Chapter 259: Chapter 241, Stabilizing People’s Hearts_1
Xingyun Prefecture dock.
The Zhou Family butler and Butler Sun disembarked the ship and immediately saw General Lu Shuo waiting for them.
Lu Shuo stepped forward and, with his hands clasped in a salute, said, “Are the two of you from the Zhou and Yan families?”
Butler Sun promptly replied, “Back to the general, we are, we have come to…”
Lu Shuo raised his hand to stop him before he could finish and said with a grave expression, “Whatever you have come for, I am afraid you will return without success. Xingyun Prefecture has been sealed off, and now one can only enter, not exit.”
“What?!”
Seeing their faces change dramatically, Lu Shuo quickly said, “You don’t need to worry too much, the Governor sealed the city only to prevent the spread of the epidemic. Everyone inside is being treated.”
After a pause, he added, “The Little Prince is also there.”
Upon hearing this, Butler Sun and the Zhou Family butler were somewhat relieved.
If the Little Prince is in the city, it means that Xingyun Prefecture will not be abandoned.
Butler Sun asked, “General, are the three young masters of my family alright?”
Lu Shuo hesitated for a moment, “Eldest Young Master Yan…is actually recovered. Now, Young Master Yan Wenkai is still ill.”
Butler Sun grew anxious, “Young Master Wenkai is sick too?! How is he now? Hasn’t he taken any medicine?”
Lu Shuo sighed, “Young Master Wenkai is still under treatment.” The epidemic got worse over time, and while medicines had worked for Eldest Young Master Yan and the others, they had no effect on Young Master Wenkai, who is still bedridden.
“What about Young Master Zhou of my house?” the Zhou Family butler hurriedly asked.
This time, Lu Shuo’s answer came more readily. “Young Master Zhou is already out of danger.”
The Zhou Family butler felt relieved. Glancing at Butler Sun, who was visibly upset, he then asked, “General, is it possible for us to send someone in to check on them?”
Lu Shuo looked at them, pondering the good relations between the Little Prince and their families before finally nodding, “If you’re really concerned, you can send someone in to look after them, but remember, unless the epidemic within the city is lifted, they cannot leave.”
Butler Sun and the Zhou Family butler immediately conferred and decided that each family would send one person in.
As Lu Shuo was about to attend to other matters, Butler Sun suddenly remembered the medicine on the ship and hurriedly called out, “General, we’ve also prepared some medicine for the Little Prince.”
Lu Shuo immediately halted.
What were they most in need of now?
Food, and medicine.
“Where is it?”
Butler Sun quickly pointed to the ship, “It’s on board.”
Lu Shuo said, “I will arrange for it to be unloaded immediately.”
Sure enough, bags of medicine were soon being carried off the ship.
As he watched the mountainous pile of medicine being checked by the accompanying physician, Lu Shuo’s knotted brow finally eased a bit, and he urgently waved his hand for the inspection.
Suddenly, they heard the doctor’s surprised voice, “General, these are exactly the medicines we urgently need right now.”
Lu Shuo broke into a smile, and patting Butler Sun’s shoulder excitedly, nearly caused him to stagger.
Seeing this, Lu Shuo awkwardly withdrew his hand and, clasping it in a salute again, said sincerely, “I extend the Little Prince’s gratitude.”
Butler Sun, rubbing his arm and stiffly shaking his head, replied, “Our mistress said it’s not much, but it should help in an emergency.”
Since they could not enter the city, after sending the caregivers in, the Zhou Family butler and Butler Sun returned on the boat; they had to report back to their respective families as quickly as possible.
Once they left, Lu Shuo ordered the medicine to be brought into the city.
…
Next to the Governor’s Office stood a three-section estate.
Xiao Yeyang and the others, seeing that Yan Wenkai’s condition had not improved and Dong Yuanxuan had also taken to bed yesterday, were all feeling extremely downhearted.
At that moment, De Fu rushed in, panting, “Master, the Yan and Zhou families have sent people over, and Miss Yan has brought a lot of medicine.”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yeyang’s expression brightened, “Really?”
Shortly after, Qin Xiaoliu, wearing a white ‘mask’, and a Zhou Family servant entered.
Seeing the two men’s attire, Xiao Yeyang and the others were noticeably taken aback.
