Chapter 60 Am I going to get rich? No, I'm going to have unlimited points!
Upon returning to the imperial court, Yun Zhan barely had time to settle into his new role as "Prince Chen" before plunging headlong into the mess of fighting the plague.
Although Yan Linye had made considerable preparations beforehand, such as stockpiling medicinal herbs, setting up isolation zones, and organizing the Imperial Medical Academy to research prescriptions, the severity of the epidemic still exceeded expectations. Especially those patients who had developed severe symptoms, such as vomiting, high fever, coughing up blood, and festering sores all over their bodies... the cheap herbal medicine provided by the system had negligible effect, and the mortality rate was frighteningly high.
Yun Zhan, being a modern man, had at least seen pigs run even if he hadn't eaten pork. Combining his limited knowledge of hygiene and historical experience, he came up with several ideas that caught the eye of Yan Linye and some pragmatic court officials.
"Isolation must be strict! Clearly define epidemic areas, suspected areas, and safe areas. Strictly control the movement of people, and disinfection is mandatory for entry and exit... uh, that means spraying with lime water or high-proof alcohol!"
"Water and food must be kept clean; raw water is absolutely forbidden! The patients' excrement and clothing must be collected, incinerated, and buried deeply!"
"Furthermore, mobilize all available resources, including civilian doctors, provide them with unified training, and distribute basic protective equipment, such as masks... which are simply multiple layers of cotton cloth covering the mouth and nose!"
"The most important thing is information transparency! We must publish epidemic data and prevention and control measures every day to avoid panic and let everyone know that the government is doing its job!"
These measures, combined with Yan Linye's swift and decisive approach and the foundation laid previously, yielded immediate results. In less than half a month, the rate of new cases slowed significantly, the cure rate for mild cases also improved, and the panic in Beijing was finally somewhat contained.
Those old ministers in the court who had previously been critical of Yun Zhan, this "remnant of the previous dynasty," for suddenly appearing and pointing fingers at him, all temporarily shut their mouths after seeing the actual effect.
However, the biggest problem still lies ahead – what to do about the large number of critically ill patients?
Existing medical treatments are almost ineffective for them. Trapped in the quarantine zone, they struggle in pain every day, consuming precious medical resources and the energy of the guards. Even more frightening is that they themselves are a huge source of infection.
The atmosphere at the court assembly that day was exceptionally solemn.
An elderly censor, known for his "pragmatism" or even ruthlessness, stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, Your Highness Prince Chen, the mild cases are now under control, but the severe cases are unresponsive to medicine, wasting resources and causing them to wail day and night, shaking public morale and potentially leading to a larger epidemic. In my humble opinion, we should follow the ancient practice and gather the severe cases... and burn them to prevent future troubles and stabilize public sentiment!"
The moment the word "burn" was uttered, the entire Xuanzheng Hall fell silent.
Many officials lowered their heads, their faces showing reluctance, yet none dared to easily refute it. Because throughout history, this had indeed been the most "effective" and "crucial" method for dealing with uncontrollable large-scale plagues, cruel yet frequently employed.
Yun Zhan felt a chill run down his spine, and his stomach churned. He stood up abruptly, his voice trembling with emotion: "No! Absolutely not! Those are living, breathing people! Not livestock infected with the plague! How can we just burn them like that? That's inhumane!"
Yan Linye sat on the dragon throne, his face solemn, his fingers unconsciously tapping the armrests. He didn't speak, but the low pressure emanating from him revealed his displeasure.
The old censor, his neck stiff, said, "Your Highness is benevolent, and this old minister admires it. But does Your Highness know that if we let it go unchecked, and the epidemic resurges, tens of thousands of people will die! Which is more important?"
"Isn't there any other way?!" Yun Zhan argued forcefully. "Centralized isolation, enhanced care, and continued searching for effective treatments! We can always save some lives!"
"Your Highness! Time waits for no one! Resources wait for no one!" another official stepped forward to echo. "Every day of delay increases the risk! Sacrificing a small number for the sake of more lives is a last resort!"
