Ultimately, pressured by Qin Ruoxi's resolute attitude, Qin Jingyao ordered the gates of Ancheng to be opened.

Qin Ruoxi and Qin Jingke entered Ancheng

When Qin Jingke, sitting on horseback, saw the scene inside Ancheng, he was completely stunned.

On both sides of the road, people dressed in rags sat together. Their faces were filled with despair, devoid of any life.

"this……"

Qin Jingke alighted from the carriage and looked at Qin Jingyi, his eyes questioning.

"Ruoxi, you and Lao Wu cover your mouths and noses."

After speaking, Qin Jingyi looked at Qin Jingke and said, "This is the current situation in Ancheng."

How many dead people do you think there are in this city?

"???"

Qin Ruoxi and Qin Jingke were completely bewildered, only to hear Qin Jingyi continue speaking.

People are dying every moment; what you see right now might contain dead bodies.

"Then why not separate the living from the dead?"

Qin Ruoxi pressed on, focusing on the key point, "They separated, but... some civilians were protecting them, and the patrolling soldiers didn't see anything."

"The important thing is that they really hate officers and soldiers."

"I've been here for so long, and all I've done is get them to accept me."

"A few days ago, I sent people to pull out all the dead people, but... I was met with their strong refusal?"

"Things were slightly better yesterday; people gradually started handing over the bodies of their deceased family members to the soldiers for unified burial."

Qin Ruoxi looked at the people in the city, and her eyes gradually felt sore.

Qin Ruoxi breathed a sigh of relief, "Luckily I came this time."

After saying this, Qin Ruoxi turned to look at Qin Jingyi.

"Brother, Ke Ke and I brought medicinal herbs and food to Ancheng this time."

Although Qin Jingyi had anticipated that Qin Ruoxi and her group would bring medicinal herbs and food, he still mentioned it.

"You...you could say you arrived just in time."

"Yeah?"

"Yes, since the day before yesterday, Ancheng has run out of food and medicine."

"The portions of food we ate the day before yesterday, yesterday, and today have all visibly decreased for everyone."

"If tomorrow is the same as today, they'll probably know what's going on."

"At that time... we didn't know what would happen..."

Qin Jingyi glanced at the scene in Ancheng's streets and said with concern...

"It's alright, brother!"

"Look, Ke Ke and I brought people with us, didn't we?"

Qin Ruoxi smiled and looked at Qin Jingyi.

Looking at Qin Ruoxi's radiant face, Qin Jingyao relaxed his brow and felt less worried.

"Brother, let's make preparations now, let the people take another look at the plague, and have breakfast prepared."

"Um"

Qin Jingyi nodded upon hearing Qin Ruoxi's words.

"Fifth brother, go and rest for a while. You need to treat the people later, otherwise you won't be able to hold on."

"Okay, brother. I'll rest for a bit now."

"Niu Yi, lead the way to the Fifth Prince."

Niu Yi, standing to the side, gestured for Qin Jingke to proceed.

After Qin Jingke left, Qin Jingyi looked at Qin Ruoxi and said, "Ruoxi, why don't you go and rest for a while too?"

Qin Ruoxi shook her head. "Big brother, will you show me around Ancheng?"

"I...I want to see what Ancheng is like now."

"good"

Qin Jingji unexpectedly agreed to Qin Ruoxi's request. After Qin Ruoxi left with Qin Jingji...

An Zhuo, who was following behind, stopped and looked at the two people walking side by side. He then turned around and went to where he wanted to go.

In the capital city, in the imperial palace

Qin Jue lay on the bed in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, still not asleep.

Yu Ying appeared out of nowhere and, seeing Qin Jue lying on the bed, spoke directly.

"If you can't sleep, then don't sleep. Let's play chess together."

After hearing this, Qin Jue sat up in bed, put on a coat, and went to sit down where the chessboard was set up.

Qin Jue and Yu Ying then began playing chess.

I don't know how much time passed, but even the cicadas in the trees stopped singing.

Qin Jue and Yu Ying were still playing chess. Yu Ying put down the white piece on her phone and looked at Qin Jue.

"I'm not coming, I'm not coming."

"Let's continue."

"Yansheng, tell me, how many times have you spaced out tonight?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Jue also put down the black chess piece in his hand.

"Xi'er has been gone for three days."

"Yes, Xi'er should arrive in Ancheng tomorrow morning."

Qin Jue shook his head in disagreement upon hearing Yu Ying's words, and then continued speaking to himself.

"Xi'er should have arrived in Ancheng by now."

Qin Jue glanced at the trees outside the window and said leisurely.

How did you know that Xi'er went to Ancheng overnight?

"She's my daughter, I know that."

That one sentence is enough!

Yu Ying silently shut her mouth, not saying another word.

——————

Ancheng was also halfway through

The people who were sleeping soundly in the streets all woke up.

Seeing the increased number of soldiers on the streets, everyone frowned, clearly unhappy.

Before everyone else could continue their leisurely stroll, Qin Jingyi stepped forward first.

"Everyone, please be quiet and stop making noise."

Over the past two weeks, the people of Ancheng have gradually accepted Qin Jingyi.

Seeing that Qin Jingyi had something to say, they all slowly shut their mouths, preparing to listen to what he had to say.

Before Qin Jingyao could say anything, a woman emerged from behind him.

The crowd began to take a liking to the woman, since no one had ever seen her before.

"I have been sent by His Majesty to deliver medicine and food to the people."

After Qin Ruoxi finished speaking, the people below clearly didn't believe her and began to make a fuss.

"This is my younger sister, Princess Leyang."

As soon as Qin Jingyi uttered these words, the people below visibly fell silent, each displaying a different expression—shock, doubt, disbelief.

One of the commoners looked at the beautiful woman who wasn't wearing a veil and asked, "You...you are really Princess Leyang?"

"yes"

Qin Ruoxi spoke with confidence and generosity.

"I've heard that Princess Leyang is the most favored concubine. Why have you come to Ancheng?"

Qin Ruoxi smiled when she heard what the other person said.

It's true that she's favored.

"As for coming to Ancheng, it's because my father was worried about the people of Ancheng, and also because I was coming to deliver medicine and food, so he agreed."

Upon hearing this, the people below began to murmur amongst themselves again.

"Aren't you afraid of contracting the plague?!"

"I'm not afraid!"

All the noisy crowd were stunned, staring at Qin Ruoxi in shock.

Qin Ruoxi said nothing, her gaze fixed firmly on the people below.

"Someone will be giving all the people another medical check-up in a little while, and treating everyone."

"Regardless of whether any of you are feeling unwell, you must all be examined by the imperial physicians."

"Those who have finished reading and have no problems can go to the other side to get their food."

Qin Ruoxi paused for a moment, then continued...

"I hope everyone can cooperate."

"If... any of your family members have passed away, please speak up."

"A corpse will rot if left for too long, and it might even cause a plague in the household."