Lan Fan's smile vanished from the corner of her lips.
Chu Minghao wanted to speak, but in the end, facing Chu Qianli's cold profile, he said nothing more.
When this woman spoke, she exuded an inherent aura of authority, an aura that was strikingly similar to the Emperor's.
He had initially believed she was an impostor, but now, looking at her, why did she possess such a noble demeanor?
However, she was, after all, the Empress of the Longteng Kingdom.
It wasn't difficult to understand her natural regal presence.
In short, this woman was not easy to deal with.
"Xi Jiu, gather the villagers who are showing symptoms. I will examine them."
Not far away, villagers lay on the carpets spread by the guards, all looking listless. Some were even foaming at the mouth.
Indeed, they appeared to be poisoned.
"Princess, we all took the medicine from last night..."
No one dared to say it was the princess's medicine.
But everyone knew that the medicine from last night was sent to them by the princess.
Now, they were all weak, feverish, vomiting, and suffering from diarrhea. Were these not signs of poisoning?
Chu Qianli glanced at the village chief nearby. "Order everyone to wear their masks."
The village chief was still respectful towards the princess. He didn't know if she truly understood medicine, nor did he know if last night's medicine was indeed problematic.
But they were of the royal family, and the Emperor's grace was vast. The Emperor would not harm them.
"Everyone, quickly put on your masks."
"But we ate what she..."
"Stop talking, stop talking, quickly put on your masks, quickly!"
"Hurry! The princess is coming! Put on your masks quickly."
The princess was indeed approaching.
The villagers lying on the ground, weak and listless, looked at the approaching figure with disbelief.
Here... it was so dirty, yet the princess was actually willing to come.
Chu Qianli also put on her mask, her expression grave as she walked over.
"It may not be poison," she said, glancing at Chu Lingyang. "Second Imperial Uncle, you should not approach for now."
"What do you mean?" Chu Lingyang immediately became nervous, a sense of unease subtly spreading within him.
The princess was so cautious, could it be... could it truly be an epidemic?
From the collapse of the city moat and the arrival of the flood, it had only been three days.
Three days... if there were symptoms, they should be manifesting by now.
Chu Qianli said nothing, merely waving her hand to signal him to be patient. She put on medical gloves and quickly walked over.
"Princess..."
"I am a physician."
Having said that, she crouched beside a villager who was soiled from vomiting.
"P-Princess..." the villager was somewhat uneasy, instinctively trying to hide his hand.
He was truly too dirty, his clothes stained with vomit. How could he allow the noble princess to touch him?
Although he had taken the princess's medicine last night, and was now in this state, he harbored some resentment.
But with the princess personally taking his pulse, any resentment or grievance completely vanished.
The surrounding villagers were all greatly shocked.
None of them had expected the princess to show no disgust towards them.
Chu Qianli gave it no further thought, her long fingers resting on the villager's wrist.
As she took his pulse, her expression grew increasingly serious.
Everyone waited with trepidation.
After an unknown amount of time, Chu Qianli suddenly stood up, turned to the guards, and said sternly:
"All guards, wear your masks, drink a bowl of the prepared medicine, and then bring the symptomatic villagers here to be concentrated. Second Imperial Uncle, order this entire area to be sealed off!"