Chapter 232 Contracting the Plague
An unusual guest arrived outside Lu Baohua's residence.
Zhou Yan, dressed in a brocade robe and befitting a wealthy merchant, stepped down from the carriage.
Holding the visiting card, he earnestly addressed the gatekeeper: "I am Zhou Yan, the manager of Dengdi Inn. My elder family member has fallen seriously ill. I have long heard of the miraculous medical skills of Physician Lu, so I have come to request your help. I hope you will convey my request."
Zhou Yan came to Lu Baohua's place, obviously on Yin Zhu's orders, to look for Pei Jichuan's whereabouts.
The gatekeeper looked him up and down suspiciously before turning around and going into the mansion to announce his arrival.
Before long, the gatekeeper came out and politely invited Zhou Yan inside.
Lu Baohua personally received him in the flower hall. He was about fifty years old, with gray hair but smooth skin. His eyes were sharp and restrained, revealing a shrewdness and worldliness that seemed incongruous with his status as an imperial physician.
At this moment, only Zhou Yan was present. Shui Xian was not here; otherwise, she would have noticed that Lu Baohua's face had become noticeably haggard since the day she gave birth to Yongning.
Lu Baohua stroked his beard, a knowing smile on his face, and praised Zhou Yan, who had just entered, to the skies.
"Manager Zhou, please have a seat! Dengdi Inn is now quite famous in the capital. I've heard of it for a long time, but I've never had the chance to meet you. Seeing you today, Manager Zhou is indeed young and promising, with an extraordinary demeanor!"
Zhou Yan's face showed just the right amount of humility, with a hint of youthful arrogance.
"You flatter me, Your Honor. My elder family member is seriously ill, and all the famous doctors in the city are helpless. That is why I have taken the liberty of coming to your door to earnestly request your assistance."
Lu Baohua caught a glimpse of Zhou Yan's "unconscious" youthful arrogance and felt a bit of contempt for him.
However, Lu Baohua's smile remained unchanged.
However, the person Zhou Yan mentioned next caused Lu Baohua's expression to change slightly.
Zhou Yan: "It's quite a coincidence. I heard a couple of days ago that the Imperial Physician Pei Jichuan of the Imperial Hospital was also very skilled. I wanted to look for him, but I heard that he had taken leave to go home and disappeared. It's a real pity."
A fleeting, strange light flashed in Lu Baohua's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure, shaking his head and sighing, "Physician Pei? Young man, unpredictable. Perhaps something urgent has happened at home. I haven't seen him these past few days; I truly have no idea where he is."
With a casual remark, he distanced himself completely from the relationship.
Zhou Yan didn't expose him, but smiled gently and started asking about Lu Baohua's consultation fee.
These two cunning individuals, whose combined wits are at least a thousand or eight hundred, engaged in a fierce battle of wits with just a few words, exchanging blows without revealing their true intentions.
Finally, Lu Baohua acted as if she and Zhou Yan were quite compatible, and warmly tried to persuade them to stay.
"It's rare for Manager Zhou to come all this way. It's already noon. If you don't mind, please have some simple food and drinks at my humble abode so that I can show you some hospitality. As for your mother's illness, I will carefully consider a prescription for you after the meal."
"this……"
Zhou Yan looked troubled. "I still have some miscellaneous matters to attend to at the inn, so I'm afraid I can't stay any longer."
Lu Baohua's smile remained unchanged: "No matter how busy you are, you still have to eat. It won't make a difference if you wait a little while... Manager Zhou, do you look down on me?"
Now that things have come to this point, if Zhou Yan were to refuse again, it would only arouse suspicion.
He had no choice but to agree: "Then I'll trouble Judge Lu."
The banquet was held in a side hall, and the dishes on the table were exquisite.
However, just as Zhou Yan sat down at the table and picked up his chopsticks, he caught a glimpse of a tiny, unwashed stain on the edge of the bowl and plate out of the corner of his eye.
Zhou Yan was wary and only used the dishes that Lu Baohua had used, not even touching the dishes herself.
During the meal, Lu Baohua chatted and laughed, frequently urging people to drink and serving food.
