Shang Jun hurried back to Misty Mountain Villa, and before entering the villa, he saw Shang Xiao clasped his hands tightly, walking around the front yard anxiously, his face full of panic, Shang Jun hurriedly walked over and asked: "Smile? What's wrong with you?"
Shang Xiao suddenly heard the voice, and was startled at first. After seeing that it was Lord Shang, the frown that was still together slowly loosened, and a hanging heart finally returned to its original position. Shang Xiao took Shang Jun's hand and let out a long sigh of relief, "Brother, you are finally back."
Shang Jun always felt that something unusual happened, and asked, "What happened?"
Shang Xiao bit his lip and whispered back: "There is a plague in Linfeng Pass."
"Plague?" Shang Jun was shocked. In all dynasties and dynasties, any plague means disaster.
"Well, the city gate has been closed for five days. You can only enter and exit if you get the customs clearance token from the county governor. Uncle Zhong went to check the situation, but he hasn't come back yet." Uncle Zhong has been out all day, and there is no news. She was really scared just now.
Shang Xiao tugged at his hand tightly, and his fingernails were unknowingly digging into the flesh. Even Shang Jun was in a state of confusion now, but he didn't dare to show the slightest bit on his face. He hugged Shang Xiao lightly and said calmly: "Don't worry, let's talk inside the house."
Entering the front hall, Shang Xiao was still restless, walked back and forth several times, looked nervously at the slightly frowning Shang Jun, and asked, "I heard from the guards that guarded the city, a lot of people have died. Brother. , what are we going to do now?" She had also heard of the severity of the plague, and had read many records about the plague in the four countries in the past two days, none of which was not tragic and terrifying.
Shang Jun sighed softly, pulled the anxious Shang Xiao to sit beside her, held her shoulders with a slight force, his calm eyes met Shang Shang Xiao's flustered eyes, and whispered, "Don't be afraid, you stay at home well. , don't walk around, I have everything."
I have everything—
"Well." Shang Xiao leaned gently on Shang Jun's shoulder, and his trembling body finally recovered calm under Shang Jun's tap. In the past few days when he was away, she was really frightened. Uncle Zhong and the guards were in a hurry. The rumors about the plague in Linfengguan were spreading, and she was a little confused. Now she is finally not afraid, because he is back and her brother is her only relative. As long as they are together, there is nothing scary about death.
Shang Xiao slowly settled down, but Shang Jun's heart became more and more uneasy. The guard came in a hurry, stopped outside the front hall, and said, "Master, Uncle Zhong is back."
Shang Jun replied loudly: "Let him wait for me in the side hall."
"Yes."
Patting Shang Xiao's head lightly, Shang Jun said softly, "Xiao'er, go back to Yongle Pavilion and stay there, don't run around."
"No." Shang Xiao stood up excitedly and shouted, "I've read a lot of books about epidemics, and I can also help."
Shang Jun shook his head and said unquestionably: "Be obedient, plagues are sometimes more terrifying than war, don't let me worry about you, okay?" No matter what happens, Xiao'er must not have an accident.
Shang Xiao opened her mouth, and the rebuttal words in her mouth were abruptly suppressed. She lowered her head and murmured back: "Well. Don't worry, I will take care of myself."
"good."
Shang Jun turned to leave, Shang Xiao quickly raised his head and shouted loudly, "Brother, you have to be careful."
Shang Jun turned his head and said with a smile, "Okay."
Shang Xiao stared blankly at the back of Shang Jun leaving, turned her head down and walked towards Yongle Pavilion. When will she not be a burden? Practice martial arts! She must practice martial arts well. One day, she can stand behind him, fight side by side with him, and avenge her parents. At that time, she should be able to call her sister again. Clenching his fists, Shang Xiao ran frantically to the backyard.
Shang Jun rushed to the side hall in a hurry, and Yang Zhong, who had been waiting there for a long time, immediately folded his fists and saluted: "Master."
