Although their positions were different and it was difficult to do each other's jobs well, what Li Jin and the others were doing largely overlapped with Tang Xiao's, making it possible for them to help each other in emergencies.
Lu Qingwan nodded in understanding upon hearing this. "Understood. In that case, you will follow me these few days. Coincidentally, Jici Hospital needs a few people to help guard the entrance."
Cholera was a terrifying epidemic. When a large number of people were infected, it was inevitable that some would cause trouble, and Tang Xiao's presence was to keep them in check. With him there, Lu Qingwan could focus on treating the sick.
Thinking of this, she remembered something else and poked Si Fengwu's lower back. "From yesterday until now, all our prevention and control measures have been implemented within Xindu City. However, this cholera virus was artificially induced. Should we also make some preparations outside of Xindu?"
Naturally occurring epidemics could be effectively prevented and treated by tracing the infected individuals' movements. But this artificially created epidemic was troublesome because they had no idea how many sources of infection there were, nor where they would release the virus. Lu Qingwan found the mere thought of it gave her a headache.
Si Fengwu extended a long arm to pull her into his embrace. "Elder Wen asked us to thoroughly deal with the person behind this. What do you think?"
The question came out of the blue, but Lu Qingwan raised an eyebrow. "Can't wait anymore?"
Si Fengwu chuckled. "Isn't it that the Princess Consort has wanted to endure no longer?"
Neither of them had a good temper, yet for various reasons, they had tolerated that so-called Grand Elder of Hanxiao Hall repeatedly. Now, to incite chaos across the land, they had even resorted to cholera. If they continued to endure, Lu Qingwan felt that if she didn't die at the hands of her enemies, she would be exhausted to death by the endless troubles.
"Then let's listen to Elder Wen this time," she said decisively. "I'll release Da Bai and Tengshe, and have the brothers from Wufeng Hall, Banyue Pavilion, and Buye Continent prepare themselves. Once the sphere of influence of Hanxiao Hall's Grand Elder is determined, we will strike swiftly and eradicate them completely. Just like eliminating the remnants of the ancient Nanzhao royal family, leave not a single blade of grass."
Si Fengwu smiled and flattered her, "Princess Consort, you are mighty!" He then handed her an envelope.
Lu Qingwan did not reach out, only tilting her chin slightly to ask, "What is this?"
"Can't be bothered with you!" Si Fengwu flicked her forehead with his finger, but then indulgently unfolded the contents of the envelope for Lu Qingwan to see. Black text on white paper, the concise content appeared before her, and Lu Qingwan immediately became excited.
"The sphere of influence of Hanxiao Hall's Grand Elder?! Where did you get this?" Lu Qingwan had tried to map out the sphere of influence of Hanxiao Hall's Grand Elder before. However, Hanxiao Hall had been passed down for thousands of years, with many disciples and complex power factions. Even those within Hanxiao Hall could not fully understand it. Moreover, they had not been prepared to completely turn their backs on Hanxiao Hall then, so it had been postponed until now. Yet now, the very thing she had planned for so long was presented to her effortlessly by Si Fengwu, leaving Lu Qingwan extremely surprised.
Si Fengwu chuckled lightly. "You don't need to worry about this, Princess Consort. Tell me, how do you plan to deal with these people?" The letter meticulously listed all the core members under Hanxiao Hall's Grand Elder and their identities in real society. From Yan Heling, the eldest son of the Prime Minister of Da Qin, to Empress Liu Ruyan of Nan Qi, the eldest prince of the Turkic people, and down to Lin Dongye of Lin's Merchant House. Even the petty officials hidden in the imperial court were all included. With this information, it would only take a word for Lu Qingwan and Si Fengwu to eliminate these people.
After hearing Si Fengwu's words, Lu Qingwan no longer dwelled on the source of his intelligence. After all, those who dealt in intelligence danced on a tightrope, and if their identities were exposed, they would surely die. Lu Qingwan did not want her overwhelming curiosity to cost Si Fengwu a superb agent.
After a moment of thought, she quickly made a decision. "After this cholera subsides. It is now confirmed that Hanxiao Hall people are behind the cholera. And since the cholera virus has appeared, this matter cannot be treated lightly. The outbreak of cholera will also show the world what Hanxiao Hall has done. By then, when we eradicate them, the common people will applaud. If we act now, the people's reaction will be unpredictable."
As an independent individual, Lu Qingwan did not care about her reputation, nor whether others liked or disliked her. However, as the future Empress of the new dynasty, Lu Qingwan had to consider more. Although she had always felt that public sentiment was a strange form of metaphysics, one could not ignore it when governing the land. The Grand Elder of Hanxiao Hall creating this cholera was nothing more than an attempt to erode the people's trust in the court. But she intended to do the opposite, using this disaster that had thrown the world into panic to become a powerful driving force for her and Si Fengwu to gain public favor.
Si Fengwu naturally agreed wholeheartedly with such a plan that achieved multiple objectives. "If we are to use this cholera crisis as a starting point, perhaps we can let those who are profiting from the cholera do as they please for now?" Swiftly intervening at the first sign of any conspiracy could prevent further losses. However, in such a situation, they would not be able to severely damage the opponent, and if the opponent did not suffer significant losses, they would not hesitate to make a comeback. The common people, knowing nothing, would only think that Si Fengwu and Lu Qingwan were cruel and ruthless, attacking people without reason. It would be better to wait for the situation to develop, allowing all those who suffered losses to feel the evil deeds committed by the people of Hanxiao Hall. In this way, if the court delayed any further, the people would actually beg the court to act.
The two chatted leisurely, and by the time the carriage reached Jici Hospital, their plan to completely shatter the ambitions of Hanxiao Hall's Grand Elder had taken shape. Because they had been infected with cholera and their identities were special, the carriage drove directly into the hospital's backyard.
As they alighted, Su Shang, who had received the news, was already waiting. Her eyes turned red as soon as she saw Lu Qingwan. "Master, they say you've been infected with cholera. This isn't true, is it?" Lu Qingwan looked around. All the visible wards had signs indicating they were special care rooms. This meant that Jici Hospital had completely become a designated medical facility for this cholera outbreak.
Seeing Su Shang approach, Lu Qingwan quickly stopped her. "Don't come closer." Su Shang instinctively stood still. Lu Qingwan then reprimanded, "Knowing the situation, yet you dare to see us without protective gear? I entrusted Jici Hospital to you, and this is how you act recklessly?" Su Shang was skilled in medicine but even better at management. Under her management, Jici Hospital had rapidly expanded, and now had branches throughout Da Qin, Nan Qi, and even the Turkic regions. Within the borders of the new dynasty, Jici Hospital had already taken the initial shape of a large chain hospital.