Chapter 1160 The Number One Opera Troupe of the Great Qi Dynasty
By the sixth month of the lunar calendar, with daily nourishment, Lin Yuesha's health had improved significantly. She had gained weight and her healthy complexion had returned.
During this time, Yan Yan visited the villa several times, specifically to take Lin Yuesha's pulse.
"Sister Yue Sha, you have a good foundation, and you recovered faster than I expected."
After taking her pulse, Yan Yan prescribed another dose of herbal medicine. If Lin Yuesha's menstrual cycle was irregular, she could take several bottles of the Xiaoyao Pills she made.
"Sister Yan, it's rare for you to come to the villa, why don't you stay and talk to me before you leave?"
Qi Heng sent several nannies to teach Lin Yuesha manners. The nannies, who were originally strict, dared not act presumptuously in front of Lin Yuesha, and the daily arrangements were entirely made by Lin Yuesha.
Qin Nanyan returned to Cangzhou, Jiang Baozhu followed Gu Yi to guard the northwest, Zhao Jingya was in Yingcheng in the north, Zhang Qing'er had also left the capital, and her cousin Chen Xiaohua checked the accounts every day while doing business, leaving only Lin Yuesha as an idle person.
"The weather in the south has been somewhat abnormal this year. Since the fifth month of the lunar calendar, there has been continuous rain and the rivers have been rising continuously."
It is now mid-June, and the capital has only just received a memorial from officials in the south. The problem is likely to be even more serious than described in the memorial.
Natural disasters and man-made calamities—it's very difficult to overcome these natural disasters.
Every few years, the river in the south floods villages and farmland. Silt accumulates in the riverbed, and even building dikes does not help.
The second memorial from the official had not yet arrived, but every city was using beacon fires to send messages, indicating a critical situation.
"No wonder my uncle hasn't been in the capital these past few days; he said he went to meet an old friend."
Lin Yuesha guessed that the Prince of Luo's departure from the capital was probably related to the floods in the south.
Years of war have left limited grain reserves in granaries across the country. If floods further reduce yields in the south, life will be difficult for the people.
Lin Yuesha rubbed her temples. The flood must be brought under control, otherwise some people will definitely use it as an excuse to criticize Qi Heng as a traitor and cause trouble.
"With years of floods, the officials in the court at least have some experience in dealing with them."
This year's problems are serious. After a major disaster, there will inevitably be a major epidemic. Qi Heng has taken precautions and has already issued an order to transport medicinal materials from the Northwest to the capital. The female doctor Yan and the physician Liao will then prepare pills and decoctions to treat the plague.
Compared to reduced food production, epidemics are far more terrifying and harder to prevent.
Upon hearing this, Lin Yuesha dared not delay any longer and quickly put Doctor Yan back.
That night, Lin Yuesha felt someone beside her in her sleep. The person's scent was a faint, refreshing mint fragrance, which she recognized all too well.
"Husband?"
Lin Yuesha rubbed her eyes and saw Qi Heng sitting in front of the bed.
"My wife, as expected, nothing can be hidden from you."
Qi Heng bent down, pulled Lin Yuesha into his arms, stroked her hair, and whispered, "Did you sleep well?"
"Not good."
After yawning, Lin Yuesha gradually woke up. She carefully observed Qi Heng's complexion and saw that he had no more makeup on and looked to be recovering well.
When did you find out?
Lin Yuesha's subtle actions could not be hidden from Qi Heng at all.
For more than a month, the couple relied on carrier pigeons to send letters, and although they were in the capital, they did not meet.
"When Doctor Yan brought medicine pills to her husband."
The female doctor Yan mixed honey into the pills to cover it up, but Qi Heng had always been sensitive to the smell of blood, and with Lin Yuesha moving into the Prince's villa, there was nothing he didn't understand.
Qi Heng felt a pang of heartache every time he took the pills.
