There was no light in the carriage, and it felt cramped and depressing.
Through the carved wooden pavilion, there was only a vague black shadow.
The strong wind blew the black hair and covered half of the face.
The horse neighed as it leaped over the threshold and entered the mansion.
At the last moment, light finally fell into that person's eyes.
The amber eyes were like broken gold, and like the pupils of a snake lurking in the dark, cold and dangerous.
It appears inadvertently, and then hides in the mountains and forests in an instant and disappears.
A quick glance was like a sharp knife cutting through Wen Qingci's peaceful shell.
The carriage was nowhere to be seen.
But the oppressive feeling brought by those amber eyes took a long time to dissipate.
Wen Qingci couldn't help but take a deep breath, trying to relieve his tension.
He kept telling himself...it couldn't be him, Xie Bufeng had already ascended the throne and become emperor.
How could the present emperor come to this small town today
“Who is it? What a grand ceremony…” Song Junran muttered with a little dissatisfaction.
The carriage sped past, and the passing crowd did not slow down.
If Song Junran had not acted quickly, his sleeves would probably have been splashed with mud.
Several carriages have entered the mansion.
Just as the soldiers stepped forward and were about to close the door, Song Junran suddenly seemed to remember something, and walked over quickly and stood in front of them.
There was no one in front of the government office just now, and he was still wondering how to convey the message to the people inside.
Now, these officers and soldiers walked out of the mansion on their own.
"My Lords, please wait a moment—"
Several officers and soldiers looked at each other, then looked at Song Junran in unison, sizing him up and down.
Unlike most people here, Song Junran did not wear a short robe that was convenient for working.
Instead, he was wearing a green shirt that was easily dirty and looked very valuable.
Most people in Lianhe County are not so particular.
After gradually realizing that this disease was not transmitted through "qi", people no longer covered their faces with white gauze as they did in the beginning.
But Song Junran still very carefully used it to cover his mouth and nose, leaving only a pair of dark gray eyes exposed.
He even carried a medicine box, obviously dressed like a doctor.
Realizing that these soldiers were observing him, Song Junran was not annoyed, but smiled and bowed to them and said, "My lords, I am from Songxiu Prefecture and make a living as a doctor. When I passed by Yongting Prefecture with my junior brother a few days ago, I heard about what happened here. So I thought of coming over to take a look..."
His tone was sincere.
After hearing this, the eyes of several officers and soldiers looking at Song Junran changed.
Judging from his accent, he is indeed from Songxiu Prefecture.
Songxiu Prefecture was a famous medicine capital of the Wei Dynasty. Not only were there many clinics in the city, but the level of the doctors was also far higher than that of other places.
Lianhe County is now short of both doctors and medicinal materials.
The most important thing is that until this time, people still didn’t know what caused the plague and what to do to cure the patients.
The appearance of Song Junran undoubtedly helped them understand their urgent needs.
Seeing this, Song Junran said, "To be honest, my junior brother and I happen to have some experience in dealing with this matter, and we also have some medicinal materials on hand. But before the diagnosis and treatment, there is one small matter that requires cooperation... If it is convenient for you, could you help pass a message in? Tell the officials in charge here."
Lianhe is not big, and the government soldiers are all locals.
Many of their family members and friends suffered.
Hearing this, the officers and soldiers no longer hesitated.
Since the doctors from Songxiu Prefecture have offered to help, they will definitely pass the message to the officials in charge.
As expected, as soon as Song Junran finished speaking, the leading soldier also clasped his fists to him and said respectfully, "Of course! Please wait a moment, sir. We will pass on this message immediately!"
"No hurry, no hurry." Song Junran smiled and took a half step back, then quickly waved his hand to make way for them to the door.
The next moment, several people rushed in.
*
Inside the Lianhe County Government Office.
The news that the inspector from Yongdu was coming had already reached here half a day ago.
The county magistrate was clenching his fists nervously at this moment, and all the people in the prefecture were waiting in the courtyard with bated breath.
"Inspectors" existed in the previous dynasty. They were originally only responsible for inspections and supervision, and it is unknown when they were given the authority to assist in the management of local areas.
Before the person who came to inform him this morning, the county magistrate never dreamed that Yongdu would actually send such an important official to Lianhe County.
Even in all his years of life, he had never seen such a high-ranking official.
Logically speaking, the malaria was not serious when I reported the matter.
So the words used in the briefing are also very common.
I'm afraid even the prefect won't take it seriously after seeing it.
The county magistrate had never expected that this briefing would be passed down through the levels of the Taishu Palace and into the hands of the emperor.
