“Good heavens,” she murmured, looking at A’ru. “So, you all knew, and I was the only one left in the dark.”
She muttered under her breath about how clumsy the two newly hired stable hands were... only to realize they weren't stable hands at all, but bodyguards! No wonder they shadowed her every moment, and not a single disciple in the hall dared to protest.
A’ru nodded.
“Wait a minute,” Qi Yue said, realizing something. “How did he know I was nearly beaten to death? Wasn’t he outside at the time?”
She looked at A’ru, who glanced up at her.
“He came back?” Qi Yue caught the shift in her expression and guessed correctly.
A’ru nodded again.
Qi Yue smacked her forehead again and spun in place.
“Am I the only one who doesn’t know again?” she pointed at herself.
A’ru offered an embarrassed smile and nodded.
“Why did you hide it from me?” Qi Yue asked urgently.
“Because, the Heir Apparent feared that you... feared you would carry a burden because of it,” A’ru whispered.
“What burden? That I’d cling to him and never let go?” Qi Yue snapped.
That was more or less the implication. After all, the Xie Clan was still around; the Heir Apparent had no choice... A’ru sighed.
Qi Yue understood this well enough, biting her lip and knitting her brows for a moment.
“I knew it, I knew it,” she muttered. “That’s how he knew about Guan Qingniu, and about using iron wire for an open chest... So...” She trailed off. “It wasn't a dream...”
She spun around sharply, gazing into the far distance where the main road stretched out.
Back then, she had dreamed that man held her hand, whispering how much he missed her over and over. It hadn't been a dream...
This scoundrel...
Qi Yue felt her eyes sting and covered her mouth with her hand.
This scoundrel...
Xiao Qu was summoned from the apothecary, still carrying a winnowing basket.
“Enough, stop pretending. You played that part well,” Qi Yue said, looking at him.
Xiao Qu wore an expression of utter confusion.
“Mistress, what are you talking about?” he asked, feigning ignorance.
Qi Yue stared at him.
Xiao Qu grew uneasy under her gaze, then saw A’ru making frantic signals from the side. He finally understood.
“Mistress Qi,” he said sheepishly, setting down the basket.
“Take this to him,” Qi Yue instructed, handing him a small slip of paper.
Xiao Qu instinctively took it and glanced down.
Chang Yunchang, you bastard, why are you running off...
He quickly averted his eyes.
“Mistress, the Heir Apparent later told us not to pass messages to him anymore. Even the carrier pigeons were stopped,” he reported.
Qi Yue froze.
“Why?” she asked.
“The Heir Apparent feared we would disturb your... your...” Xiao Qu stammered. Though the Heir Apparent hadn't said it outright, ever since they reported that Qi Yue and Wang Qian had enjoyed drinks together, communication from his side had ceased, the carrier pigeons recalled. Clearly, he couldn't handle the stimulus of her happiness...
Qi Yue let out a breath, reached out, took the paper back, and crumpled it into a ball in a few swift motions.
“Mistress, the Heir Apparent has been entrusted to you, so his affairs on that side have been cut off,” Xiao Qu murmured.
“Thank you for telling me. It seems I’ve acquired two more mouths to feed without even realizing it,” Qi Yue said irritably.
A silence fell over the room.
Qi Yue paced back and forth twice.
“I’m going to Mobei,” she suddenly declared, stopping dead in her tracks.
Xiao Qu and A’ru both stared, stunned, failing to react immediately.
“Yes, that’s right, I’m going to Mobei,” Qi Yue slapped her hands together. “I said long ago I would go see him.”
“But... that’s so far,” A’ru said anxiously. “You mustn't be reckless.”
“It’s far, but didn’t he go there too?” Qi Yue retorted. The more she thought about it, the more energized she became. She strode toward the exit. “Come on, let’s go back and plan this out properly.”
A’ru couldn't stop her and stomped her foot in frustration.
“Hurry and find out where the Heir Apparent has gone, and think of a way to send him a message to persuade him. That man truly does what he says he will,” Qi Yue instructed.
Xiao Qu quickly agreed and ran out.
A’ru chased after him, only to find Qi Yue blocked at the courtyard gate.
“Mistress, this is bad. Anthrax has appeared in other prefectures too,” several men in official attire announced, sweating profusely.
The spread couldn’t be stopped, then?
“Some of the pigs in Shihe were bought from out of the region, and some were sold out,” one official explained.
Qi Yue nodded.
“In that case, everyone needs to work a bit harder for a few more days,” she said.
Hearing her speak, the waiting officials from other regions were overjoyed.
“Mistress Qi, come to our place...”
“Send us first...”
The courtyard instantly became noisy. Life and death, and personal futures were at stake. It was common knowledge in Yongqing Prefecture that trusting Mistress Qi guaranteed safety and prosperity. The visiting officials nearly came to blows.
“Don't rush, don't rush. This doesn't require me to be on-site. As long as you follow the requirements for epidemic prevention and quarantine, and then use the medicine for treatment, there won’t be a problem,” Qi Yue called out loudly to calm them.
Even so, everyone hoped for this divine figure to come and stabilize the situation. After a flurry of demanding and vying, Qi Yue and her group ultimately deliberated based on the severity and distance of the outbreaks to determine the destinations.
This time, the disciples of Qianjin Hall were divided into several batches, sent to different locations.
“You have manufactured these medicines, and you have personally experienced how to prevent this disease. Therefore, you can stand on your own now,” Qi Yue told the disciples who were ready to depart.
