A Shocking Dream

"There are very few women practicing medicine in Daqi. I'm afraid this Wu Nian has an unknown origin," Qin Rongchen asked doubtfully. His brows were furrowed, and his eyes revealed deep worry.

Qin Ronghuan nodded slightly, his expression becoming more serious. "Indeed, it's rare for a woman to practice medicine. This Doctor Wu Nian suddenly appeared in Linzhou, using the name Ruoyu. If she can be used by our court, she's a real talent."

Qin Rongchen fell into deep thought after hearing this. "Your Majesty is absolutely right. But at this point, we know nothing about this Doctor Wu Nian, and her true intentions are difficult to fathom. If we rashly bring her into the court, we might be risky."

Qin Ronghuan frowned slightly, "Then what do you think we should do?"

Qin Rongchen thought for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, I think we can first send someone to secretly observe Doctor Wu Nian's every move to understand her medical skills and character. If she is indeed talented and dedicated to saving the people, we can consider recruiting her into the court."

Qin Ronghuan nodded in agreement. "Well, this plan is feasible. But we must also be careful not to let her become a potential threat."

Qin Rongchen bowed and said, "Your Majesty, rest assured. I will handle this with caution. While we observe Doctor Wu Nian, we cannot relax our control over the plague in Linzhou. We must take a multi-pronged approach to ensure the safety of the people."

"Rongchen, I can rest assured that you're here to help. But why did you suddenly..." Qin Ronghuan wondered why Qin Rongchen had suddenly become a different person. He stared at Qin Rongchen intently, trying to find the answer from his face. Then he asked, "What about you? Do you have any considerations for taking the initiative to participate in this matter this time?"

Qin Rongchen said frankly, "Your Majesty, as a member of the royal family, I have a duty to share the worries of the country and the people. The plague is rampant and the people are suffering. I cannot sit idly by. Moreover, I also hope to do my part for Your Majesty and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. This plague is a serious matter and I dare not slack off in the slightest. The appearance of Doctor Wu Nian has made this matter even more complicated, so I am treating it with even greater caution."

Qin Ronghuan nodded slightly, but a hint of doubt still lingered in his eyes. "Rongchen, I know you've always cared deeply about the country and its people, but you seem particularly nervous this time. Is there any other reason?"

Qin Rongchen was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Your Majesty, I do have some concerns. This Doctor Wu Nian's origins are unknown, and she has appeared at this time. I am worried that she may have a greater conspiracy behind her. Moreover, the plague in Linzhou is so serious that if it cannot be brought under control in time, the consequences will be disastrous. As a member of the royal family, I should share your Majesty's worries and work for the welfare of the people."

Qin Ronghuan's expression gradually softened after hearing Qin Rongchen's words. "You're right. This plague is indeed something that cannot be underestimated. You must go all out and resolve this matter as quickly as possible."

Qin Rongchen bowed and said, "Your Majesty, rest assured. I will do my utmost. I will quickly investigate Doctor Wu Nian's background and strengthen the control of the plague in Linzhou, so as not to disappoint Your Majesty's trust."

Qin Ronghuan was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Okay, I hope you can assist Ruoyu and jointly deal with this crisis. This plague concerns the safety of the country and must not be taken lightly."

Qin Rongchen solemnly promised: "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will do my best to fulfill my mission."

Qin Ronghuan waved his hand slightly, "Go ahead and prepare well. I hope you can control the plague as soon as possible and bring peace to the people." Qin Rongchen bowed and took his leave, and his determination to defeat the plague became even stronger.

"What? King Shengxian accompanied the Crown Prince out of the capital to Linzhou to investigate the plague?" Inside Ninghua Palace, Kou Jing was shocked upon hearing the news. Her eyes were filled with astonishment and worry, and she unconsciously clenched the handkerchief in her hand.

Having lived in the palace for many years, Kou Jing knew the horrors of the plague. Now that the Crown Prince and the Sage King were traveling together to Linzhou, a plague-ridden region teeming with danger, her heart instantly sank, and she was filled with immense worry for their safety.

She stood up and paced back and forth in the palace, her mind racing. "What should I do? The plague in Linzhou is so severe, won't it be dangerous for them to go there?" Kou Jing muttered to herself.

The maid beside her hurriedly comforted her, "Don't worry too much, Queen Mother. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and the Sage King are both brave and resourceful men. They will definitely return safely."

Kou Jing shook her head slightly. "That being said, the plague is no small matter. They're not only facing the threat of disease, but they may also encounter various unknown dangers."

She stopped and looked out the window, her eyes filled with worry. She wondered why Qin Rongchen, who had been silent for five years, suddenly cared so much about the world. Kou Jing paced back and forth in Ninghua Palace, the doubts in her heart like a fog that wouldn't dissipate for a long time.

She recalled that for the past five years, Qin Rongchen had lived in seclusion, rarely participating in state affairs, as if he had lost interest in everything in the world. But now, he resolutely followed the prince to Linzhou to investigate the plague. This sudden change surprised her.

"Could it be that something major happened that caused him to change his mind?" Kou Jing muttered to herself. She tried to search her memory for clues, but found nothing.

Kou Jing's personal maid noticed her worry and whispered to her, "Empress Dowager, perhaps the Sage King was moved by the Crown Prince's determination, or perhaps he has always been concerned about the people but has never expressed it."

Kou Jing shook her head slightly. "I'm afraid it's not that simple. He's been away from the court for the past five years, but now he's suddenly so active. There must be a reason."

She continued to stare out the window, her worry growing stronger. Linzhou was plagued by a severe epidemic, and Qin Rongchen and Qin Ruoyu would inevitably face many dangers on their journey. She was both worried about his safety and puzzled by his behavior.

Time flew by amidst the intense preparations. Soon, Qin Ruoyu and Qin Rongchen led their team on their journey to Linzhou. Within the capital, news spread like thunder—the Sage King Qin Rongchen had accompanied Crown Prince Qin Ruoyu out of the capital to Linzhou to investigate the plague. The entire capital was engulfed in an atmosphere of tension and worry.

In Linzhou, plague had been raging for over half a month, and the people were suffering terribly. Qin Ruoyu and Qin Rongchen led a team, rushing non-stop towards Linzhou. Along the way, they were both very heavy-hearted, fully aware of the difficulty of this mission.

"We're just ahead of Linzhou. This plague is spreading very quickly. Everyone, be sure to protect yourselves while carrying out your mission." A few miles from Linzhou, Qin Rongchen spoke, covering his face with a silk scarf. His eyes were filled with solemnity and vigilance, fully aware of the horror of this plague.