Qian Yongzhong gratefully nodded to thank Weizhong, then heard Bai Qingyan say: “This time, I brought not only physicians and medicinal herbs, but also grain to prepare for any eventuality…”

“Your Majesty’s considerations are thorough!” Qian Yongzhong nodded, feeling that Bai Qingyan had thought of everything, and breathed a sigh of relief.

“Today, have your people keep watch to see how many citizens leave the city. Also… secretly investigate who exactly was inciting the people to cause trouble today.” Bai Qingyan held her teacup, occasionally using the lid to stir the floating tea leaves in the clear amber tea. “If you find any suspicious persons, first detain them in prison under any convenient charge. We’ll deal with them after the epidemic is controlled…”

“Your subject understands!”

Qian Yongzhong also suspected these people had been instigated by Yan spies, otherwise it couldn’t have grown to such proportions. But he also understood that with people’s hearts already in panic, if they formally arrested people as spies, it would likely make the citizens even more frightened. The uplifting emotions from the emperor’s arrival, even if not completely eliminated, would weaken—that would truly be penny-wise but pound-foolish.

Soon, the kitchen didn’t dare keep the emperor waiting, and a steaming hot breakfast was served.

Several people ate at separate tables. Bai Qingyan wasn’t so formal with rules, which allowed Qian Yongzhong to relax. During the meal, whenever Bai Qingjue asked anything, Qian Yongzhong would properly set down his chopsticks to answer, very respectfully.

After the meal, Bai Qingyan had Qian Yongzhong go prepare horses to accompany her to the treatment center, which shocked Qian Yongzhong.

The weather is cold. Prepare more charcoal fires, plus cotton quilts and clean cotton clothes to send to the physicians at the treatment center. Tell them not to be stingy—load everything onto carts and take it together.”

Without a word, Qian Yongzhong knelt before Bai Qingyan: “Your Majesty, I cannot agree with such a risky action! That Your Majesty, as emperor, could risk coming here and staying in the city with the people has already stabilized their hearts. There’s no need to risk going to the treatment center! That place is full of plague-stricken people. If Your Majesty accidentally contracts it, even ten thousand deaths couldn’t redeem my crime—I would become Great Zhou’s eternal sinner! If Your Majesty wants to send charcoal fires, quilts, and cotton clothes to the physicians, let your subject go instead!”

Qian Yongzhong was a rough man who had only studied for a while, but he understood… the current Great Zhou emperor, though a woman, had both courage and capability! More importantly… she truly was an emperor who genuinely cared for her people.

Otherwise, the emperor couldn’t possibly risk such danger to come to Great Zhou cities within Yan territory…

The emperor’s arrival, even with troops, was in Yan’s territory—it would be dangerous even without the epidemic, let alone with disease present. He didn’t want such an emperor to come to harm.

Bai Qingyan used the handkerchief Weizhong handed her to wipe her hands and said, “How important my safety is, I understand better than you. Along this journey… Physician Hong has already understood this epidemic quite thoroughly. It’s not that dangerous. While it’s true that I’m going to the treatment center to calm the hearts of those panicked people who think they’re waiting to die, I’m even more going to reassure those physicians who risked their lives to come to Yan with me! If they can go… I certainly cannot hide behind and coldly watch them risk their lives for the people!”

Physician Hong had already discovered this epidemic was very similar to one that had occurred in Jin previously. Though it looked dangerous after infection, as long as one was careful not to share eating and drinking utensils with infected people and not get too close, there wouldn’t be problems.

Physician Hong was so old, yet to steady these physicians who followed them to Yan, he had repeatedly risked himself to assure those physicians who initially had been enthusiastic but later developed second thoughts. What reason did Bai Qingyan have not to go?

Only if she went would these physicians commit themselves wholeheartedly and do their utmost. Only then could this epidemic be controlled quickly. Otherwise, if the physicians were fearful and hesitant, even working with Physician Hong to death alone probably wouldn’t suffice.

Moreover, she wasn’t going to live there. Compared to the physicians in the treatment center and the medical assistants caring for patients, what risk was this for Bai Qingyan?

Qian Yongzhong was a rough man who hadn’t thought as much as Bai Qingyan, but since His Majesty had taken the trouble to explain to him, he gritted his teeth and kowtowed to Bai Qingyan: “Your subject will go prepare horses immediately and accompany Your Majesty!”

After Qian Yongzhong left, Bai Qingjue dabbed the corners of his mouth with a handkerchief and said to Bai Qingyan: “Elder sister, time is urgent. Little brother won’t accompany the elder sister here. I’ll take the medicinal herbs and remaining physicians southeast, striving to stabilize the Great Zhou cities and people within Yan territory! Let them all know that their elder sister has arrived and stands with them to resist this epidemic together. Elder sister, rest assured!”

“Good…” Bai Qingyan nodded. “You must be careful in handling things on this trip. If troubles like today’s civil unrest can happen here, other cities may have them too. Be very careful when dealing with them!”

“Yes!” After Bai Qingjue bowed formally to his elder sister, he said, “Elder sister, please be extra careful. Great aunt, Xile, and Kangle are all waiting for you to return home!”

“You too, be careful! When the epidemic is controlled… We’ll return home together!” Bai Qingyan smiled gently at Bai Qingjue.

Bai Qingjue bowed again, withdrew from the main room, and left.

Bai Qingyan changed clothes, went out with Weizhong, leaped onto her horse, and followed Qian Yongzhong toward the treatment center.

The treatment center housing plague-stricken people was outside the city. Seeing Bai Qingyan, who had just entered the city not long ago, leaving the city under the protection of defending general Qian Yongzhong with a guard unit, followed by carts loaded with many items, the people who had just been emotionally stirred suddenly felt lost and began discussing whether the emperor had fled.

“What nonsense are you talking about! Since His Majesty came, he absolutely won’t flee! Our Majesty went to the treatment center to visit the plague-stricken people! What do you know!” Seeing those people gathering at the city gate, not daring to leave but discussing among themselves, the defending soldiers couldn’t help but defend their emperor. “I was the one who prepared those horses!”

“Really… is there such a good emperor? We have an epidemic here, and instead of staying far away, she came? And wants to go to the treatment center…”

“Exactly! Old Wang who sells fried dough sticks—his wife caught this epidemic and was sent to the treatment center. Even Old Wang and his son won’t go see her, afraid of being implicated. Would the emperor go into that pile of dead bodies?”

“That’s the Great Zhou Emperor—she has true dragon’s qi protecting her. She’ll make those neighbors in the treatment center recover! She’ll scare away the plague gods from our city!” Some people spoke with tears of gratitude.

“Come on, that’s only if the emperor isn’t fleeing but went to the treatment center!”

“The more you talk, the more outrageous it gets!” A young defending officer stepped forward, gripping his sword hilt tightly. “Those wanting to leave the city, hurry up. Those not leaving, go back quickly. Have you forgotten Minister Shen’s words? Go back quickly!”