Huo Wei softened his tone a little, using his rarely gentle voice.
"The supplies for Danyang City have been cut off, but we still don't know who did it. We've been outside Danyang City for a while, but there's still no sign of the supplies being properly transported into the city.
We've sent out large groups of people. One group is gathering supplies from different prefectures and counties, while the other is looking for the missing batch. So far, they've found nothing.
That's why I don't dare to order the city gates to be opened.
If we open the gates, once the common people see that the imperial court has come empty - handed, they'll surely be angry and cause a big problem.
Du Gu Luanyue, there's no antidote for this plague. Once someone catches it, it's a dead end.
These are tough and tiring tasks for men. What are you, a woman, doing getting involved? Be good and go back."
Only then did Du Gu Luanyue understand why Huo Wei had been delaying opening the city gates for so long after arriving in Danyang City. It turned out that corrupt officials had been causing trouble as soon as they got here.
Her snow - white wrist was tightly held by Huo Wei. But when she looked into his deep and extremely serious black eyes, her heart fluttered.
"Huo Wei, the plague has hit the city. The lives of tens of thousands of common people are at stake. If men can do it, so can women.
I'm not only the queen of the Northern Yan but also the former crown prince of the Southern Chu. No matter what my identity is, I should stay and share life and death with the people of Danyang City."
Huo Wei let out a heavy breath, then suddenly let go of her wrist and roared, "I can't be nice to you."
After saying that, he raised his eyes and ordered, "Someone, send the queen out of Danyang City and find a safe city to settle her down."
Du Gu Luanyue suddenly stood up, took out the phoenix seal that a queen always carried with her. It was a small seal, and she said to the soldiers,
"I've come to Danyang City in person. As the queen, representing the emperor's order, I'll take full charge of the plague - relief work in Danyang City.
Now, you all follow my orders. The Prince of Yuzhang needs to rest."
As the queen, representing the emperor, her status was much higher than that of the Prince of Yuzhang.
Everyone silently stepped back, not daring to act rashly. Now they only listened to Du Gu Luanyue. After she said this, she hooked her lips at Huo Wei and said, "Now, you're also under my command."
Huo Wei pressed his tongue against his back teeth, then smiled and said, "Fine. We can die together."
After Du Gu Luanyue left the tent, she quickly found Huo Wei's subordinates to learn about the whole situation of the plague.
Shen Guilan cooperated fully this time. With the lives of the country and the people on the line, he knew what was important. In the whole military camp, except for Huo Wei, everyone else was quite cooperative.
Shen Guilan gave Du Gu Luanyue a copy of all the important information that Huo Wei had found in Danyang City. The military advisor stroked his long hair and said seriously,
"Your Majesty the Queen, the problem in Danyang City is not just about supplies.
There are also not enough doctors and places. Some officials in the city are even profiteering from the national disaster. The price of grain has even skyrocketed dozens of times. Now we don't have enough manpower."
"I originally thought that His Majesty would provide enough equipment since it was Your Majesty's trip. But unexpectedly..."
Du Gu Luanyue sat in the main seat, holding those letters and concentrating on reading them. She explained,
"I rode south at full speed. There weren't many people accompanying me.
The manpower and supplies given by His Majesty are still on the way. They'll arrive in about five or six days. But those supplies aren't much. The main problem is the missing batch."
Shen Guilan stood up and said, "We shouldn't delay. I'll send someone to quickly escort Your Majesty's supplies to Danyang City and distribute them. I'll go and look for the missing batch myself."
Du Gu Luanyue raised her arm and said, "Military Advisor, I'll send the Fengling Guards to bring the supplies to Danyang City as soon as possible. But you don't need to look for the missing batch. I'll go."
Shen Guilan was a bit puzzled. "Why?"
Du Gu Luanyue stood up, smoothed her skirt, and walked out.
"Military Advisor Shen is proficient in pharmacology. Please quickly find a prescription to cure the plague with the four imperial physicians.
Now we don't have enough manpower. I can't just sit idle.
We'll divide into three groups. One group will fetch the supplies, one will look for the antidote, and one will look for the missing batch of supplies."
Shen Guilan and all of Huo Wei's vice - generals slowly stood up in the tent, looking at each other in confusion.
One vice - general asked, "Wasn't she said to be a queen who brought disaster to the country? But she doesn't seem like that."
Another vice - general asked, "I originally thought His Majesty sent the queen here just for show. I didn't expect the queen to really take action when there's a problem!"
Shen Guilan still stood there in his plain white cloth clothes. Since Du Gu Luanyue came to the camp, she neither complained about the poor environment nor the simple meals. Instead, she cared about what the soldiers ate and used.
He was a bit surprised because Du Gu Luanyue was not only the queen but also a princess who had been pampered since childhood. But she could endure hardships like this, and it seemed that she wasn't here just for show.
He quickly stood up and went back to Huo Wei's tent. He briefly told Huo Wei what had happened.
Unexpectedly, Huo Wei flew into a great rage and threw the medicine bowl in his hand far away.
"Shen Guilan, I've been meaning to settle the score with you for bringing her to Danyang City!
Can't you understand Murong Min's intentions even if she can't?"
Shen Guilan quietly looked at him.
"I just wrote back asking her to save you, but I never asked her to come in person.
Huo Wei, I know you have feelings for her. But I also have to tell you that you two won't have a good ending. And you have your own important responsibilities. You're on two different paths."
Huo Wei's lips turned a bit pale. Despite the tearing pain in his lower abdomen, he half - sat up from the bed, gritted his teeth, and roared,
"Murong Min wants her to die in Danyang City. Don't you understand that?"
Huo Wei was a man who might go crazy but would never lose control. But at this moment, Shen Guilan saw the panic in Huo Wei's expression.
"I know. His Majesty never intended to save the people of Danyang City from the beginning. But I've always been surprised why he sent you here and didn't give you enough manpower and supplies. So it's just a matter of time before something bad happens to you here.
I really didn't expect Queen Du Gu to come in person. But she's already here to fight with you.
You shouldn't keep driving her away. I can see that the queen is seriously trying to save the people of Danyang City.
Moreover, she's already led the team and set off. You can't catch up with her."
Hearing this, Huo Wei immediately frowned tightly. He covered his lower abdomen with his left hand and tried to get up.
Shen Guilan immediately saw who he was going to look for. Then he sprinkled some white medicine powder at him. "You haven't closed your eyes for seven days and seven nights. You should rest and recuperate your injuries well."
Huo Wei closed his eyes and fainted. He woke up again after dusk the next day.
He couldn't move his hands and feet because he had been tied up with hemp ropes. The wound on his abdomen still hurt.
A faint look of rage appeared on his cold face. "Shen Guilan, get in here!"
Shen Guilan was guarding outside. When he heard Huo Wei's voice, he stood up and walked in. "What are your orders, My Lord?"
Huo Wei smiled. "Come here. I have something to discuss with you."
(I'll only update one chapter today. I'll update two chapters tomorrow, and I'll post them earlier, my dears.)