Chapter 285

Zhou Yan faintly moved his eyes, "If I hadn't stood up for her, why didn't the person who bullied her appear again for more than ten days afterwards? When she went fishing, why did I suddenly appear by the riverbank? I didn't not pull her out when she fell into the water and lost consciousness, I was the one who carried her back."

Ning Changan listened in confusion, "Then what about that winter incident?"

Zhou Yan glanced at him, "She was young and impulsive. I was worried she would get bitten by a snake, so I could only knock her unconscious to make her more obedient."

He would never tell anyone that he had stolen a kiss from her when he took her back to Biyun Manor.

Ning Changan gritted his teeth and punched him in the chest, "Zhou Yan, you've had your eye on my cousin A Shen all along! Yet you deliberately pretended to be indifferent. No wonder A Shen doesn't like you with your contrary temperament!"

The corner of Zhou Yan's mouth curled up imperceptibly, "Changan, don't tell her."

Ning Changan raised his brow, "Why?"

Zhou Yan said, "She still has Prince Duan in her heart."

Ning Changan clicked his tongue, "And still you're willing to marry her?"

The smile at the corner of Zhou Yan's mouth blossomed, his gentle gaze slowly falling on Ning Si's face. The long suppressed feelings in Yueyang City were let out in the spacious hall of the Ning residence.

The daylight coming in through the window screens was just right. The woman had a delicate and pretty face.

He paused for a long time before murmuring softly, "In this life, being able to marry her is my blessing."

...

After Zhou Yan and Ning Si’s engagement was settled, Zhou Yan only came to the Ning residence once and never came again.

Day and night, cries could be heard from this long street where the Ning residence was located.

Sometimes, Gu Ying would quietly lie in bed in Biyun Manor, and it was as if she could still hear the painful wails of the patients.

At first, these sounds were not very loud, but as time went by, they grew more severe with each passing day. Not only this street, but crying could also be heard from the houses dozens of yards in front and behind.

Perhaps there were cries coming from even further away, but she could not leave this residence.

She clearly noticed the security around the Ning residence had tightened somewhat.

On this night, she could no longer sit still. Clutching the sachet she had made in her hand, she wanted to go out. A black-clothed man with formidable martial arts blocked her path, telling her, "Mistress, the Master has ordered that Mistress cannot go anywhere now and can only stay in the Ning residence."

Gu Ying's expression was solemn as she told him, "Please relay this to the Eldest Prince for me, I wish to see him, even if just once."

The man hesitated.

The night was too dark for Gu Ying to discern any expression on his expressionless face.

At this moment, her heart shuddered violently, a sense of ominous foreboding.

"Let me out!" "I dare not defy the Master's order..."

"Then go tell the Eldest Prince I want to see him, I have very important matters that I must see him for!"

This time, instead of hesitating, the man turned and left.

This was a very long street. It would take the time needed to brew a cup of tea to get from one end to the other by carriage.

Gu Ying took a deep breath as she looked at the pitch black and bleak world outside the Ning residence gates, her heart contracting violently.

She had only taken a step forward when three black-clothed men with formidable martial arts blocked her path.

She clenched her fists tightly, pressing her lips into a line, her face pale.

No one told her what kind of circumstances the Eldest Prince was in right now, making her feel even more uneasy and panicked.

Ning Grandpa sighed all day long. Ning Changan would disappear without a trace every time he went to deliver supplies to Qingjiang Manor.

And cousin?

Her cousin had gone to the government office where Zhou Yan was also stationed, and none of these people had been heard from since.

So many people had been dispatched without a single one daring to return with news. What did this signify?

It could only mean that this plague had spiralled out of control.

Ning Si rushed over when she heard the news and grabbed Gu Ying’s hand. "Ying, stop worrying. Let’s go back first. The Eldest Prince will definitely be fine."

Recently, everyone had been telling her the same thing, that the Eldest Prince would surely be fine.

But why didn't he come to see her and their child?

He had looked forward to this child so eagerly, so why didn't he come?

Tears welled up in Gu Ying's eyes. The chill wind of late spring blew, causing her temples to throb painfully. "Si, can you hear that, someone's crying."

Ning Si's brows were knitted in distress. She could hear it. Because the plague was spreading too quickly, no one was faring well.

Things were also not peaceful in the Ning residence. Although better off than those commoners with no one to rely on, they still had to stay cooped up in the residence, not daring to venture anywhere.

The entirety of Yueyang City was in chaos now. Killing, looting and plundering occurred everywhere as people struggled to find their next meal. Refugees were also everywhere.

As long as they didn't contract the plague, things would be fine. But once infected, they were half dead. "Ying, I know you want to see the Eldest Prince, but since we can't do anything about the plague, we might as well wait and see. Staying in the Ning residence without going out and adding to the Eldest Prince and Zhou Yan’s troubles would be best."

Gu Ying shook her head sluggishly. "No, I can't sit around waiting for death."

She was different from Si. She knew about this plague. It should have been prevented, yet now Yueyang City was plunged into peril, and it was all her fault.

Therefore, anyone could escape, anyone except her.

She stood at the doorway of Ning Residence waiting for the black-clothed man she had sent to report the message to return.

An hour later, the man returned with a thick white veil covering his face. Behind him was a plain and simple mule cart.

Ning Si still wanted to persuade her otherwise.

Gu Ying picked up her skirt and got on the cart without any hesitation, burrowing into the carriage. She opened the curtain a crack, sticking her head out again. "Si, go back quickly."

Ning Si opened and closed her lips, seeming to want to say something.

But the curtain had already fallen decisively.

The carriage soon disappeared into the night.

Ning Si's heart was suddenly filled with trepidation. Because every person who walked out of this doorway never returned.

She was afraid Ying would end up just like them.

Once gone, they would be gone for good.

...

Qingjiang Manor was only separated from the quarantine zone by a wall.

The sky was pitch black without a speck of light. In deathly still Yueyang City, only the area occupied by the quarantine zone had candlelight flickering through the night.

Zhao Changdu gave a dry cough. His handsome face was somewhat pale. His tall figure emerged from the medicine room of the quarantine zone.

The medicine room was separated from the main quarantine building by a thick stone wall.

The wails and groans of pain could be heard filtering through the stone wall. Inside were thousands of patients, with hundreds more people responsible for looking after them.

This strange illness came swiftly. Thankfully, the onset was relatively gradual. Most first exhibited symptoms of the common cold. As long as they had strong constitutions and could promptly drink the medicinal soups Zhuge Doctor and the rest had newly developed, they could persist without worsening for four to five days without the disease spreading to their skin either.

As such, the people recruited to serve in the quarantine zone were all youths full of vigor and vitality.

Even so, there were still people who would fall ill and collapse on a daily basis. They were becoming increasingly understaffed.

No matter how much silver the officials provided, no one dared to come.

The outside of the quarantine zone was heavily guarded, with people only allowed in, but barred from exiting. The area around Qingjiang Manor had become the hardest hit region of the entirety of Yueyang.

Zhuge Doctor followed behind the man, his brow permanently knitted into a frown since the outbreak began.