Shen Yanqing's prediction was correct. After three days, the rain gradually dropped, the sky turned sunny, and the people of Yangzhou ushered in a rare sunny day.
Jiang Miao finally met Shen Yanqing after half a month of separation.
She looked at the man in front of her with wrinkled clothes and a messy beard, and gave him a few heart-wrenching blows, "You didn't know how to send a letter back. I've been so worried that I couldn't sleep well these days..."
Jiang Miao knew that he was busy with official duties, but the situation outside was so dangerous and she couldn't hear any news, which only made her more worried.
"My fault for making you worry."
Shen Yanqing hugged her and buried his head in her neck. The rough stubble rubbed the woman's delicate skin, making it itchy and painful.
Jiang Miao shrank her neck and hugged him tighter. As soon as Shen Yanqing apologized to her, her heart softened.
"I won't disturb you when you are busy outside, but if there is another time, you can at least let me know about your safety, okay?"
"Yeah." The little lady softened her temper and acted coquettishly with him. How could Shen Yanqing not agree?
The two of them were affectionate for a while. Not only did Jiang Miao not sleep well these days, but Shen Yanqing also didn't sleep for a few hours. Suddenly he relaxed, his exhaustion came over, and he fell asleep holding Jiang Miao.
The man's heavy breath hit her ear. Jiang Miao's body stiffened and she didn't dare to move for fear of waking him up.
It wasn't until the sky darkened that Shen Yanqing opened her eyes. The room had not yet turned on the lights and it was pitch dark. Jiang Miao couldn't help but fall asleep after he fell asleep. Shen Yanqing gently placed her on the bed and changed her face. He put on clean clothes, washed himself, and shaved off all his beard.
Qinglian asked the chef to prepare the meal. The smell was so fragrant that Jiang Miao couldn't help but wake up.
She has been sleeping until now and is very hungry.
"Want to eat in bed?"
Shen Yanqing saw that she was still sitting on the bedside with her quilt around her, her eyes were drowsy, and she had not yet fully woken up. His doting on Jiang Miao had no bottom line at all, and the man who usually loved cleanliness the most took the initiative. Offer to let her eat in bed.
"No need, hug me over, I don't want to move..."
All the hairpins on the young lady's head have been taken off, and her black hair is hanging down the back of her head like a waterfall. Her little face is still pink after she just woke up. She squints and stretches out her arms to act coquettishly with the man. Shen Yanqing walks to the bed and bends down. He picked her up, held her waist with his hands and squeezed her subconsciously. The man's brows couldn't help but frown, "Have you lost weight?"
The soft flesh that he loved so much in the past was gone, and looking at Jiang Miao's little face, the originally round chin had become sharper.
Jiang Miao hugged his neck, her pretty nose wrinkled, and her voice was delicate and soft, "I can't eat because I'm worried about you..."
"sorry."
After hearing what she said, Shen Yanqing felt a sense of guilt in her heart. He had a stern face and was filled with depression. Jiang Miao laughed and pinched the flesh on his cheek, "Fool, go eat quickly. I'm hungry." Dead!"
He did all these things for the people of Yangzhou City, so why should he apologize to her? If he neglected his duties, she should be angry in the fish and meat village.
It has been raining for so many days, and the vegetables in the fields have been smashed, and the food stored in the inn is almost gone. The food Qinglian brings contains meat and vegetables, which is already a luxury. A plate of boiled shrimps and a plate of leaves are already a little bit... The yellowed fried rapeseed, both of them were so hungry that they finally ate it all.
"Ms. sir, now that the rain has stopped, should we continue heading south?"
They originally planned to return to the capital before the Mid-Autumn Festival, but June was about to end and they were still trapped in Yangzhou.
"We can't leave now..." Shen Yan paused and told her about the possible plague.
Now the whole of Jiangnan is soaked in rain, especially Yangzhou. Even if they want to leave, they have to wait for the water level to recede.
Jiang Miao knew how terrible the plague was. Even in modern times with advanced medical technology, all the medical power of the country had to be used to prevent the epidemic, let alone ancient times with backward medical care.
They are now trapped in Yangzhou City and cannot go anywhere. If they really encounter a plague, it will be a dead end.
Jiang Miao cherished her life, she didn't want to be found here, and with so many people in the city, it would be unimaginable if the plague spread.
"I'm going to find Xiao Qiao."
She knew that Qiao Songyun had extraordinary medical skills and was good at using poisons and other unorthodox remedies. Maybe he could come up with a medicine to prevent and cure the plague.
"Prevent and cure the plague? Let me try..."
Qiao Songyun is a medical fanatic. Jiang Miao promised him that she could buy any medicinal materials he needed for him to study. The lives of the Shen family and the safety of the people of Yangzhou City were all on him. Qiao Songyun was indifferent and felt a heavy burden on his shoulders at this time.
After the heavy rain stopped, the weather began to be sunny again. Such extremely abnormal weather made everyone in the government worried.
The water in the city has not receded yet. There are carcasses of various poultry and rotten vegetable leaves in the water. The smell mixed together is really pungent.
The officers and soldiers patrolled the city and salvaged and burned the dead poultry carcasses when they encountered them. However, some hungry victims took advantage of the officers and soldiers not paying attention and hid the dead poultry carcasses.
There were too many victims, and the food distributed by the government was limited. Many people did not have enough to eat. Even though the government had posted notices that all rotting corpses must be reported and buried, there were still many people who hid and ate them.
It was a hot day in July, and the sun was shining directly on the ground. The water on the road had gradually receded, reaching only the ankles. It was hot from the heat of the sun. There were densely packed victims lying on both sides of the road. Their faces were red, their bodies were weak, and their lips were dry and bleeding. Some people He even lay down on the roadside and drank sewage from the pit.
"Bang!"
"Mazi Liu is down!"
Suddenly there was a commotion in the crowd, and a skinny man was seen lying in a puddle with unfinished sewage in his hand.
"Is he dead?"
The victims were used to seeing dead people these days, so when they saw Liu Mazi fainting, they just sat up and stayed away from him.
The officers and soldiers at the city gate heard the commotion and came over, and saw the man lying down. His face was frighteningly red, and the corners of his mouth were twitching. When the officers and soldiers carrying him touched his shockingly hot body, a look of solemnity flashed across his face.
"What did he eat?"
"We don't know?" The victims looked at each other, and a child squeezed out from behind the crowd, raising his hands and saying tremblingly.
"Master, I saw him steal a chicken yesterday!"
"Chicken?" As soon as the child finished speaking, the officers and soldiers immediately put him down. This was not a high fever and he had fainted. He was probably infected with the plague. What the adults were worried about finally happened.
Seeing the dignified looks of the officers and soldiers, everyone was a little puzzled, "Master, what's wrong with him?"
Although they were so hungry that they even thought about eating carrion, they finally got through it. Liu Mazi just picked up a chicken and ate it, so nothing would happen to him.
"He's afraid he's contracted the plague. You guys should stay away!"
"Plague?" As soon as the officers and soldiers said this, panic surged in the crowd. They had stayed with Liu Mazi for so long. They must have been infected. They must know that once the plague spreads, they would all die.
The plague was so violent that Liu Mazi was not the only one who ate carrion. Some of the victims outside the city fainted one after another. For a time, the entire Yangzhou city was filled with panic.
