Chapter 131 Must Hold On
Gu Huailing took Chen Yuan to his temporary office.
It was a small, secluded room that had been temporarily cleared out by the government office. Inside was a table, and behind the table was a camp bed. There wasn't even a place for people to sit.
Gu Huailing's eyes were bloodshot and his face was filled with fatigue that was hard to conceal.
"I'll have someone take you back tomorrow. The water in Yizhou is too deep, and it's too dangerous for my lady to stay here."
Chen Yuan shook her head, gazing at Gu Huailing with clear eyes, "I won't leave. My lord, I want to stand by you. The news from the Protectorate Palace is that the Fourth Prince wants you to stay in Yizhou."
Gu Huailing's eyes were cold and gloomy. He held Chen Yuan in his arms without saying a word.
"The rice I brought can only last for three days. Tomorrow I will have Qingqing and Zhinu go to the surrounding areas to collect food. But if you don't have the relief grain from the imperial court, the Shen family won't be able to hold out for long."
She looked at Gu Huailing's expression and asked, "Sir, have you made plans in advance?"
Gu Huailing took Shen Yuan's hand and sat down on the small bed. "We left Beijing in such a hurry that we only planned half of it."
At this point, a hint of murderous intent flashed in his eyes, "I just never thought that the Emperor would allow the Fourth Prince to do whatever he wants."
Chen Yuan didn't expect that Emperor Tiansheng would be so confused.
Unfortunately, he is the only prince in the palace now.
You can't kill him.
That night, Chen Yuan was suddenly awakened by the fire outside.
Gu Huailing had already sat up, wearing a cloak.
He tucked the corner of the quilt for Shen Yuan and patted her back gently. "I'll go check on her. Madam, go to sleep first."
As soon as he finished speaking, Sijiu's panicked voice rang out from outside, "Master, something's happened. There's an epidemic among the people."
Gu Huailing stood up suddenly and turned back to tell Chen Yuan, "Madam, stay in the government office and don't go anywhere."
After saying this, he walked out.
Gu Huailing tapped his knuckles on the chair, his face gloomy as he looked at the accompanying imperial physician, "Are you sure it's an epidemic?"
The accompanying imperial physician looked at Gu Huailing nervously, "Looking back at the auxiliary medical records, there was an epidemic like this during the Zhaode period. I've read the records before, and I'm sure they're correct."
Gu Huailing stood up and said, "Where is the source of the epidemic? Take me there."
The rain started falling again outside, as if it was going to penetrate the dark night.
Gu Huailing stepped out first. "If we find the source of the disease, we must burn it if it's dead, and separate the infected from the healthy people."
A series of orders were issued, and everyone was busy.
The splashing mud stained Gu Huailing's trouser legs, but he didn't even look at them.
It turned out to be an epidemic, and Chen Yuan immediately got up to find the imperial physician.
As soon as he went out, he ran into Ma Youcai, the governor of Yizhou, who was carrying a package and acting suspiciously.
Ma Youcai looked at Shen Yuan with a flattering expression, "Madam Prime Minister, why isn't Madam Ye Shenshuang resting in the house?"
Shen Yuan's eyes fell on the bag on Ma Youcai's back, "Where is the prefect going? Are you trying to escape under the cover of night?"
Ma Youcai shuddered all over, and the fat on his face was drooping due to hunger in the past two days.
He smiled bitterly, "How could that be? I just went out to check on the damage."
He walked forward in a panic, talking.
Shen Yuan stretched out his foot.
"Ouch!" Ma Youcai tripped and fell to the ground.
The bundle fell apart, and all the gold, silver and valuables fell out.
Shen Yuan looked down at him, "The prefect wants to use his own private treasury to help the people."
Ma Youcai sweatdropped, "As I should, as I should."
Shen Yuan squatted down and quickly stuffed a ball of mud into his mouth.
"Thinking of taking advantage of the chaos to escape? I advise you to give up on this idea. Sending people to watch you is a waste of manpower. What was just stuffed into your mouth was Chuanchang Powder. I am the only one who has the antidote. If you run again, you will die of the poison."
