Chapter 1460: What did you say? (Part 2) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
"Ximin, no matter what you become, even if you have a blue face and fangs, it's still you, and my feelings for you will never change." Cui Xiong finally calmed down from his intense emotions and held Miao Ne's hands in his. With his wet eyes, he truly seemed to be expressing his deepest feelings.
Miao Ne wasn't used to such directness.
Suppressing the urge to pull her hand back, Miao Ne tried. But before she could even apply force, she noticed a warm liquid on Cui Xiong's palm, whether it was tears or sweat, she couldn't tell. She abruptly stopped, turning her head away with a helpless sigh.
I comforted myself by letting him hold my hand, thinking it was a way of comforting him.
It's unclear who Cui Xiong resembles, crying and sobbing in public without any shame. Cui Zhi, that cunning fox, doesn't seem like it, and the always bold and decisive Lady Cui Hui is even less likely. After much thought, the conclusion is that Cui Xiong resembles no one; he's simply simple-minded and lacking in ambition.
Miao Ne asked, "Should I say something to express my gratitude?"
Cui Xiong pouted: "Anything is fine with me."
He had hoped that accompanying Miao Ne to Yuanfu County would lead to some significant progress, but things didn't go as planned. He not only failed to achieve his goal but also lost face in front of Miao Ne. He wanted to try again, but his father refused, taking him back to the southwest and saying that he had disgraced the family.
Cui Xiong's face turned red with anger.
Is Father trying to break up this loving couple?
He seemed ready to flip the table if Cui Zhi tried to stop him.
He knew that he and Cui Zhi were completely different.
In his youth, Cui Zhi was burdened with many concerns; the concept of family, ingrained in him through years of upbringing, was deeply ingrained in his very being. While most scions of noble families, no matter how much they yearned to rebel, would never completely sever ties with their clan, Cui Xiong inherited a certain reckless courage from Cui Hui, a fearlessness born of having nothing to lose. He didn't covet the position of heir, nor was he unwilling to relinquish wealth and status. He had a younger brother, and even if he left the Cui clan, he wasn't worried about his parents being neglected or the family line dying out. If Cui Mi didn't work, his parents were still young and could try for a fourth child. If his mother was unwilling to have children with his father, the Cui lineage still had Cui Long, and a daughter could take the lead.
In just a few breaths, Cui Xiong had already figured out how to escape far away.
If Cui Zhi knew, he'd be furious and amused. His father scoffed, "Breaking up a loving couple? She admits she and you are a perfect match?"
Cui Xiong: [...]
He couldn't refute it back then, but now he can speak with confidence!
Ximin also has feelings for him.
Cui Mi: "..."
Although he hadn't eaten for two days, he felt inexplicably full. Should he be sensible and give up some space?
Miao Ne said, "Anything is fine, let's get down to business first."
Cui Xiong could only carefully let go of his hand.
She felt a deep sense of relief. The future Ermi had described hadn't happened yet, and Ximin's hands were soft and warm, not invulnerable to swords and spears. Even if they had become like that, it wouldn't matter, as long as it was her.
Miao Ne composed herself and asked in detail.
"Hou Chi, besides me, who else did you see?"
Cui Mi then mentioned several other Kang State officials he knew.
Li Wan was among them.
For some reason, Miao Ne's expression was extremely grave. She subconsciously gripped the sword on the table to maintain her composure: "Li Jun and I are both scholars with considerable literary talent. If even our literary aura couldn't protect us from the plague, how much worse must the plight of ordinary people be?"
Among the people Cui Mi mentioned were military officers.
The physical attributes of a martial artist are far superior to those of a scholar.
So far, I haven't heard of any healthy martial artist being succumbed to the plague. Only those severely injured or with depleted internal energy have a very small chance of succumbing. The better one's physical condition, the less susceptible one is to illness; this principle applies everywhere on the continent.
So, it failed this time?
Cui Mi said, "I do have a guess."
Miao Ne looked up at him, signaling him to continue.
Cui Mi shared his thoughts from the journey: "Whether it was the plague or cholera in the past, the prescriptions given by doctors were always effective in the initial stage, but their effectiveness would greatly decrease over time. Either the pathogens developed resistance to the drugs, or the pathogens became more virulent, able to overcome even the toughest challenges that were initially difficult to deal with..."
Miao Ne said, "This is similar to Jun Qiao's idea."
Qi Miao had always believed that the source of the disease was not an inanimate object, but a living thing invisible to the naked eye, which inhabited and multiplied within the human body. Just like humans, those with stronger physiques were more likely to survive and reproduce. Generation after generation, the best of the best were selected, naturally becoming even stronger.
So, is the source of the disease also like that?
Initially, they were too weak to overcome the scholars and warriors protected by the energy of heaven and earth. But as they multiplied generation after generation, they developed targeted abilities.
If that's the case, it's truly terrifying!
