Chapter 224: A Case of Mistaken Identity

Chapter 224: A Case of Mistaken Identity

Ninth Brother stopped him.

"There's no need to go in; the person you're looking for is right here in this courtyard."

Ma Junshan was momentarily stunned before he asked in confusion, "N-Ninth Master, that's smallpox…" How could you be so bold as to remain here?

He Zhiran explained, "The little girl doesn't have smallpox at all; it was a misdiagnosis by the doctor from the clinic."

Ma Junshan was left speechless, his mouth agape, unsure of what to say.

After a long while, he finally asked, "Is what Ninth Lady said true?"

He Zhiran nodded. "Absolutely true."

Ma Junshan was so delighted that he almost jumped for joy.

"I'll go back and tell the master about this good news right away."

With that, Ma Junshan pulled his still-dazed companion along and ran off like a shot.

Seeing Ma Junshan meant that Mo Chuhan must also be busy with this matter.

Ninth Brother and He Zhiran discussed it briefly and decided to head to the government office to check things out and return home together with Eighth Brother.

The two of them drove their mule cart toward the government office.

Along the way, they hardly saw anyone; every household had their doors tightly shut, as if the world were about to end.

The mule cart moved faster than walking, and when He Zhiran and Mo Jiuye arrived at the government office, Ma Junshan had yet to get there.

Meng Huaining was currently in a state of panic. It wasn't that he lacked administrative skills, but encountering a disease like an epidemic left him at a loss for a perfect solution.

To prevent the spread of smallpox, he could only order the city to be sealed off to avoid its further diffusion.

Not only that, but upon receiving the news, he immediately dispatched someone to the governor's office. An incident of this magnitude had to be reported.

All the officials were sent out on errands, leaving Meng Huaining alone in the government office.

When Mo Jiuye and He Zhiran arrived, they didn't even need to announce themselves; they simply walked right in.

Upon seeing them, Meng Huaining hurriedly greeted them.

"Ninth Brother, Ninth Sister-in-law, why are you still in the city?"

He had sealed off the city upon receiving the news, which was already in the morning.

No one was allowed to enter or leave Yuncheng now, meaning that these two had entered the city early in the morning and hadn't left yet.

Both of them knew that Meng Huaining was currently in a state of anxiety, so He Zhiran quickly explained, "Brother Meng, the rumor of smallpox in the city is completely baseless."

"Baseless? What do you mean by that, Ninth Sister-in-law?" The news Meng Huaining received came from the clinic, so it couldn't be false. Why would Elder Brother Mo's wife say such a thing?

"The little girl the doctor claimed had smallpox has been examined by me. She doesn't have smallpox at all; she has another illness called chickenpox.

Chickenpox shares many similarities with smallpox, so it's not surprising that the doctor from the clinic made a misdiagnosis."

Upon hearing this, Meng Huaining didn't bother to ask whether He Zhiran knew medicine. Just based on the plague remedy she had given him, her expertise was evident.

"Is what Ninth Sister-in-law says true?"

He Zhiran nodded solemnly. "Of course it's true. I've already provided medication to treat the little girl, and I believe it won't be long before she recovers."

Mo Jiuye, worried that Meng Huaining wouldn't believe his wife's words, also chimed in with an explanation. "What your Ninth Sister-in-law said is true. She learned medicine since childhood and would never make a mistake in diagnosing this."

In fact, Meng Huaining had never doubted He Zhiran's words. In his heart, he had an inexplicable trust in the Mo family.

"Since that's the case, I'll immediately issue an order to lift the lockdown on Yuncheng."

As they spoke, Ma Junshan returned, panting heavily, accompanied by an official.

Seeing that both Mo Jiuye and his wife were present, Ma Junshan realized there was no need for him to explain.

Meng Huaining, seeing someone return, quickly instructed, "Ma Junshan, you must ride posthaste to the provincial capital and inform the governor that the report of smallpox in Yuncheng was a misdiagnosis."

Hopefully, the governor's memorial hadn't been sent out yet; otherwise, someone would have to be dispatched to retrieve it on the road.

Not long after Ma Junshan left on his mission, an official led over several doctors with troubled expressions.

"Sir, the governor has sent over several doctors," the official reported.

Meng Huaining merely glanced at the doctors and knew that they had definitely been coerced into coming.

Encountering a highly contagious and incurable disease like smallpox was akin to a death sentence.

History had recorded instances where entire counties with severe smallpox outbreaks had trapped their healthy citizens to die alongside the infected.

Therefore, when Meng Huaining heard that Yuncheng also had smallpox, he had already prepared for the worst.

Unexpectedly, it turned out to be a case of mistaken identity.

"Gentlemen, you've worked hard. Later, I'll send someone to escort you back."

The doctors were dumbfounded. They had already made peace with their impending deaths and even arranged their affairs before coming to Yuncheng.

But what did the magistrate say?

He was actually going to send them back?

"Sir, you're really sending us back?" asked a younger physician, somewhat disbelieving.

Meng Huaining nodded. "It's now confirmed that there's no outbreak of smallpox in Yun City."

With that, he instructed the official, "Send these physicians back right away!"

The physicians wondered if they were hallucinating, with some even digging their ears to make sure they heard correctly.

In the end, it was certain: this wasn't a dream.

The official was also somewhat puzzled, but the words of his superior were not to be questioned. He escorted the physicians out.

Meanwhile, inside the Prefecture Office of the city.

A man dressed in fine robes was pacing back and forth in the study with his hands behind his back.

Prefect Feng was earnestly trying to persuade him, "Your Highness, Prince Rui, Yun City is too dangerous. I beg you to reconsider!"

Nan Rui waved his hand. "There's no need for much talk, Prefect Feng. This is our Great Shun territory. Even if I were in the capital and heard such news, I would request from His Majesty to come to the rescue.

Now that I'm so close to Yun City, how can I turn a blind eye?"

Prefect Feng was already drenched in cold sweat.

He had just taken up his post here when such a major incident occurred, and unfortunately, it happened right when Prince Rui arrived.

If anything were to happen to Prince Rui because of this, not only would his position be at risk, but his life might also be lost.

However, seeing how determined Prince Rui was, Prefect Feng knew his persuasion would likely fall on deaf ears.

"Your Highness, since that's the case, this official is willing to accompany you to Yun City."

"There's no need. I'll go alone."

What he intended to do couldn't see the light of day, and the fewer people around him, the better. How could he possibly bring Prefect Feng along?

Upon hearing this, Prefect Feng immediately felt relieved.

He had mustered a great deal of courage to offer to accompany Prince Rui, but now that he didn't have to, his life was temporarily safe...

Nan Rui looked at the sky and loudly commanded, "Prepare the horses, follow me to Yun City."

His trip to the northwest was not a public mission. If Yun City hadn't been sealed off due to unknown circumstances, Nan Rui wouldn't have shown his face at the Prefecture Office at all.