The epidemic in Qingzhou was far worse than anyone had imagined. Although the court spared neither manpower nor resources in supporting Qingzhou, the epidemic spread from one to ten, then from ten to a hundred.
Before the prescription for the epidemic could arrive, another large group of commoners had died.
Panic gripped the people, and the situation spiraled out of control.
When a person's life was threatened, rules and regulations could all go to hell.
Many commoners, driven to breakdown by crushing mental strain, tried to break through the soldiers' cordon and escape. After being forcibly driven back, they came to blows with the soldiers.
Because of this, the morning court sessions over the past few days had been consumed by discussions of Qingzhou, with arguments raging endlessly.
"Your Majesty, this subject believes Lord Little Shen should take the epidemic prescription to Qingzhou."
These words caused an uproar throughout the hall.
The noisy arguments came to an abrupt halt, and for a moment, a pin could have been heard dropping.
Many stole glances at the minister who had made the suggestion. Good heavens, you really were brave!
Minister Shen's and Mo Xuanchen's expressions visibly darkened.
Shen Yuxi, suddenly called out: "..."
Who did I ever offend?
Shen Yuxi was so furious that her hackles rose.
[System, who was it that just recommended sending me to Qingzhou?]
The system answered indignantly: [Jia Kun.]
[Is there something wrong with him? Why doesn't he go himself? Sending a delicate young girl like me somewhere so dangerous-what a vicious heart! No wonder the son he fathered is both useless and vile.]
Jia Kun looked like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, his old face flushed crimson with the effort of holding himself back.
The veins bulging on his forehead were clearly visible.
[Jia Kun's mind has gone wrong. He's practically a mad dog, biting anyone he catches.]
[His only precious son has been thrown into prison to be executed after autumn, and he himself...] The system trailed off.
[What?] Though angry, Shen Yuxi still asked.
Jia Kun seemed to sense what the system would say next and tried to interrupt. Quick of eye and hand, Imperial Physician Han stuck a needle into his mute acupoint.
"Lord Jia, there's no need to thank this old man."
Thank you, my ass!
Jia Kun desperately wanted to curse.
"Lord Jia, His Majesty is watching," Imperial Physician Han reminded him kindly.
The system's voice rang out immediately afterward.
[After learning that her son had been imprisoned, Jia Kun's wife had a huge fight with him. As they shoved each other, Jia Kun lost his footing, and his lower body slammed straight into the corner of a table.]
Hiss-
Every man present sucked in a cold breath in unison.
They bared their teeth in pain as though experiencing it themselves.
[Jia Kun's little brother is completely ruined.]
Everyone's eyes involuntarily flicked toward Jia Kun's lower body.
Jia Kun was so furious that smoke was practically rising from his head.
Despite all his precautions, he had still failed to prevent this. Now everyone knew that he had lost the symbol of his manhood and his dignity.
How could he ever show his face at court again?
Imperial Physician Han's eyes filled with sympathy. For the sake of their many years as colleagues, he would personally examine and treat Jia Kun after morning court ended.
He did not hold out much hope, however.
After all, even the system said Jia Kun's little brother was ruined and would never stand up again.
Imperial Physician Han did not think himself more capable than the system.
[Jia Kun refused to believe the physician. To prove he could still perform, he summoned all the beautiful concubines in his household and favored them in turn, to see who could get him hard.]
The system said clearly: [But ruined is ruined. With this sort of thing, effort alone won't produce results.]
Shen Yuxi shot Jia Kun a furious glare.
[Just you wait. Once I get back, I'll spread the word about Jia Kun's impotence and let everyone know he. Can't. Perform.]
Minister Shen's face darkened.
He stepped forward and said gravely, "Your Majesty, my daughter is young and inexperienced, with little talent or learning. She knows nothing about epidemics. Going there would only add to the trouble without helping at all."
"If Your Majesty needs to send someone to Qingzhou to stabilize the situation, this subject is willing to go."
"No!"
Shen Yuxi instinctively spoke up to stop him.
Then, remembering that she was at court, she hurried forward and bowed. "Your Majesty, my father is getting on in years and cannot withstand such strain. Besides, he is the Minister of Rites, and the Ministry of Rites has so much work to do. Please let this humble subject go instead."
"Shen Yuxi!"
For the first time, Minister Shen disregarded etiquette and shouted her full name in anger.
Shen Yuxi's heart lurched. Oh no, my bargain-bin dad is angry.
