Chapter 328: Infected
County Magistrate Xu's attentive appearance made Zhao Yi suspicious.
He was a powerless prince who had not yet recognized his ancestral roots. He had half the blood of the Great Zhou Dynasty and was destined not to be valued by the Emperor of Northern Qi.
There was no need for County Magistrate Xu to please him. After all, most of the small local officials had a big tree behind them.
"How can I indulge in pleasure when the people are suffering?" Zhao Yi politely declined Magistrate Xu's offer and suggested, "Let's go directly to the government office."
County Magistrate Xu heard that Zhao Yi went to Jiang'anfang to visit the patients. Perhaps after seeing the miserable plight of the people, he felt pity and couldn't eat.
He had a better understanding of Zhao Yi in his heart. He was a master who cared about the people.
What a pity...
Magistrate Xu put aside his thoughts, stood aside, and said respectfully, "Please come in."
Zhao Yi put down the handkerchief in his hand, took off a cloak and put it on, then left the house with County Magistrate Xu.
Parked at the gate of the mansion was County Magistrate Xu's carriage and a sedan chair.
County Magistrate Xu trotted to the carriage, lifted the curtain, and invited Zhao Yi to get in.
He waited for Zhao Yi to sit down, then lowered the curtain and prepared to get on the sedan chair.
Zhao Yi's clear and melodious voice rang out from the carriage: "Master Xu, the carriage is spacious. You and I can ride together to the government office." After a pause, he added, "The carriage is warmer."
Magistrate Xu was startled, hesitated for a moment, then lifted the curtain and entered the carriage.
A four-legged lotus-petal-shaped porcelain stove was placed on the small table, making the carriage warm and relieving the coldness of County Magistrate Xu.
County Magistrate Xu sat upright opposite Zhao Yi, his mind tense as he prepared to answer Zhao Yi's questioning.
Unexpectedly, he waited for a long time but did not receive any response from Zhao Yi.
Magistrate Xu looked up and saw Zhao Yi leaning tiredly against the wall of the carriage with his eyes closed.
The next moment, Zhao Yi moved, as if he was a little afraid of the cold. He tightened the collar of his cloak with his fingers. The white fur around his collar made his face look a little pale.
When County Magistrate Xu saw Zhao Yi's unintentional action, he felt his scalp tingling for some unknown reason.
Zhao Yi was quiet and silent along the way.
County Magistrate Xu was preoccupied with his own affairs and had no time to test Zhao Yi. He just wished the carriage could go faster so that he could reach the yamen as soon as possible.
Suddenly, Zhao Yi moved.
Magistrate Xu froze, then heard Zhao Yi say, "I rushed here from Yuncheng today, leading my subordinates to eliminate the disease. I fell asleep as soon as I got on the carriage. Lord Xu, I hope you will forgive me."
Magistrate Xu pulled the corners of his mouth and forced a smile: "It's okay, it's okay."
At this time, the carriage stopped.
Magistrate Xu quickly jumped out of the carriage and breathed in the icy air, which penetrated his lungs and made him shiver. His tense nerves finally relaxed.
Zhao Yi got off the carriage and caught a glimpse of County Magistrate Xu quietly exhaling and about to speak.
Suddenly, he coughed softly.
County Magistrate Xu's expression suddenly changed.
Zhao Yi pretended not to see it and coughed a few more times intermittently until he stopped coughing. Only then did he look at County Magistrate Xu.
"I've had a bit of a cold these past few days and have a bit of a cough. It shouldn't affect my work, right?"
County Magistrate Xu felt as if he was facing a formidable enemy and subconsciously wanted to retreat. It took him immense willpower to restrain himself and not lose his composure in front of Zhao Yi.
Zhao Yi came to Yingcheng from Yuncheng and Panshi City. Plague also broke out in those two cities. Maybe Zhao Yi was infected with the plague?
Just now in the carriage, Zhao Yi was afraid of the cold, and this symptom of chills was a bit like contracting the plague.
County Magistrate Xu was terrified and didn't want to spend a moment with Zhao Yi, but he had spent a lot of effort to invite this person, so he had to say a few polite words.
Moreover, his purpose was to make Zhao Yi infected with the disease. Now that Zhao Yi was infected with the disease, it was really easy to get it.
"Your Highness, I was negligent. I didn't know you had caught a cold, and I disturbed your rest by asking you to do something for me."
Magistrate Xu suppressed his fear and said calmly, "If you are not feeling well, go back and rest early."
"I know my own health, so it's not a big deal for me." Zhao Yi coughed until his throat was hoarse, and he took a deep breath: "Don't worry about the money and food. Since you're here..."
Magistrate Xu quickly interrupted Zhao Yi and said, "The government's grain and money are collected from the people of Yingcheng. Yingcheng urgently needs grain and money to fight the plague, so I opened the treasury and used the money and grain to support the people of Yingcheng."
He swallowed nervously, "Northern Qi promised to provide money and grain to Great Zhou. When the people above ask about the official grain and official silver, I'll have to ask you to speak up for me."
Zhao Yi nodded slightly. "You are a good official who serves the country and the people. I will take responsibility for this matter for you." After a pause, he asked, "Is there anything else you need my advice on?"
Magistrate Xu quickly waved his hands: "No... no more."
Zhao Yi's eyes swept across County Magistrate Xu's face, and seeing the fear in his eyes that he was trying hard to hide, he withdrew his gaze indifferently, turned around and got into the carriage.
The driver was so frightened that he was shaking all over and stood beside the carriage without moving.
County Magistrate Xu glared at the driver and signaled him to take the person away quickly.
Compared to Zhao Yi who was sick in the carriage, the coachman was obviously more afraid of County Magistrate Xu. He waved his whip and drove the carriage to send Zhao Yi back the same way.
County Magistrate Xu watched the carriage disappear into a cloud of dust, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead with his sleeve. When he thought about riding in the same carriage with Zhao Yi, he felt as if ants were crawling all over his body, and felt extremely uncomfortable.
He quickly entered the government office and ordered the clerk to boil some medicine and send it to the study. Then, he wrote a letter in the study and arranged for someone to deliver it to the Lin family.
Everything that County Magistrate Xu did was seen by a pair of eyes in the dark.
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