Chapter 1671

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Hu Xiaotian said, "Brother Dong, let's step aside to talk."

Hu Xiaotian

Dong Tianjiang knew this place was busy and not suitable for talking, so he lowered his voice and said, "Let's find a tavern to sit down and talk."

Dong Tianjiang

Hu Xiaotian said, "Brother Dong, your information seems off; most of the taverns in Yongdu have already closed."

Hu Xiaotian, Yongdu

Dong Tianjiang furrowed his brows.

Dong Tianjiang

Hu Xiaotian said, "May we go to your residence to talk?"

Hu Xiaotian

Seeing that meeting Dong Tianjiang was not his ultimate goal, he intended to use Dong Tianjiang to meet the Yong emperor, Xue Shengjing. Following Dong Tianjiang to the Minister of Personnel's residence and entering Dong Tianjiang's private quarters, Hu Xiaotian removed the black cloth from his face, revealing his true appearance, and with a smile clasped his hands, saying, "I apologize for the abrupt visit; please forgive any impropriety."

Dong Tianjiang, Hu Xiaotian, Emperor, Xue Shengjing, Minister of Personnel

Dong Tianjiang said, "You probably didn't come just to catch up, did you?" He prefers to be direct, getting straight to the point.

Dong Tianjiang

Hu Xiaotian laughed and said, "Of course not; I came this time because of the rat problem in Yongdu."

Hu Xiaotian, Yongdu

Dong Tianjiang said, "Did I hear wrong? When did you start caring about Yong's affairs?" He thought, though, that if Yong encountered trouble, Hu Xiaotian should be pleased; could his real purpose be to extract some insider information from me?

Dong Tianjiang, Da Yong, Hu Xiaotian

Hu Xiaotian said, "Brother Dong, don't you think this rat outbreak is somewhat unusual?"

Hu Xiaotian

Dong Tianjiang said, "The matter has been investigated; it is the work of Black Hu spies, with beast masters driving rats to attack the populace, deliberately causing panic in Yongdu. I say this, Master Hu—are you satisfied?"

Dong Tianjiang, Black Hu, Beast Tamer, Yongdu

Hu Xiaotian shook his head and said, "It's not that simple!"

Hu Xiaotian

Dong Tianjiang looked at Hu Xiaotian and asked, "In your view, what is the real cause?" He remained wary of Hu Xiaotian, given their opposing positions. In his opinion, if Yong encountered trouble, Hu Xiaotian would likely be pleased before he could even react.

Dong Tianjiang, Hu Xiaotian, Da Yong

Hu Xiaotian said, "My medical skills, Brother Dong, you've probably heard something about them, right?"

Hu Xiaotian

Dong Tianjiang had certainly heard that Hu Xiaotian once performed double-eyelid surgery for Empress Dowager Jiang in Yong, and treated an urgent illness for the former emperor, Xue Shengkang. Compared to that, the former is widely known, while the latter is known only within the imperial family. He smiled calmly and said, "I don't mean to doubt Master Hu's medical skills."

Dong Tianjiang, Hu Xiaotian, Da Yong, Empress Dowager Jiang, Former Emperor Xue Shengkang, Imperial Family

Hu Xiaotian leaned in closer and whispered, "Have you heard of the plague that occurred in Xichuan over a hundred years ago?"

Hu Xiaotian, West Sichuan

Dong Tianjiang nodded. Over a hundred years ago, Xichuan suffered a plague in which over a million people died. Corpses lay everywhere, the horror unprecedented. Later, the Dakang emperor decisively ordered the entire epidemic zone sealed off and had all living creatures within it shot, paying a great price to finally control the plague. His actions provoked widespread resentment among the populace, and it is said that Yong's rise is also linked to that plague, for the Dakang emperor's attention being tied up in the Xichuan epidemic gave Xue Jiu the opportunity to declare independence. After the plague, Xichuan took nearly fifty years to regain its former prosperity and stability.

Dong Tianjiang, West Sichuan, Emperor of Dakang, Xue Jiu

Dong Tianjiang lowered his voice and said, "Do you think what's happening in Yongdu is actually a plague?"

Dong Tianjiang, Yongdu

Hu Xiaotian said, "Based on the current situation, it's very likely a plague."

Hu Xiaotian

Dong Tianjiang's heart jolted, but he immediately shook his head and said, "No. The court has already suppressed the rumors,"

Dong Tianjiang

"Which court?"

No named.

