Anti-Knochen-Scharlachlied

Kapitel 106

Has something really happened to Wanlan?

"Half a month ago, a plague broke out in this city. It is said that the plague came from a small village outside the city. Some people who originally wanted to stay died. As for whether any survivors escaped, Lord Li said that the matter is still under investigation."

Zhao Defang stared wide-eyed, trembling. "Plague...?"

Xuan'er, who was standing nearby, grabbed Xue Weiji in a panic, "Has Madam also fallen ill? Has Lord Li found out the names of the dead? Madam isn't inside, is she?"

Xue Weiji glanced at the dazed Zhao Defang, then looked away with considerable pity, continuing, "The exact number and identities of the dead haven't been fully ascertained yet. Lord Li said the plague was brought by three refugees who fled from Baima County. They were rescued by a brother and sister from a village outside Xingyang City. Half a month later, many people in that village contracted the disease. Later, when they brought a doctor from Xingyang City to treat those people, they brought the plague into the city, and then..."

He paused for a moment, then continued, "Lord Li said that he suspects the brother and sister are actually the madam and Lan Wu in disguise, but since the outbreak of the plague, they have also lost contact with us, and we don't know if they have left or are hiding somewhere."

Zhao Defang suddenly grabbed his shoulder, raised her deathly pale face, and stared at him with wide eyes. "Leave? Hide? So they're alright? Is that it?"

Xue Weiji looked at his pained face and replied softly, "He should be fine... So far, all the deceased we've found are middle-aged or elderly people over forty. We haven't found any younger people yet, but... we're not sure if Madam has contracted the disease..."

"Lan Wen!"

Zhao Defang suddenly shouted and turned around abruptly, "We must go to the capital immediately!"

The three people present were all stunned. Lan Wen asked in a daze, "Master... what are you going to the capital for?" Shouldn't you be looking for Madam?

“The current situation doesn’t allow us to search slowly,” Zhao Defang closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his eyes were clear and unwavering as he looked at the dilapidated courtyard before him. “I always thought I could find Wanlan on my own, and when I decided to retire, I didn’t want to give the Emperor any excuse to keep me here. But now… with Wanlan in such danger, nothing else matters.”

He turned and walked over to Xue Weiji's horse. With a swift movement, he leaped onto the horse's back and looked down at the three of them. "I must go to the capital immediately and ask the Emperor to send someone to find her!" He yanked the reins hard, turned the horse around, and galloped away.

Two months ago, when they left the capital, the journey from Kaifeng to Xingyang took several hours because the carriage was moving slowly. Now, Zhao Defang rode at full speed and arrived in the capital in just two hours. Before he could catch his breath, he rushed into the palace to see the emperor, but unexpectedly ran into Zhao Dezhao outside the palace.

"Defang!"

Zhao Dezhao seemed to have just left the palace when he encountered Zhao Defang, who was rushing into the palace, in front of Xuande Tower. Seeing his tired and disheveled appearance, he reached out and blocked his way, asking, "Why did you return to the capital?"

Zhao Defang was abruptly stopped by someone, and looked up at him with some surprise, "Big brother? What are you doing in the capital?"

"What's wrong with you?" Zhao Dezhao frowned and glared at him, looking him up and down. His brows furrowed even more. "Is it fun to exhaust yourself by searching for her day and night?"

"Brother!" Zhao Defang suddenly grabbed his hand. "Wanlan is missing! I need to go find the Imperial Uncle and beg him to send people out to search for her!"

"Gone?" Zhao Dezhao feigned surprise, his eyes widening. "Hasn't she been missing for a month? Did you find her before?"

"It wasn't me, it was Xue Weiji who found her and told me that Wanlan would be waiting for me in Xingyang, but I couldn't find her when I arrived in Xingyang today! Xingyang is already a ghost town because of the plague!"

Zhao Dezhao was stunned. "Plague?" Could it be that the woman really had disappeared? There was actually a plague... He had never even considered this possibility...

"I don't know Wanlan's current situation, I must find her as soon as possible!" Releasing him, Zhao Defang turned and continued running towards the palace. [TXT novel download: ]

Zhao Dezhao, utterly shocked, hurriedly followed.

