Chapter 36: The Affairs of Chen Prefecture

The first month was mostly filled with festive cheer. There was only the news that Crown Prince Mu Qilin, in the Eastern Palace, had fallen ill—not seriously, but not lightly either. After the Lantern Festival, Wei Qingchen entered the palace to pay her respects. She originally intended to bring Chu Mingxi along to meet the Crown Princess. The Grand Princess thought for a moment and shook her head. “Mingxi possesses medical skills. The Crown Prince is unwell. If you bring Mingxi into the palace, and any observant person makes a comment, whether she examines the illness or not, it will be a thankless task.”

Logically, the Crown Prince’s illness was to be treated by the Imperial Academy of Medicine. However, if their couple visited the Eastern Palace, the topic of his condition would inevitably arise. Should she examine him or not? Without the Emperor’s explicit order, if they examined him privately, succeeding would invite suspicion of currying favor; failing… that would be even worse, suggesting their medical skills were poor and they had delayed the Crown Prince’s treatment.

The thought gave Wei Qingchen a headache, so she simply went to the palace alone.

She returned before noon, her face brimming with a smile. She went straight to her mother’s courtyard, kowtowed, and paid her respects. It turned out that news of victory had come from the front lines. Her father, leading the Northern Pacification Army, had won a great victory at Huazhou, stabilizing the unrest of the Liao People.

The Mingcheng Emperor was overjoyed. He ordered the three armies to be rewarded and commanded the Northern Pacification Army to temporarily garrison on the spot to stabilize the people’s hearts.

The entire Jingyuan Marquis Mansion was brimming with joy. The Emperor, in a good mood and using the festive season as an excuse, bestowed many gifts upon his elder sister and nephew.

That night, the whole household celebrated.

After the first month, the Dragon raised its head, and the weather gradually warmed. One early morning, as the sky barely began to lighten and Chu Mingxi was deep in sleep, she suddenly heard a knocking at the door. The sound wasn’t loud; a maid called from outside in a low voice, “Young Mistress. Young Mistress…”

Chu Mingxi half-opened her eyes, still dazed from being woken. After a moment, she gently pushed away Wei Qingchen’s hand, which was wrapped around her waist, and slowly sat up. When they first married, she had thought to remind Wei Qingchen to sleep more calmly at night, not always embracing her. But as time passed, Wei Qingchen hadn’t changed, and she had gradually gotten used to it.

A terrifying habit.

She rubbed her forehead. The maid outside knocked again, the rapping urgent. This time her voice rose a pitch. “Young Mistress! Young Mistress!!”

It was Qingdai’s voice. Chu Mingxi lifted the bed curtain slightly. A faint bluish light glimmered on the window lattice; the sky wasn’t fully bright yet.

Knocking at this hour? The Imperial Medicine Hall!

She responded in a steady voice, “Wait a moment.” She was about to get up and dress to go out.

“Hmm?” Wei Qingchen also stirred awake. Opening her eyes, she saw Chu Mingxi sitting beside her, the brocade quilt already slipped to her waist. Her light crimson inner garment clung to her undulating figure, appearing even more graceful and slender in the not-yet-bright morning light. Her drowsy mind not yet fully awake, she instinctively lifted herself, stretched out a long arm, pulled Chu Mingxi back down, bundled her in the quilt, and lay back down herself.

“Qingdai is outside!” Chu Mingxi said urgently.

Wei Qingchen gave an “Oh,” didn’t let go, blinked, then raised her voice to call out, “Come in and speak.”

Chu Mingxi’s hands were both trapped by her embrace. She glared at her in annoyance. But freshly awakened from slumber, the look lacked any real force; instead, it was soft, making one want to cherish her even more. Wei Qingchen, unconcerned, released her with a smile. The maid outside had already entered, tactfully standing just beyond the bead curtain to make her report.

“Heir, Young Mistress.” Qingdai curtsied and said, “Young Mistress, Lei Min from our manor has come. He says Uncle Kang sent him, with an urgent matter to report to you.”

