Chapter 192 The disaster begins in Zhangzhou, a plague rages...
Prefect He had been an official for decades, wielding power and abusing his authority for so long. How could she possibly fare well when a mere young girl seized power from her?
He tightened his grip on the paper package and summoned his trusted aide to give him instructions.
The confidant was shocked upon hearing this. "My lord, this... can it really work? The entire city is filled with that person's men."
Prefect He tapped the table lightly and said, "The more heavily guarded a place is, the more opportunities there are. Go and wait for the right moment."
Seeing her trusted confidant disappear through the door, Prefect He stood up and paced back and forth inside the room, a sense of unease still lingering in her heart.
He opened his mouth, wanting to ask someone to invite Magistrate Zheng to his residence for a chat, but then he thought that since the matter had been accomplished in secret, he absolutely could not let a fourth person know about it, so he gave up.
The wind and snow fell softly, piling on the shoulders of pedestrians and scattering in the fluffy hair of children, adding a touch of warmth to the winter day.
The warm sunlight shone on the snow, imprinting a trail of tiny footprints, their clear, bell-like sounds echoing throughout the Zhang residence.
Tun Tun hopped and skipped, grabbed a piece of snow, and threw it at the other side, shouting, "Jin Suo, ball!"
Wang Jinsuo was eight years old. He was agile and dodged to the side. He then used his hand as a megaphone to shout, "Miss Tuntun, you're too slow!"
"Hmph hmph hmph!" Tun Tun pouted and put her hands on her hips, but she was small in stature but big in spirit, and she didn't bother arguing with the big kids.
Trying again, she grabbed a snowball and attacked the other side, but her chubby little hands were like sieves. Before the snowball could even be thrown, only a few snowflakes remained. How could it possibly hit the other side?
Despite launching dozens of attacks with great effort, she couldn't even get a snowflake on the opponent's clothes. She was so angry that her cheeks puffed up, looking as bouncy and cute as a pufferfish.
Wang Jinshuo stood there for a long time, but couldn't bear it, so he silently took two steps forward to give her water.
Nothing happened.
Take two more steps forward.
Nothing happened.
Take two more steps forward.
"Jin Suo, I'm going to hit you! Go back!" Despite her small size, Tun Tun had a strong presence, shouting in her childish voice. The thin strings on both sides of her tiger-head hat swayed with her little head, making her look just like a little tiger cub who couldn't even walk steadily.
Wang Jinshuo was very distressed: if she went back, Tun Tun would be even less likely to catch her.
The two children stared at each other, wide-eyed.
"Miss Tuntun, let me teach you how to make a snowball!" Wang Jinsuo offered as a compromise.
Tun Tun blinked her thick eyelashes, looked down at her snow-white hands, then looked up at Jin Suo, her eyebrows almost furrowed together, as if making a difficult decision. "Hmm! You teach Zai."
Tears welled up in her eyes; little one, you must learn to make snowballs!
Wang Jinshuo taught with great care, and Tuntun learned meticulously, as if she were dealing with some important military secrets.
Wang Jinshuo shook his head, inwardly cursing himself for being absurd. What was the big deal about playing in the snow? But the young lady's serious demeanor was just like his lord's.
"Miss Tuntun, why are you studying so seriously?" When you're playing, the most important thing is to have fun.
Tun Tun clenched her little fist, her voice both childish and firm: "I will avenge my mother!" She couldn't hold back her tears, her eyes turning red.
"Huh? The lord is an adult. He will take revenge himself. There's no need for us children to do it."
Tun Tun wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes with difficulty, sobbing, "Mother is dead. I'll beat the bad guys!" She was extremely sad.
Wang Jin Suo was shocked and horrified. Her lord had died? This... this... how come she had never heard of it?
"Miss, you can't say such things carelessly. Where did you hear that from?"
Tun Tun's eyes were red, and she looked pitiful like a helpless little white rabbit. She cried and said, "Daddy said so."
