Chapter 45: Hope of Escape "I will do my best to serve the general in the future, forever...

Upon hearing this, Zheng Yi's cheeks flushed red as if on fire. He was speechless for a moment, opening his mouth to speak but unsure where to begin. A flicker of helplessness and resentment flashed through his slightly cloudy eyes, like surging waves finally returning to a calm sea. In this vast frontier, he was well aware of Qi Yu's prestige and status within the army. He could only bow his head and clasp his hands together, "The general is right. I have overstepped my bounds."

Qi Yu smiled coldly and didn't look at Zheng Yi again. He turned to face Liu Yeshu, his eyes like melting ice, with a hint of imperceptible warmth.

"Just focus on treating patients."

The words were brief, but they were like a pillar of support. Liu Yeshu felt a warm feeling in her heart after hearing them. She bowed and withdrew.

After a few days, the prescription began to take effect. Although Liu Yeshu wasn't proficient in traditional pulse diagnosis and treatment, under the guidance of that mysterious herbal encyclopedia, he actually possessed some of the grace of a miracle healer.

The soldiers with mild symptoms who were once listless now have rosy complexions and are full of energy, as if dead trees have been reborn. The conditions of several seriously ill patients have also gradually stabilized. The alarming trend of deterioration has finally been curbed.

Inside the medical tent, the numerous medical officers breathed a sigh of relief, their gloom finally dissipating, replaced by smiles of relief. Du Heng stood by, watching the scene, his face filled with relief. His gaze swept over the soldiers, who were gradually regaining their vitality, and finally landed on Liu Yeshu, his eyes gleaming with approval.

That day, a soldier rushed into the medical tent like a whirlwind, his face filled with panic and anxiety. He shouted breathlessly, "Doctor Du, this is bad! Several more soldiers have suddenly collapsed! They have high fevers and the symptoms are exactly the same as the previous patients!"

This news was like a bucket of cold water, instantly extinguishing the flames of hope that had just ignited in everyone's hearts. Liu Yeshu and Du Heng subconsciously glanced at each other, and their hearts tightened at the same time, as if being gripped by an invisible hand.

Without a word, Du Heng rushed to check on the newly ill soldier. Meanwhile, Liu Yeshu stood there, his brow furrowed, lost in thought.

Although the prescriptions she prepared were effective in alleviating the symptoms of the plague that had already broken out, new patients continued to appear. Clearly, the problem was far more complicated than she had imagined, and simply treating the symptoms would not fundamentally solve it.

"If the source is not eliminated, the plague will continue to spread..."

Only by finding the cause can we completely eradicate this invisible war.

Liu Yeshu hurried to Qi Yu's tent and reported the latest situation and his thoughts in detail. Qi Yu listened, his brow furrowed, and he fell into deep thought. After a moment, he raised his head, pointed at a dozen strong soldiers, and ordered them to assist Liu Yeshu in conducting a thorough investigation.

"Soldiers, finding the source of the plague is of paramount importance right now. You must fully cooperate with Liu Yeshu and carefully investigate every corner inside and outside the camp."

The group first headed to the area where the newly ill soldiers were stationed. It was a low-lying area near the rear of the camp, where the soldiers had set up temporary barracks. She looked around and found it to be much the same as any other camp: the air was fresh, and the water didn't seem to be contaminated.

"But why is the plague continuing to spread here?" Liu Yeshu muttered to herself, frowning slightly. She turned to the soldiers beside her, her tone filled with anxiety, "Has anyone come into contact with anything unusual recently?"

A burly soldier shook his head: "We have been patrolling according to the rules these days and have not had much contact with the outside world."

Liu Yeshu frowned and asked everyone carefully, but did not get any useful clues. He returned to his horse and heard two soldiers who went to fetch water talking in a low voice.

"Hey, Lao Li, is the water nearby really useful for that purpose?" a thin soldier asked quietly.

"You coward," another soldier laughed, "if you're really scared, you can just not drink. Don't go to the whore camp tonight and waste money..."

Liu Yeshu dismounted and asked, "Where is this spring?"

The two soldiers were stunned for a moment, feeling a little awkward. The soldier named Lao Li playfully interjected, "Why are you asking this, a girl?"

Liu Yeshu's brows arched slightly, a cold glint flashing in her eyes. She raised her head calmly, her tone unchanged but with a hint of authority: "My question about the spring water has nothing to do with your despicable deeds. The general has ordered that you answer honestly."

