Chapter 54: Meeting One's Demise
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Lu Xuanheng said at once, “This matter is no small thing. Do not mention it to anyone but me.”
Jiang You’an slowly turned to look at him, her expression half-smiling and half-mocking. “Of course. Then let me congratulate you in advance. Before long, you’ll be joining forces with them.”
With that, she turned and walked away.
Lu Xuanheng frowned, utterly unable to understand why she was in such a temper today.
After news of the epidemic spread, every household in the capital was thrown into a state of panic.
The next day, Li Zhengfu invited Lu Xuanheng out, saying that he had something to discuss.
They met at a pleasure house. Outside the city, refugees were falling ill and dying, while the people here continued to indulge themselves in luxury and pleasure.
The interior was dazzlingly magnificent and extravagantly opulent. The music of strings and pipes filled the air without pause, and everyone coming and going was dressed in finery, intoxicated by this world of wine and glamour.
When Lu Xuanheng arrived, Li Zhengfu was holding a beauty in his arms and teasing her.
Lu Xuanheng merely stood there in silence. After quite some time, Li Zhengfu finally noticed him and laughed. “Xuanheng, you’re here.”
Lu Xuanheng’s face was expressionless. “May I ask why Your Highness summoned me?”
“It’s nothing important.”
Li Zhengfu took a sip of wine fed to him by the beauty, looking languid and unconcerned. “An epidemic has broken out outside the city, and someone needs to oversee matters there. I have other affairs to attend to and cannot manage both, so I told His Majesty to put those refugees under your charge.”
Li Zhengfu had interfered for no apparent reason in the beginning, and now that an epidemic had broken out, he was tossing the mess back to someone else.
Lu Xuanheng sneered inwardly. “Since it is His Majesty’s command, I naturally will not refuse. However, has Your Highness determined the source of the epidemic? If so, I would appreciate your informing me, as it would make it easier for me to manage the situation.”
A trace of impatience swept across Li Zhengfu’s face. “Those refugees had been starving for a long time and were already weak. Then there was that heavy rain some time ago. Afterward, stagnant water was everywhere, breeding insects and disease. Naturally, people were bound to fall ill.”
Lu Xuanheng studied his expression, his gaze dark and unreadable.
He had originally been unwilling to believe that the people of Prince Xian’s residence could be so utterly unscrupulous. But judging from Li Zhengfu’s attitude now, the truth was probably not far from it.
Li Zhengfu added lightly, “You needn’t trouble yourself too much. Treat those who can be treated, and let the rest fend for themselves. In any case, just make sure their illness does not spread into the imperial city.”
Lu Xuanheng’s expression turned cold. He cupped his hands toward Li Zhengfu and said, “Understood,” before leaving.
Watching him go, Li Zhengfu gave a contemptuous snort.
A young nobleman beside him joked, “Your Highness, your future brother-in-law is awfully stiff and proper. How does he get anything done?”
Li Zhengfu sneered. “Isn’t it simply because he’s somewhat handsome and my foolish sister took a liking to him? He only looks serious and upright on the surface. Behind closed doors, he’s just as debauched as anyone else.”
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“Then you two ought to have plenty to talk about.”
“Go on, get lost.” Li Zhengfu laughed and cursed at him, then continued, “Enough about him. Give me some advice instead. How do I get that little beauty surnamed Jiang into my hands?”
“Oh, Your Highness, forgive me for saying something disrespectful, but the entire Great Liang will soon belong to your family. Is there any woman you cannot have? If you like her, simply bring her into the residence.”
“What do you know? That girl is already betrothed. If I snatch her away, the court censors will impeach me immediately. At a time like this, I cannot afford to bear such infamy.”
“She may be a flower already claimed, but once that fiancé of hers from the Marquis’s residence is gone, won’t she be yours for the taking? That boy from the Su family has always been sickly, and now an epidemic is raging. If he catches it, he’ll be dead within a few days!”
Li Zhengfu’s eyes lit up at once. The corners of his lips slowly curled upward, and he exchanged a knowing smile with the young nobleman.
