249: Chapter 0249 Too good at surviving

In the evening, the setting sun painted a magnificent sunset across the sky.

It was originally a heart-warming and beautiful sight, but because of the plague, the entire city of Hanyang was deathly still.

Inside the study of the Inspectors Office.

Lin Xiao looked at a detailed map of the Northern border in the study, lost in thought.

Behind him, Qingxuan was organizing some epidemic prevention and control regulations into a document.

Feng Yuzhang, on the other hand, looked anxious, pacing back and forth at the door and occasionally craning his neck to look outside.

"Lord Feng, it seems you don't have much confidence in this general's medicine."

Lin Xiao turned around and spoke with a half-smile.

Feng Yuzhang gave a stiff smile and cupped his hands. "Please do not take offense, General Lin. You are a hero of this age, and even General Zhao speaks highly of you. Naturally, I believe in you."

"However, I share a deep bond with my wife. Without seeing Lady Hu's condition improve, it is difficult for me to feel at ease."

Qingxuan remarked with admiration, "The deep affection between Lord Feng and Lady Hu is something I have heard of even in Yangquan, Cang Province. It is truly enviable."

Feng Yuzhang gave a self-deprecating smile. "The General's wife is too kind. I owe everything I have today to my wife never leaving my side. Yet, when she is suffering, I am powerless. It is truly shameful..."

"To win a heart and never part, until our hair turns white. I believe your wife has no regrets in this life either; Lord Feng, you need not blame yourself too much," Lin Xiao consoled him.

But as soon as these words were spoken, both Feng Yuzhang and Qingxuan's eyes lit up!

"To win a heart and never part, until our hair turns white? General Lin, where does this poem come from? Why have I never heard it before?"

Feng Yuzhang was also a scholar from the Imperial Academy, so he naturally recognized the brilliance of the line.

Qingxuan said proudly, "I suppose it was just my husband's inspiration striking him, and he composed it effortlessly?"

"Uh..."

Lin Xiao was at a loss for words. It wasn't that he wanted to show off, but he himself wasn't sure where those lines came from.

His hesitation made them both assume he had admitted to it.

"Oh my! General Lin, no wonder my arrogant niece said your literary talent is as outstanding as your martial arts, calling you a genius in both. She was full of praise for you!"

Feng Yuzhang nodded in agreement. "Based on these two lines alone, the General's literary talent is clear to see! I am impressed! Truly impressed!"

Lin Xiao could clearly feel that the way Feng Yuzhang looked at him had become much more cordial.

If he had known that a bit of plagiarism could bridge the gap like this, he wouldn't have wasted so much breath earlier trying to convince the man to believe he could cure his wife.

"Lord Feng, is your niece Miss Hu Xinyi of the Hu family?"

Qingxuan, however, caught another 'key point.'

"Exactly. Xinyi is also quite talented. She once represented the talented women of E Prefecture at the Imperial Academy to participate in the Langya Poetry Meet..."

Feng Yuzhang sighed. "That child is kind-hearted. Whenever my wife distributed porridge, she was always willing to follow along. As a result, she also fell ill this time."

"If Xinyi hadn't been there to accompany her, I wouldn't have known my wife's illness was so severe."

Qingxuan smiled brightly. "I see. Beautiful, kind-hearted, and talented... how wonderful..."

With his Great Grandmaster's perception, Lin Xiao faintly caught a hint of a chill.

Well, the temperature must have dropped again. It must be that!

"Brother-in-law! Brother-in-law!!—"

A loud voice came from outside.

Hu Wengui, like a large fat ball, rolled into the room in a flash.

Feng Yuzhang hurried forward and grabbed his brother-in-law's arm. "How is she!?"

"She's awake! My sister is awake!!"

Hu Wengui said joyfully, "The doctor said my sister is fine now. As long as she rests, she should be able to recover!!"

Feng Yuzhang wept with joy, raising his arms to the sky and shouting, "The Heavens have eyes!..."

"Oh, brother-in-law! You're thanking the wrong person!! You should be thanking General Lin!!"

"Oh oh! Right, right, right!"

Feng Yuzhang hurriedly adjusted his clothes, preparing to perform a formal kowtow.

Lin Xiao quickly stepped forward to support him. "Lord Feng, saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. My Zhenbei Army is meant to benefit the people of the North. Saving your wife is simply my duty. Why perform such a grand gesture?"

