Chapter 56 Plague: Epidemic
I advise you not to go to Xia Nan.
After passing through a forest of intertwined bare branches, the three of them were finally able to see what was happening not far away.
Looking around, there were three or four newly built mounds on a small piece of wasteland. The soil was slightly damp, and there were crude wooden signs on the graves, with only a few crooked characters of surnames that could be made out.
Two people, an old man and a child, were kneeling in front of the grave.
A few pieces of joss paper in front of them were still burning, sparks flying in the wind, and thick smoke swirled around them, making their throats feel dry, indicating that they had been kneeling for quite some time.
The old woman had gray hair and a slightly hunched back, while a little boy, about seven or eight years old, obediently stayed by her side, looking pale and thin.
Both of them were wearing coarse cloth old coats with many patches, suggesting that they lived a hard life.
Although the three did not get close, they could probably see the slightly trembling, thin shoulders and hear the deliberately suppressed, old, hoarse sobs.
Naturally, one can also feel that sadness and helplessness.
Perhaps due to excessive grief, or perhaps due to old age, the old woman's senses were not as sharp. It was the little boy who first noticed the three of them, tugging at her sleeve and softly calling out, "Grandma."
The old woman then turned around alertly.
His expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly shielded the child behind him, his voice trembling: "What...what do you want to do?"
She nervously observed the three of them, her eyes wary, a hint of panic flashing in them.
The flickering firelight beside her made her aged face appear even more ashen. The smell of burnt paper filled the air, making the atmosphere even more oppressive.
Tang Yu stepped forward with a smile, her voice gentle: "Grandma, don't be afraid. We are travelers heading to Xia Nan. We found it strange to see people paying respects at graves here, especially since there are several new graves, so we came to investigate. Please forgive us for disturbing you."
She did not approach, remaining a few steps away from the two, her tone gentle.
But the old woman became even more nervous, tightening her grip on the boy's arm and staring intently at her, a hint of fear flashing in her eyes, though it didn't seem to stem from any wariness of a stranger.
Tang Yu was somewhat surprised.
Now that she's dressed as a woman, she should be more approachable than a man. Besides, she's quite pretty and well-mannered, so she should be easy to get people to lower their guard. Yet, that old woman avoids her like the plague.
strangeness……
After thinking for a moment, Tang Yu decided to step back and whispered to Wang Shanyue, "You give it a try."
Wang Shanyue nodded and took out several small items from his pocket, all of which he had woven from reeds he picked during his leisure time on the road: there were grasshoppers, crickets, and a grass spider with only half of its legs woven.
He stepped forward generously, smiling as he showed the children the pictures: "Look, these are some I made up along the way. Pick one, or if you like them all, you can take them all."
The boy timidly peeked out, a glint of light flashing in his eyes. But he didn't dare to go forward and take it, instead clutching the old woman's sleeve tightly, his gaze full of questions.
The old woman hesitated for a long time, her gaze falling on the trinkets woven from straw. Perhaps thinking that bad people wouldn't have so much free time, she finally nodded slightly.
The boy carefully stepped forward, and after a long time, he finally chose the grasshopper and the spider with the broken leg. Then he quickly ran back behind his grandmother.
He sat down cross-legged and carefully touched the grass spider, trying to weave back the missing legs.
His eyes, which had been dull, finally showed a hint of a smile.
Looking at the child's smile, the three of them felt a pang of sadness for some reason.
The old woman looked at the boy, her eyes filled with sorrow and grief, tears welling up in her eyes.
She sighed softly, then slowly raised her head and gave a bitter smile: "If you are truly just travelers passing through, please ask whatever you wish to ask."
Wang Shanyue remained silent, then turned to look at Tang Yu.
She didn't dare to approach, but stood at a distance, carefully considering her words before asking, "Excuse me, whose graves are these for?"
The old woman remained silent for a long time before finally speaking in a hoarse voice: "It's this child's parents and his older brother."
As she spoke, she reached out and gently touched the boy's head, her aged voice trembling: "They often went to Xia Nan City to do small business and buy some things for their home. Who knew they would contract the plague, and within a few days, they were all dead. All dead..."
