[R18] Will drink wine – “About Wine” Chapter 67 [English]

Chapter 65 Epidemic

Raindrops danced and mud splashed.

People were rushing in and out of Zhaosu Temple. The awning had been erected. The strong and bitter smell of boiled herbs was everywhere. The guards guarding the stove covered their mouths and noses with kerchiefs.

Qi Huilian wrapped his head in cloth and distributed medicinal soup with Ji Gang. Seeing the comatose man speaking vaguely, he looked at it for a moment.

Ji Gang quickly put away the bowls. Seeing that the master was not moving, he asked, “What’s wrong?”

“This is the Dancheng epidemic.” Qi Huilian opened the patient’s collar. “The rash will spread all over the body. If you can’t stand it, it will be contagious.”

Ji Gang said: “Is it easy to cure?”

Qi Huilian’s scalp itched, he rubbed it a few times, and said: “It’s easy to cure, but it’s troublesome. Official trenches must continue to be dug, but who knows if any sick people have spit or peed in the water? If the trench digger is infected and doesn’t notice it, and bumps into others, another big piece will be poured.”

“It’s a sin,” Ji Gang looked under the awning, “What should we do?”

“What should we do…” Qi Huilian suddenly pulled up a cloth to cover his face, looked at the people coming at the door of Zhaosu Temple, and whispered, “It all depends on fate. We must first stabilize the people’s hearts, and there must be no chaos. Then we can gather all the medicine shops in Qudu. The patients must be separated.”

“We can’t stay long,” Ji Gang put down the bowl, “Someone will take care of this matter. I told Chuan’er to leave.”

“Lan Zhou can’t leave,” Qi Huilian said, “he is the one who handles the matter. Can you expect Han Cheng to come out and take care of it at this juncture? It’s too late for them to hide.”

“No!” Ji Gang suddenly changed his expression, “He is now a fifth-grade governor, and he is not even qualified to go to court at the fourth grade. How can he be allowed to do it? This matter is so big, and there are people with higher authority than him!”

“Who are you trying to reason with?” Qi Hui put down the bowl, “If Han Cheng puts he here in the name of training, there’s nothing you can do! When the illness comes, who in the official position would be willing to come down? Even Hai Liangyi can’t come! Besides, Lan Zhou can’t leave. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If he succeeds, he can be promoted again! Promotion -”

Ji Gang suddenly pushed He away and said, “What nonsense are you talking about!”

Qi Hui fell to the ground, got up again, and said, “If you don’t follow the trend now, what are you waiting for!” He also got angry, “This is the time when people step on others, and he has to do something even if he doesn’t do it! Do you understand?”

“I don’t understand,” Ji Gang said with consternation, “I want him to go, I have to take him away!”

After Ji Gang said that, he went inside and came out face to face with Qiao Tianya, blocking his way.

“The people in Zhaosu Temple need to be evacuated. Only patients can be kept inside. Master, please don’t go in again.” Qiao Tianya said with a smile, “Sir’s notes have been moved to the old house. The master asked me to rent a small building for you two on Shenwu Street. It is close to the palace gate and cannot be flooded.”

“Get out of the way!” Ji Gang said, “These are all patients. How can Chuan’er stay long? I have to tell him!”

Qiao Tianya suppressed his smile and said seriously: “Master, why bother me? Since the master has given this order, there is absolutely no reason to change. There are all patients here. If you stay here, the master is also worried. For the sake of his filial piety, you come with me.”

Ji Gang became even more anxious when he heard fierce coughing. He grabbed Qiao Tianya’s arm and pushed him back.Qiao Tianya had long expected that he was going to make a move. After taking this move, half of his arms were numb, but his feet were faster, and his whole body was blocking Ji Gang.

“Master!” Qiao Tianya whispered, “Calm down! The master has arranged it like this, so naturally he has a countermeasure. I will be back later, so let’s go early and the master will come back early, okay? With so many pairs of eyes watching, can you really take him away? Where are you going?”

