Ye Qichi seemed to have just finished bathing.
Her hair was still somewhat damp and she hadn’t deliberately dried it, letting it hang loosely over her. Even without any adornment, her soft hair was undeniably charming at the moment. Her cheeks flushed from the bath made her look all the more appealing. Even the casual clothes she wore couldn’t hide her graceful figure, a far cry from the dirty, disheveled woman Xiao Jinxing had first seen in Yuzhou City.
At this moment, Bai Mowan might have felt jealous, had she not known that Xiao Jinxing did not like Ye Qichi.
"Am I disturbing you two?" Bai Mowan still asked politely.
Xiao Jinxing had not yet spoken.
Ye Qichi quickly said, "Not at all, it’s even better that Miss Bai is here."
It seemed that she thought Bai Mowan could be on her side, considering Bai’s known kindness and benevolence.
Xiao Jinxing glanced at Ye Qichi.
The magnanimity Ye Qichi showed to Bai Mowan was indeed seamless, as if putting on an act.
Bai Mowan offered a slight smile.
She and Xiao Jinxing then sat down on the other side.
Which meant Xiao Jinxing did not return to his original seat.
Ye Qichi did not care, of course.
The two of them were a pair to begin with; she had never thought of separating them.
After they took their seats, she quickly said, "Just now, Xiao Jinxing and I were discussing executing the plague patients."
"Execute?!" Bai Mowan was obviously unaware, "Why?!"
She clearly couldn’t accept it.
Xiao Jinxing, naturally more patient with Bai Mowan than with Ye Qichi, explained, "The Emperor has ordered me to eradicate the plague within two days. Yuan Wenkang has ridden hard from the palace to Yuzhou City, taking a day and a half, so we must execute the plague patients tonight."
Bai Mowan’s brow furrowed slightly, "Why would the Emperor issue such a decree?!"
"Speculation is, someone in the court must have started to manipulate the situation with the plague. If the plague isn’t eradicated, the Emperor will continue to be criticized. You also know, the Empress’s power has been restless, eager to seize any fault of the Emperor’s, and with a valid reason, she could very likely... rebel!"
Bai Mowan, of course, also understood the court’s situation.
She nodded, seemingly understanding.
"The Emperor has only given me half a day’s time; naturally, the only choice is to execute the citizens afflicted with the plague," Xiao Jinxing said, sounding somewhat helpless.
And such emotions were only ever displayed in front of Bai Mowan.
To anyone else, no matter what he thought inside, he always showed a consistent indifference.
"It’s not just about execution," Ye Qichi interjected.
Xiao Jinxing and Bai Mowan turned to look at her.
"They can also be cured."
"Without medical supplies, how can you cure them?!" Xiao Jinxing said coldly.
His attitude towards Ye Qichi was unconsciously harsh.
"There are medical supplies," Ye Qichi emphasized firmly, "Gu Xingchuan will send them to me!"
Xiao Jinxing’s eyes narrowed, "Will he? Do you know the extent of Xiao Jinsen’s control over medical supplies right now?!"
"I don’t need to know that; what I do know is that Gu Xingchuan will definitely come," Ye Qichi asserted.
"So you trust him that much?!"
"I trust him!" Ye Qichi was certain.
Xiao Jinxing’s expression clearly displeased.
Although he knew Ye Qichi and Gu Xingchuan had some ties, he had not expected her to trust Gu Xingchuan to such an extent.
"Not tonight, then tomorrow," Ye Qichi added, "So you just need to give me one more day and I can treat the plague."
"One day, is to defy the royal decree!"
"No, it’s just you being incompetent!" Ye Qichi countered bluntly, "The Emperor wants you to eradicate the plague within two days, which you did, but due to insufficient ability, it took an extra day. Even if the Emperor were to blame you, it would be for incompetence, not for defying the royal decree!"
Xiao Jinxing’s eyes were cold.
He didn’t immediately agree, nor did he outright refuse.
"In fact, Xiao Jinxing, you should also realize why the Emperor gave the decree not to directly execute the plague patients, but to give you two days to eradicate it. He did not specify how, because he wanted to leave himself a backdoor. Yet, you are the one paying for his way out. To put it bluntly, all your merits in Yuzhou City will be nullified if you proceed to execute the plague patients, and you might even be punished. It won’t do you any good, and you’ll be scorned by all the people." Ye Qichi laid everything out clearly, "And all this, presumably is Xiao Jinsen’s arrangement. Are you willing to be calculated by Xiao Jinsen?!"
The words were out from Ye Qichi.
Xiao Jinxing had no reaction, of course, it was because he had naturally thought of everything Ye Qichi said.
On the other hand, Bai Mowan was visibly surprised.
She had not even thought about these things. Given some time to think, she too would come to the same conclusions, but she did not expect that Ye Qichi would understand them.
Ye Qichi had changed too much.
Suddenly, she remembered what Xiao Jinxing had said.
He mentioned that she had changed overnight.
Could it be, just like her, Ye Qichi had been reborn?!
"I just need you to give me one more day!" Ye Qichi ignored Bai Mowan’s thoughts, and said to Xiao Jinxing word by word, "I promise I can cure the plague patients."
"If not, then naturally proceed with your way of execution!" Ye Qichi said firmly.
Of course, the lives of the people are very important.
But if it exceeds her abilities, she won’t stubbornly try to save them.
Recklessly challenging imperial power is only harming oneself and others!
What she could fight for the people was only what was within Xiao Jinxing’s capabilities, just one more day.