"General Lin, even so, I, Feng Yuzhang, have no way to repay this great kindness!"

Lin Xiao waved his hand. "Don't say that so soon. This battle against the plague, and even the battle against Prince Bai, has only just begun!"

"Although I still have the medicine that saved your wife, it is only enough to save a few hundred more people at most."

"But look, in Hanyang alone, there are already thousands of patients."

"Even if we are lucky and all the severe cases here are saved, what about the other counties in E Prefecture and Cang Province?"

Feng Yuzhang's face turned grim. "That's true... such a divine medicine must be precious. What should we do then?"

"I will find a way for the medicine, but if we don't control the epidemic, no amount of medicine will help!"

Lin Xiao looked at Qingxuan, and the woman understood, picking up a manual she had written.

"Lord Feng, my husband is not only skilled in both civil and military affairs but is also proficient in medical theory."

"This is my husband's method for controlling the epidemic. I will assist you from the side, Lord Feng, and I hope you will also fully cooperate."

Feng Yuzhang now believed completely and nodded repeatedly. "I have long heard that the General's wife is his right-hand person, and that Cang Province is managed in an orderly fashion, with the people full of praise."

"I will certainly do my best to fulfill my responsibility as a local official."

Seeing that the agreement was reached, Lin Xiao planned to set off immediately to carry out his plan to farm prestige to exchange for Cephalosporin.

However, Feng Yuzhang called out to him again.

"General Lin, there is one more person I hope you can meet before you depart."

"Oh? Who?"

"To reward the General and the Zhenbei Army, His Majesty has specifically sent an imperial envoy, Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices Liu Zongfu!"

Feng Yuzhang gave a bitter smile. "Brother Liu and I were actually classmates. He has unfortunately fallen ill and is staying in the camp, but he is still His Majesty's envoy after all."

"Since you are already here, you should meet him and listen to him announce the imperial decree to satisfy etiquette."

Lin Xiao thought to himself, 'What time is it? How can I have time to listen to an imperial decree?'

But he suddenly noticed that beside him, Qingxuan's brow was slightly furrowed, and her gaze was somewhat complicated.

Eh? Could it be that this Minister Liu Zongfu is not that simple?

"We are both subjects of His Majesty; it is only right!"

Lin Xiao immediately agreed.

Feng Yuzhang was happy, and the more he looked at Lin Xiao, the more he liked him.

How was this some murderous demon? He was clearly a talented and virtuous young man who was well-versed in poetry and etiquette!!

The group then arrived outside the sealed-off camp.

After someone went in to report, Minister Liu Zongfu, accompanied by a servant and coughing, slowly walked from the camp to an open area.

The two sides could not get too close, separated by seven or eight meters.

"Minister Liu, how is your health?" Feng Yuzhang asked with concern.

Minister Liu Zongfu looked haggard and managed a smile. "Lord Feng, thank you for your concern. After taking the medicine you sent, I am temporarily out of danger..."

His eyes were somewhat clouded, yet they still held a hidden sharpness as he looked at Lin Xiao and Qingxuan.

His gaze only lingered on Lin Xiao for a moment, but when it fell on Qingxuan, his pupils constricted!

Although Qingxuan wore a veil and stood behind Lin Xiao, Minister Liu Zongfu clearly recognized her!

Their eyes met for a moment, and Minister Liu Zongfu immediately looked away as if nothing had happened.

"Minister Liu, this is General Lin of the Zhenbei Army. You may read the imperial decree now!"

Minister Liu Zongfu smiled and nodded. "The General's name precedes him. I have finally met you today."

"Minister Liu, there is no need for formalities. Time is pressing, and I still need to find a way to deal with the epidemic. Please read the imperial decree quickly!"

Lin Xiao was neither humble nor arrogant, his face unchanging, but his heart was filled with amusement...

[Liu Zongfu, 48 years old, Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, Western Shu Spy, Aptitude: yellow grade]

[Traits: Candlelight Divination (Special), Mutual Deception (Special), Spy]

Well then... as expected of the Western Shu imperial family, who managed to persist for a hundred and fifty years after the fall of the Great Zheng Dynasty. They were truly masters of laying low!

The Spy they trained actually managed to become a Third Rank official and even served as the Emperor's imperial envoy?!"