The little body trembled as he cried, his voice filled with sorrow, "Mother is dead, waaaah... Mother is so miserable, I will avenge her..."
Despite the pain of losing her mother, Tun Tun, with tears in her eyes, bravely declared, "I'll beat the bad guys!"
My son, you must practice snowball fights hard so that your mother can avenge herself!
Wang Jinshuo: "..." "Dead ghost" doesn't mean dead.
Her face flushed red. "My lord isn't dead, Miss, don't be sad." She scratched her head and tried to explain to Tun Tun, "You rascal, you rascal... it just means we're very close."
Tun Tun pressed her little hand to her chest, her mouth pouting into an 'O' shape; her mother had come back to life.
She clapped her hands happily, "Great, wonderful! Mother works hard to support the family, while the child lies back and relaxes."
Wang Jinshuo: "..." Miss is so filial.
"Little Pig—come back for dinner." A gentle yet clear voice rang out, like a spring breeze brushing past your ear.
"The baby's here!" Tun Tun was so excited about not having to support the family that she ran over with her short legs and huffed and puffed as she climbed the steps.
Zong Suyi took a handkerchief to wipe Tuntun's sweat and hands, and couldn't help but pinch her chubby little face. "All you do all day is go out and play. You don't even practice your calligraphy. Be careful your mother comes back and slaughters the little pig for the New Year!"
Tun Tun's big eyes widened in fright, and she hugged her little arms tightly, saying in a childish voice, "You stinky baby, your parents won't eat you."
Zong Suyi couldn't help but laugh, patting her bottom, "Sit down and eat."
"Father, is your son dead?"
Zong Suyi shoved the spoon into Tun Tun's hand, pouted, and said, "You're my troublemaker."
Very bluntly: "You little rascal, eat your food! If you keep being picky, your mother will beat you."
Tun Tun shook her head and sighed, mimicking an adult. It turned out that the child and father had a bad relationship. What should she do?
After the meal, Zong Suyi was to distribute porridge. He left Tuntun with Jin Suodai and led more than ten servants out.
Along the way, they encountered Luo Zijun leading soldiers on patrol. The two of them snorted coldly, turned their heads and walked past each other, their disdain barely audible.
"Round Cake Girl".
"Poisonous husband."
Zong Suyi gritted his teeth, feeling extremely unlucky. If it weren't for his wife, he would have torn that brat's mouth apart today.
Luo Zijun lowered her eyes to hide her sinister gaze. If it weren't for her sister's favor, she would definitely make her poisonous husband taste the power of her.
Fortunately, this was the only unexpected incident.
Because the people of the prefecture supported Zhang Ting, they extended their affection to her husband as well.
What outsiders see as troublemakers are actually well-behaved and polite citizens in this government.
One by one, they lined up to receive the soup and porridge, thanking each other before leaving.
Zong Suyi finished distributing the porridge with ease as usual, and led his servants back to the mansion in a grand procession.
Back at the mansion, Wang Wu rushed in, his face ashen, barely settling down: "My lord, something terrible has happened! The people who drank the porridge are all suffering from severe stomach aches..."
His relaxed expression suddenly froze, as if struck by lightning.
"What!" He jumped to his feet. The rice for the porridge was freshly bought, so there couldn't be any problem. "Should we call a doctor to take a look?"
"Yes, they're on their way."
Zong Suyi twisted his sleeves, pacing anxiously, his breathing becoming rapid. If distributing porridge caused the people to fall ill, it would ruin the reputation his wife had worked so hard to build!
No, he can't just sit here and wait to die!
"Wang Wu, prepare the carriage. I want to go outside and take a look."
Wang Wu stopped him, saying, "Young master, rumors are spreading outside, and it may have already stirred up public anger. If you go out, you might get into trouble."
"Let's wait until the doctor finishes his examination before making a decision!"
That makes sense. There's also Tun Tun at home. What would happen to Tun Tun if something happened to him?
Zong Suyi suppressed his unease and sat on the stool to wait for news.
