"Who are you?" Several doctors turned around in unison, saw someone they had never seen before, and subconsciously took two steps back.
Tang Nian stood in front of the door with her back to the light: "I am the physician sent by Princess Huaining to help you."
Clearly, the group knew that the princess had visited Nanyu City, and their expressions softened. They exchanged glances, and a doctor stepped forward.
“Your Highness is kind-hearted. We are also unaware of our manager’s whereabouts. If Your Highness wishes to know anything, we are happy to assist you.”
"Have you come up with a suitable prescription?" Tang Nian asked directly.
The direct question left them completely bewildered. After stammering for a while, they finally replied, "We have some clues. What are your instructions, sir?"
"No, you can continue." Tang Nian smelled the mixed herbal scent in the small room and quickly turned to leave.
She doesn't know medicine but she knows alchemy. Just by smelling it, she could detect at least five incompatible medicinal herbs. She doesn't know if these doctors want to save people or harm them!
It's pitiful for these ordinary people; they can only rely on doctors as a last resort.
"Please, sir, save my child!"
Before Tang Nian could find Ming Huan, a thin woman knelt in front of her and kept kowtowing.
Her child, who was only two or three years old, was sobbing softly in her arms, his chubby little face flushed red, clearly well-cared for.
Hearing the commotion outside, several doctors rushed out and shouted at the commotion.
"It's nothing." Tang Nian frowned, looking at the child who still had mild symptoms, but she still felt something was wrong.
She crouched down and reached out to touch the child's forehead, but the woman stopped her.
"Sir... she has contracted the plague and is unable to..."
Tang Nian didn't pay attention, placed her hand on the child's forehead, closed her eyes and sighed: "It's a little hot."
"Minghuan!" She stood up, looked around and found Minghuan with other patients, and called him over quickly.
"Come and take a look." She gestured for Minghuan to look at the child, and to everyone's astonishment, Minghuan touched the child with his bare hands.
“Sister Tang…” Ming Huan touched her hand for a moment and then withdrew it, his expression somewhat serious.
Tang Nian nodded in understanding; it seemed that she had the same idea.
"Don't worry, my assistant will stay here to treat her. Minghuan, come with me."
The two walked out of the refugee area and reached the corner of the alley. Tang Nian's tense body relaxed slightly, but her expression remained solemn: "Is it a soul infection?"
Ming Huan nodded, his lips pressed tightly together.
"Most of the people in the city were indeed affected by the epidemic, but most of the young children only had mild symptoms; the problem was with their souls."
A child's soul is the purest yet most fragile, and most easily influenced.
"How could it spread so quickly..." Tang Nian murmured, "You stay here and guard, I'll go outside the city to take a look."
"Sister Tang, you can get out?" Ming Huan asked in surprise, his eyes wide.
"Hmm, my strength has recovered a little." As she spoke, she looked down at the blue light in her hand.
In the next instant, Tang Nian had already arrived at the foot of a mountain outside the city, with a stream flowing into a river beside her.
This is also an essential source of water for the people of Nanyu City.
If it weren't for the many corpses lying by the stream, it would be a beautiful place with clear waters and lush mountains.
But with so many corpses, how come we haven't seen a single ghost?
She shook her head, formed a hand seal, and a pale blue light enveloped the gruesome corpses. Then, the blue light disappeared, and the corpses, as if lifted by thin threads, stood up in a strange way and walked to one side.
All the corpses lay piled up on a barren patch of ground. Flames suddenly burst forth from the back of the corpse on top, and then the flames grew larger and larger until all the corpses turned to ashes...
When Chu Roujia arrived at the yamen, the local officials of Nanyu City were already waiting anxiously at the gate, looking disheveled.
Seeing the carriage swaying and rattling towards him, he quickly knelt down and said, "This humble official greets the princess."
Chu Roujia didn't speak. She lifted the curtain and didn't miss the magistrate's clean face and hands.
"Magistrate Huang, there's no need for such formalities." Chu Roujia stepped out of the carriage, looking up and down at the entrance of the yamen, which stood out from the surrounding buildings. She snorted, "Such a big thing has happened, I wonder why Magistrate Huang hasn't reported it to the imperial court?"
“This…” Magistrate Huang bowed and scraped before Chu Roujia. Hearing Chu Roujia’s question, he panicked. “The incident happened suddenly. I was worried that sending someone to report it rashly would lead to the spread of the epidemic.”
Then why issue an order that only allows spending and not spending?
Chu Roujia obviously didn't believe his nonsense.
She didn't ask any more questions, but casually moved her hand, which was hanging in front of her, behind her back, giving An Yi a secret signal.
"Magistrate Huang, two other officials have come with me. Please inform the guards and ask them to grant us this favor."
Upon hearing that Chu Roujia did not pursue the matter further, Magistrate Huang's eyes lit up with joy, and he nodded vigorously, saying, "This humble official understands."
Outside the city, in the dense forest, various trees grew in profusion, displaying lush greenery. However, on the mountain that should have been full of life, not even a single bee could be seen.
Besides the faint fragrance of flowers and the sound of pine trees, there seemed to be an almost imperceptible stench in the mountain air.
Tang Nian followed the mountain stream deeper into the mountains. The babbling stream was crystal clear, but there were no fish swimming in it. She squatted down, scooped up a spoonful of water, and couldn't help but let go before she even brought it close to her nose.
"This water smells so bad!" She looked at her hands with disgust, picked up her handkerchief with her fingers, carefully wiped the water droplets dry, and threw it into the stream.
She looked around but saw no more bodies.
With no other option, she could only continue walking deeper into the mountains and forests, where the mist gradually spread.
Soon they reached the end of the stream. Tang Nian blinked, leaned against a large rock beside the spring, pinched her nose, and slowly leaned forward.
The spring was covered with moss and algae, as if no one had ever cleaned it. She frowned and tried to reach out a finger to pluck the algae when she heard a rustling sound behind her.
There's no wind now, so how are these leaves making that sound?
Someone must be hiding behind the tree!
"who?"
Tang Nian caught everyone off guard, turning sideways with lightning speed and throwing her sword. The sword stuck straight into the thick tree trunk, causing many leaves to fall.
Seeing that the person in the shadows still refused to come out, Tang Nian clenched her fist and walked over, a pale blue light emanating from her fist.
"Please wait a moment, young lady."
A man emerged from behind a tree. He was tall and slender, exuding an elegant air. His slightly wavy black hair fell across his forehead, looking somewhat disheveled. His eyebrows were slightly raised, outlining a pair of dark eyes that were as deep as autumn water, revealing endless mystery.
He carried a medicine basket on his back, held a hoe in his hand, and wore a mask on his face.
"My name is Song Shiyan. May I ask who you are, young lady?"
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