will help the people..."
Then go and do it. Remember, no matter what happens, you are a child of the Wei family, and your father will always support you.
"Don't worry, Father, I understand!"
In the western alley of the capital city, a carrier pigeon landed in the courtyard.
A woman came out of the house and took the letter off the carrier pigeon's claw.
A moment later, she put the letter into the kitchen stove.
Watching the letter burn to ashes, she picked up the carrying pole beside her and hurried out.
Upon arriving at the pharmacy, she immediately asked for a large quantity of medicinal herbs.
"Aunt Zhang, is someone in your family sick?"
"It's all because of my husband at home. He's back from his business trip, so he's busy helping me catch him."
Aunt Zhang looked exhausted, and the nervousness in her voice made it clear to everyone that something was wrong.
Not long after she left in a hurry, someone else came to buy medicinal herbs, which happened to be the same as Aunt Zhang's prescription.
In the capital, few people would buy medicinal herbs in large quantities when opening a pharmacy.
The herbal medicine shop immediately realized something was wrong.
That afternoon, news spread that after the dikes in Jiangnan breached, corpses littered the fields and plague was rampant.
The Governor-General of Jiangnan concealed the truth from the situation, and the refugees continued northward, reaching Yangguan County.
This prescription, which originated from Medicine King Valley, is a formula that can treat plague.
The prescription spread throughout the capital, and soon the medicinal materials were in short supply.
For a time, the entire capital was filled with panic.
At the same time, an urgent message was sent from Yangguan County to the capital.
Yuan Qi looked at the words written on the dragon table by Yang Jingyan, each word dripping with blood, vehemently denouncing the Governor-General of Jiangnan for concealing the truth and leaving the people without medicine.
This also includes the death of Yan Jing, the commander of the Imperial Guards, from poisoning; his body has been burned.
The other two Imperial Guards had come into contact with plague refugees and were trapped in Yangguan County.
A whole room of people knelt down below, and the entire Imperial Study was eerily quiet, as if shrouded in dark clouds.
"Who exactly is spreading rumors in the capital?"
Now that things have come to this, Yuan Qi's primary concern is who has spread the plague right under his nose.
The Prefect of Jingzhao was covered in sweat and nervously licked his lips.
"Your Majesty, the caravan came from the south and, passing through the prefectures near Yangguan County, learned of the plague in Jiangnan."
The caravan was trapped in Yangguan County and went to other prefectures to seek medicine. The prescription was disseminated, so after the caravan returned to the capital...
"Immediately, I frantically stockpiled medicine. Your Majesty, I have already delivered all the medicinal herbs to the Capital Prefecture, awaiting Your Majesty's judgment!"
The message from the caravan was entirely reasonable.
It seems that the spread of rumors just happened to coincide with the urgent dispatch.
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