Chapter 502
~ I DON’T DARE TO MURDER THE PRINCE ~
Mu Yunyao’s heart filled with joy, but she soon became anxious. “This physical evidence is really very crucial. However, I’m afraid all the craftsmen who made the counterfeit tax silver in Yishui City are probably dead. In addition to that, All the salt merchants were connected to Jin Wang were also killed and leaved only one half-dead Jiang Jin. I am afraid it will be difficult to convict Jin Wang to the crime.”
Thinking about it, those salt merchants were really pitiful. They were taken advantage of by Jin Wang by taking the risk of forging a silver salt tax. Afterward, they thought that they would be safe and worry-free. However, they didn’t expect Jin Wang did not intend to save their lives. That person was narrow-minded. Previously, he had been plotted against by the salt merchant. Now that he had the opportunity to take revenge, he would naturally not miss it...
“Yes, Third Imperial Brother has always been very cautious when he speaks and actions. It can be said that he is like waterproof.Just a salt merchant and a mold for making fake tax silver, it would be hard to accuse a prince. However, I heard that you have secretly set up a plan to deal with this situation, right? I suppose that’s why you’re here.”
Mu Yunyao blinked, purposely trying to be suspenseful. “I did make some arrangements. However, those things can only be implemented when we return to the Capital safely.”
Yue Wang nodded his head: “En, Yao’er, don’t worry. We will definitely return safely.”
After Mu Yunyao wrote the letter and sent it to Yu Wang, the plague in Yishui City suddenly broke out. As of now, there had not been a single prescription developed that was particularly effective against the plague. Every time a disaster occurs, the official in the Imperial Court always talk about the pandemic and change their expressions. Yucheng City is a living example.
Yu Wang’s personal attendant was very anxious, “Shouldn’t we report this matter to the Emperor immediately, Your Royal Highness?”Once the epidemic situation broke out, it was no small matter. Although the flood in Yishui City was severe, there might not be many survivors, but perhaps some of them were still alive. Not to mention that Yue Wang and Princess Wenxian are both in Yishui City.
Yu Wang, on the other hand, looked calm and composed, “There is no need to be anxious. Even if I don’t report to Imperial Father, there will still be people who will be unable to hold themselves back and bring this matter up.”
Just as Yu Wang had expected, a few days later, a swift horse rushed directly into the Capital with the report of an outbreak in Yishui City.
Immediately, people in the Capital were in a state of panic, and there was chaos at the Imperial Court as Officials began to speak up.
“Your Majesty, we should learn the lesson of Yucheng City. We should immediately order the closure of Yishui City to eliminate the epidemic directly.”
“It is nonsense. Yucheng City was located in the northwest, and the surrounding area was sparsely populated. After closing the city gates, they could strictly control people’s movement. However, Yishui City was different. Yishui City is located in Jiangnan and is one of the most prosperous places in the Dali Dynasty. Furthermore, there is plenty of water there. Closing the city gates will not stop the spread of the plague unless you have the ability to directly cut off the flow of Yihe and Lingjiang River directly. Otherwise, closing Yishui City can only be empty talk.”
“Your Majesty, this humble subject believes that although we couldn’t control the water channel, we should prevent the calamity’s victims from leaving Yishui City. After all, there is no way to controthe victims’ movement and whereabouts.The river water harmed the downstream areas at most. If the victims walked around, the plague would spread more widely.”
“Your Majesty, this humble subject believes that the current plan should focus on eliminating the plague by cremation of the infected patients and livestock. This move will eliminate the disease completely, and as long as the epidemic is gone, even if the water channel is uncontrolled, it should not be too severe.
“Your Majesty …”
The Emperor’s eyes were focused on the paper in his hand. After a while, the officials realized that something was wrong, and the noise had subsided. Then the Emperor raised his head and looked at the official who had said he would cremate people to eliminate the epidemic. “Wu Bing, I remember that your son won the first prize in last year martial arts, right? He is a rare talent.”
The official who was named hurriedly stood up and knelt on the ground, unable to figure out the Emperor’s purpose in his heart, “Reporting to the Emperor, last year’s martial arts champion was indeed my son.”
“Mm. Since your son a genius, he should be loyal to the country. I feel that it’s more appropriate to send him to Yishui City to burn the patients and livestock. What do you think?”
As soon as these words came out, the official was drenched in a cold sweat, kowtowed to the Emperor, and pleaded, “Your Majesty, this humble subject only has one son. Please be magnanimous. I beg the Emperor for mercy.”
“Hmm? I ordered him to be an imperial envoy. Couldn’t it be a great honor for him to be entrusted with such an important task? As a court official, don’t you wish to see your son serve me?”
“This humble subject doesn’t dare.This humble subject and the son are willing to sacrifice their lives for the Emperor. However, such a serious outbreak has occurred in Yishui City. I’m afraid it will be difficult to return this time.”
“You don’t want your son to die, but you dare to push my son to a death?” The Emperor’s eyes were cold and ruthless as he looked down on the kneeling official with chill murderous intent.
The official trembled even more violently. “Your Majesty, even if this humble subject had ten thousand guts, I still wouldn’t dare to murder the prince.”
Silence reigned in the hall as the officials kept quiet in fear.
Jin Wang’s eyes trembled slightly, and he subconsciously retracted his finger as he had been keeping his head down. He was right in his guess. The Imperial Father did not express that much hatred towards Yue Wang and even cared for him. Otherwise, he would not be so angry at a single word from an official.
The Emperor paid no more attention to these officials. Instead, he turned his head to Xu Li and said, “Inform the decree to all Imperial Physicians of the Imperial Hospital to enter the Palace immediately. In addition, prepare carriages, horses, boats, and after the Imperial Physicians leave the Palace, send them immediately to Jiangnan’s Yishui City.”
Some officials couldn’t help but retort, “Your Majesty, the disease is hard to control. The Capital is a long way from Yishui City, and by the time the Imperial Physicians arrive, the plague will probably lose control. At that time, it will no longer be a matter of sacrificing the citizens of Yishui City. Your Majesty, please think twice for the people in this country.”
“I have made up my mind, so you don’t need to say more.”
The Imperial Physicians were heralded into the Palace, and the officials were chased out of the Palace. They didn’t want to leave, so they just knelt down in the empty space outside the main hall.
After the Emperor heard this, he ignored it and asked someone to hand over the prescription to the hospital’s head, Han Ping, “Come and take a look. Is this prescription can have an effect on the epidemic?”
The hospital’s head hurriedly took the prescription from Xu Li’s hands. After reading it carefully, he passed it on to other Imperial Physicians behind him. After all the Imperial Physicians finished reading, they began to discuss in hushed tones.
The Emperor did not speak up to interrupt and patiently waited for the result.
Gradually, the voices of the Imperial Physicians grew louder and louder. Some were deep in thought, some were angry, and some were excited. In the end, Han Ping, the head of the Imperial Hospital, replied, “Reporting to Your Majesty, this prescription hasn’t been verified. However, based on our Imperial Physician’s collective discussion, it should be effective for the epidemic disease. As for the specific effect, it is impossible to know now.”
The Emperor’s deep eyes flashed joy: “Well, it’s good to be effective. Since it’s effective, I shall now issue a decree collecting all the medicinal ingredients written on the prescription. All of you will immediately set off for Yishui City in Jiangnan to treat the epidemic victims. I will not give up even the slightest hope of saving the victims. When you leave the Palace, I will send guards to protect your families. Thus, you can go with your hearts at ease.”
Many people paled at these words, but they couldn’t disobey His Majesty’s orders. The Emperor had even especially pointed out their families. There was no room for them to resist, whether it was protection or threat.