"Bullshit!" Yun Zhan retorted angrily. "Whose life isn't a life?! Today we can sacrifice them for the so-called 'big picture,' but tomorrow can we sacrifice other 'smaller groups'? Once this precedent is set, the consequences will be endless!"
The court was immediately thrown into chaos. The "pragmatists" who supported burning the incense and the "benevolent faction" who opposed it, led by Yun Zhan and including some soft-hearted officials, argued heatedly.
Yan Linye looked at the noisy ministers below, then at Yun Zhan beside him, whose face was flushed with anger but whose eyes were unusually firm. He had already made up his mind. In the end, he did not make a decision on the spot, but ended the argument with "we will discuss it later".
Nighttime, the imperial bedchamber.
Yun Zhan sprawled on the large dragon bed, utterly disrespectful, sighing and groaning, not even bothering to eat the grapes that Yan Linye had peeled for him.
"Sigh... If only I had worked harder and accumulated more points..." He pounded the edge of the bed in frustration. "Maybe I could have exchanged them for the special medicine to cure this plague from Xiao Qi! I wouldn't be stuck here arguing with those old fogies and watching those patients die..."
The more he thought about it, the more useless he felt. He had a "system" cheat code, but because he had been so focused on eating, drinking, and having fun, he was heavily in debt and couldn't use it when it mattered most.
Yan Linye lay down beside him, pulled him into his arms, gently nuzzled his head with his chin, and softly comforted him, "Don't blame yourself, you've done very well. The methods you proposed have saved many people." He paused, half-jokingly and half-seriously, and said, "If it really doesn't work... I can just return this empire to you. Anyway, being an emperor is tiring, as long as you don't abandon me again, that's enough."
Yun Zhan was amused by his words and turned to glare at him: "Get lost! Who cares about your lousy throne? You sleep later than a dog and get up earlier than a rooster, you're surrounded by a bunch of old men arguing every day, and you still have to worry about whether the people of the world have enough to eat... You should keep this kind of hard work to yourself!"
Yan Linye chuckled softly, his chest heaving, and he tightened his grip on her arms.
Just as the two embraced, worrying about the fate of the critically ill patients, the atmosphere became somewhat somber—
[Ding!]
A crisp and melodious system notification sound, like heavenly music, rang in Yun Zhan's mind!
This sound... was completely different from the warnings of debt or the death knell of mission failure he had heard before! It was filled with... the fragrance of money!
Yun Zhan jolted awake and sat up abruptly from Yan Linye's embrace.
[Host! Congratulations, Host! Congratulations, Host!] Xiao Qi's electronic voice was filled with unprecedented flattery and excitement. [Your system points have been credited to your account! Current balance: 999,999,999,999... (a string of 9s, too many to count) points!!!]
Yun Zhan: "!!!"
His eyes widened and his mouth gaped open, like a toad struck by lightning.
How many?! How many nines?! Is he hallucinating?! Or has Xiaoqi caught a virus?!
He rubbed his eyes hard, his consciousness sinking into the system interface. He saw that the points column, which originally read "-10000" and made him feel ashamed, had now been replaced by a long string of golden, glittering numbers "9" that almost blinded him!
An overwhelming amount of wealth... no, I mean an overwhelming amount of points, just fell from the sky without warning?!
"Little...Little Seven..." Yun Zhan's voice trembled, "You...you say it again? How many points? You...you're not mistaken, are you? Or...I'm actually dead, and this is a perk of going to heaven?"
[It's absolutely true! Host! You're not dead! You're alive and well! And you've achieved points freedom!] Xiao Qi's voice was as excited as if she'd won the lottery. [Forget about the special medicine to treat this plague, even more advanced things, like gene repair fluid, interstellar warship blueprints... you can exchange for them all if you want!]
Yun Zhan was so overwhelmed by this huge surprise that he was dizzy. He pinched his thigh hard—ouch! That really hurt! It wasn't a dream!
