Chapter 226: Chapter 225: Incident"Heaven above, Emperor Da He ignores the life and death of his people, seeking only his own safety—such a foolish ruler, hahaha, deserves to be killed!"


    The peddler laughed loudly as he collapsed heavily.


    He died with his eyes wide open.


    The commonfolk shouted in terror:


    "Someone’s dead!"


    "The officials have committed murder!"


    "There’s no justice anymore!"


    ...


    The crowd became chaotic.


    Gao Wenliang could not contain his anger, "Everyone shut up! The Emperor and the Empress are currently in the State Mansion. The Emperor has already ordered the closure of Guan City for treatment. Anyone who disobeys will end like him!"


    Blood gushed from the peddler’s body, and within moments, it had formed a pool.


    It looked especially horrifying.


    The crowd gradually quieted down.


    The mention of closure, ban on exits, and ban on movements made the people’s hearts tremble in fear.


    In times like these, strong measures must be taken to maintain order.


    Making an example of one to warn others proved very effective.


    The onlooking commonfolk immediately returned to their homes.


    Gao Wenliang ordered the soldiers guarding the city gates to close them immediately.


    Outside the city gates


    A man with gray hair and a face full of wrinkles was slowly pushing a cart with a thin coffin.


    Only when he reached a certain mountain forest did he stop.


    He looked around to ensure no one was nearby, then abruptly tore off his human skin mask to reveal a face full of vigor.


    It was Han Chen.


    He drew a long sword hidden under the coffin, gently pushed the coffin lid open, and looked at the body inside.


    The corpse was an equally aged woman.


    Dressed in rough cotton clothes.


    But upon closer inspection, the exposed hands were white and tender, like freshly peeled scallions.


    "He Hongzhao—"


    Han Chen called out her name and took out a small white bottle from his bosom. He poured out a red pill and placed it into her mouth.


    In less than half a tea’s time, He Hongzhao had woken up. Sёar?h the ηovёlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She sat up, pulled off her human skin mask, and revealed a pale but beautiful face.


    "This He Ying, cough cough, really has the guts to stay in Quanzhou and even order a lock-down."


    He Hongzhao, light-headed, commented briefly, "Not bad. He’s just like Mr. Jiu, a complete madman."


    Han Chen actually disliked madmen and sighed deeply, "It’s good we escaped. Otherwise, it would indeed have been like lifting a rock only to drop it on our own feet. If we were really trapped in Quanzhou, getting caught would have been a matter of time."


    Originally, He Hongzhao had drugged the people in Quanzhou to create a diversion, to shift He Ying’s attention and facilitate their escape.


    Of course, she also wanted to tarnish his reputation with this act.


    She hadn’t expected He Ying to choose to personally guard Quanzhou and lock down the city.


    If not for the secret supports left by Mr. Jiu, their escape would not have been easy.


    "This mission resulted in heavy losses. The people trained by Mr. Jiu have all been sacrificed."


    Han Chen’s voice carried a mix of reproach and regret—for a sick woman, so many excellent subordinates died.


    He Hongzhao, discerning his implications, smiled lightly, "As long as you safely bring me back, even if many more die, it’s worth it. Just wait. When Mr. Jiu sees me, he will only reward you."


    She was far more valuable than those men.


    Han Chen fell silent, feeling that he could not communicate with her and did not say much more, only saying, "Let’s go quickly. Mr. Jiu must have been waiting a long time."


    Upon hearing this, He Hongzhao tidied her long hair and looked at Han Chen with a smile.


    At her smile, Han Chen felt a chill down his spine: This woman, very sinister. Better to stay away from her.


    *


    In the following days.


    The gates of Quanzhou City were closed, soldiers guarded each district, and residents were not allowed to move freely.


    Patients who were grouped separately for treatment and their families who stayed at home were provided daily meals and medicinal soups by the State Mansion.


    Yet, the people were still in panic.


    No one wanted to wait at home to die.


    Perhaps, escaping could offer a glimmer of hope.


    State Mansion


    Pharmacy


    Sang Yan along with Imperial Doctor Liu and Liang Xin had been researching the antidote continuously.


    They had not slept in a day and a night.


    Everyone looked troubled.


    Imperial Doctor Liu, anxious and tongue-tied, said, "Mr. Gao has still not found the source of the illness/poison. We can only temporarily use fever-reducing detoxifying medicinal soups for the people to take, but in the long run, without significant therapeutic effects, there might be civil unrest."


    He Hongzhao, with her profound medical and poison techniques, was beyond this half-lifetime palace server who focused on treating and saving people; faced with such a tricky virus, he was really at a loss.


    Liang Xin also felt deeply worried: Imperial Doctor Liu specialized in internal diseases, while he focused on external injuries. In front of this illness/poison, he truly felt helpless.


    "Report—"


    Government soldiers hurried in and knelt down, saying, "Greetings to the Empress, the Emperor has sent me to ask if the method to cure the disease has been discovered?"


    A worried look crossed Sang Yan’s face as she listened to the government soldier, feeling something was amiss, and she quickly asked, "Did the people revolt again?"


    For the past few days, He Ying had not sent anyone to hurry the inquiry.


    Today, unusually sending someone to inquire, probably another incident had arisen.


    The government soldier looked troubled, thinking of the words from the Emperor that should not be told to the Empress to avoid her worrying, and hesitated for a long time without speaking.


    Seeing this, Sang Yan demanded sharply, "Speak!"


    The government soldier trembled, but still said, "The fishermen at the dock revolted, injuring many medicine-delivering medical officers. Mr Gao has already sent people to suppress it."


    Sang Yan: "..."


    It had already escalated to such a severe stage!


    It was really hair-raising!


    She now confirmed that the poison was administered by He Hongzhao and was not some plague causing trouble, but externally, she could not say it was a case of poisoning.


    If she were to tell the truth, there was a risk of public criticism, saying the Emperor had involved them because of his actions against the He Family, leading to retaliation from the He Family.


    In that case, it would become even more difficult to handle.


    In any case, she could no longer allow Gao Wenliang to continue using force to suppress; she and the Emperor must make an appearance.


    Thinking thus, Sang Yan tore off the coat she wore for preparing medicines and looked at the government soldier, commanding, "Take me to the place of the disturbance."


    "No way!"


    Liang Xin was the first to object: "Empress, you must not go out!"


    Imperial Doctor Liu also changed his face dramatically and advised, "My Lady, you and the Emperor staying in Quanzhou is already a huge risk. Now, going to that place of disturbance, not to mention the risk of infection, should the public anger not be quelled, we can’t even imagine what might happen!"


    "No matter."


    Sang Yan knew what they were worried about, thought for a moment, and said solemnly, "I will take good care of myself. The Emperor is probably worried about this matter; don’t alert him about my departure for now."


    Then she instructed the still kneeling government soldier, "Stand up. Take ten men and accompany me to the dock."


    Liang Xin saw the determination in the Empress’ eyes, his words of persuasion reached his lips but he swallowed them back.


    They all knew: This matter, if only managed by forceful suppression, would only provide temporary relief. It was necessary to let the people know that the Emperor and Empress were sharing their hardships and moving forward together. Only then could the people’s hearts be stabilized. Given the Emperor’s character, cold and authoritarian, if he were to go and see the revolt, upon hearing some defiant remarks, he might burn with rage and begin a massacre.


    Thinking it over, they could only let Sang Yan go!