Chapter 299: The Plague
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
“Plague?” Madam Xu’s voice barely above a whisper. She had been waiting outside the palace gates for what felt like forever. As Lu Chao Chao opened her eyes, she could feel the heavy tension hanging in the air.
Yuhua couldn’t hide the worry in her eyes. “There’s a city on our border called Desolate City.”
“It’s a barren place, hit by constant sandstorms. Nothing grows there, and it’s always a point of conflict between Dongling and North Zhao,” Yuhua continued, sighing deeply. “They send North Zhao’s most dangerous criminals there.”
“For years, General Rong has been keeping watch over it,” Yuhua explained. “But now, a terrible plague has broken out, making things even worse. I just hope the Second Young Master comes back safely.” Yuhua’s voice shook as she spoke of how desperate the situation in Desolate City was, with not enough doctors or medicine to handle the outbreak.
“Miss, do you remember the ghost from the Ghost Festival? The one who kept saying, ‘soul return’? They say he’s out in the desert too,” Yuhua added.
Lu Chao Chao’s eyes widened. [A ghost? In the desert? How scary!]
By midday, Lu Yan Shu returned home, his face dark and worried.
Madam Xu was so weak that two maids had to help her stand.
“Big Brother, what did the court decide?” Lu Yuan Xiao asked hurriedly, rushing over. He had skipped his classes at the academy when he heard the troubling news.
“The king has sent royal doctors to help Zheng Yue fight the plague,” Lu Yan Shu answered.
“What if they can’t stop it?” Lu Yuan Xiao asked, his voice full of fear.
Lu Yan Shu’s expression became even more serious. “A plague is not a small problem. If it spreads beyond Desolate City, it could destroy our whole kingdom. If we can’t control it…” His voice trailed off, heavy with worry.
A small cut on his forehead showed the long hours he had spent kneeling in the Throne Hall.
Madam Xu’s face went pale, and her lips began to tremble. “If the plague isn’t stopped, they might have to destroy the city.”
Destroy the city…
Lu Chao Chao gasped, her little heart pounding. [Destroy the city? But my brother is still there!]
“I go find Daddy King! There are so many people in Desolate City, and my Second Brother is there too! How can they talk about destroying it?!” Lu Chao Chao shouted, her small face turning red with anger as she ran toward the door.
Lu Yan Shu quickly grabbed her arm. “This decision was made by all the court officials. Even the king can’t change it!”
Even during a big crisis, the king must follow the council’s decisions.
Lu Yan Shu clenched his fists, his eyes filled with frustration.
“But… but…” Lu Chao Chao’s voice wobbled, her lower lip quivering. “Second Brother isn’t back yet! He’s supposed to marry Sister Wen Ning, and she’s waiting for him! Second Brother is still out there…” Tears rolled down her cheeks, her small body shaking with each sob.
Just then, a young maid came in. “General Rong is here.”
As soon as Rong Che entered, he looked straight at Madam Xu.
“Shi Yun, don’t worry. I’m going to Desolate City myself. With me there, you have nothing to fear.”
“But… our wedding will have to be postponed.” Rong Che looked down, feeling sad. He had been waiting to marry Shi Yun, but now he had to leave the capital for his duty.
“I’ve been in Desolate City for over ten years; I know it very well. Don’t worry,” Rong Che assured her, seeing the fear in her eyes.
Madam Xu broke down, covering her face with her hands and crying.
Lu Yan Shu took Chao Chao outside to give them some privacy. He handed her to the maids and quickly left.
He needed to talk to the senior ministers to stop any drastic actions.
Destroying the city was not the answer!
Lu Chao Chao noticed how worried everyone was. With her mother so upset, she stayed quiet, not wanting to cause more trouble.
By the time Madam Xu looked up, Lu Chao Chao had already snuck onto a carriage headed for Desolate City.
She sat beside Wen Ning, her eyes filled with determination.
“What are you two doing here?” Rong Che demanded. He had left with his soldiers in the middle of the night, and by the time he noticed them, they were already far from home.
“I’m engaged to Zheng Yue; I have to see him!” Wen Ning said, her cheeks red, but her eyes were firm.
She was usually so proper, always following the rules.
But now, she had left the safety of the capital for Lu Zheng Yue.
Lu Chao Chao wasn’t surprised at all. [Sister Wen Ning is brave! Just like me!]
