NFBE Chapter 230: Tired, but with its advantages
Chapter 230: Tired, but with its advantages
In the previous life, this epidemic appeared on the fifth day after the disaster victims arrived in the capital.
It spread rapidly like a tidal wave in just a few days, and was highly contagious.
Initially, the patient only had a persistent high fever, accompanied by sharp pain in the joints, which many people thought was just a common cold.
However, not long after, the condition deteriorated rapidly. The patient's skin began to ooze black, greasy mucus, and the whole person seemed to have had their bones removed. The limbs were limp and powerless, and the death was bizarre and terrifying.
The imperial physicians were helpless, and even Physician Lin could only barely control the illness, unable to find a real solution.
Countless people died of illness, both inside and outside the palace.
Just when everyone was in despair, Meng Qihuang appeared.
He was a traveling doctor who had seen this disease before, and it was he who prescribed a cure and brought the epidemic under control.
It was only then that everyone learned that the disease was called bone boiling syndrome.
But now, Qin Jiuwei certainly can't say that directly.
The outbreak of bone boiling disease will occur in five days; no one would believe it if I told you now.
On the contrary, it will attract criticism and may even be regarded as alarmist, arousing suspicion.
Her thoughts raced, and after a moment she slowly said, "The disaster victims outside the city have not yet been properly resettled. Distributing porridge hastily might cause looting and unrest. It would be better to let the imperial court make the arrangements."
She paused, her gaze darkening slightly, and continued, "Furthermore, many of the disaster victims have caught colds after their long journey. If they gather together rashly, the resulting epidemic could spread in the capital, with unimaginable consequences."
She looked at Lord Xie and Madam Xie, her voice steady: "The soup kitchen can be opened, but not now. We can wait a little longer."
Xie Wanning wanted to roll her eyes at what she was hearing; what kind of nonsense was this?
Qin Jiuwei clearly wanted to oppose her!
Xie Wanning was about to speak when she was interrupted by an old voice.
“Jiuwei is right.” Madam Xie gently stroked her prayer beads and said slowly, “Providing porridge is a good thing, but if it harms the people of the city, then it is a big mistake.”
"Let's do as Jiuwei says!"
Madam Xie made the final decision, her gaze sweeping over everyone.
She also felt that distributing porridge was a good deed and there was nothing wrong with it.
But Jiuwei has always been thoughtful and clear-headed when it comes to important matters.
Every decision she made in the past has ultimately proven to be correct.
This time, she was willing to trust her again.
Xie Wanning clenched her handkerchief, suppressing her displeasure, but said, "Since Grandmother has made her decision, I will obey."
The thing she has learned most now is to endure!
Outside the capital city.
The cold wind howled, and the sun gradually began to set in the west.
Xie Yanli stood on the makeshift platform and gave his orders in a deep voice.
"Give the water bags to the children and the elderly first. Everyone should come in order. Anyone who disrupts the order will be dealt with according to military law!"
His gaze was sharp, and his words were devoid of any emotion.
The Imperial Guards acted immediately, and the disaster victims quickly quieted down. No one dared to fight anymore, and they all obeyed the instructions and lined up in an orderly fashion.
The general standing nearby noticed Xie Yanli's pale lips and couldn't help but whisper, "Young Master, please rest for a while. I'll keep watch for you."
The young master has been busy here all day.
From the resettlement of disaster victims in the city to the construction of soup kitchens, the distribution of food, and the treatment of the wounded and sick, he personally oversaw every single matter, barely eating a few bites of lunch.
"No need." Xie Yanli said calmly, his gaze still fixed on the crowd, worried that chaos might break out again.
"How are the tents being set up?" he asked in a deep voice, looking at an open space not far away.
"It's being done quickly, but there are too many people, so it might not be enough to completely shield them from the wind and cold."
Xie Yanli's gaze darkened, and the cold wind made his clothes flutter slightly.
After pondering for a moment with his eyes lowered, he said directly, "Several dilapidated temples in the suburbs of Beijing, as well as several vacant houses in the city, can be used to house disaster victims. Have people clear them out and arrange for the elderly, weak, sick, and disabled to move in first."
"When you stay in a house, make sure that men and women stay separately and do not live together."
"Yes!" The deputy general took the order and left.
Just then, an old man walked over, trembling. His clothes were tattered, his face weathered, and his voice was hoarse with gratitude: "Sir... we are all poor and unfortunate. It is a blessing from heaven that we have survived to this day. You are kind-hearted to take care of us..."
Xie Yanli didn't say much, but gently helped the old man up and had someone take him to the porridge distribution area.
The wind grew colder, and night gradually enveloped the world. The torchlight illuminated the disaster victims' camp, reflecting Xie Yanli's cold and hard profile.
"We will increase manpower to ensure that every child can have a bowl of hot porridge."
“Those sick disaster victims should be sent to the clinic as soon as possible, and the doctors in the city should take turns to treat them.”
"It's likely that frost will fall again in the next few days, so we must prepare warm clothing in advance to prevent anyone from freezing to death outside the city."
He made arrangements methodically, and none of the officials or soldiers around him dared to be negligent.
Late at night, at Qinglan Courtyard.
The door was pushed open, and a cold wind poured in.
"Husband." Qin Jiuwei saw him, immediately stood up, and quickly went to greet him, reaching out to take the outer robe he had draped over his shoulders.
Xie Yanli looked up at her, a hint of gentleness flashing in his eyes.
In the candlelight, his face was outlined more clearly by the light and shadow, and there was still a trace of weariness between his brows.
His handsome face, with its distinct features, appeared even thinner in the cold wind, and his eyes held a deep weariness from continuous hard work.
Her hair was slightly disheveled by the night wind, and a trace of unmelted dew clung to her temples, faintly revealing a chill.
Seeing his appearance, Qin Jiuwei felt a pang of heartache and said with some concern, "The water is ready, go and take a bath first."
"Okay." His voice was a little hoarse.
Qin Jiu watched him walk into the inner room, then instructed the kitchen to quickly prepare some ginger soup.
When Xie Yanli returned to the room, he had changed into a clean undergarment and his hair had been wrung out.
He seemed less aloof than during the day, and more relaxed and languid.
Qin Jiuwei pulled him to sit down on the soft couch and handed him the ginger soup.
With a concerned look on his face, he said, "Have some ginger soup to warm yourself up."
She couldn't help but nag, "You've been out in the cold all day. If you don't drink ginger soup, you'll definitely catch a cold..."
Seeing her so concerned and worried about everything, Xie Yanli couldn't help but smile.
It's tiring, but there are also advantages to it.
"Yes, Madam is right, I'll drink it right away."
Xie Yanli took the ginger soup, but what comforted him more than the warm ginger soup was the feeling in his heart at that moment.
He lowered his head and quickly finished the ginger soup.
The thought that this was Qin Jiuwei's way of showing her concern for him made Xie Yanli feel that the ginger soup was sweeter than honey.
Seeing him drink so quickly, Qin Jiuwei felt even more distressed.
Look how tired he is.
"Does your head hurt? Let me massage it for you."
Qin Jiuwei looked at the somewhat thin face and spoke softly.
Upon hearing this, Xie Yanli perked up almost immediately.
"It hurts, it hurts a lot."
It doesn't actually hurt.
But he had never received such care from Qin Jiuwei...
So this head will hurt even if it doesn't hurt.