Leaving the city
Some people in the crowd recognized her and shouted, "Boss Fu, we know you are a good person, but now more and more people are getting sick, and they will die sooner or later. Living will only harm more people."
"Yes! Only when those who are infected die can we live."
The impact of death is enormous.
The will to survive is something everyone has.
There have been deaths from the plague, and everyone in the city is now on edge. We must calm the people down. Fu Zhiqiao's mind raced as she searched for a solution.
"Not everyone will get sick! Some people are strong and have a strong immune system, so the plague cannot harm their bodies. On the contrary, some people are weak and have a poor immune system, so they are more likely to get sick. That's why the imperial physicians told everyone to wear masks. As long as you cover your mouth and nose tightly, you can effectively prevent getting sick. Look at yourselves and the people around you, how many of you have listened and worn masks?"
The people looked at each other in complete silence.
"Don't worry, everyone. Things haven't gotten to the worst point yet. The imperial court has sent a royal physician, and the plague will definitely be resolved!" Fu Zhiqiao said firmly. "Alright! Now everyone, disperse and stop crowding around the government office. If even one of you gets infected, we'll all be doomed."
With persuasion and reason, coupled with the military force of the elite cavalry, the people finally dispersed.
After the crowd left, Xie Zhuo's face remained ashen as he questioned her, "Why did you step forward when it was so dangerous?"
"If I don't go out soon, the people will set fire to the government office," Fu Zhiqiao said irritably.
At that time, Xie Zhuo was standing on the steps, and the people below were excited. If the officials could not stop him, Xie Zhuo would be in danger of being trampled.
"Then you can't risk your life." Xie Zhuo raised his voice. The gathering and rioting of these people had given him a great warning. If he hadn't arrived in time, there might have been some casualties today.
If Fu Zhi Qiao gets hurt because of this, he will never be able to forgive himself.
Xie Zhuo felt a wave of fear wash over him, and without thinking, he said, "You don't need to come to the yamen tomorrow."
"Why? Just because I spoke out, you want to kick me out?" Fu Zhi Qiao looked incredulous.
"It's dangerous here. You're safer staying at home."
Xie Zhuo looked pale and tired. Knowing that he hadn't slept for several nights, Fu Zhi Qiao didn't want to argue with him about such trivial matters, so she quickly changed the subject: "You're too tired, go and rest!"
"I told you to go home right away," Xie Zhuo said, enunciating each word clearly.
Fu Zhiqiao paused for a moment, stared into his eyes for a few seconds, and finally left without saying anything.
Xie Zhuo watched her departing figure, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end, he said nothing.
He couldn't be by her side to protect her safety all the time, so keeping her at home was the best solution.
Xie Zhuo lowered his eyes and said to Wang Qianxin behind him, "Go escort her home. Just follow her from a distance and don't let her notice you."
The next day, Fu Zhiqiao did not come to the yamen.
On the third day, Fu Zhiqiao still didn't come. One of the officers asked curiously, "Hey, isn't Boss Fu here today either? I haven't seen her for two or three days."
"Boss Fu is amazing, she's a remarkable woman. She dismissed those people with just a few words. If it weren't for her that day, we would have been in danger."
"Yes, thanks to Boss Fu, when all those people rushed over, I could hardly breathe."
The group walked away talking. Wang Qianxin glanced at Xie Zhuo's face, then lowered his head to minimize his presence.
*
Fu Zhi Qiao was truly furious.
She diligently helped write the plan to prevent the spread of the plague, and what did Xie Zhuo do? He dismissed her with a simple "we don't need it," using her and then throwing her away. What a fine example!
"Ha!" Fu Zhi Qiao sneered. She had been blinded by appearances before, failing to see that Xie Zhuo was, at heart, a high-and-mighty dictator. But it wasn't too late to realize it now. Fu Zhi Qiao told herself that it wasn't worth getting angry over such a person; if she ever showed any mercy to Xie Zhuo again, she'd be a dog!
Fu Zhiqiao spent two days adjusting her mood.
As she ate the almond milk stewed bird's nest and the pan-fried lotus leaf pastry made in the small kitchen, her frustration finally dissipated.
Pan-fried lotus-scented milk pastry is a new way of eating it that she has researched. The method is a bit like making tofu. First, boil milk, lotus flowers and rock sugar together. After boiling, remove the lotus flowers and then add a little glutinous rice flour to the milk.
Glutinous rice flour will cause the milk to gradually solidify. After it solidifies into a ball, wrap the milk in gauze and press it firmly. Finally, cut it into pieces about two fingers wide and fry them in oil until golden brown.
Indeed, eating fried food makes people happy!
While eating, Fu Zhi Qiao suddenly smelled a strong vinegar odor. She pinched her nose and asked, "Ginkgo, what's going on? Where is this strong smell coming from?"
Yinxing came running over, "Miss, it's Madam."
Yu Roulan was directing the maids and servants in her household to steam clothes with vinegar. Fu Zhiqiao was both amused and exasperated when she found out. She had also smelled vinegar on Xie Zhuo before, and he had said that it was a standard procedure for the yamen to steam clothes.
She froze as she laughed, pinching her brow in annoyance, reminding herself not to think about irrelevant people.
"Mom, will steaming it with vinegar help?"
"It should work, right?" Yu Roulan wasn't sure either. "I learned it from Aunt Wang next door. She said it was effective, so my mother decided to give it a try."
Fu Zhiqiao leaned closer to the steamer and saw that such a small amount of vinegar could not disinfect. Vinegar does have a slight bactericidal effect, but talking about the effect without considering the dosage is just being irresponsible.
Steaming clothes with vinegar to disinfect them is not as effective as spraying them with alcohol!