Zhou Yan, however, did not drink a drop of alcohol, citing the need to "remain sober while handling inn affairs."
Upon seeing this, a shadow of gloom crossed the depths of Lu Baohua's eyes.
However, he still had a smile on his face and did not insist.
After finishing his meal, Zhou Yan got up to say goodbye again, and Lu Baohua did not try to keep him.
Lu Baohua personally escorted Zhou Yan to the gate of the mansion, his attitude warm and attentive, leaving no room for criticism.
Lu Baohua: "Please take your time, Manager Zhou. I will send someone to Dengdi Inn after I have carefully considered your mother's prescription."
"It will be judged by the Labor Court."
Zhou Yan cupped his hands in greeting, turned, and left.
After leaving the Lu residence and confirming that no one was following him, Zhou Yan finally relaxed a little.
He quickly reunited with his fellow martial arts brothers who were lying in wait outside the Lu residence.
"Manager Zhou, how is it?"
A lean, capable-looking man asked in a low voice.
"Lu Baohua is an old fox; he's polite on the surface but treacherous on the inside."
Fortunately, he was cautious enough. If Lu Baohua had dared to poison the food, everyone would have died!
Zhou Yan recalled the obvious stain on the bowl and plate from earlier and felt as if he had dodged a sneak attack.
He looked at everyone and asked succinctly, "What have you found over there?"
Another person reported: "As planned, while Lu Baohua was receiving Manager Zhou in the front hall, we sneaked into the backyard to investigate. There is an abandoned cellar in the northeast corner of the backyard. The entrance is hidden, but there are fresh footprints and traces of dragging heavy objects. There are also two people dressed as servants guarding outside, acting suspiciously."
"It's highly likely that Imperial Physician Pei is being held there!"
A cold glint flashed in Zhou Yan's eyes: "Just as I thought!"
Today's plan was not centered around him. As the manager of Dengdi Inn, almost everyone in the capital knew that he had the backing of the current Imperial Noble Consort.
Zhou Yan's real plan was to have him distract the old fox Lu Baohua from the front, while his acquaintances from the martial arts world went to the back to investigate the truth.
When Zhou Yan heard that his brothers' investigation was largely in line with his guess, he nodded and was about to deploy a nighttime rescue plan when he suddenly felt a wave of dizziness, as if it were an illusion.
At the same time, a chill ran up his spine, making him shiver involuntarily.
"Manager Zhou, what's wrong?"
The martial arts brothers raised an eyebrow and looked at him.
Zhou Yan shook his head, trying to dispel the discomfort.
"Oh no!" Zhou Yan's heart sank to the bottom. "I might have been infected!"
Although he didn't know exactly how Lu Baohua had tricked him, Zhou Yan was being cautious, and fine beads of cold sweat had already appeared on his forehead.
"Listen to me, no one is to come near me without my order!"
Zhou Yan made a decisive decision: "Immediately report to the Imperial Noble Consort in the palace through reliable channels the news that Physician Pei may be imprisoned in the abandoned cellar in the backyard of the Lu residence!"
If he really did contract the plague, he must immediately isolate himself and must not spread the possible disease to his brothers, let alone bring it back to the palace!
"yes!"
His subordinates, seeing that his breathing was unsteady, dared not be negligent.
Zhou Yan forced himself to return to the cellar of Dengdi Inn. As soon as he stepped across the threshold, he could no longer hold on. His vision went black, and he forced himself to lie down on the simple sleeping mat next to him.
His trusted aide reacted quickly, supporting him and touching his forehead, which was burning hot!
"Shopkeeper! You have a fever!"
——
Inside the Lihe Palace, Shui Xian soon received a secret report from outside the palace.
Zhou Yan fell ill with a high fever and sent back news that Pei Jichuan might be imprisoned in the Lu family's cellar.
When the letter was opened, Yinzhu was serving her.
When she learned that Zhou Yan had fallen ill, she froze as she poured tea for Shui Xian, spilling some of the tea.
Her eyes betrayed her unconcealed worry, and even the usually composed woman was now flustered.
"Your Majesty, Zhou Yan, he..."
