251. It killed someone.
Upon hearing this, the magistrate's smile froze for a moment. He rubbed his hands hesitantly and said, "But... but I haven't apologized to Lord Xie yet. How about you make an exception for me? Just say that I know I was wrong, and that I'll take people to clear the snow first thing tomorrow morning. I promise to clean it up properly and not hold them back."
The clerk beside him chimed in, "Yes, Physician Shen, our lord truly wants to help, but he's clumsy with words and misspoke just now. Please help him out."
Shenyang Nong frowned, his tone turning cold: "We can talk about apologies later. The most important thing now is to let Lord Xie rest. If you are truly sincere, hurry back and arrange manpower to start construction as soon as possible. That will be more effective than saying any nice words here."
After saying that, he ignored the others and turned to go to the pharmacy next door.
They and the patients have all moved into the house. Although the house is a bit old, it is much safer than the tent.
As the magistrate watched Shenyang Nong's retreating figure, the smile on his face gradually faded, and his heart remained uneasy.
A minor official approached and said, "Sir, since Physician Shen has said so, why don't we go back first and take people to work early tomorrow? If Lord Xie sees how proactive we are, he might not be angry anymore."
The magistrate hesitated for a moment, then nodded: "That's the only way."
But after taking only a few steps, he stopped again.
He felt that he wouldn't be able to sleep soundly all night unless he personally confirmed that Xie Wenling had calmed down.
"You two go back first, I'll go take another look," the magistrate said to the clerks. Before they could object, he turned and walked towards the house.
He tiptoed around to the side of the house, and seeing that the door was closed, he slowly walked along the wall to the window.
The window frame originally didn't have a sash, and since no one was available to install one, it was temporarily covered with coarse cloth, leaving a gap along the edge.
The magistrate thought for a moment, then tore open the coarse cloth and looked inside.
Under the candlelight, Xie Wenling was fast asleep, leaning against the headboard, his face frighteningly pale.
The magistrate released his grip again.
He wanted to go in and apologize, but seeing Xie Wenling's appearance, he was afraid of disturbing his rest and making him even angrier.
"Let's talk about it tomorrow," he muttered to himself, turning to walk back.
However, he forgot to close the gap in the open window.
So the cold wind kept sneaking into the tent through that opening.
Xie Wenling felt increasingly cold in his hazy state, as if countless ice needles were drilling into his bones.
He tried to wake up to check, but he couldn't control himself. His consciousness gradually blurred, and finally he was completely plunged into darkness.
-
The next morning, Shenyang Nong carried the decocted medicine into the house, and as soon as he opened the door, he felt a blast of cold air hit him.
Looking around, I discovered that the coarse cloth covering the window had been completely torn open by the cold wind.
He was startled and quickly walked to the bedside, only to see Xie Wenling's face as pale as paper, his breathing so weak that it was almost imperceptible, while his cheeks and lips were tinged with a sickly crimson.
"Lord Xie! Lord Xie, please wake up!" Shen Yangong hurriedly reached out to check Xie Wenling's breath and touched his forehead. The burning temperature made his heart sink.
It's burning even harder than yesterday!
He turned around in a panic to call the guards, but just as he reached the door, he saw the county magistrate hurrying over with several bailiffs, a fawning smile on his face: "Imperial Physician Shen, we've come to apologize to Lord Xie, as you see..."
Before he could finish speaking, Shen Yangong's face turned ashen, and he asked sternly, "Did you come into the house last night? Why was the window open?"
The magistrate's heart skipped a beat, and he realized that he had forgotten to close the window last night. He quickly waved his hand and said, "I... I just wanted to see Lord Xie, but I didn't dare to go in, and I forgot to close the window... I didn't mean to!"
"It wasn't intentional?" Shen Yangong trembled with anger. "Lord Xie was already seriously ill, and after being exposed to the cold wind all night, he's now unconscious! If anything happens to Lord Xie, can you bear the responsibility?"
The magistrate was so frightened that his legs went weak and he almost collapsed onto the snow: "No, it can't be... It's just a bit of cold wind, how could this be..."
Shenyang Nong took a deep breath, suppressing his anger.
Now is not the time to assign blame; saving Xie Wenling is the most important thing.
He looked at the terrified magistrate and said coldly, "If you have any conscience at all, get to work now. If you dare to make any more mistakes, I will definitely report to the imperial court and you will not be let off!"
The magistrate nodded hurriedly and led his constables away.
He is now in a state of utter confusion.
