As the gates of all the city walls in all directions fell, Taiyuan Mansion officially became an isolated city.
A comprehensive curfew was imposed on the streets, prohibiting anyone from traveling at night. Soldiers and yamen officers wearing masks and armbands, holding lanterns, patrolled the entire city in small teams.
Entertainment venues such as boats and restaurants have been completely closed. The bustling commercial streets that used to be bright day and night can now be heard.
The depressing and chilling atmosphere also affected the residential area, and every household unconsciously lowered their voices, as if they were back to the time before there were no rune lights.
But in the luxurious manor in the north of the city, the lights were still bright, banquets were held all night long, and the sound of silk and bamboo was heard.
Here is the Wang family's residence in Taiyuan. To be precise, it is the Wang family's mansion.
The Wang family in Taiyuan has many branches and branches. About a quarter of the family members live in the north of the city, while other clan members live in manors outside the city or in other state capitals on Hedong Road. People are only sent here when worshiping ancestors.
It was late at night, and a middle-aged man in brocade clothes left the noisy and lively lobby, walked through the courtyard, and came to a small house in the corner of the manor.
He stood in front of the door, took out the mask from his arms, put it on himself somewhat unskillfully, then took out the key, unlocked the lock on the door, and pushed the door open.
The prince Wang Jie who used to talk eloquently on the train was now sitting behind the table.
His eyes were red and bloodshot,
The originally handsome face was much thinner, and he was holding a book in his hand.
"Jie'er, I'm here to see you."
The middle-aged man looked at Wang Jie with distress. His name was Wang Bofan. He was Wang Jie's father and a candidate for the next patriarch of the Wang family.
"father,"
Wang Jie put down his book, coughed slightly and said, "Is that girl Wang Anlian's wedding over?"
"What about that girl? That's your cousin."
Wang Bofan frowned and reprimanded. Wang Anlian's father, Wang Bojian, was his clan brother and his biggest rival for the position of clan leader.
Today is Wang Anlian’s wedding day.
If Li Ang were here, he would definitely recognize the groom at the wedding as Chu Haoman, whom he met in Qishui Village.
"Ah."
Wang Jie curled his lips, his expression still disdainful.
Not to mention the competitive relationship between Wang Bofan and Wang Bojian, Wang Anlian, a legitimate daughter of the Wang family, unexpectedly married Chu Haoman, who came from a poor family, had no official position, and was not very advanced in cultivation.
Even if this is a bridal marriage, there are still many people in the family who think it is insulting to the family tradition.
"Don't mention them anymore,"
Wang Boxan shook his head, "Have you taken your medicine today?"
Wang Jie pointed to the empty medicine bowl on the table next to him and complained: "Is this medicine effective? I've been drinking it for so long, and my cough still hasn't improved at all."
Wang Bofan said angrily: "What do you know? This is the life-extending prescription left by the former Sui sect in Lihua Valley. In order to get the medicinal materials on it, the people below almost broke their legs.
A monk also died, and no less than 400,000 yuan was spent on it. "
“If you can’t cure a disease, it won’t matter how much money you spend.”
Wang Jie put down the book in his hand and said, "Didn't Li Ang come to Taiyuan Mansion today? They say he is the most brilliant doctor in the Yu State. Why don't you spend more money to invite him over to show me?"
Make sure the disease I have is the plague. "
"...Do you think he is like a folk doctor who can come and go at a moment's notice?"
Wang Bofan rubbed his sore eyebrows and said patiently: "He has already temporarily taken up the post of observation envoy of Hedong Road before he reaches the age of weakness. This is rare in ancient times.
He will also be a consort in the future. Even our Wang family must be treated with respect and must not be treated lightly.
What's more..."
Wang Bofan paused and said: "As soon as he arrived in Taiyuan today, he ordered the city to be sealed off, and no one was allowed to enter or exit with thunderous means. No one came to the door to make connections or plead for mercy. The person who came was not good."
"If he sees me like this, maybe he will send me to the isolation ward?"
Wang Jie smiled and said: "He dares, this is Taiyuan, the Taiyuan of the Wang family in Taiyuan.
Without our support, it would be impossible for him to accomplish anything in Taiyuan Prefecture. "
"Um."
Wang Boxan nodded noncommittally. The Wang family in Taiyuan has lasted for thousands of years and has penetrated into every corner of the city. Its authority among the people is far greater than that of the government.
Even Li Ang, who holds the power of Hedong Road, must give Wang a face.
"You should take good care of your health first,"
After thinking for a moment, Wang Bofan said: "I'm going to see him. Many tribesmen and family friends came from other places to attend this wedding. They need to be settled.
In addition, it is best to send the weak elderly and children out of the city first. "
Members of aristocratic families, because they have good food and housing, do not have to work hard, and are married from generation to generation to optimize their bloodlines,
The average physical fitness is much better than that of civilians.
But for epidemics, it only reduces the fatality rate by a few percent, or even by 10 percent.
The plague in the 22nd year of Emperor Xian's reign of the Han Dynasty caused "every family to suffer from the pain of corpses, and every room to cry and cry... Some people died with their doors closed, or the whole family mourned."
"Invincibility starts with sacrificing the ancestor"
Five of the seven sons of Jian'an died.
The plague will not treat everyone equally regardless of their bloodline, noble birth, or talent.
Wang Bofan asked his son to take good care of his health and read more books. When he went out, he locked the door again, called a carriage, and drove to the prefect's mansion.
What he didn't notice was that after he left the room,
The closet door in the room creaked open, and a coquettish and beautiful woman walked out of the closet with a smile. She moved her body slightly and sat on Wang Jie's lap. She stretched out her delicate jade fingers and plucked the hair from Wang Jie's hand. Books, "What are you reading? Look at me."
"hey-hey."
Wang Jie hugged the beautiful woman who was also his father's concubine, proudly took out a key from his sleeve and said to his lover: "The old man doesn't know that I have hidden a key.
Heck, being stuck in the house every day is driving me crazy..."
As he spoke, Wang Jie began to move.
"Ouch, what are you doing~~"
The lover smiled and pushed his head away. Unknowingly, he also started coughing like his lover, "Ahem..."
————
A curfew has been imposed in the city;
During the day, Li Ang saw the second-class government servant Sun patrolling the streets, and among them was the figure of a boy who was half as short as his waist. It was Zhuo Sanlang.
Enforcing the curfew required a large number of manpower. The government selected many good family members and temporarily incorporated them into the government service, and Zhuo San was one of them.
"Brother Sun, there is a car over there!"
It was the first time he participated in the curfew night patrol. Zhuo San was particularly excited. He saw an approaching carriage from a distance, "Let's go, stop him?"
Sun Er did not speak, but stood there and squinted his eyes to observe. Then he gave Zhuo San a slight blow and said angrily: "Why are you blocking it? It's the Wang family's carriage. Just pretend you didn't see it."
"Hey."
Zhuo San covered the back of his head and asked in confusion: "Why, didn't we also stop the Wang family's car during the day?"
"You have to see the outfit on the car."
Sun Er said: "Aristocratic families have many rules and etiquette. Only people of a certain level can ride in a certain level of car.
What kind of cars can be stopped and what kinds of cars cannot be stopped? There is a lot of knowledge in this..."
Wang Bofan, who was sitting in the carriage, did not hear the conversation of these little people. He rode all the way to the gate of the prefect's mansion, got off the carriage, and respectfully handed the greeting card to the guard.
Not long after, someone came out and invited him into the prefect's mansion.
Before reaching the hall, Li Ang's scolding sound reached his ears.
