Chapter 323 Oh no! The son-in-law is dying! (Seeking monthly votes)
The night is deep, but people are restless.
When Chen Yi returned to Chunhe Garden, it was already quite noisy outside.
The soldiers, accompanied by several physicians, went from the central courtyard to the surrounding courtyards, checking on each person one by one, instructing them on how to prepare the medicinal soup.
Actually, it doesn't have to be that complicated.
Those infected with the plague will fall into a deep sleep within an hour, their whole body turning bluish-purple as if poisoned.
However, the Xiao family is a large family after all, with people coming and going in the mansion, so it is hard to guarantee that there will be no hidden dangers overlooked.
Chen Yi didn't think too much about it and let the old man worry about it.
After changing into a light long robe, he went straight to the study to wait, without waking Xiao Wuge and Xiao Die.
Light the lamp to burn oil, pour water to grind ink.
Chen Yi sat at the table, his eyebrows and eyes illuminated by the candlelight, a hint of thought in his mind.
This time, Liu Hong and the Five Poisons Sect's actions stirred up the city and its inhabitants, but also exposed more clues.
Disaster victims take shape, grain prices rise, epidemics, Xinglinzhai (a traditional Chinese medicine clinic), the Liu family's conflict in Jingzhou, the Peacock King's Banner, barbarians...
As the events unfolded, Chen Yi made some deductions.
—Let chaos erupt in Shu Prefecture!
To some extent, Liu Hong's plan was consistent with the White Tiger Guard's deployment in Shu Prefecture: to create chaos in Shu Prefecture.
However, the former is more audacious and unscrupulous.
The latter, on the other hand, is more subtle and gradual, often using a seemingly insignificant little thing to achieve a certain condition and then gradually push things forward.
Or, to put it another way, proceed cautiously step by step.
It's like a chess player using the world as a chessboard, placing a piece in Shu Prefecture, and thus changing one corner of the game.
It gave Chen Yi a sense of familiarity.
He also acts in this way, planning carefully before acting; while others plan three steps ahead, he plans ten.
Even if there are occasional mishaps, such as those involving Du Cang or the sudden attack by the Five Poisons Sect.
But he succeeded in most of the things he planned.
"The White Tiger Guard...is this the Pavilion Master?"
Chen Yi couldn't help but think of the mysterious and unpredictable leader of the White Tiger Guard.
Many of the things the White Tiger Guards did were indeed undetectable, but some people were just too careless.
Like Liu Si'er's probing attack on him in Tonglin Town, it was crude.
Ge Laosan hid the deepest, but he was forced to flee for money.
Xiao Dongchen was too selfish and only used the White Tiger Guard to benefit his second wife's family.
Cui Qingwu clearly has no ambition for the White Tiger Guard; she acts too much like a pampered young lady, obeying orders but not summons.
If Chen Yi were the leader of the White Tiger Guard, he probably wouldn't have entrusted Cui Qingwu with such a major responsibility.
Of all the White Tiger Guards he had contacted, only three were qualified.
One of them is Uncle Gui, who died unexpectedly. He is the most hidden and doesn't show his true colors.
Next is Lou Yuxue.
She hid in the Bright Moon Pavilion and did a lot for the White Tiger Guard; otherwise, she could not have been promoted to Golden Banner Officer.
The last one is "General Star".
Although Chen Yi did not know how many Golden Banner officers were in the White Tiger Guard, he could easily tell the quality of the other Golden Banner officers from the general's appearance.
In terms of demeanor, skill, intellect, and cultivation, he is commendable in every aspect, with no obvious weaknesses.
If Chen Yi hadn't had access to a lot of information and gained the upper hand, given the White Tiger Guard's abilities, he would have had almost no chance of turning the tide.
He could only be dragged along by the White Tiger Guards like a puppet on a string, and in the end, this "young bird" was unlikely to have a good ending.
From this, Chen Yi could easily see how formidable the White Tiger Guard Master was.
"Playing chess... Could it be that he is also a master of chess?"
Chen Yi had some guesses, and the chessboard in his mind started moving again.
