258. The person she wanted to save wanted her dead.
On the way to Qiuhe City...
Lin Fuman was wrapped tightly in her thick cotton-padded coat, sitting on the bumpy sled.
The money pouch that Little Dumpling gave us before we set off came in very handy. In fact, we had two pouches filled with money in total.
Another one was given to me by Xiaotuanzi before the experiment.
She only spent a few dozen copper coins in that purse to buy some sweet potatoes and dry food, and she still hasn't finished eating them all.
She took the little dumpling with her when she set off to find her, intending to return it to her, but she never expected such a big accident to happen.
Not only was the purse not returned, but another one appeared.
However, having sufficient funds also has its advantages.
She bought thick cotton boots, windproof hats, and a lot of dried meat and dry food in the towns along the way.
Not only does it eat, but its three big yellow dogs also need to eat enough meat every day; they are the main consumers of the food.
She followed the map along the main road, and when it got dark, she would go to the nearest town or village to spend the night. She also modified the sled and even sewed simple cotton vests for the three dogs, wrapping them up tightly so they wouldn't get cold.
Even so, the heavy snow and cold wind did not spare her.
The snow has been falling heavier and heavier these past few days, and the wind feels like knives cutting into your face. The sled isn't going very smoothly in the snow, and sometimes it gets stuck in deep snow, requiring her and the dogs to push it out.
Fortunately, all three dogs are quite healthy, and one is still very lively.
As usual, she took out some jerky from her package and gave it to the dogs. She also took a bite herself and swallowed it with cold water.
"We need to hurry." Lin Fu patted the head of the big yellow dog at the front. "If we delay any longer, the people of Qiuhe City will be in even greater danger."
The big yellow dog wagged its tail and pulled the sled forward.
Lin Fu wrapped her fox fur hat tightly around herself, buried her chin in her collar to try to block the cold wind, and touched the cloth bag in her arms, where the antibiotic test tubes were safely inside.
-
The sled had been gliding across the snow for many days before finally coming to a stop on a gloomy morning.
Lin Fu wrapped herself tightly in her fox fur coat, rubbed her frozen cheeks, and looked up.
The city walls of Qiuhe City were just ahead, but the city gates, which should have been guarded in the past, were deserted and quiet at this moment.
Just as she was about to ask the big yellow dog to move forward a little more, she heard a faint cough coming from not far away.
Lin Fu's heart tightened, and she quickly jumped off the sled and followed the sound. She saw a little boy of about seven or eight years old huddled in a corner by the city wall.
He was wearing a thin, tattered cotton-padded jacket, his face was purple from the cold, his lips were chapped, and his body trembled violently with each cough.
"Little boy, are you alright?" Lin Fuman quickly walked over, squatted down to help him up, "Why are you here all alone? Where are your family?"
The little boy slowly raised his head, his eyes bloodshot. He opened his mouth, his voice so hoarse it was almost inaudible: "My...my parents died of illness. They locked me in the house, and I ran away..."
Lin Fuman felt a pang in her heart. She quickly took out a piece of dried meat from her package and handed it to the little boy: "Eat something first, and drink some hot water to warm yourself up. I have some medicine here that can cure your illness, shall I help you?"
The little boy stared at the dried meat in Lin Fu's hands, swallowed hard, but didn't take it.
His gaze fell on Lin Fuman's face.
Lin Fuman wore a thick, homemade cotton mask, revealing only a pair of bright eyes. Her skin was wheat-colored, and she looked healthy and warm, quite different from someone like him who could die at any moment.
Why?
They were about the same age, so why was she healthy while he contracted the plague?
On what grounds?
That's not fair!
"Why aren't you sick? Why are you perfectly fine?" The little boy's voice was choked with sobs and tinged with madness. "My parents are dead, and I'm dying soon too. Why are you perfectly fine? I'll make you catch the plague! I'll make you just like me!"
He suddenly reached out and ripped off Lin Fuman's mask! He spat in her face!
Lin Fuman was stunned by his sudden action. The dried meat and mask in her hand fell to the snow. The cold wind instantly rushed into her throat, carrying a biting chill.
She looked at the little boy's contorted face, her heart filled with disbelief.
She clearly wanted to help him, so why did he treat her like this?
