It had been a while since Qianjin Hall had received any emergency cases, especially nighttime emergencies.

Today wasn’t Qi Yue’s shift, so she was called from home.

“…The patient is making a terrible fuss and insists on seeing only you…” the disciple on duty said.

Yuan Bao personally carried the lantern while A’Ru held the medicine box, and the group hurried toward Qianjin Hall.

“…Another case of acute abdominal symptoms,” Qi Yue said, changing into her clothes and examining the patient with a frown. She then looked at the disciples. “From this, it seems this type of vomiting and diarrhea may be contagious. Everyone must pay attention to disinfection and epidemic prevention. All the patient’s clothes must be burned, and excreta must be buried deep.”

The disciples were all familiar with this and responded in unison.

“…Is it dysentery?” Qi Yue asked.

Before Liu Pucheng could speak, the patient on the bed, suffering from abdominal pain and gasping for breath, spoke up.

“No, dysentery medicine has been used… it doesn’t work… Both father and son of the Zhou family used it… and they both still died…” he said urgently.

“The Zhou family? You mean besides that Dr. Shen and the one at the funeral the day before yesterday, someone else died?” Qi Yue asked hurriedly.

“…Yes… the one you saw the day before yesterday… was the Zhou family’s son… he died yesterday…” he said. “Is… is this the plague…”

“You’re a doctor?” Qi Yue asked.

“This is Dr. Zhu from Bao’an Hall on the west side of the city,” Liu Pucheng introduced.

The plague…

So many people had already died…

In just a few days, this was too concentrated…

“Your medical history,” Qi Yue asked.

The patient couldn’t answer more than a few sentences before he started vomiting violently again. Before the vomiting finished, he started having diarrhea.

“This… this couldn’t be cholera, could it?” Qi Yue muttered.

“Cholera? Vomiting and diarrhea, body aches and chills, those who vomit and have diarrhea have cholera, cholera involves vomiting and diarrhea, and when the diarrhea stops, fever returns? It does seem somewhat similar,” Liu Pucheng said.

Qi Yue was confused listening to this.

“Stomach disturbance causing vomiting and diarrhea above and below, called cholera in the Treatise on Cold Damage,” Liu Pucheng continued.

“What you’re describing sounds like acute gastritis,” Qi Yue shook her head. “What I’m talking about is a virulent intestinal infectious disease, which didn’t exist in China at this time.”

China? At this time?

“When would it exist then?” Liu Pucheng asked.

“It should be during the Qing Dynasty,” Qi Yue answered casually.

After answering, she saw Liu Pucheng’s expression of shock.

“Qing Dynasty? What’s that?” he asked stammering.

Qi Yue spat.

“Teacher, now is not the time to discuss this!” she quickly changed the subject. “I don’t think it’s like cholera. This diarrhea is bloody watery stool, not rice-water stool…”

No tests could be done…

“First, replenish fluids,” Qi Yue said. “I’ll go to the laboratory to see if that penicillin is effective against those bacteria. At least I can identify roughly what type of bacteria it is.”

The night was still deep outside.

“But at this hour, the city gates are already closed,” Liu Pucheng said.

Here, A’Ru was preparing intravenous fluid replacement with the disciples.

“If all these people really died from this condition, then, as this doctor said, it’s very likely the plague. Never mind the closed city gates – even if there were a fire, I’d have to go,” Qi Yue said, looking at the nearly collapsed patient on the bed.

If it was the plague, that would be a major incident.

“Don’t mention these things outside for now, to avoid causing panic,” Qi Yue said.

Everyone responded in unison.

“Also, this room needs to be quarantined now. Strictly control and disinfect those entering and leaving. Change into surgical gowns,” Qi Yue added.

Surgical gowns were more tightly sealed than the white coats they currently wore.

“Master, the carriage is ready,” Hu San called from outside.

“Teacher, I’m leaving this to you,” Qi Yue said. “Also, shouldn’t this type of outbreak be reported to the authorities?”

“Yes, I’ll go,” Liu Pucheng nodded.

“Have all the medical halls in the city count how many cases of this condition there have been recently,” Qi Yue said.

Liu Pucheng nodded, watching as Qi Yue took the fresh watery stool extracted from this patient and left by carriage.

The city gate guards were awakened and were quite angry.

“What’s this! Leaving the city so late at night!” they scolded. “Even if you’re rushing to be reborn, you have to wait until the fifth watch!”

“Brother, I’m a doctor, it’s a matter of life and death. I must leave the city immediately,” Qi Yue called out loudly.

“What doctor…” one guard said dismissively. Before he could finish, he was kicked by someone beside him.

“What are you doing!” he turned back angrily.

“You turtle’s grandson, open the gate quickly! It’s Miss Qi!” the others scolded back. “If Young Master Huang finds out, he’ll break your legs!”

Only then did the man panic and run out to open the city gate.

“Miss Qi, it’s so late, let us escort you,” several people said ingratiatingly.

Qi Yue declined repeatedly, but these people just wouldn’t give up. Qi Yue had no time to argue with them and let them be.

The sound of horse hooves broke the night’s silence as they traveled.

When dawn was breaking, Wang Qingchun’s door was also knocked.

Hearing it was Liu Pucheng from Qianjin Hall, Wang Qingchun directly had him driven away.

“My lord!” Liu Pucheng uncharacteristically forced his way in.

As expected, following that woman, they all became disrespectful toward him.

Wang Qingchun sneered.

Liu Pucheng couldn’t care about his attitude and hurriedly told him about Dr. Zhu seeking treatment last night and the recent multiple deaths from diarrhea.

“We suspect it’s the plague, my lord. Please immediately investigate the entire city,” he said.

