Going to Beijing to save his father, all the powerful officials in the city are vying to be his fath

Zhao Liangchen had no choice but to take Su Qin back. During the trip, he didn't know whether he forgot or deliberately kept holding Su Qin's hand. Su Qin tried to pull it out twice but failed, so she just let him do it.

After finding their carriage, Zhao Liangchen helped Su Qin get on the carriage. He no longer had any reason to hold Su Qin's hand, so he could only let go of Su Qin regretfully and sit opposite her.

In fact, he didn't mean to do it at first. He just wanted to protect Su Qin and directly held her hand. When he came to his senses later, he never wanted to let go. Although he looked calm on the surface, his heart was actually like boiling water, with overwhelming excitement, and his ears had long been red.

Looking at the quiet and well-behaved Su Qin at this moment, he clenched his hands. The touch of Su Qin's hand was still there on his hands, soft and boneless, as if he was holding a little white rabbit.

Just now, when the streets were bustling, Zhao Liangchen had been a bit more courageous. Now, there were only the two of them in the carriage, so quiet that they could hear each other's breathing. The atmosphere was a bit awkward for a moment. In order to ease the awkward atmosphere, Zhao Liangchen said apologetically, "I'm sorry, I didn't protect you well and ruined your mood."

Su Qin didn't think her mood was ruined. Going to a crowded place would inevitably lead to some unpleasant things. This was normal. She gently comforted Zhao Liangchen: "No, I had a lot of fun today. I have never been so happy before."

Zhao Liangchen was immediately happy, and his face was instantly filled with smiles: "Today is also my happiest day."

When I got home, Aunt Zhang had already hung all the lanterns she had sent back in the yard. The small yard was brightly lit, looking very beautiful and full of warmth.

After Zhao Liangchen sent her back, he warned her, "Starting tomorrow, the city may be under martial law. Don't go out. If you need anything, ask Aunt Zhang to go to my yard and ask Lai Fu and the others to handle it."

Su Qin asked, "Are you all ready?"

Zhao Liangchen nodded: "Duan Liang's medicine has been delivered to the palace, and the people have been selected. It will definitely be a mess for a while after it is released. You and the teacher will have to stay at home for a while."

Su Qin was not afraid because she had experience in dealing with epidemic blockades. In her previous life, she had been locked up at home for two months. Although those two months were a bit inconvenient and everything was in short supply, they were the two most relaxing months for her. Finally, she didn't have to work like a slave day and night.

This time, she and Aunt Zhang stocked up on supplies early on, so she wasn't afraid even if she was locked down for another two months.

Returning to her room, Su Qin looked at the various gadgets and food piled on the table and slept soundly, feeling satisfied.

She slept soundly, but Zhao Liangchen couldn't sleep. He lay on the bed, staring at the hand that held Su Qin's hand. He couldn't suppress the corners of his mouth and kept smiling foolishly.

Su Qin probably doesn't hate him, otherwise she would have been angry if he had pulled her hand.

He lay there with his eyes open until the hour of Yin, then got up and went into the palace.

On the 16th day of the first lunar month, the first grand court session of the new year, all civil and military officials arrived at the palace gate early to wait for the entrance to the palace.

As a result, the court meeting was only halfway through when someone hurriedly handed in a memorial, which said that someone in Qi County, not far from the capital, had shown symptoms of an epidemic.

This news scared all the civil and military officials. The memorial stated that a few years ago, several homeless people in Qi County had high fevers and their bodies were covered with rashes. However, because they were homeless and had no money to treat their illness, no one paid attention to them. But they died of illness in the following days. It was the New Year, and the deaths of the homeless people did not arouse anyone's suspicion. After the people who found them reported them to the authorities, the government sent people to bury them in a mass grave.

However, not long after these people who had visited the mass graves returned, they also began to have high fevers and rashes. Their families called a doctor for them, who originally thought it was a minor illness, but it turned out that it was not cured after a long period of treatment. After the New Year, their families and the doctors who treated them also became ill.

The sick people were all from the yamen. When the news reached the ears of the county magistrate, he was so scared that he immediately isolated all the sick people. As a result, more and more people became sick and the situation was about to get out of control. The county magistrate did not dare to conceal it and immediately submitted a memorial as soon as the court opened.

