Chapter Forty-Three: Not Going

  "Miss..." Just as she was hesitating, a joyful magpie suddenly pushed open the door and came in.

  When she saw her, Zhen Shi Niang's heart skipped a beat. She turned around and called out to Li Qi's wife, "Li Shu, wait for a moment." Then she pulled Xi Que into the western room.

  "What's going on?" Ji Kuai asked as soon as she entered the house.

  "It's too late, the hospital has come."

  "Has Taiyi Hospital come?" Jiya was startled, "Is it because of the rumors outside?" The rumor that Wutong Town is about to break out in an epidemic has been flying around for two days.

  "It should be." Zhen Shi Niang neither confirmed nor denied it, "The county government people are also there, saying they're inviting me over."

  If it's really the government coming to investigate the plague, then Zhen Shiniang is the only one who knows about it. At a critical moment, even Li Qiyuan and his family can be pushed away clean, insisting that Zhen Shiniang didn't say this was a plague, he doesn't know anything, and in the end, the black pot will be placed on Zhen Shiniang's head, and she might become the scapegoat for the government.

  Growing up in the Shangshu Mansion, Ji Kuai was extremely familiar with these dark dealings in official circles. The more she thought about it, the more frightened she became. She grabbed Zhen Shi Niang's hand, "Miss, you absolutely cannot go!" Her five fingers trembled slightly.

  She didn't want to go either, but it wasn't up to her.

  Zhen Shining sighed inwardly, but didn't want to get entangled in this matter. She looked at Xi Que with a serious expression, "I've forgotten most of the past things, you think carefully, when I was in the Shangshu Mansion before, were my illnesses all diagnosed by the imperial physician?"

  "It goes without saying, Master was once the Minister of Revenue, renowned throughout the land. Not to mention you, even when a servant fell ill, he would summon the imperial physician." Although she was just a maid, back in the days at the Minister's residence, she was more pampered than the young ladies from ordinary families. Recalling the past glory, Jixiao let out a soft sigh.

  The Grand Zhou official system was divided into three provinces and six ministries, namely the emperor under the three provinces, the Zhongshu Province, the Shangshu Province, and the Menxia Province. The Zhongshu Province was responsible for drafting policies, the Menxia Province was responsible for reviewing policies, and the Shangshu Province was responsible for implementation. Under the Shangshu Province, there were also six ministries: the Ministry of Officials, the Ministry of Households, the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Punishments, and the Ministry of Works.

  The six departments have different functions, the Ministry of Personnel is responsible for the assessment and appointment of officials, it can be said that it is the first among the six departments. However, the Ministry of Revenue is in charge of household registration and taxation, equivalent to the modern Ministry of Civil Affairs, Ministry of Finance, and State Taxation Administration, holding the country's financial power, but it is the most lucrative department among the six departments, with actual power surpassing that of the Ministry of Personnel. Think about it, Zhen Shiniang's father was a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Revenue, which minister would not try to curry favor with him?

  "...then do you still remember who was the imperial physician who often came to treat me?"

  Magpie thought for a moment, "A surname Wen..."

  "It's Vice Director Wen of the Imperial Hospital!" Zhen Shi Niang's body shook, Li Qi's wife had just said that the Vice Director of the Imperial Hospital was surnamed Wen.

  "No." The magpie shook its head, "He's only in his twenties, but he has very high medical skills and is quite...". The voice suddenly stopped, "After all these years, his medical skills are still so high, it's hard to say if he won't be promoted... Could it be that he has come?" Grabbing Zhen Shiniang, "Miss, he knows you!"

  Men and women do not have direct contact, originally the imperial physician would diagnose behind a screen when visiting patients at home. Unfortunately, the young lady of the house was too mischievous back then, seeing Dr. Wen's youthful face but ancient demeanor, she had to play tricks on him. She must believe that even if she turned into ashes this lifetime, Dr. Wen could still recognize her!

