Chapter 443 There is someone who knows more than I do!
But how did the other party know that Yuwen Ye would fall ill, and how did they manage to plunder all the medicinal herbs along the route from Daxing to Fufeng so far in advance?
Could it be poisoning?
No, impossible!
From their return to Daxing to their departure for Fufeng, they ate and lived together the whole way. If it really was poisoning, then he should have been poisoned as well.
Moreover, if poison was used, Yuwen Ye's symptoms should be those of poisoning, not the plague.
But plague—
These two words sent a chill down Shang Ruyi's spine. She suddenly raised her head and asked the guards, "When you were searching for those medicinal herbs in the city today, did you find any cases of people in the city suffering from the plague?"
The men exchanged glances, shook their heads, and said, "No, Madam."
What about outside the city?
No, not at all.
"..."
Shang Ruyi's brows furrowed even more.
Inside and outside the city, the common people who were even less particular about their food and water did not contract the disease because of Xue Xian's mountain of Jingguan (a mound of corpses), but Yuwen Ye was the only one who contracted it!
Just as Shang Ruyi's mind was reeling, a voice filled with doubt and disbelief slowly rang out beside her—
"This...this seems to be aimed at the Great General."
"...!"
Turning around, I saw Dai Junliang.
He frowned and muttered the words, but immediately realized his slip of the tongue and quickly shut his mouth.
But those words resonated with everyone present.
Just as the general fell ill, all the medicines that could cure the disease in the entire city, including those outside the city, were sold off. There could not be such a coincidence in the world. If it was really a coincidence, then it was because God was determined to take Yuwen Ye's life this time!
However, Shang Ruyi knew that it wasn't true.
Or rather, it wasn't fate that wanted Yuwen Ye dead, but someone else!
And this person is—
Shang Ruyi raised her head with a heavy sigh, only to meet Yin Changyue's gaze. The moment their eyes met, Yin Changyue suddenly lowered his head and avoided her gaze.
It was as if he was afraid she would ask him something else.
Shang Ruyi let out a soft sigh.
She stood up, about to say something, when Yin Changyue suddenly said, "Young Madam, we'll figure out a way to get the medicinal herbs. If all else fails, we can send someone out of the city to look for them in more distant places. Maybe we can find some."
Shang Ruyi glanced at him and said, "Then, I'll trouble you, Lord Yin."
"No, no, no,"
Yin Changyue immediately stood up and said, "Then, I'll go down now."
After saying that, he walked out, his back hurried, as if afraid that Shang Ruyi would call him back. The other guards also did not want to linger, so they apologized and left as well.
Shang Ruyi watched their backs disappear into the distance, then let out a deep breath and turned to go back.
Just as she was about to leave, Dai Junliang's voice sounded behind her again, carefully saying, "Madam."
Shang Ruyi stopped in her tracks: "Is there anything I can do for you, sir?"
Dai Junliang walked up to her with a complicated expression, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "I don't know much about medicine, and I only serve in the army, so I can't do much to help with the general's illness. Please forgive me, Madam."
Shang Ruyi immediately said, "What are you saying, sir?"
"..."
"Now is a critical moment for the survival of Fufeng, but the general is ill and I am not knowledgeable in military affairs. Everything depends on the mediation of the lord and Lord Yin. If we can get through this crisis safely, it will not only be a blessing for the people of Fufeng, but also for the general and me."
Upon hearing her words, Dai Junliang's expression became even more complicated.
After a long silence, he said, "I am ashamed."
Shang Ruyi sensed something was amiss and immediately asked, "Does Your Excellency have something to tell me?"
Dai Junliang glanced at her again, finally sighed softly, and then said, "This matter is actually not something I should discuss with you, Madam, but I think I should inform you anyway. Just now, Lord Song has ordered the release of General Ma Xu."
"What?!"
Shang Ruyi was shocked: "How could he do this?"
She then remembered that when she walked in, she saw him and Yin Changyue looking serious as if they were discussing something. She thought they were worried about Yuwen Ye's medicinal herbs, but now she realized that there was such a thing.
She asked urgently, "Why didn't you stop him?"
Dai Junliang looked troubled and said, "Actually, it was not in accordance with the rules for the General to lock up General Ma this time. The General has the power to lead troops, but he does not have the power to deal with the garrison commander of Fufeng. Although we do not agree with Lord Song's decision to release General Ma, we really cannot stop him."
"so--"
Shang Ruyi said in a deep voice, "Right now, the military situation in Fufeng is split 50/50 between you, so neither of you can make the final decision, is that right?"
Dai Junliang sighed softly, his expression complex.
He didn't even respond.
