Chapter 224: Chapter 223: City LockdownIn the study


    The Dark Guard Team captain Yan Si came to receive his orders first.


    He was a handsome youth, dressed in black, with a complexion as fair as jade, not at all resembling a member of the Hidden Guard, but rather a rich noble’s son.


    He Ying instructed, "You take your men to Xiquan Pier to investigate the whereabouts of He Hongzhao."


    He had previously entrusted this matter to the people led by Lu Zijin, but since Lu Zijin had gone to Beiqi to deliver a message, and since the overt Guard Team was not advantageous in searching for people, he wanted to try the Dark Guard Team.


    The selection and training for the Dark Guard Team were even more ruthless; they did not act by the book but aimed for rapid achievement of their objectives.


    "Yes."


    Yan Si took the order and left.


    Imperial Doctor Liu and Imperial Doctor Liang came in together.


    They had preliminary diagnostic results.


    Imperial Doctor Liu said, "Emperor, this disease is very strange; it develops rapidly and has a high mortality rate. Initially, it is not judged to be an epidemic, but it does possess a certain level of contagiousness. As to how to treat it, Doctor Liang and I still need to conduct further research."


    These findings were not far off from what He Ying had thought.


    He Ying frowned and said, "It’s somewhat difficult."


    Imperial Doctor Liu nodded in agreement, "This humble official will definitely research a treatment prescription as soon as possible."


    Just at that moment, Gao Wenliang came hurrying in.


    Upon his arrival, a petition smashed onto his head.


    He didn’t care about the pain and immediately knelt down, "Emperor, please forgive me!"


    He Ying’s face was stern as he barked, "You still realize that you are committing a crime!"


    Gao Wenliang’s face was filled with suffering; he dared not speak.


    He Ying continued to berate him, "Gao Wenliang, you truly are an ’excellent’ official! Such a major incident has occurred in Quanzhou, and you did not think to report it, instead, you even drove away the common people who came to the State Mansion last night to cry for justice!"


    The noise that Sang Yan heard last night came from those poor commoners, but they were quickly driven away by the government soldiers from the State Mansion.


    And without Gao Wenliang’s orders, how would the soldiers dare to drive people away?


    This was negligence on Gao Wenliang’s part!


    There were many people in the study.


    Apart from He Ying and Sang Yan, there were also Pei Muyang, Imperial Doctor Liu, Liang Xin, Sun Fengyuan, and others.


    Being reprimanded by the Emperor in front of so many people, Gao Wenliang was both flustered and embarrassed, "Emperor, please calm your anger; this humble official knows his mistake."


    At this time, no explanation would suffice.


    Gao Wenliang lowered his head and heavily kowtowed three times.


    "Xinyuan, calm down—"


    Sang Yan spoke to soothe, while also gently patting He Ying’s back.


    Fearing he might utter more harsh words, she quickly pulled him back to his seat and handed him a cup of tea. Sear?h the N??elFirё.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Then, while He Ying was occupied with drinking tea, she made a meaningful glance at Gao Wenliang.


    Gao Wenliang saw Sang Yan’s expression, his face filled with bewilderment: What does the Empress mean?


    Sang Yan: "..."


    Tsk, forget it, considering Gao Wenliang’s loyalty in the past, she decided not to make an issue of this blockhead for now.


    She withdrew her gaze and declared emphatically, "This Lady has heard that Mr. Gao has already led the government soldiers in a thorough investigation through the night."


    Gao Wenliang was taken aback for a moment, then replied, "Yes."


    Both Imperial Doctor Liu and Liang Xin looked towards Sang Yan, not understanding why she would bring this up.


    Now that the Emperor was angry with Gao Wenliang for his inefficiency, mentioning this now, wasn’t she deliberately provoking the Emperor’s anger?


    Gao Wenliang was also full of anxiety in his heart: Could it be that at some point, he had inadvertently angered the Empress, and today she had come to trip him up?


    As he was thinking—


    Sang Yan changed the subject, "Since Mr. Gao has conducted a thorough investigation, then tell this palace what you’ve found. Such as: What symptoms did the patients arriving demonstrate? Where in Quanzhou did they come from? How many were there yesterday? And how many are there today? Is there any sign of contagion?"


    As this string of questions was asked, the study became instantly quiet.


    He Ying raised his eyes to look at Sang Yan, the brightness in his eyes shifting from anger to calm.


