"There's nothing worth risking your life for! Nothing!" Wen Mohan said sternly, "You must understand, if life is lost, all is lost!"
"If that's the case, why did you enter Zhang County yourself? Don't you know it's a trap?" Xiao Man retorted.
"I know, but saving the people of Zhang County is my duty. I have to come!"
"Mohan, I am a princess personally enfeoffed by His Majesty, and these are the subjects of Yusheng. I should protect them," Xiao Man said softly. "Therefore, even knowing the danger, I still came."
"If I asked you to leave, would you go?" Wen Mohan's eyes pleaded. He wished Xiao Man would leave.
Xiao Man shook her head, "No, unless a way to cure them is found."
Wen Mohan breathed in short gasps. He had been too careless. He never imagined Xiao Man would come in. If he had known she would follow him in, he... he would never have rashly entered Zhang County!
"I'm sorry, it's my fault..."
Xiao Man suddenly found it amusing, "You are not wrong. You just want to save them, and I want to save them too. That's all."
"What should we do now?"
"What we need to do now is stabilize the condition of the people in the city and await reinforcements," Xiao Man headed towards the place where Wen Mohan and his men were stationed. "People outside will help us prepare whatever is needed."
Wen Mohan grabbed the hem of Xiao Man's robe, "Really... you truly cannot leave?"
"Do you want me to leave that badly?" Xiao Man asked, turning back.
Wen Mohan fell silent. Did he want Xiao Man to leave? He did, and he didn't. If death was inevitable, he wanted to spend his final days with Xiao Man. But it was too dangerous here, and he couldn't bear to see Xiao Man suffer.
Wen Mohan's eyes turned red. He lowered his head, afraid Xiao Man would see his vulnerability, "I want you to stay, to be by my side, to accompany me. But I'm afraid you'll get into trouble if you stay, and I can't bear the consequences. Man'er, I... I don't know what to do anymore?"
"If you don't know what to do, then just stay by my side. With me here, you won't die. I won't let that happen," Xiao Man said with a smile. "Otherwise, my risking my life to come here would be meaningless."
Wen Mohan looked up at Xiao Man, tears streaming down his face. You are willing to risk your life for me, does that mean you are starting to have feelings for me? Sudan Novel Network
"Man'er."
"What is it?" Xiao Man continued walking, asking gently.
"I... I..."
"Why are you stammering? The Wen Mohan I know, even facing the entire court, was as eloquent as brass and iron, able to persuade anyone. How are you stuttering today?"
"I'm not..." Wen Mohan felt a faint sense of happiness, but he also felt it was rather heartless to be happy at such a time. However, when he learned Xiao Man had entered Zhang County for him, his heart was filled with ecstasy. "I'm just happy. Thank you for coming to accompany me."
"Don't worry, we'll be fine. Prince Qin has also arrived and will surely come to our aid soon. The divine physician Ye Qingti is also with him. With his help, we will definitely hold on. Believe me."
"Yes, I believe you," Wen Mohan's voice was full of conviction. We will definitely survive this together!
Xiao Man, acting as a physician, stayed by Wen Mohan's side. She filled several pages with the patients' conditions and wrote down the necessary medicinal herbs, placing them in a bamboo tube.
Wen Mohan accompanied Xiao Man to the city wall. They had to throw the bamboo tube out to the people outside. However, as soon as they reached the city wall, they saw numerous tents erected outside the city gate, and it seemed many people had arrived.
"Are all those people yours?" Wen Mohan was somewhat surprised.
"They shouldn't be..." Xiao Man was a little puzzled, but she still took out her whistle and blew it. Upon hearing Xiao Man's whistle, Qin Xue immediately rushed out.
"Young Master, are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Xiao Man said loudly. However, when her gaze fell on the people who came out afterward, she instinctively crouched down, hiding behind the city wall. Why had Nangong Yu arrived so quickly?
Nangong Yu's expression was as dark as water. She had grown bolder, sneaking into Zhang County was one thing, but to hide from him upon seeing him!
Wen Mohan glanced at the hidden Xiao Man, then at Nangong Yu. He immediately took the bamboo tube from Xiao Man's hand and threw it down from the city wall. Qin Xue leaped up and caught it.
Ye Qing stepped forward and slapped Qin Xue's hand. Then he took out a bottle of some liquid and poured it over Qin Xue's hand before putting on gloves to take the bamboo tube.
Nangong Yu stared at the city wall. Seeing Xiao Man not appearing, he grew increasingly displeased, "Do you want this King to come up and catch you?"
"No, no, no!" Xiao Man quickly stood up. "Don't come in and cause more trouble."
"You've grown bold, haven't you?" Nangong Yu said coldly. "You've completely forgotten the three chapters we agreed upon."
Xiao Man gave an embarrassed laugh, "There was no other way."
"When have you ever kept your promises to this King? Even if someone had to go in, it should have been Ye Qing. Why did you go in?"
Ye Qing glared at Nangong Yu resentfully. Why should he have gone in? Was his life not as important as Xiao Man's?
However, despite his glare, Ye Qing agreed with the sentiment, "Third Brother, you can't blame us for being upset. If we're talking about medical skills, my skills should be better than yours, right? Or do you not trust us?"
"I didn't know when you would arrive. Saving lives is like fighting fires. I was anxious and entered first. I apologize to Eldest Brother and Second Brother." Xiao Man bowed sincerely.
Nangong Yu was very unhappy, especially when he thought of Xiao Man being alone with Wen Mohan inside the city. He felt a burning sensation in his heart, as if his treasure was being coveted.
"You come out, and let Ye Qing go in."
"Yes, you come out and let me go in."
"I'm sorry, I can't," Xiao Man's smile remained unchanged. "I have been in contact with too many infected people. I might have the plague on me. If I come out, wouldn't I spread the epidemic and harm others?"
"Then I will come in," Nangong Yu said immediately. "This city wall is too high. With my Qinggong, I can't ascend. Have someone lower a rope to pull me up."
Xiao Man shook her head, "The affected areas in Jiang Zhou are not limited to this place. There are many refugees outside who need your help. Stabilizing the situation in Jiang Zhou and helping displaced people return to their homes is also of utmost importance."
"This King has already sent an urgent dispatch back to the capital. Imperial physicians will arrive soon to provide assistance. Hold on."
Xiao Man nodded, "The people of Jiang Zhou are entrusted to Your Highness."
"Live well," Nangong Yu turned and said with his back to Xiao Man, "Otherwise, this King will have everyone in Jiang Zhou buried with you."