The Lord of Shang sat down on the throne and said, "Uncle Zhong, don't be polite, sit down and tell me the details of the epidemic at Linfengguan."
"Yes." Yang Zhong stood up straight, but did not sit down, and reported what he had inquired about, "Half a month ago, it was reported that a lot of villagers in Huqiu Village in the southern suburbs of Linfengguan were suffering from acute illness, and many doctors were invited. Not optimistic. Who knows that after five days, many villagers in the nearby villages have also developed the same emergency as the Huqiu villagers. The doctor said that it may be the plague, which has caused panic among people. The epidemic has been spreading and more and more A few days ago, the county governor sent heavy troops to isolate those villages, and Linfengguan was also heavily guarded, and anyone entering or leaving Linfengguan must have the county governor's token."
It has been half a month, no wonder Xiaoer said that many people died. Shang Jun Jian frowned slightly and asked, "How are the sick villagers now?"
"They were all imprisoned in Huqiu Village. The county governor just wanted to prevent the epidemic from spreading. He didn't care about the lives and deaths of the villagers. But the Ruan family entered Huqiu Village and heard that they were already treating the villagers. There are still people getting sick.”
Ruan family? Is it Ruan Tingyu's family? Shang Jun secretly admired that the Ruan family was worthy of being a family of medicine, with good hands and benevolent hearts.
"What does the sheriff do?"
With a look of contempt on Yang Zhong's face, he replied, "He moved his family to Fengshan Town, a hundred miles away, two days ago. He hid in the county governor's mansion and did not dare to go out. It seems that he wants to let the villagers fend for themselves." Huang Shijie, a scum, married the minister of the Ministry of Personnel because of his sister, and had some connections in the court and got the post of the county governor of Linfengguan. Knowing that they levied heavy taxes and oppressed good people, they did nothing at all in times of crisis.
If the plague could be solved by such interception, so many people would not have lost their lives here over the years. Shang Jun got up, walked to the front courtyard, and explained: "Uncle Zhong, you separate the front hall of the villa from the rear courtyard, and all the female family members are moved to the rear courtyard. All servants and guards who have been out of the villa are not allowed to enter the rear courtyard. | Courtyard, use the medicine stone to clean your hands every day, spray the courtyard, and don't let the people in the villa contract the disease. Also, mobilize the shadow guards of the villa, and wait for my order."
Hearing Shang Jun's tone, Yang Zhong felt a little uneasy and asked, "Master, what do you think?"
"I want to go into Huqiu Village to find out." The Ruan family was inside, and the epidemic was still out of control. Something must have gone wrong.
"No way!" Yang Zhong said anxiously when he heard that Shang Jun was about to be in danger, "Plague is no child's play. So far, the Ruan family has not been able to find a cure."
"The epidemic can't be controlled, and the Misty Villa can't be spared." It was precisely because he knew the terrible epidemic that Shang Jun had to go.
Yang Zhong stopped before Shang Jun and said in a deep voice, "You must go, let the old slave go."
He has been an escort for Weiyuan Escort for a lifetime, escorted goods countless times, and died, but because of an accident, the goods were robbed, and they actually slandered him and thieves conspired to embezzle the goods, and kicked him out of the escort, the people on the rivers and lakes , listened to the words of the Weiyuan Escort Bureau, regarded him as a treacherous person, and many so-called friends who used to make fun of wine turned their backs on him. Only he, this young man named Shang Jun, not only believed in his conduct, but also entrusted him with important responsibilities. He was a lot of age, and he was alone. It would not be a pity to die, and it was worth dying for him.
Shang Jun shook his head and said with a smile: "I still have some connections with the Ruan family. It is more appropriate for me to go. After entering the village, I will not go back to the villa. Every day you go to the back mountain of Huqiu Village and wait for my order." He didn't know Yang Zhong's intentions, but how could he let an old man get into danger.
