Chapter 283: Chapter 238 Water Poison
As the three friends were idly chatting, new visitors arrived at the door: classmates, fellow townsmen, mentors, businesses with dealings with Li Ang, and more.
As per tradition, a Founding County Marquis like Li Ang was required to leave his family on New Year’s Eve. He had to go to the Imperial Palace to pay homage to the Emperor, keep him company through the night’s vigil, attend the banquet, drink, sing, and watch dances. He would get little sleep at home, as the next day he had to attend the New Year’s Day grand court assembly. There, he would accompany the Emperor in receiving envoys from tribal nations and listen to greetings from State Mansion officials.
Li Ang had attended last year, but he wanted no part of it this year. Fortunately, due to the Academic Palace’s academic exchange this year, there was already a good turnout of envoys from Jing Country, Zhou Kingdom, and other states. The Ministry of Rites, to avoid overcrowding in the Imperial Palace, permitted some Nobles with titles but no real power to be absent. Li Ang decisively skipped the Imperial Palace vigil—it wasn’t enjoyable, and he preferred staying home to eat grilled fish and watch fireworks.
"...Seal the mouth, slap the face. Grind it, skim the edges. Boil the soup until it melts, fry beans with vinegar..."
"...A treasure sword in hand, its blade freshly sharpened. Chop down demons, expel Evil Demons."
From the streets came an eerily croaking song. A massive procession, thousands strong, paraded by, its participants wearing grotesque and bizarre masks. This was no anomaly but a Nuo parade, symbolizing the exorcism of evil spirits and prayers for happiness and peace in the coming year. The lyrics were filled with "positive energy," detailing how to thrash and kill evil spirits: slapping ghosts, ripping out their ribs, pulling out their tongues, setting them ablaze, mincing them, and throwing them into boiling oil.
Yizhou held a Nuo parade every New Year. Last year, Li Ang had seen an even grander one in Chang’an, so he was no longer surprised by such spectacles. In a way, these extremely martial Nuo plays served as fierce warnings to the ghosts lurking in the world’s dark underbelly. They were almost indistinguishable from someone yelling, "Don’t let me catch you on Vermilion Bird Street! If I do, I’ll rip off your headgear and slap your face!"
This time, however, the two figures at the head of the procession, wearing ghost masks and representing Nuo Father and Nuo Mother, strangely stopped in front of Jude Square. They began to sing and dance for Li Ang with particular respect.
"...What does this mean?" Li Ang couldn’t help but whisper to Yang Yu beside him.
Yang Yu scratched his head. "Uh, they’re probably here for a festive gift. Do you have any small trinkets on you?"
Trinkets... Li Ang felt his pockets. All his Jade Pendants were functional, and he couldn’t find anything else suitable. So, he simply took off his silk robe and handed it over.
In Yu Country, it was customary to wear fur coats for New Year. Sheepskin was most common, while the wealthy wore fox, leopard, or mink. Moreover, a sleeveless silk surcoat was worn over the fur. This partially concealed the fur, adhering to propriety and presenting a more decorous appearance.
The Nuo Father and Nuo Mother, leading the parade, respectfully accepted Li Ang’s silk robe. They placed it on a colorful float; who knows, it might end up enshrined in a temple later...
To be commemorated this way while still alive is utterly bizarre, Li Ang thought, shaking his head helplessly and scoffing inwardly.
Just then, Song Shaoyuan, who had had a little to drink, came out for some fresh air to sober up. The four of them stood at the doorway, idly chatting. Their topics ranged from studies at the Academic Palace and the cost of living in Chang’an to Song Shaoyuan’s marriage plans.
Song Shaoyuan said, "I plan to get married this year. I’ll pick an auspicious day and have the wedding."
Li Ang was a bit surprised. "So soon?"
"It’s not early at all. It should have been settled at the beginning of last year."
Song Shaoyuan glanced back at the living room but didn’t explain further. However, the others could roughly guess the reason: Aunt Song had already arrived in Chang’an and might be staying for a long time. It was indeed time for him to marry and establish a household.
