Chapter 393 The Benevolence of a Healer

Wen Yilin was taken away from the laundry department in tears and was placed in a secluded and quiet palace room.

As she looked at the thick stack of Xuan paper and the writing brushes and ink needed for copying the scriptures that the eunuch had brought her, she felt her vision blurring.

Ten times a day? That would take forever to copy!

Wrists must not be broken? Eyes must not be blinded?

She tried again to send a message home through someone, but this time the nannies guarding her were specially appointed by Huo Lin, and they all had stern faces and were unyielding.

Wen Yilin was utterly desperate. She could only grit her teeth and, with tears in her eyes, begin to copy the scriptures stroke by stroke.

With each word I copied, I felt a little more regret.

If she had known this would happen, she would have preferred to wash clothes in the laundry department for the rest of her life!

Inside Weiyang Palace, a young palace maid vividly described Wen Yilin's miserable state.

"Your Majesty, didn't you see? Consort Wen's eyes are swollen like walnuts. She looks like she's seen a ghost whenever she sees a Buddhist scripture!"

Jiang Huan chuckled: "Serves her right. She's always thinking about crooked ways. Now look what she's done. Buddha has given her a chance to calm her mind."

She quickly put Wen Yilin out of her mind because Princess Ayina and Huo Yunxing's wedding was approaching.

That day, Huo Lin returned home early for dinner, which was unusual for him. Jiang Huan immediately went over and asked with bright eyes, "Your Majesty, has there been any news from the Ministry of Rites? When will Ayina's entourage arrive in the capital?"

Seeing her excitement, Huo Lin replied gently, "The wedding procession has already departed from the royal court. Judging by the journey, it should take at least a month, or at most fifty days, for them to arrive."

"That's wonderful!" Jiang Huan almost clapped her hands. "I really want to see her soon. Last time she taught me how to ride a horse, but I haven't completely learned yet."

Huo Lin shook his head helplessly and picked up a piece of bamboo shoot with his chopsticks: "The most important thing for you now is to take good care of your pregnancy. Don't even think about riding a horse. I will teach you myself after the baby is born."

[Hmph, Ayina is already married, and you still want to make a move on her?]

No way!

"Okay, okay, I was just saying, can't I even have a little fun?" Jiang Huan mumbled as she chewed on a bamboo shoot, but in her mind she was already planning where to take Ayina and what delicious food to eat when she arrived.

Unfortunately, this expectation of reuniting with old friends was interrupted by a sudden epidemic.

A few days later, late one night, Weiyang Palace was brightly lit, and Wang Degui delivered an urgent message with a solemn expression.

Huo Lingang took off his outer robe, and upon seeing this, his expression turned stern. He quickly took the secret letter, opened it, and after only scanning a few lines, his face instantly turned as cold as iron.

"What's wrong?" Jiang Huan was startled by his expression, and her heart jumped.

Huo Lin slammed the report heavily on the table, his voice full of worry: "An epidemic has broken out in Jiangnan, and the situation is very bad."

"An epidemic!" Jiang Huan gasped. "Is it serious?"

"Within a few days, it has spread to several states, clinics are overflowing, medicines are in short supply, and the people are panicking..."

Huo Lin rubbed his temples and spoke very quickly, "You stay here, I'll go deal with this first."

In the following days, Jiang Huan hardly saw Huo Lin at all.

He discussed matters with his senior ministers day and night, allocated resources, and selected officials. When he occasionally returned to Weiyang Palace, he was exhausted, with bloodshot eyes. He would often lean against the couch and fall into a deep sleep after saying only a few words to her.

Jiang Huan felt heartbroken looking at his rapidly thinning face and the dark circles under his eyes.

She had the palace servants prepare nourishing soups, but he was so busy that he didn't even have time to drink a sip of water. Often, the soup would be brought in and brought out untouched, already cooled down.

"This can't go on. Even the strongest body can't withstand this." Jiang Huan frowned and instructed the little palace maid who brought out the cold soup, "Go and get a bowl of light and easy-to-digest porridge. I'll deliver it to you personally."

When Jiang Huan carried a steaming bowl of chicken porridge into the imperial study, Huo Lin was hunched over a huge map, discussing the details of the blockade and the allocation of supplies with several important officials.

His voice was hoarse from staying up late for days, but his thoughts were clear and his instructions were decisive.

Upon seeing Jiang Huan enter, the ministers immediately bowed in greeting.

Huo Lin looked up and saw the bowl of porridge in her hand. He seemed to want to say something, but when he met her worried eyes, he finally sighed and waved for the ministers to leave and rest for a while.

"Why are you here? Didn't I tell you to rest?" He got up, took the bowl of porridge, and pulled her to sit down on the tatami mat next to him.

"If I hadn't come soon, some people might have become immortals." Jiang Huan rolled her eyes at him, reached out and touched his stubble-covered chin. "Look at you, you look more disheveled than a refugee. Hurry up and drink the porridge to warm your stomach."

Huo Lin's heart softened at her reproachful tone, and he obediently picked up the bowl of porridge, scooped a spoonful, and put it in his mouth.

The warm porridge did indeed dispel some of the chill and fatigue.

Whenever I was preoccupied with trivial matters, she would always bring me food.

[In this deep and complex palace, only by her side can I truly relax for a moment.]

Jiang Huan watched her finish the bowl of porridge and asked softly, "Is the situation very bad?"

Huo Lin put down his bowl of porridge, his expression turning serious again: "Yes, the epidemic spreads extremely quickly. The water system in Jiangnan is well-developed, making it difficult to completely block the movement of people. Local officials missed the best opportunity to control the epidemic in its early stages, and now... sigh."

Just then, Wang Degui announced from outside: "Your Majesty, the head of the Imperial Medical Academy and a group of imperial physicians request an audience."

Huo Lin's expression turned serious: "Summon them."

Led by the chief physician, more than a dozen imperial physicians filed in and knelt down in unison.

Most of these imperial physicians were over fifty years old, with graying temples, but at this moment their faces all carried a resolute air of facing death without fear.

The Imperial Physician presented a memorial, his voice aged yet resonant: "Your Majesty, a plague is raging in Jiangnan, and the people are suffering terribly. We, who are paid by the Emperor, bear the responsibility of physicians. How can we sit idly by? I am willing to lead my colleagues from the Imperial Medical Academy south immediately to aid the epidemic area! Please grant me Your Majesty's permission!"

"We are willing to go!" The imperial physicians behind him responded in unison.

Huo Lin suddenly stood up, walked quickly to Physician Zhang, and personally helped him up.

Looking at the rows of aged yet resolute faces below, his throat bobbed, and he was speechless for a moment.

The chief physician is nearing seventy, and so are Physician Li and Physician Wang… They are all of similar age; this journey is likely fraught with peril.

How could I bear to let them risk their lives? But the people of Jiangnan… alas!

Jiang Huan felt a lump in her throat as she looked at the scene before her.

These old men, knowing full well that a death trap lay ahead, still went without hesitation.

This reminded her of the medical workers who bravely went against the tide to fight the epidemic. No matter the era, the benevolence of doctors has never changed.

Huo Lin remained silent for a long time, then patted the judge's shoulder heavily, his voice heavy with respect: "Very well, I grant your request. The people of Jiangnan are entrusted to you, my beloved ministers. I will be in the capital awaiting your triumphant return. You are granted the highest authority over all your needs. If you have any requests, report them directly to me via express courier!"

"We will certainly not fail in our mission!" The chief physician led the imperial physicians in bowing deeply once again.