In the remote western district of the city, cries of grief broke the tranquility of the streets. In the pattering rain, the funeral procession looked particularly desolate.

“I heard he was only in his twenties, and his family has two little ones who can’t even walk yet.”

“…His wife has already tried to hang herself twice. With great effort they saved her, but now she’s lying in bed saying she wants to die no matter what…”

“So pitiful…”

People on the street pointed and whispered. Two young men wearing slate gray clothing rushed over to block the path.

Their clothes were soaked by the rain, and they seemed somewhat out of breath, as if they had been running urgently.

“…We’re from Qianjin Hall… May I ask, did this deceased person die from diarrhea?” one of them asked.

The funeral procession was stunned by being suddenly blocked, and even more bewildered when they heard these words.

“There’s been an outbreak of acute abdominal syndrome in the city recently, coming on fiercely, so we need to conduct an investigation to compile statistics on how densely concentrated it is, to better assess the severity of this disease crisis,” the disciple said, pulling out a piece of paper.

Written on it were the symptoms of acute abdominal syndrome and suggested responses.

This family had obviously heard about it too. Although they were somewhat displeased at being blocked, they still answered.

“It wasn’t diarrhea,” an elder said, his spirit dejected.

The two disciples exchanged glances but didn’t leave.

“Then what was the cause?” they asked.

“Get lost!” someone in the funeral procession grew impatient and shouted. “Don’t you know what time this is! What are you asking about! Are you here to gawk? To watch the spectacle?”

The two disciples were startled and hurriedly bowed and explained.

“No, no, we’re just doing a survey, to compile statistics on this area…” they said hastily.

“Statistics? What statistics? Can your statistics bring the dead back to life?” they shouted.

Of course that was impossible…

“This is also for the sake of more living people…” the disciples explained.

But the family members wouldn’t listen and rushed forward to push them away.

“Get out of here quickly, or we’ll break your legs!”

Watching the funeral procession disappear into the distance, the two disciples stood helplessly in the rain.

“What should we do?” one of them asked.

“Master said to conduct the investigation while protecting ourselves. If the family won’t cooperate, don’t force it,” the other said. “Let’s go back. At least we found out the cause of death, so this trip wasn’t completely in vain.”

The first disciple nodded, but they didn’t just walk away. Instead, they took out a stack of papers from their bags and distributed them to the people around who hadn’t yet dispersed.

“Take a look, pay attention to hygiene and epidemic prevention. If there’s any situation, be sure to seek medical attention promptly.”

The people around accepted the papers, but most couldn’t read and gathered together to discuss among themselves.

The two disciples gave a brief explanation before hurrying away down the street.

Qianjin Hall was more bustling than ever before.

“This won’t work, there are too many people,” Qi Yue said, removing her mask to reveal an anxious, exhausted face.

“Yes, in just these three short days, eight people have already been brought in,” Liu Pucheng said, his face equally weary.

“Although from what we can see so far, these patients didn’t infect each other – they’re all strangers – such a concentrated outbreak is still too frightening,” Qi Yue said.

“I’ll go find Wang Qingchun again…” Liu Pucheng turned to leave.

Qi Yue quickly stopped him.

“What’s the use of finding that bastard? All he can do is cause trouble. Let’s go directly to the authorities,” she said. “We’ll handle the rest ourselves and mobilize all the medical halls in the city to help.”

Liu Pucheng nodded.

“Then let’s try it. After all, this concerns human lives, and I think doctors at heart won’t stand by coldly,” he said. “I’ll handle this – first I’ll report to the authorities, then go find the various medical halls.”

Qi Yue nodded.

“Also, we need to quickly find a place outside the city. Although we haven’t found signs of person-to-person transmission yet, we still must be prepared. If the bacteria mutate and spread between people…” she said, looking through the main hall at the bustling marketplace, “the population is too concentrated here – it’s really too dangerous.”

“Have Hu San handle that,” Liu Pucheng said.

Speaking of Hu San, he came hurrying in.

“Master, the injection needles are ready. See if these will work,” he said, carrying a box.

Qi Yue quickly opened it. Inside was white porcelain shaped like those test tubes.

“My heavens, it’s truly exquisite!” she exclaimed in amazement.

This was injection equipment at artwork quality standards!

“It’s just that the needle tip really can’t be made as fine as yours, Master…” Hu San said regretfully.

“It’s fine, it’s fine, this is already good enough,” Qi Yue nodded in praise.

Liu Pucheng also took it to examine and praised it as well.

“Now we have enough syringes to inject penicillin,” he said.

No need to wait for needle sterilization after each injection like now.

For these patients brought in with acute abdominal syndrome, every minute of waiting meant another minute of danger.

“The craftsmen are working overtime. They estimate they can produce three more tomorrow,” Hu San said, wiping his face with his sleeve – it was impossible to tell if it was rainwater or sweat.

Qi Yue frowned again.

“We have syringes now, but penicillin supply might not keep up…” she murmured.

“Isn’t penicillin extractable now?” Liu Pucheng asked, puzzled.

“But it’s unstable, and of the fifty we made, only two were effective in the end,” Qi Yue said.

My god, so low!

“But there are more and more patients,” Liu Pucheng said with a frown.

Qi Yue sighed.