They were graduating, and they held unique, world-altering medicines that their Master had allowed them to use without reservation. One could imagine the treatment they would receive once they left with these elixirs! The disciples trembled with excitement.
Following the original trajectory, they would have remained disciples for another seven, eight, or even ten to twenty years, eventually beginning their medical practices relying on their Master's reputation. Whatever prospects they had would be left to fate; only a few might reach their Master’s level; most would be lucky just to earn a living.
They never imagined that in just one year, they would be ready to graduate! And upon graduating, they were immediately tasked with handling such a massive plague!
A plague was dangerous, but fortune was always sought in danger; the greater the risk, the greater the reward. These once insignificant apprentices, holding the medicine and knowledge gifted by their Master, were about to carve out a new world for themselves. This was an opportunity they could never have dreamed of.
Liu Pucheng also watched the departing disciples with a measure of excitement.
He stepped forward to face them.
“What is a Great Physician?” he asked solemnly.
The disciples immediately straightened their backs.
“When a Great Physician treats illness, they must first calm the spirit and stabilize the will. Having no desires or demands, they must first possess great compassion and mercy, vowing to universally alleviate the suffering of all living things. If someone comes seeking aid for sickness or disaster, they must not inquire about their nobility or poverty, age or youth, beauty or ugliness, friend or foe, civilized or barbarian, foolish or wise; all must be treated as one’s own kin. They must not look ahead or behind, worry about their own fortune or peril, nor cherish their own life. Seeing the distress of others as if it were their own, their hearts must grieve deeply. They must not shun danger, day or night cold or heat, hunger, thirst, or fatigue, rushing to the rescue with a single heart. There must be no pretense or calculation of their actions. Only then can one be a Great Physician for the masses. To act otherwise is to be a great thief of living souls.” They recited in unison, the maxim ingrained in their bones, coming forth without hesitation.
At first, only these few recited it, but eventually, all the disciples joined in with loud voices.
The loud, resolute sound echoed throughout the courtyard, stirring the blood. This scene filled the disciples who were not selected for the medical teams with envy and aspiration, but mostly with excitement; as long as they followed their Master, their day would surely come.
“Alright, everyone depart. Remember, this is a plague, fiercer than tigers. Do not be careless, take care of yourselves, and remember that human life is always the most important thing,” Qi Yue clapped her hands and called out loudly.
“Yes!” the disciples responded in chorus.
The moment of separation finally arrived, and some couldn’t help but cry.
“Senior Brother, don’t worry. We’ll be back soon after we’re gone for a while,” several disciples comforted Hu San, who was covering his face and weeping.
“Remember... remember... to pay back the shares for the medicine on time...” Hu San choked out, grasping their hands.
Taking away so much medicine meant so much money... so much money... it was heartbreaking...
They all burst into laughter, the sound diluting the sorrow and tension of parting and heading toward a place of danger.
Amidst the laughter, they separated and headed in different directions.
Qi Yue, leading A’ru, walked out of the gate. She couldn't help but look toward the north before stepping onto the carriage. The horses and men soon vanished into the distance.
Meanwhile, in Shanning Prefecture, inside the Xie family residence, Xie Shi let out a slight sneeze and awoke.
The room was quiet; she slowly turned her head. Faint whispers drifted in from the outer rooms.
“...It really is a plague...”
“...Of course it’s real... quite a few people have died...”
“...But thank goodness for Mistress Qi...”
“...Right, right, Mistress Qi is truly amazing...”
Mistress Qi? Plague?
Xie Shi vaguely recalled that a few days ago, Old Madam Xie had told her about the plague in Yongqing Prefecture, repeatedly expressing relief that she had brought Xie Shi over, or she would have worried herself to death.
But, Mistress Qi...
Was it that woman again?
Xie Shi let out a slight scoff through her nose. The Marquis of Dingxi must be stewing in envy and hatred back home. But what did it matter? Good or bad, in this life, she would have absolutely nothing to do with the Marquis of Dingxi’s estate, and she and her sister would never accept offerings made in that woman’s name.
“...The Heir Apparent went over there. Mistress Qi must be very happy, right?”
“She certainly helped a great deal...”
“...Hush, don't talk about that here...”
Broken snippets of conversation drifted in from outside before abruptly fading back into silence.
What? The Heir Apparent?
Xie Shi snapped back to attention from her daze and suddenly sat bolt upright, but sitting up too fast made her vision blur. She hastily reached out to steady herself, tugging the curtain by the bed, causing it to sway wildly.
The commotion finally alerted the maids outside, who rushed in. They were startled to see Xie Shi sitting up.
“Madam, you’re up?”
“Madam, you got up by yourself?”
The maids were both shocked and delighted. Xie Shi had been recovering well recently, but she still needed support to sit up or walk. In fact, according to Physician An, Xie Shi could already attempt to move on her own, but the wound was so startling that Xie Shi had always been afraid to move independently.
“That’s wonderful, truly wonderful. Mistress Qi’s skill is indeed extraordinary...” the maids chirped happily.
Xie Shi only felt a tightness in her chest.
This was a cruel reality she could not face. Even though she had driven the woman out of the Marquis of Dingxi’s estate, she would remain unable to escape the woman's traces for the rest of her life. Because her very life had been given by that woman; the mark of that woman’s grace was branded upon her—a mark that could not be wiped away even in death!
Xie Shi swayed with dizziness and collapsed back onto the bed.
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