Ties of Love, Ruan Wan

Lou Qianyuan sighed, "Just as you predicted, this morning, many people in the shelters outside the city contracted the plague, and Changfeng has summoned all the doctors in the city to go there."

Ruan Wan frowned and said, "How can we not leave some doctors in the city? The Lou family has been infected with the plague, which means that the plague has spread far and wide. No wonder Cui Mo couldn't find a doctor when she went out to fetch one today."

It's true that Xia Changfeng lacked consideration. He's still young, and when faced with such a major event, he was prone to making mistakes in his panic.

Lou Qianyuan was about to leave again when he said, "Then I'll go outside the city and send some doctors home to deal with the plague in the city."

Ruan Wan grabbed him, "It's the middle of the night, don't bother with all this. Come with me, I have something for you."

Ruan Wan walked straight to Lou Qianyuan's bedroom. Seeing her enter, Lou Qianyuan followed her in. "Wan'er, how did you get into my room? Did you come to the wrong place?"

"I've given my room to the maids, and you have a bed in your study, so I can sleep here."

Ruan Wan entered the study, picked up a copied prescription from the table, and handed it to Lou Qianyuan. "I've dealt with this plague before. Get the medicine according to this prescription, and halve the dosage for children."

Lou Qianyuan was overjoyed as he looked at Ruan Wan's prescription. All the doctors in the city had discussed it all day but hadn't come up with a solution.

Ruan Wan asked, "How many disaster victims are gathered outside the city now?"

"A rough estimate suggests that approximately 15,000 disaster victims have gathered at the foot of the imperial city."

Ruan Wan frowned and looked at Lou Qianyuan, "How can there be so many?"

Although Qingzhou has 200,000 residents, the dozen or so prefectures along the way can accommodate them, but it is impossible for the capital city to allow the resettlement of so many disaster victims.

Lou Qianyuan sighed, "Conflicts between the disaster victims and the local people along the way are constant, and the disaster victims are heading all the way to the capital. There will only be more in the future."

"If Xia Ziru and the Ministry of Personnel hadn't been on the front lines dealing with the disaster, how could things have turned out like this?"

Lou Qianyuan said, "It's a matter of the top setting an example for the bottom. They asked the prefects of each state to arrange for the disaster victims, but they can't possibly oversee every state. Ultimately, it's because people are unwilling to accept the disaster victims. Have you forgotten what happened to us in the town at the foot of the mountain that day?"

Ruan Wan could never forget it; the memory of that pot of boiling water still lingered in her mind.

Ruan Wan said, "When disaster victims don't have enough food, they will take risks to survive. The most crucial thing now is to get the people to take the initiative to help the disaster victims."

Lou Qianyuan shook his head and said, "It's easier said than done. With the floods in Jiangnan, everyone is hoarding food, afraid that they won't have enough to eat themselves. Who would be willing to share with the disaster victims?"

Ancient monarchs often preferred to use divine authority and royal power to control the people, and very few used the will of the people to govern them.

Ruan Wan said, "You have to let the people along the way know that Qingzhou, as a flood diversion area, was sacrificed for them. Let them know that Qingzhou is a brother or sister of other states. This time, they have let their brothers down. If there is another disaster in the future, their brothers will not care about them."

Lou Qianyuan listened with increasing interest, picked up his brush, and began to take notes.

Ruan Wan continued, "Of course, the government also needs to push things out behind the scenes, letting disaster victims recount what it was like when the flood came, the more vivid the better. Local officials need to mobilize wealthy merchants to open their granaries and protect their homes, and the government also needs to broadcast information about disaster relief funds."

Lou Qianyuan filled a whole sheet of paper with his writing, looking at Ruan Wan with excitement, "Wan'er, you are truly the savior of Great Xia! I think you are not just the Holy Maiden of Miao Jiang, but the Holy Maiden of Great Xia!"

After Lou Qianyuan finished speaking, he immediately ran out the door. He couldn't wait a moment longer and wanted to tell Xia Changfeng about this good strategy.

Ruan Wan was actually a little puzzled. How could such a powerful country appear helpless in the face of a disaster?

