CHAPTER 61: CHAPTER 61: XIAO CHENGYU’S GAZE FIXED FIRMLY ON FU SHINIAN

"Sir." Fu Shinian asked, "Do you know if Marquis Changping is still in the city?"

"Does the young master know Marquis Changping?" Hu Pingcheng asked in surprise.

"Yes, if the marquis is still in the city, could you send someone to tell him that Fu Shinian has arrived?" Fu Shinian said.

Hearing her words, Hu Pingcheng realized that the two must be acquainted.

"Of course, Marquis Changping is indeed still in the city." Hu Pingcheng said, "The marquis came at an unfortunate time. Just two days after he arrived, an epidemic suddenly broke out in the city. The marquis could actually have left, but he was worried about spreading the disease, so he insisted on staying in the city."

Fu Shinian was shocked, "Did the marquis get infected?"

"No, no." Hu Pingcheng said, "The marquis is unharmed, just worried about the possibility of infection. To eliminate that risk, the marquis didn’t leave."

Only then did Fu Shinian breathe a sigh of relief.

"As it happens, I also need to see the marquis. Young master, why don’t you come along?" Hu Pingcheng said.

With the sudden outbreak of the epidemic in Ganning, how to get through it safely required very heavy responsibility for every decision made.

Hu Pingcheng, a mere county magistrate, didn’t dare to shoulder such a heavy burden and reported to the court at the first opportunity.

But as of now, there was still no reply from the court.

If Xiao Chengyu weren’t here, Hu Pingcheng would naturally have to brace himself to manage.

However, since Xiao Chengyu, the Marquis Changping, was here, he could naturally stand aside and leave the major decisions to Xiao Chengyu.

So now, parts related to the epidemic are actually being handled by Xiao Chengyu.

It’s said that this Marquis Changping is not in good health but is trusted by the emperor.

Hu Pingcheng was afraid that any mistake might befall Xiao Chengyu in Ganning.

Before Fu Shinian arrived, there wasn’t much medicine left in the city, and Xiao Chengyu decided to reserve the remaining medicine for the sickest citizens.

Hu Pingcheng worried about what would happen if Xiao Chengyu got infected and there was no medicine.

Ordinary citizens, even if healthy, couldn’t withstand it with medication, much less Xiao Chengyu, who was already in poor health.

Today, Fu Shinian brought four large carts of medicine, which relieved Hu Pingcheng.

This way, they should be able to hold out until medicine from other places arrives for support.

All this medicine was delivered to Xiao Chengyu’s current residence for him to distribute.

It also prevents suspicions of secretly embezzling the medicine.

"I wonder how the marquis’s health has been these days?" Fu Shinian asked on the way to Xiao Chengyu’s with Hu Pingcheng.

"Don’t worry, young master." Hu Pingcheng said, "The marquis is doing well here."

Fu Shinian inquired further about the epidemic in Ganning.

The dream featured a scene after the epidemic broke out, but nothing more specific.

As expected, she asked the right person.

"The epidemic has been happening for six days now." Hu Pingcheng said, "Initially, citizens showed symptoms of fever, went to the medical clinic, and thought it was just a common wind-heat. To our surprise, the high fever persisted, later they couldn’t breathe through their noses and could only breathe through their mouths. In the end, their throats got blocked, making it impossible to breathe, leading to suffocation."

"Some had severe coughs after the high fever; the medicine initially relieved it, but then they suddenly coughed up blood, couldn’t swallow food, and didn’t last long enough."

"The epidemic is spreading very fast; we found that as long as a family lives together, basically everyone gets infected." Hu Pingcheng said.

"Isn’t there anyone who recovered?" Fu Shinian asked in surprise.

"There are, but the number is really too small." Hu Pingcheng said, "Compared to the citizens who recovered, more people died of the epidemic. In just six days, many families in the city have raised white flags."

Hu Pingcheng finished and sighed deeply, "Fortunately, this time the marquis came with an Imperial Physician. Having an Imperial Physician to help minimizes the loss."

"Now everyone in the city covers their faces; the Imperial Physician said this could also help prevent infection to some extent." Hu Pingcheng said.

While speaking, they arrived at Xiao Chengyu’s residence.

Hu Pingcheng sent someone to inform Xiao Chengyu, saying that a young master named Fu Shinian had come, requesting an audience with Marquis Changping.

Upon hearing Jing Lai say that Fu Shinian wanted to see him, Xiao Chengyu instinctively asked, "What?"

He must have misheard it just now; how could he hear Fu Shinian’s name?

On this trip, did he actually miss Fu Shinian so much?

Indeed, on the way here, he couldn’t help but think of Fu Shinian every day.

But hearing things was a first.

"Marquis, Mr. Hu says there’s a young master named Fu Shinian, who seems to know you, who came along." Jing Lai repeated, "Marquis, is someone impersonating Miss Fu the second lady?"

No matter how Jing Lai thought about it, he didn’t think Fu Shinian would come to Ganning.

The capital and Ganning are quite far apart.

How could Fu Shinian possibly come?

"If someone is impersonating Miss Fu, they must be severely punished!" Jing Lai said angrily.

However, who would impersonate Fu Shinian?

Rather, who knows the relationship between the marquis and Miss Fu the second lady well enough to impersonate Fu Shinian?

"We’ll see once we look." Xiao Chengyu immediately left the room.

"Marquis, cover your mouth and nose!" Jing Lai caught up and gave a handkerchief to Xiao Chengyu.

Eager to find out who was impersonating Fu Shinian, Xiao Chengyu couldn’t even bother to cover his face.

He took the handkerchief and, while walking briskly, tied it on.

Jing Lai had never seen Xiao Chengyu walk so quickly.

Before, Xiao Chengyu was always steady in his pace, neither fast nor slow.

Yet, at this moment, he was striding swiftly.

But Jing Lai was surprised to find that even so, Xiao Chengyu’s breathing was not disrupted.

"Marquis!" Jing Lai said excitedly, "You really are much healthier."

"Hmm?" Xiao Chengyu glanced at Jing Lai while walking, his mind filled with the matter of someone impersonating Fu Shinian, not immediately understanding why Jing Lai suddenly said that.

"You are walking so quickly now, yet your breathing remains steady." Jing Lai said, "Your health has really improved a lot!"

Xiao Chengyu paused, unconsciously stopped walking.

Astonished to find he indeed felt no exhaustion, quite unlike before.

"Marquis, do you feel tired?" Jing Lai asked nervously.

"Not at all." Xiao Chengyu’s eyes also showed joy, indicating his health had indeed improved.

I wonder if there’s a chance he might live a bit longer?

To live longer to protect those he wished to protect.

His mother, sister, and... that little girl.

Thinking of Fu Shinian, Xiao Chengyu quickly made his way to the door again.

Seeing Xiao Chengyu at the door, Hu Pingcheng was shocked and hurried forward, "Marquis, why did you come out in person?"

Yet Xiao Chengyu couldn’t bother with Hu Pingcheng, his gaze firmly fixed on Fu Shinian.

"Marquis." Fu Shinian called.