Old Li's smile froze instantly. He exchanged glances with the thin soldier, clearly unprepared for the decisiveness and fierceness of the girl before him. He was about to crack a joke, but suddenly saw the soldiers behind Liu Yeshu approaching. He cleared his throat and dropped his joking attitude. "Well, the spring is in a valley not far behind the camp, about two miles from here. The water is indeed a bit... strange. The rumors say it's good, but you can't be sure after drinking too much."

The skinny soldier beside him nodded quickly in agreement. "Yes, some people get energized after drinking it, but a few also suffer from insomnia. We usually avoid that water to avoid any harm."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yeshu took several soldiers and immediately rushed to the spring.

"This spring is very clear, it looks like it has just opened," she bent down, picked up a few dead leaves and examined them carefully.

A soldier, after exploring the area, returned with a report: "Miss Liu, these leaves appear to have been corroded by something."

Liu Yeshu nodded. The surrounding scene was mottled with shadows in the moonlight. Her eyes swept across the surrounding trees and suddenly stopped on a large tree. The lower part of the tree's trunk was an unnatural black, as if it had been eroded by something.

"Bai Ke, is this water poisonous?" She asked the system in her mind, expecting a quick response.

【No. 】

Liu Yeshu's mind turned, and she asked in a low voice, "Then...are there parasites?"

However, the system didn't respond immediately. She quickly walked toward the eroded tree, pulled out her dagger, and gently scratched the eroded part of the trunk. A dense layer of holes appeared beneath the bark, as if some creature had once hatched and grown there.

Liu Yeshu's eyes lit up slightly. She immediately took out a small piece of transparent crystal, poured spring water into it, and stirred the water a few times with her dagger. She held the crystal up and examined it carefully in the moonlight. After a moment, she gently ran her fingers over the surface of the crystal and suddenly discovered tiny particles floating in the water, almost imperceptible to the naked eye. She took a look with a magnifying glass and, sure enough, those particles were tiny insect eggs!

"Seal the spring immediately!" Liu Yeshu ordered decisively, "No one is allowed to drink the water here anymore!"

Then she hurried back to the camp.

"General, I've found the source of the plague," Liu Yeshu said solemnly. "The spring water near the camp is contaminated. The soldiers heard that drinking the water here can boost their energy, so they often go there secretly to fetch water. This spring water may contain some kind of pathogenic insect eggs."

"Energy doubled? Why?"

When Liu Yeshu heard this question, her cheeks flushed instantly. She lowered her head, not daring to look Qi Yu in the eye. Du Heng saw this and immediately understood. He quickly walked over to Qi Yu and whispered something in his ear.

Qi Yu's expression changed from confusion to sudden realization, and then to disgust. He cleared his throat awkwardly, his tone filled with disdain: "A bunch of people who can't control themselves."

Sensing the awkwardness of the atmosphere, Du Heng promptly changed the subject: "Is this spring newly opened?"

Liu Yeshu nodded: "According to rumors in the army, it has only recently happened."

Du Heng said thoughtfully: "I'm afraid it's someone with ulterior motives who did it on purpose..." He didn't finish his words, but everyone present understood what he meant.

Qi Yu pondered for a moment and said, "First, block all water sources related to the spring and strictly order the soldiers to only use designated water sources."

"I've already told the soldiers that the spring has been sealed, and I've left two people to guard it," Liu Yeshu paused. "I'm afraid the eggs won't be completely removed. Even if the soldiers recover temporarily, they still need regular observation and treatment to prevent a relapse."

In the following days, the soldiers strictly followed the order and stopped drinking any unconfirmed water sources. At the same time, Du Heng and Liu Yeshu quickly adjusted the prescription, adding more dandelion and licorice.

Gradually, the number of sick soldiers in the army began to decrease, and even the number of new cases decreased significantly. After taking the improved prescription, the abdominal pain and other symptoms of those seriously ill gradually eased, and their condition began to improve. The atmosphere in the camp also gradually returned to calm.

A chill wind blew gently, sweeping up fallen leaves, which swirled across the open space outside the military camp. Qi Yu and Liu Yeshu stood side by side, gazing at the distant horizon.

"Miss Liu," Qi Yu said slowly, a barely perceptible solemnity in his voice, "thanks to you, the soldiers in the army are safe and sound this time."

