Xiao Man forced a wry smile. "Elder Brother, I've detailed the conditions of the city's inhabitants in my letter and requested your assistance in finding useful medicinal herbs. Plague is a form of poison, and within a five-mile radius, there must be something to counteract it."
"Don't worry, I will find them as quickly as possible."
"Young Master, your subordinate will also prepare the necessary medicinal herbs within the shortest timeframe," Qin Xue immediately ordered people to prepare the herbs. Xiao Man's entry into Zhang County was a life-or-death gamble, every second counted, and they dared not slacken even a bit.
The urgent report from Jiangzhou reached the imperial capital, shocking the entire court. The officials were divided into three factions. The civil officials, led by Prime Minister Wen, advocated for saving the people of Zhang County at all costs. The Crown Prince's faction, led by Uncle Xue, suggested abandoning Zhang County to prevent further infection. Finally, the Royalist faction, led by Great General Xiao Zhen, chose silence.
In the imperial court, civil and military officials argued endlessly. The Emperor rubbed his throbbing temples. Zhang County had become a severely affected area, and everyone spoke of plague with dread. They were all his subjects; how could he abandon them to their fate?
"Prime Minister Wen, your advocacy for saving them is merely to save your son. If your son were not in Zhang County, would you still advocate for saving them?" Uncle Xue spoke sharply. "You are willing to risk countless lives for your son!"
"Absurd!" Prime Minister Wen's expression was calm. "According to the news transmitted by Prince Qin, Zhang County is small but densely populated. My son is doing his utmost to treat them, and the people are awaiting the lord's rescue. If we abandon them to the plague out of fear of its spread, how can the people trust the court in the future?"
"You are clearly abusing your power, wanting only to save your own son!"
"Would my son not know the terror of the plague?" Prime Minister Wen argued, maintaining a posture of concern for the nation and its people despite his inner anxiety. "Of course he knows. Yet, he went to Zhang County without hesitation to treat the plague-stricken populace. Why? Because he is an official of the court. Between clinging to life and rescuing the people, he chose the latter. If he were to perish, it would be his fate, and I would be proud of him!"
"Well said!" Xiao Zhen, who had remained silent, finally spoke. "Your Majesty, this humble general agrees with Prime Minister Wen's viewpoint. We should do our utmost to rescue the people of Zhang County; they are also Your Majesty's subjects."
"Great General... you..."
"My wife, upon hearing of the plague outbreak in Zhang County, was extremely worried about the safety of its people. Before I came to court, she held my sleeve and said she wished to contribute to the people of Zhang County, and requested to be sent there to help."
Upon hearing this, everyone felt their eyelids twitch. Xiao Zhen was going to pit his wife against danger again. This was his third wife, and she had only recently married. Sending her to a plague-ridden area? How heartless he must be!
"Your wife is..."
"My wife is He Qingyi, from the imperial physician family, the He family. She has studied medical texts since childhood and is proficient in identifying herbs. Though born a woman, she is not one to fear death. This humble general implores Your Majesty to permit my wife to lead people to Zhang County to rescue its inhabitants."
"I beseech Your Majesty to dispatch people to rescue the citizens of Zhang County."
"Do not all of you know the terror of the plague?" the Crown Prince finally spoke. "If we send people, we may not be able to save the people of Zhang County, and we will endanger other lives!"
"Your ministers petition to be sent to Zhang County to rescue its people." This was perhaps the first time in history that civil and military officials cooperated without reservation, jointly petitioning for the people of Zhang County.
The Emperor finally issued an order to fully rescue the people of Zhang County. He also appointed He Qingyi as the overseer, leading hundreds of physicians to Zhang County to treat the afflicted.
Most of the physicians accompanying He Qingyi were recruited from among the populace, doctors who had volunteered after learning of the plague outbreak in Zhang County. The remaining were imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy.
"Qingyi."
"Father." He Qingyi looked at Old Master He with a hint of apology. She did not wish to drag the He family into trouble, but she had to go to Zhang County. Since Xiao Man had sent her a message, it meant this was an excellent opportunity. Even with a high probability of contracting the illness and dying, she had to go.
Old Master He looked at He Qingyi's calm and serene demeanor and smiled. "You are very good."
"Father, it is your daughter who has implicated you."
Old Master He waved his hand. "Even if you hadn't volunteered, I would have gone. Your elder brother inherited all the He family's profound skills but lacks your courage. The ancestral teachings of the He family should be amended."
He Qingyi looked at Old Master He in shock. Amend the ancestral teachings? What did that mean?
"Father, do not blame elder brother. Elder brother has considerable responsibilities, and several nephews and nieces also need care. If something were to happen to elder brother, the He family would be finished."
"He has lost the benevolence that a physician should possess, and his progress has halted there." Old Master He said gently, "Qingyi, you have always wished to learn the He family's profound skills. Previously, due to ancestral teachings and the pressure from the Jin family, no one dared to teach you. Now, do you still wish to learn?"
"If Father is willing to teach me, your daughter is naturally willing to learn. If Father is unwilling, I will not force the issue, as ancestral teachings cannot be violated," He Qingyi stated frankly.
Before meeting her master, she had thought the He family's profound skills were magnificent. She had tried her best to please the He family members, all for their medical knowledge. However, the He family's medical techniques were passed down to males, not females. No matter how much she wanted to learn, no one would teach her.
It was only after learning from her master that she realized the He family's profound skills, which she had envied, were not profound at all. If she could learn all of her master's abilities, she would surely become a renowned divine physician!
"If, this time, my daughter and I can return to the imperial capital safely, I will persuade the clan elders to teach you the He family's medical techniques."
He Qingyi's expression softened. "Father, you need not worry about my affairs. I am married now, and the clan elders will surely not agree to the He family's profound skills being passed down externally. Father, please forget about this matter. Your daughter has long let it go; Father need not dwell on it."
"You no longer wish to learn the He family's profound skills?"
He Qingyi's expression remained gentle. "Ancestral teachings must not be violated, and I do not wish to cause Father difficulty. Moreover, the general has found a good mentor and friend for your daughter to teach her medical skills. Your daughter can still learn medicine without violating the He family's ancestral teachings. Is this not the best of both worlds?"
Old Master He breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. After all, violating ancestral teachings was not an easy matter. He merely wished to put He Qingyi's heart at ease.
He Qingyi bid farewell to Imperial Physician He and returned to her carriage. Inside the carriage, Wan Du Zi was sleeping, snoring loudly. Even with the bumpy journey, it did not affect his sleep.
He Qingyi sat beside him and continued to read medical books with a particularly serious expression. Wan Du Zi secretly lifted an eyelid, stole a glance at He Qingyi, then closed his eyes to continue sleeping, a satisfied smile curling his lips. "Senior brother, the disciple you taught is a divine physician; my junior brother's disciple will not be any less!"