After Shen Yuan finished speaking, he stood up and looked at Ma Youcai, "Put away the gold and silver that the adults brought."
Ma Youcai held his throat and fainted as soon as he closed his eyes when he heard the words!
His gold is gone!
Chen Yuan spent the whole night helping the imperial physician set up the medicine furnace and boil medicine.
It was only at dawn that Gu Huailing returned, feeling cold.
He held his cloak tightly and when he saw Chen Yuan he immediately signaled her to stay away from him.
"I've boiled some hot water. My Lord, go wash up first."
After saying that, he quickly ordered Taozi, "Go and bring some ginger soup and rice porridge to dispel the cold."
These days, like the common people, the best food they ate was rice porridge.
Gu Huailing sat in the bathtub, closed his eyes and rested. His head was dizzy and the roaring sound kept surrounding his ears.
Shen Yuan walked in with ginger soup in hand.
"Master, please drink the ginger soup."
Gu Huailing opened his eyes only after hearing Shen Yuan's words, his tired face pressed down by him.
He got out of the tub, put on his undershirt, took the medicine bowl and drank it all in one gulp. "Thank you for your hard work, Madam."
"Ma Youcai tried to escape last night, but I caught him. I stuffed a mud ball into his mouth and tricked him into thinking it was Chuanchang Powder. He won't dare to act like a troublemaker again these days."
As soon as Shen Yuan turned around after speaking, she saw Gu Huailing falling straight down.
Shen Yuan was shocked, "Sir!"
The handkerchief in Shen Yuan's hand had not even cooled down when Gu Huailing suddenly developed a high fever and was burning all over.
Chen Yuan wrung out another wet handkerchief and placed it on Gu Huailing's head.
The imperial physician was trembling beside him.
Chen Yuan's face was a little cold, "What's wrong with you, sir? You've already taken the medicine, but the fever hasn't gone down yet."
The imperial physician looked terrified, "Madam, I'm afraid the Prime Minister has more than just a high fever. He's contracted an epidemic."
Shen Yuan's expression suddenly changed.
She looked at the doctor's eyes fixed on him and said coldly, "My lord, you are not infected with the disease. You are just too tired and need to rest for two days."
The imperial physician panicked, and Chen Yuan gave Sijiu a look.
Sijiu immediately drew out his knife, and the shiny steel knife seemed to be emitting cold air.
The imperial physician wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve and changed his words, "The Prime Minister has worked so hard that his energy and blood have been depleted, which is why he fell ill... He will be fine after a few days of rest..."
"Has everyone remembered the imperial physician's words?"
Chen Yuan's eyes turned around, "If anyone spreads this matter, they will be killed without mercy."
Gu Huailing is now the backbone of Yizhou, and he alone determines the life and death of the people of Yizhou.
Nothing must happen to him!
She didn't dare to imagine what the court would do if word got out that he had contracted the disease.
After she finished speaking, her tone suddenly softened, "Whatever medicine the imperial physician needs, I have it all here. Can you treat it?"
The imperial physician wiped his sweat and nodded quickly, "I, I will do my best."
Chen Yuan didn't say anything, but his expression darkened again.
The imperial physician immediately changed the subject, "Yes, it can be cured."
Gu Huailing was fine that night, but he started vomiting the next day. He vomited up whatever medicine he was given, and his high fever persisted.
Chen Yuan stood in the night, the inky darkness covering everything, and she felt it was too dark.
Gu Huailing woke up once late at night, and in a half-asleep state he saw Chen Yuan's worried eyes.
Shen Yuan walked forward with the medicine and said softly, "Sir, please drink the medicine, okay?"
Gu Huailing was dizzy with fever and looked at Chen Yuan, "Madam, stay away from me. This is an epidemic."
Chen Yuan burst into tears. She held Gu Huailing's hand and said, "My Lord, you must hold on. The people of Yizhou are still waiting for you."
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