“Dr. Zhu actually…” Wang Qingchun only focused on this, his expression dark.

That coward!

“My lord, could this be typhoid…” Liu Pucheng said again.

Wang Qingchun looked at him with something like amusement.

“Typhoid? Plague?” he said.

Liu Pucheng looked at him and nodded.

“Did Miss Qi say this too?” Wang Qingchun asked.

“Yes, Miss Qi has already rushed outside the city to test new medicine, to see if it’s effective for this condition. This will take at least a day and night, so please, my lord, quickly investigate and implement plague prevention measures…” Liu Pucheng said hurriedly.

Wang Qingchun didn’t move, just looked at him.

Liu Pucheng was confused by his stare.

“I say, Dr. Liu,” Wang Qingchun looked at him, leaning back in his chair. “Think about how steady and modest you used to be. If I hadn’t gone to the capital, I wouldn’t have known that you were actually the senior disciple of Medical Director Meng.”

Liu Pucheng bowed respectfully.

“This disciple is unworthy and dares not speak my master’s name,” he said quietly.

“Now that’s true modesty, being unworthy,” Wang Qingchun shook his head and laughed mockingly. “If you’re unworthy, wouldn’t that mean Medical Director Meng taught his disciples poorly?”

“It’s this disciple who lacks talent. Please, my lord, don’t speak carelessly about my master,” Liu Pucheng straightened and said.

Wang Qingchun pursed his lips.

“My lord, please quickly order a thorough investigation of pharmacies and medical halls to see exactly how many cases like this there have been recently, so we can respond early,” Liu Pucheng said.

“What plague,” Wang Qingchun snorted. “It’s just these few people, and thinking about it, I should be the same way.”

Liu Pucheng was stunned, looking confused.

“A few of us ate at Qingfeng Tower a few days ago – Old Zhou and his son, Dr. Zhu, Dr. Shen, myself, and four others,” Wang Qingchun said, switching to cross his other leg. “I’ve already inquired. The owner of Qingfeng Tower admitted that there was a problem with the food that day – they used stale meat. That’s why everyone got stomach trouble.”

Liu Pucheng was stunned.

“I see…” he asked blankly. “But this is too dangerous – three people have already died…”

“What can be done about it?” Wang Qingchun frowned. “We can only say people have different constitutions. So many people ate there that day, and not everyone died.”

That was true…

Liu Pucheng nodded.

“But, my lord, since it’s due to Qingfeng Tower’s ingredients, there must be other people who will be affected. We should still issue a notice to remind everyone that this disease comes on fiercely, and if anyone has these symptoms, they should quickly come…” he said again.

Before he could finish, Wang Qingchun interrupted.

“Quickly come to your Qianjin Hall?” he raised an eyebrow.

“Yes, Miss Qi said that because of the vomiting and diarrhea, it causes dehydration and circulatory system failure, so large amounts of fluid must be replenished. We can use intravenous…” Liu Pucheng hurriedly explained.

Before he could finish, Wang Qingchun interrupted again.

“Miss Qi said! Miss Qi said! Miss Qi said!” he shouted with a dark face. “Is whatever Miss Qi says automatically true?”

His sudden outburst startled Liu Pucheng.

“Dr. Liu, you’re really becoming more and more disappointing,” Wang Qingchun looked at him and snorted. “No wonder you dare mention your school. With your behavior, speaking of it would truly disgrace your school!”

Not expecting him to say such harsh words, Liu Pucheng, who was never good at arguing with people, flushed red.

“My lord,” he looked up again and said, “I know you have a grudge against our Qianjin Hall, but at this moment, as a physician, please don’t be petty.”

Wang Qingchun was furious.

“Petty? I’m petty?” he stood up with angry eyes and a dark face, shouting, “I don’t know who keeps saying I should kneel down.”

Liu Pucheng looked at him.

“My lord, some people say things with their mouths but not their hearts, while others don’t say it with their mouths but keep it in their hearts,” he said calmly. “Which is truly unable to let go – mouth or heart? Which is truly petty? Don’t forget your duty as a medical judge because of your personal feelings!”

Wang Qingchun was furious.

“Liu Pucheng, your Qianjin Hall, for personal gain, dares to spread plague rumors, disturb public order, and cause public panic. I now, in the name of Medical Judge of Yongqing Prefecture, order the closure of your Qianjin Hall!” he shouted sternly.

As dawn gradually broke, more than ten porcelain vessels were arranged in front of Qi Yue, containing solidified broth culture medium.

“Master, we could only make this much broth culture medium,” two disciples said, sweating.

“If it’s barely enough, then this will have to do,” Qi Yue said, taking tiny amounts of the patient’s watery stool and placing them on these culture media.

“Master, can these be used for testing immediately?” the disciples asked.

Qi Yue shook her head.

“At the earliest, these won’t be ready until tomorrow,” she said. Speaking of this, she felt extremely fortunate. “Thank goodness I got some of that person’s… that day on the street…”

She looked up outside.

“By afternoon, the first batch of bacterial colonies will be about ready for cultivation… then we can test the drug efficacy… by tomorrow morning, the results will definitely be available,” she said, frowning with some anxiety.

That patient must hold on until tomorrow!

“How much longer until the white-haired prunella injection is ready?” Qi Yue asked.

A disciple ran out to shout.

“Testing drug efficacy and selecting suitable medicinal liquid will take until evening at the earliest,” came the answer from the tense laboratory.

“Evening it is. Send it over immediately when it’s ready,” Qi Yue said.

The disciples nodded in acknowledgment.

Qi Yue once again focused her gaze on the culture vessels before her.

Hurry, hurry, time, please go faster…