A plague had broken out in the south. The official report that had just arrived said so as well.
The situation was extremely serious.
On top of that, the flooding in some parts of the south had yet to subside.
If those infected with the plague died without anyone tending to their bodies, then in this sweltering weather, the disease could spread with terrifying ease.
One person infecting another—it would soon be enough to destroy an entire city…
Containing the plague and preventing the situation from worsening was the most urgent matter at hand.
Sending the Imperial Physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy to deal with it was the correct course of action.
However, the fact that the Fifth Prince had sent every single imperial physician away left Xiao Yi deeply puzzled.
Was it merely a coincidence, or had it been done deliberately?
And then there was Imperial Physician Li, who had gone out of his way to send someone over and invite Duoduo to pay a visit.
What did that mean?
If Madam Li wanted to invite Duoduo, she could simply have sent an invitation to Su Xian and asked mother and daughter to visit.
Yet she had deliberately gone around Su Xian and invited only Duoduo.
Xiao Yi’s brows drew tightly together.
“The Prince!”
Yunxiao hurried in.
“I’ve made inquiries. An imperial decree was indeed issued.”
“All the imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy have left the capital.”
Xiao Yi rubbed his fingers together. “Did you find out who suggested it?”
“I asked around. It was Assistant Director Wang.”
Xiao Yi froze for a moment. “Fifth Brother didn’t question it?”
Yunxiao shook his head.
“I heard that the moment the Fifth Prince learned of it, he immediately issued the decree.”
“He even ordered the imperial physicians to pack their belongings and set off at once!”
“That urgently?”
Xiao Yi’s fingers began tapping lightly against the desk.
Yunxiao did not understand why The Prince looked so solemn.
A plague had broken out in the south. Wasn’t sending the imperial physicians there to resolve it the normal course of action?
After pondering for quite some time, Xiao Yi raised his head.
“Go see what the Princess is doing.”
“If she has some free time, ask her to come to the study.”
Yunxiao looked somewhat astonished.
Was The Prince planning to send the Princess to the Li residence?
“Yes.”
After bowing, Yunxiao withdrew.
He made a few inquiries and learned that Duoduo was studying with Nina, so he headed to the rear courtyard.
“Princess, Yunxiao is here. He says he has something to report.”
Lüdou waited until Duoduo and Nina had stopped before entering the room to inform her.
Duoduo was a little curious.
“When did he arrive?” she asked as she walked outside.
Whenever Yunxiao came, it usually meant that her father wanted to see her.
With Nina in the room, it was inconvenient to speak freely.
“He’s been here for a while. I saw that you were in class, so I asked him to wait,” Lüdou replied.
Duoduo gave Lüdou a curious look. “He isn’t in a hurry?”
Lüdou shook her head.
“He said it was nothing urgent and that he could wait.”
Duoduo nodded. It seemed that whatever it was, it wasn’t particularly pressing.
When Duoduo walked out, Yunxiao hurried over and bowed.
“This subordinate pays his respects to the Princess!”
Duoduo waved a hand. “No need for formalities!”
“Yunxiao, did Father ask me to go over?”
Yunxiao nodded.
“The Prince said that if it was convenient for you, Princess, you should go over for a while.”
A flicker passed through Duoduo’s eyes.
“Lüdou, go back and tell Nina that I’m going to the outer study. Today’s lesson ends here.”
Lüdou shook her head. “Let Qingliu go. I’ll accompany you.”
Qingliu, who was standing nearby, looked at Lüdou in surprise.
“Lüdou, I can accompany the Princess!”
Lüdou pretended not to hear her and took Duoduo by the arm.
“Princess, let’s go!”
Duoduo couldn’t help smiling until her eyes curved into crescents.
“Qingliu, you stay here.”
Qingliu bowed. “Yes!”
By the time she straightened up, Lüdou and Duoduo had already gone far away.
“She leaves me behind again.” Qingliu puffed out her cheeks.
There was nothing she could do. Who could blame her for meeting the Princess later than Lüdou had?
Besides, she didn’t want to wander around outside in such hot weather either.
Qingliu touched her face.
It had taken her so much effort to make her skin fairer. She had to protect it.
Could that be why Lüdou had volunteered to go?
At the thought, Qingliu felt a little touched.
Lüdou and Duoduo soon arrived at the outer study.
Duoduo knocked on the door. “Daddy, it’s me!”
“Come in!”
Xiao Yi’s voice from inside was as calm as ever.
Duoduo pushed open the door, walked in, and closed it behind her.
She approached the desk and bowed to Xiao Yi.
Xiao Yi waved a hand and handed her the official report he had been holding.
“Take a look.”
Duoduo walked over and accepted it.
She read extremely quickly, taking in line after line at a glance.
“It’s this serious? So many people have died?” Concern appeared in Duoduo’s eyes.
“A plague has broken out in the south. Has the imperial court received the news?” Duoduo set the report down.
Xiao Yi nodded.
“After Fifth Brother received the news, he immediately sent every imperial physician from the Imperial Medical Academy there!”
He placed particular emphasis on the word “every.”
Duoduo breathed a sigh of relief.
“The imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy are quite capable.”
“Once they arrive, this plague will surely be brought under control soon.”
After Duoduo finished speaking, she noticed that her father was looking at her without agreeing.
Duoduo tilted her little head.
“Daddy, was I wrong?”
Xiao Yi tapped the desk. “What else have you thought of?”
Duoduo blinked and thought carefully for a while.
Her father wouldn’t ask her that without a reason.
What had she overlooked?
Duoduo replayed their conversation and the contents of the official report in her mind.
In the end, she gave up.
“Nothing else.”
Xiao Yi was silent for a moment.
“Before Imperial Physician Li left the capital, he had someone come and deliver a message.”
“He said that his wife liked you very much and hoped that you would visit their residence.”
Duoduo’s eyes widened.
“Imperial Physician Li wants me to visit? Even though he isn’t there?”
Xiao Yi nodded seriously. “That’s right.”
Duoduo’s little head immediately began working.
“Daddy, could it be that Imperial Physician Li had something to say but didn’t want to entrust it to someone else?”
“So he told his wife instead?”
“He asked someone to invite me over, but that’s actually just an excuse?”
A flicker passed through Xiao Yi’s eyes.
“Mm. That’s what I thought as well.”
Duoduo’s eyes lit up.
“Then, Daddy, should I go to the Li residence?”
Xiao Yi stared at her. “Do you want to go?”
Duoduo thought about it.
“I’m just a little curious about what message Imperial Physician Li left for me.”
“And isn’t he afraid that I might not go?”
Although Imperial Physician Li had said that he wished to acknowledge her as his master, the two of them had mostly just exchanged views on medicine.
Afterward, many things had happened, and they had lost contact.
In the end, Imperial Physician Li and Duoduo were not close enough to visit one another privately.
That was why Duoduo was so curious.
Xiao Yi slowly shook his head.
“Curiosity killed the cat. I don’t agree to this.”
Duoduo was stunned. “Daddy, what if he has something important to tell me?”
Xiao Yi still shook his head.
“No.”
“At least, you can’t go right now.”
“Then when can I go?”