"Have you checked the grain in the manor?"
Wang Wu was also puzzled: "My lord, we ate the same batch of grain today and there were no problems. We called a doctor to check on us immediately, and he said there was nothing wrong."
Zong Suyi bit her lip and clenched her fist. She was probably framed. What a vicious scheme! They actually targeted the common people!
"Wang Wu, send someone to check on the situation again, and while you're at it, invite Magistrate Luo..."
"—Something terrible has happened! Something terrible has happened!" The maidservant, her eyes filled with terror, scrambled in. "Outside... so many people have broken out in rashes. The doctor says... says it's a plague!"
"My lord, let's run away!"
plague……?
An indescribable fear gripped Zong Suyi. He collapsed onto the stool, his mind blank, his lips trembling as he couldn't utter a word.
It's over...it's completely over...
Yinzhou Prefecture is a place where the water and sky blend into one, a vast expanse of blue.
Zhang Ting waited a long time for Gao Qiu's revenge, and the more she thought about it, the stranger it seemed. The letters from her teachers and senior sisters only said that Gao Qiu had been scolded by Emperor Chengtai and then fell ill the next day.
Was he so angry he was too weak to argue with her?
Zhang Ting said helplessly: Fine.
In the afternoon, I patrolled the various counties according to the schedule, and the prefectural city was almost completely pacified.
The situation in the counties is much better than last time, but for Zhang Ting, the progress is slow.
The county magistrate of Li County was an old woman with gray hair. He bowed and listened to her reprimand. "Yes, yes, yes, I will definitely urge my subordinates to dig the ditch after I return."
After accompanying him all the way, the magistrate said with a smile, "Hearing of your visit, Your Excellency, the county government has prepared fine wine and food, and would like to invite you to sample the local delicacies."
He then flattered, saying, "I've heard that you are a man of great learning, and I have many questions about my studies that I would like to ask you for advice."
Normally, Zhang Ting would have readily agreed, but with the floods still raging in Li County, how could the magistrate invite her to a banquet for food and drink and to discuss scholarship? It was far too inappropriate.
Some even suspect that there might be other corrupt officials who escaped the net among those executed? Or perhaps it was a conspiracy orchestrated by Gao Qiu?
She stared at the other person for a long time, until she broke out in a cold sweat.
"Your Excellency... I admit that this official has spoken recklessly." The old woman knelt on the ground, feeling both humiliated and furious. She regretted provoking this scoundrel. Poor thing, after thirty years as an official, she was still just a minor county magistrate, and now she had to fawn over this young girl.
Zhang Ting remained silent for a while, then smiled.
"Since Lord Su has invited me, I have no choice but to accept." He personally helped her up, and decided to give this old county magistrate a try.
The banquet ended at 3:45 PM.
Zhang Ting figured it out. This old hag was just a pedantic scholar who boasted of his vast knowledge but was actually a complete idiot. She was so pretentious and stinky, and at her age, she dared to say she wanted to become his student.
Furthermore, her son is over forty years old, obese and greasy, yet he still has the nerve to flirt with her.
Zhang Ting felt utterly disgusted and wanted to vomit up all the acid in her stomach.
Zheng Er helped her into the sedan chair, feeling both angry and amused. "If I had known it would be like this, you should have sent Magistrate Zhao instead."
Zhang Ting leaned weakly against the sedan chair wall, her voice barely audible: "We should still give more opportunities to young people. I'm too old; I can't handle these things anymore."
Zheng Er laughed so hard his shoulders shook. Zhao Tongpan was clearly only born one day later than his employer.
By the time they returned to the government office, it was almost dusk.
Zhang Ting saw a servant rushing into the mansion, his back view unfamiliar. "Is he new here?"
Zheng Er vaguely remembered, "It seems like he's only been here for less than half a month."
Zhang Ting nodded and remained silent.
She had inevitably drunk some wine at the banquet, and feeling unclean, she went to the bathroom to take a bath.