"Husband, you've come to the villa in the middle of the night. Are you leaving the capital?"
Seeing that Qi Heng's health had improved, Lin Yuesha felt relieved. "I heard from Sister Yan that there was flooding in the south. Has Uncle been busy with that matter?"
"Yes, and Xu Da too."
In a small town several hundred miles from the capital, there lived a man skilled in water conservancy. However, such a man was difficult to persuade, so Qi Heng dispatched Prince Luo and Xu Da to help them create an opportunity for reconciliation.
More than a month has passed, and the two of them should have reflected on their actions.
"So this is the method you were talking about. Knowing people and making good use of them is much better than you running yourself ragged."
Lin Yuesha nestled in Qi Heng's arms as the couple discussed the floods in the south.
"Others take it one step at a time, but you take it one step at a time and think about at least three steps ahead, or even the whole picture."
Lin Yuesha sincerely praised Qi Heng for sending medicinal herbs and plague-preventing decoctions to the south in advance, which at least served as a preventative measure.
"Not only that, there are other measures as well."
Qi Heng took out a storybook from his pocket and handed it to Lin Yuesha, saying, "Wife, take a look at this."
The script is signed "Xiao Qiuyue," suggesting it's a new play by Qiuyue's troupe.
Ever since Xiao Qiuyue brought the Qiuyue Troupe to the capital, Qi Heng invited people to the palace to bestow gifts upon them, and the status of the Qiuyue Troupe rose accordingly.
Qi Heng bestowed a mansion upon Xiao Qiuyue in the inner city of the capital, and hung a plaque inscribed with the words "The First Opera Troupe of the Great Qi."
The doctors in the Northern Region's universal healthcare system are ranked, and Xiao Qiuyue also holds a seventh-rank official position, which she can receive from the imperial court as official robes and salary.
"This is still a tragic drama."
Lin Yuesha lit the oil lamp and glanced through it; the plot was related to the plague.
An epidemic broke out, and the situation was dire.
The family was separated by officials. The elderly father, who had contracted the plague, was forcibly sent to a village below. The rest of the family did not want to be separated and declared that they would die together.
The officials patiently persuaded the panicked family members, and in the end, the old father recovered from the plague and returned home, allowing the whole family to reunite.
“Young Master Qiuyue is thoughtful. It’s better to isolate people during a plague than to spread it and have the whole family die together.”
In the history of the Great Qi Dynasty, there were two plagues, each of which killed countless people.
The officials carried away the plague patients, claiming to provide treatment, but in reality, they were going to find a place to burn them alive. The people knew this all too well, and thus resisted fiercely.
The characters of the officials in Xiao Qiuyue's story are portrayed in a very positive light, with the intention of advising the people not to panic.
"Xiao Qiuyue said that this is something you mentioned to him unintentionally."
As the top opera troupe of the Great Qi Dynasty, they naturally went wherever they were needed. Xiao Qiuyue ordered a batch of opera costumes, first took a boat to Cangzhou, and then went south from Cangzhou to perform.
"Did I mention that?"
Lin Yuesha had no recollection of this incident. The storybook described daily disinfection, ventilation, hygiene, isolation of plague patients, and drinking herbal medicine for prevention and health maintenance. These were all modern anti-epidemic experiences that Lin Yuesha copied directly.
If the public cooperates with the quarantine, it will have a very significant effect.
Lin Yuesha smiled, realizing that Xiao Qiuyue was somewhat like a modern media outlet, acting as a mouthpiece and playing a positive role in propaganda.
The people are still traumatized and don't really trust the government. It will take time and subtle changes to change their minds.
Even if a plague strikes, preparing in advance will minimize the damage.
"My husband, how will you reward me for this?"
Before Lin Yuesha could finish speaking, Qi Heng threw her onto the bed. A small flame flickered in his eyes, and he said in a hoarse voice, "All I can give you is my body. Why don't you test it, my wife?"
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