Chapter 48: Xiongying Falls Ill, Qin Feng is Stunned!

What?

Zhu Xiongying has contracted an illness?

Isn't it only the ninth year of the Hongwu era?

There should still be at least six years before Zhu Xiongying's untimely death.

What exactly is going on?

Qin Feng was equally baffled.

Since his transmigration, even the Hu Weiyong case had undergone earth-shattering changes—could history truly be like the butterfly effect?

A simple flap of his wings here could trigger a chain reaction?

At the thought, Qin Feng was stunned.

He urgently told the steward of the Crown Prince’s residence, “Lead the way quickly!”

The steward hurriedly took him to the Crown Prince’s mansion, where the household was in utter chaos.

Masked maidservants paced nervously in the courtyard, and Chang’s wife, locked inside a room, screamed hoarsely, desperate to care for Xiongying.

The steward cautioned Qin Feng to keep his face covered to avoid infection.

Seeing all this, Qin Feng was deeply shaken.

A plague had thrown the Crown Prince’s residence into turmoil, utterly stripping away its usual warmth.

“Mr. Qin, please save Xiongying!”

Zhu Biao’s eyes were brimming with tears as he saw Qin Feng, as if he had found a savior; he was almost on the verge of kneeling.

His own son’s life hung by a thread.

As a father, Zhu Biao only wished for Xiongying’s health and safety.

In his pleading, he had long forgotten his status as Crown Prince, disregarding all protocol, beseeching Qin Feng like a close friend.

Qin Feng quickly steadied Zhu Biao and asked with a furrowed brow, “How is Xiongying’s condition now? Take me to see him. Don’t worry too much; it might not even be the plague.”

Zhu Biao shook his head through tears. “I’ve already consulted the imperial physicians. Xiongying somehow contracted the plague, and they say there’s no cure. Please, Mr. Qin, save my son. If the Emperor learns of this, I don’t know how I’ll explain it!”

The news of Zhu Xiongying’s infection had been tightly sealed within the Crown Prince’s residence; not a whisper dared escape to the palace.

Zhu Biao feared that if the Emperor found out, his composure would be shattered, jeopardizing all their covert plans.

Qin Feng understood that Zhu Biao’s actions were for his own protection. Given the Emperor’s temperament, if he knew Xiongying was infected, he would certainly rush to the Crown Prince’s residence.

If such news spread to the nobles of Huai West, all their previous efforts would be in vain.

Arriving at Xiongying’s chamber, many servants stood trembling at the door, masked.

It seemed no one dared tend to Xiongying, not even Zhu Biao himself.

Qin Feng said, “I’ll go in and have a look.”

Suddenly, Zhu Biao grabbed Qin Feng’s hand. “Mr. Qin, please be careful!”

Qin Feng gently patted his hand and entered the room.

There, Zhu Xiongying lay on the bed, coughing violently.

Qin Feng, face still covered, checked his forehead—burning with a fierce fever.

This looked like symptoms of a severe cold!

In the past, whenever Qin Feng caught a bad cold and fever, his family would brew a pot of black bean soup, and sweating it out would bring recovery.

Perhaps because Xiongying was so young, his immune system was simply too weak.

To boost immunity, one must drink plenty of warm water and eat vegetables and fruits rich in vitamin C.

After examining Xiongying, Qin Feng left the room and slowly removed his face covering.

Zhu Biao quickly objected, “Mr. Qin, there’s a rampant plague in the Crown Prince’s residence; you mustn’t fall ill too.”

“I just checked Xiongying’s condition. It’s not beyond treatment. You need not worry so much.”

“But…the imperial physicians say he has the plague, and there’s no cure!”

Qin Feng smiled. “I have a remedy to try. Send someone to fetch some roasted black beans and licorice root, then brew a few bowls for Xiongying to drink. He’ll recover in a few days.”

Zhu Biao blinked in astonishment. “Xiongying… really will be fine?”

“Yes. I’ve had similar severe illnesses before. My family treated me this way, and I recovered in three to five days.”

Zhu Biao stared at Qin Feng in disbelief.

Could it be that Mr. Qin truly is, as his father said, a man from the future?