Upon seeing that Yan Wenxiu and a few others were standing there without any precaution, Qin Xiaoliu immediately took out two new masks from the bag he was carrying: “Elder Brother, Third Master, you should quickly put these on, be careful of getting infected.”
As he spoke, he glanced at Xiao Yeyang and others, and then distributed some masks to them as well.
Yan Wenxiu hesitated after looking at Qin Xiaoliu: “Do we really need to wear these, considering we haven’t come into contact with any patients?”
Qin Xiaoliu replied, “You need to wear them. Miss said that the virus is everywhere. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.”
Once they heard it was from Daohua, Wentao didn’t hesitate and put on the mask right away, Xiao Yeyang wavered for a moment but then followed suit.
Seeing this, the rest naturally also put theirs on.
Knowing that Yan Wenxiu and Zhou Chengye wanted to inquire about the situation at home, Xiao Yeyang took people to check on the medicine supplies.
Seeing the medicines brought by Daohua in the courtyard, Xiao Yeyang took a deep breath.
Defu reminded him softly, “The doctor has checked; these medicines are exactly what we urgently need.”
Xiao Yeyang said, “… Keep some for our reserve, and send the rest to the Governor’s Office. The city is full of sick people; they definitely won’t have enough. The medicines collected by my uncle won’t be able to be brought in for a while.”
Defu nodded, “This servant will take care of it right away.”
Xiao Yeyang silently watched the bodyguards moving the medicines, his thoughts turned to Daohua, and he muttered to himself, “She has helped me out a lot again.”
…
Xingzhou City.
It was several days later that Butler Sun and the Zhou Family’s butler returned.
In the main courtyard of Yan Residence.
When Butler Sun came to report, Daohua was also present. Madam Li and Yan Zhigao didn’t intend to hide it from her, allowing her to listen as well.
When Madam Li learned that Xingyun Prefecture had been locked down and that Yan Wenkai had fallen ill, she couldn’t catch her breath and fainting altogether.
“Mother!”
“Madam!”
Daohua and Yan Zhigao hurriedly helped her onto the bed.
At this moment, Yan Zhigao also panicked. His eldest legitimate son and youngest legitimate son were trapped in Xingyun Prefecture, a scenario he had never anticipated. He paced several rounds around the bed, and once he had calmed down, he spoke to Daohua.
“Let’s not tell anyone else about this for now, especially your grandmother. She’s old and can’t withstand such a shock.”
Daohua nodded, her face filled with concern as she asked, “Father, nothing bad will happen to my elder brother and the others, right?”
Yan Zhigao, frowning deeply, remained silent.
This was the plague, and even he could not guarantee what would happen in the end.
Seeing him like this, Daohua’s heart sank.
…
Only the three people closest to Daohua knew the situation at Jiguang, so the Yan Family was still relatively calm.
The Zhou Family, however, was in turmoil.
Zhou Madam, learning about the lockdown of Xingyun Prefecture, made an uproar, insisting on bringing Zhou Chengye back no matter what.
The next day, Zhou Jingwan came to find Daohua with dark circles under her eyes.
Zhou Jingwan looked exhausted. Seeing that Daohua also seemed not in the best spirit, she sighed, “My mother even wants to send people to bring my brother back, but my grandfather said it’s useless.”
Daohua replied, “… Xiao Yeyang was also kept within the city. Governor Guo won’t open the gates for anyone.”
Zhou Jingwan said, “My grandfather said the same.” After a pause, she complained, “How can Governor Guo be so heartless, not even caring about the Little Prince’s safety. If the Little Prince really wanted to leave, I don’t believe that Governor Guo would truly stop him.”
Daohua was silent for a moment: “That’s because Xiao Yeyang understands the role he plays by staying in the city.”
“Huh?” Zhou Jingwan looked puzzled, “Role, what role?”
Daohua said, “Only if he stays in the city, will the citizens remain orderly and believe that the Imperial Court has not abandoned them. Xiao Yeyang is there to stabilize the people’s hearts.”
Zhou Jingwan was stunned, and she didn’t speak for a long while.
Daohua gave a bitter smile, “There’s no one in this world who can enjoy privileges without paying a price.”
Because of the Guo Family’s kindness to Xiao Yeyang, and perhaps also to alleviate the emperor’s worry, Xiao Yeyang would not leave Xingyun Prefecture of his own volition at this time.