“Did he come alone?”

“He brought two lads, left them waiting in the gatehouse for summons.”

Chu Mingxi acknowledged this with a hum and calmly instructed, “Go have someone prepare hot water. Come back in a quarter of an hour to attend us.”

Qingdai agreed and withdrew.

Chu Mingxi got up immediately. Wei Qingchen rose with her. Chu Mingxi said, “Coming at this hour, it must be an urgent matter at the Imperial Medicine Hall. I’ll go back and take a look.”

Wei Qingchen nodded, casually picking up a robe and putting it on herself. “Don’t worry,” she said. “I’ll go with you.”

Outside came the bustling sounds of the junior maids. The morning light gradually washed over the windowsill. Chu Mingxi glanced back at her. Wei Qingchen happened to look over too, her eyes clean and gentle.

A small flutter of excitement rose in her heart, but she lowered her head, tidying the silk tassels on her clothes, and said softly, “As you wish.”

In the side hall of the Front Hall, the lad on night duty had poured a cup of tea for the visitor, unable to suppress a small yawn. Lei Min was pacing anxiously when he suddenly heard footsteps approaching from the distance. He hurried to the door to look. By now, the sky was gradually brightening. He saw several maids and older women servants, carrying lanterns before and behind, escorting two figures in brocade finery this way.

Arriving at the door, the two leading maids parted to the sides. Qingdai, supporting Chu Mingxi’s arm, helped her lift her skirt and step over the threshold.

Joy surged in Lei Min’s heart. He went up to meet them. “Eldest Young Miss!” Then, seeing the Heir Wei also walk in, he froze for a moment and immediately cupped his hands in salute, calling out, “Heir.”

Once the maids had all withdrawn, Lei Min composed himself and stood at the lower end. He reported, “Eldest Young Miss, a clerk from the Chen Prefecture branch rushed all the way to the Capital City, finding Uncle Kang last night. Uncle Kang brought him back to the manor and instructed me to set out immediately to find you, Miss.”

“Chen Prefecture branch?” Wei Qingchen looked at Chu Mingxi with slight surprise.

If Minzhou was south of the Eastern Radiance Kingdom, then Chen Prefecture belonged to the kingdom’s northern borderlands—remote, distant, and adjacent to the frontier. Further up was Seven-Mile Town where Wei Qingchen and Chu Mingxi had first met.

Chu Mingxi didn’t look at her, only furrowed her brows as she asked, “Did you see the clerk yourself?”

“No.” Lei Min shook his head. “But judging by Uncle Kang’s anxious expression as he urged me to set out immediately, I fear… something serious has happened at the branch.”

Chu Mingxi’s brows knitted tighter.

Wei Qingchen, standing beside her, gently squeezed her hand. “Don’t worry. I’ll go back with you right now.”

“Alright.”

Outside, the sky was already fully bright. The group didn’t delay any further. Chu Mingxi and Wei Qingchen reported briefly outside the Grand Princess’s chambers, then, taking a few maids and household servants, hurried towards the Chu residence.

“Sister, you’re finally back!” At the Chu Family Manor, Chu Mingyu had also received the news. She had risen early to calm their mother and ordered everyone in the household not to gossip recklessly. Seeing her elder sister return, she rushed to the gate to greet her, also saluting the Heir Wei with a call of “Brother-in-law.”

The two sisters and Wei Qingchen went to the outer study together. Uncle Kang was already waiting inside.

“Head Proprietor!” Chu Kang, at the lower end, cupped his fist in salute, and towards Wei Qingchen, also bowed: “Heir.”

“Where’s the clerk?” Chu Mingxi waved her hand, asking directly.

“Settled in the servants’ quarters. He arrived in the middle of the night. Lucky there was no curfew.” Chu Mingyu said, calling out the door for Lei Min. Uncle Kang said, “It would be better if this old man fetched him.”

Chu Mingyu paused, looking at her sister. Chu Mingxi, however, remained composed. She sat down in an armchair and said calmly, “Does Uncle Kang perhaps know something?”

