Dense clouds gathered and accumulated, cold winds suddenly arose, the north wind was bitter and harsh beneath the dilapidated city gates.

The young man sat high upon his fine horse, casting a light glance over the crowd. With a flick of his whip, several people bound tightly rolled forward like gourds before everyone.

He spoke: “Caught a few small thieves. Sunan people?”

Cai Fang hurried forward: “Yes, my lord. These people killed the warehouse guards last night and stole medicine and grain from the city. Thank you, my lord, for capturing these criminals!”

The other’s gaze swept over him as he said: “Handle it yourselves.” With another raise of his hand, the guards beside him dismounted upon seeing this signal. From behind the horse cart they dragged out several heavy large boxes, cupping their hands toward Cai Fang: “My lord encountered this group outside the city. Seeing their suspicious behavior, he acted to capture them. These should be the stolen medicine and grain.”

Cai Fang was overjoyed. Taking two or three steps to the boxes, he opened the lids and saw that the medicinal materials and grain were all intact and undamaged. His heart immediately felt a long sigh of relief. Looking again at the man on horseback, he was filled with gratitude.

“My lord is…”

The guard who had just spoken flashed a waist token before Cai Fang’s eyes. Cai Fang looked carefully and his face showed surprise.

A Palace Guard token—this was an Imperial Guard from the capital Shengjing?

How could Imperial Guards come to Sunan?

Thinking of what the reporting clerk had said earlier, Cai Fang’s thoughts turned.

The Qishui rebellion had lingered without resolution. The court had sent people to suppress the disorder, and initially it was said to be General Zhenwei, but now it had changed to people from the Palace Guard.

However, affairs in Shengjing were too distant from Sunan. Even inquiring about them would be meaningless.

Li Wenhu on the side couldn’t help but ask curiously: “How did my lord come to Sunan?”

Hearing this, the young man on horseback said slowly: “Wasn’t it you who wrote asking me to come?”

Li Wenhu was startled.

Cai Fang said awkwardly: “It was this subordinate who wrote asking for Qishui’s assistance… troubling my lord.”

He had actually written that letter with the mentality of treating a dead horse as if it were alive. After all, previous requests for help to Qishui had sunk like stones into the sea without any response. He never expected this lord from Shengjing would ride here personally.

From the convoy of carriages and horses descended a round-faced youth with an amiable expression, smiling as he spoke to Cai Fang: “County Deputy, rest assured. His Majesty is already fully aware of Sunan’s situation and has specially dispatched Lord Pei to come assist.” He pointed to the convoy behind him, “We’ve brought much rice, grain, medicine, and warming supplies that should be helpful.”

“Really? Excellent!”

Cai Fang straightened his expression, cupping his hands and bowing deeply in formal ceremony: “My lord’s kindness, this subordinate will never forget on behalf of Sunan’s common people.”

“No matter.”

The medical officials nearby recognized familiar faces and began whispering among themselves. Lu Tong stood in the crowd, looking at the youth on horseback with somewhat complex emotions.

She hadn’t expected Pei Yunying would come to Sunan.

She had heard Chang Jin mention before that Pei Yunying went to Qishui. When Lin Danqing spoke of this matter with her, she had even speculated whether he might come to Sunan.

Lu Tong thought this possibility was very small.

Sunan was a plague area. Even if he had successfully quelled the rebellion, his urgent priority should be returning to the capital to report back.

Yet he had come to this place after all.

She raised her eyes to look at Pei Yunying.

The youth sat high on his horse, his gaze calmly sweeping over the crowd before the city gates. When it paused on her for an instant before withdrawing, he seemed like a stranger she had never met.

Lu Tong also withdrew her gaze.

From beside her came Cai Fang’s voice: “My lord has traveled far and worked hard. This subordinate will first lead people to unload this rice and grain.” He turned to look at Chang Jin, “Medical Director, now that the medicinal materials have been recovered, can we begin making the plague-prevention medicine for throwing into wells?”

