Chapter 654 Uncle, save me!
As soon as Prince Duan finished speaking, Prince Qi followed suit, his tone filled with sarcasm and dissatisfaction:
"Uncle, as the regent, you should be concerned about the people. Now that the plague is raging and the people are in turmoil, you're sealing the city gates. Isn't that trapping everyone? Do you really want to watch the Imperial Capital become a dead city?"
Xiao Changheng looked at them coldly, his eyes like knives, his voice low but with unquestionable majesty:
"The city gates are sealed for the benefit of the people of Daliang. If the plague spreads, the consequences will be disastrous. As members of the royal family, instead of sharing the burden of the nation's suffering, you are stirring up public opinion. What are your intentions?"
Prince Duan's face turned pale as he thought about his words quickly:
"Uncle, why do you have to say such harsh words? We are just trying to protect ourselves. Uncle, go and see the people in the capital. Right now, the capital is full of people dying suddenly from sudden illnesses. The speed of infection is far faster than we can imagine. It won't be long before nine out of ten houses are empty!"
Xiao Changheng narrowed his eyes slightly, and his expression became even more gloomy.
Upon seeing this, the King of Qi immediately said:
"Yes, Uncle Emperor, you've already sealed off the Imperial City for nearly half a day. I doubt you've had time to understand the severity of this plague! Now we're the only two of our father's sons left. Couldn't you be more flexible and let us go to a safer place?"
As the King of Qi was speaking, he suddenly felt an itch in his throat, and the last few words came out with some difficulty, but he forced himself to suppress his cough, fearing that it would be mistaken for a symptom of contracting an epidemic. However, this made his face visibly flush.
On the other side, Prince Duan's throat also began to itch, and he cleared his throat forcefully.
Xiao Changheng looked at the two of them in silence for a moment, then said calmly:
"No one in the Imperial Capital can guarantee they haven't come into contact with the sick. Leaving the city would not only spread the plague further, but would also make it difficult to find a doctor to treat them. Right now, staying in the Imperial Capital is the safest option. The lockdown order applies to no one. Return immediately. This matter will not be pursued for now."
Seeing that there was no room for negotiation, the two men's expressions became even worse.
Prince Duan frowned and said:
"Uncle Emperor, don't think we don't know. You clearly have the anti-epidemic talisman, but you only distribute it to those who obey your orders. Now, under the pretext of serving the country and the people, you're restricting our movements. You've even sealed off the Imperial Palace! I think you're using this natural disaster to achieve your own ulterior motives!"
The King of Qi heard the purpose of his words, his eyes flashed, and he immediately agreed:
"That's right! If the Emperor's uncle is truly selfless, why doesn't he distribute the anti-epidemic talismans fairly?"
The two sang in unison, and Prince Duan's tone softened a little, and he said:
"Actually, we don't have to leave the city. As long as the uncle gives us some talismans to avoid the epidemic and keep everyone in our house safe, we will naturally be happy to cooperate."
Xiao Changheng frowned and said:
"The number of epidemic prevention talismans is limited. They are only issued to doctors, guards, civilian volunteers, and other people who participate in epidemic relief efforts. This matter has already been notified to all prefectures. If you are willing to participate in anti-epidemic affairs from the beginning, you will naturally be able to receive the epidemic prevention talisman."
The two were speechless. It was indeed
The King of Qi looked reluctant and wanted to say something, but the King of Duan rolled his eyes and suddenly spoke first:
"It happened suddenly, and I didn't understand the situation clearly, so I didn't participate. I can join now. Can the uncle give me the anti-epidemic talisman as required?"
The King of Qi was shocked and thought to himself that participating in the fight against the epidemic would mean close contact with a large number of patients. Isn't that tantamount to seeking death?
Even if the anti-epidemic talisman was made by the Regent Princess, and it was said that the people who wore the talisman were not really infected with the plague, but who would dare to gamble when it comes to life? They just wanted an extra layer of insurance. How could they really agree to fight the epidemic just for this talisman?
