"Are we just going to sit here and wait for death?" Shang Jingwang was a little anxious, both for himself and for so many lives: "We were clearly on the verge of success."
Xia Wenjin sighed. She didn’t want to be so cruel, but the situation had reached the worst stage, and she had to shatter Shang Jingwang’s remaining illusions: "To Yu Shikui, there’s only complete success or no success at all. His army presses at the border, and he’s not listening to any explanations."
Shang Jingwang was doubtful: "Doctor Xia, are you familiar with Lord Yu?"
Xia Wenjin replied indifferently, "Not familiar, but I know his character."
Shang Jingwang looked at her, sighed. Xiao Xia the doctor and Young Master Jing were no ordinary people. She didn’t want to say more, and he couldn’t force her. He turned his head to Huangfu Jingchen, "Young Master Huang, your special status, is it no longer effective now?"
Xia Wenjin glanced at Huangfu Jingchen, whose eyes showed a trace of helplessness. After being driven away by Wang Bolao and learning about Huangfu Jingchen almost being beaten by Kong Tixin, she knew it must have been Huangfu Jingchen’s false words in front of Shang Jingwang, making him think his status was special.
At this mont, the false identity was clearly no longer effective.
Huangfu Jingchen said helplessly, "Lord Shang, I didn’t expect things would reach this point. It’s my miscalculation. I’ll do my best, but I can’t guarantee what will be achieved!"
Outside there were five thousand stationed troops, and he was just one man.
Shang Jingwang was rather disappointed. He said, "Young Master Huang, is even your status useless?"
Xia Wenjin diated, "Lord Shang, if he weren’t in Wangshan Town, weren’t in the epidemic zone, his identity might work. But now, as long as he’s in the epidemic zone, Yu Shikui could burn this place down and later claim ignorance. That’s also why he didn’t let Wen Hao et you. Only by not eting can he later use it as an excuse. There’s a saying that ’the dead tell no tales’!"
Shang Jingwang’s face turned even paler.
He slumped into his chair, the life seeming to drain from his body, staring intently at Huangfu Jingchen, murmuring, "It’s over, it’s all over, you’ve dood !"
He could have not co, could have continued his diocre tenure as Prefect in Huainan Prefecture. But he was swayed by Huangfu Jingchen, personally ca to the epidemic zone, putting life and death aside, just to gamble for a better future. Now, everything was ruined.
Humans are never content, always desiring more. Why did he have the ambition for promotion?
Now it’s like he was a step away from death’s door.
Perhaps tomorrow, perhaps the day after, he would die with the people of Wangshan Town.
He wouldn’t die from the epidemic, but together with those people, either by arrows or by fire.
Kerosene, sulfur, saltpeter, and firewood, they used these only to deal with corpses of severe epidemic cases.
Unexpectedly, now these would be used on him, a living person, a Fifth Rank Court official. All these years of hard work, all the struggle, would end in a death so unjust?
At this mont, he thought about many things. Back in the day, all that hard studying was to make sothing of himself, to honor the family na, to give his parents a good life, and to treat the common people with dignity unlike so local officials.
He fulfilled his wishes, succeeded in the exams, and beca a local official. Although over the years, his sharp edges were worn down, and his role as a local official wasn’t ideal, compared to his forebears, his status was worlds apart.
He had a good life, how did he end up like this?
His gaze towards Huangfu Jingchen was full of resentnt.
Seeing his expression, Huangfu Jingchen’s eyes turned slightly cold, "Lord Shang, when you followed to Wangshan Town, was your mind only on promotion, without considering the people here?"
Shang Jingwang was in shock. Back then ...
Upon hearing about the epidemic, his first instinct was to prevent it from spreading, to quickly seek dicine and control the outbreak.
It was for promotion, but also for the people.
Huangfu Jingchen’s voice turned icy, "If you ca just for promotion, with no thought for the people, I can send you away right now. Although we’re surrounded, if I could reach Wen Hao’s Central Army Camp, I can get you elsewhere. I have the ans to send you off. Stay or leave, the choice is yours!"
Shang Jingwang was once again stunned. He stared blankly at Huangfu Jingchen, leave? Could he leave?
Seeing the firm and confident look in Huangfu Jingchen’s eyes, he believed he was speaking the truth.
He hurried to stand up, "Go, go, go, anyone who doesn’t is a fool!"
Huangfu Jingchen, expressionless, his gaze towards Shang Jingwang cold and devoid of warmth, said lightly, "Follow !"
Shang Jingwang imdiately followed Huangfu Jingchen out.
Huangfu Jingchen wasn’t deceiving Shang Jingwang. He could indeed send him off, albeit under the cover of night, finding a weakly defended spot, tossing him past the encirclent, where he could find his own way back.
Shang Jingwang’s decision didn’t anger him. Amidst impending disaster, everyone seeks their own way out. It’s nothing new. Shang Jingwang, who made all arrangents upon hearing of the epidemic and even personally ca to Wangshan Town, even if only for a career path, was already much better than most officials.
The instinct to cling to life and fear death is human nature, with no correct or incorrect!
If a calamity was indeed destined for Wangshan Town tomorrow, even he and Xia Wenjin might not escape. Why let Shang Jingwang be buried here too?
Xia Wenjin said nothing either. Shang Jingwang wasn’t infected, so letting him go wouldn’t affect things. However, once he left Wangshan Town, whether he could get away unscathed depended on his own capabilities.
Huangfu Jingchen reached the doorway, Shang Jingwang following closely, when suddenly his steps halted, and he said in a bitter tone, "Forget it, I’m not leaving!"
Huangfu Jingchen turned his head sideways, "You don’t believe I can get you out?"
Shang Jingwang smiled bitterly, "No, I believe you! But I don’t want to leave on my own. Yu later, Lord Yu and the Commander know what I’ve done in Wangshan Town. Even if I could leave here, they wouldn’t spare in the future."
"So, it is because you’re afraid they won’t spare you that you’ve decided not to leave?"
Shang Jingwang was completely frank at this point, putting on no airs, "Naturally! Since I can’t escape, why run? Besides, if you all are not running, what sense is there in running alone? After all, as the parent official of Wangshan Town, I should advance and retreat with the townspeople!"
Huangfu Jingchen said, "Have you thought it through? This is your only chance; co tomorrow, you won’t be able to leave even if you wish!"
Shang Jingwang returned to his seat, "I said I’m not running, so I’m staying. Let death co if it must!" He looked pitiably at Huangfu Jingchen, "If I don’t run, the worst that happens is dying like the people of Wangshan Town, either by arrows or by fire, right?"
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