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
“Your Highness, Lady Wanyin has arrived.”
Li Zhengfu ordered them to let her in.
A graceful woman wearing a veil and carrying a zither walked slowly into the room.
The exquisite music of the zither rang out, and Li Zhengfu and the others resumed their revelry.
…
After leaving the pleasure house, Lu Xuanheng first returned to the Lu residence. He quickly packed a few things and prepared to leave for the western part of the city.
As Zhuzhu packed his bundle, he complained, “That heir of Prince Xian has brought such misery upon those refugees. Now that he’s achieved his purpose, he simply pats himself on the back and walks away, leaving them trapped outside the city for you to deal with. He has no humanity at all!”
Lu Xuanheng frowned. “Enough. There is no use saying such things. We have no concrete evidence proving that Li Zhengfu deliberately caused the epidemic. The true origin of the disease can be discussed later. Those refugees need to be treated immediately.”
Once he had finished packing, he went to see Madam Zhao and the Dowager Lady Lu before leaving, reminding them to take care of their health.
Madam Zhao was deeply worried. “Why does it have to be you? Everyone there is infected. What if you catch it from them?”
“I’ll be careful, Mother. There is no need to worry.”
The Dowager Lady Lu clasped Lu Xuanheng’s hand, sorrow filling her eyes as she said earnestly, “Child, you are the pillar of this family. Nothing must happen to you. Be sure to take good care of yourself.”
Lu Xuanheng nodded and bade farewell to his elders.
The moment he left, the Dowager Lady Lu suddenly reached into her clothing, pulled out a protective talisman, and hurriedly pressed it into Jiang You’an’s hands. “Quickly, take this to him and tell him to keep it on his person.”
Jiang You’an acknowledged her and hurried after Lu Xuanheng.
“Wait!”
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She ran up to Lu Xuanheng and held out the protective talisman.
Lu Xuanheng looked at her, the corners of his lips lifting slightly.
After catching her breath, Jiang You’an said, “The Dowager Lady asked me to give this to you.”
Lu Xuanheng paused, and the smile that had just appeared on his lips vanished again.
“I know.”
He stuffed the talisman into his robes, turned, and walked away.
That afternoon, Jiang You’an went to see Su Mingxiu.
Su Mingxiu had heard what happened at the flower-viewing banquet. Guessing that Jiang You’an must be upset, he had asked her to meet him so he could comfort her.
Jiang You’an stood by the window of the waterside pavilion, gazing at the river beyond. Su Mingxiu stood beside her and sighed. “An epidemic has broken out outside the city. Hopefully it won’t spread inside. Otherwise, our wedding date may be affected.”
“There are already many physicians treating the sick outside the city, and the gates have been completely sealed. It shouldn’t spread here. Our wedding will still take place as planned, won’t it?” Jiang You’an asked hurriedly.
Su Mingxiu turned to her and smiled. “I saw you looking so troubled that I thought you had taken those people’s nonsense to heart and were no longer looking forward to our wedding.”
Jiang You’an stared at him in surprise. “You heard about it?”
“I heard, yes, but it went in one ear and out the other. I didn’t take any of it to heart.” Su Mingxiu took her hand and said gently, “This marriage was so hard-won. I will treasure it with all my heart. I don’t care what anyone else says. What about you?”
Meeting his gaze, Jiang You’an smiled shyly. “I feel the same.”
Su Mingxiu embraced her and whispered by her ear, “We’ll be married in a little over a month. We’ll face everything hand in hand, and things will get better.”
Jiang You’an rested peacefully against him and murmured, “Mm.”
The two of them parted. Su Mingxiu watched Jiang You’an leave before getting into his own carriage.
The carriage returned to the Marquis of Yong’an’s residence. Su Mingxiu got out and entered the estate.
As usual, the servant led the carriage back to the stable and climbed inside to clean it.
He pulled a tattered garment from beneath the carriage seat and clicked his tongue in disgust. “Who threw this rag in here? Thank goodness the Fourth Young Master didn’t see it, or I’d have been scolded.”
He tossed the ruined garment onto the rubbish heap, and no one paid it any attention.
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