But when he saw Prince Duan secretly winking at him, he immediately reacted.
Let's get the talisman first. The Regent has so many things to do, how can he possibly take care of it? They just agreed to fight the epidemic, but they don't necessarily have to go.
After understanding this, the King of Qi quickly followed suit and said:
"That's right! I'm willing to participate too. Please, uncle, give me a plague-avoidance talisman as well!"
Xiao Changheng looked at the two of them gravely for a moment, then said:
"Can."
The two of them looked delighted, thinking that although they were stopped from leaving the city to avoid the disaster, as long as they got the anti-epidemic talisman, they would be well protected.
Xiao Changheng glanced at the two of them calmly, then turned around and said:
"Go find a doctor and have them examine him. Once he confirms that they are not infected with the disease, he can issue a talisman to protect them from the plague."
When they heard this, they became anxious again.
"Ah? Why do we still need a doctor to see..." Prince Duan blurted out.
"Uncle, you're worrying too much. We've been acting cautiously since the plague began. It's impossible for us to have come into contact with any patients. How can we diagnose... cough cough cough cough..."
Perhaps it was because he spoke too hastily, but before the King of Qi could finish his words, he felt an itchy sensation in his throat and started coughing violently.
Xiao Changheng had been in control of the overall situation from the very beginning. He was well aware of the symptoms of several types of plague that had broken out, and had long noticed that there was something wrong with the complexions of these two people. This cough was even more consistent with the early symptoms of the epidemic.
He looked at the two of them coldly and said in a calm voice:
"The talisman can only prevent the disease. It is useless if you already have symptoms of the plague. Therefore, all those participating in the anti-epidemic efforts must first be examined by a doctor to confirm that they have no symptoms before they can receive the talisman."
Prince Duan felt his throat itchy even more after a while. When he heard that he couldn't receive the anti-epidemic talisman if he was sick, he hurriedly said:
"I just... cough... just got choked by the wind. Uncle, there's no need... cough cough cough cough..."
His cough came so suddenly and violently that he could hardly speak. The coachman was so frightened that he subconsciously jumped out of the carriage and hid away. The guards following behind him also began to retreat cautiously.
Xiao Changheng directly said to the doctor who rushed over:
"Give him a checkup."
The King of Qi did not expect things to turn out this way. He was stunned by the sudden symptoms of the King of Duan. He came to his senses when he saw the doctor coming forward, and his face turned pale.
He had a lot of contact with Prince Duan today. If Prince Duan had been infected with the plague, wouldn't that be terrible!
The King of Qi stared at the doctor who came forward to diagnose him. In just a moment, the King of Duan could no longer stand steadily and collapsed while holding onto the door frame of the carriage.
This doctor came from the Medical Immortal Valley. He had treated countless patients during the day and soon had a result:
"It's a disease caused by the number three time qi."
This time, nine kinds of plague broke out simultaneously. The doctors of Yixian Valley had numbered them early on for easy management. Epidemic No. 3 is also known as seasonal disease, which causes high fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, and in severe cases, unconsciousness. If it weren't for Yun Qingqing's prescription and the elixir shipped from Yixian Valley, someone would have died of the disease in half a day.
Prince Duan's face was pale, and he looked much more dejected than before. He was coughing so hard that he couldn't speak.
The doctor raised his hand and pierced several of his acupuncture points with a set of silver needles. Prince Duan finally stopped coughing and gasped for breath.
The doctor turned around and shouted to the disciples behind him:
"Go get the medicine soup!"
Without him saying anything, the disciple immediately ran towards the camp not far away.
The King of Qi's expression changed again and again, and his throat suddenly felt itchy and he wanted to cough.
His legs went limp and he fell to his knees, coughing and pinching his throat while shouting intermittently:
"I, cough cough, I also...Uncle, save me... cough cough cough cough cough, quickly, quickly get the doctor to save me..."
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