Chapter 162 - 162: Questioned By the Commoners

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

After returning to the King of Xinan’s Residence, Yu Yunxi asked Qian Jiao to bring Yu Junjin back to his room to sleep. She planned to discuss the matter at hand with Shen Hezhi in the study.

“Song Cang, it’s been hard on you tonight. You should rest too,” Yu Yunxi said before she went to the study.

Song Cang revealed a foolish smile when he heard this and replied, “Yes, I’ll go and rest now.”

With that, Yu Yunxi and Shen Hezhi made their way to the study.

“Beixiao really sent its Third Prince. Nanyue’s troops are innumerable, and their weapons have also improved a lot,” Yu Yunxi said solemnly.

Shen Hezhi’s expression turned grave upon hearing this. He asked worriedly, “Did they discover you?”

Yu Yunxi cleared her throat awkwardly before she recounted everything that happened.

Shen Hezhi’s expression was very dark after he listened to her. Just by listening to her, he could imagine how dangerous it must have been.

“Yunxi, you..

“I know. I was wrong. I won’t act rashly in the future.”

Yu Yunxi knew Shen Hezhi very well. She knew he was very worried about her

so she quickly admitted her mistake.

Seeing her attitude, Shen Hezhi sighed in relief, and his expression also eased. He said in a low voice, “You always put other things before your own safety.” “Brother, aren’t you the same?” Yu Yunxi muttered in a low voice.

Back then, Shen Hezhi’s health was not so bad. If it were not for his health, he would have fought Nanyue to death to protect the people of Xinan.

A hint of loneliness flashed in Yu Yunxi’s eyes when she thought about this.

Not wanting to continue on this heavy topic, Shen Hezhi said, “Perhaps, Beixiao doesn’t really want to go to war. There must be a reason for this. If we can find the reason, perhaps we can stop Beixiao from helping Nanyue…”

“I agree.”

Yu Yunxi nodded. She shared the same opinion as Shen Hezhi.

Shen Hezhi’s eyes glinted coldly as he said, “You said there’s a spy next to Father?”

Shen Hezhi and Shen Si hated traitors the most in their lives.

“I’m not completely sure, but the possibility is very high. We have to search the city in the next few days. I’m afraid that the gunpowder has already been transported in,” Yu Yunxi said with a frown.

Shen Hezhi’s gaze darkened. He said with a nod, “I’ll get Wenyuan and the others to search the city as soon as possible.”

“Recently, the people have been in a state of panic due to those people who are being locked up. We must carry out the search secretly,” Yu Yunxi said solemnly.

Shen Hezhi nodded. After a moment, he said, “By the way, our people found out that Feng Yili and Luo Xiuran were in Jiangzhou.”

Yu Yunxi’s expression turned cold as soon as she heard Feng Yili’s name. She said, clenching her hands, “I’ll tell everyone to be on guard. I won’t give him a chance to act against us.”

Seeing her reaction, Shen Hezhi knew she truly hated Feng Yili at this moment. He sighed inwardly and did not say anything else. After all, Feng Yili’s actions told everyone that he intended to make an enemy out of the King of Xinan’s Residence. However, so what if he wanted to make an enemy out of them?

Finally, Shen Hezhi said, “Alright, go and rest first. You must be exhausted. Leave the rest to me. I’ll deal with the envoy from the capital tomorrow as well. ”

“The envoy from the capital is arriving tomorrow? Did the capital send reinforcements?” Yu Yunxi asked skeptically.

“No. The capital sent a civil servant over. He’s probably sent by the Emperor to spy on us,” Shen Hezhi said, shaking his head.

“Who is it?” Yu Yunxi asked solemnly.

They were thoroughly disappointed by the imperial court by now. Since the court did not intend to help Xinan, they did not care about the envoy at all; there was no need for them to let the envoy in. However, she still wanted to know to whom the Emperor entrusted this thankless task at the critical moment.

“Xu Zhiyan,” Shen Hezhi said in a deep voice.

‘Xu Zhiyan?’

Yu Yunxi had thought of many officials, but she did not expect Xu Zhiyan to come. However, realization soon dawned on her. She said with a sneer, “This job is like a hot potato. Everyone knows the Emperor’s actions have thoroughly offended Xinan. Those who come to Xinan would definitely not have a good time. As such, they forced Xu Zhiyan to come…”

Xu Zhiyan had no foundation in the imperial court, and he had offended many people with his blunt admonitions. It was not surprising that everyone sent him to his death.