If something were to happen to Xie Wenling, it would be a small matter if he lost his official position; he might even lose his life!
Inside the room, the medical staff busied themselves around Xie Wenling.
Looking at Xie Wenling's bloodless face, Shenyang Nong felt a pang of sadness.
Xie Wenling had worked tirelessly for the people of Qiuhe City, enduring countless grievances, but now, due to a small oversight by the county magistrate, he had fallen into a coma.
If something really happens to them, what will happen to the people of Qiuhe City?
"Lord Xie, you must hold on! The people of Qiuhe City are waiting for you, and Princess Fukang is still waiting for news of you in the capital. You can't just collapse like this!"
The cold wind was still blowing outside.
No one knows whether Xie Wenling can pull through this ordeal.
-
The little dumpling was awakened by a nightmare. The sky outside the window was just beginning to brighten, and the snow light shone through the curtains onto the bed, casting a cold, eerie glow.
Her forehead was covered in cold sweat, and the images from her dream were still flashing before her eyes—
She saw Brother Xie lying on the cold wooden board, his face deathly pale. Doctor Shen covered him from head to toe with a white cloth, tears streaming down his face.
There were many white cloths hanging next to Brother Xie. They put him in a coffin and buried him in the ground.
Physician Shen said that after Brother Xie fell into a coma, he never woke up again.
She looked so sad and wanted to run over and stop him.
However, she has no physical form in this dream; she is merely a powerless bystander.
The scene shifts to Qiuhe City, where many people are lying in the snow, some coughing weakly, but no one dares to approach.
More and more people are dying...
Finally, a man who looked somewhat like the Shining Bean Prince rode a tall horse, followed by soldiers, holding a sign that read "City Lockdown." The heavy city gates slammed shut, locking away the cries and despair inside the city.
No one could survive.
—A voice told her this.
"No!" the little dumpling cried out, clutching the blanket tightly with her tiny hands.
Jiang Xiyue, who had gotten up early to visit her, heard the noise and quickly came in, holding her in her arms: "Yue'er, what's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?"
The little girl buried herself in her mother's arms, tears streaming down her face: "Yue'er dreamt that Brother Xie died, and everyone in Qiuhe City... they all died. What should we do? Is it really going to happen?"
Jiang Xiyue was startled upon hearing this. She patted her back and tried to remain calm, saying, "No, Yue'er, dreams are always the opposite of reality! Your brother Xie is so capable, he can definitely cure the plague."
But a wave of fear washed over the little girl: "But...but the dream felt so real, Yue'er is scared..."
Jiang Xiyue gently wiped away her tears with a handkerchief: "Yue'er, be good, don't cry. Mother has already sent servants to inquire, and we'll definitely have news in a couple of days."
She herself didn't sound confident when she said that.
With such heavy snow, I don't know when communication will be normal again.
The little girl nestled in Jiang Xiyue's arms, sobbing as she said, "Mother, Yue'er wants to write a letter to Brother Xie..."
Although Jiang Xiyue understood that it would be a long time before her letter reached Xie Wenling, she still nodded and carried her to the table: "Okay, Mother will help you write. We'll have the messenger send it over by fast horse. Maybe your brother Xie will get better after receiving the letter?"
The little dumpling held a small calligraphy brush and wrote stroke by stroke, tears dripping onto the rice paper and spreading into tiny ink dots.
-
Tao Wanbi was woken up by the system.
This ridiculous system is acting crazy. It suddenly started setting off fireworks, making a loud, crackling noise that gave her a headache and kept her awake.
The voice of the cerebral palsy system was particularly excited, with an undisguised elation.
[Host! Good news! This blizzard caught them completely off guard. Xie Wenling is suffering from a high fever and is in a coma. Not only did the Prince of Zhennan not send reinforcements, but he also killed the person Xie Wenling sent to urge for supplies! The county government is also dragging their feet. Judging from this situation—Xie Wenling won't live more than three days!]
"Huh?" Tao Wanbi was still secretly cursing the system in her mind, not quite understanding what was going on. "Xie Wenling is going to die? He died on his own?"
Didn't her mission fail?
Doesn't she need to lift a finger?
Yes, that's right! Hahaha, I really didn't expect this! This snow is wonderful!
With Xie Wenling dead, Jin Lanyue has lost her backer, and your safety will be guaranteed. Then you can seize the opportunity to turn the tables!
“…I understand.” Tao Wanbi yawned, feeling much more relaxed.
At least she didn't kill the person, which made her feel much more at ease.
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