Epidemic area danger
As the epidemic prevention and control entered its most critical stage, the isolation measures proposed by Su Qingyue began to show results. However, news suddenly came from the epidemic area in the west of the city, which made everyone's hearts tighten - a large-scale cross-infection occurred in the isolation area, and the death toll rose sharply.
"What's going on?" Su Qingyue rushed to the Imperial Medical Bureau, only to find Chief Physician Zhou and several other imperial physicians frantically discussing countermeasures.
"It was my negligence." The physician in charge of the epidemic area in the west of the city, Zhang, was deathly pale. "There are too many patients, the isolation wards are overcrowded, and on top of that, it's been raining non-stop these past few days..."
Su Qingyue immediately checked the latest epidemic records. On the chart, the death curve in the west of the city rose sharply, which was clearly abnormal.
"Take me to the west of the city." She grabbed her medicine box and was about to leave.
"Third Miss, you mustn't!" Imperial Physician Zhou hurriedly stopped her. "The west side of the city is the most dangerous place right now. Three medical workers have already died from the disease."
"It's precisely because it's dangerous that I must go," Su Qingyue said resolutely. "If it can't be controlled in time, the epidemic will quickly rebound."
Qingdai hurriedly handed her a specially made thick mask and gloves: "Miss, please be very careful."
The carriage headed west of the city, and the closer it got to the quarantine zone, the more deserted the streets became. Checkpoints set up by soldiers could be seen along the way, and the air was filled with a strong smell of medicine and a faint stench of decay.
The western quarantine zone was located in an abandoned military camp, where coughs and groans could be heard from afar. The soldiers guarding the gate recognized Su Qingyue and hurriedly opened the fence.
"Miss Su, you've finally arrived! Physician Zhang and the others were almost at their breaking point."
The scene inside the isolation ward was shocking. The makeshift tents were crammed together, with patients sitting or lying down, many without even a place to shelter from the wind and rain. Several medical workers moved about busily, barely having time to rest.
"Why is it so crowded?" Su Qingyue questioned the official in charge.
"It's just that...there are too many patients and not enough space..." the official said, wiping away cold sweat. "And with all the rain these past few days, many tents are leaking."
Su Qingyue immediately inspected the entire isolation area and quickly discovered the problem. Patients were not grouped according to the severity of their illness; mild and severe cases were mixed together. Sanitation conditions were extremely poor, with sewage flowing freely and flies and mosquitoes swarming. Even more serious was the inadequate protective measures taken by the medical staff.
"Immediate rectification." She issued a series of instructions: "First, rezone the areas according to the severity of the illness. Second, set up new rainproof tents. Third, all personnel must wear masks strictly and disinfect with alcohol after contact with patients."
"But...all of this requires manpower and supplies..."
"If we don't have enough manpower, we'll recruit volunteers; if we don't have enough supplies, I'll find a way." Su Qingyue's tone left no room for argument. "Now, execute it immediately!"
The rectification work was immediately launched. Su Qingyue personally directed the work, dividing the patients into severe cases, mild cases, and observation areas according to their conditions. She also had lime brought in for disinfection and new tents erected.
"Miss, will this really work?" a young medical worker couldn't help but ask.
"The most important aspect of isolation and epidemic prevention is blocking the transmission route," Su Qingyue explained while helping to move supplies. "Separating patients with mild and severe symptoms can prevent cross-infection. Maintaining environmental hygiene can reduce the growth of germs."
She noticed that several medical workers were not wearing their masks properly, so she personally stepped forward to demonstrate: "Masks must completely cover the mouth and nose, and should be changed every four hours. Use this to wash your hands after contact with patients." She showed them her homemade alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Working late into the night, the isolation area was finally mostly tidied up. Su Qingyue was so exhausted she could barely stand, but she still insisted on making her rounds of all the wards.
"Third Miss, you should go and rest," Physician Zhang advised. "We'll keep watch here."
Su Qingyue shook her head and walked to the intensive care unit. This area housed the most critically ill patients, many of whom were already delirious.
She checked each patient one by one, then suddenly stopped in front of an old woman's bed. The old woman was breathing rapidly and her face was cyanotic, clearly indicating that she had developed pneumonia.
"This patient needs medication immediately," she prescribed. "Also, grouping patients with similar symptoms together might indicate new complications."
Just then, a commotion suddenly broke out outside. A medical worker rushed in in a panic:
"Something terrible has happened! A patient is trying to escape the isolation area!"
Su Qingyue rushed over and saw dozens of patients gathered at the fence, all in agitated.
"Let us out! We're just waiting to die here!"
"We want to go home!"
The guards, armed with long guns, confronted the patients, and the situation was on the verge of erupting into conflict.
"Everyone, calm down!" Su Qingyue stepped forward. "I am Su Qingyue from the Imperial Medical Bureau. Please listen to me!"
"Dr. Su!" Someone recognized her. "Dr. Su, please save us!"
"I'm doing my best to save everyone," Su Qingyue said clearly and firmly, "but the pandemic isn't over yet. Going out now will only infect your families."
A middle-aged man exclaimed excitedly, "But my mother is still at home with no one to take care of her!"
"Tell me your home address, and I'll send someone to look after you," Su Qingyue promised. "I guarantee on behalf of the Imperial Medical Bureau that your family will never be left unattended."
These words calmed the restless crowd somewhat.
"But the conditions here are terrible..." an old man coughed, "We can't even get a clean drink of water."