She was just about to tease Yu Roulan about how little vinegar would be effective for steaming clothes when a sudden idea flashed into her mind.
Yes, why not use alcohol to disinfect?
Fu Zhiqiao suddenly realized that alcohol could be extracted from baijiu, and she happened to be a liquor seller!
Fu Zhiqiao couldn't hide her excitement. She couldn't wait to go to the winery to extract alcohol from the liquor, but unfortunately she couldn't leave the city right now.
On the other side, Zhao Junhui hadn't seen Fu Zhiqiao at the yamen for several days and was worried that something had happened to her, so he asked someone in the know for the address of Fu's residence.
The vermilion gate opened.
Is Miss Fu home?
These are special times, and the manor does not receive outsiders. The gatekeeper poked his head out and looked at Zhao Junhui, asking, "Who are you?"
"Please inform them that Zhao Jun has come to visit."
Zhao Junhui came looking for her? Fu Zhiqiao was shocked. Zhao Junhui was really bold to come to her door.
Fu Zhi Qiao's eyes flickered, and she instructed Yin Xing to quickly stop Zhao Jun Hui and tell him not to come in. She said they should talk about it when she went out. If Yu Rou Lan saw that she was still seeing Zhao Jun Hui, the consequences would be unimaginable.
After changing out of her casual clothes, Fu Zhi Qiao changed into a dress that she could wear when going out to meet guests.
Yu Roulan saw her walking towards the main gate and asked, "A Qiao, where are you going?"
Yu Roulan suddenly spoke up, startling Fu Zhiqiao. She immediately turned around and said, "No, I wasn't going anywhere. I was just getting some fresh air at the door."
"Why are you so careless, child? You didn't even wear a mask when you went out." As she spoke, she asked Granny Cui to get her a mask.
"Thank you, Mother."
Fu Zhi Qiao breathed a sigh of relief, thankfully she hadn't been discovered. She quickly slipped out the door with small, quick steps, and the doorman, seeing his young lady arrive, immediately opened the door.
Before leaving, Fu Zhiqiao warned the doorman: "Remember, nothing happened today."
"Yes, I understand."
Beside the stone lion, Zhao Junhui stood with his back turned. Fu Zhiqiao pulled him aside and asked, "Young Master Zhao, what brings you here?"
"I noticed you haven't been to the yamen for several days. I thought something had happened to you," Zhao Jun replied in his usual gentle tone.
"I'm fine, thank you for your concern." Fu Zhi Qiao kept her eyes and ears open, afraid that Yu Rou Lan might suddenly appear.
"Miss Fu, what's wrong? Why are you in such a panic?"
"Shh, keep your voice down, my mother is home."
Zhao Jun understood, and a bitter feeling welled up in his heart. When his mother came to break off the engagement, Madam Fu must have been very angry, which was why Miss Fu was so careful not to let him meet with Madam Fu.
After thinking it over, Fu Zhiqiao still felt it wasn't safe to talk at the door. She tugged at Zhao Junhui's sleeve and pointed to the distance, "Let's find somewhere else to talk."
The city gates were only open to government officials; it was like someone offering a pillow when you're feeling sleepy.
Zhao Junhui followed Fu Zhiqiao forward with doubt in his heart. The woman's unique fragrance wafted over, and Zhao Junhui's cheeks flushed slightly, his heart pounding wildly.
Looking at the sleeve that Fu Zhi Qiao was pulling on, Zhao Jun felt both sweet and bitter. This was their most intimate contact ever. Would there be another opportunity like this in the future?
Fu Zhiqiao pulled Zhao Junhui all the way to a tree at the end of Lingshui Lane.
"Lord Zhao, I have a favor to ask."
Zhao Jun looked back at her flushed face, his heart racing. He forced himself to look away. "Miss Fu, just say it. I will do whatever it takes to help you."
That's exactly what I've been waiting to hear!
Fu Zhiqiao smiled and said, "Lord Zhao, would you please take me out of the city?"
Take her out of the city? Zhao Junhui's expression turned slightly somber. The plague was raging outside the city, and it was not safe to leave at this moment. "The plague outside the city has not yet been controlled, and it may be dangerous to leave the city."
"I will take precautions."
"What urgent business do you have outside the city? If you don't mind, I can help you with it." Zhao Jun was still reluctant. Many things are unpredictable once you leave the city. What if something unexpected happens? He couldn't agree hastily.
Just as he was hesitating about how to start the conversation, Fu Zhiqiao spoke up: "How about this, if you're worried, you can come out of the city with me."
"Is this alright?" Fu Zhiqiao looked at Zhao Junhui with expectant eyes and said confidently, "With the guards, nothing will happen!"
Should we leave the city together?
This meant he could spend more time with her, and the temptation of this offer was too great, so Zhao Junhui did not object anymore.
After agreeing on a time and place to leave the city, the two exchanged a few more words.
*
"Your Highness, isn't that Miss Fu?" Wang Qianxin was the first to see Fu Zhi Qiao.
Xie Zhuo looked over and saw that it was indeed Fu Zhi Qiao.
That day, Xie Zhuo slowly regained his senses after Fu Zhiqiao left. He realized he had said the wrong thing and wanted to apologize to Fu Zhiqiao that night. However, when he got to the courtyard, he found that the candlelight in her room had already been extinguished. For two nights in a row, he failed to find a suitable opportunity to apologize to her.
Upon seeing Fu Zhi Qiao, he walked towards her with excitement, one step, two steps, three steps...
As they drew closer, Zhao Junhui's figure came into view.
Wang Qianxin cursed under his breath.
This is bad; he no longer dares to look at Xie Zhuo's expression.
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