All the civil and military officials in the court were shocked and frightened after hearing this. Qi County was too close to here, only a few dozen miles away, and a round trip could be made in a day. If this was really an epidemic, then the capital city would probably not be spared.

Everyone was discussing this, and the emperor seemed extremely anxious. He asked the four regents, "My dear ministers, how do you think this matter should be handled?"

Prince Liang's leg has healed and he came to court today, but the emperor sympathized with him and allowed him to sit while attending court.

He and the other three regent ministers exchanged a glance, and all four of them had ugly expressions. Prince Liang's mood was even more complicated. His original plan was to let the concubines enter the palace after the first month of the year. Half a year later, if there was no news of any concubine being pregnant in the palace, he would spread the news that the emperor could not get pregnant. Now, once there was an epidemic, he would definitely not be able to choose a concubine, and his plan would have to be delayed again. He was already impatient and did not want to wait any longer.

But then he thought that an epidemic was not a bad thing. Since ancient times, when there were various disasters, the emperor would bear the brunt and be suspected by the people of whether it was because of his incompetence that he was punished by God. Last year, the emperor had already issued a self-blame edict when the Chanzhou flood hit. If there was another epidemic this year and another self-blame edict was issued, he would not even need to ruin the emperor's reputation, the emperor's reputation would naturally be ruined.

If he had done a little more, the people and court officials would probably have spontaneously chosen to force the emperor to abdicate.

This saved him a lot of energy. Even better, if the emperor died of the epidemic, he would be able to succeed to the throne smoothly without any effort.

The more Prince Liang thought about it, the more excited he became. He looked up at the dragon throne where the emperor was sitting, as if the throne was already waving to him.

He secretly made up his mind that no matter whether the disease in Qi County was an epidemic or not, he must prove that it was an epidemic, and find a way to make the emperor infected with the disease. Even if the emperor did not get the disease, he would make his death look like he had contracted the epidemic.

That's right, he couldn't wait to plan slowly. Wouldn't it be better to let the emperor die directly? There was no good reason before. The emperor's death was not like the death of the previous princes. If the emperor died inexplicably, it would inevitably arouse suspicion from all parties. Before he was sure, he would not be so reckless, but doesn't the epidemic provide him with the best opportunity now?

Who would suspect him of the emperor's death from the plague?

While he was secretly thinking, Grand Tutor Yan spoke first: "Your Majesty, the most urgent task is to send troops to besiege the entire Qi County to prevent the disease from spreading. In addition, all the sick people must be isolated and the imperial physician must be sent to check whether it is an epidemic. If it is indeed an epidemic..."

He felt a little heavy-hearted. If it was really an epidemic, he was afraid that all the people in Qi County would not survive.

This has always been the most direct and effective way to deal with epidemic areas, burning the epidemic area with fire.

Although Master Yan had not finished his words, everyone present knew what he meant. There was silence and no one said a word. No one had time to think about whether the people of Qi County were innocent. They were all worried about whether they would be affected by the epidemic.

Seeing that no one objected, the emperor said, "Then follow the Grand Tutor's advice. First, send the imperial guards to take control of Qi County, and then send the imperial physician. As for who will be responsible for this matter..."

He looked at the people present, as if wondering who would be better to go to Qi County to take charge of the situation.

All the officials lowered their heads, fearing that the emperor would notice them. That was an epidemic area, and anyone who went there would die.

At this time, Grand Tutor Yan spoke up, "Your Majesty, I am willing to go to Qi County. I am old and have been buried in the earth up to my neck. I am not afraid of death. I will go to Qi County to support the battle. If I cannot control the disease in Qi County, I will perish along with the people of Qi County."

The emperor immediately spoke out to stop him: "No, Grand Master, this court cannot do without you. If anything happens to you, what will I do?"

Taishi Yan looked at the emperor's anxious expression and smiled kindly, "Your Majesty, you have grown up and it's time for you to rule the country. You have done a great job already. There is not much I can do to help you."

The emperor stood up anxiously and said, "No, Grand Master, you are the pillar of stability in this court. Without you, I will be insecure."

Before Grand Tutor Yan could say anything, Prince Liang stood up and said, "Your Majesty, I will leave."