Su Qingyue looked around and saw the patients' longing eyes, and a thought struck her. She knew that mandatory isolation alone was not enough; the conditions here had to be improved to give the patients hope.
"I assure you all, within three days there will be clean water, enough medicinal herbs, and new tents," she raised her voice. "But we need everyone's cooperation. Please give us some time!"
The patients looked at each other in bewilderment, and eventually dispersed after being persuaded by Su Qingyue.
"That was close." Physician Zhang wiped away cold sweat. "It almost turned out to be a disaster."
"This isn't a solution," Su Qingyue said gravely. "We must improve the conditions here as soon as possible."
She wrote an urgent plea for help overnight and sent it to Pei Jin and Xiao Jue by fast horse.
The aid arrived the following morning. Xiao Jue sent a team of engineers with building materials and tools to begin setting up new tents and sanitation facilities. Pei Jin, on the other hand, allocated a large quantity of medicine and food.
What surprised Su Qingyue the most was that dozens of local residents also came to help.
"We've come to repay a debt of gratitude," said a middle-aged man. "Dr. Su saved my whole family; now it's our turn to help."
Thanks to everyone's efforts, the quarantine area was quickly transformed. New tents were neatly arranged, a dedicated water supply point and cooking area were set up, and a temporary clinic was also established.
Su Qingyue personally trained the volunteers, teaching them basic nursing knowledge and protective measures. She also organized patients with milder symptoms to help with tasks within their capabilities, giving them something to do and preventing them from being immersed in panic all day.
"Miss, this is a wonderful idea," Qingdai exclaimed sincerely, looking at the well-organized quarantine area. "Now everyone has something to do, and no one is clamoring to go out anymore."
"What people fear most is not difficulties, but the loss of hope." As Su Qingyue spoke, her vision suddenly went black, and she almost fell over.
"Miss!" Qingdai hurriedly supported her. "You haven't slept for three days; you must rest!"
At Qingdai's insistence, Su Qingyue finally agreed to take a short nap. But she had just lain down when she was startled awake by urgent shouts:
"Dr. Su! A child is dying!"
She immediately got up and rushed to the intensive care unit. A five- or six-year-old boy lay on the bed, his face bluish-purple and his breathing weak. The boy's mother knelt beside the bed, weeping bitterly.
"He's been coughing up blood since last night..." the medical engineer reported. "The medication isn't working."
Su Qingyue's heart sank after the examination. The child had developed severe pneumonia, and edema had appeared in his lungs.
"Prepare for acupuncture." She took out the silver needles. "Also, I need some special medicinal herbs..."
She wrote out a prescription containing several rather rare herbs. Fortunately, Pei Jin had sent some of these herbs.
After an hour of emergency treatment, the child's condition finally stabilized. Su Qingyue was exhausted, but seeing the child's mother's grateful eyes, she felt it was all worth it.
"Dr. Su, someone is looking for you outside," a volunteer announced.
Su Qingyue stepped out of the tent and unexpectedly saw Xiao Jue. He was riding a horse, followed by a group of personal guards.
"Why has Your Highness come?"
"Inspecting the defenses." Xiao Jue dismounted, his gaze sweeping over the newly reorganized quarantine zone. "You did a good job."
"It's the result of everyone's joint efforts."
Xiao Jue took a package from the saddle: "For you."
Su Qingyue opened it and found several military books and a set of lightweight leather armor inside.
"A military treatise?"
"Fighting the epidemic is like waging war," Xiao Jue said calmly. "It requires strategic deployment. This leather armor is lightweight and provides good protection, much better than what you're wearing now."
This thoughtfulness surprised Su Qingyue: "Thank you, Your Highness."
"No need." Xiao Jue mounted his horse. "Take care of yourself, don't fall ill. Great Chu needs a healer like you."
Watching his departing figure, Su Qingyue suddenly realized that this cold-faced prince was actually very thoughtful.
Over the next few days, under Su Qingyue's meticulous management, the outbreak in the western quarantine zone was finally brought under control. New cases decreased, and critically ill patients gradually recovered.
That day, Su Qingyue was on her rounds when she suddenly heard cheers. It turned out that the first few patients to be admitted had recovered and were about to leave the isolation area.
"Dr. Su, thank you so much!" An old woman grasped her hand, tears streaming down her face. "If it weren't for you, these old bones of ours would be here today."
"You pulled through on your own," Su Qingyue smiled. "You'll need to continue taking your medication and resting when you get back."
As recovered patients left one after another, laughter and cheerful voices filled the isolation ward for the first time. Medical staff and volunteers also showed long-lost smiles.
"Miss, we succeeded!" Qingdai said happily.
"It's not completely over yet," Su Qingyue reminded them. "The pandemic isn't over; we can't let our guard down."
That evening, Su Qingyue wrote a detailed report to the Imperial Medical Academy, summarizing the experiences and lessons learned from managing the isolation ward. She particularly emphasized the importance of improving isolation conditions and providing patients with humanistic care.
"Epidemic prevention is not just about treating the disease, but also about healing the mind," she wrote in her report. "Giving patients hope and dignity is often more important than medicine."
This report was later adopted as a model by the Imperial Medical Bureau and promoted to the management of epidemic areas throughout the country.
In the stillness of the night, Su Qingyue stood alone on a high point in the quarantine zone, gazing at the orderly tents and flickering lights below, her heart filled with emotion.
This pandemic showed her the brilliance of humanity and strengthened her resolve to pursue a career in medicine.
No matter how difficult the road ahead may be, she will keep going.
Because this is her mission in this era.
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