Rebirth: Phoenix Riding the Ninth Heaven

Li Ruoyue and Doctor Qian hurried all the way to the main gate. As soon as they stopped, they were stunned by the scene before them. They saw carriages lined up neatly, each loaded with large and small packages of various medicinal herbs. Amidst this busy crowd, Bei Bailixi methodically directed everyone, carefully unloading the packages of precious herbs from the carriages.

Li Ruoyue's eyes widened as she stared intently at the herbs, a gleam of excitement and greed in them, like a greedy cat seeing fresh fish, instantly unleashing her inner, irrepressible craving for food. She had never imagined that just when she was worrying about not having enough herbs to test her newly developed formula, this would be like a soft pillow delivered to her when she was dozing off! At this moment, her gratitude towards Baili Xi surged to its peak like a volcanic eruption.

Meanwhile, Baili Xi was busily directing the transport of medicinal herbs. Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Li Ruoyue standing there in a daze, a look of astonishment. Seeing her naivete, Baili Xi couldn't help but feel a little amused, and the corners of his mouth curled up unconsciously.

Baili Xi shouted at the top of his voice: "Mr. Li, are you surprised? Are you surprised? Look at what good things I have brought you!" Li Ruoye looked and saw Baili Xi's nonchalant and unruly look. The gratitude in his heart receded like a tide in an instant and disappeared without a trace.

He still remembered the first time he met Baili Xi. He felt that the man before him was like someone who had walked out of a painting. His aloof temperament, like a nobleman who was not in touch with the mundane world, made people feel awe. But who could have imagined that he would be so unreliable now, completely overturning his initial impression.

Li Ruoye wondered inwardly, was the aloof, cold-hearted person she'd seen before the real him, or was this carefree, unfocused persona just a facade? But despite her thoughts, she wasn't about to be polite to Baili Xi. She immediately responded without mercy, "It's a pleasant surprise, but tell me the truth. Where did you steal these herbs from? Tell me the truth now, or you'll end up in jail!"

Upon hearing this, Baili Xi's eyes widened, and he shouted in disbelief, "How dare you look down on me like this? Do I really need to steal just a few medicinal herbs? You really underestimate me!"

Li Ruoyue blinked her bright eyes and smiled playfully, "Hmph, then tell me the truth! Where on earth did you get these precious herbs?" Benrich knew that Li Ruoyue was teasing him, but he didn't get angry. He just smiled helplessly and explained slowly, "Actually, some of these were collected by people I arranged to search for in advance; and the vast majority of them were specially sent here by His Royal Highness the Fourth Prince."

Upon hearing that it was the Fourth Prince who sent these medicinal herbs, Li Ruoyue's heart relaxed instantly. She asked with joy, "Oh, so it was the Fourth Prince who sent them! Has he returned to the capital?" However, Benrich shook his head slightly and replied with a hint of regret, "Alas, that's not the case. Our city is now under lockdown. Even if the Fourth Prince returns, he won't be able to enter the city smoothly. Therefore, he can only set up camp outside the city for the time being. Fortunately, the Fourth Prince cares about the people in the city and has specially ordered people to prepare a large amount of food and medicinal herbs. He also found some healthy and strong men through the adults to go to the city gates and bring back these life-saving supplies. As soon as I saw this batch of herbs, I hurried to bring them to you, worried that you were waiting for them!"

After receiving Baili Xi's affirmative response, Li Ruoyue immediately became well-behaved, no longer as naughty and noisy as before. With a smile on her face, she softly thanked Baili Xi and hurriedly urged him, "Go back quickly! The virus is rampant here, and the air is full of flying insects. It's really not a place you should stay for long. Leave quickly!" As she spoke, she waved her arms vigorously, as if to drive Baili Xi away.

Baili Xi looked at the precious medicinal herbs he had just delivered, only to see them so ruthlessly pushed away in the blink of an eye. A hint of displeasure crossed his face. He frowned and said with a hint of complaint, "Why are you so eager to send me away just after I delivered the medicine? Can't you even stay for a moment?" However, Li Ruoyue seemed a little impatient. She waved her hand again and replied quickly, "Oh, there are viruses everywhere here. I don't want you to be infected! Go away!"

