Dad, don't be greedy! My brother climbed into the emperor's bed, and I became famous overn

Xiao Jue continued his report.

"My brother sent people to investigate. She hired more than 600 people from the entire street as laborers."

"We cleaned the entire Powa Lane from the inside out. We collected more than thirty truckloads of garbage."

"They even dug drainage ditches, built public toilets, and plastered all the streets and alleys with lime."

"That alley used to be filthy and smelly, and full of vagrants. Now, it's cleaner than the area in front of the Jingzhao Prefecture government office."

He looked at the emperor.

"All of this was done before the pandemic."

Xiao Ye's brows furrowed slowly, his eyes revealing a hint of undisguised surprise.

"You mean she had already made preparations for epidemic prevention before the disease even appeared?"

Xiao Jue wasn't entirely sure either.

If she was preparing in advance, where did she get the information from?

Could it be that Gu Mingli was visited in a dream by an immortal again?

Xiao Jue thought for a moment and said, "It's hard to say whether it's for epidemic prevention or for opening a pharmacy to do good deeds."

"However, the actions of the Gu siblings have always been unfathomable."

"Gu Mingli stopped Consort Mei three times at the birthday banquet, and it was later discovered that he had used a Miao ethnic love potion as a catalyst. Now Gu Mingyue has prepared a full set of epidemic prevention supplies in advance. If this is just a coincidence..."

He gave his elder brother a meaningful look.

"Isn't that a bit too much of a coincidence?"

These words carried immense weight in the Imperial Study.

Everyone got goosebumps.

Xiao Ye did not respond.

He slowly sat back down behind the desk, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the table, lost in thought.

Although Gu Debai, that old fox, was talented, he spent twenty years playing both sides in the court.

He gradually transformed from a capable minister into a corrupt official.

But his two children are exceptionally talented.

Gu Mingli's actions at the birthday banquet, which appeared to be a farce, actually protected Xue Ren.

If it weren't for that incident, Xue Ren might have already been brought down by Consort Mei and the Marquis of Chengen's mansion.

Without Xue Ren, no one would have reported the epidemic tonight.

By the time those incompetent doctors in the Imperial Medical Academy realize what's happening, Kyoto will probably be littered with corpses.

So, was Gu Mingli protecting Xue Ren or Kyoto that time?

Xiao Ye's eyes lit up instantly.

His gaze returned from the void to Xue Ren.

"Xue Ren".

"Your subject is here."

"I hereby appoint you as the chief of staff for this epidemic prevention effort."

"The Imperial Medical Academy will be entirely under your command. The Jingzhao Prefecture, the Five City Garrison Commands, and the Shuntian Prefecture will provide full cooperation."

"Report the need for personnel or supplies directly to the Qi Prince's residence, and the Qi Prince will coordinate accordingly."

The emperor's majesty and decisiveness were on full display at this moment.

Xue Ren bowed and accepted the order.

"Your subject obeys the decree!"

"Also," Xiao Ye's eyes flashed with a hint of amusement, "are you familiar with the epidemic prevention team in the Gu family's mortuary?"

"Yes, I know it." Xue Ren looked up. "The procedures for zoning, isolation, screening, and triage were all drafted with my help."

"The team of 600 people has been training for more than half a month, and their basic skills are in place."

Xiao Ye and Xiao Jue exchanged a glance.

Xiao Jue's lips curled slightly as he asked, "Are those guys any good?"

"It works well."

Xue Ren answered without hesitation.

"Those handymen were personally trained and instructed by my students. They are very disciplined and obey orders without question."

"Everyone has learned basic disinfection procedures and patient transfer techniques, and has also passed an assessment."

Xiao Ye nodded slightly.

"Issue the imperial decree to requisition them."

"Your Majesty is wise!"

Xue Ren bowed again, rose, and left the imperial study.

The night breeze was warm, but it felt a little cool on my skin.

Xue Ren's back was already soaked with cold sweat.