  Once recognized, Shen Zhongge would no longer be able to deceive her, and thinking of how Shen Zhongge was trying to get rid of the young lady from her family, Jixiao dared not think further.

  "...Just now Li Shu reminded me to lift my veil and I was worried about this!" Zhen Shi'niang's expression was more serious than ever.

  "What shall we do?" asked the magpie, his face pale.

  "It's just moving house, that's all." After a moment of distraction, Zhen Shi Niang had calmed down, and she smiled self-mockingly. "It's just as well the general is also driving us out." She walked towards the outside with big strides.

  Zheng He and Qiujie were talking in the courtyard when they saw Zhen Shiniang come out, Li Qizheng's wife hurriedly came forward to greet her, saying "...... Hurry up, it's getting late."

  "Magpie's aunt came from Huian to visit the other day, and last night she caught a cold... Zhen Shiniang said apologetically, "She's worried it's the plague, her aunt kept asking her to come ask me for help, would you please trouble Li Sao to tell Dr. Wen that I'm making an emergency house call?"

  "Y...ou..." Li Qizhen's wife stuttered, "You're not going?"

  How is this possible?

  It was just a polite remark, after all, the other party was an official!

  A higher official than the county magistrate of Wutong Town.

  "The magpie has followed me for so many years, I have to give it this face..." Zhen Shiniang sighed with some difficulty.

  "It won't delay much time..." Li Qizhen's wife hastily advised, not daring to offend the hospital, "I heard my husband say that Dr. Wen Taiyin appreciates you greatly, probably just wants to discuss with you in person, and the plague hasn't even broken out yet, the government can't punish your crime even if they want to..." Her eyes sparkled, "Being able to establish a relationship with the hospital is a rare opportunity, Ah You mustn't miss it."

  Zhen Shining sighed again, "...... Li Shuo is for my own good, I know, but this illness really can't be delayed."

  Also knowing that Zhen Shining was not one to be trifled with, Li Qiao's wife sighed and said, "......Then I'll leave first." She walked two steps before turning back, "What if Wen Taoyi insists on bringing him to Jixiao's house to see you?"

  "Ah..." Zhen Shi Niang was startled, then said, "Tell Li Shuo that I've been summoned by the people of Lin Town and won't be back for three to five days."

  Rumors outside were terrifying, if it was said that the magpie's aunt had caught a cold, fearing it was the plague, Dr. Wen would definitely insist on going to take a look, and Li Qizhen could only nod in agreement.

  Watching Li Qizhen's wife disappear into the distance, Zhen Shiniang fell into deep thought.

  The yamen of Wutong Town was quiet and still, but the imperial envoy from the Taichang Temple suddenly arrived, obviously someone had bypassed the local government and alarmed the higher authorities.

  Who is it?

  Is there such a great power that can make one's eyes and hands work together in harmony?

  Several well-known wealthy families in the town flashed through Zhen Shiniang's mind, and she shook her head. No matter what, their old nest was here, and these people would not dare to run to the imperial court to report the rumors even if they were afraid of them, as long as they did not cross the yamen of Wutong Town.

  So who is this person?

  She slowly turned around, and suddenly her body paused:

  It's him!

  The one who publicly announced that Liu Ergui had contracted the plague on that day.

  She recalled him wearing a brocade garment, looking extraordinary. Zhen Shi Niang was even more certain of her inner conjecture. She raised her head and instructed Qiu Ju, "Go to Rui Xiang Medicine Shop and ask around about the man who said that Liu Er had contracted the plague that day. Whose person is he? When did he leave? Has he come back?"

  Qiuju quickly returned, "...left early the next day and came back with the imperial physician today. Fubao said that both Magistrate Ma and Wen Yushi were very polite to him." Magistrate Ma was the county magistrate of Wutong Town. While speaking, Qiuju wiped the sweat from her forehead, "Just now Li Sao came back and said you went out for a medical examination and won't be back for three to five days. Magistrate Ma's face turned black at that time, saying he wanted to send yamen to the neighboring town to bring you back, but he stopped him."