Nothing more needed to be said. Now they had to pour all their heart and soul into trying to extract more effective doses.

“Sir, Qianjin Hall simply cannot be ignored any longer!”

Wang Qingchun said loudly.

The prefect behind his desk, who had been reviewing documents, was startled.

This Wang Qingchun was merely a minor medical judge, yet he dared to shout at him like this, relying only on having connections above…

Thinking of this, the prefect put on a smiling face.

“Official Wang, why must you be so bothered by that little woman,” he laughed. “Come, sit down quickly, calm down.”

Wang Qingchun couldn’t sit still.

“Do you know what that woman is doing in the city now?” he said, eyes wide. “She…”

Before he could finish, footsteps sounded outside the door and a young nobleman burst in.

“Father, give me the official seal,” Huang Ziqiao said.

Originally there were people in the room, so he paused briefly. But seeing it was Wang Qingchun, he raised his head and snorted, not even glancing at him.

The prefect coughed sternly for show, but said nothing, taking out the seal.

“What do you need this for?” he asked casually, just putting on an act in front of others, not really expecting an answer.

Huang Ziqiao took it and left.

“…There are several merchant households with sick family members who refuse to isolate. I’m going to seal their shops!” he said offhandedly.

The prefect made an “oh” sound, not knowing if he heard or not.

To him, whatever his son did was fine.

Fortunately Wang Qingchun was quick-eyed and grabbed Huang Ziqiao.

“Young master, what are you going to do?” he asked loudly.

Huang Ziqiao had been looking for an opportunity. Seeing the old man rush at him, he immediately raised his foot to kick.

“Go to hell, it’s not your place to control me,” he cursed.

Wang Qingchun was kicked away but still wouldn’t let go of Huang Ziqiao’s arm.

“Hey, hey, children don’t understand. Official Wang, please don’t take it to heart,” the prefect hurried over, shouting.

Wang Qingchun was so angry his vision went dark.

This was called not understanding? Your son struck first, yet you only looked at your son’s arm being grabbed, as if I had used excessive force, when your son nearly kicked me to death! Are you blind?

Truly rotten from the top down!

“Sir, do you know what the young master is going to do?” he shouted sternly, startling the prefect.

The prefect was also somewhat displeased. It was just a light kick from his son – was this necessary? Besides, if you hadn’t rushed out first, my Ziqiao wouldn’t have reacted this way.

Maybe Ziqiao’s arm was hurt by this man’s grip…

Ziqiao’s health had been severely damaged!

“Ziqiao, are you alright?” he immediately grabbed his son’s arm while forcefully shaking off Wang Qingchun’s hand.

Having connections above wasn’t everything – everyone had connections these days.

“Sir!” Wang Qingchun stamped his foot angrily. “This is exactly that Qi woman causing trouble, bewitching the young master to seal shops!”

What?

The prefect was startled and looked at Huang Ziqiao.

“If it weren’t for this fool deliberately obstructing, would Qi woman have such trouble?” Huang Ziqiao said coldly, throwing down the seal and heading outside.

This time the prefect hurriedly held back his son.

“What’s really going on?” he asked.

If his son was handling matters, naturally there would be no mistake. Of course, his son would never be foolish enough to be used as someone’s weapon. But if it was that woman…

“Qi woman is spreading rumors of plague in the city. Relying on having miraculous medicine, she’s going door to door demanding reports of anyone with diarrhea, wanting to lock all diarrhea patients in a manor outside the city…” Wang Qingchun said coldly. “Not only does she investigate the living, she won’t even spare the dead, chasing people to ask how they died. If the families hadn’t stopped her, she would have performed autopsies!”

The prefect was dumbfounded.

Plague…

Plague!

“There’s plague!” he cried out, grabbing Huang Ziqiao’s hand. “You must take your mother back to the capital immediately! Leave right now!”

“Sir!” Wang Qingchun was about to explode with rage, shouting and grabbing the prefect’s arm. “Look how you react just from hearing this! Imagine how panicked the people are now! Several wealthy households are already preparing to move away!”

“Right, right, move away, move away,” the prefect nodded somewhat frantically. “Heaven, plague – I still remember the great epidemic in Qingde Prefecture that year. It really was… it really was a city emptied overnight…”

“Sir, this is not plague!” Wang Qingchun stamped his foot.

“Ah? Not plague?” The prefect looked at him with some doubt. “How is it not? Didn’t Qi woman say it was?”

Again this woman said something! Why must everyone believe whatever this woman says!

“This is not plague, this is poisoning. The owner of Qingfeng Restaurant brought in unclean vegetables and meat, causing diners to vomit and have diarrhea. Following the restaurant owner’s confession, I’ve already investigated and dealt with several vegetable and meat vendors. Those who later had vomiting and diarrhea also confirmed they bought vegetables and meat from these vendors,” Wang Qingchun said in one breath. “This is such a simple matter! Such a simple matter! I’ve already announced it publicly repeatedly! Such a simple, clear matter! Yet that woman insists on making trouble! Must she cause public panic and flight, alarm the court, and make Yongqing Prefecture a laughingstock?”

Right, the prefect finally awakened from his series of concerns ranging from his son being bullied to Wang Qingchun being petty to plague arriving.

Casually spreading plague rumors was undoubtedly equivalent to the grave crime of inciting civil unrest!