“Eldest Prince, we have already had someone boil and administer the medicine we tried yesterday, but we still don’t know how effective it is. The medicine boy will soon send back a written report and we can further analyze it,” said the doctor inside the quarantine ward, taking care of the patients.
Most of the healthy people inside taking care of the patients had not been infected with the plague. Some were merchants, some were janitors, some were cooks, some were beggars, and some were courtesans.
Some were here for money, some purely to contribute and hope to help the government research a cure for the plague as soon as possible, to help Yueyang get through this difficult time.
The medicine boys and doctors were here without expecting anything in return, only for the medicine.
Every day enthusiastic people brought meals to the quarantine ward.
Zhao Changdu’s handsome eyebrows furrowed slightly as he strode out, “Thank you for your efforts, doctor. I will review the written report with you later.”
“It’s no trouble at all. Compared to the Eldest Prince’s ceaseless hard work, my meager contribution is nothing,” Zhuge Doctor laughed and said, “However, the number of patients keeps increasing. I wonder if our stock of medicinal ingredients is still sufficient.”
Exhaustion was poorly concealed in Zhao Changdu’s eyes and tone, “Doctor Zhuge need not worry. I will think of a way to handle this.”
Zhuge Doctor noticed the fatigue in the man’s eyes. He hesitated for a moment before asking, “Eldest Prince, have you taken the medicine?”
“I have,” came the brief reply.
Zhuge Doctor sighed in relief, “Good that you've taken it. No matter how strong your health, being with these plagued patients day and night, you still need to take extra care.”
Zhao Changdu nodded lightly, rubbing between his brows. His figure had already exited the quarantine ward.
Ye Qingchi stood tall under a crooked tree outside the ward. Hearing the sound, he looked over.
Zhao Changdu’s tone was light, “Brother Ye.”
“Call me brother-in-law,” Ye Qingchi said.
Zhao Changdu’s eyebrows furrowed slightly.
Ye Qingchi laughed, “I’m joking, why the gloominess.”
Zhao Changdu said nothing, his gaze fixed towards the end of the long street.
Ye Qingchi knew what he was waiting for. He turned to face Zhuge Doctor with a smile, “Hope you’re well, Doctor Zhuge.”
“Very well, I hope Young Master Ye is also doing fine,” Zhuge Doctor returned the pleasantry.
Ye Qingchi flicked a willow tuft off his sleeve, smiling, “Still kicking.”
They would banter like this occasionally. Everyone knew life and death was unpredictable in the plague, and one could be gone any day. Why not make the days count.
Zhuge Doctor’s footsteps also stopped as he sighed at the boundless night sky, clouds heavily weighing down as if pressing stones onto the chest, making it hard to breathe.
He lifted his hand to remove the thick black veil covering his face, inhaling deeply, “Eldest Prince, what exactly is Prince Shu thinking?”
He hadn’t left his manor since arriving in Yueyang, not showing his face at all after the plague outbreak.
Previously, Zhuge Doctor thought Prince Shu was wise and martial, the best candidate for the heir apparent. But seeing his inability and cowardice now, how could one like him ascend the throne?
Ye Qingchi lifted the corners of his lips, “As long as he doesn’t stir up trouble, it doesn’t hinder things.”
“Mm,” was Zhao Changdu’s indifferent reply, equivalent to agreeing.
Everyone had practically forgotten about the Prince Shu who came to provide disaster relief, tucked away like a turtle in the Yueyang manor. Thankfully he hadn’t caused any nonsense, with everyone preoccupied with matters in the quarantine ward - the endless influx of new patients, and bodies being sent to mass graves for cremation. Who had time to bother with him?
“Doctor Zhuge, please head back to rest first. Brother Ye and I will talk awhile before turning in.”
“It’s cold outside. The two masters should take care,” Zhuge Doctor kindly reminded.
Ye Qingchi’s eyes crinkled in mirth, “You too. We don't have much time, the medicine relies heavily on Doctor Zhuge and the other masters hurriedly developing it.”
“Yueyang is my hometown. It's my duty,” said Zhuge Doctor, the area under his eyes dark.
He took another deep look at the two before reapplying his face mask, enveloping his nose and mouth.
At over fifty years old, he had experienced plagues before in Yueyang.
In the past when officials came, they didn’t care for the commoners. Embezzling court relief funds, messing things up, throwing Yueyang into complete disorder without a semblance of order.
It was luck and his superb medical skills that allowed his survival.
Never had he imagined working alongside the Eldest Prince of Zhenguo Duke Manor and the eldest grandson of the centuries-old prominent Ye family.
He truly admired the methods of the Eldest Prince and Young Master Ye, immediately and cleanly executing those who dared loot the young, old and weak. It sets an example.