Her bargain-bin dad generally only called her by her full name when he was angry.
Above them, Emperor Xuanzhao was speechless.
He had never said he had to send Shen Yuxi. With father and daughter competing like this, they were making him look like a villain tearing them apart.
[Host, I think you could make a trip to Qingzhou.]
The system suddenly interrupted what Minister Shen was about to say, leaving him no choice but to seamlessly redirect his words toward Emperor Xuanzhao.
[Hmm? Why?]
Seeing that her father was speaking with the emperor, Shen Yuxi felt free to converse with the system.
[The old emperor and the others have focused all their attention on the epidemic, overlooking the most crucial question. Qingzhou is wealthy and fertile, with abundant produce. Why would an epidemic suddenly break out?]
Emperor Xuanzhao and the officials could not help falling into thought.
[The floods let viruses spread unchecked, and the people's immunity declined. Isn't an epidemic normal under those circumstances?]
[Actually, this epidemic could have been prevented.]
At these words, even the air in the hall seemed to freeze for an instant.
A dark, cold light flashed in Emperor Xuanzhao's black eyes. Had someone deliberately created and spread the epidemic?
Mo Jingyu and the others had the same thought as Emperor Xuanzhao.
The system heaved a deep sigh. [Before the floodwaters had receded, the court's disaster-relief grain and supplies were already being skimmed off at every level along the way. By the time they reached Qingzhou, only sixty percent remained.]
[Not only did the Qingzhou county magistrate spare no thought for the people's suffering, he pocketed all the grain in the government granaries. He also secretly colluded with local grain merchants to raise the prices of their hoarded brown rice and millet severalfold.]
[Ordinary families had already lost their fields and homes to the floods, along with their livelihoods. Their purses were utterly empty. How could they possibly afford such astronomical prices?]
[When the epidemic first broke out, the medicine merchants raised their herb prices too. Even ordinary epidemic-prevention herbs such as goldthread and patchouli became rare treasures that a thousand gold pieces could barely buy.]
[Physicians wanted to distribute medicine but had no money to purchase the ingredients. They could only watch the sick struggle in agony, helpless to do anything.]
The civil and military officials all lowered their heads, not daring to breathe loudly.
Even the faint ringing of the bronze bells beneath the eaves outside the hall was magnified severalfold in the deathly silence, each note making the officials' hearts tighten.
Embezzling and skimming disaster-relief funds was a grave crime punishable by the extermination of nine familial branches.
An unrelenting chill gathered in Emperor Xuanzhao's slightly lowered eyes, the anger churning in his ink-black pupils held firmly in check.
Damn them!
He had not heard even a whisper of any of this.
Had he not heard it from the system, he, the emperor himself, would still have been kept in the dark by those parasites.
[But what does any of this have to do with whether I go to Qingzhou?]
[Since taking office, the Qingzhou county magistrate has lined his pockets and accepted bribes. His private assets are worth at least half a year of the treasury's tax revenue.]
Boom!
The fury in Emperor Xuanzhao's heart erupted completely.
The treasury was empty. Even as emperor, he did not dare hold a lavish birthday banquet.
Yet a mere Qingzhou county magistrate possessed assets equal to half a year of the treasury's tax revenue.
[Haven't you been short of spending money lately, host? Why not take this opportunity to visit Qingzhou, find evidence, and expose the Qingzhou county magistrate?]
[And fill up your own little treasury along the way.]
[The Qingzhou county magistrate's greed knows no bounds. Unless you expose his crimes in time, host, Qingzhou most likely won't survive this ordeal.]
Far away in the capital, Shen Yuxi could only gather conclusive evidence by making the trip herself.
[Besides, you have a protection mechanism, host. You don't have to worry about catching the epidemic.]
The system said: [We won't touch the wealth the Qingzhou county magistrate squeezed from the people's blood and sweat. But he's opened plenty of restaurants and brothels. No one can stop us from taking a little of his legally earned silver.]
[Is that really okay?]
[Host, you even have to scrimp on money for jewelry, and you're still worrying about whether it's okay?]
Emperor Xuanzhao and the others immediately focused their gazes on Minister Shen.
Minister Shen was actually so harsh toward his youngest daughter that he would not even give her money for jewelry.
Mo Xuanchen's eyes darkened. The little girl was short of money. Once he returned to his residence, he would send her several chests of gold and silver.