Seeing the flustered Yinzhu, Shuixian asked her if she wanted to leave the palace to visit Zhou Yan.
Yinzhu didn't say she didn't want to, but only that the Empress couldn't be separated from someone by her side now.
Narcissus understood what she meant.
She acted decisively, grasping Yinzhu's hand to convey a sense of reassurance.
Narcissus spoke in a commanding tone, but her gaze toward Silver Pearl was full of tenderness.
"Yinzhu, leave the palace immediately, take my token, and go take care of Zhou Yan. He needs someone he can absolutely trust by his side right now."
"Remember to act according to the methods for preventing and controlling the epidemic that Pei Jichuan previously predicted, and protect yourselves."
"Your Majesty..."
Yinzhu's eyes reddened; she was worried about both sides and wanted to protect them both.
"Go quickly!"
Shui Xian's motivation wasn't just for Yin Zhu's feelings, but also for Zhou Yan, a loyal and capable man.
Pei Jichuan is key, and Zhou Yan is equally key!
"Don't worry, I will personally handle Physician Pei's case!"
Yinzhu knew this was not the time to hesitate, and kowtowed heavily: "This servant will certainly not fail Your Majesty's trust!"
Shui Xian gave her a token representing the Imperial Noble Consort, made up an urgent family matter, and sent Yin Zhu out of the palace to "visit relatives".
After Yinzhu left, Shuixian summoned Xiaolizi and Tinglu.
“Tinglu, you managed to unintentionally leak the information that Lu Baohua might imprison his colleagues for personal gain to Censor Wang, who has a long-standing grudge against Lu Baohua and whose family is at odds with the Liu family.”
"Remember, just give him clues, don't provide evidence, and guide him to investigate on his own."
"This servant understands!"
After giving instructions to Tinglu, Shuixian looked at Xiaolizi.
"Little Lizi, prepare all the medicines and supplies that Pei Jichuan mentioned before for preventing and treating the epidemic, and be ready at any time... Also, select a few skilled eunuchs that you have personally trained, I will need them."
Xiao Lizi bowed in agreement and quietly withdrew to prepare.
Narcissus stood alone in the hall, while the night deepened outside the window.
Emperor Zhaoheng is still in Cining Palace, and his condition is unknown.
Zhou Yan and Pei Jichuan are in trouble, their fates unknown...
Empress, Lu Baohua, do you think you can defeat me like this?
No, I will never let you succeed!
——
Inside the study of the Lu family mansion, the candlelight flickered.
Lu Baohua leisurely sipped his tea and said to the butler with a smug look, "That kid Zhou Yan is indeed quite shrewd. He didn't touch a drop of alcohol at the banquet, which was a complete waste of the wine cup I prepared for him that had been used by a plague patient."
He spoke as if he was very regretful, but his smile didn't diminish in the slightest.
"What a pity. No matter how shrewd he is, he couldn't have predicted that I would make a fuss over that inconspicuous cushion. That cushion was painstakingly obtained from the Cining Palace and is tainted with illness. If he sits on it for even a short while... humph."
"Not to mention, the banquet just now was full of dishes that accelerate the course of the disease. Ordinary people would not have any reaction after eating them, but for those who have been infected by the disease, they are deadly poison!"
It turns out that Lu Baohua had even tampered with the cushion Zhou Yan was sitting on, leaving it with lingering illness energy, which was why Zhou Yan was affected.
Not to mention, he also used his pharmacological knowledge to accelerate the speed and process of Zhou Yan's illness.
The butler flattered, "Master's strategy is brilliant; Zhou Yan is doomed this time..."
Lu Baohua stroked his beard with satisfaction, a glint of greed in his eyes: "As for Pei Jichuan in the cellar... he's a tough nut to crack. However, the prescription he researched for preventing and treating the epidemic is a tremendous achievement. Once he can't hold on any longer and obediently writes down the prescription, he'll be... useless."
He could almost see himself presenting the prescription, receiving promotions and titles, and firmly controlling the Imperial Medical Academy.
Lu Baohua laughed heartily, his voice carrying a hint of petty triumph.
Little did he know, an invisible net was quietly closing in on him, following Narcissus's instructions...
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