Chang Jin’s spirits lifted. Recovering from his surprise at seeing familiar faces, he said: “Exactly, important matters come first.” He called to the medical officials behind him: “Stop crowding around watching the excitement. Time is of the essence—let’s first go examine the locations of the wells for throwing medicine packets.”

Li Wenhu led Chang Jin and several medical officials to first examine the locations of wells for throwing medicine packets. The remaining medical officials, except those on duty at the pest house, returned to select medicine packets and make plague-prevention incense. Cai Fang first led people to settle this group of carriages and horses from Qishui.

Lu Tong and Lin Danqing’s group returned to the medical officials’ lodgings to continue the plague-prevention incense they hadn’t finished making earlier.

Large and small medicinal materials and spices were piled all over the floor. Lin Danqing vigorously pounded herbs in her jar, saying suspiciously: “How could Commander Pei suddenly come to Qishui? Shouldn’t he return to the capital to report back?” She then secretly leaned close to her, “It wouldn’t be because of you, would it?”

“How is that possible?” Lu Tong spoke calmly. “Everyone said it was His Majesty’s orders.”

“True.” Lin Danqing nodded, then thought of how with the new emperor’s ascension, who knows what changes there were in Shengjing, and whether those changes would affect the Lin family. She couldn’t help but sigh worriedly.

The two worked for a while. Lin Danqing took a batch of finished plague-prevention incense outside to distribute to the medical officials. Lu Tong sat alone in the courtyard sorting medicinal materials. After picking and sorting for a while, suddenly from behind came a voice calling “Medical Official Lu.”

Lu Tong’s movements paused.

Turning around, she saw Duan Xiaoyan’s brightly smiling face close before her.

“I spotted you at first glance at the city gates earlier,” the youth sat down on the stone stool across from her, “but there were too many people then to greet you properly. The carriages and horses are all settled now. I came to find you first on purpose.”

Lu Tong looked at him. Duan Xiaoyan proactively explained: “Brother Yunying is with County Deputy Cai. The several thieves who stole medicine and grain yesterday haven’t been dealt with yet, so today is very busy.”

Lu Tong lowered her head and continued her hand movements: “I didn’t ask about him.”

Duan Xiaoyan touched his nose.

Lu Tong picked two bundles of medicinal materials, putting the cleaned herbs into a bamboo basket. After a moment of silence, she asked: “You were supposed to be quelling rebellion in Qishui. How did you suddenly come to Sunan?”

Duan Xiaoyan was startled.

There was no one else in the courtyard—the medical officials had all gone to the front to distribute plague-prevention incense.

“You should know about the events in Shengjing already?”

“I’ve heard some of it roughly.”

“His Highness… His Majesty sent Brother Yunying to Qishui to quell the rebellion. The military chaos in Qishui had gone on too long, but our people quickly captured their leaders. Originally we should have returned, but later learning that Sunan lacked supplies—medicine and grain were both scarce—and this year there might be snow disasters, plus famine and snow disasters and plague, we feared Sunan couldn’t endure it. Brother Yunying petitioned His Majesty for permission to bring people to assist Sunan in treating the plague, and His Majesty graciously approved.”

Lu Tong paused.

So it was his own initiative.

“Vice Commander Xiao took the remaining troops back to the capital to report, while Brother Yunying and I came to help. But Sunan is even worse than I imagined.” Duan Xiaoyan glanced at the distant gray and gloomy sky. “On the way here we even encountered bandits who had stolen your grain supplies, so we dealt with them in passing. Don’t know if there are others.”

It’s not thieves stealing that’s frightening, but thieves watching. Previously they lacked manpower and weren’t their match, but now that soldiers had come, it was perfect timing to root out these bastards completely—removing a major threat from Sunan’s heart.

Seeing Lu Tong remain silent, Duan Xiaoyan blinked: “What about you, Medical Official Lu? How have these days been?”

“Not bad.” Lu Tong reminded him, “The medical officials will distribute face coverings soaked in medicinal solution to all of you. Remember to wear them constantly to avoid infection.”

“I’m not asking about that,” Duan Xiaoyan leaned closer and whispered, “Are you planning to reconcile with Brother Yunying?”