Beneath the illusory chessboard formed by the light and mist, one can vaguely see the lands of the Nine Provinces and Three Prefectures of the Great Wei Dynasty.
Although only Shu Province is relatively clear at the moment, he already has the feeling of Zhuge Liang's Longzhong Plan.
In this world, the Wei Dynasty reigns supreme. To the north lie bandits, to the south barbarians, to the east Japanese pirates, and to the west a Buddhist kingdom.
Surrounded by wolves, undercurrents surged within.
In short, chaos is about to break out in the world.
He pondered for a moment.
Chen Yi picked up several black pieces from the chessboard, crushed them into ashes, and then focused his gaze on the few black pieces in this corner of the chessboard in Shuzhou.
Liu Hong, Zhu Hao, and others.
"Liu Hong's plan is aligned with the White Tiger Guard's goal... well, it should be a temporary alignment, like two people walking together for ten zhang before going their separate ways."
"Their destination should be the same, so the court..."
Chen Yi vaguely understood that the Kyoto Prefecture must be planning something big, which would involve so many people.
The game involves multiple parties and is extremely complex; even those involved, like the Xiao family, probably cannot see it clearly.
"So this is the prelude, or perhaps... some kind of probing?"
"Whether it succeeds or fails might affect the outcome of that important matter?"
Chen Yi had no idea, but he was clear about one thing—Shu Prefecture would not be in chaos, nor could it be!
"Shu Prefecture cannot be in chaos. The Xiao family must act as the anchor, and only the Xiao family can do it."
"It's time for the old master to make a decision. If he doesn't take action, Liu Hong's merit will be lost."
"In that case... the White Tiger Guard's master's plan is indeed far-sighted..."
Chen Yi shook his head, unfolded a sheet of pine paper, picked up his brush, and wrote a few words in a flowing, natural style.
"Liu Hong is ultimately just a pawn, a pawn who is content with his corner of the world and thinks he is clever."
"But he has indeed brought a lot of trouble to the Xiao family."
Sometimes, grudges arise out of nowhere.
For example, the Xiao family was prosperous for two hundred years, but one day it declined and fell into ruin.
Surrounded by wolves, it's no wonder it gets targeted.
The Xiao family is gone.
Then the Dingyuan Army will have someone else to take its place.
It could be the Liu family, a powerful clan in Shu Prefecture, or another powerful family in the Great Wei Dynasty.
Regardless of right or wrong, it's all driven by human nature and self-interest.
Thinking about this...
Chen Yi put down his pen and looked at the two sentences written in running script on the pine paper:
"Its rise was erratic, and its fall was sudden."
Even without connecting with the divine workings of heaven and earth, these ten words still possess a lingering charm.
But what is even more profound than the words themselves is the meaning they convey.
The cycle of prosperity and decline is a profound truth.
Chen Yi examined it for a moment, then picked up the wolf-hair brush and smiled to himself: "I've done so much, I should rest for a few days."
The pen falls.
Snap.
The ink splattered, ruining most of the calligraphy copybook.
Then Chen Yi lay back on the chair, his breathing weak, and his lips faintly bluish-purple.
Hmph, let's see who can recognize him as "Liu Wu" now!
Not long after.
Some noises came from outside Chunhe Garden, and Wang Lixing led his men to the wooden building and shouted a few times.
Xiaodie, who was a light sleeper, woke up and, after hearing what was said below, hurriedly dressed herself.
Then she went to Chen Yi's room first, and finding no one inside, she quickly went to wake Xiao Wuge.
Upon hearing that a plague had broken out, Xiao Wuge immediately sobered up and began to dress.
Xiaodie quickly tidied him up and said, "The young master is not in the side room, he should be in the study. I will go and inform him."
Xiao Wuge, with a stern face, waved his hand: "Go quickly, go quickly, brother-in-law also went out of the city yesterday, don't... ptooey, brother-in-law will be fine."
Without waiting for a response, Xiaodie ran downstairs and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the candlelight in the study.
"Young master, young master, the guards in the manor..."
As soon as the door opened.
When Xiaodie saw Chen Yi lying on his back in the chair, she was so frightened that she stood frozen in place.
