Chapter 191: The Prescription Is Ready

Wei Wu performed a salute and said, "Inside, there are three who returned from an outside village; they are fine for now. Most of the others are unconscious, but there are some with slightly milder symptoms who, although feeling unwell, are able to walk."

Yan Ning looked at the situation inside; there were still quite a few in serious condition.

Yan Ning had people start boiling medicine, using Qian Ruofang's prescription. Several stoves were used to boil it, and once ready, she had those with mild symptoms inside take it to feed the others.

Yan Ning stood three meters away and asked the person who took the medicine, "Wasn't your village perfectly fine? How did it suddenly become infected with the epidemic?"

That person hurriedly said they did not know.

Yan Ning frowned and asked again, "Whose household had problems first?"

The person pondered for a moment, and only after a good while did they recall, "Uncle Li San. It started when he coughed a few times. Afterward, Uncle Li San's family held a banquet, and then everyone was slowly infected."

Yan Ning frowned, "Where is this Uncle Li San you speak of?"

This person pointed to a person lying on the ground in a coma, "That is Uncle Li San."

Yan Ning looked toward Li Laosan's side, where there was a weeping woman, and two children lying beside her.

Yan Ning called that woman over to be questioned.

Wei Wu hurriedly blocked her, "Your Highness, you cannot get close to them."

Yan Ning did not really care and said to him, "I will stand further away to ask questions; there will be no problem."

That wife of Li San then stepped forward.

Yan Ning asked, "Has anyone come by recently? Do you know a person named Xu Bing?"

The wife of Li San was stunned, "Xu Bing?"

She shook her head, "There is no such person."

Yan Ning's expression was grave, "Think carefully again. If you dare to deceive or withhold information..."

She did not finish her sentence, but the threatening tone was full.

The wife of Li San's legs went weak, and she knelt down.

Yan Ning frowned, "No Xu Bing, is there anyone else?"

The wife of Li San began to ponder.

After a good while, she said, "There is no Xu Bing, but I did hear the children's father mention that yesterday, someone gave him a set of clothes and two beautiful teacups."

Yan Ning said, "Bring the teacups here for me to see."

Upon looking, it was indeed a teacup from the South City.

Yan Ning continued to ask, "Do you know who he is? What did he look like?"

But the peasant woman had not seen him, only saying it was her husband's friend.

However, in any case, it showed that someone had been deliberately causing trouble recently, and perhaps that person was still in the Capital.

Yan Ning had soldiers deliver medicine to all the dozens of nearby villages and towns that had infected people.

To avoid people like Xu Bing who wanted to take the opportunity to cause trouble, she also had soldiers guard the perimeter of the villages, not allowing anyone to enter or leave.

As for those villages that were not infected, she told the villagers firmly not to have any contact with outsiders, otherwise, they would end up like Pulan Village.

When the villagers heard this, their hands were shaking.

Pulan Village was truly too terrifying.

With everything in each place settled, Yan Ning prepared to return to the Capital.

Yan Ning asked Xin Muyu, a student beside Qian Ruofang, "Do you remember that person's appearance?"

Xin Muyu nodded, "I still remember."

Yan Ning immediately found a painter, and Xin Muyu described his appearance.

Xin Muyu said, "Your Highness, that person had a birthmark the size of a copper coin on his face, right at the corner of his left eye."

Yan Ning immediately ordered a search.

The guards were very efficient; they took the portrait and searched the inns and commoners' homes in the Capital, and finally found Xu Bing inside an inn.

Xu Bing was immediately brought before Yan Ning.

By this time, the sky had turned completely dark.

Yan Ze and Yan Ning had been waiting here for them to capture Xu Bing.

When he saw the person, Yan Ze was somewhat surprised.

He had someone bring a Lamp over, and Yan Ze could see more clearly.

Yan Ze said, "Isn't this the Second Prince's confidant?"

Yan Ning was quite surprised, "What? Didn't he die long ago? How is there still someone working so hard for him?"

It was truly unbelievable.

Yan Ze asked him, "Why on earth did you do this? Are there any other accomplices?"

"Speak clearly. If there is half a word of falsehood, I will have the Prince of Nanyang come to interrogate you."

Xu Bing shrank his neck, "I have accomplices, they are..."

Taking advantage of the guards' laxity, Xu Bing lunged at Yan Ning.

It was unknown where he got the strength, but he broke free and ran to Yan Ning's side.

Yan Ze kicked him in the stomach, knocking him away.

Two guards immediately took the man down.

At this moment, Yan Ning noticed a large patch of red rash on his neck, "Father, it seems he has also contracted the plague."

Yan Ze frowned and said, "Take him down and interrogate him about whether he has accomplices. Since he has the plague, bring some medicine to him; don't let him die."

After giving the orders, Yan Ze was still worried and had the Imperial Physician take his and Yan Ning's pulses; only when it was confirmed there were no problems did the father and daughter return to the palace.

The situation in the palace was much better.

There were not many palace servants to begin with, each in their own room, and those who contracted the plague were treated by the Imperial Physician; although there was no cure yet, by prescribing some medicine, they could drag it out.

Seeing that the palace was in good order, Yan Ning finally set her mind at ease.

After returning, Yan Ning had the Eunuch go over early in the morning to make arrangements; since there was no need to attend court during this period, she let them stay at home and wait until the plague was cured before discussing anything further.

It could be considered giving them a vacation.

Currently, in the South City of the Capital, there were still people in Xinghua Village, Pulan Village, and scattered individuals who had contracted the plague and were difficult to relocate.

Furthermore, there were not enough doctors.

Fortunately, at this time, the veteran doctors who presided over medical halls in the Capital, such as Tongren Hall and Shande Hall, all came to help.

It was just that the group of doctors had scoured through medical books and were completely at a loss, only able to rely on Qian Ruofang's prescription to sustain lives.

Seeing that Qian Ruofang had not rested well these past few days and looked very haggard, Yan Ning gave her tea brewed with Spirit Spring Water, and she felt a bit better.

Yan Ning said, "You should rest well and don't be anxious; you must not fall ill yourself."

Qian Ruofang smiled and said, "It's fine, I feel energetic after drinking the tea."

She could still flip through a few more medical books.

Dozens of doctors deliberated on the medication together, and Qian Ruofang organized the prescriptions.

The students of the Medical Academy all began to decoct the medicine.

After drinking the medicine, the doctors took pulses one by one again.

For those with mild symptoms, after drinking the medicine for a few hours, they were already recovered.

As for those with severe symptoms, drinking the medicine could also alleviate the symptoms, but it was difficult to eradicate them completely.

Several doctors began to deliberate on the medication again.

After a round of tossing and turning, they produced the prescription for the severe cases in two days.

When Yan Ning came over, Qian Ruofang was incredibly happy.

They copied this prescription twice and sent it to Xinghua Village and Pulan Village.

Afterwards, the illnesses of these people were cured one after another.

Only then could this plague be brought to a halt.

Yan Ning could finally rest easy, but she suddenly remembered that there was still one person in the Ministry of Justice prison.

Xu Bing's plague had been cleared, but the person only had half a breath left.

Yan Ning went to the Ministry of Justice and, upon meeting him, saw the Prince of Nanyang coming over; there was a scent of blood on him.

Seeing her come over, the Prince of Nanyang smiled and asked, "Is His Highness going to see Xu Bing?"

Yan Ning nodded.

The Prince of Nanyang said, "No need to go; some things were asked, and the person is already gone."