The Marquise: I Earn My Own Worship

"Is the mansion of the Duke of Bo a place that anyone can enter casually? You ignorant woman! If you can't speak, just say less. The dogs passing by in the capital might all be officials' dogs. If you offend someone one day, our whole family will be finished."

Wang listened and nodded with some fear, indicating that she didn't dare to say anything nonsense.

"Mother, if you really don't understand, just say less. It's okay for my cousin to hear it, but the main thing is, don't talk about it outside."

Wang looked at her eldest son who was talking and felt a little depressed. Whose son was this? She knew he was her cousin.

Cousin, cousin, go with your cousin.

Her parents-in-law and husband dared not disobey her, and she didn't even dare to say anything to her own son.

"Cheng Zhang, you little brat, are you still criticizing your parents? They keep calling you cousins, and I thought you were brothers."

Wang raised her hand to pull Cheng Zhang's ear, and Cheng Zhang was so scared that he hid behind Old Madam Cheng.

"Grandma, save me"

Wang was furious when she saw Cheng Zhang hiding behind her mother-in-law.

Old Madam Cheng protected Cheng Zhang and looked at Wang.

"You're angry, why do you hit the child?"

Wang stomped her feet in anger, turned around and ran to the room next door where she rested.

Cheng Fu looked at Wang's back and shook his head, but saw the two brothers Cheng Zhang and Cheng Qi laughing there.

"What are you laughing at, you little brat? That's your mother. A son shouldn't blame his mother for her mistakes. Have you read so much that it's gone to the dog's stomach?"

Cheng Fu picked up a feather duster and pretended to hit him. Cheng Zhang yelled, "Brother, run!"

The two brothers ran out.

Cheng Fu watched the two brothers run out, then turned to look at the two elders.

"Don't blame me, Dad and Mom. Wang Shi may have some small thoughts, but she's not a bad person by nature."

Old Master Cheng snorted coldly and said nothing. Old Madam Cheng pulled Cheng Fu to sit down before saying, "I know she hasn't bullied Xi'er in all these years. She just says some sour words sometimes. Don't pay attention to it."

"but……"

Old Madam Cheng looked at Cheng Fu and warned him carefully: "This capital city is not like our Hu City. Tell your wife too that it is better to be cautious in what you say and do."

Cheng Fuzhi nodded, he understood the logic.

After returning to Duan's house, Cheng Xi was still unable to calm down. He copied words in the study for a long time and called Zheng Da in.

"Go and keep an eye out for when the Fourth Master returns. When he does, tell him I have something important to discuss with him!"

……

"What? Water bug? Isn't that water plague?"

Only then did Cheng Xi realize that the news had already reached the capital, but it was about a flood.

"It's not waterborne disease, it's a disease called water bug disease, which is very similar to waterborne disease. The symptoms are abdominal pain and diarrhea."

"How can we tell the difference? The news from Nanyang is about a flood. We can't get it mixed up, right?"

Duan Jing'an knocked on the table with a serious expression. If it was really as Cheng Xi said, this matter had to be reported immediately.

Cheng Xi raised his head and looked at Duan Jing'an seriously.

"Brother Duan, do you believe me?"

Duan Jing'an looked at Cheng Xi and nodded slowly under his gaze.

"I believe!"

Cheng Xi laughed, but the words he said were very cruel.

"You'll find out if you open the corpse's belly."

Duan Jing'an's scalp tingled after hearing this. He could easily guess what was going on.

"How did you..."

"You want to ask how I would know?"

Cheng Xi smiled bitterly and told Duan Jing'an about his uncle's family coming to Beijing and what happened fourteen years ago.

"Logically, everyone in Nanyang knows about this disease, but for some reason the news hasn't reached the capital yet. However, this disease is extremely dangerous. I'm just a scholar, so I have no choice but to tell Brother Duan about this."

Duan Jing'an knew the seriousness of the matter and had to report it immediately.

"I understand. I will find a way to submit this matter. Just relax for now."

"By the way, have your uncle and the others been settled? Do you need my help?"

Cheng Xi poured Duan Jing'an a cup of tea.

"It's okay, just take care of your own business first. Your business is a big deal."

It was rare for Duan Jing'an to sit down and drink a cup of hot tea. He had been busy like a top these days, and he would start spinning as soon as someone pulled him.

"It's no big deal, just some fake work. But I have to think carefully about how to report this."

The next day, after Duan Jing'an went to court, he saw the Left Prime Minister and Mr. Guo discussing something, so he waited on the side.

After they finished talking, they realized Duan Jing'an had been waiting nearby. The Left Prime Minister asked curiously, "Silang, what's the matter? Normally, he's gone away after court, but today's unusual."

Duan Jing'an bowed in apology and admitted his fault.

"It's the student's fault, please don't blame me."

Old Guo looked at the young man with a smile and said, "He's just teasing you. Is there anything important you want to talk about?"

Duan Jing'an's expression then became serious. He led the few people into the room before speaking.

"Yesterday, my teacher had a relative from Nanyang come over and bring me some news. The Nanyang flood plague the court mentioned yesterday was not a water plague, but a water bug disease!"

Zuo Xiang and Mr. Guo looked at each other in shock. Duan Jing'an didn't know, but did they know?

Fourteen years ago, the water bug disease in Nanyang was horrific. It was said that the air in Nanyang was filled with the smell of burning human flesh.

Afterwards, many people from Nanyang moved away from their hometown, never wanting to return to this sad place.

"Shiro, is this true? Is this news true?"

Duan Jing'an was silent for a while. He would rather it wasn't the case, but the reality was there.

"It's almost certain. The most important thing now is to pass on this news. If it's not, I, the student, will take the blame for the false report!"

Duan Jingan said firmly

"Also, those who were sent to Nanyang must be notified and asked to return immediately."

Although waterborne disease and water bug disease have similarities, the methods of handling corpses are different.

The bodies of people infected with water worm disease must be burned to eliminate them, otherwise the nematodes will continue to grow endlessly.

The left prime minister took Duan Jing'an to the Qinzheng Hall to meet the emperor, and soon after, an urgent secret order was issued.

The Emperor of Chu looked at Duan Jing'an who was kneeling below with a gloomy face.

"Duan Dushi, can you guarantee that what you said is the truth?"

Duan Jing'an knelt respectfully below, his back straight.

"Your Majesty, to be honest, I'm not sure, but I'm also certain."

"I'm not sure because I didn't see it with my own eyes, but I'm certain because a student from Nanyang told me this with such sadness and grief."

"I didn't experience the disaster that happened fourteen years ago, but I know from historical records how much damage that disaster inflicted on the people of Nanyang."

"I am here today to explain this to Your Majesty because I know something could happen and I can't just ignore it. Even if it turns out not to be water bugs, I will only be happy."

The King of Chu was shocked by Duan Jing'an's words. It had been so many years since he had seen an official with such a pure heart.

It is not difficult to hear from Duan Jing'an's words that he cares about the people. The King of Chu was stared at by Duan Jing'an's fiery eyes, and his relief was beyond words.

"Good boy, I was right about you!"

Emperor Chu stood up, walked to Duan Jing'an and helped him up.

Duan Jing'an was a little flattered. The Emperor of Chu patted Duan Jing'an on the shoulder and said something that shocked Duan Jing'an.