If he had known the plague would spread, he would never have left that woman there. He could have sent her back to Defang or brought her back to the capital. Why did he just leave her alone?

I just hope nothing bad happens to her...

With the Emperor's intervention, finding someone would be a piece of cake.

In less than half a day, they determined the names and backgrounds of all the victims of the plague in Xingyang, and even thoroughly investigated all their family members.

Among these people, neither Wanlan nor Lanwu were present.

This news brought Zhao Defang a great sense of relief, but before he could see her in person, he was still anxiously waiting for news from the officers and soldiers who were ordered to find her.

A few days later, the Emperor summoned Zhao Defang to the palace and informed him of the results of his investigation—most of the few people who had safely moved away from Xingyang after the outbreak of the plague had gone north to stay with close relatives or moved their entire families north. The only two people who did not go north but instead went south were the brother and sister who had taken in the three-person family who brought the source of the disease out of kindness.

Inside the Chongde Hall, upon hearing the news, Zhao Defang struggled to suppress the urge to turn around and head south. Looking at Zhao Jiong, who was explaining the situation to him, he stiffly asked, "Have you found where they are staying?"

Zhao Jiong quietly looked back at him and shook his head. "We haven't found their exact location, but there's no doubt they're heading towards Junzhou. If we follow that direction, we should find them soon."

Having learned the direction, Zhao Defang did not hesitate any longer and turned to leave. However, he suddenly remembered something and stopped abruptly. Without turning his head, he raised his voice and asked, "Does Your Majesty know why she did not return to the capital to seek help, but instead went to Junzhou, which is far away?"

Zhao Jiong sensed the suspicion in his tone and frowned in displeasure. "I don't know."

"Yeah?"

He asked a question casually, glanced back at Zhao Jiong, then turned to Zhao Dezhao, who had been silent for a long time, and suddenly smiled lightly, "Uncle, you can rest assured."

He left behind a profound statement, then strode out of the Chongde Hall without pausing.

Chapter 97 Two Places of Contemplation, Each Knowing Its Own Sense (2)

Even when Wanlan encountered such a dangerous plague, she didn't think of leaving him a message. What was she thinking? He didn't think too much about it before he went to the palace to ask his uncle for help, but at this moment—when he learned that she would rather go south and stay away from the capital than return to the capital that was so close by, he suddenly understood.

If Wanlan didn't want to force him to return to the court, then she was acting on the orders of her uncle to avoid him and use this as an excuse to force him back to the court.

Whatever the reason, she cannot appear in front of him.

Why didn't he think of this before? Even Xue Weiji was able to find Wanlan's whereabouts by chance. As the emperor of a country, finding someone would be a piece of cake for him. How come a month has passed and there is still not a single trace of her?

Finally understanding the whole story behind it all, he felt an overwhelming sense of unease. No matter how much they insisted he stay, they shouldn't have risked Wanlan's life!

When Xingze and Wanlan broke up, he thought he might regret it one day. But at that time, he was also very clear that if he didn't return to the capital, he would definitely regret it in the future. Considering both options, he still chose to cooperate with the Imperial Uncle. But—look at what kind of choice he made! What kind of situation did he put Wanlan in! What kind of predicament did he put himself in!

As soon as they left the palace, Lan Wen and Xuan'er, who were waiting at the palace gate, came forward with their horses in their hands. They handed him the reins of one of the horses, and the three of them jumped onto the horse. With Zhao Defang as the leader, the three of them rode straight towards the city gate.

As soon as they stepped out of the city gate, Xue Weiji, who had been waiting quietly by the moat, immediately rode forward. Zhao Defang quickly pulled back the reins and shouted to stop the galloping horse, narrowly avoiding Xue Weiji.

"Your Highness!" Xue Weiji clasped his hands and smiled, "How about I accompany you? Perhaps I can offer my humble assistance."

Zhao Defang reined in his horse, flicked his sleeve, and looked at him intently. "Lord Xue, how could I trouble you?"

Xue Weiji waved his hand, feeling rather uncomfortable. "I have removed my court robes, Your Highness need not do this. Just treat me as the same good-for-nothing young master of the Xue family. I am willing to do my best to help you find my wife, Your Highness, please do not refuse."