The refugees below the tower were choked by the smoke bombs and coughed, so they had no choice but to retreat. Lu Bochu's words also had a calming effect. The refugees begged and cried loudly under the tower.
Lu Bochu was extremely anxious and went to the station where the plague rescuers were stationed to check the situation. The place was all set up with simple tents. Before he even got close, he heard ups and downs of coughing and painful moans.
Agui followed Lu Bochu and said worriedly: "Your Majesty, please go in and see what's going on now. Don't go there. They are all infected with the plague. You have to take care of yourself. The people of Jingyang are relying on you to take charge of the overall situation." ."
Lu Bochu frowned. It was already too late for him not to go in. Moreover, he was carrying the anti-plague bag given by An Qien. In his heart, he felt that he should not be infected.
"I am now in charge of affairs here. How can I be a coward and let the people down?"
Lu Bochu walked towards the shed without hesitation and at a steady pace. As soon as he entered the shed, he saw rows of patients lying on the ground, covered with thin quilts and making dying sounds.
The doctors were all in a hurry. When they saw Lu Bochu coming, an experienced doctor came over with a sad face and reported: "Your Majesty, the situation is not optimistic. More and more people are infected. There is still no medicine to treat it. Please don't come in again, Your Majesty." Now, you have to take care of yourself and take charge of the overall situation."
Lu Bochu became even more worried. The officers and soldiers outside were still sending people off here one after another, and the place was soon full.
He was at his wits' end and was thinking about something thoughtfully. He was completely unaware that there was a little boy suffering from the plague not far away staring at the purse around his waist.
The little boy's symptoms were very mild and he had no other reaction except a high fever. The boy was very energetic and had the strength to run around even if he was sick.
When the little boy was an old pickpocket and spotted the purse on Lu Bochu's waist, he took out his own special knife and unknowingly cut the rope and stole the purse as he passed by Lu Bochu.
Lu Bochu's mind was all on how to control the situation, so he naturally ignored the child passing in front of him.
The doctor told Lu Bochu not to stay here for a long time. Although everyone wore masks and hats, there was still a risk of infection.
Because two more doctors were infected despite taking adequate precautions and were already dying.
Lu Bochu felt that he could not continue like this, and immediately told Agui: "Go and tell Shi An to strengthen management. There must be no movement of people around to increase the risk of infection."
"yes."
Agui did it immediately after receiving the order.
Lu Bochu did not stay here longer, and immediately ordered his subordinates to summon all the civil and military officials in Jingyang to discuss the matter.
What Lu Bochu didn't expect was that half of these civil and military officials had contracted the plague.
The remaining half were helpless. An official suggested: "Your Majesty, there has been no cure for plague since ancient times. Either the whole city must be wiped out, or now all the people infected with the plague must be burned to death to isolate the source of infection. Although it is cruel, But it’s a last resort.”
As soon as this method came out, all the ministers agreed. If this method was not adopted, it would not be long before the entire Jingyang was infected.
Lu Bochu couldn't bear it and wanted to burn those who were still angry. He really couldn't make this decision, but the current situation really couldn't be better.
He was anxious and helpless, so he could only allow him to think about it for two days.
After the discussion, Lu Bochu was still not idle, and ordered An Shi'an to go out of the city overnight to Qiguo to buy the herbs in his wallet to avoid the plague.
If everyone has a pocket, does that mean fewer infections?
At present, he could only try this method first. When he returned to the mansion, Lu Bochu ordered the maids in the mansion to cut the purses overnight.
An Qi'en was not idle here either. Everyone in the mansion was making purses, and there was a room in the mansion specially used for storing herbs.
An Qi'en used all the herbs that could be used to ward off the plague, and he was busy until late at night.
The next day, An Qi'en got up early in the morning again. She heard about the accident at the city gate last night and wanted to take a look. Because An Shi'an left the city overnight and there was a plague everywhere outside. She was also worried that An Shi'an had neglected to protect himself.
As soon as she left the house, she saw Agui coming in a hurry, panting so hard that she almost cried: "Ms. An is not good. The prince has a high fever. Please go and have a look."
An Qien felt worried and asked, "How long has it been?"
She was afraid that the prince had a fever in the middle of the night and did not want to disturb her rest, so she asked Agui to come. Based on her experience, the longer it was delayed, the more dangerous it would be.
Agui said with red eyes: "I don't know, the prince didn't let me keep vigil at night. The servant went to help the prince change his clothes at dawn, only to find that the prince had a high fever."
An Qi'en looked even more nervous and hurried to the palace.
When she arrived at Lu Bochu's bedroom, Lu Bochu's face was pale and his forehead was covered with sweat, and he was still asleep.
The maid said: "The prince woke up once and drank antipyretic medicine and fell asleep again."
Lu Bochu vaguely heard the sound of someone speaking. He weakly opened his eyes and saw An Qien wearing a hood and mask.
An Qien was leaning over to feel his pulse.
"You're here." Lu Bochu looked at her weakly.
