Chapter 56

Thanks to Xie Hengzhi, Yiling’s head had been buzzing for several days, and she had no mind to dwell on the sorrows of spring or autumn.

Moreover, as they neared their destination, Yiling’s sense of danger grew stronger.

After all, they were headed to a city ravaged by plague, not a place for leisure.

If it weren’t for the sake of survival, Yiling wouldn’t have willingly placed herself in such a perilous situation.

At noon, ten days later, their group finally arrived at their destination Songyuan County in Mengyang Prefecture.

A few days ago, when they had stopped at an official inn, Yiling had already noticed that Xie Hengzhi hadn’t publicized his journey, and few people knew he was heading to Mengyang Prefecture.

As for the county magistrate of Songyuan, he only learned of Xie Hengzhi’s arrival that very morning.

Yiling, having grown up in an official household, understood that Xie Hengzhi’s actions were meant to prevent the county magistrate from concealing the extent of the plague.

However, this Zhang Xianling was quite efficient; by noon, he had prepared accommodations for Xie Hengzhi and his entourage, personally waiting at the city gates.

As they approached, Yiling quietly opened the carriage window to take a look.

She had heard that Zhang Xianling had ordered the city sealed to prevent the spread of the plague, and no one was allowed to enter or leave.

Therefore, there were no pedestrians outside the city, only the thin and frail Zhang Xianling, along with his subordinates and the soldiers guarding the city gates, waiting to greet them.

Today was the tenth day of the first month, still within the festival period. Seeing the desolate, death-like scene, Yiling felt a chill run down her spine. From afar, even the sight of Zhang Xianling and his people made her feel that they appeared sickly.

She quickly closed the carriage window.

Seeing her reaction, Xie Hengzhi asked, “Are you afraid?”

Yiling retorted, “Aren’t you afraid?”

She believed that Xie Hengzhi was not a good official and couldn’t understand why he would risk his life to share the suffering of the people.

“The emperor’s orders are upon me,” Xie Hengzhi replied. “I have no choice but to obey, regardless of my fear.”

The Great Liang Dynasty had once endured a period of frequent disasters, and plagues were not uncommon.

However, this time, the emperor was especially angry. The disaster report coincided with a major religious ceremony, and he concluded that this was the wrath of the gods.

Not only did the Emperor send Xie Hengzhi to the epidemic zone immediately, but he also instructed the crown prince to personally go to Qiming Mountain, five hundred miles away from Mengyang Prefecture, to perform rituals and pray for blessings.

After speaking, he turned to Yiling and said, “Since the carriage hasn’t entered the city yet, if you’re scared, you can stay outside.”

They had traveled for several days, and this was indeed Yiling’s last chance to change her mind.

After thinking for a moment, she resolutely said, “No, I must stay with you!”

Xie Hengzhi replied, “But there’s a plague inside.”

Yiling naturally knew that, but she had no other choice.

“If I leave you and catch the plague, what’s the difference?”

Xie Hengzhi didn’t respond, but outside, Li Chun overheard and couldn’t help but shudder.

When the carriage stopped at the city gate, Xie Hengzhi leaned out, and Li Chun, assisting him, awkwardly said, “My lord, you and madam are truly… a loving couple.”

“…” Xie Hengzhi shot him a cold glance. “Do you understand the literal meaning?”

Li Chun was confused. “Huh?”

Forget it; it was pointless to explain.

After all, even Xie Hengzhi found the situation hard to believe.

Was he some sort of reservoir of Yang energy? Yiling was practically saying that her life and death depended on him.

But there was no other explanation that could account for her strange behavior these past few days, for this young lady to insist on coming to an epidemic zone.

Of course, if he hadn’t believed her story, he wouldn’t have agreed to bring her to such a place.

While Xie Hengzhi went out to speak with Zhang Xianling, Yiling stayed inside the carriage and didn’t show herself.

Affected by her, Mallow, who was traveling with them, was trembling with fear.

“Madam, do you think… we might catch the disease too?”

It was certainly very possible.

But Yiling had no other options, and as for Mallow, there was no need for her to take such risks.

“Why don’t you stay outside the city?” Yiling suggested. “That way, if anything happens, you can help.”

“Slave… servant…”

Mallow swallowed nervously and couldn’t look Yiling in the eye. After a long pause, she gritted her teeth and said, “Then… I’ll wait outside, madam. Please, be safe.”

