Wang Qingchun said these words proudly, but he didn’t see the disappointment, anger, or fear he expected on the woman’s face. Instead, he saw joy.

“Really?” Qi Yue asked. “That’s wonderful!”

Wang Qingchun sneered coldly. What an act of benevolence! Too late to pretend now!

“That means even if penicillin isn’t enough, it’s not without solution,” Qi Yue continued, even clasping her hands together to pray and thank the heavens.

Given the current purity and success rate of penicillin extraction, if there were truly a large-scale outbreak, it would be completely inadequate—a drop in the bucket.

Having other methods of treatment was excellent, but…

“However, you can be happy, but you still need to watch carefully for any new cases,” Qi Yue said.

Wang Qingchun laughed.

“Mistress Qi, in this world, not everyone is inferior to you,” he sighed.

The elderly Liu couple nearby, who had gotten into their carriage but hadn’t left yet, heard this and looked over.

“So true…” Old Master Liu nodded, looking at Wang Qingchun with extreme satisfaction.

Old Mistress Liu raised her hand to swat him, then turned to speak, but Qi Yue had already begun talking.

“Exactly right.” Qi Yue nodded at Wang Qingchun.

This woman admitted defeat so readily! Wang Qingchun sneered coldly, thinking she could avoid a thorough humiliation this way…

“There are indeed many people in this world I can’t match,” Qi Yue continued, looking at Wang Qingchun with a smile. “But I can definitely surpass you.”

Wang Qingchun’s smile froze slightly.

“Did you forget? You lost a bet to me last time, and you still haven’t fulfilled that wager. I just don’t understand—what do you have to be so proud of in front of me?” Qi Yue looked at him, frowning with a completely puzzled expression. This look paired with these words could literally infuriate someone to death.

Old Mistress Liu laughed heartily.

Wang Qingchun glared angrily in their direction.

“Hey, what did you lose? Defaulting on gambling debts is quite disgraceful. You’re not young anymore—surely you’re not so base?” Old Mistress Liu asked with a laugh.

If he didn’t win back a round, he’d never overcome this obstacle in his lifetime!

Wang Qingchun looked at Qi Yue.

“Mistress Qi, now you must apologize to the entire city!” he declared sternly.

“Apologize? For what?” Qi Yue asked with a smile.

“You spread epidemic rumors and cursed the people with death,” Wang Qingchun shouted. “For this ridiculous affair, you must not only apologize, but this medical officer will also revoke your license to practice medicine in Yongqing Prefecture!”

Qi Yue laughed dismissively and waved her hand.

“What rumors did I spread? This disease came on fiercely—conducting epidemic prevention and disease statistics is the most basic response. Don’t be so ignorant. As for cursing people with death…” she said, “I wasn’t being alarmist. If everyone still doesn’t realize the importance of what I’ve said, then sooner or later they’ll lose their lives because of it. People need to be scared a little—otherwise they won’t remember certain things.”

Without waiting for Wang Qingchun to respond, Qi Yue waved her hand.

“Surname Wang, I will not apologize, and don’t plan to humiliate me—you don’t have the qualifications.” She said this, then cupped her hands toward the Liu family. “I take my leave.”

Old Mistress Liu laughed heartily and waved back.

“Farewell,” she replied, and Yan’er poked her head out from her embrace to echo the farewell.

Qi Yue turned and went inside.

Wang Qingchun was left standing there, not even receiving a proper farewell.

But his visit wasn’t entirely fruitless despite the snub. Everyone here now knew that the diarrhea in the city had been cured.

“So it wasn’t an epidemic after all,” everyone sighed with relief.

The sword hanging over their heads had been removed—it truly felt like being reborn.

But amid their joy, people felt somewhat uneasy. What about the master who had definitively declared it an epidemic?

Qi Yue sat in her room, carefully reviewing all the records: patient details, onset times, and previous contact history.

Chang Yuncheng hesitated at the doorway for a moment before entering.

Qi Yue was just sighing.

“Actually, this is nothing,” Chang Yuncheng said.

“No, there must be something…” Qi Yue shook her head.

“Yueniang.” Chang Yuncheng stepped forward, standing before her, his shadow enveloping her small figure. “So you failed once—just start over. You know yourself.”

Qi Yue looked up at him and smiled.

“Oh, you’re talking about that.” She laughed, standing up. “How could I be troubled?”

She smiled and patted Chang Yuncheng’s arm.