What was even more unexpected was that the emperor would actually send inspectors to help deal with the matter.
It seems that the current emperor is indeed a wise ruler!
Thinking of this, the county magistrate couldn't help but stand in awe.
As soon as the carriage stopped at the hospital, Xie Bufeng got off.
Without waiting to see the visitor's appearance clearly, the county magistrate hurriedly stepped forward and paid his respects. Then, with great trepidation, he arranged for people to unload the medicine and take the exhausted imperial physician and attendants to rest.
"Sir, I have prepared the room. Please come this way and take a rest." He bent down and pointed the way.
Hearing this, the people around him paused.
The county magistrate had not expected that the inspector who was sent to Lianhe to deal with the malaria problem would start working without even having time to rest.
"No need," Xie Bufeng paused for a moment and said, "Let's get down to business."
"Okay!" The county magistrate turned around hurriedly, "Please come this way—"
Xie Bufeng walked straight into the hall.
The magistrate of Lianhe County is the local official. Like the officers and soldiers at the gate, his family and friends are also here.
Therefore, he did not dare to be negligent. He stood in the hall and told everything he knew in one breath.
As he spoke, he kept his head down, not daring to look directly at the high official who came from Yongdu.
As soon as he finished speaking, County Magistrate Lianhe couldn't help but secretly glance at Xie Bufeng.
The next moment he stood there in a daze, and for a moment he even forgot to say the rest of the words.
The hall suddenly became quiet.
Xie Bufeng was deep in thought, and his eyes fell on him: "What's wrong?"
There was a chill in the voice.
“No, no…” The county magistrate was stunned for a moment. His scalp was numb from the look from Xie Bufeng. He could only adjust his breathing while hurriedly saying, “Your Excellency is really a young and promising man!”
He spoke from the bottom of his heart.
When he heard the voice just now, he felt that the inspector was not very old, but when he looked up, he found that the other party looked to be only in his early twenties.
Although his clothes are simple, his temperament is invaluable.
Especially between his eyebrows, there was a hint of murderous intent...
Every gesture and movement exudes awe without even showing anger.
The county magistrate was standing in the hall, his not-so-thick summer clothes already completely soaked with cold sweat at some point.
Seeing that the other party said nothing and frowned with a look of displeasure, the county magistrate immediately came to his senses and planned to continue talking about business.
At the same time, he saw out of the corner of his eye... the soldiers who were supposed to be guarding the gate appeared in front of the hall at some point.
They looked conflicted, hesitating whether to come in.
Obviously he wanted to say something to me.
In order to ease the tense atmosphere, the county magistrate raised his voice and asked the people outside: "Do you have anything to say?"
The few people whose names were called hesitated for a moment, and finally walked in.
At this time, Xie Bufeng finally gently picked up the teacup on the table.
The bitter aroma of inferior tea then spread to the tip of my nose.
He put the teacup to his lips but never took a sip.
Xie Bufeng's heart was not at peace.
Refugees from inside and outside Lianhe County were displaced and corpses were everywhere.
Hell on earth is nothing more than this.
Although he had been to the battlefield, the death in silence and crying was completely different from the swordplay on the battlefield.
He hasn't closed his eyes all day.
What he saw and heard along the way made Xie Bufeng wonder whether Shanyujian, where Wen Qingci lived in his childhood, was also like this
Had he ever been like the children he saw along the way, crying while holding the corpse of their loved one, but unable to do anything
During this journey, Xie Bufeng seemed to have caught a glimpse of a corner of Wen Qingci's childhood.
I saw his pain and loneliness with my own eyes.
I understand why he is so persistent.
Xie Bufeng originally thought that after arriving here, he would be eager to look for Wen Qingci, but the scenes he saw inside and outside the city urged Xie Bufeng to focus all his energy on the leprosy issue as soon as he arrived here.
Xie Bufeng couldn't help but think over and over again what the county magistrate had just said and the scenes he had just witnessed.
The officers and soldiers whose relatives were suffering from leprosy didn't care what rank the person sitting in the hall was.
After getting the county magistrate's permission, several people stepped forward and bowed, then hurriedly said: "There is something. Just now, we met two doctors from Songxiu Prefecture outside the county government office. One of them said that they have experience in dealing with this matter and even brought some medicinal materials. But before the treatment, they want to meet the official in charge here."
The man spoke very quickly, like pouring beans, and his words were full of a strong accent.
But every word he said reached Xie Bufeng's ears clearly.
Songxiu Mansion.
These three words were like a bolt of thunder, instantly splitting the dark clouds in Xie Bufeng's heart.