She then ran out of the house crying.
"Oh no, young master, the young master is dying!"
Wang Lixing and the others were stunned for a moment, then rushed into the wooden building after realizing what had happened. "Young Master, what happened to him?"
"My son-in-law... he... he's infected with the plague..."
...
Clean house.
Grandpa Xiao sat imposingly in his armchair, one hand on his knee and the other on the back of the chair, his eyes, now bright with renewed energy, fixed on the door.
He has looked like this ever since "Liu Wu" came.
They dared not relax for a moment, their mood even heavier than when Xiao Wan'er was kidnapped.
Yes, it is heavy.
Rather than worry or annoyance.
Old Master Xiao couldn't understand one thing—why did it come to this?
Even if the decline of his Xiao family is a crime, those people can bully him, harm him, and ostracize him, but why must they involve the people of the prefecture?
The plague.
Oh, the plague!
Xiao Jing, standing beside him, dared not breathe too loudly; he hadn't seen the old master like this in a long time.
It felt just like Mengshui Pass five years ago.
Xiao Xuanshuo sat upright in his wheelchair, his hands resting naturally on the back of the chair, his square face full of anger.
A long silence followed.
He couldn't help but ask, "Father, how long are you planning to endure this?"
Old Master Xiao paused, "Wait."
In a word.
No further explanation is needed.
Xiao Xuanshuo's cheeks bulged, clearly gritting his teeth: "If it weren't for 'Dragon Tiger' reporting tonight, your eldest granddaughter and second son-in-law would both be in danger of dying."
"That's a plague! A plague!"
Having served in the military, he had witnessed firsthand the devastation of corpses strewn across the fields.
But that was on the battlefield, where people fought each other and died standing up, fighting bravely to the death.
The viruses are different.
One dies, and the whole family follows.
One litter dies, and the disease spreads to a whole group.
If a cure cannot be found, not only will the hundreds of thousands of people in the prefectural city be in danger, but also the lives of people in nearby villages and towns will be at risk.
Old Master Xiao glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, paused for a moment, and said, "Liu Wu has already told us how to deal with the epidemic."
"The priority now is to save the people. Time is of the essence, and the government offices and guards must not be in disarray."
Even though he knew that the plague might have been orchestrated by Liu Hong, he still had to endure it for the sake of the people.
The Provincial Administration Commission is in charge of the allocation of funds and grain in Shu Prefecture. If Liu Hong is gone, the court will make other arrangements, which will take at least five days.
We can't afford to waste any more time.
Besides, even if he doesn't act for the common people, he still has to consider himself and the Xiao family.
Old Master Xiao was preoccupied and hesitated.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Xuanshuo sighed and silently pushed his wheelchair outside, clearly somewhat disappointed.
But before he could leave, Old Master Xiao seemed to have made up his mind and suddenly spoke:
"Xuan Shuo, you will go to the capital city in my place!"
Xiao Xuanshuo was taken aback, then overjoyed: "Father, you've finally come to your senses."
Old Master Xiao grunted in agreement and looked at him, saying, "Later, I will personally write a memorial, which you must present to the Emperor for his decision."
Although he doesn't have concrete evidence to bring down Liu Hong right now, the clues he has are enough to do something.
Even if it only arouses the Emperor's suspicion, prompting him to send an imperial envoy to investigate, or if the White Tiger Guard digs deeper, they will surely be able to find him.
The Peacock King's Banner, the Barbarian Prince, the Five Poisons Sect, the Jizhou Merchant Guild...
Either of these items could make Liu Hong take off his official hat.
Xiao Xuanshuo readily agreed and then inquired, "What about Shu Prefecture..."
Old Master Xiao glared at him and snorted, "I'm not dead yet. A few waves won't capsize the big ship of Shu Prefecture."
With Liu Wu's message and the method to eliminate the plague, if he still cannot ensure the peace of Shu Prefecture, then this Marquis of Dingyuan might as well die sooner rather than later.
Xiao Xuanshuo chuckled awkwardly, and was about to speak when he heard hurried footsteps outside the door.