He grabbed Yan Linye's arm tightly, so excited he was incoherent: "Yan... Yan Linye! Points! So many points! We can save those critically ill patients! There's hope! They're all saved!"
Although Yan Linye couldn't see the system interface, he could guess what was going on from Yun Zhan's ecstatic state, which was almost to the point of fainting. A knowing smile flashed in his eyes as he gently patted Yun Zhan's back to help him catch his breath: "Speak slowly, don't get excited."
Yun Zhan finally managed to calm his wildly beating heart, but looking at the long string of numbers, he still found it unbelievable. He took a deep breath and seriously asked Xiao Qi in his mind, "Xiao Qi! Tell me the truth! How did you get these points? Even if a pie fell from the sky, it wouldn't be this outrageous, right? Did you do something illegal or disorderly behind my back... uh, something that violated the system rules?"
Something's definitely fishy here! When has Yun Zhan ever had such incredible luck?!
Xiao Qi's light cluster flickered wildly in its sea of consciousness, nearly crashing from guilt. Of course, it dared not tell the truth! Should it tell the host that because of his sweet relationship with Yan Linye, its "relationship system" had achieved phenomenal performance, gaining advanced privileges and a continuous stream of points? That would likely result in it being torn to shreds by the enraged host and the betrayed boss's combined fury!
[Host! You're overthinking it!] Xiao Qi quickly lied, her electronic voice trying to remain calm. [This is because... because Yan Linye has made it clear he won't kill you, and your core mission of 'self-salvation as a tyrant' has been deemed complete! These points are rewards for completing the ultimate mission! From now on, as long as you live well and continue to work for the well-being of the people of the Houchen Dynasty, these points will keep flowing in! This is the main system's reward for the host who has successfully saved himself and embarked on the right path!]
Its explanation, half true and half false, sounds plausible. After all, it seems reasonable to reward a "tyrant" who has successfully "saved himself." Moreover, linking subsequent points to "serving the people's welfare" is politically correct and impeccable.
After listening, Yun Zhan frowned and pondered for a while. Yan Linye really wouldn't kill him, mission accomplished... that seemed logical? As for the generous reward... perhaps his case was rather special? After all, he was a transmigrator, a discarded child of another plane, and a chosen one sharing the destiny...
He wasn't one to dwell on things, and the urgent need to save critically ill patients, coupled with the immense temptation of countless points...
"Really? It's that simple?" he asked again to confirm.
【Absolutely true! More real than real gold!】Xiao Qi swore an oath.
"From now on, as long as I do good deeds, I'll keep getting points?"
[Never-ending! Never-ending!]
"That's great!!!" Yun Zhan's last trace of doubt vanished. He excitedly hugged Yan Linye and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Did you hear that? We have money... we have points! Those patients can be saved! Quick! Xiao Qi! Right now! Immediately! Exchange for that... that special medicine formula and production process for this plague! It must be the most suitable for our current production capacity!"
【Received! Redeeming for you immediately!】 Xiao Qi felt like she had been granted a pardon and quickly went to process it.
Yun Zhan watched as a fraction of his points were deducted from the system interface (relative to the total), and then a massive amount of knowledge about antibiotic (simplified version) preparation and sulfonamide drug synthesis flooded into his mind. He was so excited that he almost cried again.
He hugged Yan Linye, laughing and jumping: "That's great! That's really great!"
Seeing his ecstatic expression, Yan Linye's eyes were full of indulgence and tenderness as she gently hugged him back.
Meanwhile, the system Xiaoqi, who had kept its merits hidden, breathed a sigh of relief as it watched its host finally stop asking questions and enjoy the joy of "sudden wealth." It also wiped away (non-existent) cold sweat.
Thank goodness... I managed to fool them!
It seems that this undercover life in the "emotional system" will have to continue! However... looking at the points that have slightly increased again due to the host's extremely happy mood, Xiao Qi thinks that this job... seems pretty good?
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