Although Li Shimin sent men to chase after them early on, they were still a step too late and failed to catch up with Li Jue and Si Zi.

Sun Simiao was taken aback when he saw the two travel-worn people. He had sent Sizi back home, but he never expected that she would come back again and even bring his junior brother with her.

"Sizi, you're such a thoughtless girl! How could you bring my junior brother along!"

Upon hearing this, Sizi lowered her head in shame, just like a child who had made a mistake.

"Master, I didn't mean to..."

"I just accidentally let it slip, and then... and then..."

Sun Simiao understood everything he heard. The reason he kept it from Li Jue was because he was afraid Li Jue would come and cause trouble.

This child is kind-hearted and possesses a strong sense of compassion and empathy, a quality deeply rooted in Taoist beliefs.

Once he learns that Xianyang, where Sanglin Village is located, is suffering from an epidemic, he will certainly not stand idly by.

However, are epidemics so easy to cure?

If he's not careful, this old coffin-like man might die here!

"Keep an eye on Li Jue, and make sure he doesn't run around!"

Si Zi said with a wronged expression.

"Master, how can I control him..."

Upon hearing this, Sun Simiao felt that it was putting Sizi in a difficult position, so he could only speak in a consultative tone.

"Junior brother, there's an epidemic breaking out in Xianyang. This is no joke. You'd better not get involved!"

"When the imperial court arrives, you must hurry back with your grandfather's men!"

Upon hearing this, Li Jue firmly shook his head.

"I don't!"

"obedient!"

"No!"

Seeing Li Jue's utterly unreasonable behavior, Sun Simiao also felt a surge of anger.

"How can you be so insensible!"

"I'm not letting you participate for your own good, because I'm afraid you'll catch the plague!"

"Senior brother, no one knows more about epidemics than me!"

"ah?"

Sun Simiao was stunned upon hearing this. If anyone else had said it, he would have scoffed. But hearing it from Li Jue made him think deeply.

After all, Li Jue was the one who inherited the Qingnang Secret Technique, which had been lost for nearly a thousand years. Could it be that he had learned other medical skills?

"Tell your senior brother how to prevent and control epidemics?"

"Senior brother, you have to tell me first what the main symptoms of this epidemic are!"

"Oh, right, right, senior brother was just too busy to think straight!"

"This epidemic came on very strangely. It started with a cough, then a fever, then severe coma, and finally death!"

"Dozens of people have already died, and everyone in Xianyang is living in fear!"

"Relatively speaking, Sanglin Village is better; we haven't heard of anyone dying there so far..."

Sun Simiao's last words were purely to comfort Li Juecai, not wanting him to be troubled by worrying about the people of Sanglin Village.

Li Jue listened attentively to Sun Simiao's description, and then asked a few questions.

"Senior brother, do you have any prescriptions for treatment?"

Sun Simiao shook his head upon hearing this.

"No!"

"I've tried several fever-reducing remedies, but none of them have worked..."

Upon hearing this, Li Jue immediately looked at Si Zi.

"Auntie, didn't you mention the willow bark to your senior brother?"

Sizi's eyes lit up when he heard this, then he sighed with regret.

"Oh dear, I forgot!"

"Master, please forgive me, I forgot to tell you that willow bark can reduce fever!"

Sun Simiao looked on in disbelief when he heard this.

Willow bark?

Are you sure willow bark can cure epidemic diseases?

Li Jue shook his head upon hearing this.

"To be honest, I'm not sure if willow bark can cure diseases."

"Boil willow bark into a thick soup, which can relieve pain and reduce fever, and may alleviate the patient's suffering."

Sun Simiao seemed to be thinking about what he was saying.

"There is no specific cure for epidemics, and my prescriptions are mainly for relieving and alleviating symptoms. If they can relieve people's suffering and reduce fever, then they can already be called miracle drugs!"

Sun Simiao immediately sent people to search for willow bark, and soon boiled a large pot of soup, which he tried to give to patients infected with the epidemic.

The effect was remarkable; the patients who took the medicine gradually had their fever subside and their bodies were no longer as painful as they had been at the beginning.

Upon seeing this, Sun Simiao immediately ordered people to cut more willow bark, and then personally tasted a bowl of it. He added several herbs to the large pot to neutralize the bitterness of the willow bark juice.

Li Jue was not idle either. He began to organize the militia to build isolation prefabricated houses and mobilized the women in the city to work overnight to make masks, gloves and other supplies.

He can basically conclude that the disease is transmitted through the air or droplets.

Although meltblown fabric is no longer available these days, wearing multiple masks should at least make a difference, right?

The magistrate of Xianyang County also mobilized, ordering all passages to be sealed off, prohibiting any unauthorized personnel from entering or leaving. He also immediately wrote a memorial and sent it by fast horse to the capital, informing the court of the major events that had occurred.

While Li Jue and Sun Simiao were treating the epidemic in Xianyang, Li Shimin was in a state of great anxiety. If it weren't for Zhang Anan's persistent efforts to stop him, he would have wanted to ride to Xianyang at full speed.

"waste!"

"big eater!"

"What use are they to me if they can't even catch a person?"

"No, I cannot lose my eldest grandson. I must go and fetch him myself!"

"Your Majesty, you mustn't!"

"Dr. Sun has already made it clear in his letter that the eldest grandson is going to treat and save lives. What use would you be if you went?"

"I...who said I'm useless? I'm gone...I..."

After roaring a few times, Li Shimin finally wisely shut up, because he realized that his visit was really of no use.

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