“Mm, take care of yourself as well.”

When Xie Hengzhi returned to the carriage, the city gates were wide open. Mallow with her bundle watched as Zhang Xianling and the others rode ahead, leading them into the desolate city of Songyuan.

In the dim light of winter, it felt as though they were walking against the light, step by step, into the Hall of the Dead.

During the entire journey, Yiling didn’t dare open the window, straining her ears to listen to any sounds outside.

But the county was eerily quiet; there were no human voices, not even the sound of barking dogs.

It felt like a dead city, with not even the wind making a sound.

Occasionally, the sound of the wheels on the road was muffled, adding to the oppressive atmosphere.

After all, Songyuan County only had about 40,000 to 50,000 residents. Over 10,000 had been moved to the temple for treatment, and the rest were hiding at home, shutting their doors and not going out unless absolutely necessary.

Even Li Chun, who had been through countless death-filled places, felt a chill down his spine in this environment.

When the carriage stopped at the Zhang residence, Xie Hengzhi stepped down, and Li Chun whispered, “My lord, really, don’t you want to leave madam outside the city?”

“No need.”

Xie Hengzhi stepped down and replied, “She said she isn’t afraid.”

Just then, a hand covered in fox fur reached out from the carriage, groping in the air.

Xie Hengzhi pursed his lips and extended his hand.

After he helped her down, Yiling, who was wrapped in three layers of cloth and a veil, finally emerged.

Li Chun was speechless.

Yiling had thought that her appearance would be a source of secret ridicule. However, when she got out of the carriage and saw that Zhang Xianling’s family was dressed similarly, she felt a bit relieved.

Moreover, Zhang Xianling, who had served as an official for over ten years and had never had the privilege of meeting anyone from the capital, was suddenly required to host Xie Hengzhi, a high-ranking official. Naturally, he was nervous and fumbled his words.

Zhang Xianling signaled for them to pay their respects but seemed to freeze, unsure where to place his hands in his nervousness.

“Zhang Xianling, there’s no need for formalities at a time like this.”

Yiling could understand their fear. All the merchants in Songyuan had closed their shops, and the official post and servants had fallen ill. They could only temporarily stay at the magistrate’s residence.

Suddenly having to host a high-ranking official from the capital was a lot to bear.

“Think of us as temporary guests. Let’s keep things simple. Go quickly and discuss how to deal with the plague with the Lord.”

Since Yiling said so, Xie Hengzhi also agreed with her. Zhang Xianling didn’t delay and immediately led Xie Hengzhi to the meeting.

His wife then took Yiling to settle into a guest room.

On the way, seeing Yiling alone, she timidly asked, “Madam… you didn’t bring your maidservant?”

Yiling only responded with a faint “Mm” and didn’t say more.

She now felt that the air in Songyuan County itself carried the plague, and she wished she could stop breathing altogether. Naturally, she didn’t want to speak much either.

Zhang Xianling’s wife continued, “Shall I arrange for a capable maidservant to attend to you, Madam?”

Yiling merely responded with a soft acknowledgment.

Before long, a maid in her twenties arrived at the guest room.

“Madam, my name is Chun Ye, and I have come to serve you.”

Looking at this stranger, Yiling felt a little uneasy, nodding her head before continuing to examine the room.

It must be that Zhang Xianling had been busy for quite a while after receiving the news this morning, instructing people to tidy up the room, making sure everything was spotless and dust-free.

There were no ornaments on the table, and the bedding on the bed was all new.

After Chun Ye had been standing for a while, Yiling finally spoke, “What exactly is going on with the plague here?”

Chun Ye replied, “I am just a servant from the inner courtyard, not daring to inquire too much. All I know is that this plague is very difficult to handle. The infected first experience itching all over, then a high fever that doesn’t subside, followed by weakness in the limbs, a rash spreading over the body, and eventually death.”

Yiling frowned upon hearing this: “Has anyone in your household contracted the disease?”

Chun Ye replied, “By the grace of heaven, no one in the household has contracted it yet.”

It seems that the Zhang family was temporarily safe.

Yiling let out a sigh of relief, then sat down on the armchair in the room. She glanced at the table, and Chun Ye immediately poured her a cup of tea.

However, perhaps because this was her first time serving a lady from the capital, Chun Ye was very nervous, her hands trembling slightly. When she handed the teacup over, she released it before Yiling could take it.