An Qien took back her white and slender hand, her heart clenching like a hemp rope, extremely worried and complicated.
Her throat seemed to be blocked, and she whispered with difficulty: "Yes."
"Cough cough cough..." Lu Bochu coughed several times uncomfortably, and his expression became even worse.
An Qi'en became even more anxious, and subconsciously reached out her hand to pat his chest. When her hand was in mid-air, she realized the gaffe and retracted her hand.
An Qien tried to calm herself down and told the maid next to Lu Bochu: "The room must be ventilated. In addition, the prince's room must be disinfected every three hours."
The maid bowed her knees respectfully: "Yes, Mrs. An."
An Qi'en said to Lu Bochu again: "Your Majesty, Qi'en is going to make some herbal medicine for you. Although Your Majesty is infected with the plague, the symptoms are not that serious yet. Your Majesty, please relax and don't think too much."
Lu Bochu struggled to sit up and lean on the head of the bed, looking at An Qi'en with half-squinted eyes. He was afraid that the current situation was out of control.
He wanted to explain the rest of the matter while he was still alive: "Qi En, tell Shi An that if this king cannot survive, you will ask him to burn all the people infected with the plague to death. This is the last resort. , we can’t just watch all the people get infected.”
After hearing this, An Qi'en was anxious and angry at Lu Bochu: "What did the prince say? Don't say such unlucky words. The prince will get better. Don't be so depressed."
This was the first time she spoke to Lu Bochu in such a serious tone.
Lu Bochu's face slightly curved under his hat, and he teased her with a hoarse voice: "Are you concerned about me?"
An Qi'en was stunned for a moment, and her face immediately turned red with embarrassment. She didn't want to deny it at this time, and was afraid that Lu Bochu wouldn't be able to get through this, so she acquiesced to Lu Bochu's mood.
Two seconds later, she whispered: "Your Majesty, take a good rest first, and Qi'en will prepare some medicine for you."
As soon as she finished speaking, she withdrew.
She prepared Lu Bochu's medicine herself. Although the servants were able to prepare the medicine according to the formula, she felt uneasy. It seemed that she would not be so panicked if she did it herself.
Qingbi followed An Qi'en and said distressedly: "Madam, please take care of the medicine. I'm afraid that you will be exhausted because of your hard work these days."
An Qi'en sighed deeply: "It's okay to be a little tired. I'm just afraid that everyone will die from this plague in the end."
Her tone became more and more serious and she said slowly: "I heard that there was a plague in the palace twenty years ago. It lasted for more than two months. There were not many eunuchs, maids, and concubines left in the palace. The whole The Imperial Hospital was completely wiped out. Emperor Changshun had no choice but to order that all those in the palace who were infected with the plague, even those who were not infected as long as they had symptoms of wind and cold, were burned to death. After thorough disinfection, the few people in the palace were saved. ."
Qingbi also sighed: "Madam, I'm afraid Jingyang will have to do this as well."
An Qi'en didn't say anything. The potion in the medicine stove in front of him was already boiling, and the lid made a popping sound of steam coming out.
After the medicine was ready, she immediately got it into a bowl and brought it to Lu Bochu.
Lu Bochu was still sitting. Although he was very ill, he still thought about the people in the city.
When An Qi'en came in, Lu Bochu had just finished explaining what happened to Zhao Yan, and Zhao Yan was exiting with clasped fists: "Don't worry, Your Majesty, I will definitely handle this matter well."
After saying that, Zhao Yan saw An Qi'en coming over with medicine. Zhao Yan had complicated emotions but could only hold back. In the face of a life-and-death situation, the love between a child and a daughter was nothing.
An Qien nodded slightly and greeted Zhao Yan: "Mr. Zhao."
Zhao Yan: "Ms. An."
He wanted to tell her to take care of herself, but because the prince was here and he heard a few words about the affair between An Qien and the prince, he could only swallow his words of concern.
After a simple hello, Zhao Yan went to work.
An Qi'en sat on the stool in front of Lu Bo's first bed with the carefully brewed medicine. While stirring the smoking hot coffee-colored soup with a spoon, she said softly: "Your Majesty, take the medicine."
Lu Bochu put his fist against his lips and coughed a few times. His pale face turned red. He did not take off his hat and said in a hoarse voice: "Put the medicine here. I will drink it myself. You can go back. Now this plague can be treated without contact." If you don’t come into contact, it will be bad if it is transmitted to you.”
An Qi'en continued to stir the soup and did not listen to Lu Bochu. She asked: "How could the prince be infected? Doesn't the prince wear a purse to remove the plague?"
This purse is very effective. According to her observation and historical records, the herbal purse usually worn to remove the plague, coupled with a hood and mask for good protection, generally does not cause infection.
Lu Bochu recalled the scene last night and instantly laughed angrily: "It was stolen by a pickpocket."
He never thought that someone with such a sensitive reaction, who could immediately detect any slightest sign of trouble, would actually have something stolen by a little kid...