The youth scratched his head with a troubled expression, “Although I don’t know what happened between you two, I always feel something’s not right. Vice Commander Xiao said you had a quarrel. Why?”

“Where did he make you angry?”

Lu Tong bent down to pick up the bamboo basket full of medicinal materials, not answering his question. She only said: “There are finished plague-prevention medicine pouches in the wooden bucket by the door. Take them according to your numbers.” Having said this, she carried the bamboo basket out the door, saying no more to him.

Duan Xiaoyan sat in the courtyard, stunned for a while. Looking at her retreating figure, he touched his chin and muttered to himself: “Why does it feel strange?”

…

This day passed in busyness.

In the following days, the medical officials’ tasks increased dramatically.

Chang Jin confirmed the wells for throwing medicine packets and immediately ordered the medical officials to hurry in making the packets to throw. Because Pei Yunying’s group had brought new medicine and grain, medicinal materials were somewhat more abundant. Cai Fang added several more wells, each requiring many medicine packets and needing constant replenishment. The medical officials often worked until midnight, with those exhausted often falling asleep on the spot at both the pest house and lodgings.

Lu Tong and Lin Danqing were among them.

Sunan’s weather grew colder day by day. Lu Tong dozed off, and when she woke again, the horizon already showed a faint line of white.

Sunan’s winter days were always foggy and misty, like accumulated gloom piled over people’s heads. Lu Tong sat up. Lin Danqing was slumped over the desk with half a finished medicine pouch still before her. Several medical officials lay sprawled around the room, prescriptions half-written—apparently they had fallen asleep from extreme exhaustion.

The lamp oil had already burned out.

She quietly rose, pulled up the quilt that had slipped halfway off Lin Danqing, and left the room.

Just reaching the courtyard, a bit of moist coolness dropped on her nose tip. Lu Tong raised her eyes—in the long sky, flying snow danced lightly like willow catkins.

Lu Tong was startled.

Sometime during the night, it had begun snowing in Sunan.

“You’re awake.” A voice came from behind her.

She turned around. Ji Xun was sitting in a corner under the eaves, tending a charcoal brazier before him.

The brazier burned plague-prevention and body-strengthening medicinal materials like cangzhu. Usually the medical officials would constantly replace the burned-out medicine braziers to ward off plague.

“Medical Official Ji rises very early.” She looked at Ji Xun.

Ji Xun wore the gray-blue cotton robe distributed by the medical academy. The clothing was wrinkled and somewhat disheveled, no longer maintaining the refined gentleman’s image he had in Shengjing previously. She remembered Zhuli saying before that Ji Xun changed his clothes daily.

Coming to Sunan for plague relief, everything was no longer so particular.

“Couldn’t sleep.”

Ji Xun set down the branch he’d been using to tend the fire, stood up, and looked at the dancing snow in the courtyard, speaking softly.

“These days, fewer people are falling ill, but we still haven’t found medicine to cure the disease. The patients in the pest house continue dying constantly. Continuing this way only delays time—sooner or later they’ll still be buried in that execution ground behind the temple.”

Lu Tong remained silent.

“Previously I was arrogant about my medical skills, looking down on others in the Imperial Medical Bureau. Only now, having come deeply into this place, do I realize that all I learned is merely a drop in the ocean. Medical principles change endlessly, patients are difficult to heal. Seeing patients suffer without being able to help them—I’m ashamed to be called a physician.”

Lu Tong glanced at him.

The young medical official’s brows and eyes no longer held their former aloof arrogance, showing some weariness.

This was the first time she had seen Ji Xun so dejected.

“Medical Official Ji,” after a moment of silence, Lu Tong said, “We are doctors, not bodhisattvas. We can only do our utmost to save lives. Plague diseases are difficult to treat—this isn’t your fault. Rather than blame yourself, better to diligently research.”

“I believe there will definitely be a solution.”

Ji Xun looked at Lu Tong.

During the days in Sunan, she shuttled through the pest house distributing medicinal soups, discussed plague-relief methods with Chang Jin, and made medicine pouches until midnight.