“Thud,” the tea spilled all over the table.

“I deserve to die; I deserve to die!”

“It’s no problem.”

Fortunately, the tea didn’t spill on Yiling. She stepped back a little and comforted her. “When the tea spills, it’s a sign of peace. You weren’t burned, were you?”

“No, no, I… I wasn’t burned.”

Chun Ye didn’t expect Yiling to be so understanding. She froze for a moment, then went to wipe the water from the table and poured Yiling a new cup of tea.

Finally sipping the hot tea, Yiling still couldn’t relax.

“With such a severe plague, the medical clinics must be overcrowded. If I… if I unfortunately contract the disease, I don’t know if it will be easy to find a doctor.”

“I dare not hide anything from you, Madam.”

Chun Ye said, “At the moment, there are only three doctors still practicing in the city.”

“Three?”

Yiling almost choked on her tea. “How can there only be three doctors?!”

“There’s no other way! Songyuan County is already poor, and the Huimin Pharmacy has long
been abandoned. The doctors from other clinics have also fallen ill, and the outside doctors are unwilling to step foot here.”

Chun Ye continued, “Of the three doctors now, two of them were begged by Zhang Xianling from the neighboring county on his knees!”

These words made Yiling’s heart race.

She hadn’t expected the situation in Songyuan County to be this dire. No wonder Zhang Xianling, who was in his forties, had so much white hair.

In that case, wasn’t her fate likely to be grim?

At that moment, Xie Hengzhi was heading with Zhang Xianling to the Beitian Fang, where the plague victims were being sheltered.

This Beitian Fang was set up by a temple, and one had to pass through the temple to enter.

“Sir, since you are new here and unaware of the situation, I dare to suggest that you don’t enter the Beitian Fang just yet.”

Standing in the courtyard, still some distance from where the infected were gathered, Zhang Xianling said, “You are a special inspector. If anything were to happen…”

Xie Hengzhi looked in the direction inside and then nodded.

Zhang Xianling added, “Then I’ll send someone to bring the doctor over to listen to your questions.”

Two constables were ordered to go in, and the rest waited outside.

This temple was originally in a busy market area, but now it felt like it was in the wilderness. Even the bricks and tiles of the buildings looked dull and gray.

In fact, it was the brightest part of the day.

Xie Hengzhi turned his head and looked into the distance. The mountains were clearly visible, and he could even make out a square tower on the mountaintop.

“Zhang Xianling,” Xie Hengzhi suddenly spoke, “does the monastery on that mountain still have monks?”

Zhang Xianling looked in the direction Xie Hengzhi was pointing at, thought for a moment, and then answered, “Beyond that mountain, it is outside my jurisdiction, so I am not very clear.”

After looking at Xie Hengzhi, who seemed to be lost in thought, he added, “Also, when I first came to Songyuan County, that area was already uninhabited, and I haven’t been there in all these years.”

After a long silence, Xie Hengzhi did not reply, still gazing at the mountaintop.

Zhang Xianling didn’t know what he was thinking and didn’t dare ask further.

Until the doctor came out, Xie Hengzhi asked each one about the patients’ conditions and didn’t bring up anything else.

Since Yiling entered the Zhang residence, she hadn’t left the room.

However, she could sense that everyone in the house was very nervous. The servants were all holding their breath, making Yiling feel more and more uneasy.

Soon, Chun Ye arrived with several maids and young men carrying a brazier.

“Madam, it’s time to burn the Taiyi palace. Please step outside to avoid the smoke.”

The smoke from the fire was used to ward off disease, and Yiling naturally didn’t refuse.

The Zhang residence wasn’t large, just a courtyard with three entrances. She followed Chun Ye out of the room and through the hanging-flower gate, where she could only stand at the front gate and wait while the servants burned the Taiyi palace in the room and courtyard.

In the narrow alley, only Yiling and Chun Ye stood. Mrs. Zhang had already gone with the servants to help with the smoke burning.

Chun Ye was still nervous, and since Yiling had nothing to say to her, she could only stare at the rising smoke behind the hanging flower gate, her mood heavy.

In such a quiet place, the sounds from outside the residence became especially noticeable.

Through the outer wall, it seemed Yiling could hear someone shouting loudly on the road outside.

