The plague was far more ferocious than Xiao Qingyin had anticipated.

After setting up treatment centers to separate patients from healthy individuals, the number of new cases was effectively contained, and after half a month, there were no new patients outside the treatment centers.

However, new patients are arriving at the treatment center every day.

These new patients are doctors who were called in to treat other patients.

Although Xiao Qingyin had a lot of protective equipment made, due to material limitations, it was difficult for this equipment to completely prevent the spread of germs.

Disinfection supplies were extremely limited, with only alcohol and soap that Xiao Qingyin had ordered Magistrate Xu to urgently produce.

As a result, the air quality at the treatment center deteriorated daily, germs multiplied, and more and more paramedics became infected.

Manpower is naturally becoming increasingly scarce.

To avoid spreading the infection, Xiao Qingyin did not allow Magistrate Xu to add more people to the treatment center.

As a result, the staff at the treatment center have to take on more tasks.

To ease the burden, Yi Wu and others also joined the ranks of caring for the patients.

Frustratingly, however, the plague struck too quickly.

People infected with the virus often start coughing up blood on the third day, their limbs turn black on the fifth day, and they die on the seventh day.

There's no time to wait for the medication to take effect.

Xiao Qingyin knew that only streptomycin could quickly stop the invasion of bacteria.

But there's no way streptomycin could be found here.

She also couldn't produce streptomycin, as there was no chemical equipment available here to make it.

Even if the production conditions were available, it wouldn't be fast enough. By the time streptomycin was produced, all these patients would have already died.

Seeing so many people die every day, Xiao Qingyin was so distressed that she couldn't even eat.

Yi Shuihan comforted her, "You've done your best, don't be so hard on yourself."

Xiao Qingyin understood the reasoning, but she was still very upset.

Because if there were medicine, she could save these people.

But it didn't happen.

Having exceptional medical skills but being unable to save patients—how could she possibly find peace with that?

If she had brought with her a whole hospital's worth of medical equipment and medicines when she transmigrated, like everyone else, she wouldn't have had to watch so many lives vanish before her eyes.

She must be incredibly unlucky to have failed to draw the time-traveling cheat.

“I know,” she replied, “but I’m still very sad.”

Yi Shuihan pulled her into his arms and said softly, "If you're feeling down, you can lean on my shoulder."

Xiao Qingyin reached out and hugged him tightly.

"Thank you, I feel comforted."

At that moment, she didn't know that this was far from the saddest time of her life.

The next day, after a busy morning, she stopped to rest and eat when she suddenly realized something was wrong.

At this time of day, Yi Shuihan would usually eat with her, so why is he not here today?

She quickly called out to Yi Wu, who was about to wash the dishes: "Where is your young master?"

Yi Wu's face stiffened.

He then said casually, "The young master just finished eating and went to the funeral home."

Xiao Qingyin had no suspicions.

After the meal, she continued working until dark before leaving the ward.

What puzzled her was that Yi Shuihan didn't show up for dinner either.

Yi Wu's statement was the same as it had been that morning.

Xiao Qingyin asked in confusion, "No patients died this afternoon, so there's no need for cremation. What was he doing at the funeral home?"

Yi Wu was speechless.

"They're probably on patrol, to prevent anyone from sneaking over the wall."

Who would dare to do that?

Don't the people of Bei'an City regard the funeral home as a living hell?

How could they possibly sneak in?

Xiao Qingyin narrowed her eyes.

"Tell me honestly, what is your young master up to?"

Yi Wu was silent for a moment, then choked up and said, "The Crown Prince has been infected."

What?!

Xiao Qingyin suddenly stood up.

When did he get infected?

“Last night,” Yi Wu replied, “the young master suddenly developed a high fever last night and coughed up a lot of blood today. He was afraid you would worry, so he told us not to tell you.”

"That idiot!"

Xiao Qingyin was so angry she almost vomited blood.

He's infected but doesn't see a doctor; instead, he hides away. Is he trying to give up treatment and just wait to die?

Although the current treatment has little effect, how can we just give up? Not all patients will die.

There are still some lucky ones who manage to escape death's scythe!

Xiao Qingyin stormed into Yi Shuihan's room in a fit of rage.

The door was tightly shut. She pushed it, but it wouldn't open; it was bolted from the inside.

"Yi Shuihan, can you get up? Open the door for me."

She called out through the door.

A weak voice came from inside the door: "Don't come in, cough cough, I don't want to pass it on to you."

"Even if I don't see you, I'll see other patients."

Xiao Qingyin replied.

"Even if you don't pass it on to me, someone else might, so there's no point in you avoiding me."

"Nonsense, you won't be infected by anyone."

Will you open the door or not?

"Not open."

Xiao Qingyin had no choice but to find a knife, insert it into the crack in the door, wedging it against the latch, and slowly move it open.

Yi Shuihan really wanted to stop her from doing that.

But he didn't even have the strength to stand up, and could only watch helplessly as she walked into the room.

An oil lamp was lit on the bedside table. When Xiao Qingyin entered the room, she looked at her sallow face illuminated by the lamplight and was momentarily unable to recognize her.

Is this incredibly weak and emaciated man in front of her really the Yi Shuihan she knows?

Just two days ago, when we hugged, his embrace was so firm and strong.

Yi Shuihan forced a smile, saying weakly, "I told you not to come in, and now look what happened, you're shocked by how ugly you are, cough cough—"

"Stop talking."

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!