“I’m thinking about what this disease really is. There must be a connection between these cases,” she said.

Chang Yuncheng sighed with relief.

“Didn’t they say it was all from eating contaminated food at Qingfeng Restaurant?” he said. “That’s the connection.”

Qi Yue frowned, searching through the papers on the table.

“What are you looking for? I’ll help you,” Chang Yuncheng asked, seeing her rifling through things.

This woman always had this problem of keeping her desk in complete disorder. How could finding things be convenient this way?

After knocking over two stacks of books, Qi Yue pulled out a notebook.

“Found it!” she said, rapidly flipping through several pages and pointing to an entry for Chang Yuncheng to see. “Look, here’s a record.”

Chang Yuncheng leaned over to look.

“Fourth day of eighth month, morning, rain, west city, funeral procession intercepted. Deceased: male, age unknown, occupation unknown. Said not to have died from diarrhea, refused further inquiry, details unknown.”

Qi Yue read aloud while explaining to him: “This was recorded when I had my disciples conduct a city-wide investigation after the news broke about deaths from diarrhea. I wanted all patients and deaths reported so we could get accurate and rapid case information and timely discovery of suspected cases, but people really weren’t used to this, so it wasn’t going smoothly…”

As she spoke, she flipped to another page and pointed to a line.

“And here,” she said. “Fifth day of eighth month, suburban Jindian Village. Deceased: male, approximately fifty years old, pig butcher. Death not from diarrhea. According to family description: high fever, body covered in pustules. Refused to allow examination of corpse, specific symptoms unknown…”

Chang Yuncheng nodded.

“Meaning besides diarrhea, there were other causes of death,” he said. “So even if the diarrhea is cured, we can’t rule out the abnormal increase in deaths during this period.”

Qi Yue nodded and put down the notebook.

“So I keep feeling things aren’t so simple. There must be other connections we haven’t noticed,” she said, exhaling and frowning. “If only Xiao Guan were here…”

Chang Yuncheng paused. Little Official? Who was that?

“He’d definitely have a way to get those corpses,” Qi Yue said, looking out the window. She realized Little Guan had been gone for quite a while, and there hadn’t been any letters during this time. She wondered if things were going smoothly for him there. Thinking this, she nodded. “I need to write him a letter.”

“You mean the coffin boy?” Chang Yuncheng asked.

Qi Yue nodded.

“Don’t call him that. He has a name, and it’s quite nice too. Yuan Ziqing,” she smiled.

Chang Yuncheng made a sound of acknowledgment.

“Yes, it is quite nice,” he said.

The room fell silent.

“I know what I’ll do,” Qi Yue said, slapping her forehead. “I think I should visit the families of these people recorded as having died from causes other than diarrhea during this period.”

“Good, I’ll go with you,” Chang Yuncheng said.

Qi Yue smiled at him.

“Hey, when people say harsh things, you’re not allowed to fight…” she laughed.

Chang Yuncheng looked at her.

“When people actually get physical, just protect me while we run,” Qi Yue continued with a smile.

Chang Yuncheng looked at her and smiled.

They smiled at each other, and this time, unlike before, they didn’t quickly look away but continued gazing at each other, as if glued together.

“Thank you for coming,” Qi Yue said.

Chang Yuncheng lowered his gaze.

“I…” he began.

“Don’t say it was coincidence or some other reason. You care. Why hide it? Why can’t you let me know about your kindness toward me?” Qi Yue said, reaching out to pat his arm. “It’s not fair to you.”

Chang Yuncheng smiled.

“Actually, I haven’t helped much. All along, I haven’t been very… good… to you,” he said quietly.

Qi Yue was about to respond when A’Ru’s voice came from outside.

“Mistress, the families outside want to take their people home,” she called. “Can they… be discharged?”

Qi Yue went out and examined the five patients once more.

“They’re recovered. They can be discharged,” she said.

The families’ reaction was somewhat unexpected.

“Mistress Qi, we didn’t come because we heard anything in particular. How about we stay two more days…” they said, somewhat embarrassed.

Qi Yue smiled at them, then bowed formally.

The families were startled and quickly stepped aside or returned the bow.

“Mistress Qi, you cured our family members and saved their lives. Why should you thank us?” they said.

Qi Yue raised her head.

