Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 420: Pingzhou (Part 3)

A few days later, letters from Emperor Taihe and Wang Jin were delivered to Nanyang County.

Jiang Shaohua had just finished inspecting the Nanyang Army Camp and received these two letters on her way to Wan County.

Jiang Shaohua first read the letter from Emperor Taihe. In the letter, the Emperor highly praised Jiang Shaohua for sending medicine and food to Pingzhou and promised to reward Doctor Sun and his son generously.

As for Wang Jin’s letter, it was much more subtle. It vaguely mentioned the scene of debate before the Emperor and reminded her to beware of betrayal from behind...

Jiang Shaohua smirked and casually put the letter aside.

No one knows Zheng Chen’s temperament better than she does. Since the moment she chose her own path and parted ways with him, he would never be her "backer." She has always been wary and defensive against him, even more so than against Prime Minister Wang.

Chen Jinyu keenly noticed that Jiang Shaohua’s mood was not very pleasant and dared not speak further or inquire.

Jiang Shaohua was silent for a moment before proactively saying, "The matter of Nanyang County sending medicine and food to Pingzhou has received the court’s approval. The Emperor wrote a letter to comfort me; no one will criticize Nanyang Prince Mansion for this matter in the future."

Concern flashed in Chen Jinyu’s eyes: "Not now, but once the epidemic in Pingzhou is completely controlled, it’s hard to say. When it’s time to distribute rewards, the faces of those senior officials in the court might be quite unpleasant."

Jiang Shaohua said indifferently, "It doesn’t matter. I don’t care about the court’s reward."

What she wants is to cure the Pingzhou epidemic and save the people.

What she wants is the hearts of the Northern Land people.

These unspoken words, Jiang Shaohua will never say, and Chen Jinyu is gradually understanding this now.

Chen Jinyu glanced at the Commandery Princess and casually changed the topic: "Fourth Young Master Wang writing a letter to you for the first time is quite interesting. Prime Minister Wang’s faction is always setting obstacles for you, and he naturally opposes you. Why write a letter to you?"

Jiang Shaohua didn’t want to mention Wang Jin much either, so she lightly replied: "I need to write a reply to the Emperor."

Not mentioning Wang Jin, naturally means she doesn’t plan to write him back.

Chen Jinyu understood the tacit message and said no more.

...

April, Pingzhou.

Spring planting has long been completed in various places, but within Pingzhou, there is very little cultivated land. Large tracts of fertile fields have turned into wasteland.

The strong smell of corpses in the air has gradually dissipated, replaced by the scent of lime sprinkled everywhere. And the omnipresent smell of medicine.

Citizens who struggle to survive the epidemic gather outside the Inspector Mansion in long lines to receive daily medicinal soup.

Ten cool sheds are set up here, each with a big iron pot beneath it; inside the pot, brown medicinal soup is simmering. Each person can receive a bowl, which is said to prevent the plague.

In addition to distributing medicine, there’s a porridge shed specially set up. The porridge there is fairly thick and sometimes mixed with wild vegetables, seasoned with oil and salt.

After drinking the medicinal soup, most citizens go to the porridge shed and get a serving. Anyway, it’s another day gone by and surviving another day.

"Look quickly, Doctor Sun is walking over."

"Everyone, quickly kneel down and bow to Doctor Sun."

Amidst a stir in the crowd, someone unidentified was the first to kneel, and soon, a group of people knelt down, bowing to Doctor Sun and shouting.

Of course, the first cries from the crowd are always "Long live the Commandery Princess." Every day when receiving the medicinal soup and porridge, people keep telling them that this is given by Nanyang Commandery Princess. Over months, in the hearts of surviving citizens, the Commandery Princess of Nanyang is regarded as their savior from suffering. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

The chants of "Commandery Princess be praised" rise like thunder.

Doctor Sun, in official attire, wanders out to reassure the people, listening to the roaring praises louder by the moment, a smile appears on his thin face.

The young man following by Doctor Sun’s side, eyes bloodshot and weary, yawns instantly; this is, of course, Sun Guangbai.

"Father, the Commandery Princess sent a large batch of seed grains wanting Pingzhou citizens to have a supplementary spring planting. This matter cannot be delayed, isn’t it time to distribute the seed grains?"

In merely two sentences, Sun Guangbai yawns three times.

Doctor Sun glances disapprovingly at his son: "Commander Qin Hai is handling this matter, no need for you to worry. Look at how you’re so worn out after some sleepless nights?"

Was it merely a few sleepless nights?

Having been in Pingzhou for over three months, he hasn’t slept through the night properly. Endless patients, endless medicine, endless scolding...

Sun Guangbai vents internally, not daring to utter a word, obedient under reprimand.

"Doctor Sun, Military Doctor Sun," Lin Huiniang, face thin and weary, rushed over in panic, voice trembling: "News from the epidemic zone, say three recovering patients suddenly died."

Doctor Sun’s expression turned grave instantly, sparing scolding his son: "I’m going there now."

Sun Guangbai followed without saying another word.

Those able to queue for medicine and porridge are those not infected by the plague and still relatively healthy. Those infected are isolated together, convenient for care, and also helps keep the plague contained.

Over these months, those who caught the plague died one after another, though some did manage to survive. The mortality rate is extremely high, far exceeding those who survive.

Doctor Sun and his son have stayed almost daily within the epidemic zone, treating patients, prescribing medicine, encouraging them to survive. In the hearts of those infected and facing death, Doctor Sun and his son are like deities.

As Doctor Sun and Sun Guangbai’s figures appeared, the once desperate and mourning citizens collectively ceased their cries, looking with eyes full of hope.

Doctor Sun feels the weight on his shoulders and heart, yet his face remains calm and composed, loudly saying: "Everyone, don’t panic. Our Nanyang Commandery Princess sent another large batch of medicine and seed grains. Once your illness is healed, you’ll receive seeds for supplementary planting, and come autumn, there will be harvest."

"Don’t be afraid, I’ll prescribe new medicine and brew new medicinal soup now. Once the soup is ready, everyone will drink a bowl, and you’ll soon recover."

Those infected, emitting unpleasant odors, or pale and thin, some even staggering when walking, were all kneeling now, forcefully bowing to Doctor Sun.

Doctor Sun knows he can’t stop them, so he doesn’t, quickly going to the tent to prescribe medicine.

Sun Guangbai follows his father into the tent and sighs softly: "The previous prescription didn’t work, so what does father plan for the new medicine?"

Doctor Sun also sighed: "Let’s try adding two more herbs and see!"

Regardless of the outcome, prescribing the medicine and brewing soup gives the infected hope for survival.