Liu Yeshu said modestly, "General, you are so kind to me. It is my honor to serve in the army."

Qi Yu pondered for a moment, then turned his gaze to Liu Yeshu, his expression becoming more serious. He took a deep breath, as if making a firm decision. "Once this is over, I will return to the capital with the doctors from the Imperial Hospital to report to the court on the handling of this plague. The court will undoubtedly be aware of your contributions." He paused, then continued, "I will also inquire about the matter of deregistration."

These words were like a thunderbolt, exploding in Liu Yeshu's heart. She had been thinking about leaving her military service for a long time, but Qi Yu had previously said that this could only happen after she had made military achievements. Although she had already made some achievements, with the Imperial Hospital in Beijing present, it might not be easy to dispute the credit. A wave of emotion surged in her heart, but her face remained calm.

Noticing Liu Yeshu's subtle change, Qi Yu continued, "This matter is not easy, but I will do my best to facilitate it. By the time I return, it will probably be almost the New Year, and by then we should have a conclusion on your identity."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yeshu felt a surge of gratitude. She bowed deeply and said solemnly, "Thank you very much, General, for your care. I am deeply grateful. If the court grants me release from my official duties, I will serve you wholeheartedly and will never forget your kindness."

Liu Yeshu lowered her head, feeling that her words seemed to make Qi Yu very satisfied, and he seemed to be smiling.

"But you must understand that even if His Majesty shows mercy, the credit this time will belong only to you. Your relatives may..." There was some hesitation in Qi Yu's voice, as if he was considering how to express it.

Liu Yeshu immediately understood what Qi Yu meant. She quickly added, "I understand. I will continue to find a solution for my family's problem." Her voice was firm, and her eyes gleamed with determination.

Qi Yu raised his eyebrows in surprise when he heard this: "I thought you would say that you would share honor and disgrace with your family."

Liu Yeshu couldn't help but smile when she heard this. She almost blurted out "The rich first will help the poor later."

She cleverly replied, "How can I not appreciate the general's kindness?"

Back at the general's residence, Liu Yeshu busied herself in the kitchen, gathering various ingredients and meticulously preparing several exquisite rations and snacks. She began by making a few air-dried sausages, specially using the general's favorite spices for a unique, delicious flavor that would last a long time. Next, she made a few crispy candied date pastries, their pastry kneaded to a flaky, cicada-wing-like texture, encasing a sweet, yet not greasy, candied date filling. These pastries were not only crispy and delicious, but also perfectly sweet; the general deserved a warm treat in the cold weather.

She also personally prepared a pot of thick chicken soup, sealed it in a clay pot, and prepared it for the soldiers to heat up for Qi Yu to eat during the journey. The chicken soup was mixed with several rare herbs she had collected, which could nourish the spirit and maintain physical strength during the long journey.

After everything was ready, Liu Yeshu packed the delicious food neatly into a bag and handed it to Qi Yu.

"General, these foods can be eaten on the road. The air-dried sausages and candied date cakes can be preserved for a long time. There is also a can of medicinal chicken soup, which can replenish physical strength. The journey is long, and I hope this can help you."

Qi Yu took the bundle and said in a deep voice, "Thank you for your kindness. Then my journey won't be dull."

Liu Yeshu smiled and bowed his head slightly: "General, have a safe journey, and may everything go well."

Qi Yu nodded and looked at her gently.

A thought flashed through Qi Yu's mind: It seemed that every time I looked at her, she lowered her head.

The four words "hold the case together as if it were your own" suddenly popped up in Qi Yu's mind, and then he sneered.

However, this thought seemed to open a floodgate, and more thoughts flooded into his mind. His eyes unconsciously lingered on Liu Yeshu, noticing her simple attire.

Qi Yu thought to himself, there are so many different kinds of clothes in the capital, I should bring her a few this time. It would be best to give them to her when I tell her I've been freed from slavery, she will surely be happy.

"Go!" He led his accompanying soldiers and the doctors from the Imperial Hospital all the way to the capital. In the morning light, his figure gradually disappeared on the distant horizon.

Liu Yeshu stood in front of the mansion gate, quietly watching Qi Yu's departing figure. A breeze brushed through her hair, bringing a hint of coolness, and she unconsciously glanced at the sky.

Is the weather about to change? Why is it so cold today?