One of the deputy generals called out anxiously, while the others all stared at the young man before them, his face covered in a brilliant, dazzling light.
Beside him, Yun Mo had already unconsciously lifted the corners of his lips, filled with immense pride.
If it weren't for Yun Zhen's reminder, he would have already stood up and loudly announced, "This is my daughter, Yun Xiao!"
"See? My daughter, Xiao'er. Who dares call my daughter foolish? My daughter is a renowned physician!"
"That ignorant fool in the palace actually crippled my daughter. Truly, their eyes must have been covered by pig fat."
Yun Mo was shouting in his heart, but because he couldn't speak, his face turned red. Shangguan Lin, sitting beside him, asked with concern.
“Prince Yun, what’s wrong? You seem very agitated.”
“I am a bit agitated. But now there is a solution.”
Yun Mo panted. "If I can hold on, sooner or later, everyone in the world will know that my daughter Xiao'er is not foolish, but a renowned physician, a renowned physician!"
Yun Xiao had just been startled and was genuinely afraid her father would blurt it out. But he held back in the end. It was difficult for him. Yun Xiao reached out and held her father’s hand.
Shangguan Lin, on the side, narrowed his eyes slightly, scanning the old and young man. His pupils narrowed. The affection between these two was truly profound.
Moreover, the eyebrows of this Feng Guan bore a slight resemblance to Prince Yun. Could he be Prince Yun’s illegitimate son from outside?
After comforting her father, Yun Xiao turned and swept her gaze around. Seeing everyone in the tent looking at her, their eyes filled with a small spark of excitement and admiration, she thought it might be too much to hesitate at this moment. So, Yun Xiao spoke readily.
“Mix the soil from the east wall with the *xiangsi zi* and sprinkle it into the west river. Within a day, the poison will be neutralized.”
As soon as Yun Xiao finished speaking, the people in the tent exchanged glances. They didn't know what *dongbi tu* was, but they knew *xiangsi zi*; it was originally red beans.
“What is *dongbi tu*?”
Shangguan Lin’s pupils were dark and deep, his gaze fixed on Yun Xiao. Yun Xiao did not answer. The imperial physician beside her quickly replied, “It’s the soil from the east wall of those old houses.”
Everyone suddenly understood. It was that kind of thing. There was no shortage of it in the city.
Someone in the tent had already stood up. Since they knew the solution, of course, they wanted to neutralize the poison as quickly as possible.
Yun Zhen and Shangguan Lin also stood up, preparing to leave. Yun Xiao quickly added.
“Don’t forget to heat the *dongbi tu* and the *xiangsi zi*, then stir them together before sprinkling them into the river. For one day, no one is allowed to drink any well water in the city. Tomorrow, everything will be fine. Also, those poisoned should continue to drink purple root soup, with salt and ginger added. This way, the poison will be resolved in three days.”
As she instructed, everyone rushed out in a hurry, separating to carry out their tasks.
The tent became empty, leaving only Yun Xiao and Yun Mo, along with two imperial physicians. Yun Xiao glanced at them, seeing the respectful admiration in their eyes, as if she were some divine being. Yun Xiao smiled sheepishly and spoke softly.
“Could I trouble the two of you to brew some soup for the Prince?”
“Yes, Young Master. We will attend to it immediately.” Their duty was to take good care of the Prince, and they would not shirk their responsibility.
As the two imperial physicians left, Generals Mu Qing and Mu Bai exchanged a look and clapped their hands in a shout of joy.
“Miss is truly extraordinary.”
The two who usually had expressionless faces smiled uncharacterhetically and looked up at the sky. The pale blue sky was covered with a thin veil, and white clouds floated leisurely. It was truly beautiful weather.
Inside the tent, Yun Mo held Yun Xiao’s hand, his lips curved into a smile, his deep, dark eyes shining with a dazzling light, fixed on Yun Xiao.
“I never expected Xiao'er’s medical skills to be so superb. Heaven has truly blessed me, Yun Mo. It is Xiao'er who has saved your father and all the soldiers in the city. Father thanks you on their behalf.”
Yun Xiao chuckled and shook her head. In reality, the thanks should be directed at him. If their love hadn’t touched her, and if she hadn’t wanted to give him something in return, why would she have rushed here so eagerly, just to save his life?
Thus, everything has its cause and effect, its destiny.
“Father, as long as you are well, that’s all that matters,” Yun Xiao wanted to say more, but Mu Qing walked in from outside. He looked at the two people sitting by the bed, smiled faintly, and reported, “Your Highness, fifty thousand troops have arrived outside the city gate. They ask whether to enter the city or set up camp outside.”
Yun Mo’s eyes darkened. The Western Liang army was glaring at them covetously.
If any troops were to leave the city, it would only be a path to certain death. It was better to stay in the city for now and make a decision later. It had already been proven that this was not a plague, but merely poison administered by the Western Liang army, as the well water issue was not contagious at all.
“Let them enter the city and rendezvous with the previous troops in the east. Report to the Prince about the situation and let him decide whether to fight or not. If we are to fight, inform me, and I will go to observe the battle.”
As Yun Mo spoke, Mu Qing and Yun Xiao both showed disapproval. Mu Qing said nothing, but Yun Xiao immediately intervened.
“Father, you are still ill. It’s best not to go. How about this, I will go and observe the battle for you. If anything happens, I will report to you immediately.”
“Yes, I think this is a good idea. Miss is so intelligent; Your Highness can rest assured.”
As Mu Qing spoke, Yun Xiao rolled her eyes and glared at him chillingly. Mu Qing trembled slightly. Miss’s gaze was as sharp as a knife when she was displeased, just like His Highness.
“Remember, I am a young master. There are many hidden individuals within this pass. If this matter gets out, it might not be a good thing.”
“Yes, your subordinate understands.”
Mu Qing quickly agreed. Miss’s concerns were indeed valid. Currently, Prince Lin was here, as well as Feng Lizhi and others, all of whom were informants for the Emperor.
If they knew Miss was no longer foolish and possessed such astonishing medical skills, these people would likely start plotting again, and then, by extension, their attention would turn to the Prince, creating further complications.
“Hmm, you may leave.”
Yun Xiao waved her hand, and Mu Qing withdrew.
The imperial physician brought in the medicinal soup. Yun Xiao took it and personally served it to her father, forcefully ordering him to lie down.
Yun Mo wanted to insist, but he couldn’t refuse his adorable daughter. He obediently lay down to rest…
As the fifty thousand troops entered the city, Shangguan Lin received the news and immediately handed over his current tasks to his subordinates. He and Yun Zhen headed towards the east city. On the streets, fifty thousand troops stood in formation, with provisions following behind.
With the plague alert lifted, those who had not been infected had all returned to their homes. The desolate streets finally had some signs of life.
However, the pain was even greater because their loved ones who had died and been burned were no longer present. Cries of grief spread across the entire city, interspersed with curses and shouts of battle, never ceasing.
Shangguan Lin and Yun Zhen sat high on their horses, gazing at the orderly ranks and taking stock of the numbers.
These supporting fifty thousand troops, added to the remaining forces, brought the total to one hundred thousand. Some had fallen earlier, while others were still poisoned. The remaining soldiers, plus the reinforcements, numbered close to a hundred thousand.
And although Yun Mo had repelled the Western Liang army, they had not suffered many casualties, so their numbers were still close to two hundred thousand, if not more.
Comparing the two, it was truly like throwing an egg against a rock.