Lord Tang was truly busy. He first made a trip to the County Governntal Office, reviewing the reports from his subordinates, "Five residential houses collapsed, one of which was due to a couple’s fight on the snowy night. The house was already unstable, and during their altercation, a few kicks brought it down."
Lord Tang had been a county magistrate for many years; what situation hadn’t he encountered?
He asked, "What about the people?"
The county constable replied, "The people are all fine. Luckily, although the first snow was heavy, no one froze to death. Currently, they are temporarily housed at the Shantang Hall. However, all five families have nurous dependents. Regardless of their willingness, the people at Shantang Hall are not too pleased. Among them are two particularly unruly families who began bullying the children at Shantang Hall just two days after moving in."
Lord Tang snorted coldly and said bluntly, "Get all able-bodied mbers of these five families to go and build houses on their plots. Their houses should naturally be built by themselves. The County Governntal Office will provision so timber, and we’ll find so manpower to help. Aim to complete their houses within two days."
"It’s so cold that the earth is frozen; it’s not easy to build."
"If they have the strength to bully others, it ans they have plenty of energy. Moreover, it’s for building their own houses; why would they be sparing their strength?" County Magistrate Tang remarked, "There’s been a drought this year. Re-check the struggling households reported last autumn to see if any new ones have been added. If there are none, distribute the grains sent by His Majesty and the State Dukes to them after verification in a few days."
"What about the other households..."
"Do other families seem like they’re missing that small bag of grain?" County Magistrate Tang asked, "Is it that my family is starving, or that your family is lacking drink?"
The county constable understood, smiling, "It’s just that everyone heard the grains were sent by His Majesty, State Duke Zhao, and State Duke Pi for the imperial grandson’s blessings. Everyone wants to share in the fortune."
"Distributing the grains to those in need is sharing the fortune," Tang added.
Only after finishing these tasks did Lord Tang enter the palace.
Today, he needed to check the dicinal records of the Imperial Hospital, inspect the situation at various palace gates, and inquire about the herbs and dicines.
Lord Tang, holding the records, asked Eunuch Wu, "So, the decoction for each hall must either be brewed in the kitchen or in the pharmacy?"
"Yes, that’s the rule."
"There’s no private brewing?"
Eunuch Wu chuckled, "Such instances naturally exist. However, if they’re not discovered, that’s one thing. Once discovered, they are sent to the quarantine area. Besides, all dicines have a scent, so keeping it a secret is impossible."
"How does the kitchen know what dicine they’re brewing?"
"The kitchen usually asks to ensure no foul play."
County Magistrate Tang countered, "What if soone lies?"
"Then it’s up to you, my lord, to judge."
County Magistrate Tang nodded slightly, glanced at the docunts on the table, and began marking them. "Since the needle needs to be soaked for three days with a change of dicine in between, just check the prescriptions from the past six days."
He instructed, "Look into the dicines brewed by the kitchen in each hall over those six days. Dig up the buried dicinal residues and have the imperial physicians at the Imperial Hospital identify them. Only when the records from the Imperial Hospital and the kitchens, along with the dicinal residues, match can we proceed."
Eunuch Wu hesitated before stating, "There’s also the small kitchen over at the Taiji Hall..."
County Magistrate Tang looked up with a smile and said, "Check that too."
Rummaging through the docunts, he found the records from Taiji Hall and exclaid, "Manbao took dicine for Lord Gu?"
County Magistrate Tang frowned, "Lord Gu is ill?"
If he’s ill, how can he still serve the Emperor at close quarters?
Eunuch Wu had no idea, looking innocent.
County Magistrate Tang pondered for a mont, then turned to an aide nearby and said, "Go call Zhou Man from the back."
Currently, he was using a room in the Chongwen Pavilion as his office, which happened to be in the sa courtyard as Bai Shan’s academy. anwhile, Manbao usually worked on book revisions in the library behind.
Thus, summoning soone proved quite convenient.
Manbao ca cheerfully, "Senior Brother Tang, did you call for ?"
Lord Tang looked up at her and asked, "What brings you such joy?"
"It’s nothing much. It’s just that the Imperial dical Bureau started classes today, and the day after tomorrow, I’ll be able to leave the palace for lessons."
"With such a busy schedule, you still find ti to go out?"
The good news Manbao received that morning got a bit dampened, but she remained happy, "As long as I can leave the palace, I’m happy."
"Well, congratulations then. I was reviewing the dicinal records from the Imperial Hospital and noticed you seem to prescribe for Lord Gu often. Is Lord Gu ill?"
"Oh, these are dicinal herbs for foot soaks," Manbao glanced at them briefly and replied, "Lord Gu has so old injuries and rheumatism. On rainy days and in weather like this with snow, he feels particularly uncomfortable. So, I’ve been prescribing for his conditioning for the past two months. Why?"
County Magistrate Tang shook his head, "It’s nothing. You may go."
When Manbao turned to leave, an attendant rushed in, bowed his head, and reported, "Eunuch Wu, Lord Tang, a ssage just ca from the Departnt of Punishnt that Xu Yu’s condition is critical."
County Magistrate Tang frowned and stood up to ask, "How did it beco critical? Weren’t you instructed to keep a close watch on her, forbidding her from committing suicide or allowing visitors, and being cautious about what she consus?"
"The officials from the Departnt of Punishnt have checked. They say it’s due to excessive torture, leading to high fever, and they’re afraid she won’t last."
County Magistrate Tang frowned, glanced at Manbao standing by the door, then turned to Eunuch Wu and said, "Xu Yu can’t die now. She must wait until we’ve finished our investigations. If the issue isn’t within the palace, then it’s outside."
"And to have managed to swiftly deliver the poisoned needle to Xu Yu, many people must be involved. So, she has to stay alive."
Eunuch Wu sighed, "Lord Tang, I wish for her to live too, but I’m no deity who can ensure her survival at will."
"Bring her out and send her back to Chongwen Pavilion. Let Manbao treat her."
"This..." Eunuch Wu hesitated, glancing at Zhou Man. He had no objections personally, but given that Xu Yu was a suspect, would Lord Zhou Junior be willing to treat her?
Manbao, however, had already nodded, "Alright, have her brought over and taken to her room."
"There’s a palace maid in her room. I’ll have her temporarily moved elsewhere," Eunuch Wu smiled at Zhou Man, "Lord Zhou Junior truly has a benevolent heart. Thank you for your efforts."
Manbao nodded, turned, and said, "Then have her brought over. I’ll head to the Imperial Hospital to get so dicines."
Once she left, Eunuch Wu turned towards his subordinates, nodded, and then looked at County Magistrate Tang, "Are you trying to set a trap?"
Lord Tang said, "We have no choice. The information we have now is still limited. After experiencing near-death, Xu Yu, no matter how strong, might reconsider after surviving again. Maybe she’ll have a change of heart?"
He continued, "Even if she doesn’t, that’s alright. We just need to make those behind her think she has. As long as they make another move, we’ll eventually catch them."
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