Dong Tianjiang's expression instantly turned awkward.

Dong Tianjiang

Hu Xiaotian said, "Once this is exposed, it will surely cause panic in the city and could even plunge the entire region into chaos. You can imagine the consequences, Brother Dong."

Hu Xiaotian

Dong Tianjiang fell silent, thinking that if Yongdu truly had a plague, then Yongdu and even the entire Yong realm would face the danger of isolation. Li Chen Zhou is no fool; he would not rashly announce this. If it were exposed, it would pose a grave threat to his authority.

Dong Tianjiang, Yongdu, Da Yong, Li Chen Zhou

Hu Xiaotian said, "In this world, all things mutually generate and overcome; even a plague need not be feared if handled properly—it can still be controlled."

Hu Xiaotian

Dong Tianjiang looked at Hu Xiaotian half-believing, half-doubting; although Hu Xiaotian had shown goodwill, Dong Tianjiang still couldn't believe it—indeed, no one would easily believe such a thing. Dong Tianjiang suspected Hu Xiaotian's motives; from Hu Xiaotian's perspective, helping Yong clearly does not serve his interests, and he secretly wishes for Yong's downfall.

Dong Tianjiang, Hu Xiaotian, Da Yong

Dong Tianjiang said, "You're saying you have a way?"

Dong Tianjiang

Hu Xiaotian said, "Actually, the person I originally wanted to find was Li Chen Zhou."

Hu Xiaotian, Li Chen Zhou

Dong Tianjiang chuckled and said, "Then why did you come to me instead?"

Dong Tianjiang

Hu Xiaotian said, "Everything has two sides; if handled well, a bad thing can become good, but if mishandled, a good thing can turn bad. Yong's current situation is probably clearer to me, an outsider, than to you. If I were to give this favor to Li Chen Zhou, this good deed of winning hearts would fall to him—Brother Dong, wouldn't you rather not see that happen?"

Hu Xiaotian, Da Yong, Li Chen Zhou

Dong Tianjiang gave no reply.

Dong Tianjiang

Hu Xiaotian said, "This is an opportunity for you, Brother Dong!"

Hu Xiaotian

Dong Tianjiang said, "Why would you help me?"

Dong Tianjiang

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, "I'm not helping you; I'm helping your cousin." Dong Tianjiang's cousin is the current Yong emperor, Xue Daoming.

Hu Xiaotian, Dong Tianjiang, Da Yong, Emperor, Xue Daoming

Dong Tianjiang said, "It still doesn't make sense."

Dong Tianjiang

Hu Xiaotian said, "If Li Chen Zhou completely controlled Yong's power, once he stabilized the situation, the first person he'd want to deal with would be me. If Yong had someone internally who could oppose him, I would be relatively much safer."

Hu Xiaotian, Li Chen Zhou, Da Yong

This reason seemed much more credible to Dong Tianjiang; he slowly nodded and said, "So you've decided to give this favor to the emperor."

Dong Tianjiang, Emperor

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, "Whether I give it is my decision, but whether you accept it depends on your wishes."

Hu Xiaotian

Dong Tianjiang's expression was complex; he dared not make a hasty decision, as he needed to consult his father first. He was about to speak frankly when he heard a voice from outside: "Young master, something serious has happened, something serious!"

Dong Tianjiang

Dong Tianjiang sprang to his feet, and the one who entered was a member of the Dong family, Dong An, who arrived panting, panicked, and informed him that the emperor had also been bitten by a rat the previous night and now suffers a persistent high fever. Dong Tianjiang's father, Minister of Personnel Dong Bingtai, having received the news, had already gone to the palace to visit the sick emperor. The Dong household was in chaos over this, for rumors of plague abound, and if the emperor contracted plague, it would be absolutely unthinkable to approach him.

Dong Tianjiang, Dong An, Emperor, Minister of Personnel, Dong Bingtai

Upon hearing this, Dong Tianjiang was also startled; he told Dong An to leave first, then grabbed Hu Xiaotian's arm urgently and said, "Tell me the truth—is there any way to cure the plague?"

Dong Tianjiang, Dong An, Hu Xiaotian

Hu Xiaotian said, "I can't, but I have a friend who should be able to."

Hu Xiaotian

Dong Tianjiang said, "If you can help me cure the emperor, everything can be negotiated."