Upon hearing this explanation, Baili Xi's initial resentment instantly vanished. It dawned on him that Li Ruoyue's eagerness to expel him wasn't due to dislike or indifference, but rather out of concern and worry for him. At this thought, his mood suddenly brightened, and the corners of his mouth involuntarily curled up in a relieved smile. Since she cared about him, why bother with such trivial matters? So, he turned, called his men, and slowly drove away in his carriage.

Li Ruoyue stood still, her gaze following Baili Xi's receding figure until he vanished from sight. Then, without further delay, she turned and called for Doctor Qian. The two of them quickly set to work, methodically preparing the medicine according to the various herbs listed on the prescription.

They carefully selected and weighed each herb to ensure the formula was accurate. Then, they brewed the potion over and over again, the entire process filled with patience and concentration. Li Ruoyue stood by the stove, constantly stirring the potion, closely monitoring the heat and the changes in the liquid.

After numerous attempts and adjustments, they finally successfully brewed a batch of medicine. Without a moment's rest, Li Ruoyue and Imperial Physician Qian immediately distributed the medicine to the most seriously ill patients, prioritizing their conditions. Every day that followed, they carefully observed each patient's response, gradually adjusting the dosage and composition of the prescription based on their individual needs.

Encouragingly, after taking the medicine on the first day, the patients felt a significant improvement in their physical condition. Their previously heavy bodies seemed to feel lighter, and the unbearable itchy throats that had plagued them were alleviated to some extent. This included the elderly, the frail, the young, and the strong.

By the second day after taking the medicine, the sick children showed significant signs of improvement. Their fevers gradually subsided, their throats were no longer swollen and painful, and their speech became fluent. They were even able to eat simple rice porridge, and their spirits had returned. Seeing these changes, Li Ruoyue and Doctor Qian were filled with immense joy and a sense of accomplishment.

After boiling the medicine according to the prescription, mixing the ingredients, and preparing the medicine, Li Ruoyue carefully carried the medicine bowl to the room where the patient was staying. She gently pushed open the door, and the scene before her startled her. The room was packed with people of all ages. Some wore patched clothes that looked shabby; others were more dressed, but their faces were sallow and their bodies were thin. Among them were mothers holding children and elderly men with white hair. Everyone knelt on the floor, filling the room to the brim.

Li Ruoyue's face was filled with astonishment. She quickly asked, "What's going on? Get up!" At this moment, a white-haired old woman hobbled forward, clutching her frail grandson tightly. She pointed at Li Ruoyue with a trembling hand and said excitedly, "Dr. Li, you are our family's savior! Come on, child, kowtow to us!" The child was well-behaved and sensible. Upon hearing his grandmother's instructions, he knelt without hesitation and kowtowed respectfully to Li Ruoyue.

Li Ruoyue panicked upon seeing this and quickly reached out to help the child up, scooping him up into her arms. She then turned around and gently helped the old woman up, saying helplessly, "Old lady, what are you doing? Please don't do this! You're going to torture me!" However, the old woman held Li Ruoyue's hand tightly and said eagerly, "Girl, you deserve this gift! You don't know that you saved our only grandson. This is a huge favor to us!"

Li Ruoyue asked with a puzzled look on her face, "What is going on?" The old woman was already crying, and she cried sadly, "We used to be a family of eight, but now only I and this young grandson are left to depend on each other. Xi'an has suffered a severe drought, and there is no harvest. Many people have starved to death. Not only that, my husband has unfortunately contracted an epidemic, and his condition is getting worse. What's worse is that the terrible plague has taken the lives of my two sons, daughter-in-law and their children like a demon! Now, there are only my old bones and this poor grandson left. If I hadn't been lucky enough to meet Doctor Li who came to the rescue, I'm afraid our family would be completely cut off!" At this point, the old woman was already sobbing.

Listening to the old woman's heart-wrenching narration, everyone present was moved. Someone nearby nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, thanks to Dr. Li's kindness, our entire family was saved. Now, there are only my daughter and I left..." Another voice followed, "Alas, our family is even more miserable. I'm left alone in this world. Life is truly too hard!" For a moment, the house was filled with sobs, each one recalling the painful experiences brought on by the illness. This scene caused Li Ruoyue to feel an inexplicable pang of pain.