It was ti for expediency.
Su Pan’er and Qin Yi did not dare to delay, imdiately harnessing the carriage and headed into the city.
By the ti they arrived at the county city, it was already twilight.
The duo quickly rushed to the county governnt office.
When Jun Ruochen learned of Su Pan’er and Qin Yi’s arrival, he was surprised.
He had just destroyed the secret order to arrest Su Pan’er the day before, and the investigation results from Hua County Official had not yet co out. Unexpectedly, Su Pan’er had delivered herself to his doorstep!
What did this an?
However, when Su Pan’er and Qin Yi explained their purpose, Jun Ruochen was shocked!
"Is it true? Are you certain, that that entire family has indeed contracted smallpox? Are you sure you have not made a mistake?"
Hua County Official who was present was also deeply astonished.
Su Pan’er impatiently pursed her lips. Did they doubt her dical skills?
Qin Yi looked at Su Pan’er and made a fist-pounding declaration: "Respected Sir, you witnessed my wife exchanging dical knowledge with Old Xue. If you think my wife has mistaken the symptoms for smallpox..."
"Ahem!"
Jun Ruochen’s face turned instantly red, and he sat back down sowhat awkwardly.
Hua County Official quickly eased the tension: "Our Lord Jun did not an that. It’s just that this matter is indeed shocking, hence his careful consideration."
"May I ask Lord Jun, I have heard so information from Changze County, saying that there is a widespread epidemic there. Was that epidemic actually smallpox?" Su Pan’er asked the question she had been wanting to ask.
Jun Ruochen hesitated for a mont before nodding, "Wasn’t it said so ti back that Old Xue had returned to the capital, and even took away a substantial amount of dicines and manpower from the county city? Actually, that was a deliberate fabrication to prevent an overreaction from the people. The truth is, Old Xue is currently in Changze County, aiding the locals in preventing and treating the epidemic!"
"What? Old Xue went to Changze County, and he didn’t tell about such a matter?"
Su Pan’er couldn’t help feeling a little anxious.
Her studying dicine was just a ans for her own cultivation, primarily for self-benefit.
However, Old Xue studied dicine to better understand the dical arts, to better cure diseases and save people, and he practically sacrificed his personal interests for this cause. His nobility and integrity were truly admirable.
However, he had advanced in years, and his decision to plunge headlong into Changze County was indeed worriso.
"I did try to persuade Old Xue, but he was adamant about going. Even with repeated dissuasions, it was to no avail. Sigh!" Jun Ruochen looked worried: "Plus, the imperial court has strictly ordered not to disseminate the news of the epidemic so as not to incite public panic. There is only one official road from Changze County to our Yongze County. I have already sent people to strictly guard it and prohibit entry and exit. However, the fact that this large family appeared in Luoyan Village at this mont is indeed quite peculiar...."
"It is not Luoyan Village, we found the family at a pavilion by the official road outside the Market Fair. They were covered in dust, which indicates that they did not co via the official road but probably reached here through so mountain paths," Qin Yi interjected.
There may be only one official road, but local residents would naturally know so less-traveled paths and even so hunting trails only accessible to hunters. The governnt officials might not have the capacity to consider these paths at all.
Su Pan’er thought for a mont before asking the question she cared about most directly: "Regarding that family, Lord Jun, what are your plans now?"
"What plan? Of course, we will have to follow the rules of the Imperial Court."
The Imperial Court has clear regulations that any epidemic should not only be imdiately quarantined but also promptly reported to the court.
"Doctor Su, since the patient is currently in your house, I’ll arrange for so assistance for you. As for the required dicinal herbs and money, they will all be provided by the county governnt office. Is there anything else you need from ? Just let know."
Doctor Su Pan’er showed a look of joy and quickly thanked, "With your words, Lord Jun, there is no worry that we cannot eliminate the epidemic! However... Lord Jun, since I was able to find this family on the roadside, it is not impossible for others to have escaped from Changze County. Lord Jun, we need to figure out the response strategy as soon as possible."
"You make a good point; it seems we will have to increase staff to monitor all entrances and exits."
Jun Ruochen turned his head and discussed briefly with Hua County Official, who then entered the back office through the second entrance.
Jun Ruochen finally relaxed a bit and turned his gaze to Qin Yi again with a smile.
"Mr. Qin, about the matter that Hua County Official had discussed with you before, have you considered it? Would you be willing to join the county governnt office and contribute to our Great Zhou dynasty? "
Qin Yi originally intended to think about this for a few more days.
But now that County Magistrate Jun asked him personally, he could not postpone it further.
"I would, of course, be honored to serve the Imperial Court. But given the current circumstances..."
"Good! All that matters is that you have agreed. The rest is no trouble."
Jun Ruochen laughed heartily: "In the current situation, you should take care of your family first. I will assign you a position in the county governnt office and after the epidemic at your ho is resolved, you can take office."
Qin Yi was overjoyed!
He quickly stepped forward to give his thanks: "Thank you, County Magistrate for your guidance."
"No problem, no problem. I will be waiting for any good news you have."
Jun Ruochen ordered his subordinates to bring a group of governnt employees and handed them solemnly to Doctor Su Pan’er: "Doctor Su, if you need money or manpower, feel free to direct these employees to inform . I will do my utmost to assist you in combating the epidemic. Furthermore, I will also arrange 20 bailiffs to assist you. If anyone dares to publicly comply but privatly oppose, you report to and I will ensure their punishnt."
"Thank you, Lord Jun."
"No need for thanks. You’ve worked hard, Doctor Su. The patients are still at your ho right now, so I won’t keep you any longer. It’s getting late, best you leave the city and return ho."
Both Qin Yi and Doctor Su were eager to return ho and did not linger, heading straight to the Lui Family’s dicine shop after leaving the county governnt office.
Since it was already late, the dicine shop only had a few employees left.
So, Doctor Su Pan’er had to pick out the urgently needed dicinal herbs and leave.
When she was leaving, she left a letter for Lui Muyi, explaining in detail what had happened, and asked the shop assistant to deliver it to him.
She firmly believed that Lui Muyi would respond as soon as he learned of the epidemic due to the Lui Family’s connections.
But to her surprise, she did not see Lui Muyi or any representatives of the Lui family in the following days.
She was not sure if her letter had not reached Lui Muyi, or if sothing had happened to him.
To prevent the spread of the epidemic, right after Doctor Su Pan’er left the county governnt office, Jun Ruochen imdiately ordered officials at Yongze County and Lin County to set up checkpoints at official roads and docks to thoroughly inspect passersby. Soon after, the county city began to implent a travel ban, allowing exits but not entries.
Despite these asures, the epidemic proved uncontrollable!
Rumours of the plague broke out one after another in places like Lower River Village and Yanba Village of Luoyan Village, Hejiawan and Liujiatuo Area. This caused panic among the villages near Changze County, resulting in any new faces being collectively driven away.
On the contrary, Luoyan Village, where the epidemic was first discovered, was unhard.
This peaceful situation in Luoyan Village was extrely conspicuous in the face of the surrounding critical situation.
The safety of Luoyan Village was naturally due to the efforts of Doctor Su Pan’er. After returning from the county city, she was constantly working on the prevention and treatnt of smallpox.
Reviews
All reviews (0)