Chapter 22: A Short Life
◎Poor Miss Mu Family.◎
It rained for a day and a night in the small town of Yanhua. The initially hot weather turned cool, and everyone felt the change in the weather.
Unlike the change in weather, several households’ young ladies developed irregular round rashes. Initially, they weren’t concerned, but gradually, they became painful and itchy.
The doctor at Huichun Hall looked grave and didn’t dare prescribe medicine casually. Instead, he kept a few patients and asked his apprentice to report to the government.
That night, the government surrounded Huichun Hall, and soon a curfew was imposed.
An insider from the government office secretly revealed that several cases of leprosy had appeared in the town, hence the curfew.
In this town located in the south of the Yangtze River, many people had never heard of leprosy. Only those with some medical knowledge knew how serious it was.
This disease was not only contagious but also caused deformities and even death in later stages.
Areas with many patients would have designated barren mountains where leprosy patients were sent to fend for themselves. Yanhua Town hadn’t experienced this for decades, so the magistrate made a bold decision: arrest the patients and bury them alive.
This felt cruel to everyone, but no one dared to object. After all, if the disease spread, countless people might die.
To ensure that all infected individuals were dealt with, the government searched every household for people with rashes, fearing that someone would conceal information.
The soldiers and doctors were fully armed, wearing masks; no one wanted to contract this unlucky disease.
At three in the morning, the doors of the Zhan and Mu families were knocked simultaneously.
Madam Mu’s eyelids had been twitching all day. In the evening, she heard that Mu Jiaojiao felt unwell, so she immediately went to check on her.
“Investigate today’s food. Miss is precious. If you don’t find the cause today, you’ll all be punished.”
She didn’t call a doctor; she thought it was just a rash and that investigating her daughter’s diet would quickly alleviate it.
The day of departure for the capital was approaching; absolutely no mistakes could be made.
Mu Jiaojiao was itchy and painful; she didn’t dare to say anything, only trying her best to avoid scratching. Scratching the affected areas made them swell further, with alarming blisters appearing.
Shan Cha was anxious, but she didn’t dare go against Madam Mu’s wishes to call a doctor. She could only use wet towels to repeatedly relieve her young lady’s itching.
“Miss, I wish it were on me instead. I feel your pain.”
Mu Jiaojiao was uncomfortable, but she secretly felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe she wouldn’t have to enter the palace after all; this illness seemed to have come at just the right time.
The round rashes on her cheeks were faint but noticeable. This might prevent her from entering the palace.
She had previously considered damaging her appearance to avoid entering the palace, but she had been busy with her desire for repayment and completely forgotten about it.
Now, she was constantly watched by her mother’s people; she had no chance. Now, it was finally resolved.
She endured the discomfort and lay in bed, secretly hoping for more rashes.
But in the middle of the night, she was suddenly awakened from her sleep. The senior nanny beside Madam Mu rushed in, pulled her up, dressed her, and covered the rashes on her face with powder.
Then she took her to the hall for inspection.
The government kept household registration records. Even those who went out needed permits; therefore, no one in the Mu family could be missing.
The doctor examined everyone and found two maids in the kitchen who had rashes. The two maids were immediately bound.
The head nanny saw something was wrong and quickly took a heavy bag of silver to ask the officials what was happening.
The officials took the silver and didn’t hide anything, saying that the two maids were infected with leprosy and that the government was taking them away.
The maids were the master’s private property. Taking them away without explanation required informing the master.
Madam Mu couldn’t maintain her composure and asked, “What is leprosy?”
The doctor from Huichun Hall briefly explained before hurrying to the next house. Madam Mu was shocked and sat down on the stool.
Mu Jiaojiao had also been examined but had escaped detection thanks to the powder, but she understood the situation.
It was leprosy.
In her previous life, she had heard of leprosy. The disease had killed countless people in a village, and officials had sealed off the village, turning it into a leprosy village.
Later, a malicious concubine brought in clothes worn by leprosy patients, infecting the nursemaids of the princes and princesses. That year, a young princess and prince died, and everyone realized the severity of leprosy.
Mu Jiaojiao remained calm and said to her mother, “Mother, I…”
Before she could finish, Madam Mu seemed to snap back to her senses and suddenly scolded her servants, “Keep tonight’s events secret. Anyone who leaks information will die.”
The Mu family’s servants were bound by death contracts; the master could beat, kill, or sell them, so everyone quickly knelt down and promised secrecy.