A moment later, Zhang Ting came out wearing a light blue robe, still damp, with water dripping from the ends of her hair.
As soon as she knelt down on the mat, a servant brought in tea, saying, "Sir, this is a hangover tea."
As she was unfolding the local gazetteer of Yinzhou Prefecture, she responded with a simple, "Put it here," without even looking up.
The servant bit his lip and brought out a towel from the washroom. "Sir, shall I dry your hair for you?"
Zhang Ting paused, then looked up at him. The man before her was slender and handsome. When he saw her looking at him, a blush rose on his face, and he shyly murmured, "My lord..."
"You're the new guy?"
The shy servant was stunned: "Huh?" Then he realized, "Yes, I just entered the manor a few days ago."
She sighed helplessly, blaming herself for her irresistible charm, which made everyone want to get close to her.
"Since you're new here and don't know the rules, I'm kindly reminding you: don't loiter around me unless summoned." With that, she lowered her head again and began flipping through her book. "Go."
The servant could only leave dejectedly.
Stepping back to the doorway, I glanced back discreetly and saw Zhang Ting picking up a cup of hangover tea and drinking it all in one gulp.
The servant withdrew his gaze, a twisted smile slowly spreading across his lips, and walked away.
The next day, the weather was sunny and clear, with not a cloud in the sky.
Such a scene is rare in winter. Zhang Ting was in a good mood after finishing his morning exercise and was humming a little tune on his way to the government office.
At this rate, I'll be able to go home in a little over a month, where I can enjoy a warm home with my husband and children.
She greeted the constables along the way, then sat down in the center of the main hall, exuding elegance and with her back straight as a pine tree.
As people rebuild their homes, friction inevitably arises with those around them. Today, we will mediate these cases together.
The people outside were already waiting. Zhang Ting first spoke with Zheng Er for a few words to confirm that everything was correct before he went to court and summoned people in.
Just then, a yamen runner rushed into the hall, his official hat askew, panting heavily. "My lord!" he cried, kneeling on the ground, his face ashen. "A plague is raging in Zhangzhou Prefecture... it spreads like wildfire! The number of infected people is incalculable, and the city has been sealed off!"
Zhang Ting's expression changed drastically, and she immediately stood up.
She opened her mouth to speak, but suddenly coughed up a string of bloody foam, which splattered all over her front.
"grown ups!!"
"Quickly, get a doctor! Hurry!!"
Countless cries surged forth as if pierced through a veil: Zheng Er's sobs, the yamen runners' roars, the people's screams—her consciousness gradually faded into darkness…
At night, the government office was brightly lit.
When the doctor came out, her face was covered with a cloth. "My lord has developed many red rashes. I'm afraid he has contracted the plague." She sighed as she said this. "For the sake of all the people in the prefecture, you should make preparations as soon as possible."
What preparations should be made?
The doctor said, "Epidemics are hard to prevent, so we can only burn the animals, not bury them. Your Majesty, you should buy some kerosene as soon as possible."
Zheng Er flew into a rage and kicked her hard, yelling, "Quack doctor! This is Lord Zhang lying in here! If it weren't for her, Yinzhou Prefecture would have been flooded with corpses long ago. How could you be alive? You worthless wretch!"
"Someone! Go get another doctor!!"
In a corner, a pair of eyes were quietly watching this scene before gradually disappearing from view.
Tonight, chaos reigns, and everyone is in a panic. The servant managed to slip past the guards and quietly leave the mansion.
Arriving at the banks of the Yangliu River, he took a pigeon out of the hole, then took a small roll of paper from his sleeve and stuffed it into the cylinder of the pigeon's leg. With a flick of his wrist, the pigeon flapped its wings and flew away.
...
The Kyoto residence was brightly lit and spotless.
Gao Qiu unfolded the note, glanced at it, and smiled with satisfaction. "Zhang Ting will probably spend the rest of her life in bed." He then handed the note to Chen Liu.