Shang Jun's decision can never be questioned, Yang Zhong was stunned, and finally had to reply: "Yes."
Shang Jun nodded in satisfaction, and the thin figure rushed towards Huqiu Village, even though he had just returned from Cang Yue's journey day and night, even though he had not had a good rest for several days.
Tiger Hill Village.
The first ray of morning light pierced the clouds and woke up the silent night sky. The fiery red light between the clouds was smearing the sky little by little, like a piece of dazzling red silk, swaying gracefully in the sky. It was supposed to be a silent dawn, but moaning and weeping were intertwined. Another long and terrifying day has begun for Huqiu Village.
Ruan Tingfeng pulled out the thin needle, and the child in his hand finally breathed again. He handed the child into the hands of his mother who had been crying all night. Ruan Tingfeng cleaned his hands tiredly and whispered to the child beside him: "Lin Qin, medicine."
"Yes." Lin Qin skillfully poured out the concoction, held the child's head, and fed him the medicine bit by bit.
Ruan Tingfeng rubbed his temples, waiting for the dizziness to subside. Not far behind, Ruan Tingyu's anxious voice came, "Brother, come here."
"After using the medicine, give him a decoction to wipe his body." Ruan Tingfeng rushed to Ruan Tingyu's side after hurriedly explaining to Lin Qin, "What's wrong?"
At her feet, a woman in her early forties was lying flat on a bed made of a simple piece of wood. Her skin was already pale gray, and her body stenched. Ruan Tingyu shook her head solemnly, and Ruan Tingfeng stroked her. There is no pulse in the neck of a person.
Ruan Tingfeng retracted his hand and whispered, "The corpse, burn it as soon as possible."
The boy sitting beside the woman immediately bounced up and was about to pounce on the woman, but Ruan Tingfeng grabbed his wrist. The young man knelt down at his feet and cried, "Impossible, my mother is not dead, she was talking to me last night! Doctor, please, look again, look again! Don't burn my mother Dear."
Ruan Tingfeng closed his eyes in pain, and the teenager pulled him, unable to say a word of comfort. The villagers next to him stepped forward and pulled the boy away. Ruan Tingfeng walked out of the temporary tent helplessly. He practiced medicine for more than ten years. This was the most painful experience he had ever experienced. .
Ruan Tingyu stood behind him, staring blankly at the rising sun, the vibrant morning light, but it failed to bring her any hope of life. A pair of beautiful eyebrows were also tangled together, Ruan Tingyu sighed: "It's already the seventh one today, what should I do if it goes on like this?"
Ruan Tingfeng shook his head dejectedly, "There is no green hanging grass, and the medicine is not complete, so we can only do our best." The medicine soup has been changed four or five times, with little effect. He really has no choice.
The magpie hurried over from the other end, glanced at Ruan Tingfeng who was suffering from a headache, hesitated for a moment, turned around and whispered in Ruan Tingyu's ear, "Miss, there is not enough porridge." Yesterday's food has been eaten, today's The food has not been delivered, and even if it is delivered, it will not be enough.
"Isn't it enough?" Ruan Tingyu looked at her brother's tired back and couldn't bear to bother him with these things. She instructed the magpie, "Don't mention the lack of food in the future, and let the family transport some food directly. come on."
The magpie clenched his fists and roared unevenly: "We are a home of medicine, not a rice shop. With so many people, how long can the food at home last? The medicine store at home is empty, and now there is more Distributing food, the county governor is damned!" The government only knows to throw sick people in, but they don't care if they live or die! How long can the Ruan family last
Ruan Tingyu glared at Magpie, motioned her not to make a loud noise, waved her hand, and said angrily, "Okay, don't babble, go quickly."
Magpie wanted to say something else, but looked around at the people who were weeping or struggling, and felt that it was useless to complain about it now, just turned to leave, but saw a strange and familiar emaciated person in the distance that should not be here. figure. Magpie took Ruan Tingyu's hand and called out, "Miss, look, that person, that person—" Magpie couldn't remember the name for a while.