He suddenly raised his eyes and looked at the officers and soldiers.
His fingers trembled violently, and the scalding hot tea spilled.
He lost his composure.
The pain spreads along the nerves to all parts of the body.
The skin on my hands also turned red.
But Xie Bufeng didn't even lower his head.
His heart was beating wildly at this moment, and it felt like it was burning.
It seemed that what was flowing in the blood vessels at this moment was no longer blood, but magma.
Songxiu Mansion, Langzhong.
At this moment, only these two words kept echoing in Xie Bufeng's mind.
Could it be Wen Qingci
Who else but him would risk his life to come here
These two words are like pickaxes.
Without any effort, he pierced a gap in the dam in Xie Bufeng's heart.
Without waiting to be stopped, the tide rushed out from the gap.
But in an instant, with the power of moving mountains, the dam that had previously resisted was completely overturned.
Mountain torrents and tsunamis were surging and screaming in Xie Bufeng's heart.
"Oh, okay, I understand..."
While the county magistrate was speaking, Xie Bufeng, who was sitting in the hall, suddenly stood up.
The bench slid across the ground, making a loud "sizzling" sound.
The next moment, Xie Bufeng took a step forward and walked quickly out of the government office.
He simply forgot about everyone in this room.
Inspector, do you want to see the doctor in person
The county magistrate was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly followed with his men from a distance.
That’s right, he was a minister sent here by the emperor himself, and his words are much more useful than mine.
Lianhe County is surrounded by mountains on all sides, with inconvenient transportation. The people are all engaged in farming and even the government does not have much money.
The vermilion lacquered gate had long been mottled and dilapidated, and even had cracks in it, with faint hints of wind blowing through it, making it look a little sour.
Xie Bufeng's footsteps suddenly stopped here.
He slowly raised his hand and carefully placed it on the vermilion wooden board.
But he didn't dare to push the door open.
Xie Bufeng had never realized that he was so timid.
He stretched out his right hand and tremblingly touched the wool bracelet on his left wrist again and again.
Then he touched the deep scar on the palm of his hand.
—This is the trace left when praying to the gods and Buddhas.
It must be him, it must be him.
At this moment, Xie Bufeng began to pray again.
A circle of red appeared in his eyes.
The breeze passed through the gap in the red door and blew towards Xie Bufeng's cheek.
Brought a faint bitter fragrance...
Xie Bufeng's muscles were tense at this moment, and he almost exhausted all his strength before he pushed open the dilapidated and thin red door in front of him.
—
After the officers and soldiers returned home, the patients outside the Lianhe County government office once again surrounded Wen Qingci and Song Junran.
Before they knew it, the two were pushed into a corner of an open space by the crowd.
"Take my pulse—"
Several men with sallow faces couldn't wait to stretch their hands in front of Wen Qingci, eager for him to diagnose and treat them.
Wen Qingci was forced to continue retreating.
"Don't push--" Song Junran couldn't help feeling a little displeased, "Can't you guys walk and squeeze? If you want to see, see the serious ones first!" As he said that, he blocked Wen Qingci behind him.
Wen Qingci's health was not good to begin with, and although he has recovered a little during this period, he still cannot be described as "healthy".
Wen Qingci was so tired from the long journey that he could hardly stand steadily.
Logically speaking, he should have had a good rest.
Now, instead of having a rest, he was pushed into a corner.
Although the faces of the men crowded in the front looked a little bad, they were all full of energy and in better condition than Wen Qingci.
It was obvious that he had just fallen ill and only had some aches and pains.
“… Ahem, yes, please make way for a moment. We will start with the seriously ill patients.” Wen Qingci’s voice came through the veil, and he started to leave.
Although he was not as tough as Song Junran, his tone was even gentle.
But after the words fell, the surroundings were actually quiet for a few seconds.
"Wait, doctor!" As they passed each other, the man standing in the front turned around and looked at the open space.
The place was filled with patients who were unable to get up.
"They have been lying there for several days without food or water. They will be dragged out of the city when they die," the man sighed heavily, and after a moment of silence, he gritted his teeth and said, "I'm afraid even if the Great Immortal came, there would be no way to save them."
"Please, please give us a hand first..."
"If we can save as many people as possible, that's right, right?"
As he said this, he knelt on the ground with a plop.
His eyes were filled with sorrow and his whole body was trembling.
There is actually nothing wrong with what this man said.
And the desire to survive is everyone's instinct.
But Wen Qingci just said "wait a moment" and slowly walked around them and went to the wooden bed in the corner not far away.