Where did this sound go? This made Ji Gang calm down.He looked inside for a long time, then flicked his sleeves and pointed at Qi Huilian tremblingly, but in the end he didn’t say another word.

* * *

Shen Zechuan sat on the bench and closed his eyes to rest.There was a buzzing in his ears, and he felt dizzy now, but there was no trace of water on his face.After hearing someone calling him for a long time, Shen Zechuan opened his eyes.As soon as he opened his eyes, he no longer looked tired.

The official from the Ministry of Household Affairs said: “Master Zhenfu, the supply of herbal medicine is insufficient. What should we do tomorrow?”

“It’s a matter of great importance, and the herbal medicine will not be broken.” Shen Zechuan folded his cloak, “It’s time for the imperial doctor from the imperial hospital to arrive, and he will bring the news of preparing the herbal medicine. You ask people to continue cooking, don’t waste it.”

The official responded.

Shen Zechuan saw he looked terrified and said, “Which department of the Ministry of Household Affairs are you an official from?”

The official quickly said: “A humble position is not an official. I am just a subordinate in charge of records.”

“On errands for the private sector, they are all the same size.” Shen Zechuan said, reaching out his hand, frowning for a moment, and then asked, “What’s your name?”

“My humble name is Liang Miaoshan.”

“You will take over the task of supervising the herbal medicines tomorrow morning and record everything in detail, no matter how big or small.” Shen Zechuan said, “I guess the Imperial Army has already gone to prepare the herbal medicines. They are pressed for time and cannot wait for the note from the palace, so I must remember the herbal medicines in the past few days clearly.”

As he spoke, he suddenly stopped and paused for a long time.

“Go and rest. Pay attention to your health these days. If you feel unwell, report it immediately.”

Liang Miaoshan resigned, and as soon as the curtain dropped, Shen Zechuan felt his forehead burning.

Ge Qingqing followed in and was shocked when he saw this. He stepped forward and whispered: “Zhen Fu…”

Shen Zechuan said calmly, “When did Xi Hongxuan get the rash?”

“Two hours after taking the medicine,” Ge Qingqing said, “the rash started to crawl up my legs.”

“I got the rash first and then the fever,” Shen Zechuan said soberly. “The symptoms don’t match the symptoms. It shouldn’t be an epidemic, but just in case, I have to take the medicine.”

Ge Qingqing felt relieved and said, “Fortunately I didn’t ask for leave this morning!”

The emperor is infected with an epidemic. Which imperial doctor dares to say that he contracted it from going out to fool around?All we can do is find excuses and say it was accidental infection.But who could pass the disease to the emperor?Either a personal eunuch or a bodyguard who often walks around in front of the emperor.Shen Zechuan is now listed as acting in front of the imperial court. If he takes a leave of absence this morning, he will be a handle for others later. Once the eczema is said to be an epidemic, he will no longer be qualified to stay in front of the imperial court.Shen Zechuan still carries Shen Wei’s charges on his back, and it will be really difficult to get up again if he goes down.

Even Shen Zechuan found it difficult to breathe at this moment.Compared with conspiracies and tricks, such unpredictable calculations are more difficult to guard against. If he hadn’t been so cautious, he would have fallen into the hands of others at this moment, and life and death could only be a matter of a word.

Ge Qingqing saw he closed his eyes and retreated.

Shen Zechuan listened to the sound of rain, but his thoughts drifted away.The turbid old memories came one after another with the sound of rain, and he frowned in weariness.

He neither likes snowy days nor rainy days.The dampness and coldness will remind him of the Tea Stone Tiankeng, Ji Mu, and all the days when he knelt down and allowed himself to be slaughtered. Moreover, the dampness and coldness will make him become uneasy, gloomy, and full of cold patience and irritability under his skin.

Shen Zechuan leaned against the wall and squinted for a while, but the more he squinted, the more drowsy he became, and he actually fell asleep in this corner.

It was already very late when Xiao Chiye arrived at Zhaosu Temple. He entered Zhaosu Temple together with the imperial doctor who came over. Ding Tao was frowning behind him because he did not find Shen Zechuan and missed the time.