Shang Ruyi immediately understood. Although she had asked Wo Xue to invite Yin Changyue to protect Mu Xian and Shan Tong'er, that was a minor matter. Yin Changyue was happy to do her a favor, but in military matters—this man was very cautious. After all, he was a supervisor sent by the palace and might not be entirely inclined to either side.
Therefore, Fufeng's military strength is not even half as good as half.
If Song Yu releases Ma Xu, the two will inevitably join forces. If they insist on going to war, and Yin Changyue tries to smooth things over, then Dai Junliang, as a military officer, will have no way to stop them.
Then Yuwen Ye's painstaking efforts will truly be in vain!
When Shang Ruyi spoke again, her voice was somewhat hoarse as she said in a deep voice, "So, they are planning to send troops again?"
Dai Junliang immediately replied, "That's not it."
"oh?"
"Lord Song was injured when he went into battle this morning. He will need to rest for a few more days to fully recover. Therefore, they should not be in a hurry to go into battle in the next few days."
"..."
"But if he recovers from his injuries, or if General Ma has the will to go to war again, then we can't stop him."
Shang Ruyi thought for a moment and asked, "Then, how long will it take for Lord Song's injury to heal?"
Dai Junliang said, "At most five days."
Five days...?
Shang Ruyi frowned slightly, pondered for a while, and said, "Therefore, we need to make some preparations in these five days."
|
By the time Shang Ruyi left the front hall, the sun had already slowly set.
The gloomy sky seemed to cast a shadow over everyone's hearts. Whether it was Yuwen Ye's illness or Fufeng's crisis, these two things felt like lead was being poured into her legs, making every step she took so heavy.
But no matter how difficult the road is, we must keep going.
A short while later, she returned to their room. The smoke in the room had long since dissipated, but a strong medicinal smell still lingered in the air. As soon as she entered, Wo Xue immediately came forward, holding a smooth silk handkerchief that also smelled of medicine, and handed it to her, saying softly, "Young Madam, Doctor He asked you to take this."
When Shang Ruyi looked up, she saw that the woman also had a silk handkerchief covering her mouth and nose.
It's something He Wenzhu said she wanted to get.
She nodded, took the medicine, and put it on. The strong aroma of the medicine inexplicably invigorated her. She walked into the inner room, where Yuwen Ye was still lying quietly asleep on the bed, just as she had left. He Wenzhu was holding a bowl of medicine, which was still steaming. As soon as she saw her return, he immediately said, "Madam, I have just brewed some medicine to clear heat and detoxify. Although it is not the right medicine for the illness, it can at least alleviate the general's pain. Please take a look, and if it is effective, please have the general take it."
Shang Ruyi walked over, lifted the silk handkerchief covering his mouth and nose, and smelled it. It was indeed as he said, so he nodded and had Wo Xue serve Yuwen Ye half a bowl of it.
His face was much calmer now, no longer showing the faint pain he had before, even in his sleep.
However, his low-grade fever still hadn't subsided.
Shang Ruyi said, "You may all leave. I will stay with him."
He Wenzhu then withdrew with Wo Xue.
Once again, only the two of them remained in the room.
The sun had completely set, and in the blink of an eye, darkness fell. The room was incredibly dark, but Shang Ruyi did not light the candles. Instead, she let herself and him immerse themselves in the gloomy atmosphere.
She slowly sat down on the edge of the bed and looked at the person on the bed.
Even in such gloomy weather, she could still clearly see the handsome features on his face, the kind of features that captivated her at first sight. And the second time she saw him was when he wielded his long sword, fighting his way out of despair to save her—a godlike figure.
But now, he can only lie here quietly.
"so,"
In the quiet room, amidst the somber atmosphere, Shang Ruyi spoke, enunciating each word clearly: "Is this why they insist you go to war?"
...
No one answered her.
But she already knew the answer.
Actually, Yin Changyue had been a little suspicious just now, and she didn't plan to ask him anything more. After all, the answer he gave her that morning was enough. Often, clues are numerous and intertwined, but as long as one hook connects them, many things become clear.
However, there were still some things in her heart that she hadn't figured out.
Yuwen Qian, Yu Dingxing, Song Yu...
Fufeng, plague, medicine...
All of this seemed to be going smoothly, but she always felt that something was missing.
Or rather, one person is missing.
If one knows, for some unspeakable reason, that Yuwen Yuan will eventually replace some people, end this era, and create a magnificent era of his own, this is still a very broad, even rough, prediction. Then, does the fact that the life-saving medicinal herbs were looted many days in advance mean that Yuwen Ye fell ill during his campaign against Fufeng, and that it was a plague, was foreseen many days beforehand?
In other words—
There are people who know more than I do!
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