Every day, people died in Zhanxian City.
Fear permeated everyone's hearts. Looking at the tall city walls, rumors began to spread within the city. If the plague could no longer be contained, the city would be purged.
And the Prince Rui, who led the defense outside the city, was the executioner with a blade in hand.
Fear bred madness. Since they were all going to die anyway, why not have some fun before then?
Many infected individuals, seeing no hope of survival, decided to spread the disease to others. The strong preyed on the weak, the lustful bullied women, and the old, weak, women, and children became their prime targets for venting. The evil in human nature spread wildly within the city. Some even attacked the doctors who worked tirelessly to save lives. The city was full of perpetrators with mild symptoms. As for those with severe symptoms?
They couldn't even move, and could only lie there and wait to die.
Situ Yan had no choice but to don a full protective suit, covering every inch of his skin. Then, he personally led his men into the city to quell violence with violence. He strictly separated the infected from the uninfected. The bodies of deceased patients were gathered and cremated.
The atmosphere in Zhanxian City was oppressively tense. Even the enforcers wielding large sabers had to remain constantly vigilant, as no one knew from which direction an infected person might rush them and tear through their protective suits.
The plague did not spread beyond Zhanxian City, but the situation remained dire. Some in the imperial court had already proposed burning the city.
Compared to the refugees of one city, the entire nation's populace was naturally more important.
The Crown Prince righteously opposed this suggestion, but it was all members of the Crown Prince's faction who proposed burning the city.
He secretly sent people to fan the flames. Situ Yan was the one handling disaster relief, and he was also the one in Zhanxian City. Once the city was burned, this responsibility would be firmly pinned on him, and the reputation of being cruel would be unavoidable.
The Prince Rui's faction naturally would not agree, listing a pile of reasons to refuse burning the city.
Hadn't they found the transmission route? As long as they avoided contact, they wouldn't be infected. Why the rush to exterminate them? Two to three hundred thousand people; such a large-scale slaughter might invite heavenly retribution.
The two factions in the imperial court argued incessantly. The Empress in Changle Palace was also not idle. Abstaining from meat and fish, she recited scriptures in the small Buddhist hall for two hours every day. She only hoped the plague would escalate, preferably to the point where Situ Yan also became infected and died within its confines.
Lu Nianfu was also praying to gods and Buddhas. Temples and nunneries, big or small, near and far, in and outside the capital all received a sum of incense money.
The sum wasn't large, just a token of her sincerity. After all, the bulk of the funds were used to purchase grain and medicine to supply the disaster-stricken areas.
Mo Sang had devised a new prescription. He personally supervised its decoction and delivered it to Emperor Changwu's sleeping chambers: "Your Majesty, your illness strictly forbids excessive worry, otherwise even an immortal would be unable to save you."
Emperor Changwu leaned against his headboard. "Then let me not be saved. Give me two acupuncture needles, and I'll be fine until Xiao Qi returns."
"Acupuncture is a technique known only to your Central Plains doctors. I can only have Wanwan bite you a couple of times."
"What is Wanwan? Is it effective?"
"It's effective. It will ensure you close your eyes and ascend to the pure land early. Rest assured, the process will be entirely painless." Mo Sang glanced at him with a hint of regret. "It's a shame Wanwan has been eating too well lately and has grown quite large. The big brother guarding the city gate insisted that such a large snake would threaten your safety and refused to let it enter the palace."
"So Wanwan is a large snake?" Li Furui trembled all over. "How dare you, Doctor Mo, do you know who you are speaking to?"
Mo Sang was nonchalant. "Isn't he the Emperor? But he's the Emperor of your Dayin, what does he have to do with me, a person from the Western regions? Come, drink the medicine while it's still hot. A patient must listen to the doctor, or next time I'll add bitter herbs to your medicine."
Li Furui's face stiffened, unable to speak.
What she said made so much sense, he had no idea how to retort.
Emperor Changwu, however, let out a muffled chuckle. "You are indeed daring."
Mo Sang pouted. "Drink your medicine quickly."
A sleep-inducing ingredient was added to the medicine. After taking it, Emperor Changwu soon fell into a drowsy sleep. Mo Sang meticulously instructed Li Furui, "Your Emperor's body, if well-cared for, can last for several more years. But if he continues like this, wanting to overthink things and not sleep, then it's truly unpredictable."
Li Furui looked troubled. "Doctor Mo, you must know that His Majesty's insomnia has been a long-standing issue. It's too difficult to get him to sleep more."
Mo Sang handed him a piece of incense. "If you can't sleep, light this for him."
"What is this?"
"Calming incense. A specialty of the Western regions, unavailable elsewhere. Remember to settle the bill with me later; the raw materials for this are quite expensive."
Li Furui twitched his lips. "Rest assured, Doctor Mo."
Would an Emperor default on the payment for medicine?