The epidemic struck with ferocious montum, not only was it highly contagious, but it also manifested with particular virulence. Mo Yan’s efforts to treat the patients were far from smooth. Despite exerting her utmost strength, comparable to that of nine bulls and two tigers, she barely managed to stabilize the patients’ conditions temporarily. Elderly and children, who didn’t receive tily treatnt and had poor resistance, couldn’t withstand the onslaught of the virus and died in agony within a matter of days.
The bodies, eroded by the virus, could not be buried in the earth, and despite their profound grief, the bereaved followed the governnt’s directive and consented to cremation. In the end, they chose a spot to bury the ashes, ensuring their lost loved ones had a place to rest, so they wouldn’t end up as lonely, wandering ghosts.
On the streets of Weicheng, almost no pedestrians could be seen, and soldiers carrying out orders rushed through hurriedly. Doors along the streets, however, were hung with more and more white banners. This city, once teeming with affluence, was now enshrouded in the shadow of death, filled with an air of despair.
"Useless, how could it be useless? What exactly went wrong? What to do, what should I do..." Inside the hastily arranged dicine room, Mo Yan slumped dejectedly in her chair, muttering to herself. Her eyes, filled with bloodshot streaks from days of restless work, looked more haggard than ever.
Over these days, Mo Yan had gathered specific symptoms of the epidemic at the quarantine site outside the city and taught the doctors so preventive thods before locking herself in the dicine room to research treatnt options tirelessly for the plague.
After half a month, she had developed more than ten prescriptions, but every dicine administered to the sick showed temporary improvent only for the condition to worsen the next day, completely uncontrollable. Up to this mont, the most recently developed prescription could only temporarily stabilize the situation, unable to completely cure the suffering people.
Xiao Ruiyuan, carrying in a tray, saw his wife’s dispirited deanor and felt a sharp twinge in his heart. He set down the tray and gently persuaded, "Yanyan, eat sothing first. You need to be well-fed to continue your work."
"Ah?" Mo Yan lifted her head, her eyes blinking away an unconcealable bewildered look. Seeing the pain in Xiao Ruiyuan’s eyes, she ca to her senses and nodded, accepting the al he held out to her.
"Yanyan, even if the al doesn’t suit your taste, you must eat more. I have already sent people to bring ingredients from other places. They should arrive in a couple of days," said Xiao Ruiyuan, watching his wife struggle to eat. He knew the real reason but attributed it to the unpalatable al instead.
Mo Yan quickly shook her head and cramd a big mouthful of rice into her mouth, swallowing it with effort: "The al is good. Don’t trouble Shiyi and the others. The whole of Wei Zhou is in danger now. Don’t let them take risks."
First ca floods, then an epidemic. Although Weicheng had not been destroyed by the floods, the surrounding areas had been hit by a major disaster, not only resulting in failed crops but also making it impossible to grow vegetables.
Fortunately, there had been preparations. Before the floods arrived, the governnt transported the granary’s grains to high ground. And before the epidemic broke out, the Court had brought in a substantial amount of relief grain. Otherwise, even if there were no epidemic, the disaster-stricken people could starve to death.
Although the issue with grain was temporarily solved, the lack of rich ingredients was a reality. The afflicted populace could only subsist on porridge, and while Mo Yan and the others fared better, they too could only eat white rice. Having so greens and eggs in the bowl was already quite good.
These were tough tis, and everyone was getting by the sa way. No one complained.
Worried that Xiao Ruiyuan might really send people to look for food to improve her als, Mo Yan forced herself to finish a large bowl of rice.
Seeing the empty bowl, Xiao Ruiyuan breathed a sigh of relief. The first ti after Mo Yan finished eating, he did not imdiately clear the bowls and leave, instead, he stayed in front of her, talking to keep her company.
"Yanyan, you’ve already done your best. For now, the epidemic has been temporarily controlled; you’ll have ti to research gradually. Sotis, the more anxious you are, the less clear your mind becos. Perhaps a good night’s sleep will enable you to devise a thod to combat the plague,"
Mo Yan sighed and massaged her swollen temples, saying weakly, "I understand what you’re saying, but seeing the people suffering outside the city, I dare not delay for even a mont, fearing that any further delay would shatter countless families."
Seeing this, Xiao Ruiyuan stepped forward to stand behind Mo Yan. As he skillfully massaged her, he comforted, "My love, I know you’re anxious, but there’s no use in rushing these things. Even if in the end, you can’t find a solution, you would have done everything you could."
"No... I can’t, let think again, think again, I’m sure I can co up with sothing..."
Haven’t rested properly for several days, Mo Yan was already very exhausted. As she leaned back in her chair and allowed her husband to massage her, she began to feel drowsy, and her words turned blurry.
Xiao Ruiyuan, watching her ever more heartbroken, beca even more ticulous in his movents, "Mmm, Yanyan’s so capable, you’ll definitely figure it out. The prescription you developed the other day is still useful; there’s no need for you to rush. Get so sleep first. I’ll wait by the bed and call you later, alright?"
Already exhausted and sleepy, Mo Yan no longer insisted upon hearing this and only reminded, "Then I’ll sleep for two hours. You must wake up after two hours."
Xiao Ruiyuan, aiding Mo Yan as they walked towards the adjacent bedroom, replied, "Rest easy, love, I will wake you."
Mo Yan, yawning, nodded her head. Lying down on the bed and seeing her husband sitting by her side, she intended to say sothing, but the mont her head touched the pillow, she beca muddled and slowly closed her eyes, forgetting even what she had wanted to say.
Xiao Ruiyuan watched his wife’s weary sleeping face with undiverted attention, a mix of intense tenderness and helplessness surfacing in his heart.
Even as a Great General who had commanded thousands of troops, he was helpless in the face of this overwhelming calamity, and could only watch his beloved wife bear unimaginable pressure, toiling day and night in the tiny pharmacy, unable to offer any help.
He wasn’t a doctor, but he understood his wife’s actions. Just as he was a general — fighting on the battlefield to protect his country was his mission, and just as he couldn’t stand idly by as the great land was trampled by the enemy’s iron hooves, saving the lives of the people was also his wife’s mission.
He could urge her to eat more, rest more, but he couldn’t force her to give up. When he couldn’t be of help, the most he could do was to support her with all his might...
That sleep, two hours passed quickly. There was no sign of Mo Yan waking up, and Xiao Ruiyuan continued to sit quietly by her side without any intention of waking her. When Mo Yan woke due to hunger, it was already late into the night.
Mo Yan had no ti to reproach Xiao Ruiyuan for not keeping his word; after hastily eating the warm al prepared for her, she plunged back into the pharmacy.
This ti, she locked herself in the pharmacy until, after many days and several modifications to the prescription, it finally had a decisive effect, successfully curing the patients infected with the plague. Despite her disheveled appearance, she erged from the pharmacy with a hopeful, radiant smile, so beautiful...
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