Qi Yue reached up and patted her head.

“Oh my heavens,” she said, looking at A’Ru. “So you’re saying you all knew, and I was the only one who didn’t?”

She was still muttering about how the two newly hired laborers were so clumsy… turns out they weren’t laborers at all, but bodyguards!

No wonder they followed her around constantly, yet none of the disciples in the hall complained about it.

A’Ru nodded.

“Wait a minute,” Qi Yue thought of something. “How did he know I was almost beaten to death? Wasn’t he outside at the time?”

She looked at A’Ru, who glanced up at her.

“He came back?” Qi Yue read her expression and guessed.

A’Ru nodded.

Qi Yue patted her forehead again and turned in circles.

“So I was the only one who didn’t know again, wasn’t I?” She pointed at herself.

A’Ru smiled awkwardly and nodded.

“Why did you all hide it from me?” Qi Yue asked urgently.

“Because… the Prince was afraid you… afraid you would feel burdened by it…” A’Ru said in a low voice.

“What burden would I have? Afraid I’d cling to him and not let go?” Qi Yue said angrily.

That was pretty much the meaning, after all there was still Madam Xie, and the Prince had no choice… A’Ru sighed.

Qi Yue naturally knew this too, biting her lip and frowning for a moment.

“I was wondering, I was wondering how he knew about managing the blue oxen, and knew about using iron wire for opening chests… so it turns out…” she murmured. “So it turns out, I wasn’t dreaming…”

She suddenly turned around, looking toward the distance where the main road stretched away.

At that time, she had dreamed of that man holding her hand, repeatedly saying in her ear how much he missed her. It turned out, it wasn’t a dream…

This bastard…

Qi Yue felt her eyes becoming sore and reached up to cover her mouth.

This bastard…

Xiao Qu was called out from the medicine room by Qi Yue, still carrying a dustpan in his hands.

“Enough, stop pretending. You’re quite good at acting too,” Qi Yue said, looking at him.

Xiao Qu looked completely bewildered.

“Master, what are you talking about?” he asked, feigning confusion.

Qi Yue looked at him.

Xiao Qu felt uncomfortable under her gaze, then saw A’Ru outside making eye signals at him and suddenly understood.

“Miss Qi,” he said sheepishly, putting down the dustpan in his hands.

“Take this to him,” Qi Yue said, handing over a small piece of paper.

Xiao Qu instinctively took it and glanced at it.

Chang Yuncheng you bastard why are you running…

He quickly looked away.

“Miss, the Prince later told us not to deliver messages to him anymore, and stopped the carrier pigeons too,” he said.

Qi Yue was stunned.

“Why?” she asked.

“The Prince was afraid we would disturb your… your…” Xiao Qu stammered. Though the Prince hadn’t said it directly, ever since they had sent news about Qi Yue and Wang Qian drinking and chatting happily, contact had been cut off, the pigeons recalled. Obviously, he couldn’t handle that blissful stimulation…

Qi Yue sighed and reached for the paper back, crumpling it up in her hands.

“Miss, the Prince gave us to you, so we’ve already severed ties with that side,” Xiao Qu said quietly.

“Thank you for telling me that I gained two more people to support without even knowing it,” Qi Yue said irritably.

The room fell silent.

Qi Yue paced back and forth twice.

“I’m going to the northern desert,” she suddenly stopped and said.

Both Xiao Qu and A’Ru were stunned, staring at her blankly without reacting.

“Yes, that’s right, I’m going to the northern desert,” Qi Yue clapped her hands. “I said long ago that I would go see him.”

“That’s so far away,” A’Ru panicked and quickly said. “You… you mustn’t act rashly.”

“It’s far, but didn’t he go there too?” Qi Yue said. The more she thought about it, the more excited she became, lifting her foot to walk outside. “Come on, let’s go back and plan this properly.”

A’Ru couldn’t stop her and stamped her feet anxiously.

“You need to quickly find out which route the Prince took and find a way to get word to him to talk sense into this one. This one really does what she says she’ll do,” she said.

Xiao Qu quickly agreed and ran out too.

Meanwhile, A’Ru chased after them, but saw Qi Yue blocked at the courtyard gate.

“Miss, this is terrible! Anthrax has appeared in other prefectures too!” several official-looking people said, sweating profusely.

So the spread couldn’t be stopped after all?

“Those pigs from Shihe – some were bought from other places, and some were sold to other places, so…” an official explained.

Qi Yue nodded.

“Then we’ll all have to work hard for a few more days,” she said.

Hearing her speak, the several officials who had been waiting eagerly were immediately overjoyed.

“Miss Qi, come to our place…”

“Come to our place first…”

The courtyard immediately became lively. This concerned lives and their own careers. Now in Yongqing Prefecture, everyone knew that trusting Miss Qi could ensure safety, promotion, and wealth. The officials from other places nearly came to blows.

“Don’t worry, don’t worry. This doesn’t require me to go in person. Just follow the requirements for epidemic prevention and isolation, then use medicine for treatment and there won’t be any problems,” Qi Yue quickly said loudly to calm them.

Although she said this, everyone still hoped she would go in person to provide reassurance. After much arguing and competing, they finally discussed and decided on the places to visit based on the severity of the epidemic and distance.

This time, the disciples of Qianjin Hall were divided into several groups to go to different places.

“You’ve all made these medicines, and you’ve personally experienced how to prevent this disease, so you can handle things independently now,” Qi Yue said, looking at the disciples ready to depart.