Cui Xiong asked anxiously, "Can't we stop it at the source?"
"It's possible, but where is the source? Neither of us knows." Miao Ne originally planned to go home for a meal and rest for half a day before returning to her post, but the news brought by the Cui brothers made her change her mind. "Human life is at stake, you and I must come to the palace right now!"
Since taking over the reins of government, Ning Yan has practically made the outer court her home.
Miao Ne's route to the palace would pass by Li Wan's house, and the latter was furious upon receiving the news: "You, Miao Ximin, you feinted!"
Is this person trying to get themselves killed?
We agreed to rest together, but she secretly went back to her shift.
Li Wan gritted his teeth, hurriedly put on his clothes, and instructed his servants to prepare horses for the palace as he walked. He was determined not to lose to Miao Ne.
The steward hurriedly caught up: "You've just returned..."
Li Wan leaped onto the horse's back and disappeared in a few breaths.
Ning Yan was also taken aback: "Why is Xi Min back again?"
Judging from Miao Ne's complexion, it was clear she hadn't rested properly; calculating the time, she probably had just arrived home but had turned back. Ning Yan couldn't help but worry about Miao Ne's health, telling her not to overwork herself. Even if the sky were to fall, there would be people taller than her to hold it up first; she shouldn't exhaust herself.
Miao Ne said, "I have something important to tell you!"
With Miao Ne's introduction, the Cui brothers were able to meet Ning Yan without any trouble.
After hearing the whole story, she became even more interested in Cui Mi's abilities, never expecting that the Cui family had such a great treasure hidden away.
When Kangguo was in trouble, Cui Mi from the Cui family rushed over to remind them. From this, it seems that even if Cui Mi is not completely loyal, she is currently trustworthy. Thinking of this, Ning Yan's expression became even more amiable.
Miao Ne asked, "Does Your Excellency have a plan to deal with this?"
Ning Yan knew what was going on: "This will require the help of Cui Erlang."
Since Cui Mi could see other people's futures, things became much easier. She ordered a group of patrolling and searching guards to return so that Cui Mi could examine them one by one. If the goal was to use the future to investigate the location and timing of the enemy's deployment of the disease, this group was the most likely candidate.
Looking at her, Cui Mi felt he had found a pillar of support.
He cupped his hands and said, "I am willing to serve you, Attendant-in-Ordinary."
Looking at his young face, Ning Yan's heart softened a little: "Just do your best. If Cui Erlang is not up to the task, don't force yourself."
What is meant to be will be; what is meant to be will be.
The greater the ability, the heavier the burden it brings.
Cui Mi's status is special; he is not only the son of Cui Zhi but also the grandson of Cui Xiao. If anything were to happen to him, it would make working with Cui Zhi and Cui Xiao unpleasant and could also create discord between them and Kangguo. In the current situation, stability is paramount, and they cannot afford any further setbacks.
People are coming over here in droves.
Not a single one survived.
Cui Mi's head was buzzing, and he felt dizzy several times. Just when everyone was anxious, he finally saw a different scene. Cui Mi was holding tightly to the person in front of him, his eyes wide open, and a bright light was shining in them.
"You're different, you really are different!"
The captured soldier was terrified and cried out in distress. It wasn't that he had anything to hide, but rather that Cui Mi's agitated state resembled a ghost, sending chills down his spine. Just as the soldier was fearing for his life, Cui Mi's emotions suddenly calmed down, and he gestured for him to leave.
He had just left when Ning Yan, who was sitting next to him, came in.
She asked, "Is there something wrong with this person?"
Cui Mi said, "Among all these people, he is the only one who died without turning into a living dead; he was killed."
Ning Yan quickly realized: "Where did he die?"
Fengluo is the safest place in Kangguo. Even the most valiant warriors wouldn't dare to act recklessly, let alone attack and kill someone. The person killed was a guard from Fengluo, Kangguo. So, most likely, he saw something he shouldn't have seen before his death and was silenced.
This place is very likely the source of the disease that the enemy planted!
If our side had laid an ambush beforehand, perhaps we could have stopped them?
Thinking of this, Ning Yan forcibly suppressed her joy.
Unfortunately, Cui Mi knew very little about Fengluo and had no idea what was nearby. He could only describe the place based on a fleeting image: "I heard the sound of water but didn't see any water. The vegetation was lush and the branches and leaves were abundant. It was a waning moon in a shady spot on the mountainside."
Ning Yan asked, "Could you draw it?"
These clues are enough.
The approximate area can be determined based on vegetation characteristics.
Cui Mi nodded, but hesitated as he stood up: "Minister Ning, forcibly changing the course of the future and altering fate is unlikely to succeed; more likely, it will be 'the will of Heaven cannot be defied.' Not only will it backfire, but it will also push the situation to an irreversible point..."
This time, if he can find the location and time for the future release of the pathogen, the enemy may change their plans and the release location, causing the obstruction to fail and even leading to an increase in the spread.