"Shangjun?" Ruan Tingyu whispered, she couldn't believe her eyes, it was him, was it really him
He was busy raising food last night and entered Huqiu Village early in the morning. The sight in front of Shang Jun was stinging his eyes. There were not enough houses in the village. Most of the sick villagers were placed in temporary tents in the village. Moans, vomits, and weeping mixed with the stench and the smell of medicinal herbs filled this small mountain village, and the corpses were carried out one by one and piled up on wooden racks full of firewood in the distance. The sluggish, panicked, or sad people squatted beside the wooden frame, and the despair in their eyes made people tremble.
Shang Jun was about to look for the Ruan family when he heard a low voice coming from a distance, looked up and saw Ruan Tingyu in the morning light.
Shang Jun walked over, Ruan Tingyu also greeted him, looked at Shang Jun up and down, and said anxiously: "Shang Jun, why are you here?" Could it be that he also contracted the epidemic
"I heard that there is a plague here, let's see if there is anything that can help you." Seeing Ruan Tingyu, Shang Jun was slightly surprised. He knew that the Ruan family was here, but he didn't expect Ruan Tingyu to come too. As a woman, she resolutely took on a heavy responsibility at such a time, she was just like when he first met, she was not allowed to be a man.
Knowing that he was not sick, Ruan Tingyu's heart finally returned to his place, but looking at the decaying and tragic scene around him, Ruan Tingyu sighed: "This place is very dangerous, you should not come."
"It doesn't matter, if the epidemic is not controlled, everything is just as dangerous." Turning to Ruan Tingfeng, who was standing aside, Shang Jun asked, "Mr. Ruan, what can Shang Jun help?"
Ruan Tingfeng nodded slightly in return, but before he had time to speak, the magpie beside him complained, "You don't know medical skills, so how can you help. There is not enough to eat, and there is another one for no reason."
"Magpie!" Ruan Tingyu reprimanded.
Ruan Tingfeng didn't know what to say for a while. Although he admired this man named Shang Jun, he was so courageous and traveled alone in the epidemic area. It can be seen that this man has a pure heart and a heart for the world. He quite appreciates it, but the magpie said the same To be honest, he rushed in and couldn't help.
Shang Jun pointed to the five carts of grain that the guards helped push in at the entrance of the village, and said with a smile: "When I came, I had already prepared some, and a thousand stones should last for a while, I'll think of a way if it's not enough. So can I stay?"
The magpie hurriedly looked over, and sure enough, she saw hundreds of bags of grain piled up at the entrance of the village. She exclaimed in surprise, "Did you really bring it here? Great." She didn't have to worry about eating anymore.
"Thank you, Shang Jun." Ruan Tingyu could finally breathe a sigh of relief, the Ruan family's financial resources really couldn't support it for long.
Shang Jun didn't take credit, and replied calmly: "Don't say that, compared to you, these are nothing. Have you not found a medicine stone that can cure the disease?"
Ruan Tingyu looked at Ruan Tingfeng in embarrassment, Ruan Tingfeng looked sad, and replied, "I found it, but there is still one medicine, green hanging grass."
Green hanging grass? He hadn't heard of it, but it didn't matter. All he cared about right now was, "Finding the green hanging grass can solve this epidemic?"
Ruan Tingfeng shook his head, not sure, "Green constricted grass can quickly heal abscesses and other wounds, and it should be able to relieve the epidemic by supporting internal qi and suppressing evil toxins, but it will only be known whether it is really effective after the patient has taken it. ." This is also the recipe he found after rummaging through the medical books left by his ancestors, he has never experienced such an epidemic.
Then you will know only after you try it. Shang Jun asked, "Where can I find the green hanging grass?"