    He looked again at Gao Wenliang and demanded, "Answer the Empress’s questions, and if you answer even one incorrectly, you need not continue as the Prefect of Quanzhou."


    Sang Yan was thinking of a solution for the common people.


    Gao Wenliang’s words could bring them the most effective information.


    Gao Wenliang thought hard for a moment and replied, "The patients who came last night had symptoms of coughing, chest pain, and high fever. It was because the people were fishermen and dockworkers that they were not allowed to come to the State Mansion. With Quanzhou recently being unstable, I was afraid that enemy spies would mix in with the commoners, infiltrate the State Mansion, and threaten the Emperor’s safety, which is why I ordered them to be driven away. However, I also ordered other medical facilities in Quanzhou to diagnose and treat those patients."


    Last night, he had urgently instructed his subordinates to ensure that all medical facilities in Quanzhou City did not close their doors and were to fully commit to treating the sick populace.


    But unexpectedly...


    Gao Wenliang sighed and continued, "The city has more than a dozen medical facilities, large and small, but in just one night, the number of people swelled, and the supply of medicinal herbs could not meet the demand. Patients who were coughing yesterday have begun to experience high fever and vomiting blood today, especially the workers and fishermen from Xiquan Pier. I intended to report to the Emperor, not expecting that His Majesty had already heard the commotion. As for whether it’s contagious, that is still unclear."


    He admitted defeat in this matter.


    He thought he could handle it, only to find that the situation had spiraled out of control.


    He was indeed unworthy of being the fatherly official of a city.


    Gao Wenliang felt ashamed and reproachful, not daring to meet He Ying’s gaze.


    Upon hearing this, Sang Yan’s heart gradually cooled, her fingertips ice cold.


    Just as she had anticipated, it was indeed connected to the docks.


    She surmised that He Hongzhao had likely poisoned the water or some other place near the docks during his escape.


    As she pondered, Sang Yan spoke out for Gao Wenliang, "Emperor, although Mr. Gao has been negligent, he did find shelter for the common people last night. It’s just that no one expected things to develop so quickly."


    In fact, He Ying did not really intend to pursue Gao Wenliang’s faults.


    Gao Wenliang had been the Prefect of Quanzhou for many years and had done his job well.


    "What do you think we should do?"


    He Ying asked Sang Yan, seeing her demeanor, he assumed she already had an idea.


    Sang Yan’s dark eyes looked at He Ying, and after a long moment, she uttered two words, "Lockdown."


    These two words caused a great stir in the study.


    Before He Ying could speak, Gao Wenliang and Pei Muyang were the first to disagree.


    "Empress, this cannot be!"


    Pei Muyang was so anxious he was nearly in tears, "Imperial Doctor Liu just said that this disease is contagious and has a high mortality rate. It is too dangerous in Quanzhou City for you and the Emperor to stay. Not to mention the contagion, if we lock everyone in together and the people truly become chaotic, this small State Mansion cannot withstand the turmoil."


    It had been no easy feat to welcome the Emperor back from Puluo Country.


    And now, to encounter such a troublesome matter?


    Pei Muyang was overwhelmed.


    Gao Wenliang also disagreed, "Empress, Mr. Pei is right. Your safety and the Emperor’s are paramount. I will resolve this matter diligently. Tonight, you and the Emperor should leave Quanzhou."


    He Ying glanced at the two men and then turned his gaze to Imperial Doctor Liu, who had not spoken, "Imperial Doctor Liu, what do you say?"


    As the question was asked, Pei Muyang and Gao Wenliang simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief: everyone knew Imperial Doctor Liu was highly concerned about the Emperor’s health. This time, he would certainly advise the Emperor to leave.


    But unexpectedly—


    "Emperor, I concur with the Empress,"


    Imperial Doctor Liu looked at Sang Yan, solemnly bowed, and said in a deep voice, "Lockdown. Treat and soothe the common people. On behalf of the people of Quanzhou, I thank the Empress."


    He was able to deduce the dangerous nature of the disease from the few words of Gao Wenliang and had underestimated this Empress’s judgment.


    He Ying had been watching Sang Yan all along.


    Initially, he had not fully grasped the meaning behind the words "lockdown."


    In Da He, a lockdown was only considered when the entire city was infected with a plague or on the eve of a great war.


    Now, seeing the shining brilliance in Sang Yan’s eyes, he seemed to understand something.


    He Hongzhao’s actions might yet bring him an unexpected gain.