Ning Yan calmly replied, "I know."
Cui Mi hesitated for a moment, but Ning Yan just smiled sassily: "What's there to be afraid of? If I really believed in fate, I shouldn't be standing here, but lying in a grave where the grass is as tall as a person."
Before this, who could have believed that Ning Yan could become prime minister?
Ning Yan was extremely open-minded about life and death. She smiled and said, "Even if fate is truly inescapable, I will live and die with Kangguo."
It's a joy to die with ideals in mind.
Cui Mi bowed again.
Although the clues were few, we finally found a lead.
After Cui Mi finished drawing, Ning Yan arranged for him to investigate the other four people who had served with that imperial guard. Of the four, two had become living dead, and the remaining two had been killed. The locations of their deaths were different, and one of them even saw the enemy's face before he died.
A generic face with little distinguishing features.
Fengluo was preparing on two fronts: on one hand, apprehending the spies who had leaked the disease, and on the other hand, actively preparing for epidemic prevention. Undercurrents were swirling within the city, unnoticed by the ordinary citizens who peacefully went about their mundane lives, working from sunrise to sunset. At most, they complained about being constantly urged to drink hot water.
When people are thirsty, how can they wait for the water to boil?
On a hot day, nothing beats a refreshing sip of ice-cold water.
People around him laughed at him, saying, "You blockhead, you have good fortune but don't know how to enjoy it. Would you be happy if you got sick from drinking unboiled water?"
There weren't so many rules back then.
When people drink water to quench their thirst, they don't care whether the water is clean or not.
Now that life is better, these people have become picky. I don't know if they're being sincere or just being pretentious. It's both infuriating and hilarious.
Everyone burst into laughter again.
Fengluo was the most populous city in Kangguo. Even after its construction and continuous expansion, the city was still teeming with people. To maintain order, guards patrolled even more frequently. The common people were used to this and didn't find it much more frequent than usual.
A restaurant in an alley in the east of the city.
The Four Prefectures are conducting random checks on out-of-towners with unfamiliar accents.
"Open the bag and see what's inside."
"Sir, we are law-abiding citizens, we haven't done anything wrong..." The old man being checked hugged his granddaughter tightly, his dark, wrinkled face pleading, as if he was afraid that if the other party was not satisfied, they would be impaled with a gun. "It's all mountain goods."
"It's a routine check, and it has nothing to do with whether you've done anything wrong or not."
The old man was relieved to see that the others had also been checked.
Opening the basket, they found a pile of mountain goods of varying quality. After inspecting them, the team leader said to the old man, "Take these to the market south of the city and see if you can get a better price."
This restaurant was quite aggressive in its acquisition price reduction.
The restaurant owner was immediately displeased upon hearing this, and, hands on his hips, swaggered over, saying, "What does this official mean? This is ruining people's livelihoods!"
"Hmph, you know what you're doing."
It's clear that these two know each other.
Other diners, who had seen it all before, just watched the show without worrying.
The inspection didn't take much time; in just a few words, most of it was done, with only three groups of people in the corner left to be checked.
"Goodbye, sir." After finishing her inspection, the proprietress waved her handkerchief to see the customer off, then turned and complained, "They investigate every day but never find a bad seed, yet they ruin people's business every few days... What law have I broken by running this restaurant? Am I hiding some kind of poison?"
The diner said, "That's just their job."
The proprietress retorted sharply, "I know, otherwise I would have sued him long ago. The neighbor's shop is inspected twice every three days, and we've been inspected three times in the last two days. Even a rat hole in the kitchen can't hide. Why can't we be treated equally?"
Upon hearing this, the diners burst into laughter, speculating about the reason.
The restaurants were bustling, but the corners were deserted.
One person dipped their finger in water and wrote: "Thing?"
Just now, during the inspection at the Four Prefectures, one of their companions happened to go to relieve himself, and the goods were on him. They were initially worried about being discovered, but thankfully, nothing serious happened. They had been commissioned at a high price to smuggle some goods, and anything could have happened to them.
His companion said, "I hid it in the water tank in the courtyard."
There were stones inside the water tank, and the object was stuck between the stones and the tank wall, completely invisible to the naked eye, so it was very safe.
He was clever and a skilled thief in his younger days. He was quick-witted and agile, and would immediately move his belongings at the first sound of movement outside.
We'll find a chance to get it back later.
"That's good, that's good."
My companion laughed and said, "Let's eat first. Fengluo is indeed Fengluo. The food is more refined and delicious than ours."
"That's a bit lacking. Once we get the final payment, I'll treat you to something nice. The best food in Fengluo isn't in these places..."
"Haha, okay."
|ω`)
I went to the market to buy groceries today, and a young lady rode by on her bicycle. The breeze she created carried a fragrance that was very appealing. It felt familiar, but I couldn't quite place the perfume. I scratched my head in frustration.
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