Su Muxi raised an eyebrow, gave Jia Rong a deep look, got back into the carriage, and headed into the city first.
Once everyone had entered the city, the city gates were closed again with a loud bang, sending chills down everyone's spines and filling them with regret. But they knew it was too late for regrets, because they couldn't get out.
If it were just a few officials, that would be fine; but if things really got too difficult, they could simply rush out.
Unexpectedly, after entering the city, they found nearly a thousand soldiers inside the city gate and on both sides of the street.
Taking a hard line is definitely not going to work, so we can only hope that the plague will be eradicated soon, otherwise, living in such a desolate city will drive them crazy!
Su Muxi lifted the carriage curtain, looked at the soldiers, and a cold smile curled at the corner of her mouth.
That was quite a show of force!
The wide streets show that Fukang County used to be quite prosperous, but now it is desolate, and there is not a single person to be seen.
"Magistrate Jia, where have all the people in this city gone?"
"That's right. Those who are not seriously ill are all at home. Those who are seriously ill, I have gathered them in the west of the city. Some wealthy merchants in the city have helped to set up tents there to gather everyone together. This makes it convenient for both treatment and management."
"Have the wealthy merchants in the city contracted the plague?"
"...Some people got the disease, and some people didn't."
Jia Ren answered calmly, without showing the slightest sign of panic.
Su Muxi's heart sank even further.
Jia Ren used poison to control everyone, and those who contracted the plague were likely the disobedient ones.
If she were to expose everything now, those soldiers might have nowhere to retreat and would kill them all without explanation.
Therefore, after entering the city, they became the passive party, and they could not rush to break the deadlock.
This practice of pretending to be ignorant when both sides know the truth really tests one's patience!
But it doesn't matter, after all, she didn't come unprepared.
Tonight, the situation will be reversed!
"Lord Jia, take us to see the people in the west of the city. I have come up with a remedy that can cure this epidemic."
Su Muxi said with innocent eyes.
Jia Ren was also very excited when he heard this.
"Is Your Highness truly certain?! If Your Highness truly possesses a remedy to cure this plague, then the people of Fukang County will be saved!"
However, after seeing the miserable state of the people in the west of the city, Su Muxi felt an urge to tear the officials of Fukang County and the Wei family to pieces!
Nearly ten thousand people lay or sat on the ground, looking lifeless. If it weren't for their occasional coughs, people might believe they were dead.
The sheds that Jia Ren mentioned, built with the help of wealthy merchants, were just thatched huts that could only block out some of the sunlight.
Now that the weather is hot, sleeping outside may not be too cold, but if it rains, these sheds will not provide any shelter from the wind and rain!
The floor was covered in excrement and vomit, emitting a nauseating stench.
Meanwhile, the constables searched for the dead among the crowd, dragged the bodies out of the throng, piled them aside, and waited until they had filled a cart to be taken far away for burial.
The scene before their eyes was quite shocking to those young masters.
In most people's eyes, beggars on the street are the most miserable people in the world, but they never expected to see these people now...
This is no ordinary human world!
This must be what hell is like!
Most people are in their prime, and although they may have worries and fears, their blood boils with excitement when they see what's happening before them.
"They are human beings! Living, breathing human beings! How could you treat them like this!"
One person roared out, and the others also voiced their indignation.
"Exactly! Is this how you deal with the plague?!"
"Even a good person would probably get sick living in such an environment!"
"How could you be a county magistrate like this!"
…
As Jia Ren endured the accusations from the crowd, his weary eyes gradually turned red.
"This plague has come on fiercely, affecting tens of thousands of people. How am I supposed to govern them?!"
"Without enough manpower and medicine, in order to prevent the plague from spreading, I have no choice but to close the city gates to avoid more people contracting the plague!"
"I am well aware of my own inadequacy, but I have made up my mind to live and die with all the people of Fukang County!"
Jia Ren's voice was clearly choked with sobs, and by the end, he was sobbing uncontrollably.
The crowd fell silent, looking at the dying civilians with expressions of sympathy.
Su Muxi took a few deep breaths and shouted to everyone, "Start a fire and brew the medicine!"
Regardless of whether Jia Ren would secretly obstruct them, they had to hurry up and treat the people of Fukang County!
After hearing Su Muxi's words, everyone came back to their senses.
Yes!
They brought medicine!
The princess said that these medicines could cure the current plague!
Even those young masters, unusually, put aside their airs and, along with their servants, obeyed Qiao Ziming and Xie Xuan's arrangements.
Jia Ren watched the orderly movements of the people in front of him and sneered inwardly, but on the surface he showed gratitude, which also made the yamen runners and other officials join in.
Su Muxi examined the pulses of these people, and just as she had guessed, they were not infected with the plague, but rather poisoned.
This poison won't kill you immediately, but it will accumulate in your body over time, making your condition worse.
The prescriptions she wrote were also appropriate for the symptoms. As long as there were enough medicinal materials and timely treatment, these people could still be saved.
However, after the first batch of medicine was prepared and given to those with severe illnesses, their conditions not only did not improve at all, but instead became even more serious.
Some even died instantly.
"How...how did these people die?!"
"Your Highness, can your prescription really cure this epidemic?"
…
With everything laid bare, the voices of doubt are growing louder.
Su Muxi frowned as she took the pulses of each of the people who had taken the medicine.
Her prescription couldn't be wrong, so where exactly did things go wrong?
She studied the medicinal materials prepared for Fukang County at Huichuntang in Huayang City.
Some of these medicinal herbs were requested by the magistrate of Fukang County, while others were added by his father after he went to Fukang County, based on the symptoms of the infected people.
Based on the information gathered by Marquis Anyuan and an analysis of the symptoms experienced by the people of Fukang County, Su Muxi finally wrote down this prescription.
After witnessing firsthand the suffering of people afflicted with the "plague," she became even more convinced of the prescription's feasibility.
So where exactly did the problem lie?
Suddenly, her gaze fell on the rows of water vats.
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