No one dared stir up trouble again or bully the powerless. The elderly, sick and disabled received the best care from officials. The Eldest Prince and Young Master Ye had achieved optimal results in all aspects.
Spending everyday together recently, Doctor Zhuge had long grown accustomed to the two's otherworldly beauty. But at this quiet moment tonight, he still felt these two high-born men with slightly disheveled hair buns were nobler than those poised and immaculate lords sitting loftily in the halls.
He smiled with cupped fists before heading back into the ward.
“Changdu, the other day I accidentally touched the dead plague patient... you...” Ye Qingchi tilted his head to look at the man’s face that hadn’t rested for some time.
Only half of Zhao Changdu’s face was revealed, phoenix eyes clear and ascetic, glancing coolly at him, “We are family.”
The corners of Ye Qingchi’s lips lifted slightly in banter, “True, we’re family. I assume you’ll be taking care of my corpse then?”
“No,” Zhao Changdu flatly glared at his joke.
Accustomed to his aloofness and indifference, Ye Qingchi wasn’t bothered. He chuckled lightly. Zhao Changdu wouldn’t neglect him, and Sister Ying definitely wouldn’t leave his bones to rot in Yueyang.
It was his first breath of fresh air after being cooped up busy in the ward the entire day.
A few days ago when he went to check on patients’ reactions after taking the test medicine, he happened to encounter a dead plague victim while leaving the ward.
Two beggars were carrying the ghastly ruptured corpse but somehow slipped, knocking the body onto him.
He had been squeamish since young. His scalp tingled numbly then as his whole body seized up stiffly.
It was Zhao Changdu who had promptly kicked the corpse off him before pulling him to his feet.
But it was too late, the highly contagious disease would surely have infected him already, and possibly Zhao Changdu too from their contact.
At first, he did panic a little. Having seen the piles of disfigured corpses carried out from the ward daily, he knew this sickness tortured people horrifically till no longer human. As someone who likes being clean and tidy, he definitely didn’t wish to rot away with skin bursting and flesh melting off in the end.
If that happened, he’d rather die earlier.
But over the past days, he gradually calmed down, resigned to the vicissitudes of life and the will of Heaven. By entering Yueyang, he had already steeled himself for this day.
Only feeling slightly guilty for implicating Zhao Changdu.
If Sister Ying found out, she might scold him to death!
“Eldest Prince, we have already had someone boil and administer the medicine we tried yesterday, but we still don’t know how effective it is. The medicine boy will soon send back a written report and we can further analyze it,” said the doctor inside the quarantine ward, taking care of the patients.
Most of the healthy people inside taking care of the patients had not been infected with the plague. Some were merchants, some were janitors, some were cooks, some were beggars, and some were courtesans.
Some were here for money, some purely to contribute and hope to help the government research a cure for the plague as soon as possible, to help Yueyang get through this difficult time.
The medicine boys and doctors were here without expecting anything in return, only for the medicine.
Every day enthusiastic people brought meals to the quarantine ward.
Zhao Changdu’s handsome eyebrows furrowed slightly as he strode out, “Thank you for your efforts, doctor. I will review the written report with you later.”
“It’s no trouble at all. Compared to the Eldest Prince’s ceaseless hard work, my meager contribution is nothing,” Zhuge Doctor laughed and said, “However, the number of patients keeps increasing. I wonder if our stock of medicinal ingredients is still sufficient.”
Exhaustion was poorly concealed in Zhao Changdu’s eyes and tone, “Doctor Zhuge need not worry. I will think of a way to handle this.”
Zhuge Doctor noticed the fatigue in the man’s eyes. He hesitated for a moment before asking, “Eldest Prince, have you taken the medicine?”
“I have,” came the brief reply.
Zhuge Doctor sighed in relief, “Good that you've taken it. No matter how strong your health, being with these plagued patients day and night, you still need to take extra care.”
Zhao Changdu nodded lightly, rubbing between his brows. His figure had already exited the quarantine ward.
Ye Qingchi stood tall under a crooked tree outside the ward. Hearing the sound, he looked over.
Zhao Changdu’s tone was light, “Brother Ye.”
“Call me brother-in-law,” Ye Qingchi said.
Zhao Changdu’s eyebrows furrowed slightly.
Ye Qingchi laughed, “I’m joking, why the gloominess.”
Zhao Changdu said nothing, his gaze fixed towards the end of the long street.
Ye Qingchi knew what he was waiting for. He turned to face Zhuge Doctor with a smile, “Hope you’re well, Doctor Zhuge.”
“Very well, I hope Young Master Ye is also doing fine,” Zhuge Doctor returned the pleasantry.
