Chapter 44 Plague Recipe "If you can quell this plague, it must be the army...

Liu Yeshu nodded slightly, a calm and resolute expression between her brows, and her tone was also calm. "I have read a few prescriptions in ancient medical books. Although they cannot cure this plague immediately, they should be able to alleviate the symptoms of the patients. However, I need to go to the mountains to find some rare herbs to make the medicine."

Upon hearing this, Qi Yu's slightly furrowed brows relaxed slightly, and he said in a deep voice, "If that's the case, make your preparations as soon as possible. I'll immediately send someone to escort you out of the city to collect herbs."

"I will serve the general with all my strength."

Qi Yu nodded solemnly, his gaze steady, his words filled with hope. "If you can quell this epidemic, it will be a great achievement for the army. Whatever you need, just ask, and I will do my best to help you accomplish it."

Liu Yeshu bowed slightly, saluted like jade, and said respectfully: "Thank you for your trust, General. I will prepare immediately and live up to your trust." The candlelight flickered, reflecting dimly on her pensive face, dark and mysterious. Qi Yu's gaze could not help but linger on her until she quietly left the study.

Returning to her residence, she didn't dare to rest, and worked through the night preparing the tools she would need for the next day's herb-gathering. She first took the herb-gathering tool bag from the wooden cabinet and then checked the silver needles, knife, and herb shovel.

Before dawn the next day, Liu Yeshu was already dressed and ready to go. She wore light clothing, a small cloth bag containing herb-gathering tools hung from her waist. Several accompanying soldiers were already waiting outside the mansion. The morning air was slightly chilly, the frost still lingering, and morning mist lingered on the mountain path, as if the sky and earth were shrouded in a thin veil.

"Miss Liu, the road ahead is rough. If you need anything, please let us know." The leading soldier said respectfully, with a hint of respect in his eyes.

Liu Yeshu nodded slightly, with a flash of determination in her eyes: "Don't worry, I will definitely find what I need. This epidemic is not an ordinary disease, and we must not delay for a moment." Before she finished speaking, she jumped on the horse, spurred the horse, and the Ferghana horse galloped like the wind, its four hooves flying, and ran towards the distant mountains. Several soldiers followed.

Ancient trees towered among the mountains, and medicinal herbs grew in deep valleys, often requiring venturing deep into the mountains to find them. Liu Yeshu was focused, meticulously identifying each herb.

[Host, although the fragrance of honeysuckle flowers is faint, it will be faintly diffused in the morning mist, and the bitter smell of coptis root will be mixed with the moisture of the soil.]

Liu Yeshu nodded, following the morning breeze, inhaling the fragrance of the flowers. Suddenly, she stopped and crouched down. Sure enough, she spotted a clump of honeysuckle on the slightly damp slope. Dew still clung to the blades, and the slanting sunlight cast a faint luster. Liu Yeshu was secretly delighted, but not cautious. She used a spade to loosen the surrounding soil and then dug out the thriving honeysuckle, root and toe. Delighted, yet cautious, she carefully placed this precious herb into her medicine basket.

Time passed minute by minute, the mist in the mountains gradually dissipated, and sunlight filtered through the treetops onto the ground, casting mottled shadows. She walked tirelessly until sunset, finally finding enough coptis root.

"Finally, everything is complete," she muttered to herself, looking at the basket full of herbs. Seeing this, the accompanying soldiers breathed a sigh of relief and advised, "Miss Liu, the mountain road is difficult to travel. Why not find a cave to rest today and return home tomorrow?"

At nightfall, the cold wind mixed with the coolness of the forest echoed in the valley. Thinking of her last encounter with wolves, she did not dare to act rashly this time.

The accompanying soldiers lit a bonfire and took turns keeping watch. The flames illuminated the cave walls and reflected on Liu Yeshu's face, the dancing flames dispelling the chill within. Outside, the wind howled, and from time to time, the distant roar of animals could be heard. She wrapped her cloak tightly around her and stared at the bonfire, not daring to completely relax.

The next day, she arrived at the military camp at dawn. The faint smell of medicine and the weak breathing of the sick filled the air. Her heart tightened, and she quickly dismounted, picking up the medicine basket and hurried to the doctor's tent.

Entering the tent, she saw Du Heng checking the pulses of several sick soldiers, his expression solemn and his brow furrowed. Liu Yeshu stepped forward and asked softly, "Doctor Du, how are the pulses of these men?"

Du Heng looked up at her and sighed slightly, "Her pulse is disordered, and her Qi and blood are deficient. It's obvious that the plague wasn't brought under control in the early stages. If we don't find a solution, I'm afraid it will worsen even faster."

