Compared to the human hell in Nanlong Prefecture, the Capital City was still as prosperous as ever.
However, strict monitoring was conducted at the city gates, and no outsiders were allowed to enter the Capital City.
The streets were filled with bustling pedestrians.
The shouts of peddlers hawking their wares.
The sounds of customers haggling over prices.
The playful chatter of the sons and daughters of prestigious families, etc.
Filled every nook and cranny of the streets in the Capital City.
It was as if the plague had never happened.
Lin Yueru, who had married into the Sixth Prince's Manor, did not have much joy on her face when she learned that Gong Xiaohua was in Nanlong Prefecture, the epicenter of the plague disaster.
"Just die like this, it's too easy for you," Lin Yueru said viciously to herself.
She had originally discovered that the Sixth Prince had taken a liking to Gong Xiaohua. She then conspired with the Sixth Prince to abduct Gong Xiaohua.
Who would have thought that the Sixth Prince, who appeared elegant and graceful on the outside to the public, was actually a vicious, lecherous person with peculiar tastes.
The number of women who had died at his hands was countless.
She was not living well, so why should that slut get to live better than her?
Now it was best to just let her die an easy death out there.
"Next, I will destroy everything you care about one by one. I want to see if your family can still protect you without you, Qin family!"
Compared to Lin Yueru's viciousness, there was only gloom and sorrow in the Gong family.
Not only was the Gong family's hometown near the disaster-stricken area around Nanlong Prefecture, but Gong Xiaohua was also sent on a business trip right in the epicenter of the disaster zone, and she was now trapped in the city.
When the neighbors learned that Gong Xiaohua was stranded in the disaster area, they reckoned that there was an eighty to ninety percent chance that she would die there.
Those on good terms with the Gong family came to offer their condolences.
There were also those who gloated behind their backs, saying "It seems she really doesn't have the fortune to become the wife of a prestigious family."
Madam Gong cried with tears everyday, refusing to eat or drink.
Her previously stocky figure was visibly thinner now.
Gong Xiaohua's grandmother from her mother's side, Li, stayed at the Gong residence to accompany Madam Gong.
The Gong family men went out every day to gather information.
However, not only were Nanlong Prefecture under lockdown and control, but all personnel were prohibited from entering or leaving.
Moreover, the imperial court intentionally kept it under wraps. Except for the Nine Ministers and officials of higher rank, no one knew the exact situation in Nanlong Prefecture.
Gong Dafu, knowing that his hometown was hit by the plague and his cousin was directly in the center of the epidemic area, no longer had the heart to do business. He temporarily closed his braised food store.
He took turns going out every day with his cousins on his father's side to gather information.
Fortunately, the area where the Gong family's ancestral home was located had not been infected by the plague. However, there was absolutely no news about Gong Xiaohua herself.
The only information they were able to obtain was that the death toll in Nanlong Prefecture kept rising by the day.
Moreover, the bodies of the deceased were not given any burial. They were directly cremated to ashes, without even a body that could be claimed.
When Madam Gong heard this, she fainted on the spot.
In order to obtain information about Gong Xiaohua, the Gong family waited outside the gates of the Qin Residence every day.
They hoped to glean some useful information from the Qin family's mouths, but they had never gotten any information before.
They hadn't seen Young Master Qin the Fifth either. Whenever the Qin family saw anyone from the Gong family, they would avoid them.
In fact, the Qin family refused to meet with the Gong family because Minister Qin had ordered that no one be allowed to have any contact with the Gong family.
Qin Chuyuan was his and the clan’s chosen successor for the next family patriarch.
He had disagreed from the beginning with such a lowly woman from that family background marrying his most valued grandson.
Moreover, he disagreed with her becoming the future matriarch of the Qin family.
Unfortunately, it was an imperial decree. He could not defy it.
He had intended to find an excuse to send her away from the Capital City after she married into the Qin family, keeping her far away from them.
Then marry Qin Chuyuan to a wife from a prominent family.
Now with this turn of events, he didn’t need to do anything. Gong Xiaohua from the Gong family was about to die, which saved him a lot of trouble.
Since this marriage was not happening, why would he be willing for his eminent Qin clan to have any connection with that lowly Gong family?
Since they couldn't get any information from the Qin family, Gong Xiaohua’s father and Gong Xiaonan went to Minister Li's Residence to gather information. This inquiry turned out to make things worse.
It turned out that Gong Xiaohua had voluntarily applied to go to the disaster area’s epicenter to serve as a medical officer treating disaster victims.
As for whether Gong Xiaohua was dead or alive, there was no way to know.
"Damn it, she just borrowed a couple medical books from Old Man Qi and read them for a few days before recklessly running off to treat disaster victims." Madam Gong wailed.
“Don't worry, my dear, our Xiaohua has great blessings and luck, she will definitely come back alive,” Li comforted Madam Gong.
“Mother, look at this silly girl with ideas way over her head. When she comes back alive, I’m going to beat her to death, lest she keeps scaring me to death with worry everyday,” said Madam Gong.
Qin Chuqin was grieved upon learning that Grandfather Qin had grounded her younger brother Qin Chuyuan and forbid any contact between the Qin family and Gong family.
Grandfather was still that ruthless, cold-blooded grandfather who viewed all Qins as tools to be utilized for the family’s interests.
She pondered for a moment, then brought her personal maid on a visit to the Gong residence.
"May I ask who is the lady?" Gong Xiaohua's grandmother asked when she saw an elegant lady standing at the gate with her maid.
"Greetings Elder Madam. I am Young Master Qin the Fifth’s older sister, and daughter-in-law of the Zhou family,” Qin Chuqin greeted with a curtsey.
"What brings you here? The Gong family can’t live up to your eminent Qin family. Lady Zhou should just go back, no need to send you off." The old woman moved to shut the gate.
"Elder Madam is Xiaohua’s grandmother, right? I came today concerning Xiaohua’s matters, which is why I have come to pay this visit."
When Li heard it was about Xiaohua’s matters, she reluctantly let Qin Chuqin into the yard and took her to see Madam Gong.
Madam Gong was puzzled when she saw a beautiful strange woman following her mother-in-law. "Mother, who is this?”
"She is the Fifth Young Master's older sister from the Qin family, Lady Zhou," Li replied.
"You have news of my Xiaohua?” Madam Gong excitedly stood up and asked Qin Chuqin.
“I’m afraid not yet regarding news of Xiaohua. But don’t worry Madam Gong. My father-in-law is the Minister of Revenue. He is in charge of arranging disaster relief supplies and medicine to Nanlong Prefecture. I have sent someone to tell him to inquire about Xiaohua’s situation. I believe we’ll have news soon.”
“Wonderful, wonderful, thank you Lady Zhou!”
“You’re too kind, Madam Gong. I have met Xiaohua a few times and quite like her.”
“You’re the only decent one in your Qin family, not like that brother of yours. Hmph.”
“You misunderstand my brother, Madam Gong. When he heard about Xiaohua, he was also extremely anxious and originally wanted to go to Nanlong Prefecture right away to bring Xiaohua out. But Grandfather has confined my brother and forbid any contact between our families.”
Madam Gong, I can only help my brother this much. The rest is up to his own good fortune.