“I thank you for trusting me,” she said, looking at these families. “For a doctor, curing illness is naturally gratifying, but what’s even more gratifying is the trust of patients and their families. Your trust in me is the greatest recognition, especially when so many people don’t believe—trusting me also requires courage.”

The families smiled at her words. Looking at this modest woman before them, where was even half the arrogance and pride that people had been spreading about? This woman seemed to be the type who would respect others a yard if they respected her an inch.

“You must still be careful about rest and diet after returning home,” Qi Yue said, as disciples handed out care and dietary instruction sheets. “We’ll conduct regular follow-ups.”

The families expressed their gratitude.

“Also, you must still maintain epidemic prevention measures,” Qi Yue said.

The families paused.

“Mistress Qi means this disease isn’t completely…” an elderly woman asked.

Qi Yue completed her thought.

“This disease hasn’t completely passed,” she nodded.

The families exchanged glances.

“We understand,” they nodded and said before departing.

In Yongqing Prefecture city, with the cure of those diarrhea patients, the originally tense atmosphere completely disappeared. Especially seeing those isolated patients from outside the city return, everyone was even more jubilant.

“Now that Mistress Qi has really offended everyone badly.”

“Exactly. Telling people they’d die if they didn’t listen to her—that’s too much.”

“Let’s see if she still has the face to enter the city…”

Several doctors sat in the medicine shop chatting and laughing.

“Hey, she really had the nerve to enter the city and even went to other people’s homes for some kind of investigation,” a disciple ran in excitedly. “She was blocked by Master Wang and others, and they want to drive her out of the city.”

Such excitement couldn’t be missed.

Everyone hurried out. The streets were already filled with people flowing toward the city gate.

“You want to prohibit me from entering the city?” Qi Yue asked Wang Qingchun with a smile.

Wang Qingchun sneered coldly.

“It’s not that I want to prohibit you from entering the city,” he said, pointing behind him. “This is everyone’s wish.”

Behind him was a chaotic crowd of onlookers.

“Didn’t you say it was an epidemic? That isolation was needed? Well then, Mistress Qi, for the safety of the entire city, shouldn’t you, someone who deals with epidemics, isolate yourself first?” Wang Qingchun asked with a smile. “You shouted so fiercely but don’t lead by example. Instead, you run to citizens’ homes to harass them…”

“What do you mean harass? This family had a patient die a few days ago…” Qi Yue frowned. “Wang Qingchun, though I find you disagreeable, I must still remind you that this matter isn’t over. You’d better do as I said—conduct city-wide investigations and report the dead…”

Before she could finish, Wang Qingchun laughed loudly.

“Qi Yueniang, are you still going to say this is an epidemic?” he asked loudly.

“I can’t be certain, so investigation is needed…” Qi Yue said.

Wang Qingchun interrupted her again.

“Qi Yueniang, never mind that you can’t be certain—don’t you usually say whatever you want goes? Well then, do you dare make a bet with me?” Wang Qingchun looked at this woman and spoke the words he’d been waiting for the chance to say, his expression excited.

“This Wang Qingchun is being a bit… this situation is obviously favorable to him, yet he still wants to bet…”

“Exactly. It’s already been cured—what’s the point of such a bet…”

“…Still, you can’t say that. He just wants to win back a round. Losing so badly last time was too embarrassing…”

“But she’s not stupid either. In this situation, who would bet with him? That’s just asking for humiliation…”

This statement caused a buzz of discussion.

Qi Yue looked at Wang Qingchun and smiled.

“Good,” she said. “Of course I dare bet with you.”

What?

The discussion immediately stopped as everyone looked over.

“Old rules—whoever loses kneels at the city gate!” Qi Yue smiled.

“Good!” Wang Qingchun also smiled.

“No running away if you lose,” Qi Yue added.

Wang Qingchun’s smile disappeared.

Qi Yue laughed heartily. No longer looking at him, she turned to address everyone present.

“I’ll say it once more—epidemic prevention is crucial. Pay attention to disinfection and isolation,” she said loudly while raising one hand. “For emergencies, please find Qianjin Hall!”

With that, she turned and strode away. Chang Yuncheng, who had been standing silently beside her throughout, still said nothing and simply turned to follow.

“From now on, that woman and anyone from Qianjin Hall is forbidden from entering the city!” Wang Qingchun shouted sternly.

The prefect had given Wang Qingchun some authority to make decisions as needed in dealing with the city’s disease situation. The city gate guards exchanged glances and voiced their agreement.