As the person got closer, Yiling vaguely heard him chant something.

Listening closely for a moment, Yiling asked, “What is that sound?”

Chun Ye glanced at the gate and said, “It’s a madman, always claiming to have a prescription for treating the plague, going around swindling people.”

In times of disaster, there were still such heartless and shameless people.

Yiling furrowed her brows and listened as Chun Ye continued, “Moreover, he claims to be a disciple of the renowned Master Huiming from Shangjing, and he’s deceived quite a few people into buying medicine from him.”

He even pretends to be Master Huiming’s disciple??

Yiling could no longer tolerate it and angrily said, “Hurry up and drive him away!”

Chun Ye immediately opened the door, grabbed a broom from beside her, and started chasing him out, shouting, “You swindler, get out now! Otherwise, when Lord Zhang comes back, he’ll give you a good thrashing!”

In the alleyway, Yiling heard the madman stubbornly causing a ruckus, unwilling to leave, and insisting that Chun Ye buy his prescription.

She could no longer listen, so she quickly stepped forward and scolded him, “With natural disasters ravaging the world and people suffering, you choose this time to cheat and deceive, even pretending to be Master Huiming’s disciple? Aren’t you afraid of retribution?”

Unexpectedly, the charlatan, hearing Yiling’s rebuke, smiled mischievously and said, “Benefactor, you are mistaken. When life is at stake, it’s inevitable to resort to swapping things, like a cuckoo occupying a magpie’s nest. You, a person of great fortune, should understand this more deeply than this humble monk.”

“Impertinent!” Chun Ye immediately scolded. “What do you mean by ‘swapping things’ and ‘cuckoo occupying a magpie’s nest’? This is the wife of an imperial official, a noble lady personally bestowed by the Emperor. How dare you speak so rudely!”

Yiling snorted coldly, thinking to herself that Chun Ye had scolded him well.

But the charlatan didn’t even spare Chun Ye a glance, his gaze fixed squarely on Yiling, and he spoke meaningfully, “Is that so?”

“Of course it’s true!” Yiling retorted angrily, “If it’s not true, then what else could it be… a lie?”

Suddenly meeting the charlatan’s gaze, which seemed to see through everything, Yiling’s heart skipped a beat, and she faltered in her words.

Could it be that this person really sees through my identity?!

Yiling’s heart raced, and she fought to remain calm.

“What nonsense are you talking about? What do you actually want to say?”

The tattered charlatan smiled, completely at ease.

“Benefactor, if it weren’t a matter of life and death, you wouldn’t have come here, would you?”

When the words fell, Yiling stared at the charlatan’s smug face, her gaze suddenly freezing as a moment of clarity washed over her.

He even knows about the affliction on my body.

This… This isn’t just a swindler; this is someone with extraordinary insight!

Snapping back to her senses, Yiling quickly turned to look at Chun Ye.

She seemed unaware of anything unusual, thinking that the madman was still rambling nonsensically while holding the broom, ready to continue driving him away.

“Chun Ye, look at how pitiful this person is. Go to my room and bring back some copper coins to send him on his way.”

“Bu… but…” 

Chun Ye was reluctant but dared not defy her orders. With a black face, she went to get the coins.

As soon as she stepped inside the flower gate, Yiling immediately stepped forward and whispered, “Since you know I came here to survive, do you have a way to cure this strange illness of mine?”

The charlatan responded calmly.

“I don’t know.”

Yiling: “…?”

“Then why did you come here today?”

“Although I am powerless to cure your affliction, this plague, however, has a solution.”

Upon hearing this, Yiling thought that if she couldn’t find a way to cure her strange illness, at least eradicating the plague would allow her to leave this dangerous situation.

She quickly said, “Then please, Master, tell me the prescription.”

“The plague demon has descended, and no medicine can cure it,” he said solemnly. “Only in the ghost market can one find a way to drive the plague demon away.”

“Where is this ghost market?”

At this point, the man began to play his cards close to his chest.

“Do you intend to go and see it?”

Yiling: “What do you mean by that?”

“I only wish to remind you that the ghost market is full of yin energy, and ordinary people who go there will shorten their lives.”

Yiling raised an eyebrow at this.

“Shorten my life… that’s not a big deal.”

“Ah! Benefactor truly seeks righteousness and merit without fear of death.”

Yiling interrupted, “I’ll send my husband.”
“…”