Chapter 24 - Huangshan starts testing

The following morning, Ding Qi ends waking up first than Yu Lexuan and Ding Qi. He woke up much later than he is used to. He carefully moves out of the bed and dresses his usual garment. He then kisses Yu Lexuan on his cheek, waking him up:

-Ding... Ding Qi... - Yu Lexuan opens his eyes slowly due to the sunlight.
-Good morning, Yu Lexuan...
Ding Qi smiles and does the same with Zhang Yi:
-His majesty... good morning... Oh no, the tests!!! - Zhang Yi moves out of bed quickly.
-Tests? - Ding Qi raises an eyebrow.
-Yes, the city would start doing it today! I'm eager to know if the structures are already in place and if we already have results!

Yu Lexuan smiles:

-Please, Zhang Yi, do not hurry up. Let's have some breakfast first, I'm hungry after defeating Ding Qi -Yu Lexuan blushes a bit.
-Yes... only because Zhang Yi was also fighting, this is unfair!- Ding Qi smiles.
-You accepted the challenge, you couldn't handle it! - Ding Qi laughs.

While they chat, Wang enters the room and bows to Ding Qi:

-His majesty, good morning. We are waiting for your order to start rolling out the mass testing. The counselors are waiting for you. 
-You may rise. I'll be there after breakfast, my guests are hungry!
-His majesty, we have made some buns, you can invite your guests and have some.
-Excellent, I'll do that. - Ding Qi moves his head towards Yu Lexuan and Zhang Yi. - You are invited, please follow me.

Yu Lexuan and Zhang Yi put on their garment and follow Ding Qi to another room. After a relatively fast meal, they move to the front of the palace. 
The square in the front is a bit crowded, and four stands have been built, each one containing all the apparel required to carry out testing. The counselors are there, but their faces have no emotions at all:

-That is nice, Ding Qi! Zhang Xiaofan was right when he said he had everything he needed, I'm genuinely impressed! - Zhang Yi praises him.
-Yes, he's very competent. 

Ding Qi moves to a higher stand, that was built just for him. He speaks aloud, so everyone can hear him:

-Good morning. We have just confirmed that our city has been hit by a new disease, and we have recorded some deaths caused by it in the last few days. As the emperor of our homeland, and given the heartwarming kindness of my friend, emperor Feng Long from Zhejiang, who sent his highness, Yu Lexuan, and Health minister, Zhang Yi, unguarded and in good faith, we developed a test, that everyone under my power will have to take, to verify if you have this disease or not. If you happen to have it, please don't panic, we are working on a cure for it, and further, to fully deploy my beauty of governance model, we will quarantine you for 18 days. You will be kept fed, warm, and protected. If you own a business, we will not prosecute you for not paying your taxes. This way, we hope to reduce this disease's reach, and also keep our city economy running as much as we can. I have a commitment to protect my people, you, from any threat, be it during wartime, be it during a natural disaster, or during an epidemic. As a citizen of Huangshan, you can count on us. 

The crowd claps:

-Today, we will not be able to offer as many tests as we want, because two vital components are from Zhejiang, however, we will receive a sizable amount, enough to test every person under my reach, in about a week. We have four testing booths in the square, each will perform 250 tests. We will ask for some basic information from you, to make sure we can keep up with the disease, and keep everyone else safe. I deserve you good luck, you can count on me, please, get tested. We only have a thousand tests today, so you will receive a number. His majesty will take his leave. - Ding Qi bows to the crowd.

Zhang Yi and Yu Lexuan talk:

-He is taking it seriously, highness. We may have success in containing this disease here, but we don't know about other sectors, and if Feng Long is willing to send us elsewhere.
-I think this is unnecessary, Zhang Yi. Ding Qi will quarantine all the sick people and report them to us. We will deploy your test in Zhejiang as soon as possible, so you will have good monitoring of it. 
-That's what I want.

Ding Qi descends from the stand and goes towards Yu Lexuan and Ding Qi. Wang also comes:

-His majesty, the carriage of the guests is ready. As you requested, we changed the horse for a stronger one, actually, one of our best horses. - He bows.
-Excellent, Wang, you may take your leave. Please, later, you will get a reward.- Ding Qi smiles.
-I feel blessed by his majesty. - He moves away.

Some soldiers bring the carriage of Yu Lexuan and Zhang Yi. They are impressed by the size of the new horse. Ding Qi smiles while touching the horse:

-I used to ride this horse, he's one of the strongest we have, he can happily cover over a hundred li per day with your carriage I asked my maintenance to also rebuild the wheels, that were damaged during your travel, and also modify the suspension, so the carriage can ride smoothly even in rough terrain.

Yu Lexuan and Zhang Yi bow to him:

-We kindly thank his majesty for the support given to us during our stay.
Ding Qi helps them to rise:
-My empire is grateful to yours. His Majesty Feng Long is wise! - Ding Qi bows. 
Wang brings a wheelbarrow full of gifts:

-I'm sending some gifts to His Majesty, Feng Long. He deserves our best tea. - Ding Qi smiles.
-We are grateful for your kindness...

Ding Qi gets close, and hugs Zhang Yi and Yu Lexuan, while Wang packs the gifts inside the carriage's luggage compartment:

-I wish we can meet again in person. It was a formidable experience having you close to me during the past days... - Ding Qi hugs them tightly.
-We will come back eventually, Ding Qi... We will never forget your kindness.

After a final hug, Ding Qi allows them to get into the carriage. Zhang Yi gets inside, and Yu Lexuan takes the reins to guide and control the horse:

-Do not forget you can also come to us whenever you want, Ding Qi. - Yu Lexuan smiles.

-I will not... Have a nice trip back home, my friends! 

Ding Qi stays in place while the carriage moves out of the square, heading to the city gate:

-I hope to see you soon, Yu Lexuan.- Ding Qi smiles.

...

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