With Chu Roujia's status as a princess and the protection of guards, the group entered the city without being stopped by the people.
The guards didn't lead the group; they just pointed out a general direction before returning to the city wall.
Upon entering the city, the three saw the dilapidated state of the streets.
Shops were closing down one after another, and the walls were covered with closure notices.
A few vendors risked their lives to continue operating, but they had long lost their former enthusiasm and vitality. They kept their doors and windows tightly closed, with only the flickering candlelight inside indicating that there were still people inside.
The streets were deserted, and almost no one wanted to go out.
Only a few street doctors wandered through the empty streets, constantly going from house to house.
Despite the tightly closed doors and windows of the houses within the city, endless cries of sorrow continued to emanate.
The scene inside the city was exactly as Tang Nian had guessed. However, Chu Roujia still had a stern face, her pale face still devoid of any color, and her resolute eyes were mixed with some unreadable emotions.
In her memory, Nanyu City should have been comparable to the imperial city, but now it has become like this.
“Isn’t that Ming Huan?” she whispered.
Ming Huan was standing in the middle of the road without any protection, while a man who didn't seem to be suffering from the plague was clinging tightly to her leg.
Chu Roujia was a little worried and unconsciously squeezed Tang Nian's arm, her fingers turning blue from the pressure.
"Sister Tang, he'll be alright, won't he?"
It's unclear whether she was worried about the disease infecting Ming Huan, or about the people lying on the ground.
Tang Nian peeked out and saw that Ming Huan was clearly overwhelmed with worry. She instinctively kicked him, sending the man flying two meters away.
A kitchen knife also flew out and stuck straight into the floor tile next to the man's ear.
Seeing that Minghuan still wanted to step forward, she quickly stopped him, saying, "Minghuan."
Upon hearing Tang Nian's voice, Ming Huan's eyes lit up. He disregarded the man and turned to run towards the carriage.
"What happened?"
"This guy wants me to save his whole family. He won't let go of me and even threatened me." As she spoke, she glanced at the man's terrified expression and gave a haughty snort.
"He got infected too?"
Ming Huan was also very sensitive to these miasmas.
He nodded almost imperceptibly, then glanced at An Yi and Chu Roujia, took two steps back, and hesitated to speak.
Tang Nian glanced at Chu Roujia, who hadn't been in good spirits the whole way, patted her clothes, bent down and stood up: "Roujia, you and An Yi go to the yamen, Minghuan and I will go out and take a look."
After speaking, she lifted the carriage curtain, jumped out, and headed towards a small alley.
Minghuan nodded to An and quickly turned around and jogged to catch up.
Tang Nian only stopped walking when the carriage was out of sight.
"Minghuan, what have you found out?" Tang Nian ripped off her mask, which was suffocating her.
Ming Huan wanted to lean against the wall, but after glancing at Tang Nian's face out of the corner of his eye, he stood up straight with a sullen expression.
"Seven days ago, an epidemic suddenly broke out in Nanyu City. At first, anyone who was infected was driven out of the city. The county magistrate ordered that no one should enter Nanyu City except for those who were leaving. However, the epidemic could not be controlled by the doctors in the city. Gradually, now anyone who is not on the verge of death is kept in the city. A refugee area has been set up in a corner of Nanyu City. Those who are dead or about to die are thrown out of the city, regardless of whether they live or die."
Ming Huan paused for a moment, then continued, "This outbreak of the epidemic was sudden. Several doctors from the Song family's pharmacy were also wandering around the refugee area, and the shop was empty."
"Only out, no in?" Tang Nian sneered. She had been dissatisfied outside the city for a long time. There was an epidemic, but only people were allowed to leave and no one was allowed to enter. Wasn't this just a way to let the epidemic spread to the entire Great Chu?
I wonder if there are any places like Nanyu City now.
"What about the officials in Nanyu City? They just issued a 'no entry, no exit' order? The imperial court hasn't received any news about it either."
Over the years, Tang Nian has experienced many things in the world and has seen many cities where epidemics have broken out, but she has never seen such a chaotic city.
"Ha, I won't see you."
Ming Huan got angry just thinking about it. After some searching, he decided to try his luck at the yamen (government office), but the yamen was closed and even the drum in front of the hall was nowhere to be found.
Ming Huan knocked on the door, but no one answered. He thought for a moment, then gently tapped the doorbell, and the doorbell began to knock on its own.
Perhaps annoyed by the incessant noise, Minghuan finally heard footsteps coming from behind the door.
The door opened a crack, and a servant-looking man peeked out. When he saw that there was only one person knocking, someone he had never seen before, a hint of contempt flashed in his eyes.
"Who are you to be so insolent!"
Ming Huan was stunned for a moment, and even more unexpectedly, after hearing his identity, the servant slammed the door shut without turning his head.
He went to ask the people and learned that the magistrate had said that apart from the emperor's decree and high-ranking officials in the capital, no one else would be seen.
This was the first time he had encountered such an inactive government, and it was in a city near the capital.
“Princess Huaining has gone; she will handle this matter.” Tang Nian shook her head, leaned against the wall, and looked up at the sky.
She also wanted the government to arrange a safe place for Chu Roujia, but after this incident, Chu Roujia should have something to do and wouldn't go looking for those refugees anymore.
"Why didn't Sister Tang persuade them to go back?" Ming Huan's tone was somewhat dissatisfied when talking about Chu Roujia and An Yi.
The affairs of Nanyu City are already busy enough, and bringing two mortals along only adds to the chaos.
Tang Nian didn't answer, but asked, "What was that person all about?"
“I don’t know. He suddenly rushed out of the house, grabbed my hand and asked me to save his family. When I refused, he grabbed my leg. I saw that he had a kitchen knife tucked in his waistband and was trying to pull it out, so I had to kick him away.”
Tang Nian nodded thoughtfully, then heard Ming Huan continue, "By the way, Sister Tang, this was given to you by the High God."
Tang Nian took the wooden box from Ming Huan's hand. The keyhole of the box was decorated with intricate patterns, making it look like a seal, but she opened the box with ease.
The contents of the box were familiar to Tang Nian; it was also a merit bead, containing a considerable amount of merit.
If we let her absorb it, then we can finish solving the problems in Nanyu City and be done with it.
but……
Tang Nian didn't hesitate. She slammed the wooden box shut, tossed it back to Ming Huan, and said softly, "I don't need it. If it's useful to you, keep it."
"Really?" Minghuan's eyes lit up with excitement.
Tang Nian nodded, watching Ming Huan excitedly hold the beads in his hands and play with them, a smile appearing on her lips.
"Take me to see the refugee camp." As she spoke, Tang Nian put on a mask and handed one to Ming Huan.
"Ah? Okay." Minghuan reluctantly tucked the bead into his sleeve, patting it gently through the sleeve.
He led Tang Nian through the streets and alleys, and soon they spotted a corner guarded by soldiers.
Perhaps the soldiers had already heard about Chu Roujia's arrival and, upon learning that she was traveling with them, quickly allowed the two to pass.
In the corner, the people who had been imprisoned lay sprawled on the ground, rolling and groaning, with only a straw mat beneath them and no place to walk.
However, they don't need to walk. None of them have mild symptoms. In Tang Nian's eyes, these people are all going to die soon.
Tang Nian didn't find the doctor among the group of people. She pushed open the door of the temporarily enclosed room and saw several masked people gathered around the medicine stove.
"Excuse me, is Manager Song here?"
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