Before she finished speaking, the old woman looked up at the gloomy sky. Tears slid down her wrinkled face, dripping onto the ashes and disappearing instantly.
The choked words, "They're all dead," left the three speechless for a moment, unable to bear asking any further questions.
After a moment, the old woman raised her hand to wipe away the tears on her face, and her expression suddenly became solemn.
She looked at the group, a lingering glint of fear in her eyes: "I advise you not to go to Xia Nan. It has become a city infected with the plague. If you go there... you will all die."
Tang Yu frowned: "What plague?"
"I don't know." The old woman shook her head and pulled the boy to his feet.
"I have said all I need to say. Gentlemen, you should turn back now."
The grandfather and grandson, supporting each other, walked slowly into the village through the withered forest and lingering smoke.
The three looked at each other, and each saw the same surprise and disbelief in the other's eyes.
From the initial wailing of ghosts and the deaths of people, to the later sacrifices that harmed people, and now to the pitiful families dying from this plague.
No one expected that this village would suffer so many disasters.
"What's going on? Can we still go to Xia Nan?" Wang Shanyue felt a chill run down his spine.
The plague is no joke; if it has truly spread, the entire Xia Nan region may have become a ghost town.
"I have to go."
Tang Yu remained silent for a moment, gazing at the joss paper in front of the grave that had gradually burned to ashes, before saying calmly, "We won't stay in this village tonight. We need to get into the city before dusk to see what exactly happened."
“Alright!” Wang Shanyue agreed.
They quickly returned to their original spot, mounted their horses, and set off.
As you walk through the village, it becomes clear that not only the boy's family has suffered from the disaster, but several other families have also hung white banners, indicating that someone has also passed away.
When passing by the old locust tree that was once the source of the ghostly wails, they were surprised to find that it had been cut down, leaving only a lonely stump.
It seemed to foreshadow the fate of this village.
*
To prevent disease, the three of them took out silk cloths to cover their mouths and noses and tied them up as soon as they passed through the city gate.
The once bustling and lively Xia Nan is now eerily deserted. The streets and alleys are wide, but there is not a soul in sight. When pedestrians do appear, they walk quickly with their heads down, avoiding people as if they were ghosts.
Occasionally, a few shops would remain open, but their curtains were half-drawn, and no one was seen moving about. The vast majority of the shops were run by ordinary people, and their doors were tightly shut.
Hearing the sound of their horses' hooves, occasionally someone would peek through a small crack in the window, but when they met the gazes of Tang Yu and the other two, they would close the window in terror, as if they were some kind of monstrous flood.
This city, once a place where people lived in peace and contentment, is now shrouded in an atmosphere of panic, unease, and even fear and despair, making it hard to breathe.
The empty streets were filled with the bitter smell of herbs, and several crows circled overhead. A gust of wind blew by, making Tang Yu shiver.
I had never felt the autumn wind so cold before; it felt as if a dull knife was cutting into my skin.
"How could it have turned out like this?" Wang Shanyue murmured.
It's unbelievable that in less than six months, Xia Nan has gone from a peaceful and prosperous border region to this lifeless state.
"Let's go to the Prince of Xia's residence first." Xiao Fangliang, inside the carriage, lifted the curtain, his expression unusually solemn.
Tang Yu nodded.
When the three arrived at the Xia Nan Prince's Mansion, they realized that it was no better than the rest of the city.
The area in front of the gate was covered with fallen leaves and dust, clearly indicating that no one had swept the courtyard for several days. The once bustling palace, guarded by carriages and soldiers, was now deserted, with its vermilion gates tightly shut and the entire palace as quiet as if it were uninhabited.
Wang Shanyue went up and knocked on the door, but no one answered.
So he increased the force, and the "bang bang" sounds almost reached the point of banging on the door.
Even so, it took quite a while for someone to open the door, and one eye peered at them through the crack.
Who goes there?
"We come from Zhongjing. A few months ago, we delivered a shipment for the Prince of Xia Nan. Please inform him of our arrival," Wang Shanyue said politely.