A plague that even imperial physicians were powerless against seemed to him just like an ordinary illness.

“Someone! Quickly, fetch the herbs as Mr. Qin described for Xiongying!”

The steward, upon Zhu Biao’s order, hurried out to gather the herbs.

Zhu Biao looked around the chaotic residence with a bitter smile. “Mr. Qin, everyone here is terrified of catching the plague.”

Qin Feng said, “Send someone to the market to buy some mugwort. Burn it in the mansion—it will serve as a disinfectant.”

“Disinfectant?”

“The so-called plague is just a virus spreading. If you kill the virus, it no longer poses a threat to the body.”

“Of course, strengthening one’s own immunity is crucial. Some people with strong constitutions are less likely to catch the plague.”

“To boost immunity, the simplest method is to strengthen the body, drink warm water, and supplement with vitamins.”

Zhu Biao was confused but had never considered that the best way to fight a plague was simply to be healthy.

Qin Feng said, “Xiongying is a child with a naturally weak immune system, which makes him more susceptible. But judging by this, there must be a source of the plague within the residence.”

Zhu Biao’s expression suddenly darkened.

A source of plague inside the Crown Prince’s mansion?

“Mr. Qin, what should we do now?”

Qin Feng said solemnly, “Take me around the vicinity of the residence. Immediately instruct the servants to fumigate the entire place with mugwort.”

Zhu Biao turned to the servants. “Go now and buy mugwort. Burn it to fumigate every corner of the mansion. Don’t miss a single spot!”

This was the simplest form of disinfection in ancient times.

“Mr. Qin, I will show you around now.”

Qin Feng asked, “Usually, does Xiongying eat with you all?”

Zhu Biao nodded. “Yes, and the meals are personally inspected. Do you suspect the food might be the problem?”

“I’m not sure, but the virus wouldn’t infect someone so easily.”

As they walked into the courtyard, they suddenly saw a well.

Qin Feng raised his brow. “Does everyone here drink underground water?”

Zhu Biao nodded. “This well has been here for many years. The entire household drinks from it.”

Qin Feng asked, “Is it possible that Xiongying drank from this well?”

“That’s possible, but everyone drinks from it. Are you suggesting the water is contaminated?”

“Underground water is easily polluted. Since the plague just broke out in Huai West, many underground water sources are likely contaminated.”

Zhu Biao was shocked. “But… we all drink from this well. Why is only Xiongying infected?”

“Perhaps children have weaker immune systems and are more prone to illness.”

Zhu Biao was alarmed. “I’ll have this well sealed immediately!”

---

“Brother Shen!”

“Hmm!”

Shen Changqing walked down the street, greeting acquaintances with a nod or a brief greeting.

Yet no matter who it was, every face bore no extra expression, as if indifferent to everything.

Shen Changqing was used to it.

This was the Demon Suppression Division, an institution upholding the stability of the Great Qin, primarily tasked with slaying demons and monsters, though some secondary duties existed.

Every member here had blood on their hands.

When one becomes accustomed to life and death, many things lose their significance.

When Shen Changqing first arrived in this world, he felt uneasy, but over time, he grew accustomed.

The Demon Suppression Division was vast.

Those who remained were either powerful experts or showed potential to become so.

Shen Changqing belonged to the latter.

Within the division, there were two roles: Guardians and Exorcists.

Everyone entered as the lowest rank Exorcist and climbed the ranks, ultimately aspiring to become a Guardian.

Shen Changqing’s previous self had been a trainee Exorcist, the lowest in the hierarchy.

With his prior memories, he was very familiar with the division’s environment.

It did not take long before Shen Changqing stopped in front of a pavilion.

Unlike the other grim places filled with bloodshed, this pavilion stood out like a crane among chickens, offering a rare tranquility within the bloody Demon Suppression Division.

The pavilion doors were open, with occasional people coming and going.

After a brief hesitation, Shen Changqing stepped inside.

Upon entering, the surroundings changed instantly.

A faint scent of ink mingled with a slight metallic tang of blood drifted to him, causing his brow to furrow instinctively before quickly relaxing.

The bloodstains on every member of the Demon Suppression Division were nearly impossible to wash away.