She always maintained a calm expression and cold tone that seemed somewhat heartless, yet she never neglected any task that should be done. She always seemed to have very firm confidence—no matter what happened, no matter how terrible the circumstances, after brief silence she would immediately think of ways to solve the next problem, never dwelling further on irrelevant matters.

He had previously thought Lu Tong was very special, but now seemed to understand her a bit more.

Ji Xun’s heart stirred slightly.

“I’m going to the pest house to deliver medicine.” Lu Tong asked, “Does Medical Official Ji want to go?”

Ji Xun considered briefly and nodded: “Let’s go together.”

Lu Tong shouldered her medical box and left with Ji Xun.

Just reaching the door, Ji Xun suddenly remembered something. Glancing at Lu Tong, he said: “I’ll go back to get something. Wait for me at the gate.”

Lu Tong nodded, watching him turn back into the courtyard and push open the door.

“Creak—” came the sound.

The main door of the lodgings was pushed open by someone. Lu Tong was about to walk out when she suddenly stopped.

In the cold day’s harsh wind with falling snow everywhere, someone was passing by the door.

Pei Yunying was leading several guards toward the pest house direction. Hearing the sound, he turned to look this way.

He stood in the swirling northern wind and jade powder, wearing a black cloak. Those beautiful, ink-black eyes looked over with an unreadable expression.

Before Lu Tong could speak, she suddenly felt warmth on her shoulders as a fuzzy cloak was draped over them. Ji Xun walked to her side, saying: “It’s snowing today—you’re dressed too lightly.”

Having finished speaking, he seemed to notice the other people at the door. Ji Xun paused and bowed respectfully: “Commander Pei.”

Pei Yunying’s gaze turned between the two of them. His expression was bland, showing neither joy nor anger. Without saying anything, he left with his guards.

Ji Xun frowned slightly, looking at Lu Tong: “He…”

Lu Tong lowered her eyes: “Let’s go.”

…

Outside the pest house it was quite lively.

Today brought heavy snow.

The “Collected Explanations of the Seventy-two Seasonal Divisions” states: “At this point the snow becomes abundant.”

Sunan was in the south. In winter, except in the mountains, the city rarely saw snow. The last heavy snowfall was six years ago during the Great Cold.

Unexpectedly, in this winter when locust disasters and famine had just passed and plague was rampant, heavy snow suddenly arrived.

The pest house’s main door was half-open. Charcoal braziers burned inside. Pei Yunying’s people had brought warming supplies, and the temple gates had also been renovated. Inside the pest house was much warmer than when Chang Jin’s group first arrived.

As soon as Lu Tong reached the pest house, Cuicui ran toward her.

The little girl wore a brand-new pale pink cotton dress today. Perhaps nourished by medicinal soups these days and no longer going hungry, her complexion looked much better.

Lu Tong asked: “Where did this new dress come from?”

With Sunan’s shortage of supplies, such pretty little girls’ clothing was uncommon.

“Young Lord Pei gave it to me. Young Lord Pei’s subordinate Brother Duan distributed new warm cotton clothes to everyone in the pest house. He found a pretty dress among them and, knowing I was in the pest house, specially saved it for me.”

Cuicui pointed outside.

Lu Tong turned around.

Outside the temple, Pei Yunying was speaking with Chang Jin. Beside him, several guards were unloading supplies from the horses.

These days, Pei Yunying’s arrival had helped considerably.

When the county office’s medicine and grain were stolen, Pei Yunying captured the bandits, removing a major threat from Sunan. The food and medicinal herbs he brought from Qishui also greatly alleviated the medical academy’s difficulties. At least now there was enough medicine to throw into wells daily, and when making plague-prevention incense and medicine pouches, they no longer worried about lack of materials.

“Everyone is very grateful to this Young Lord Pei,” Cuicui leaned close to Lu Tong’s ear and whispered, “Every time he comes to the pest house he brings us good things, and when speaking with people, he’s not like those previous high officials from Shengjing who looked down on us.” Cuicui smiled shyly, “My father told me that when I look for a husband in the future, I should find someone like Young Lord Pei—handsome, good-tempered, and skilled in martial arts.”