The servant-like man sized up the three of them for a long time before hesitatingly nodding, closing the door, and leaving.
Soon, the heavy door finally opened, and the group was led into the mansion.
When King Xia Nan appeared in front of the hall, the three of them almost dared not recognize each other.
He was much thinner than before, and instead of getting new clothes made, he wore the clothes that had previously fit him well, which now looked somewhat loose and empty.
The dignity, composure, and dignity that a prince should possess seemed to have vanished completely. His eyes were dark with faint bruises, and his face was haggard.
Upon seeing the group, he didn't even bother with basic greetings; his lips trembled slightly, and words of excitement choked in his throat.
"Your Highness." Xiao Fangliang stepped forward first and bowed.
King Xia Nan hurriedly went to meet him, but his steps were unsteady and he stumbled, almost falling.
Fortunately, Wang Shanyue was quick-witted and nimble, and stepped forward to grab his arm, thus stabilizing him.
"Your Highness?"
At that moment, Wang Shanyue clearly felt that the other person seemed to be trembling slightly.
"You must help me..." King Xia Nan's voice was hoarse, and even carried a hint of sobbing.
He clung tightly to Wang Shanyue's wrist, as if he were a drowning man finally grasping at the last piece of driftwood.
This sudden breakdown and loss of composure startled everyone present.
Wang Shanyue supported his somewhat exhausted body with his back hand and helped him sit down to the side.
Xiao Fangliang and Tang Yu exchanged a glance, their expressions grave: "Your Highness, what exactly happened in Xia Nan City? Could it really be an epidemic?"
King Xia Nan slowly shook his head, his eyes bloodshot as he looked at them, and said in a trembling voice filled with fear, "There is no plague. This is all from the Southern Frontier, they deliberately spread... a Gu plague!"
The word immediately sent chills down the spines of the three people in the room, and the air seemed to fall silent.
After a long pause, King Xia Nan took a deep breath and slowly began to speak: "As you all should know, Xia Nan... was originally part of the Southern Frontier. After being incorporated into the Great Xia Dynasty, it became an important hub for trade with the various kingdoms of the Southern Frontier due to its cultural and geographical advantages..."
Under the protection of the Great Xia Dynasty, unlike the small kingdoms of the Southern Frontier that were weakened by war, this region was extremely prosperous, with business opportunities everywhere, attracting many people from the Southern Frontier to settle there permanently. At the same time, hundreds of people from the Southern Frontier entered Xia Nan every day. Naturally, many residents of Xia Nan also went to the Southern Frontier.
In such important border areas, people and goods travel frequently, so inspections are of paramount importance, and the government and the Xia Nan Prince's Mansion never dare to slack off.
Moreover, the southern Xinjiang region has become increasingly unstable in recent years, so the inspections have actually become more and more stringent.
"But something strange still happened."
A clear look of fear appeared in Xia Nan Wang's eyes, his face as pale as paper, as if just recalling it was enough to suffocate him.
"Initially, it was an inn in the west of the city that reported to the authorities that a merchant had died in his room, and his death was gruesome."
His Adam's apple bobbed as he gripped the pearwood armrest tightly: "The man's abdomen had been ripped open with a gash the size of a fist, and his internal organs had been almost completely devoured..."
“But apart from the wounds on the deceased’s body, there wasn’t a single trace of blood in the entire room, or even under the body.” Xia Nanwang’s voice trembled uncontrollably.
Tang Yu listened attentively, her brows furrowing unconsciously.
According to King Xia Nan, the door was locked from the inside, and the doors and windows were intact, with no signs of anyone entering or leaving.
However, based on the manner of his death, the authorities still determined it to be a homicide.
So, following standard procedure, they sent people to search the place thoroughly and summoned the shopkeepers, trying to find the murderer through other clues.
But things are never as simple as they seem...
"For the next few days, the inn was like it was...cursed."
King Xia Nan's voice grew lower and lower, his pupils becoming unfocused and vacant.
"Then, everyone died."
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