Dong Tianjiang, Emperor

Li Chen Zhou paced back and forth in the Jingguo Duke's mansion, hands clasped behind his back, brows furrowed with worry. Just the night before, when he escaped danger from Dog Head Mountain, he never imagined things would deteriorate to such an extent; in just one night, Yongdu had fallen into such a perilous situation.

Li Chen Zhou, Jingguo Duke's Mansion, Dog Head Mountain, Yongdu

At that moment, Elder Princess Xue Lingjun arrived, removing her face veil, her face full of alarm. As soon as she entered, she said, "Chen Zhou, do you know the emperor has met with misfortune?"

Elder Princess Xue Lingjun, Emperor

Li Chen Zhou approached Xue Lingjun and whispered, "How did you come here?"

Li Chen Zhou, Xue Lingjun

Xue Lingjun seized his arm and said, "Last night Yongdu erupted with a rat menace; countless residents were bitten in their sleep, and over a hundred people were killed by rat or bat bites. I hear many more have fallen ill today, the hospitals are overflowing, and now even the emperor has fallen ill. Chen Zhou, tell me… is this really a plague?" Her voice trembled; in her view, a plague is far more terrifying than floods or ferocious beasts.

Xue Lingjun, Yongdu, Emperor, Li Chen Zhou

Li Chen Zhou resolutely declared, "These are rumors; I have already sent people to arrest those spreading them. Last night's rat trouble and bat attacks were entirely the work of Black Hu beast masters, whose aim is to sow chaos in Yongdu. Lingjun, you need not fear; in times like these, one must stay calm and never lose one's composure."

Li Chen Zhou, Black Hu Beast Tamer, Yongdu

Xue Lingjun said, "Chen Zhou, hearing you say that puts my mind at ease; I'll go to the imperial palace now to visit the emperor." She made a move to leave, but Li Chen Zhou grabbed her arm.

Xue Lingjun, Li Chen Zhou, Imperial Palace, Emperor

Li Chen Zhou whispered, "You cannot go!"

Li Chen Zhou

Xue Lingjun slowly turned, her beautiful eyes fixed on Li Chen Zhou, and asked, "Why can't I go? As the emperor's aunt, if I don't visit him while he's critically ill, wouldn't I invite gossip?"

Xue Lingjun, Emperor, Li Chen Zhou

Li Chen Zhou pressed his lips together, his expression unusually complex.

Li Chen Zhou

Xue Lingjun gently shook her head and said, "You needn't lie to me—is it a plague? If it isn't, why are you stopping me from going to the palace to see the emperor?"

Xue Lingjun, Imperial Palace, Emperor

Li Chen Zhou let out a long sigh and said, "Lingjun, I don't know either, but given the current situation, we cannot rule out the possibility of a plague."

Li Chen Zhou

Upon hearing this, Xue Lingjun's pretty face drained of color, her cherry lips trembling as she exclaimed, "How could this happen? How could this happen? Why would heaven treat Yong this way?"

Xue Lingjun, Da Yong

Li Chen Zhou said, "We still can't confirm it; I've sent people to investigate, and I believe we'll have a definite answer soon."

Li Chen Zhou

Xue Lingjun sat down glumly in her chair, and the word "retribution" suddenly flashed in her mind. Could all this be karmic payback? Since she and Li Chen Zhou joined forces to seize power, misfortune has followed one after another—plague, which once nearly destroyed Xichuan entirely; if not for the Xichuan plague a hundred years ago, her ancestors might never have had the chance to found a state, and now the plague that helped build Yong's greatness threatens to destroy Yong as well.

Xue Lingjun, West Sichuan, Da Yong

Seeing her spirits sink, Li Chen Zhou approached her, gently placed his hands on her shoulders, and comforted her: "Don't worry; nothing is settled yet, and even if things reach their worst, there is still a way to resolve them."

Li Chen Zhou

Xue Lingjun retorted, "How to solve it? Are you suggesting we follow Dakang's past example, slaughtering all the people of Yongdu and burning the entire city to the ground in one blaze?"

Li Chen Zhou's subordinate instinctively gripped her shoulder, then he pressed his lips tightly and said: "Things may not necessarily worsen to such an extent; this matter was done by the Black Hu Beast Tamer. I don't believe they have the ability to spread the plague."

Xue Lingjun said: "If it really is the plague, what then? Dao Ming died; who else dares to sit on that dragon throne?"

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【It's almost 515, hope we can continue to hit the 515 red envelope list; on May 15th, the red envelope rain can reward readers and also promote the work. Being together is also love; definitely will update well!】 (To be continued~^~)