They were graduating, and moreover, they held in their hands medicines that were unique in the world. Their master had allowed them to possess and use these medicines without reservation.

One could imagine what kind of treatment they would receive when they went out with these medicines! The disciples trembled with excitement.

Following the original trajectory, they would have remained disciples for seven or eight years, or even ten or twenty years, finally relying on their master’s reputation to slowly begin practicing medicine. As for what kind of future they might have, that would depend on fate. The good ones might match their master, but most would just be able to make a living.

Who would have thought that in just one year, they would be able to graduate! And right after graduation, they would be dealing with such a major epidemic!

Epidemics were dangerous, but wealth had always been found in danger – the more dangerous, the greater the reward.

They had originally been an unremarkable group of apprentice disciples, but now they grasped the medicines and knowledge their master had given them, about to carve out new territories in their lives.

This was an opportunity they couldn’t have dreamed of!

Liu Pucheng looked at these disciples, also somewhat excited.

He stepped forward and looked at everyone.

“What is a great physician?” he asked solemnly.

The disciples immediately straightened their backs.

“When great physicians treat illness, they must calm their spirits and fix their will, without desire or seeking. First they must develop great compassion and merciful hearts, vowing to universally save all beings from suffering. If someone comes seeking help for illness, do not ask about their noble or humble status, rich or poor, young or old, beautiful or ugly, enemy or friend, Chinese or foreign, wise or foolish – treat them all equally, all as beloved relatives. Also do not look ahead and behind, worrying about fortune and misfortune, protecting and cherishing your own life. Seeing others’ suffering as if it were your own, deeply saddened in heart. Do not avoid danger, day or night, cold or heat, hunger or thirst or fatigue – wholeheartedly rush to rescue, without any thought of achievement or recognition. Only thus can you be a great physician for all living beings. The opposite makes you a great thief among living beings,” they recited in unison, this teaching deeply ingrained in their bones, rolling off their tongues.

At first only these people recited it, but by the end, all the disciples were reciting loudly along.

The loud, firm voices echoed in the courtyard, making people’s blood boil involuntarily.

This scene made those disciples who hadn’t been selected for the medical dispatch teams both envious and longing, but more than anything, excited – as long as they followed their master, they too would have such a day.

“Alright, everyone set off. Remember, this is an epidemic, more fierce than tigers. Don’t be careless, protect yourselves – human life is always the most important thing,” Qi Yue clapped her hands and said loudly.

“Yes!” the disciples responded loudly.

Finally came the moment of parting, and some couldn’t help but cry.

“Senior brother, don’t worry, we’ll be back soon after going out,” several disciples said, comforting the weeping Hu San.

“Remember… remember… to pay back the medicine money on time…” Hu San gripped their hands and said chokingly.

Taking away so many medicines at once, so much money… so much money… it really broke his heart…

Everyone burst into laughter, the laughter diluting the sadness and tension of parting and heading to dangerous places.

Amidst the laughter, everyone departed in different directions.

Qi Yue walked out with A’Ru. She couldn’t help but look up toward the north, then stepped into the carriage.

The horses and men quickly departed.

At this time in Shanning Prefecture, in the Xie family residence, Madam Xie sneezed lightly and woke up.

The room was very quiet. She slowly turned her head, hearing the maids’ low conversation from the outer room.

“…It really is an epidemic…”

“…Of course it’s real… quite a few people died…”

“…But fortunately Miss Qi is there…”

“…Yes, yes, Miss Qi is really amazing…”

Miss Qi? An epidemic?

Madam Xie vaguely remembered that a few days ago, Old Madam Xie had told her that Yongqing Prefecture was suffering from an epidemic, and had repeatedly sighed with relief that she had brought her here, otherwise she would have worried herself to death.

But Miss Qi…

Was it that woman again?

Madam Xie let out a snort of laughter through her nose.

The Marquis Dingxi was probably at home feeling envious, jealous, and hateful again.

But so what? Good or bad, in this lifetime she would never have any relationship with the Dingxi Marquis household, and she and her sister would never accept that woman’s offerings.

“…When the Prince rushed over, Miss Qi must have been very happy, right?”

“Of course, it was such a big help…”

“…Shh, don’t talk about this here…”

The intermittent conversation from outside drifted in and was suddenly suppressed, returning to quiet.

What? The Prince?

Madam Xie snapped out of her daze and suddenly sat up, but she got up too quickly and felt dizzy, her hand quickly reaching for support, pulling down the bed curtain in a flurry of movement.

This commotion finally alerted the maids outside, who hurried in. Seeing Madam Xie sitting on the bed, they were startled.

“Madam, you’re up?”

“Madam, you got up by yourself?”

The maids were both surprised and delighted.

These past days, Madam Xie had recovered very well, but when it came to sitting up and walking, she still needed support. Actually, according to Old Physician An, Madam Xie should try moving on her own, but the wound was truly frightening, and Madam Xie never dared to move by herself.

“Wonderful, wonderful! Miss Qi’s medical skills really are amazing…” the maids said happily.

Madam Xie felt chest tightness.

This was truly a cruel reality she couldn’t face.

Although that woman had been driven out of the Dingxi Marquis household, she would never be able to escape that woman’s mark for the rest of her life.

Because her life was given by that woman, and that woman’s benevolent mark was branded on her body – even death couldn’t erase it!

Madam Xie felt dizzy and fell back heavily.