Chapter 128 - Grape Flavored Imperial Gong (7)
Translated by Hua Li ^_^
Last night’s torrential rain caused the sudden death of a scholar surnamed w.a.n.g inside the Scholar Pavilion. The doctor who rushed over was unable to do anything.
The doctor decided to stay overnight to avoid the rain, but another scholar fell ill, and this time he rushed in time. Although he couldn’t save the person’s life, he found that the symptoms were not caused by a common cold, but rather resembled a plague. The doctor didn’t dare to take it lightly and immediately sent someone to report to the Imperial Hospital.
The Imperial physician Zheng rushed over and confirmed the situation.
“…The early symptoms of this disease are similar to those of a common cold, with fever, coughing, aversion to cold, and drowsiness. But when the disease strikes, the patient experiences convulsions and foams at the mouth. The two deceased individuals died suddenly within half an hour of the onset of symptoms. This disease is extremely strange and unheard of. The Imperial Hospital has already started burning moxa and administering medicine. Those with symptoms of a cold are isolated from other scholars, and we will do our best to find a cure.”
“The patrol guards have already sealed off the Scholar Pavilion, but the scholars are all anxious upon hearing this news. Those who are not yet sick are unwilling to stay in the affected area for long. Several individuals have already clashed with the guards…”
After the Imperial physician Zheng and the Chief Magistrate of the Capital reported successively, the hall fell silent.
The Emperor’s voice was solemn as he asked, “What strategies do you all have?”
The courtiers looked around, and the Marquis of Boyang stepped forward, saying, “Your Majesty, the Scholar Pavilion is a vital location in the capital. This outbreak of plague has caused panic among the people in the capital, and everyone is filled with inexplicable fear. I believe that these scholars should be quickly evacuated from the capital region for treatment to prevent the spread of the disease.”
The Minister of Rites, who was responsible for the imperial examinations, spoke up, “I disagree. Such a move would be neglecting human lives, and besides, the new imperial examinations are imminent. It makes no sense to drive scholars out of the capital.”
“Are the lives of these scholars more valuable than the lives of the millions of people under the Emperor’s rule? Where do you, Lord Li, place the lives of the people in the capital?”
“Even though the imperial examinations are crucial for the prosperity of the country, when it comes to human lives, the priority should naturally be the people…”
“In my opinion…”
The officials in the court began to argue, with many aristocrats eager to expel the source of the disaster from the capital to protect themselves. However, some believed that such an action would be futile and would only alienate the people, making it a short-sighted approach.
As the debate continued, the hall became noisy.
The Emperor frowned, and Eunuch Tong raised his voice, saying, “Silence!”
The argument came to a sudden halt.
The courtiers knew that their Emperor had always been domineering, and when Eunuch Tong called for silence, it meant that he was losing patience, and others were about to have a bad time.
“Is this the strategy you all have for me?”
His voice was flat, but it made the courtiers tremble and kneel to beg for forgiveness.
The Emperor glanced at them lightly and said, “Spread my decree to seal off the four gates of the capital. No one is allowed to enter or leave. General Chu, you will personally lead the troops to guard the city gates. If anyone has ulterior motives and disrupts public order, execute them on the spot.”
“Doctor Zheng, I will send a thousand imperial guards to a.s.sist you. You must find the source of the disease within three days. Additionally, mobilize the medical staff in the capital to visit every household and immediately isolate anyone with similar symptoms.”
“The Ministry of Rites, send someone to the Scholar Pavilion to rea.s.sure the scholars. If anyone causes trouble or spreads rumors, throw them into the dungeon and revoke their t.i.tles.”
The designated individuals accepted their orders one after another.
“As for the rest of you, if anyone is afraid of death, you may remove your hats and leave the capital now. I permit it. Marquis of Boyang, what do you think?”
The Marquis of Boyang exclaimed, “Your Majesty, I am speaking objectively, not out of selfishness. I beg Your Majesty to see clearly.”
The Emperor sneered, allowing him to remain kneeling, and continued, “The Ministry of Household, a.s.sist the Imperial Hospital with all available resources. Ensure that there is an ample supply of medicine. The Chief Magistrate of the Capital, maintain public order in the capital. Increase patrols and be vigilant against troublemakers. In such extraordinary times, I hope that you will all work together and prioritize the safety of the people and the state. A mere outbreak of disease is already causing chaos. What use are you all?”
The Emperor stood up and said, “I’ll say this bluntly beforehand, but if anyone dares to a.s.sociate this matter with ghosts and divine virtues, regardless of their rank or lineage, I will not spare them.”
After the court session, various departments collaborated to prioritize epidemic control and public security.
The Emperor decreed that ministers of the second rank and above would convene in the Imperial Study to discuss matters. It wasn’t until the afternoon that the officials temporarily withdrew, allowing the Emperor to catch his breath.
“Has he had his meal?” The Emperor, still preoccupied with thoughts of the epidemic, asked with a furrowed brow, not noticing the change in Eunuch Tong’s expression for a moment.
“Your Majesty,” Eunuch Tong hesitated before speaking, “Lord Chu left the study hall about an hour ago and seemed to have gone to the Scholar Pavilion of his own accord…”
“What did you say?” The Emperor’s expression changed drastically.
***
The usually bustling Ten-Li long Street became desolate overnight, with only soldiers stationed on either side of the street.
Quiet and solemn.
