Normally, even if Xue Lin disliked this kind of approach, with higher-ups making a grand entrance to "understand the people's livelihood"...
Xue Lin would still make simple arrangements, assigning yamen runners to stand at the city gate, and personally greet them.
The registrar would usually help arrange accommodations, prepare tea, a welcoming banquet, and rest areas.
Today, Xue Lin was busy running around the city, arranging for people whose condition had improved and whose symptoms had disappeared to be transferred back to their homes by special personnel, so that they could live and be quarantined.
The vacated space will be used to transfer patients who were lying outdoors to centralized locations such as temples, charitable institutions, and schools.
During this period, the county constable led his yamen runners to carry out environmental disinfection and debris removal.
A garrison soldier entered the city to report to the county magistrate that the prefect was arriving with great fanfare...
The county constable wore a mocking expression, his tightly pursed lips revealing the ruthlessness expected of someone in that position.
He ordered the guards, "Open the city gates, without informing Lord Xue!"
Having dealt with the prefect for many years, how could he not know the ways these people behave!
Even knowing the city gates would open, they dared not approach them even a step...
The county lieutenant did not report to the magistrate because he was considerate of Xue Lin's busy schedule...
Instead of putting down what you're doing and obediently listening to the prefect's ramblings and nonsensical commands, it's better to spend your time with the county magistrate and do something more meaningful and enjoyable.
If the prefect wants to blame someone, he can simply take the blame; Lord Xue was completely unaware of the situation...
However, the county magistrate had just been to the village and knew that the registrar was also there, and that the divine physician and Mr. Qin had been there these past few days...
Based on the past few days of interaction, he had become quite convinced of the doctor's abilities, and Mr. Qin was not to be underestimated. The county magistrate was not worried at all.
The guards were very responsible; they knew the situation inside and outside the city better than anyone else.
Unable to tolerate the prefect's bullying of the county magistrate, he didn't travel incognito, but brought several groups of men, clearly there to protect his safety...
Those who don't know the situation probably think that the prefect is concerned about the safety of Yongning and brought so many people to help!
The guards immediately returned and, together with their comrades, opened the city gates.
Unlike the night Ning Xi'er first arrived, even though the city gates are open now, no one in the city wants to rush out.
Everything was in good order, and the patients were properly taken care of. Even after they recovered and returned home, they were escorted home by government officials.
Looking around, there was no one wandering the road, and no one was taking care of them.
The prefect's carriage slowly made its way towards Yongning.
Just a mile or two from the city gate, it suddenly detoured towards the countryside and villages.
Originally, it would have been more convenient for them to reach their destination by taking a detour through the city gate...
However, the prefect valued his life highly and worried that germs from Yongning City might drift outside the city and pose a risk to those passing through...
They then kept their distance.
The guards, seeing this from afar, couldn't help but show disdain.
To ensure a safe arrival at the village where there were no patients or villagers with a history of contact with them, the prefect took a long detour.
As soon as the prefect's carriage and procession passed by, no one noticed that many villagers were appearing not far behind.
It was precisely because the villagers of the three villages, who had no history of illness or contact with infected individuals, were eloquent and persuasive, that they managed to hold them off at the village entrance...
They appeared on the road where the prefect's procession had passed, carrying loads on shoulder poles and winnowing baskets...
As soon as the prefect's carriage arrived at the village entrance, the bailiffs looked around but saw no one to greet them...
Xue Lin's shadow was nowhere to be seen, so he reported this to the prefect inside the carriage...
The prefect, sitting inside the carriage, covered his mouth and nose with a handkerchief, as if afraid there might be something in the air that could cure him.
Upon hearing of Xue Lin's disrespectful attitude, the prefect was furious.
He had always suspected that the notice that appeared out of nowhere was Xue Lin's doing.
The text vividly portrays Xue Lin's sense of responsibility and righteousness, subtly criticizing his inaction in relation to the prefect and surrounding counties...
The prefect's arrival is a desperate measure, a result of the public outrage stirred up by these notices.
If we don't do something soon, the news will get out of control and reach the capital. Those people might not be able to protect themselves then...
Thinking of this, the prefect was filled with rage and became extremely angry.
Suddenly, in an instant, a crowd surged in front of the carriage. The constables scattered to the sides, and the constable who had just reported to the prefect and was closest to the carriage tried to defend himself, but it was too late...
The prefect was worried about safety outside, so he didn't even lift the carriage curtain and was unaware of the situation.
But hearing the screams, I had a bad feeling...
The nearest constable leaped forward to block the carriage, but it was too late...
The prefect smelled a pungent, fishy stench, and the carriage curtain was flung open by the force of the impact...
A thick, black, foul-smelling liquid was poured over him from head to toe...
"How dare you!"
Each time a constable stopped him, he angrily rebuked him and quickly turned to check on the prefect.
The prefect's clothes were so badly stained that the original patterns were no longer visible; they were completely covered in thick, black blood...
It emitted a pungent, fishy stench...
The prefect seemed somewhat taken aback by this sudden turn of events…
After remaining motionless for a long time, he slowly raised his head...
Black blood was now flowing freely from his fair, plump cheeks, leaving only two clearly visible white irises...
At this moment, his killing intent was palpable!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