Ruan Tingfeng replied with a headache: "The green constricted grass is produced in Qishan, south of Cang Yue, and only grows in the deep pool where the streams converge at the bottom of the mountain. But the green hanging grass is extremely precious, not to mention that the Xiao family may not have it, and even if it does, it may not be willing to give it."
Shang Jun frowned lightly. He definitely won't be able to get the medicine in the palace. As for the Xiao family, this time it is not for business, but to ask for medicine from the Xiao family. He is really not sure, and he gritted his teeth secretly. "I'll find a way."
Ruan Tingyu's eyes lit up and shouted, "Mr. Shang, can you really find the green hanging grass?" .
Ruan Tingfeng looked at Shang Jun with a look of astonishment. If he could really get this medicine, this person would be really capable.
The two too hot eyes made Shang Jun not know how to answer, so he only smiled bitterly: "Do your best."
Shang Jun stood on the mountain behind Huqiu Village. From here, he could see the whole village. However, the most conspicuous thing was not the ruined scene in the village, but the soldiers guarding the village one mile away. A wooden fence full of thorns stretched across the entrance of the village. Thousands of soldiers dressed in iron armor and holding spears stared at the entrance of the village alertly, as if a ferocious and terrifying monster was locked inside, with long bows and arrows aimed at them. In one direction, as long as someone wants to get close to the wooden fence, they can shoot him into a hedgehog.
In this village, there is indeed a hideous monster that can kill people at any time, and they left the villagers helpless in the village, allowing the monster to wreak havoc. But he can't blame them. They are defending more rights in life. In front of such a big situation, a small village is nothing, right? Shang Jun retracted his gaze, looked up at the sky, and couldn't help but evoke a sarcastic smile.
"Master." A respectful male voice came from behind.
With his back to Yang Zhong, Shang Jun took a few steps forward, raised his hand gently, and signaled him not to go forward. In his gentle voice, there was a hint of exhaustion, "Okay, just stand there."
Yang Zhong looked at the proud, but thin and tired back not far away, and asked worriedly, "Are you alright?"
Turning around, Shang Jun raised the corners of his lips to cover his tiredness, his eyes filled with determination, and replied, "I'm fine, this letter should be delivered to the Xiao family as soon as possible, and it must be handed over to the third young master of the Xiao family. Also, let Yingyou steal the county governor's token, open the official warehouse, and transport the food into Huqiu Village." Raising some food is not difficult for the villa, but he can't see the county governor staying out of the way, ignoring it. The lives of the villagers, since Huang Shijie refused to do anything, he was the only one who did it for him.
"Yes."
Putting the letter on the stone at his feet, Shang Jun turned around and walked down the mountain. After only two steps, he stopped and asked worriedly, "Is Xiao'er okay?"
Yang Zhong picked up the envelope and placed it between his sleeves, and replied, "Miss didn't know that you entered Huqiu Village, and now you are obediently staying in Yongle Pavilion."
"Don't let her know, and don't let her leave the Misty Villa." After speaking, Shang Jun walked away without hesitation. Xiao'er always has to grow up, she must slowly learn to take care of herself and learn to live alone, because he doesn't know how long he can keep her dependent.
Yang Zhong replied in a deep voice, "Yes."
Shang Jun sat on the boulder, watching the smoke in front of him, the flames lingering, listening to the squeak of firewood burning, accompanied by the sound of tearing hearts. This was the scene he saw the most in the few days he was here. A person who was still joking with you the day before may be dead and melted into the fire today.
"The epidemic will be contagious, so it is best to cover your face with gauze. Before you come into contact with someone who is sick or eat, you must wash your hands with medicine soup." Ruan Tingyu held a plain white veil and handed it to Shang Jun. She has been busy these days. Taking care of the villagers, he often came and went without a trace, and when she finally saw him, she couldn't help but walk up to him.
"Thank you." Shang Jun took the veil and looked forward with a pair of deep eyes, thoughtful.