Over three thousand examinees and merchants were accommodated in the Scholar Pavilion, with nearly a hundred diagnosed with symptoms of a common cold. This group was isolated in a building to the north of the Scholar Pavilion. The rest were gathered to the south, where a notice was posted at the street entrance, with soldiers repeatedly reading out the Emperor’s decree, adding a sense of gravity to the oppressive atmosphere.
After two scholars died suddenly last night, three more perished this morning.
The scholars confined in the northern inn watched as bodies covered in white cloth were carried out, filled with anxiety.
The youngest, Lu Yiming, grabbed Zhao Chuyang’s sleeve, his eyes filled with panic. “Will we…?”
He was still so young, yet to achieve fame on the Golden List. How could he die?
Zhao Chuyang couldn’t give him an answer, feeling just as uneasy himself. Tang Qingfeng interjected, “Don’t talk nonsense. You still have the imperial examination to take.”
The scholars with early symptoms were separated according to the severity of their conditions. Tang Qingfeng and his two companions had milder symptoms, just a slight fever. Others, like You Jing, who had been sick for several days, were kept in another location.
Lu Yiming, with red eyes, glared at Tang Qingfeng and said through his tears, “No wonder you’re so fat, your heart is so broad.”
Tang Qingfeng snorted and protested, “Am I wrong to console you?”
As they spoke, the door of the inn was opened again, and the three looked out the window together—relieved to see that it wasn’t another body being taken away.
Tang Qingfeng sighed, “I wonder which fellow is coming to share our suffering now… Huh? Why is it him?”
As soon as Gou Liang stepped into the inn, someone urgently called out, “Lord Chu, please stop!”
It was Doctor Zheng, who had rushed over from afar. He gasped for breath and said, “Why are you here? This place is inauspicious. Please leave quickly.”
He was the apple of the Emperor’s eye. If something went wrong here, it would be disastrous.
Gou Liang ignored his concerns and solemnly said, “Doctor Zheng, I’ve heard a bit about this disease and came to see if I can help.”
“Lord Chu, have you encountered this epidemic before? Do you have a solution?” Doctor Zheng asked eagerly.
Gou Liang shook his head. “I’ve only read about it in books. I need to confirm with my own eyes.”
Saying so, he handed a book to Doctor Zheng, who quickly took it and led Gou Liang to a medical room that had been thoroughly cleaned with moxa and strong vinegar.
After reading the contents of the book, Doctor Zheng’s expression changed several times. He solemnly said, “The symptoms of these patients do indeed match what’s described in the book, but it mentions poisoning, which isn’t contagious. If these scholars are indeed poisoned, does that mean…”
Someone secretly poisoned them, attempting to harm the examinees?!
At the thought, Doctor Zheng took a sharp breath. If that were the case, the planner behind this was truly deranged to attempt to kill so many examinees with poison. What could their motive be?
Gou Liang shook his head, signaling him not to jump to conclusions, and said, “It’s too early to make a judgment now.”
Doctor Zheng suppressed his shocked expression, then loudly ordered someone to bring over two students whose condition had already become very severe.
Coincidentally, one of them was You Jing.
You Jing looked lifeless, showing some surprise when seeing Gou Liang but not uttering a greeting. As one student after another with similar symptoms was carried out, he had already fallen into despair, unable to muster any energy or concern for etiquette.
“Lord Chu, let me handle this,” Doctor Zheng quickly intervened when he saw Gou Liang about to personally check their pulses.
If these people were indeed poisoned, then Gou Liang touching them wouldn’t be a problem. But if not, it could be troublesome.
Gou Liang didn’t insist.
Doctor Zheng had You Jing extend his hand for pulse diagnosis, then used a silver needle to test several acupoints on You Jing’s palm.
You Jing suddenly felt a sharp pain in his abdomen, letting out a groan and breaking into a cold sweat.
“Where does it hurt?”
“Here…”
Pressing his navel, You Jing felt the pain disappear as soon as Doctor Zheng removed the needle, feeling relieved.
The same symptoms were found in another student.
Doctor Zheng immediately instructed others to test the remaining patients, reaching the same conclusion: if it was a common cold, acupuncture at the palm’s acupoints would not cause unbearable pain at the navel, with the poison erupting three to five days later, leading to sudden death—just as described in the book!
His face darkened, ordering his subordinates to prepare the antidote according to the prescription for You Jing and the other student. Then, he turned to Gou Liang and said, “Lord Chu, if this medicine takes effect, poisoning will be confirmed… This matter is of utmost importance. Please join me in reporting to His Majesty the reasons behind it.”
There was no other possibility for the epidemic.
After the incident, Gou Liang had the system investigate the origins of the matter.
The mastermind behind it targeted the Emperor, and this epidemic was just the beginning of their plan.
Given the high stakes, Gou Liang couldn’t sit idly by. Moreover, he and the Emperor were in a good place, and this disruptive event would only add to the Emperor’s workload, which was unacceptable to him.
So, Gou Liang decided to take decisive action, using props to create an ancient medical book from the study, aiming to cut off the root of the problem as quickly as possible.
After the antidote took effect, Doctor Zheng wiped the sweat from his brow and grabbed Gou Liang’s hand angrily, saying, “Quickly, go to the palace. This matter cannot be delayed.”
[Ding, friendly reminder, the target is less than five meters away from you!]
“Doctor Zheng, please calm down.”
Gou Liang tried to push Doctor Zheng’s hand away, but the old man was too excited, and his grip was too strong for Gou Liang to break free. As a result…
The Emperor, who had entered with large strides, glanced at their intertwined hands and, with an unwavering tone, said to Gou Liang, “Follow me back!”