12dz Chapter 2200 Fan Meeting
Chapter 2200 Fan Meeting
Yan Ruyu's gaze fell on the screen of the testing instrument. The values on it were clear and easy to understand, but they still made her feel confused.
The test results for the tea and osmanthus cake were completely unexpected—there were neither the trace amounts of toxins she had suspected, nor any abnormal chemical components; only the content of a certain common type of fungus was slightly excessive.
She lightly swiped her fingertips across the screen, her mind racing.
In this era, there are no means of refrigeration and preservation. And with the hot summer weather right now, it's normal for food to spoil slightly due to the growth of a small amount of bacteria after being stored for a long time.
But Liu Zian, Madam Cao, and those students who fell ill were clearly all connected to the Biluochun tea and osmanthus cake at Baixing Teahouse. Could it be that I was just overthinking things?
She looked at the test report several times, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the edge of the lab bench.
Was something missed in the testing? Or is the problem not with the tea and pastries themselves, but hidden elsewhere?
For example, the water source used for brewing, the people who came into contact with the tea, or other mediums?
Yan Ruyu frowned, realizing for the first time that this matter was becoming troublesome.
The previous reasoning was logical, but now the clues have suddenly disappeared. It's like reaching the end of a seemingly smooth road, only to find that there is a fog in front of you and you can't see the direction.
She put away the report, thinking to herself that Baixing Teahouse was no ordinary establishment. Either she had overlooked a key detail, or their methods were far more subtle than she had imagined.
As she was deep in thought, a maid's soft voice came from outside the courtyard: "Your Highness, the Abbot has come to visit."
Yan Ruyu snapped out of her daze, suppressed her doubts, and got up to leave the space.
The green bamboo in the courtyard swayed gently in the breeze, casting dappled shadows. The abbot, dressed in a gray monk's robe, stood under the eaves waiting, his expression somewhat solemn.
"What's wrong?" Yan Ruyu stepped forward.
The abbot looked towards Madam Cao's room and asked softly, "Your Highness, how is Madam Cao?"
Yan Ruyu shook her head gently, her tone tinged with helplessness: "She's still unconscious."
The symptoms are more severe this time, and it will probably take several days of treatment for him to recover.
Upon hearing this, the abbot sighed softly and frowned, "It really is strange."
Youcheng has always been peaceful; how could such a strange illness suddenly appear, and the cause cannot even be found?
He paused, as if suddenly remembering something, and then said, "By the way, I've already prepared the 'fan meeting' you asked me to organize last time."
I've heard that more people in the west of the city have fallen ill; this matter can't be delayed any longer.
Yan Ruyu's eyes lit up. People were in a state of panic, and it was the perfect time to stabilize the situation. This meeting came at just the right time.
She nodded and said, "It's the perfect time. We can take this opportunity to stabilize public sentiment and reassure the people."
After a moment's thought, she continued, "You just need to preach and pray on the stage, and I will have people distribute spring water on site."
Furthermore, I've already arranged for men to lie in ambush there, keeping an eye out for suspicious individuals; perhaps we can uncover the culprits lurking in the shadows.
Upon hearing this, the abbot nodded and said, "Alright, this way we can appease the people and find clues at the same time, killing two birds with one stone."
The two discussed the setup and manpower arrangements in detail, and the abbot, without further delay, quickly left to prepare.
The news spread like wildfire throughout Youcheng.
The abbot held immense prestige in Youcheng and was deeply respected by the people.
Now that they heard that he would be giving a sermon and praying for blessings at a small temple in the west of the city, and that he would also bestow blessings upon everyone, the people spread the word and all wanted to go there to share in his good fortune and dispel their fear.
On the open ground outside the small temple in the west of the city, Wu Liang and Sun Qing had already arrived with their men to provide support.
Several large iron pots were burning brightly on a makeshift stove, simmering with the fruit tea that Yan Ruyu had prepared for them. The sweet and sour fruit aroma mixed with the fragrance of herbs spread with the steam, rich yet not cloying, and could be smelled from afar, making people feel refreshed.
"Fellow villagers, come and try some fresh fruit tea! It's free, help yourself, and there's plenty!" Wu Liang called out loudly from beside the pot.
Sun Qing led his men to distribute coarse porcelain bowls, his face full of enthusiastic smiles.
The locals, drawn by the aroma of the fruit, gathered around the fruit.
Someone took the teacup, took a small sip, and felt the sweet and sour taste slide down their throat, bringing a refreshing coolness that dispelled the irritability brought by the summer heat, leaving them feeling completely comfortable.
The nerves that had been tense due to the strange illness in the city seemed to relax a little in the sweet aroma of the tea.
As the sun rose higher, more and more people gathered outside the small temple, bustling about yet maintaining good order.
Everyone held their fruit tea, some standing, some sitting, quietly waiting for the abbot to give his sermon.
The air was filled with the fragrance of fruit and the faint scent of incense. The gloom that had hung over Youcheng due to the increase in patients seemed to have been largely dispelled by this lively and peaceful atmosphere.
Once the crowd had mostly gathered, the abbot slowly walked up to the temporary platform.
He was dressed in a neat monk's robe, with a kind face. His gaze swept over the people below the stage, and his voice was steady and loud: "Fellow villagers, I have gathered you here today for two reasons: first, to preach the Dharma to you, and second, to pray for the well-being of Youcheng, wishing for peace and prosperity for the country and the dissipation of the epidemic."
As soon as he finished speaking, a chorus of agreement rippled through the audience.
The abbot slowly began to preach, his voice gentle and peaceful, containing a comforting power. The obscure Buddhist teachings became easy to understand when he spoke them, and every word seemed to touch the hearts of everyone present.
The people listened quietly, holding warm fruit tea in their hands, and the enlightening Buddhist teachings in their ears gradually dispelled their fear and unease.
The guards were also mixed in with the crowd, their eyes warily watching the movements around them.
Yan Ruyu changed her makeup and blended into the crowd, her gaze sweeping over everyone present without making a sound.
Among these people were some she knew and some unfamiliar faces.
Suddenly, she saw the owner of Baixing Teahouse. He was looking at the abbot on the stage with great interest and listening intently.
Yan Ruyu looked around at him and realized that he must have come alone, without any helpers or anything.
I didn't drink any tea, I just listened attentively.
She beckoned to one of her bodyguards, whispered a few instructions, and the bodyguard turned and left.
Not long after, he returned to report.
"I have investigated and found that this Manager Zhou was indeed a Buddhist and often went to temples outside the city to donate incense money."
Yan Ruyu frowned slightly: "Before? And now?"
"Now, I haven't said I don't believe, but we haven't burned incense in the small Buddhist shrine at home for a while."
Yan Ruyu narrowed her eyes slightly: "Keep an eye on him, then go to the governor's mansion and see if there is any detailed information about him, including his family."
"Yes."
The guards obeyed and left. Yan Ruyu looked back at the platform and saw that the abbot had changed his clothes and looked solemn, completely different from usual.
In a daze, she seemed to hear a faint sound of a zither, but she paid no attention to it.