A series of hurried footsteps approached, and Shen Yangong ran over with several fully armed soldiers.
Seeing the scene before him, Shen Yangong's expression changed, and he quickly shouted to the soldiers, "Quick! Take them all back for quarantine! This child is a plague patient who escaped, and this girl may also be infected!"
The soldiers immediately stepped forward, picked up the little boy, and several others grabbed Lin Fuman's arms.
Lin Fuman was still reeling from the shock. Looking at the mask lying on the snow, she blankly wiped the saliva off her cheek, a chill running down her spine.
She worked tirelessly to research the potion, but first encountered false accusations and doubts from the villagers, forcing her to brave the wind and snow and set off alone.
Having finally arrived here, all she wanted to do was save people, but she was immediately met with malice from the very people she wanted to save.
The person she wanted to save wanted her dead.
Her breathing was labored, her heart was cold, and she couldn't even feel the chill from the outside world.
She didn't understand why.
So much so that when the soldiers took her to the isolation room, her mind was completely blank.
The place was filled with coughs and groans, and the air was thick with the smell of herbs.
Shenyang Nong carefully examined Lin Fuman's condition, his brows furrowing more and more: "Child, you were in close contact with a plague patient just now and were even spat on. Although you haven't shown any symptoms yet, you must be isolated for observation."
"During this period, you cannot have contact with anyone, nor can you leave this isolation room."
"Oh, right, these three dogs too."
Lin Fuman gradually came to her senses. Recalling the dilapidated and desolate appearance of Qiuhe City along the way, a bad feeling arose in her heart: "Doctor, where is Lord Xie? Why did Qiuhe City become like this? How is Lord Xie?"
She still remembered the little dumpling's instructions.
Shenyang Nong remained silent for a long time after hearing this, then said in a heavy tone, "Qiuhe City is almost in dire straits. The Prince of Zhennan is turning a blind eye, and the county magistrate is constantly hindering progress, which is almost causing internal strife..."
"Lord Xie remains unconscious, and his condition... is very bad. We have done everything we can. We are preparing for his funeral."
Lin Fu's heart leaped up: "Doctor! I've come to deliver medicine! I have medicine here that can cure the plague, that can save Lord Xie, and that can save the people of Qiuhe City! Please take it to Lord Xie Wenling quickly, he can't wait any longer!"
Shenyang Nong was stunned for a moment, then looked at Lin Fuman with a puzzled expression: "What medicine? Even the imperial physicians of the Imperial Hospital are helpless against the plague. Where would a child like you get medicine that can cure the plague?"
Lin Fu frantically tried to pull out her cloth bag and amulet from her bosom: "I really do! Lord Xie will be alright! This medicine can really save him! Doctor, please, just this once!"
She took out the amulet that Xiao Tuanzi had given her from her bosom and stuffed it into Shen Yangong's hand: "This is a amulet that the Lady of Fukang asked me to give to Lord Xie Wenling. Can you help me deliver it to him? Even if you don't need my medicine, please give him the amulet and tell him that the Lady is waiting for him to return."
Shenyang Nong looked at the amulet in his hand, then at Lin Fu's pleading eyes, and hesitated for a moment.
But then he thought again, Xie Wenling is currently weak and he has to be extra careful even when he gets close to him. If this amulet is contaminated with the plague virus and is transmitted to Xie Wenling, wouldn't that be adding insult to injury?
Moreover, this child's origins are unclear, and he may not be trustworthy.
As for her claiming the title of Princess Fukang?
Who in Qiuhe City doesn't know the Lady of Fukang County?
He shook his head and returned the amulet to Lin Fuman: "Child, I'm sorry, I can't deliver it for you. Nothing that might carry the plague should get near Lord Xie; I can't risk his life."
With that, he turned and left, ignoring Lin Fuman's attempts to stop him.
Lin Fuman looked at the returned amulet and felt a chill run through her.
She sat on the cold wooden bed, watching the snowflakes fluttering outside the window, and finally, tears streamed down her face.
She traveled such a long and arduous journey, overcoming so many difficulties. Was it all for nothing?
Was she really going to just watch Xie Wenling die like that?
Is the little dumpling's hope about to be shattered?
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