Chapter 802: Leaving the City (3)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Ji Luo rolled his eyes. “Your wife isn’t here.”
Shen Yijia also rolled her eyes. “Your daughter isn’t here either.”
Xuanyuan Ce was speechless.
He felt hurt, but he did not intend to leave.
Ji Luo moved her fingers. Xuanyuan Ce seemed to notice and took a step back. “Even if you send me out today, I can come back tomorrow.” Ji Luo was speechless.
Two hours later, the city gate was already filled with people.
Apart from the veils that have been soaked in medicine, there was also a long table in front of the crowd. The imperial physicians and doctors sat there and prepared to examine everyone who went over. In addition, more than ten large wooden buckets were placed at the city gate. They contained the medicine prescribed by Ji Luo. Everyone had to drink a bowl before leaving.
Everything was ready, but such a huge formation and the blockade of the city gate had already caused the commoners to panic. They seemed to vaguely realize something. Not only were they unwilling to cooperate, but they even got into a conflict with the soldiers.
“One at a time, one at a time. Don’t push,” the soldier said loudly.
“Why won’t you let us out? We’re not breaking the law. Let us out.”
“Yes, we’re going out. Move.”
“Move.”
Everyone roared. At this moment, Xuanyuan Qi and the others in bright yellow dragon robes appeared on the city tower. He shouted at the people below,
“Everyone.”
Everyone looked over and saw his clothes. Someone shouted, “His Majesty is here! ”
When they reacted, everyone knelt down in unison and kowtowed to the people on the city tower. “Long live our emperor!”
“Your Majesty, you have to uphold justice for us,” someone mustered his courage and said loudly.
“Everyone.” Xuanyuan Qi looked at them calmly. “I believe everyone has realized that many people in the city have suffered from strange illnesses recently. To be honest, this illness is really a plague. The plague came fiercely, and the reason why the city was sealed was to ensure that the plague would not spread to other places. However, don’t worry, the Imperial Court will definitely not give up on anyone. After the city is sealed, I will arrange for someone to send food and medicinal herbs in. The imperial physicians and doctors will also stay in the city to treat everyone.”
“You make it sound so nice.” A commoner shouted. Faced with the fear of death, even if the other party was the emperor, the commoner was not so afraid. “When you leave the city and the city gate closes, who will care about our lives? Saying that we don’t want the plague to spread is just an excuse. The lives of high-ranking officials and nobles mean something. So do ours!”
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was agitated and stood up to rush out.
“I’m not leaving,” Xuanyuan Ziming said. He had been in the market all year round and many people knew him. They all knew that he was the emperor’s favorite and least like a prince.
He continued, “Not only will I not leave, but Lord Jing’an will also not leave.”
The two of them were people the emperor cared about. The commoners fell silent when they heard this.
“I’m the same as everyone else. I’m afraid and want to leave, but Father told me that since my surname is Xuanyuan, I have to bear this responsibility. At the same time, I want to reassure everyone that His Majesty will definitely not abandon everyone.”
Xuanyuan Qi said in a low voice, “I swear on the Xuanyuan family that I won’t give up on any of the common people, as long as I am able.”
Everyone was stunned for a moment before kneeling down again. “Long live the emperor.”
“Now, I implore everyone to line up and let your relatives and friends leave.
The remaining people, wait patiently in the city. The doctor will definitely find a way to treat the plague. I will always be on guard outside and ensure that you do not lack medicine or food.”
Xuanyuan Qi’s words were like a tranquilizer that finally calmed everyone down. As long as the emperor didn’t give up on them, they still had hope.
Not long after, the crowd spontaneously organized themselves. According to the name of the household registration, they went forward to be checked by the doctor and left with a bowl of medicinal soup at the city gate.
Xuanyuan Qi had already sent a letter. The city guards had built a safety zone a hundred miles away. As soon as these people went out, they would be arranged to stay there.
Of course, not everyone cooperated. Some sick people wanted to make their way out among the crowd, but the doctor checked everyone individually, and they were barred by the soldiers.
There were also some who were clearly not sick, but because their relatives had been diagnosed and did not go forward for a checkup, they gave up the chance to leave the city.
After this inspection, they worked until late at night. Finally, the queue was gone. Many lanterns were lit at the city gate, illuminating the surroundings as if it was daytime.
Ji Luo sat at the back, which was also the last checkpoint.
As she watched the last person leave, she frowned.
Shen Yijia asked, “Mother, what’s wrong?”
Song Jingchen accompanied Xuanyuan Ziming to sprinkle lime water and burn wormwood. He didn’t let her follow him, so she stayed by Ji Luo’s side.
Ji Luo looked up at the sick crowd on the other side and saw the couple she had seen at the medical center. The man held the woman in his arms and looked in the direction of the city gate with red eyes. From the previous conversation, she could tell that they had a child. They must have sent the child away. She shook her head and smiled. “Mother will definitely save them.”
Shen Yijia was stunned and nodded. “I believe in Mother.”
The sound of hooves could be heard.
The mother and daughter looked over. At the front was Xuanyuan Qi’s carriage, followed by Empress Dowager Zhou, and right on the heels of that were the concubines of the harem.
Behind them were two people from the prince’s residence and the ministers of the imperial court..