The third steward, Lu Guan, rushed over, not even bothering to bow, and exclaimed, "Master, something terrible has happened!"
"Young master, second young master, he, he..."
What's wrong with him?
"He seems to have contracted the plague. He is unconscious right now, sir..."
Old Master Xiao frowned and immediately stood up, ordering, "Quickly, seal off Chunhe Garden, and make sure Wan'er and the others don't leave Jiaxing Garden either. We absolutely cannot let the epidemic spread."
"Yes, yes..."
Lu Guan didn't dare to hesitate and turned to run away.
After everyone left, Old Master Xiao slammed his fist on the table.
Bang.
Wood chips flew everywhere.
"Liu Hong, you old scoundrel, you deserve to die!"
...
Liu Family Residence, Zhennan Street.
Compared to the hustle and bustle outside, it is incredibly quiet here.
Amidst the bright lights, dozens or even hundreds of guards dressed in blue stood watch over the various residences.
Deep in the backyard, in the pavilion.
Liu Hong looked up at the bright moon in the night sky, his face expressionless.
Behind him, Liu Taoyao stood frozen, her eyes fixed on the box on the stone table.
Inside the open box, hundreds of papers were scattered about, with the words "ten thousand taels" vaguely visible.
"No way, Dad, this can't be happening..."
"Child, I clearly took this box from Lin Zhenghong, how, how could... how could those silver notes be fake?"
Liu Taoyao clearly couldn't accept the fact that ten million taels of silver notes had become worthless.
He couldn't understand why this was the outcome.
Liu Hong did not respond to these words, his eyes shifting uncertainly.
Compared to the money, he was more concerned about the changes in Shuzhou Prefecture.
"It's too early."
Upon hearing the voice, Liu Taoyao exclaimed, "What?"
"Father, what's too early?"
Liu Hong paused, glanced to the side, and then sat down on the stone bench opposite him, his expression unusually solemn.
"Epidemic virus".
"It was discovered too early."
"It was barely spread before it was discovered by the Xiao family, who reacted swiftly, and the government offices, the city guards, the common people, and the martial arts world all learned of it."
"Father, the plague is so virulent, wouldn't it be better to detect it as early as possible?"
Do you know who is responsible for this plague?
"My child, my child does not know."
"It is I."
"Varied……"
Liu Taoyao stared at him blankly, "Father, you, you did this?"
Even though he knew that his own father was no good and was secretly colluding with the Peacock King's Banner and the barbarians, he was unaware of the plague.
Liu Hong nodded and said, "It was done by me... and the Five Poisons Sect."
The reason he didn't say it was simply because his schemes against the Five Poisons Sect were aimed at the Liu family in Jingzhou.
To avoid being discovered by the other side, he was cautious and hid behind the scenes.
But now there's no way to keep it hidden any longer.
Liu Taoyao asked, puzzled, "What are you doing...?"
Liu Hong shook his head. "I can't tell you the reason."
"But you must keep what I'm about to say in mind."
"Father, please, please speak."
"Take advantage of the chaos inside and outside the city and leave Shu Prefecture tonight."
Liu Taoyao was caught off guard and, forgetting about the silver notes, asked:
"Father, is there anything you need me to do?"
"I'm telling you to take your people and flee far away, the farther the better, and never return to the Great Wei Dynasty in this lifetime!"
"Why?!"
Looking at his eldest son, Liu Hong smiled slightly and sighed, "One wrong step, and the whole game is lost."
If it were just that the Xiao family had discovered the plague, that would be fine.
The crucial point is that the silver notes Liu Taoyao received were fake.
Even if Liu Hong was stupid, he knew that he had been tricked this time.
Not only him, but perhaps the Five Poisons Sect also failed.
The person hiding in the shadows almost completely ruined all his plans and arrangements.
How could he not think about his future?
Liu Taoyao still didn't understand, "But, but Father..."
Liu Hong raised his hand to interrupt him, and said in a serious tone, "Don't ask anything, just listen to me and leave now!"
But no sooner had he finished speaking than a voice came from the side:
"Lord Liu, where are you sending your young master...?"
(End of this chapter)
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