Chapter 187: Arriving at Liang Prefecture

"You just take care of the shop; Prince Li has to manage the entire capital, so naturally it's different."

"Understood," Qing Shan pursed his lips, reluctantly taking the key.

Chi Nan Yi and Qing Shan rode fast horses, dashing toward the city gate.

Just as they reached the gate, they saw Xie Yuwei's convoy approaching from afar.

"Sir," Chi Nan Yi urged her horse forward, "I have troubled you on this journey."

"How can a woman like you ride a horse? Better come up and sit with this official..."

"No need; since it's the epidemic, an urgent illness, we cannot delay."

Hearing her say that, Xie Yuwei felt as if he were sitting on a bed of needles.

He thought for a moment, ordered a servant to bring a horse over, flipped onto it, squeezed the horse's belly with his legs, raised his whip, and looked less like a scholar and more like a youthful general.

"Miss Chi is right; it is this official who erred. Everyone, spur the horses—we must reach Liang Prefecture at once."

"Yes!"

At that moment, a rapid clatter of hooves sounded; the group turned, and in the blink of an eye a carriage halted not far in front of Chi Nan Yi.

Yun Shan lifted the carriage curtain; Mo Junyan sat inside, staring straight toward Chi Nan Yi, his eyes showing worry, irritation, and a barely perceptible anxiety.

Seeing the carriage, Xie Yuwei recognized the visitor, hurried down from his horse, and briskly approached Mo Junyan's carriage: "Your Highness Prince Li, I am heading to Liang Prefecture, and to be escorted by the Prince— I..."

Before Xie Yuwei could finish, Yun Shan had already pushed Mo Junyan past him.

Xie Yuwei: "..."

Chi Nan Yi dismounted, and Mo Junyan's wheelchair stood before her.

"Your Highness Prince."

"This Prince knows why you go to Liang Prefecture, and it is only your capability, but the epidemic is not an ordinary plague; be careful in all matters."

"Fine."

"Have you packed all your luggage?"

"All set."

"It's getting late, let's set out!"

"Thank you, Prince."

Xie Yuwei listened half‑heartedly, realizing he had been self‑indulgent; this Prince wasn't here to see him off at all.

Watching the convoy disappear, Mo Junyan whispered, "Thank you."

Qing Shan hid in the crowd, pursed his lips silently, and turned away.

He wasn't trying to help him at all.

Liang Prefecture lies several hundred li from the capital; even at a gallop it takes nearly four days to arrive, so Xie Yuwei and his party dared not delay. Aside from the few hours they must sleep each day, the rest was spent on the road.

Along the way, everyone grew exhausted and became dirty, but Chi Nan Yi remained spotless from start to finish, her robe scarcely creased.

Not a hint of fatigue showed in her brows.

Because she rested in a space each day, Chi Nan Yi discovered that sleeping there gave her sleep quality several times that of the outside, and drinking Spirit Spring Water daily kept her body from ever feeling weary; even Ji Bai's water pouch contained diluted Spirit Spring Water, which, though lacking Chi Nan Yi's radiant vigor, was still invigorating.

Xie Yuwei had always been a civil official, knowing no martial arts, and his horse‑riding was learned by chance; previously he traveled by carriage and could rest inside when fatigued. This time, however, he had to ride himself. At first he managed, full of vigor, but after half a day his back and waist ached. After two days of pushing onward, before covering half the distance, he began to fall ill.

Seeing that Chi Nan Yi, a woman, hadn't even complained of fatigue, he could only grit his teeth and press on.

After another day, he truly could not hold on any longer.

He nearly fell from the horse, but Qing Zhuo's quick eyes and swift hands caught him.

"Sir, sir!" Qing Zhuo kept calling his name, "How are you, sir?"

Chi Nan Yi stepped forward, took out Spirit Spring Water and poured it into his mouth.

Soon after, Xie Yuwei slowly regained consciousness.

"Chi... Miss Chi, thank you for saving me."

"It was merely a trivial effort; you need not be so formal."

Seeing her in such fine condition, Xie Yuwei felt a pang of shame.

He, a proper grown man, could not match a young lady—truly mortifying!

At that moment, he suddenly felt the fatigue in his body vanish, a continuous flow of power coursing through his limbs and bones.

This...

No destruction, no establishment—could it be that after these days of long travel his strength has increased?

He flipped onto the horse again, his movements now far more decisive than before.

Qing Zhuo, watching, was stunned.

"How does the sir's condition resemble someone who just fainted and awoke?"

"Sir, do you need to rest a while longer?"

"No need, this official feels no fatigue now; we set off immediately."

One mouthful of Spirit Spring Water sustained him for a full day.

In the evening, they finally arrived at the gate of Liang Prefecture.

Liang Prefecture city, once bustling and prosperous, now had its gates shut; the guard soldiers stood on the high platform, looking weary, and outside the city was empty and desolate.

Xie Yuwei's face grew heavy; just as they were about to enter the city, Chi Nan Yi produced a porcelain bottle and handed it out.

"What is this?"

"These are pills I formulated; they should prevent the epidemic." She also produced several face cloths soaked in Spirit Spring Water: "Wear the cloth; it has medicine on it and can also prevent the epidemic."

"Can they really prevent the epidemic?"

"Yes."

"Why reveal such a good thing only now?" Xie Yuwei shouted, "It should have been presented to Prince Li back in the capital. If it truly works, it would be a great merit, and the Emperor will surely reward you."

Chi Nan Yi heard that, smiled and said, "Otherwise, Sir, why would His Highness Prince Li send a common girl?"

I see.

He just says, a girl as clever as Miss Chi, how could she miss such a fine opportunity?

But can these things really prevent the epidemic?

Regardless, Xie Yuwei still swallowed the pill and put the face veil on his face.

Arriving at the foot of the city, he held an imperial edict in his hand; upon learning the news, the officials of Liangzhou City hurried to the city gate to welcome him.

"Your servant is late; please, Censor, do not blame me."

At first those officials could not tell who was Xie Yuwei; his official robes had been dirtied on the road, and now he wore civilian clothes, though they were crumpled, and his unkempt beard gave him a rather shabby look, making him look far from a sub‑third‑rank official, more like a guard.

In contrast, Chi Nan Yi looked more like a Sir than he did.

Thus, the officials of Liangzhou City one after another saluted Chi Nan Yi.

"Your servant did not expect you to arrive at Liangzhou City so quickly."

Chi Nan Yi responded, smiling, "You are too kind, Sir; I am not the Censor, he is."

Xie Yuwei: "……"

When leaving the capital, it was not Prince Li who sent me; now that we have arrived at Liangzhou City, the officials here are not receiving me either.

Upon entering Liangzhou City, the once bustling streets were empty, and many soldiers wearing face veils were carrying corpses.

The corpses were covered with red spots on their faces and bodies; some had been torn open, bloodied and terrifying.