After hearing this, Liu Yeshu pondered for a moment and then said, "I brought some medicinal herbs with me. I also have an ancient recipe that may be able to alleviate the symptoms and temporarily curb the spread of the disease. Maybe we can give it a try."

Du Heng nodded and was about to speak when he heard the sound of light footsteps not far away. Then, a middle-aged man in a brocade robe walked in from outside the tent. He had a dignified demeanor and a calm expression, and it was obvious at a glance that he was of extraordinary status.

"Master Zheng," Du Heng stood up and saluted, then whispered to Liu Yeshu, "This is the deputy envoy sent by the Imperial Hospital in the capital, Master Zheng Yi."

Zheng Yi glanced around and saw Liu Yeshu standing next to Du Heng, her brows slightly furrowed, a look of scrutiny on her face. He asked coldly, "Doctor Du, who is this woman?"

Du Heng stopped what he was doing and replied calmly, "She is Liu Yeshu, the housekeeper of the General's Mansion. Although she is just a housekeeper, she also has some knowledge of medicine. With the sudden outbreak of this plague, the General sent her here to assist."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Yi frowned, sneered, and a hint of disdain flashed in his eyes. He winked at the attendant outside the tent, who immediately understood and quietly left. A moment later, the attendant returned and whispered something in Zheng Yi's ear. Zheng Yi looked at Liu Yeshu again, his eyes now tinged with contempt and provocation.

Just as she was about to write a prescription, a harsh voice interrupted her: "Hmph, a lowly criminal slave dares to talk about medical skills here?"

Faced with this sudden questioning, Liu Yeshu didn't flinch. She bowed respectfully and said, "Lord Zheng, I'm only doing my bit by following the general's orders. If there's anything inappropriate, please forgive me."

Deputy Envoy Zheng snorted coldly: "Teach me? I think you don't know your place. Come, kick her out!"

At this moment, a majestic voice sounded: "Wait a minute."

General Qi Yu strode forward, his gaze piercing. "Sir Zheng, since the court has sent you here to treat the soldiers, please focus on that. As for the deployment of the military personnel, I will make the final decision."

Although Deputy Envoy Zheng was displeased, he didn't dare to confront him openly and could only retreat in dismay. Qi Yu turned to Liu Yeshu and whispered, "I've given you a chance, you must seize it. If you're truly capable, you won't have to worry about others not being convinced."

Liu Yeshu prepared some medicine and gave it to some soldiers. Some soldiers with mild symptoms did show improvement after taking the medicine, their coughs and fevers gradually easing, and their spirits slightly improved. However, as the medicine began to take effect, the condition of the more seriously ill soldiers showed no improvement at all.

Even more troubling was that, shortly after taking the medicine, several seriously ill soldiers suddenly experienced severe abdominal pain. Their faces turned pale, they clutched their abdomens, convulsed, and a cold sweat broke out. The medical tent erupted in chaos, with groans and cries of pain echoing throughout the camp. Several medical officers rushed forward to examine the soldiers, and Du Heng even took their pulses himself, his expression growing increasingly grim.

"It hurts... It hurts as if being cut by a knife..." A soldier uttered a few words with difficulty, his forehead covered with cold sweat and his eyes filled with despair.

Liu Yeshu's heart tightened, and she rushed to the bedside, quickly checking their condition. Seeing several soldiers' faces turning pale and their expressions of extreme pain, she felt a surge of anxiety. She hurriedly ordered the accompanying soldiers to fetch water and prepare pain relief medicine.

"How could this happen..." Liu Yeshu whispered to himself, quickly analyzing the symptoms of these soldiers, trying to find the crux of the problem.

At that moment, Zheng Yi strode into the medical tent. His gaze swept sternly over the several critically ill soldiers struggling on their beds, his brow furrowed. He demanded in a cold voice, "What's going on? Why did the medication worsen their condition?"

Liu Yeshu felt Zheng Yi's gaze piercing her like a needle. His tone was cold, and the obvious contempt in his voice suddenly made the atmosphere in the tent tense. She was speechless for a moment, her brow furrowed slightly, and she pondered the reason for the patient's worsening symptoms. She knew that if she couldn't provide a reasonable explanation now, not only would Zheng Yi criticize her, but her reputation might even be damaged.

Seeing her silence, Zheng Yi's tone became sharper. "How dare a slave woman talk nonsense about medical skills? If she endangers someone's life, what crime will she be punished for? Do you really think that you can do whatever you want in the army just because you rely on the reputation of the General's Mansion? The lives of the soldiers are not something you can take lightly!"