Chu Kang glanced at the two young misses, then at the new son-in-law. Seeing the Eldest Miss gave no other signal, he walked to the door and shut it.

Seeing this, Chu Mingxi felt her heart sink slightly.

After closing the door, Chu Kang approached and lowered his voice to say, “Two patients who came seeking treatment at the Chen Prefecture branch have died in succession.”

All three seated were stunned.

Chu Kang continued, “According to Xiao Ji… that’s the clerk from the Chen Prefecture branch. According to Xiao Ji, those two had similar symptoms, fell ill around the same time, and the medicine our shop prescribed… was likely very similar. The branch manager didn’t dare make decisions on his own and immediately sent a clerk rushing to the Capital City to report this to the Eldest Miss.”

As Chu Kang spoke, he trembled slightly.

Wei Qingchen blinked, not entirely understanding why he seemed so afraid.

A death was indeed a major matter. But even if the Imperial Medicine Hall’s prescription was flawed, that was the branch doctor’s responsibility. Tracing responsibility shouldn’t implicate him, the head manager of the Capital’s main shop, to this extent.

She turned her head, puzzled. Chu Mingyu seemed equally perplexed. But Chu Mingxi’s expression had become far graver than moments ago.

“Uncle Kang, please go bring Xiao Ji from the servants’ quarters.”

“Yes.”

After Uncle Kang left, closing the door again seemingly casually, Chu Mingxi raised her hand and rubbed her brow.

Chu Mingyu was a little frightened. She stammered, “Sister, th-this… did our branch kill someone with its medicine?”

Chu Mingxi shook her head. “It’s not yet certain.”

Chu Mingyu tilted her head, glancing at her brother-in-law sitting on her sister’s other side. She suddenly remembered her sister and brother-in-law had rushed over early this morning, still hungry. It wasn’t a good time to serve breakfast. She quickly went over and poured two cups of hot tea for them.

Wei Qingchen held the teacup, turning it in her hands. She asked softly, “Do you need me to leave the room?”

Her tone was gentle and slow, but Chu Mingxi heard the considerate meaning behind it. A tiny smile touched the corner of her lips. She shook her head. “It’s not necessary. Family matters, why hide them from you?”

Wei Qingchen saw the frankness in her words and her brows unfurrowed in a smile. Chu Mingyu, however, felt it was a mouthful of sweet dog food! Even at a time like this, her sister and brother-in-law were showing off their love right in front of her!!

“It’s just… this matter…” Chu Mingxi paused. Wei Qingchen and Chu Mingyu both looked at her. The smile had vanished from her face, replaced by a grave look in her eyes. “From what Uncle Kang just said, two people died in succession from similar symptoms, unresponsive to medicine. You two must be prepared for the worst-case scenario…” She paused again, her gaze darkening. “That Chen Prefecture has an epidemic.”

The other two in the room froze. Epidemic… meaning a pestilence!!

This…!!

A chill ran down Wei Qingchen’s spine. She suddenly understood why Chu Kang had been so scared earlier. He was a veteran of the Imperial Medicine Hall, handling more case histories than Chu Mingxi. He must have thought the same thing just now.

“If it truly is an epidemic, what should be done?” Wei Qingchen’s brows furrowed. With a touch of urgency, she asked, “Should I report this to His Majesty?”

“Don’t rush. I said ‘worst-case scenario.'” Chu Mingxi held the cup of hot tea in her hands, taking a delicate sip. “We must first hear what the clerk says. But regardless, I will need to leave for Chen Prefecture immediately.”

“I want to go too!”

“I’ll go with you!”

Chu Mingyu and Wei Qingchen spoke at the same time.

Chu Mingxi glanced left and right. A faint smile reappeared on her lips.

“Eldest Miss, Xiao Ji is here.” Chu Kang’s voice sounded from outside the room.

“Enter.” Setting down her teacup, Chu Mingxi straightened her expression.

Now that the matter had arisen, the only thing left was to resolve it.