Ye Qingchi flicked a willow tuft off his sleeve, smiling, “Still kicking.”
They would banter like this occasionally. Everyone knew life and death was unpredictable in the plague, and one could be gone any day. Why not make the days count.
Zhuge Doctor’s footsteps also stopped as he sighed at the boundless night sky, clouds heavily weighing down as if pressing stones onto the chest, making it hard to breathe.
He lifted his hand to remove the thick black veil covering his face, inhaling deeply, “Eldest Prince, what exactly is Prince Shu thinking?”
He hadn’t left his manor since arriving in Yueyang, not showing his face at all after the plague outbreak.
Previously, Zhuge Doctor thought Prince Shu was wise and martial, the best candidate for the heir apparent. But seeing his inability and cowardice now, how could one like him ascend the throne?
Ye Qingchi lifted the corners of his lips, “As long as he doesn’t stir up trouble, it doesn’t hinder things.”
“Mm,” was Zhao Changdu’s indifferent reply, equivalent to agreeing.
Everyone had practically forgotten about the Prince Shu who came to provide disaster relief, tucked away like a turtle in the Yueyang manor. Thankfully he hadn’t caused any nonsense, with everyone preoccupied with matters in the quarantine ward - the endless influx of new patients, and bodies being sent to mass graves for cremation. Who had time to bother with him?
“Doctor Zhuge, please head back to rest first. Brother Ye and I will talk awhile before turning in.”
“It’s cold outside. The two masters should take care,” Zhuge Doctor kindly reminded.
Ye Qingchi’s eyes crinkled in mirth, “You too. We don't have much time, the medicine relies heavily on Doctor Zhuge and the other masters hurriedly developing it.”
“Yueyang is my hometown. It's my duty,” said Zhuge Doctor, the area under his eyes dark.
He took another deep look at the two before reapplying his face mask, enveloping his nose and mouth.
At over fifty years old, he had experienced plagues before in Yueyang.
In the past when officials came, they didn’t care for the commoners. Embezzling court relief funds, messing things up, throwing Yueyang into complete disorder without a semblance of order.
It was luck and his superb medical skills that allowed his survival.
Never had he imagined working alongside the Eldest Prince of Zhenguo Duke Manor and the eldest grandson of the centuries-old prominent Ye family.
He truly admired the methods of the Eldest Prince and Young Master Ye, immediately and cleanly executing those who dared loot the young, old and weak. It sets an example.
No one dared stir up trouble again or bully the powerless. The elderly, sick and disabled received the best care from officials. The Eldest Prince and Young Master Ye had achieved optimal results in all aspects.
Spending everyday together recently, Doctor Zhuge had long grown accustomed to the two's otherworldly beauty. But at this quiet moment tonight, he still felt these two high-born men with slightly disheveled hair buns were nobler than those poised and immaculate lords sitting loftily in the halls.
He smiled with cupped fists before heading back into the ward.
“Changdu, the other day I accidentally touched the dead plague patient... you...” Ye Qingchi tilted his head to look at the man’s face that hadn’t rested for some time.
Only half of Zhao Changdu’s face was revealed, phoenix eyes clear and ascetic, glancing coolly at him, “We are family.”
The corners of Ye Qingchi’s lips lifted slightly in banter, “True, we’re family. I assume you’ll be taking care of my corpse then?”
“No,” Zhao Changdu flatly glared at his joke.
Accustomed to his aloofness and indifference, Ye Qingchi wasn’t bothered. He chuckled lightly. Zhao Changdu wouldn’t neglect him, and Sister Ying definitely wouldn’t leave his bones to rot in Yueyang.
It was his first breath of fresh air after being cooped up busy in the ward the entire day.
A few days ago when he went to check on patients’ reactions after taking the test medicine, he happened to encounter a dead plague victim while leaving the ward.
Two beggars were carrying the ghastly ruptured corpse but somehow slipped, knocking the body onto him.
He had been squeamish since young. His scalp tingled numbly then as his whole body seized up stiffly.
It was Zhao Changdu who had promptly kicked the corpse off him before pulling him to his feet.
But it was too late, the highly contagious disease would surely have infected him already, and possibly Zhao Changdu too from their contact.
At first, he did panic a little. Having seen the piles of disfigured corpses carried out from the ward daily, he knew this sickness tortured people horrifically till no longer human. As someone who likes being clean and tidy, he definitely didn’t wish to rot away with skin bursting and flesh melting off in the end.
If that happened, he’d rather die earlier.
But over the past days, he gradually calmed down, resigned to the vicissitudes of life and the will of Heaven. By entering Yueyang, he had already steeled himself for this day.
Only feeling slightly guilty for implicating Zhao Changdu.
If Sister Ying found out, she might scold him to death!