—There was a little girl of about seven or eight years old, lying there quietly, looking at the place where Wen Qingci was with pleading eyes.
She seemed unable to move.
If Wen Qingci was not mistaken, she was the youngest patient lying on the open space.
There was no one around the little girl and she looked all alone.
I don't know whether her family... has passed away, or has cruelly abandoned her.
Wen Qingci walked over slowly under the gazes of countless people, then bent down and half-knelt in front of the thin wooden bed, reached out his hand and gently touched the little girl's forehead.
There was a cold spot on her forehead, and it was obvious that she had long passed the fever period and her body temperature was lower than that of ordinary people.
Wen Qingci walked closer and saw that the little girl's face was covered in blood. She must have vomited blood not long ago.
There were many bruises and even cyanosis on her skin.
At this time she could hardly move or make a sound.
But when she saw Wen Qingci observing her fingers, the little girl seemed to have realized something, and she used all her strength to slowly pull her hand back into the quilt.
Children of this age already have a sense of beauty.
She knew her hands were ugly.
"Horror...horror..." The little girl uttered a few fragmented words from her throat.
"It's okay," Wen Qingci smiled softly and pulled her wrist out of the quilt, "It's not scary at all."
"If you hide your hand, how can I take your pulse?" he said softly.
Does this doctor in front of me really want to take my pulse
Hearing Wen Qingci's words, the little girl opened her eyes wide in disbelief.
The next second, Wen Qingci gently placed his fingers on her wrist.
A little warmth spreads from the wrist to the whole body.
At the same time, he gently stuffed a life-saving pill into her mouth.
"Don't be afraid," he said.
Through the veil, the little girl couldn't see Wen Qingci's appearance clearly, but she felt that the young doctor in front of her was as gentle as the gods in the legend.
The pill seemed to have some effect. The little girl who could only lie there and move her eyes with difficulty could finally speak complete sentences.
"... Dad, Mom... Grandpa, he, they all don't want me anymore... They said, I, I'm going to die." The little girl's voice was filled with a strong rural accent.
After he finished speaking, tears began to flow from the corners of his eyes and slid down his dirty cheeks.
Wen Qingci paused as he was taking the patient's pulse.
It turned out that her parents and family members were not dead, but they really abandoned her here when she was seriously ill.
The little girl's eyes turned red as she spoke.
Her pulse was extremely weak and almost stopped.
The heart rate gradually decreases, and there is only exhalation but no inhalation during breathing.
It was obvious that he was at his deathbed.
If it weren't for the pill Wen Qingci had just given her, she would have died before she could finish her words.
It would be more appropriate to describe her condition at this moment as "a last burst of light".
Wen Qingci slowly raised his hand, as if he didn't notice the dirt on her face, and wiped the tears from the little girl's cheeks.
"It's okay," Wen Qingci whispered to comfort him, "I'm here with you now, okay?"
As he spoke, he continued with his actions.
Wen Qingci turned around, took out a silver needle from the medicine box he carried with him, and inserted it into the big acupoint on the little girl's forehead.
At the same time, he held her wrist tightly with his right hand, and used his inner strength to relieve her pain, just as it was written in the medical book of Divine Doctor Valley.
He did almost everything he could.
The little girl who had a dead look on her face just now, her eyes brightened up, as if she had a glimmer of hope: "... Doctor, I, I don't seem to be in pain anymore..."
Seeing this scene, the men who had just cornered Wen Qingci held their breath and dared not disturb him.
It turns out that this doctor will really try his best to save patients who have no hope.
Wen Qingci's calmness silently soothed the restlessness and even fear in everyone's hearts.
It even gave them hope.
"It's good that it doesn't hurt anymore." Wen Qingci said softly.
It was the softest, most beautiful voice she had ever heard.
"Hmm..." The little girl smiled sweetly at Wen Qingci. Unable to bear the fatigue, she closed her eyes deeply and muttered in distress, "I, I... feel a little sleepy..."
"If you feel sleepy, go to sleep first. Don't worry, I'm here to accompany you."
Wen Qingci's voice, like a lullaby, gently reached her ears.
"Um… "
After getting the answer, the little girl finally closed her eyes reluctantly.
It seems like he really fell asleep here.
At this time, the open space was silent.
The only sound in everyone's ears was the sound of their own breathing.
She stopped moving, and Wen Qingci finally carefully let go of her hand, took out a brand new silk handkerchief, and carefully wiped the girl's cheek bit by bit.
Finally, he covered her face and tucked the quilt in for her.
Wen Qingci finally stood up, and everyone noticed that he had knelt on the ground without them noticing.