It's understandable that Xia Changfeng and Xia Ziru are young and inexperienced, but Emperor Xia is known for his diligence and hard work. How could he make no decisions at all and leave his two sons to deal with the disaster?

Ruan Wan had a bad feeling: could the Xia Emperor be using this disaster as a test to see which of the two potential successors could turn the tide?

Ruan Wan only hoped that this was just a malicious speculation; otherwise, using hundreds of thousands of people as bargaining chips would be far too indifferent to human life.

So much happened that day, it felt like a month had passed. Ruan Wan lay down on the bed and fell asleep immediately.

As a result, Ruan Wan woke up very early the next morning. She was on edge and woke up right on time.

At 3:45 AM, when Ruan Wan stood at the kitchen door, Cui Mo and the others also arrived, bringing masks sewn by the maids.

Ruan Wan glanced at them; they were quick, having sewed two large bundles of masks in one night.

Ruan Wan instructed, "Keep what the people in the manor need, and send the rest to the young master, explaining how to use them as well."

Cui Mo immediately arranged for someone to deliver the medicine, Ruan Wan continued to decoct the medicine, and Cui Lu and the others prepared breakfast for the entire household.

Fang Saozi was fully conscious, but Ruan Wan restricted her movements, telling her not to leave the small kitchen for the time being.

Fortunately, the other people who had close contact with the infected individuals did not show any symptoms the following day.

And so, another day passed safely.

Lou Qianyuan didn't go home for several days in a row, and Fang's wife became more and more energetic, and her pulse returned to normal.

Ruan Wan then ordered the security at the Lou residence to be lifted. Except for the two people who went out to buy supplies, who were still living in separate small rooms and were served meals every day, everyone else continued as usual, except that they were not allowed to go out.

The two of them would bring back news from the market every day when they went grocery shopping. Cui Mo would find out first and then pass it on to Ruan Wan.

After spending the last few days together, and sharing joys and sorrows, Ruan Wan quickly became familiar with them.

Cui Mo and the others completely regarded Ruan Wan as their young mistress from the bottom of their hearts. Originally, they thought Ruan Wan was a vixen that the young master had brought back from outside.

She only wanted to climb the social ladder by relying on her beauty, but she didn't expect that the new wife was a skilled doctor, kind and generous, and very easy to get along with.

There was no chaos outside, and the plague in the city was suppressed before it even showed signs of emerging. Lou Qianyuan followed Ruan Wan's method of controlling the plague in the Lou family mansion and quickly brought the plague under control in the city.

From their conversation, Ruan Wan learned that Tingqin and Lanyu were three years older than Cuimo and Cuilu, and were maids in the former young master's room, while Cuimo and Cuilu were maids in Lou Qianyuan's room.

They also specifically told Ruan Wan that Lou Qianyuan still has no concubines or maids.

Of course, there was also news from outside the city. The plague was spreading very quickly outside the city, and with the dense population and the sweltering summer heat, the spread was extremely rapid.

The Seventh Prince, Xia Changfeng, mobilized his personal guards and, with swift and decisive measures, brought the plague outside the city under control. He even ate and lived with the disaster victims, earning praise from everyone for his virtue and compassion for the people.

The political climate in the court is likely about to change again.

It wasn't until half a month later that Lou Qianyuan returned, travel-worn and covered in rags, smelling terrible, but his joy was beyond words.

Lou Qianyuan found Ruan Wan seeking respite from the heat under the trumpet creeper trellis. Holding Ruan Wan's hand, Lou Qianyuan smiled and said, "Wan'er, your plan worked perfectly. The disaster is completely under control, and the floodwaters have receded."

Ruan Wan was also very happy, now all that was left was the post-disaster reconstruction and the return of all the disaster victims.

No wonder Lou Qianyuan was so happy. Ruan Wan looked at Lou Qianyuan and asked, "Why haven't I heard any rumors about you? All that's being said in the capital is about the Seventh Prince's great achievements?"

Lou Qianyuan laughed and said, "I am no longer an official in the court, and I don't need these empty titles."