He took a deep breath, feeling a surge of excitement.

The Gu siblings are truly benefactors sent from heaven.

If it weren't for the brother and sister's early preparations, the palace would probably be experiencing a sleepless night of fear.

This is the life of the entire city!

Fortunately, His Majesty acted decisively and ordered the citywide epidemic prevention measures to begin.

He must not disappoint the Emperor's expectations!

Xue Ren hurried to the Imperial Hospital.

He hastily wrote a letter and handed it to the imperial physician on duty.

"The situation is urgent! Run quickly to Powa Lane in the south of the city and deliver it to Master Gu of Pujitang."

"Tell them that Xue has been appointed as the head of epidemic prevention. From this moment on, the entire city shall be under defense."

The young imperial physician gasped upon hearing this.

"Your Excellency! Has an epidemic broken out in Kyoto?"

Xue Ren nodded solemnly.

"His Majesty has personally designated the Yitang branch of Pujitang to cooperate with the epidemic prevention efforts. Have her prepare all the supplies she has, and I will personally go to borrow them first thing tomorrow morning."

Tell her: The imperial court will definitely compensate her for whatever amount she borrows this time.

"yes!"

The young imperial physician took the letter with trembling hands and ran away as fast as he could.

The sound of young people's footsteps echoed on the empty palace road, quickly swallowed by the night.

Xue Ren stood with his hands behind his back on the palace road and looked up at the sky.

There is no moon.

Thick clouds hung over Kyoto.

There seemed to be a slightly off smell in the air.

That was disease and death.

It is a calamity for humankind.

As night fell, lanterns lit up one after another on the palace walls, like a winding fire dragon stretching along the towering vermilion walls.

Meanwhile, outside the palace walls, in Kyoto, coughs were carried by the night wind, spreading from street to street.

At the entrance of Powa Lane in the south of the city, a little girl of five or six years old was curled up in her mother's arms, coughing and trembling all over.

Her mother gently patted her back, murmuring "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid," but her own voice was trembling.

Deep in the alley, the lights of Pujitang were still on.

The storm is yet to come.

But the wind had already risen.

Xue Ren's letter was delivered to Powa Lane that evening.

After reading the note, Gu Mingyue let out a long sigh of relief.

The first step in epidemic prevention has been completed.

She handed the note to Fang Henian.

"Begin making arrangements."

Fang Henian glanced at it, said "I understand" without expression, and turned to go to the backyard to make arrangements for epidemic prevention.

Gu Mingyue turned her head and continued making arrangements.

"Stone is useless!"

"exist!"

"How many masks are there in total in the warehouse?"

Shi Buji flipped through the notebook in his hand.

"Fifty thousand three hundred and twenty-one. Su Wan is working through the night at the textile workshop, and another five thousand can be delivered tomorrow morning."

"Not enough." Gu Mingyue quickly did some mental calculations. "The permanent population of Kyoto, including the surrounding counties and towns, is at least 300,000. We need at least 100,000 as a minimum."

"Make them work overtime to produce it, and pay them triple wages for doing so."

Shi Buji nodded solemnly.

"Yes, sir!"

Shi Buji accepted the order and ran off to deliver the message.

Gu Mingyue then looked at Yi Wu.

"Yi Wu, could you run this for me?"

Yi Wu jumped down from the wall.

"Where to?"

"Go find King Qi."

Gu Mingyue handed over a note.

Yi Wu took the note, put it away, and leaped into the night.

The next day, it was dawn.

Xue Ren led the Imperial Hospital personnel and the constables of the Five Cities Garrison into Powa Lane in a grand procession.

Gu Mingyue was already waiting at the entrance of the righteous hall.

Behind him stood Shi Buji, Fang Henian, ten retired Imperial Guard instructors, and six hundred well-trained laborers.

They stood in neat rows, all wearing masks on their faces.

Xue Ren got out of the sedan chair, glanced at the procession, and a gratified smile appeared on his face.

"Master, that's incredibly kind!"