Wen Ning might look gentle, but in her past life, she stood up to protect the Xu family when they were attacked.
“I wanna see Second Brother!” Lu Chao Chao pouted, pressing her lips together, her eyes full of stubbornness.
“If you send me back home, I’ll just sneak out again!” she grumbled, her cheeks puffed out in frustration.
Rong Che sighed, knowing he couldn’t just send her back. “Send a fast horse to deliver a message to Shi Yun and His Majesty. The capital must be in chaos because of you,” he said, giving her a stern look. But Lu Chao Chao didn’t seem scared. Instead, she clung to his neck and started calling him “Daddy.”
“Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!” she repeated with a cheeky grin. Rong Che’s serious face slowly softened, and soon, he couldn’t help but smile, his cheeks turning a little red.
[This little girl is too smart! How can I say no when she calls me ‘Daddy’?] Rong Che thought, feeling both amused and helpless.
“But we’re in a hurry, and the road ahead is tough. Can you handle it?” Rong Che asked. He had taken most of the Royal Medical Hall with him, and they had a long journey with six carriages ahead of them, needing to travel for four days straight.
“I can do it!” Lu Chao Chao declared, raising her tiny fist confidently.
The old doctors looked pale, their bodies shaking with each bump in the road, but Lu Chao Chao stayed full of energy, bouncing around the carriage excitedly.
“Sister Wen, what’s that you’re holding?” Lu Chao Chao asked, noticing Wen Ning holding a bundle tightly to her chest.
Wen Ning’s face softened into a smile. “It’s a gift for Zheng Yue.”
“Are we almost at Desolate City?” Chao Chao asked, her eyes wide as she peeked out the window. The green trees were disappearing, replaced by dry, empty land.
“Yes, we’ll be in Desolate City by tomorrow morning,” Rong Che said from beside the carriage, riding his horse. His face looked tired, a bit of a beard growing after days without shaving.
He looked ahead, his eyes narrowing with worry.
Above Desolate City, a thick, black cloud hung in the sky.
“There’s a weird smell in the air…” Lu Chao Chao complained, pinching her nose. “It’s stinky!”
“They’re burning bodies in the city,” Rong Che explained, his voice heavy. “There have been so many deaths that they have to burn bodies day and night, and they still can’t keep up.”
The mood became tense as the doctors got out of their carriages to check the area. The more serious their faces became, the more the tension grew.
“The water source seems unaffected,” one of the doctors said after checking.
“We’ll enter the city tomorrow to investigate further.”
Rong Che had brought thick veils for everyone to wear to protect against the smoke and disease. That night, they all tried to rest as much as they could, preparing for the hard day ahead.
In an abandoned temple that evening…
“Is it always this cold in Desolate City so early in the year? It’s only September, but it feels like winter!” one of the doctors complained, his teeth chattering as he asked for thicker blankets from the carriage.
Rong Che shook his head, looking serious. “No, Desolate City is usually hot and dry. This time of year should be the hottest.”
But now, a cold wind blew, chilling them to their bones.
“Princess Sunshine, bringing you to such a dangerous place—how will I face Shi Yun if something happens to you?” Rong Che muttered, regret heavy in his voice. “Maybe I should have my men take you back to the capital.”
He had not realized how serious things were in Desolate City. Now, fear gnawed at his heart.
Lu Chao Chao looked up at the dark sky. A cold, eerie feeling seemed to gather from all around, swirling toward Desolate City. She frowned deeply. [If I don’t go, no one in Desolate City might survive.]
“Chao Chao will be okay! Daddy Rong, you focus on your mission.” Her small voice had a surprising firmness, and Rong Che found himself with nothing to say back.
Wen Ning, still holding her bundle, fell asleep fully dressed, too tired to change.
At dawn, everyone got ready to move.
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
Within just half an hour of getting closer to the city, they saw how bad the plague really was. It was much worse than they thought, more terrifying and heartbreaking.
Still five miles from the city gates, they came upon a horrible sight.
There were countless bodies outside the city walls, already rotting, their faces twisted in pain. The smell of death was thick in the air, even with three layers of face masks on.
The city itself stood alone in the desert, its gates closed tight. Soldiers stood on the walls, holding bows, ready for any danger.
These soldiers, who used to protect their country, now had the hard job of aiming their weapons at their own people of North Zhao.
Lu Chao Chao stared at the sad scene, her eyes wide and full of sadness. [This is so terrible. We have to do something!]