Chapter 236: How to Prevent a Plague

Even though Li Lizhi has a gentle temperament, right now she feels an urge to bite Chen Yan to death.

How old is Sizi?

Just a baby who has just learned to speak normally and is beginning to read.

Chen Yan actually even dupes a baby.

This damned Lunyu, still throwing punches at the guy who can't understand him, cut the chatter.

Are you human?

Li Lizhi glared at Chen Yan, eager to give him two more punches, but Xiao Sizi was so duped she was practically crippled, stubbornly protecting him.

So Li Lizhi, unable to vent her anger, said irritably, "Just teach him, I won't interfere."

"Anyway, just figure out how to explain it to my Father Emperor and Mother Empress."

"They're not as easy to talk to as I am."

Mentioning Li Shimin and Empress Changsun, Chen Yan became a bit more serious and explained, "Rest assured, my teaching Xiao Sizi isn't solely out of a perverse hobby; I have my own plans."

"I'm not that inhumane to even dup a bean‑sized child like Sizi."

"You actually know that," Li Lizhi said irritably.

Xiao Sizi blinked her big eyes, grabbed Chen Yan's hand, and timidly asked, "Brother, what does it mean when you talk to sister?"

"Brother, did you deceive Sizi?"

As she spoke, a trace of grievance flashed in the little one's eyes; though small, she was extremely clever.

She understood a fair amount of what Chen Yan and Li Lizhi said,

and the reason she asked was because she couldn't believe that Chen Yan, who had always been so good to her, would actually deceive her.

She had once trusted Chen Yan so much.

Xiao Sizi recalled her earlier righteous stance and felt even more aggrieved.

That pitiful little look melted Chen Yan's heart; he gently lifted Xiao Sizi and said warmly, "Sizi, you're so obedient and cute—how could brother deceive you?"

"Brother is teaching you a principle; your Father Emperor probably dreams of having your Crown Prince brother master it, not to deceive you."

"After a while, once you learn a hundred characters, brother will teach you real knowledge; when you master that knowledge, you'll no longer need to rely on anyone and can control your own destiny."

"Alright?"

When he finished, Xiao Sizi didn't feel much, just simple happiness, while Li Lizhi recalled something and, watching the bewildered Sizi, felt glad for her.

Like her, Sizi, as an Imperial Princess, enjoys the honor and prestige of the imperial house and naturally must shoulder the corresponding responsibilities.

For example, Li Lizhi herself, without Chen Yan's appearance, would probably have to reluctantly marry Changsun Chong.

That is the fate of them as princesses.

Gao Yang is like that, she is like that, and the future Sizi will be the same.

Only she and Gao Yang are relatively lucky, stumbling yet managing to marry someone they truly like.

But aside from them, the other imperial princesses aren't so fortunate; they can only marry whoever they're assigned.

And now Chen Yan says he'll teach Sizi real knowledge, which after mastering will let her control her destiny, and Li Lizhi doesn't doubt it at all.

Because this Chen Yan, known as the Exiled Immortal, is the very Chen Yan whom the inscrutable Grand Historian reveres as "Sir."

Is the knowledge he teaches simple?

Hmm......

Except Lunyu!

"......"

Then the two teased Xiao Sizi a bit, waved away several maidservants, and Li Lizhi finally raised today's purpose.

"As you said, severe floods broke out in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, and one river mouth even breached its dikes; fortunately, my uncle had prepared in advance, so there were no serious casualties."

"Yesterday, cousin Chai Zhewei rushed back to Chang'an from eight hundred li in a hurry, brought the news back, and Father Emperor, following your plan and refining it slightly, achieved quite good results."

"At this time, most officials are scrambling to donate money and grain, hoping to have their names engraved on that so‑called merit monument."

Speaking of this, Li Lizhi sighed again.

Such a bright scheme is truly vicious toward officials and aristocrats, forcing them to part with money, then they must still bow gratefully to Li Shimin.

Who can they reason with?

Chen Yan wasn't really surprised.

In ancient feudal dynasties, most people value reputation even more than their own lives.

For example, in the court, those who constantly risk death to offer remonstrances are the classic case of wanting fame but not life.

When it comes to such people, even Li Shimin has no good solution: killing them only enhances their reputation; sparing them lets them keep their noses in the air.

It's unbearably annoying.

Now, with the severe flood in the Yellow River region, a merit monument has been erected in the crisis; anyone who donates money or grain can have their name engraved on it, ensuring their legacy for generations.

Even if officials know it's a trap, what can they do?

Unless they don't care about reputation at all, they can only grin and bear it.

"Since the disaster has been contained and His Majesty has achieved good results here, he shouldn't lack money or grain now. Is there anything else you need me to help with?" Chen Yan asked.

"Here's the thing," Li Lizhi said bluntly. "Father Emperor wants me to ask you: after the flood, if mishandled, a plague might break out. Is there a way to prevent it?"

"Plague…," Chen Yan realized; that's why he was summoned.

He then fell silent.

Li Lizhi's heart tightened, "Could it be that there's no cure for the plague?"

"It's not that," Chen Yan said, rubbing his chin. "I mentioned the plague because the flood will leave the surrounding area in utter ruin."

"Besides the civilians who die from the flood, many livestock kept at home will rot in the sun, likely breeding bacteria and causing a plague."

"Of course, that's just one of the major reasons."

"I remember I warned His Majesty that when a flood disaster erupts, the inhabited areas must be covered with lime, and any sick persons must be isolated so they don't contact the ordinary civilians."

"Secondly, after the flood recedes, the devastated land must be cleared as quickly as possible; any livestock carcasses should be taken to an uninhabited place and burned together."

"In daily life, the people should be required to wash their hands and bathe frequently, not drink raw water, and pay attention to hygiene; only then can plague outbreaks be prevented."

Li Lizhi listened patiently, memorized Chen Yan's words, then said, "If the preventive effect is poor and the plague has already broken out, is there any remedy?"

"Only the infected civilians can be isolated," Chen Yan shook his head. "'Plague' is a generic term; in fact it includes many kinds of infectious diseases."

"Before a plague erupts, no one knows which disease will appear; we can only isolate to prevent its spread, then let the doctors treat it gradually."

"To be honest, unless His Majesty lets me go forward, I can only give preventive methods, not a solution."

Li Lizhi:!!!

"No!"