The muddy ground left after the rainstorm stained her moon-white gown, leaving a slightly glaring stain.
But Wen Qingci, who always liked cleanliness, didn't even glance at it.
"I just thought that you..." Song Junran originally wanted to say that he thought Wen Qingci went there because he wanted her body for dissection.
But seeing his fellow apprentice's serious look, he couldn't say anything.
Song Junran hesitated for a moment and said, "You can tell at a glance that she cannot be saved."
He covered his face with a white gauze, so his voice became a little unclear.
Since we know it cannot be saved, why bother to spend so much effort on something that is doomed to be meaningless
Through the veil, Song Junran couldn't see Wen Qingci's eyes.
He only saw his junior brother slowly shaking his head, and then said lightly: "I just want her to know that she was not abandoned in the end, and there are people who have been working hard for her."
The surroundings were too quiet, and Wen Qingci's voice was not loud, but it still reached everyone's ears clearly.
There was a hint of loneliness and sadness in his words.
Wen Qingci never thought that he could save every patient, but he would try his best to save every one of them.
I don't know when the surroundings became completely silent.
Just as there was silence, footsteps suddenly sounded behind Wen Qingci.
The sound was not loud, but each one seemed to be stepping on his heart.
At the same time, the dark black carriage and the pair of amber eyes in the carriage appeared uncontrollably in Wen Qingci's mind again.
He felt a chill instinctively, like a prey being stared at by a poisonous snake.
Someone is walking towards him.
Wen Qingci subconsciously held his breath, and his heart began to beat heavily.
—Instinct told him that some danger was approaching.
Before he could react, or even escape, the footsteps stopped beside Wen Qingci.
"Are you the doctor from Songxiu Mansion?"
—A strange yet familiar voice came from behind Wen Qingci without any warning.
His tone was extremely calm, his voice low and cold.
He has completely lost his boyish innocence and immaturity.
Thank you for not meeting me…
He, who should have been sitting high in the government, actually came to Lianhe.
In an instant, Wen Qingci was like a cat whose neck was suddenly strangled. He forgot how to move or struggle, and was even unable to make any sound.
The blood in the body also began to stagnate.
A faint scent of ambergris wafted from behind him.
The man was tall, and just by standing there, he cast Wen Qingci's entire body in shadow.
For a moment, Wen Qingci was completely enveloped by Xie Bufeng's aura and had no way to retreat.
Under the cover of the wide robe, Wen Qingci's body was trembling slightly uncontrollably.
He was already standing by the wall, and he couldn't help but take half a step to the side.
But this not only did not bring him a sense of security, it even made Wen Qingci feel... At this moment, he seemed to be trapped in the courtyard wall by Xie Bufeng and could not escape.
“Yes…” When Wen Qingci heard this, even his voice became hoarse.
At this time, half of his body was completely paralyzed.
Wen Qingci stood here and actually had the illusion that he had been completely seen through.
That thin veil was his only remaining protection.
"Okay." Xie Bufeng nodded slowly.
Wen Qingci's heart began to tremble along with his voice.
How long did Xie Bufeng watch from behind, what did he see, did he notice anything unusual
But Xie Bufeng's voice was so calm.
Then he should... not have had time to discover anything yet
Wen Qingci made careful guesses, but he didn't know that at this moment Xie Bufeng's heart was already filled with stormy waves.
It's hard to rest and stop.
The whole scene just now fell into his eyes.
Xie Bufeng saw the veil swaying slowly in the breeze.
I saw a young doctor in a moon-white gown standing alone in the midst of mud and ruin.
There were even traces of him kneeling for a long time under his knees.
But in Xie Bufeng's eyes, he was like a deity from a temple descended to the world...
Xie Bufeng had wished he could hold Wen Qingci in his arms, tear off his disguise, and imprison him by his side forever.
Let him tremble and gasp because of himself.
Then let those beautiful dark eyes become misty and tinged with different emotions.
But seeing Wen Qingci's moment with my own eyes.
Xie Bufeng just wanted to... gently wipe the mud off the hem of his clothes.
How is Wen Qingci's health
Is Tianci having another attack? Is he still coughing every day like before
Xie Bufeng was cautious, like a wild beast hiding its claws.
Dare not disturb, dare not ask.
They even restrain and suppress themselves, not daring to be overly intimate.
"I am the head of Lianhe County," Xie Bufeng's cold, emotionless voice penetrated through the veil and invaded Wen Qingci's ears, "I am fully responsible for this matter. If you need anything, just tell me directly."
(End of this chapter)