There was no time for further questions.
Song Qingchao was urged to hurry by the general.
The few people quickly prepared to leave, with no one paying attention to Ma Lide, who had fainted on the ground behind them.
While ordering his soldiers to prepare a carriage, the general explained to Song Qingchao and the others, "My surname is Chang, my given name is Pinghe. I am the defending general of this Feng County. If you were ordinary people, I would not be so nervous, but he is a doctor, and doctors are different."
"Why?" Song Qingchao was helped onto the carriage by Bai You'an, then lifted the curtain.
"Because someone will capture him."
After the group boarded the carriage, the soldiers immediately drove it away.
Chang Pinghe also rode his horse alongside the carriage.
"Why would they want to capture him? Isn't the city in dire need of doctors right now?"
Chang Pinghe nudged his horse, "Precisely because of that, we need to capture doctors."
Song Qingchao instantly understood.
At this time, there were still people making profit by exploiting human suffering!
Bai You'an's expression also turned grim.
The group had not expected such a situation before entering the city.
"I will take you to Guangji Temple in the north of the city. You will be safe once you get there."
Song Qingchao thanked him with a heavy heart.
Following that, the carriage's speed increased.
She retreated back into the carriage, her fingers firmly gripping the handle. The group exchanged glances, their moods growing somber.
Bai You'an, on the other hand, remained calm and composed.
He shifted forward, leaning towards Song Qingchao to peer out the window, "Are there doctors at Guangji Temple?"
Chang Pinghe paused, as if reluctant to answer. Finally, he replied to Bai You'an, "Yes, there is a... young doctor there."
He emphasized the word "young" very lightly, as if it might scald his tongue.
However, Bai You'an paid no mind. "Are there many patients in Baiyou'an now? Has the epidemic been controlled?"
Chang Pinghe shook his head, indicating he didn't know. "A while ago, there was heavy rain, and many houses in our low-lying area collapsed. Those who are now homeless, and poor families who cannot afford doctors, are all at Guangji Temple. At least there, they will receive care from the monks."
He kept his gaze fixed forward, not noticing the change in Bai You'an's expression.
"Thank you."
It was Song Qingchao who noticed. She turned her head to ask, "What's wrong?"
Bai You'an, however, shook his head and said it was nothing.
But Song Qingchao knew he must have something on his mind.
Yet, she did not ask.
All she wanted was to survive this catastrophe.
The carriage suddenly stopped, and Song Qingchao, losing her balance, fell directly into Bai You'an's arms.
Before Bai You'an could help her up,
An old voice sounded from outside.
She knew it, they would surely be caught up to...
Song Qingchao did not get up. Instead, she leaned forward on Bai You'an, pushing aside the door curtain slightly to peer at the situation outside through the gap.
"Old Chang, why have you come in person?"
Chang Pinghe dismounted and bowed respectfully.
"Hmph, if I didn't come, where were you planning to send them?"
It was an old man with a deep "Chuan" character etched on his broad forehead. He stood imposingly, leaning on a cane, his body trembling slightly.
"They are just passing through. You don't need to take such a risk to come out," Chang Pinghe explained.
"Say that again? My people overheard!" The old man pointed, and the men behind him quickly surrounded their carriage.
"Little He'er, I cannot let you take him away!"
"And what if I refuse?" Chang Pinghe's tone also turned low.
He seemed to be completely defying Old Chang.
"Useless!" The old man pointed at Chang Pinghe with his finger, "If you block me today, then don't blame me for being rude to your Wanwan!"
"Old Chang!" Chang Pinghe's expression immediately changed. "Why do you keep threatening me with Wanwan?"
His voice trembled slightly towards the end, "She is carrying a child, eight months pregnant!"
"Bang."
It was the sound of his cane hitting the ground.
"So, are you letting them go or not!" Old Chang, leaning on his cane, hobbled towards Chang Pinghe. "Don't obstruct me, move aside!"
"Slap."
Old Chang raised his cane and struck Chang Pinghe's calf.
"If you take these people away, I truly cannot guarantee whether there will be a doctor when Wanwan gives birth."
Chang Pinghe lowered his head, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. "She is your granddaughter-in-law!"
Old Chang sneered, "Does she deserve it?"
He grabbed Chang Pinghe by the collar and threatened, "If her surname were Lin, then she would be a good match. But the current Wanwan is just an ordinary woman. Let her die, then die. If she can give birth to a descendant of the Chang family, letting her enter the ancestral tomb would be a blessing! I'll say it again, move aside!"
The two argued, but Chang Pinghe stood firm in front of Song Qingchao's carriage.
Song Qingchao, resting on Bai You'an's lap,
propped herself up with her arms to watch the commotion, as if she were not directly involved.
Bai You'an, on the other hand, seemed unconcerned. He leaned forward slightly, also observing the situation outside.
"Hey, if Old Chang is seizing people for profit, won't that mean there will be a lot of medicinal herbs?"
Song Qingchao turned her head to see Song Qingmu staring intently at her, his face as dark as charcoal.
"You... what's wrong?"
She then looked at Liu Zhe'er, the young girl's face was even redder than the sunset clouds outside.
Song Qingchao: "???"
Song Qingmu reached out and quietly pulled her up, "Probably."
Liu Zhe'er also nodded in agreement, "Without medicine, doctors alone are useless. Even a clever cook cannot cook without ingredients."
Song Qingchao lightly tapped Liu Zhe'er's nose, completely unaware of her brother's unusual emotions.
However, it caused Bai You'an to chuckle softly.
He curled his lips, "What, do you have an idea?"
Song Qingchao nodded decisively, "Fortune favors the bold. We are lacking everything right now."
"Then shall we go?" Bai You'an extended his right hand towards her.
Song Qingchao looked at his outstretched palm, "A guaranteed win?"
"Guaranteed."
Then, Song Qingchao unhesitatingly placed her hand in his.
Immediately, with a forceful pull, they stepped out of the carriage together.
Bai You'an's free hand opened his fan with a swish, displaying a mixture of arrogance and humility, "May I ask, Old Chang, what important matter requires my presence as a guest?"
Old Chang's originally dark face instantly broke into a familiar smile upon seeing Bai You'an.
"Of course, I'd like to invite you for tea."
Song Qingchao let out a meaningful "Oh," "May I ask if this tea made from human blood tastes good?"
She deliberately intended to provoke him.
If she wasn't captured, how could she steal the herbs?
However, being invited was essentially the same, but she truly did not want to deal with such an old fox.
Dealing with him was worse than fighting.
Old Chang immediately became furious, striking the ground repeatedly with his cane, his voice starting to become breathless, "Arrest them! Arrest them! Cough cough..."