Five villages in Heshun Prefecture were infected with the plague. Among them, Tianshui Village was destroyed, leaving only scorched earth and ashes.

The villagers in the remaining four villages all considered leaving the place where they were born and raised.

But in this world of famine and constant border wars, where can one go?

There was nothing they could do but rot away in this place, even though it was once the place they most wanted to escape from.

When Lu Qiqi learned that Heshun Prefecture had no intention of relocating the villages infected with the plague elsewhere, she proposed to carry out a comprehensive disinfection of the villages.

Otherwise, if those dozen or so doctors had come all the way from Luzhou Prefecture, and had just cured the villagers' illnesses, only for the villagers to contract the plague, then all their efforts would have been in vain.

Thinking that she shouldn't do anything in vain, Lu Qiqi asked Lu Da to go to the government to ask for lime.

They used to send large quantities of ginseng to the village, let alone lime.

In less than two days, the lime was delivered to the entrances of the four villages.

Lu Qiqi wrote down the method of using lime water, and had the village chief lead the villagers to use lime water to disinfect the entire village, inside and out.

...

The Imperial Palace, the Imperial Study.

"Haha, the second prince has become much more sensible lately! He knows how to help me solve my problems, which makes me very gratified!"

The emperor closed the memorial in his hand, looked up at his three sons standing in the imperial study, and praised them.

The chief eunuch was momentarily stunned to see the emperor so pleased. He hadn't seen the emperor smile like this in the imperial study since the death of the eldest prince.

The third and fourth princes, unaware of what was written in the memorial, exchanged a glance with their heads down and remained silent.

The Second Prince smiled gently and said, "The plague in Heshun Prefecture has caused great panic among the people. I only did my best. The villagers of Heshun Prefecture were able to recover entirely thanks to the Emperor's boundless grace."

Upon hearing the Second Prince's flattering words, the Emperor shook his head and said, "The memorial says that a female physician and a group of doctors worked together to cure the plague in Heshun Prefecture. Now that female physician is leading the villagers to grow medicinal herbs?"

"Yes," the second prince answered truthfully.

The emperor thought for a moment and said, "This female physician has made a great contribution, so I will grant her a special reward."

"Feng Debao, convey my decree: this female physician is hereby appointed as the Township Head of Heshun Prefecture, with a stipend of one hundred shi of grain and a reward of two hundred taels of silver. As for those villages that have suffered from the disease, consider them as her fiefdom."

"As for the remaining doctors, you can decide how to reward them based on their merits."

The eunuch Feng Debao bowed and accepted the order, saying, "Yes."

Seeing the Second Prince's calm and composed expression, the Emperor said, "As for the Second Prince, he has done a good job. He will be rewarded with five thousand taels of silver and a pair of jade ruyi scepters."

"Second brother, you did a good job. Keep it up."

Upon receiving the reward, the second prince immediately knelt down to express his gratitude, saying, "Your subject thanks you and will certainly live up to Father's expectations."

"Step down."

After the three princes took their leave, the emperor leaned back in his chair, rubbed his temples with his index finger and thumb, and said, "Feng Debao."

"This servant is here."

"The Minister of Revenue has reported that the national treasury is in deficit, and news from the border says that there is a shortage of food and fodder. Now is a time of internal and external troubles."

"And my sons are still amassing wealth; do you think they harbor rebellious intentions?"

“This…” Feng Debao stood frozen in place, bowing, and after a moment said, “His Majesty’s grace is boundless, and the princes are very filial. They would not do anything rebellious.”

"Hmph," the emperor sneered, "A truly filial son wouldn't be scrambling for wealth, but would instead try to solve my problems!"

"Look at the second son's face just now, he clearly thinks I didn't give him enough!"

At this point, the emperor's anger flared, and he clenched his right fist, revealing faint blue veins.

"Your Majesty, please don't be angry. Your health is the most important thing," Feng Debao said with concern, without responding to the previous statement.

The emperor frowned. "Get out, get out, I need to be alone."

Feng Debao obeyed, bowed, took a few steps back, and left the imperial study.

As soon as the second prince boarded the carriage leaving the palace, he immediately overturned the tea and snacks prepared in the carriage.

He said with a furious expression, "A reward of five thousand taels of silver and two jade ruyi scepters? Is Father Emperor trying to fetch a beggar?"

He spent countless amounts of silver trying to cure the ill people of Heshun Prefecture, sending people everywhere to search for ginseng, only to lose the meat and get a fly in return.

This is even more painful than making him swallow a fly whole!

The attendant beside him whispered, "Second Prince, be careful what you say, we're still in the palace!"

"I don't need you to remind me, I know perfectly well!"

The attendant paused, then said, "Second Prince, once you win the Emperor's favor, you'll have everything you could ever want!"

The second prince understood this principle, but he was still worried that his father was deliberately delaying in appointing a crown prince in order to incite conflict among the princes.

The struggle for the throne.

"Just wait, the third and fourth princes will be tormented to death by this prince sooner or later!" The second prince said with a ruthless look on his face.

...

It's already June, and the summer heat is just around the corner. It's feared that planting grains will not yield a good harvest.

Villagers who had contracted the plague did not receive proper treatment, which weakened their bodies. Even if they survived with ginseng, their constitution would be weaker than that of ordinary people.

Therefore, after some consideration, Lu Qiqi came up with the idea of ​​having the villagers grow medicinal herbs.

Following the sketch described by Lu Qiqi, the villagers turned over the soil with shovels and dug ditches with hoes, working with great enthusiasm.

Lu Qiqi helped to lay out lines and measure the land so that the villagers could easily dig ditches.

Li Changlong called out from the ridge of the field, "Everyone, take a break and have some water."

"Why!"

Upon hearing the sound, Lu Qiqi stuck the small wooden stake she was holding, which was tied with a string, into the ground before getting up to drink water.

Li Changlong handed Lu Qiqi a bowl of water. "Here you go."

"Thank you," Lu Qiqi said after taking the water.

"Qiqi, when can we go back to Luzhou Prefecture?" Li Changlong asked, looking at the empty land.

They were kept in Heshun Prefecture, supposedly because the government had reported to the imperial court that they would be rewarded for their merits as doctors.

But now, half a month has passed and there is still no news. Not only Li Changlong, but also more than a dozen doctors who want to receive rewards from the imperial court are getting restless.

After finishing the water in her bowl, Lu Qiqi wiped the dripping water droplets with her sleeve and said, "I don't know. The government won't let us go back until the imperial court's reward is issued."

She wasn't after any reward; it was just that she had spent her own money to dig up the ginseng from her spatial storage to save her life, and the thought of it still stung.

Now that they have cured the villagers, the imperial court has bestowed rewards upon them, which may help them make up for their losses.

With this in mind, Lu Qiqi was no longer in a hurry and returned to Luzhou Prefecture in the next day or two.

Counting the days, the day when the imperial decree will be issued is fast approaching.

After all, she had been away from Luzhou Prefecture for so long, she didn't mind waiting another day or two.