Lu Tong couldn’t help but be amused by her.

“What good things did he bring you today?” Lu Tong asked.

“It’s heavy snow today!” Cuicui widened her eyes. “In the past during heavy snow, everyone would take tonics. Every household would cure salted meat. This year Sunan has plague—it’s not like other years. I heard Brother Duan say Young Lord Pei brought dried meat and had people cook meat soup for us today, treating it as welcoming the new year.”

The little girl swallowed as she spoke, her eyes showing a trace of longing.

For Sunan’s common people who had been hungry for so long, being able to drink a mouthful of meat soup was undoubtedly the most blissful thing.

Lu Tong looked outside again.

Pei Yunying was speaking with people outside. As if sensing the gaze from this direction, he looked over.

Lu Tong quickly averted her eyes.

When he seriously did something, he always considered it very thoroughly. When wanting to win people’s favor, it was always effortless for him.

“Time to change the medicine pouches.” Ji Xun walked to her side to remind her.

The plague-warding medicine pouches lost their effectiveness after several days and needed fresh herbs replaced. While Lu Tong and Ji Xun were changing herb pouches for the patients, the medical officials entered.

Entering together were also Chang Jin and Pei Yunying.

The guards moved the boiling iron pots into the pest house. The temple immediately became lively, and enticing aromas instantly filled the room. The patients all cheered.

“Slowly, everyone gets some.” Chang Jin raised his hand, having the patients line up to receive their portions—everyone got a bowl of meat soup.

The originally quiet pest house gradually became noisy. With charcoal braziers and hot soup, what had previously been silent as a stagnant pond now held hope, and smiles were no longer rare.

Pei Yunying was about to leave but was detained by Chang Jin, who smiled: “Commander has also worked hard these days. Drink some soup before leaving.”

Though the meat soup contained little dried meat, many plague-warding medicinal materials had been added. Drinking it also had considerable plague-prevention effects.

Pei Yunying paused and accepted the soup bowl, sitting back down.

Chang Jin ladled another large spoonful: “Medical Official Lu, you drink a bowl too.”

Before Lu Tong could rise, Ji Xun had already walked over, taking the bowl of soup for Lu Tong and handing it to her, then sat beside her.

Pei Yunying’s gaze lingered on Lu Tong for a moment before being called away by Chang Jin.

In the crowded temple, across the crowd, he was over there, she was here. Though the space was small, it seemed as distant as an impassable chasm.

Lu Tong looked toward outside the temple.

Outside the door lay vast wind and snow, and farther toward the execution ground, a sheet of silver white.

From beside her came Ji Xun’s voice.

“The old farmer divining his fields got favorable signs, one night’s north wind covered the house with snow. Though the house nearly breaks under the weight, don’t grieve—new wheat in the furrows lies one foot deep in mud…”

As he spoke, his expression gradually grew silent.

The Imperial Medical Bureau taught medical principles, the medical academy thoroughly studied medical cases, but only by entering places of extreme hardship could one know the many difficulties of people’s livelihood. Only now did this young master who had lived in pearl towers and jade pavilions with fine clothes and precious food truly understand a physician’s true meaning.

The medical way is boundless; benevolence is its foundation.

The pest house was quite lively. The patients and medical officials were discussing plans to remove the clay statue of the bodhisattva from the offering table. Since the medical officials arrived, patients’ conditions had delayed considerably, but people continuously entering the pest house made the already narrow temple increasingly crowded. If they removed that clay bodhisattva, at least it would free up some space.

With the current situation gradually improving, for living people, the medical officials were more useful. This clay statue bodhisattva was no longer so worshipped.

Cuicui ran to the offering table, planning to measure the bodhisattva’s size. Her wooden bed was very close to the offering table—if they removed this statue, there could be a gap between her father’s and her own wooden beds.

She bent down and crawled inside.

All around was noisy and clamorous. Lu Tong lowered her head drinking the medicinal soup in her hands. In this midst of laughter and conversation, suddenly the little girl’s surprised voice rang out:

“Hey, why is there a promissory note on this wall?”