Xiao Chiye asked Jin Yiwei who was decoction: “Where is Zhen Fu? I’m looking for him!”

The Jin Yiwei half-covered his face, handed him a bowl of medicine, and said, “You have to drink the medicine first if you look for anyone. Governor, you imperial troops are going to go into the water, so be careful!”

Xiao Chiye took the medicine.

The Jin Yiwei stood up and shouted under the awning: “Brother Qing! Is Brother Qing here? Where is our governor? Please report that Governor Xiao is looking for us.”

Ge Qingqing was sleeping on a stool. When he heard the sound, he sat up, put on his clothes and came over. When he saw it was Xiao Chiye, he said, “Zhen Fu is resting inside… He hasn’t slept a wink all night. The governor should also rest. The Eighth Battalion said they were going to guard the city gate. We will dig the unfinished ditch together tomorrow.”

“Manual work must be done by strong people.” Xiao Chiye said as he walked, “Keep an eye on the door and don’t let anyone from outside come in.”

Xiao Chiye opened the curtain and went in. There was no light inside. He scanned around and found no one. After walking a few more steps, he saw Shen Zechuan leaning against the wall.

Xiao Chiye was dirty. He took off his shirt, sat next to Shen Zechuan, and poured out the water from his boots.It was cold in the room, so he kicked off his boots again, went out again, borrowed a fire from the stove, and came in to find a copper basin to light a fire.

Shen Zechuan opened his eyes and said, “Have you finished digging Donglong Street?”

“Yeah.” Xiao Chiye lit up the fire, “Why don’t you sleep on the bed?”

“Squint for a while,” Shen Zechuan said, “I can’t get up after I lie down.”

Xiao Chiye moved the basin to the bed and said, “Come up and sleep. I’ll call you later.”

Shen Zechuan was not polite. When he lay down, Xiao Chiye hugged him from behind and pressed his face against his cheek.Shen Zechuan could still hear Xiao Chiye’s whisper at first, but the rest was blurry.

Xiao Chiye listened to Shen Zechuan’s heavy breathing, then reached out to untie his collar and looked at the red rash carefully.

It’s different from Xi Hongxuan’s.

Xiao Chiye buttoned up his clothes again, hugged him and fell asleep.

He didn’t know how long he had slept, but Xiao Chiye felt that his arms were very hot. When he half-opened his eyes, his consciousness was still confused. When he saw the person in his arms clearly, he immediately woke up.

Shen Zechuan felt like he was on fire, and his temples were soaked with sweat.Xiao Chiye touched him, and he felt hot everywhere.

Xiao Chiye sat up suddenly and called out: “Lan Zhou, Lan Zhou?”

Shen Zechuan was sweating, his brows were furrowed, and his breathing was short. He was half-awakened by Xiao Chiye and said, “Separate…separate…this disease can be contracted without being exposed to water.”

Xiao Chiye wrapped his head with a cloak and shouted: “Chen Yang, call the imperial doctor!”

Chenyang, who was napping against the wall outside, woke up immediately, got up and jumped down the steps, got into the awning, and pulled the imperial doctor to the door.

The imperial doctor opened his cloak a little, looked at it for a while, and said urgently: “Governor, the governor is infected with an epidemic! I think this disease is caused by the wind first…”

Xiao Chiye clasped the imperial physician’s arm, stared at the imperial physician, and said in a cold voice, “What is Zhenfu?”

The imperial doctor panicked and changed his words: “It’s… it was due to hard work… that I fell ill…”

“Yes, Zhen Fu fell ill here today,” Xiao Chiye tightened his fingers, “He was not sick before this.”

The imperial doctor kept saying: “Yes, yes, yes…”

“All the medicine in Qudu is here. I know that you are an expert in Xinglin,” Xiao Chiye suddenly softened his tone, “You can cure it, right?”

The imperial doctor looked into Xiao Chiye’s eyes, his legs and feet went weak, he held the edge of the bed, nodded in panic, and said: “It can be cured, it can be cured…”