"Settling down early is good too." Ji Linglang nodded thoughtfully. She looked at Li Ang and asked with a smile, "Risheng, have you thought about such important matters yourself?"
"Ah..." Li Ang opened his mouth. Marriage? That seems so distant.Not to mention the inexplicably awakened memories of an Otherworld, the Mo Si parasitizing his body were also a huge problem.
He was about to make an excuse when the rapid clatter of carriage wheels sounded from around the corner.
"Hmm?" Song Shaoyuan’s brows furrowed slightly. The streets are bustling on New Year’s Eve. Isn’t a carriage moving that fast afraid of hitting someone? Whose could it be?
Li Ang also looked in that direction.
Just then, a carriage sped towards them, stopping abruptly before the residence. Three people jumped out. All three were familiar: the Minister of the Ministry of Rites; Medical Officer Qiu Jing from the Imperial Medical Bureau; and... the Ninth Prince, Prince Guang, Li Shan.
Why have these three come? And all at the same time?
Yang Yu and the others exchanged puzzled glances as they stepped forward to greet them.The Ministry of Rites managed state rituals, sacrifices at imperial and national altars, and oversaw various offices such as those for imperial estates, court music, ceremonial trumpeting, the Imperial Medical Bureau, the Bureau of Divination, sacrificial provisions, and numerous temples. The Imperial Medical Bureau was responsible for educating Medical Officers in Chang’an and currently also managed the sick houses. And Prince Guang, Li Shan... Any Chang’an citizen fond of gossip knew his maternal family name was Wu. This connection made him the most awkwardly positioned and conspicuous Prince in the Imperial Palace.
"Risheng," Qiu Jing began, a strained smile on his face. He was close friends with Tantai Leshan, the Talismanic Master of the Academic Palace, and often collaborated with Li Ang on sick house management, so he addressed him directly, "Is it convenient to talk?"
"It is. Please, speak freely if there’s anything," Li Ang nodded. On New Year’s Eve, a high-ranking official like the Minister of the Ministry of Rites should be with the Emperor in the Great Ming Palace, drinking. Prince Guang Li Shan should be there too. For them to appear here with Qiu Jing clearly isn’t good news.
Qiu Jing took a deep breath. "There’s trouble in Suzhou."
"Water Poison."
The Minister of the Ministry of Rites added gravely, "A widespread outbreak of Water Poison."
Li Ang’s pupils constricted. Water Poison... it isn’t just about toxins in the water.
According to "All Diseases and Their Causes," Water Poison referred to an internal accumulation of ’water toxins’ that caused gradual abdominal swelling. This resulted in audible gurgling sounds from movement and a constant thirst. The skin would turn rough and dark, appearing swollen. This condition was specifically termed ’water distension’.
There were multiple potential causes: excessive alcohol consumption damaging the spleen and stomach, leading to an accumulation of water and dampness; or perhaps a decline in vital energy and blood, resulting in facial and abdominal swelling.
Even more likely... Parasites.
The "Elbow Emergency Methods" stated: "One afflicted by Water Poison... initially feels severe chills, a slight headache, and pain when focusing the eyes... Parasites consume the five organs, causing extreme internal heat and delirium. If the afflicted cannot keep anything down, then within eight or nine days, even a skilled physician cannot provide a cure."
The "Thousand Gold Formula" was even more blunt, stating it was a lifelong, untreatable affliction.
In Yu Country, contracting Water Poison was essentially a death sentence.
A widespread outbreak... Li Ang suppressed his shock, instantly understanding why Prince Guang, Li Shan, was present—his fiefdom was in Suzhou.
Li Ang asked gravely, "When did this happen? How many are affected? What is their condition?"
"We don’t know the exact time," Li Shan said bitterly. "We only just received the news. Jiangnan Road is in chaos. Factoring in the villages and towns that are difficult to survey, the current estimated number of infected could be... over one hundred thousand."