Looking at his filthy appearance, Ruan Wan frowned and said, "How many days has it been since you changed your clothes? Go and wash up."

After Lou Qianyuan left, Ruan Wan looked at the bright sun overhead with a heavy heart. Xia Changfeng had made a great contribution this time, and who knows, he might take this opportunity to ask the emperor for a marriage decree.

Ruan Wan needs to think carefully about which path to take.

As she was deep in thought, the sky above her suddenly darkened. Ruan Wan thought the weather was about to change, but when she looked up, she was met with a huge face, which startled her.

Ruan Wan stood up. Before her stood a beautiful young woman dressed in brocade and fine clothes. She was not tall and had a rather plain appearance, but the simple clothes made her look more refreshing.

A small mole between his eyebrows makes him look somewhat mean and bitter.

Two maids stood behind the woman; both were rather plump and looked fierce.

Ruan Wan sized them up, and they sized her up too.

The head maid looked Ruan Wan up and down with disdain in her eyes. "So it's you, you vixen, who claims to be my cousin's wife?"

Cousin? Could it be Lou Qianyuan? Besides Chang Le, does Lou Qianyuan have other cousins?

Seeing that Ruan Wan remained silent, the maid beside the woman cursed, "You wretch, my mistress is asking you a question, why aren't you answering?"

Another maid immediately chimed in, "That vixen must be scared."

The two women giggled, and the woman in the lead scolded, "Don't think you can fool my cousin just because you're a little pretty. Let me tell you, my cousin is the least swayed by beauty or power. He wouldn't even look at Princess Chang Le in the past."

Seeing her like this, Ruan Wan found it somewhat amusing, so she asked, "Then may I ask what kind of girl your cousin would be interested in?"

The woman in the lead suddenly became shy, fidgeting with her handkerchief and acting coy.

A maidservant immediately said, "Of course the young master loves my young lady the most. The young master and my young lady are childhood sweethearts, a match made in heaven. It's not someone a lowly person like you could possibly be with."

They kept calling me a jerk and seemed to be having a good time with it. These three people completely ruined my good mood today.

Ruan Wan looked at the maid with a cold face and said, "Watch your mouth. Don't think that just because you're fat and have big ears, you don't have to speak like a human being."

The maid immediately pleaded with her mistress, "Miss, she scolded me!"

The maid swayed her body, her face trembling, which made Ruan Wan feel physically uncomfortable.

When the young lady saw her maid being scolded, she raised her hand to slap Ruan Wan.

Ruan Wan didn't dodge, just waited for the slap to come so she could teach her a lesson.

A crisp sound was heard, but the slap didn't land on Ruan Wan's face; instead, it landed on Cui Mo's face.

Cui Mo suddenly rushed out and stood in front of Ruan Wan, blocking the slap.

Cui Mo rushed over with such force that she knocked Ruan Wan to the ground. Ignoring the burning pain on her face, Cui Mo hurriedly ran over to help Ruan Wan up, saying, "Madam, please forgive me, I didn't mean it."

Ruan Wan stood up and looked at Cui Mo's face. Five red handprints were left on her fair face, and her cheeks were visibly swollen.

Ruan Wan was instantly enraged. She stepped forward and slapped the young lady across the face. The young lady was still smug and had no idea what was happening.

Ruan Wan used all her strength in that slap, and blood seeped from the corner of the young lady's mouth.

When the young woman saw that she had been beaten and was bleeding, she immediately started wailing and crying, "How dare you hit me! Ah Qiao, Ah Rui, quickly hold her down!"

Ah Qiao and Ah Rui immediately stepped forward, each grabbing one of Ruan Wan's arms. Cui Mo tried to stop them, saying, "Miss, this is truly the young mistress. The young master personally instructed us. You cannot be so rude."

A Qiao kicked Cui Mo to the ground, and Cui Mo was in pain and had difficulty getting up.

The young woman covered her face, walked forward with a cold smile, and raised her hand, intending to slap Ruan Wan.

Lou Qianyuan's voice came from not far away: "Sun Shishi, what are you doing? Let go of my wife!"