Yu Yunxi massaged her temples as she said softly, “He’s my friend. We have to open the city gate for him. However, it’s not suitable for me to welcome him.”

Her identity was very sensitive now. If she went to welcome Xu Zhiyan openly, news of it would spread to the capital, and it would be very disadvantageous to Xu Zhiyan.

“I understand,” Shen Hezhi said with a nod. He had a plan in mind.

The next day.

Xu Zhiyan and his men arrived outside the city gate, and Shen Hezhi went out to welcome them.

On the other hand, Yu Yunxi received the news that a family in the city had fallen sick. She took her medicine box and went to look for her horse.

Just as she was about to leave, Song Cang appeared and said seriously, “C-County, County Princess, our steward told me to follow you and protect you.”

Yu Yunxi was slightly stunned.

‘Uncle Shan probably thought I’d need to borrow him for a long time…’

Yu Yunxi was not very resistant to this. After all, Song Cang was very capable. Qian Jiao and the others had gone to the military camp so she lacked help.

Song Cang was overjoyed. He quickly brought a horse over and mounted it.

The family lived in a small alley in the east of the city.

When Yu Yunxi arrived, many people were already gather there. Upon seeing this, she said sternly, “Everyone, you should hurry back to your homes…”

They had yet to confirm whether it was a plague or not, and it was definitely not safe for the commoners to gathere here.

“County Princess, Qiu Zi and his family are seriously ill! Please save them,” someone said anxiously.

Yu Yunxi nodded.

It seemed like the family was very well-liked. Otherwise, there would not be so many people who cared about them.

Since the commoners were unwilling to leave, Yu Yunxi could not force them to leave. She could only order them to retreat further away. Then, she walked into the house.

The house was small, but it was clean and neat. Everything was neatly arranged.

As soon as she walked in, she saw three people lying on the ground; two adults and one child.

Everyone in the city knew Yunxi.

When the woman on the ground saw Yu Yunxi, her eyes reddened as she pleaded, “County Princess, please save my child.”

“Don’t come close,” Yu Yunxi said to Song Cang sternly. However, she herself did not take any precautions as she approached the three people.

She checked the child’s pulse first before checking the two adults’ pulse. Their pulse was very weak. Their bodies were burning, and they kept coughing.

She quickly fed them medicine, but they were in a bad state. Her heart sank as she thought to herself, ‘It’s not an ordinary cold… Their symptoms are the same as those who are being locked up…’

She looked outside and noticed how close the houses were to each other. If she left them here, their safety would not be guaranteed, and they might even infect the others.

She asked the woman patiently, “Are you willing to follow me to another place to treat your illness?”

However, before the woman could respond, someone said mockingly, “County Princess, are you going to treat them elsewhere, or are you going to lock them up and burn them with the others when the time comes?”

Yu Yunxi frowned immediately. She quickly turned around and swept her eyes across the crowd.

Before she found that person, the crowd broke out in an uproar.

“County Princess, is that true? Are we going to be burned to death if we fall sick?”

“One’s body, hair, and flesh belong to the earth. After death, one has to be buried with dignity! How can one be burned?!”

“That’s not the point. It’d be fine if one was burned after dying, but didn’t you hear it earlier? If you fall sick, you’d be burned alive!”

“T-that’s too cruel!”

Yu Yunxi had a headache when she heard these words. She said helplessly,

“Everyone, calm down…”

Someone in the crowd shouted, “Calm down? How can we calm down? So many commoners in the city are missing for no reason, but the King of Xinan’s Residence has yet to give us any explanation!”

With this, people began to panic again.

“That’s right! Two days ago, my mother went to the King of Xinan’s Residence to be treated, but until now, there’s no news of her!”

“It’s the same with my father! I don’t know where you took him!”

“Aunt Sun next door as well…’

Everyone’s faces were red as they began to question Yu Yunxi one after another.

“Could it be that the rumors about the plague are true, and the King of Xinan’s

Residence is going to sacrifice all those who caught the plague?” “They’re all humans! County Princess, how can you be so ruthless?”