To spare the townspeople from worry, the news of Wen Mohan's illness was suppressed. Wei Feng and the others were forbidden from contacting Wen Mohan, and Xiao Man was assigned to care for him.
Wen Mohan, watching Xiao Man grow thinner day by day, his eyes filled with heartache, asked, "Man'er, do you regret staying?"
Xiao Man stirred the medicine in the bowl with a spoon, blew on it to cool it, and brought it to Wen Mohan's lips. "What nonsense are you speaking? I chose to come here, and I chose to stay. Why would I regret it?"
"What if you also contracted the epidemic?" Wen Mohan asked with deep concern.
"Then it would be perfect, we would share the hardship," Xiao Man quipped. "Don't worry, the epidemic is treatable, it just needs time. If we hold on, we will find a cure."
Wen Mohan drank the medicine with difficulty. Initially, only a few red rashes appeared on his body, but within days, they had spread. Large patches of red rashes covered him. Xiao Man had tried every method, but she could not stop the spread, and Wen Mohan's condition worsened.
"Man'er," Wen Mohan grasped Xiao Man's hand, mustering a smile with all his might. Every movement pained him; the epidemic tormented him relentlessly.
"I'm here."
"If I die, don't forget me."
"You won't die," Xiao Man's comforting words sounded rather hollow. She herself was unsure if Wen Mohan could hold on until the end. "I said, I won't let anything happen to you."
A relieved smile flickered across Wen Mohan's face, and he fell into a deep sleep. If this was fate, he was content to have you by my side until the very end.
He Qingyi and her group, rushing against time, arrived outside Zhang County as the city gates were being cleared. Every day, people in the city contracted the epidemic, and every day, people died. Death loomed over everyone, like an unending dark cloud in the sky.
"Madam Xiao," Nangong Yu, having received the news that He Qingyi was leading the team, understood this was Xiao Man's intention. Sue Dan Novel Network.
"Your Highness Prince Qin," He Qingyi bowed with neither subservience nor arrogance. "Have the city gates been cleared? May we enter the city immediately?"
Nangong Yu looked at the cleared city gate and slowly nodded. "You may enter, but Madam Xiao, are you prepared? During this time, people are dying daily in the city. Most of the people Master Wen brought in have contracted the plague. If you enter, you may very well not return."
"This concubine knows," He Qingyi's expression was calm. "However, as a physician, if one is afraid before even battling the disease, then one cannot defeat it. I ask Your Highness Prince Qin to open the gates and let us in."
Nangong Yu sighed. "Her judgment of people has always been good. You are excellent. Also, she is inside."
He Qingyi's expression changed, then she understood. "This concubine should have guessed. Your Highness, rest assured, as long as He Qingyi is alive, she will never let anything happen to her."
"Allow me to join your team and enter the city with you," Nangong Yu said softly. This was his primary objective. He was too worried about Xiao Man being trapped in the city. Only by guarding her himself could he feel at ease.
"I'm afraid that won't do," He Qingyi said gently. "If everyone goes in, who will oversee things outside? Furthermore, as royalty, how can Your Highness risk your life? Your Highness should calmly remain outside to guard."
"What if this Prince insists on going in?"
He Qingyi looked at the Prince of Qin's stern face and let out a light laugh. "I don't claim to understand her temperament completely, but I understand enough to know that even Your Highness would not be easily forgiven if you went against her wishes. Does Your Highness wish to fall out with her?"
Nangong Yu's expression shifted slightly. "This Prince does not fear death."
"I know Your Highness does not fear death. Does Your Highness not wish to betray her trust?" He Qingyi's tone was gentle. "She has always been both brave and wise in her actions. Since she chose to go in and asked Your Highness to guard outside, she must have her reasons. Or, this is her protection of Your Highness. Your Highness, do not disappoint her."
Nangong Yu lowered his gaze. He understood, of course, that Xiao Man did not want him to enter the city for his safety. But he worried even more that something might happen to her inside while he was not by her side. The thought of such a possibility made him feel unbearable pain.
"Madam Xiao means for this Prince to enjoy peace and happiness outside, while letting his woman venture into a sea of fire and swords inside?" Nangong Yu's voice was very soft. "Am I still a man then?"
He Qingyi choked and quickly looked around. Seeing no one nearby, she breathed a sigh of relief. "Your Highness, speak carefully, lest you tarnish my lady's reputation."
"This Prince wants to go in," Nangong Yu said softly. "I need your help."
"This..." He Qingyi was somewhat troubled. Xiao Man did not want Nangong Yu to enter for two reasons: first, she wanted Nangong Yu to stabilize the situation in Jiangzhou and seize it; second, for Nangong Yu's safety. Moreover, Nangong Yu was not a physician and would be of no help inside.
"After Your Highness enters, what can you do?" He Qingyi asked sternly. "Can you treat people, or can you care for the sick, dispense herbs, and boil medicine?"
"This Prince..." Nangong Yu thought for a moment. "This Prince can care for the sick."
"Those patients are all infected with the plague, their bodies festering and oozing pus. Can Your Highness care for them?"
"Are you underestimating this Prince?" Nangong Yu said coldly. "When this Prince walked through mountains of corpses and seas of blood, you were still crying in the He family."
He Qingyi's face turned green. Who was crying in the He family? She knew the Prince of Qin had been through wars, but Zhang County was not a battlefield. Fighting would be of no use here. Only physicians would be useful inside!
"This concubine cannot let you enter."
"This Prince must enter," Nangong Yu said calmly. "Whether you agree or not, this Prince will enter. She has not appeared on the city wall for three days. There must be a change within the city."
"Even if she opposes it?"
"This is not the first time she has left this Prince. This Prince will not allow a second time." Nangong Yu looked in the direction of the city wall. The first time she left him, she easily gave up her life. This time, he would not allow her to leave him.
He Qingyi frowned. She knew she could not argue with Nangong Yu and could only let him do as he pleased. "If you are not afraid of angering her, then by all means, act on your own."
The rescue team arrived. Su Cheng was the one who came out to greet them and open the city gates. Neither Xiao Man nor Wen Mohan was in sight. Nangong Yu, mixed in with the team, looked worried.
"Commander Su, where is Master Wen?" He Qingyi asked with confusion.
Su Cheng's face showed difficulty. "Master... Master has contracted the epidemic and is now unconscious."
Nangong Yu's heart sank. Xiao Man was with Wen Mohan, and Wen Mohan had contracted the epidemic. Then what about Xiao Man?