A moment of silence fell within the medical tent, and everyone's gaze fell on Liu Yeshu. Du Heng's expression was complicated, and he was about to speak up to explain for her, but Zheng Yi's imposing manner clearly didn't give her any chance to breathe.

Liu Yeshu raised her head slightly. Though anxious, she remained composed. She knew she couldn't retreat at this moment. If she lost her footing before Zheng Yi, she would lose everyone's trust. She took a deep breath and replied calmly, "Master Zheng is absolutely right. The lives of our soldiers are more important than Mount Tai. I dare not boast about my medical skills, but although this prescription may not be effective immediately, the improvement in the mildly ill patients is proof of that."

She paused briefly, her gaze fixed firmly on Zheng Yi. "As for the reaction of the critically ill patients, perhaps it's because some of the ingredients in the prescription are incompatible with their constitutions, causing the medication to fail to take effect and instead cause discomfort. I'm willing to adjust the prescription immediately and try again."

Zheng Yi snorted coldly and said with a hint of sarcasm: "How can you be sure that this adjustment won't cause another fatality?"

Liu Yeshu was momentarily speechless, pondering how to respond when footsteps were heard outside the tent. General Qi Yu once again entered the medical tent, his gaze sweeping over the soldier in excruciating pain. His brow furrowed slightly, clearly understanding the situation. He looked at Zheng Yi with a cold gaze and said in a deep voice, "Master Zheng, the highest priority for military medicine is to treat the soldiers. Let's give Miss Liu another try."

Although Zheng Yi was dissatisfied, he didn't dare to say anything in front of Qi Yu and could only smile coldly.

Liu Yeshu felt a surge of warmth at Qi Yu's trust. She quickly adjusted her thinking, re-examining the prescription and deciding to reduce the dosage of several herbs while increasing the amount of herbs that could alleviate abdominal pain, particularly costus root and tangerine peel, which are known to regulate stomach qi, to balance the effects. After a quick discussion with Du Heng, she immediately set about re-brewing the medicinal broth.

Outside the tent, the night deepened, the firelight illuminating the busy figures of Liu Yeshu and Du Heng. After re-boiling the medicinal broth, she personally brought it to several patients suffering from severe abdominal pain. Everyone in the tent held their breath, waiting for the medicine to take effect. Liu Yeshu's heart pounded like a drum, and despite her inner anxiety, she maintained a calm exterior.

After a while, the soldiers gradually stopped struggling in agony, and their breathing gradually calmed down. Du Heng stepped forward to take their pulses, and with a sigh of relief, he whispered to Liu Yeshu, "The pulses have stabilized. The medicine is taking effect."

Liu Yeshu finally breathed a sigh of relief, turned around and whispered to Qi Yu, "General, the adjustment of this prescription has been effective. We should continue to observe and adjust the dosage to try to stabilize the condition of the seriously ill soldiers."

Qi Yu nodded, his tone softening: "Thank you for your hard work."

Zheng Yi stood aside, his face still etched with displeasure, but he could no longer find fault. He said coldly, "I hope so. If there are any further mistakes, General, please, for the sake of fairness, expel this criminal from the camp."

Liu Yeshu didn't say much, returned to the medicine furnace, and continued to guard the herbs that were being boiled.

Upon hearing this, Qi Yu's eyes flashed with a sharpness, and a hint of displeasure crossed his stern face. He stared directly at Zheng Yi, his tone unquestionable and filled with a bit of dominance: "Sir Zheng, the most important thing right now is how to save the soldiers. If she can save them, who cares about her background? If she can save the lives of these soldiers, who dares to say no?"

Zheng Yi was stunned by Qi Yu's forceful words, his expression changing slightly. Although he didn't dare to refute him outright, he was clearly extremely dissatisfied. He gritted his teeth and said coldly, "General, you are absolutely right. However, military rules are paramount. If there is any further misconduct..."

Qi Yu raised his eyebrows and interrupted, "If there is any mistake again, it will be my responsibility, Qi Yu. If you have doubts about her medical skills, why not prescribe the medicine yourself and see if you can do better than her." His tone was domineering, but righteous, with an unquestionable momentum.

Qi Yu glanced at Zheng Yi and continued, "Besides, if we really want to expel her from the barracks, it's not your turn to speak up. She's my housekeeper, and I have the final say on whether she can stay. If you say anything more, Lord Zheng, you're questioning my decision. Or do you want to ask His Majesty directly in the court for instructions on how to use her?"