Chapter 149 Are You Hiding Something From Me?
"Master Qin! Master Qin! Open the door!"
The next morning, Qin Xiangnuan was still half asleep when she heard a noisy knock on the door. She looked out the window and saw that the sun had risen. She casually grabbed some clothes and pushed the door open a crack. Jia San poked his head in through the crack, his eyes sparkling as he said, "I've finished what you asked me to do! Take a look!" He then shoved a palm-sized booklet in.
Qin Xiangnuan lowered her head and fastened her clothes. Not noticing anything unusual, she let Jia San in.
The booklet was densely covered with incomprehensible symbols and words, interspersed with circles and crosses. Qin Xiangnuan frowned, looking at Jia San in confusion. Jia San slapped his forehead and explained with a grin, "Look, I forgot everything. I couldn't read since I was a child, and the brothers who followed me never went to private school. We all communicated through drawings. Let me explain it to you!"
Jia San came over, pointed at the words above, and said very seriously: "There are still a thousand people in the city now."
"Many are not breathing. Most of those who are breathing are hiding in the dilapidated temples in the east of the city, and a few are on the chaotic streets." Jia San didn't dare pause, only stealing a glance at Qin Xiangnuan's face, and continued: "I'm afraid there are not many who can walk. Yesterday I gathered the brothers, and many couldn't get up. Besides those who are sick, there is not enough food in the city. Those blind and deaf dogs haven't brought us food for half a month."
"Everything in the city has been eaten up long ago. Even the grass on the ground is almost gone."
Jia San frowned, and suddenly realized that he shouldn't scold the officials and others in front of Qin Xiangnuan, so he could only restrain himself and continue, "Don't mention rice and flour, even some steamed buns are popular outside." After he said that, he took a half step back and kept a distance from Qin Xiangnuan, "This is all the information I can get." Qin Xiangnuan nodded, not knowing how to deal with it, but heard an undercurrent knocking on the door.
"Third... Third Young Master."
The name that was on the tip of his tongue was quickly changed when he saw Jia San. He almost bit his tongue and said, "The mayor of Lotus Town is outside, waiting to get back to you. The prince asked me to come and see if you are up."
"Come with me." Qin Xiangnuan walked in front and followed Anliu to the front hall.
After spending time together last night, Qin Xiangnuan couldn't help but feel that Jiang Lin's gaze was not right. She frowned and averted her gaze, pretending not to notice Jiang Lin as she walked over to Qin Feng. Qin Feng looked at his younger sister in surprise at her unusual closeness. He scratched his head, keenly aware that something was amiss. He looked at Jiang Lin, narrowing his eyes and examining them inquiringly, and whispered, "Did you have a fight with the prince?"
"Although I don't like his behavior, the situation is dire and we have to rely on him. We have to bow our heads." Qin Feng wanted to play the role of a peacemaker, but Qin Xiangnuan became more and more annoyed. She looked up and glared at him, saying unhappily, "Where's the mayor? Didn't he say he was here? Where is he? There's no time to waste!"
The mayor of Lotus Town sensed something was amiss and stepped forward respectfully. "Master Qin! Here's the list."
This list was much clearer and more detailed than the one Jia San had obtained, but when Qin Xiangnuan flipped through it from beginning to end, she only found the names of more than 200 people.
"Are you sure the entire list is here? How many supplies are needed?"
Qin Xiangnuan asked. The mayor didn't see Jia San. He just glanced at the prefect and tentatively raised two fingers, "About two stone of grain."
"Bullshit! You ignored those people in the dilapidated temple in the east of the city. Don't their lives matter? You only care about those who have land at home and are on good terms with you. When have you ever cared about them? You dog official, I'll chop off your head with one blow!" When Jia San heard him lie, he couldn't control himself and rushed out, pulling out the rusty dagger at his waist and was about to stab the mayor.
When Qin Xiangnuan saw him passing by her, she suddenly raised her leg and hooked it with her ankle, causing Jia San to fall face first to the ground.
He had two clear lines of blood flowing from his nose. He looked at Qin Xiangnuan with disbelief and a bit of grievance, "Young Master, how could you... are you the same as them? I guess I got you wrong!" Jia San touched the blood from his nose with the back of his hand and wanted to rush out. Qin Xiangnuan just felt a headache. He held his forehead with his hand, gently rubbing it and said, "Shut up."
"I sent Jia San to help me recount the number of people last night. The difference between your count and mine is too great."
"You may be motivated by selfish interests, but I must remind you that if you conceal anything, no one will be allowed to leave until the plague subsides. It will waste too much time, and you will ultimately be the ones who suffer." Qin Xiangnuan glanced back at Jiang Lin and said with the air of a general, "We can't control you here forever. If we don't see the plague under control, it will leave on its own."
"When the time comes, you'll be left to fend for yourself. I'm afraid you won't even have the energy to cry out to the heavens."
"You can judge for yourself which is more important. Give me a list in two hours." Qin Xiangnuan said, then looked at Jiang Lin and said, "Come with me, I have something to tell you." Jiang Lin nodded and gestured to Anliu and Anfeng to keep an eye on them in front.
The two of them returned to the house, one after the other. Seeing the untied bedding on the couch, Jiang Lin knew she hadn't even woken up, and was then dragged awake by Jia San. He walked behind Qin Xiangnuan and pressed two fingers against her temples. The gentle movement of his cool fingertips made Qin Xiangnuan close her eyes in comfort. She leaned back slightly, resting on Jiang Lin's chest, their posture ambiguous and intimate.
"If you're tired, take a rest. I'll take care of things here."
Jiang Lin's face showed a bit of heartache as he reminded her. Qin Xiangnuan took a deep breath, moved his hand away, and asked in a somewhat inquiring and joking manner, "You have already dragged the General's Mansion into this. Do I still have the qualifications to remain indifferent and sit idly by? If I am not careful, my father's reputation will be ruined in my hands. You say that so easily." Her tone was unfriendly, but Jiang Lin was not annoyed.
"Since you know my intentions, you should understand that I will never let you be in danger, including the Qin family."
Jiang Lin expressed his feelings again, hoping to get a response from Qin Xiangnuan. But he waited for a long while, and Qin Xiangnuan silently examined his eyes. This deep, unfathomable pool made her hesitate. An unknown amount of time passed before Qin Xiangnuan, seemingly compromising, walked to the table, placed her hands on it, raised her eyebrows, and asked Jiang Lin word by word, "What exactly do you want to do? Using the General's Mansion? If you tell me, I will consider it."
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