Chen Liu glanced at it; it was nothing more than a claim that Yinzhou Prefecture was in chaos.
"Why did Prime Minister Gao only administer the lower half of the corpse poison, leaving her alive?" He was too indecisive.
Gao Qiu laughed and said, "Death would make her happy. We want her to suffer a fate worse than death, so that she can only eke out a living like a cripple, unable to die even if she wants to."
Chen Liu was horrified by the sinister smile on her face, which gave him goosebumps. This old woman really had no sense of propriety.
"Now that Zhang Ting is gone, there are so many vacant official positions in Yinzhou Prefecture, so we can rearrange them."
"Tomorrow, I will submit a memorial impeaching Zhang Ting and ask Your Majesty to remove her from her post." Gao Qiu poured her a cup of tea, then proudly gestured with his fingers and said, "Someone has already offered me double the amount for the positions of prefect and governor."
Raising her teacup to toast her, Chen Liu closed her eyes briefly. "Not bad. Let's make a fortune while we can." Actually, she didn't want to do this, but that old geezer insisted on forcing her to rebel. But rebellion requires money and supplies!
The people of Yinzhou Prefecture blame all their sins on Emperor Chengtai.
When you reach the underworld, you may seek her atonement.
However, "What did Zhangzhou Prefecture say? I heard they sealed off the city and got rid of Zhang Ting, so why bother with Zhangzhou Prefecture?" With so many people dying, when she ascends to the throne, won't she collect much less tax every year?
Gao Qiu chuckled, "Your Highness is unaware that Zhangzhou Prefecture is located on the frontier, bordering enemy territory, and has suffered greatly from it since ancient times, causing immense pain to our dynasty. However, if the entire Zhangzhou Prefecture were transformed into a plague-ridden, dead city, situated between the enemy and ourselves, we could ensure that the enemy would not dare to invade for a hundred years, and your great cause would be immortal!"
"..." Chen Liu looked at her and fell into a deep silence.
After a long pause, he burst into laughter, gave her a thumbs-up, and exclaimed, "Brilliant! Brilliant indeed!"
She can kill millions of lives so easily; even her own mother wouldn't dare to be so ruthless.
"I am deeply grateful to have such a great plan devised for me. Once I succeed, I will bestow upon you the title of Marquis and the position of Prime Minister. We will then rule the world together, just like the Song Dynasty!" Today, he regards millions of people as ants. Who knows if he will dare to slay the dragon in the future? Chen Liu decided that, in gratitude for Gao Qiu's hard work, he would set the day of his ascension to the throne as her death date.
Scholars and officials ruling the world together with the emperor? This is something many people wouldn't even dare to dream of! Gao Qiu was overjoyed and prostrated himself, saying, "Thank you for your great kindness, Your Highness!"
Chen Liu nodded slightly, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. He helped her up and said, "Great!"
Let's look at Yinzhou Prefecture next.
As time passed, Zhang Ting contracted the plague, but nothing changed.
Yinzhou Prefecture operated as usual, like a precisely functioning machine, without the slightest flaw.
A chilling, eerie feeling crept up the servant's back.
With Zhang Ting falling ill, could it be that there is another great sage in Yinzhou Prefecture?
Ning Sheng, who was just a servant, took advantage of Zheng Er's trip to the main hall of the government office to sneak into the room where confidential documents were being delivered, avoiding the guards.
He passed through the heavy curtains and could vaguely see a figure lying inside. He approached step by step, and slowly, with the slightest movement, lifted the covers—only to find it was a pillow.
Looking for me?
A lazy voice sounded from behind him, and he felt his heart stop and his blood freeze instantly.
He froze, then turned around abruptly.
Zhang Ting leaned against the table, dressed in dark casual clothes, her long hair slightly damp, exuding the crisp scent of soap, as if she had just returned from a bath. Far from showing any sign of deathly pallor, her face was radiant, and she looked at him with a leisurely air, as if admiring a moth that had flown into her trap.
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