After the servants left, Madam Mu began to deceive herself, “Jiaojiao, you’ll be fine. Shan Cha, take Miss to rest.”
Then Madam Mu returned to her room, lit incense, and began to pray fervently for her daughter to become a consort.
That night, after a thorough search of Yanhua Town, dozens of suspected leprosy patients were arrested, mostly women; only three men, mostly living in the south alley.
After arresting the people, the magistrate temporarily detained them and quickly reported to the prefect of the city.
At this time, the prefect of Huizhou City was entertaining the officials selecting palace maids. He had a beautiful concubine who had caught the eye of a Ministry of Rites official and was entertaining them with wine.
Upon hearing the news, his eyes lit up, and he revealed it to the official He.
“Yanhua Town has suddenly encountered this incident, affecting many people.”
The slightly tipsy official He immediately remembered that a palace maid candidate was from Yanhua Town. He also heard that most of the diseased were young women and immediately had an idea.
But he didn’t mention it, just continued drinking, waiting for the prefect to offer a higher price.
He had only six selection spots. He originally intended to make some money, but if he could make double the profit from one spot, why not?
However, he had to follow the procedure, so he decisively said that he would check on the Mu family’s candidate’s condition the next day; if she was infected, her candidacy would be canceled.
Amidst the clinking of cups, the prefect’s smile grew brighter; this matter was settled.
After two courtesans helped Official He leave, the prefect told his concubine and daughter about the palace maid selection, asking them to prepare to leave soon.
In this way, the palace maid spot was replaced.
However, the person sent to check on Mu Jiaojiao was not Official He himself, but one of his subordinates. He received instructions that regardless of the young lady’s condition, her candidacy would be canceled.
Madam Mu was terrified because the next morning, Mu Jiaojiao fell into a coma.
Shan Cha cried and begged to call a doctor.
“Madam, please, call a doctor for the young lady. She’s ill; this won’t do.”
But Madam Mu dared not call a doctor. Regardless of whether it was leprosy or another illness, she would be taken away.
Mu Yun and Mu Huan were furious and went to find their father, who should be returning by boat today.
Their mother was insane; she didn’t care about their younger sister’s life.
Shan Cha continued to beg, and finally, the head nanny had her gagged and locked in the woodshed.
The Mu family felt heartbroken; wasn’t their young lady’s life a life?
But Madam Mu didn’t allow anyone to enter or leave, insisting that Mu Jiaojiao enter the city smoothly today.
Around noon, a group of people arrived, saying they were looking for this year’s palace maid candidates.
Mu Jiaojiao was brought out by the nanny, but she was drowsy and feverish.
The Ministry of Rites official’s subordinate saw something was wrong and immediately had a doctor check her. The rash was quickly discovered, and everyone distanced themselves from Mu Jiaojiao, fearing infection.
“You dare hide your illness? I think your Mu family wants to go to prison.”
The subordinate was relentless and imposing.
Although Madam Mu was fierce, she was still a woman and terrified, quickly taking out silver notes, hoping to be spared.
The subordinate took the money, weighed it, and said, “Fine, I won’t bother with you, but you can forget about becoming a palace maid. Your young lady will be sent to the government for processing.”
The group of people were all very regretful. Miss Mu was indeed beautiful. No wonder the official selecting palace maids was interested; the consorts in the palace were probably of similar beauty. How could she have contracted leprosy?
A clerk quietly asked the doctor if there was a cure, thinking of marrying her home as his wife.
After the doctor told him that leprosy patients would eventually suffer facial disfigurement, he gave up. It was a pity for such a beautiful woman.
Mu Jiaojiao quickly fell into a coma again. The officials, disgusted by her illness, told the Mu family to carry her away on a piece of cloth. Madam Mu cried and begged them not to, but she was stopped; they said that if she obstructed official business, she would be dealt with as well.
Madam Mu watched helplessly as her daughter was dragged away, crying her heart out.
Only after the group left did Shan Cha escape from the woodshed. She shouted, “I want to be with Miss.”
Then she followed the group. Several onlookers discussed that these leprosy patients would likely meet their demise.
Among the onlookers was Qin Feng Hang. He watched his cousin being dragged away, his legs weak, almost falling.
He had already inquired; these leprosy patients would surely be secretly executed, and their bodies burned.
A short life, a beautiful woman.