The system forced me to blow up the female lead's fishpond.

A moment later, Qu Yuanye released her wrist and glanced at her indifferently. "I was afraid that you might catch the plague in this Miaoshou Hall. If word got out, wouldn't my reputation as a divine doctor be ridiculed as being baseless?"

Shen Zhizhi couldn't help but laugh and cry at Qu Yuanye's words, but she also knew that her master had always been like this, stubborn on the outside but soft on the inside.

Ignoring his teasing, Shen Zhizhi hurriedly leaned closer and asked, "Master, since you've said so, you must have a way to cure the plague, right?"

Qu Yuanye raised an eyebrow, his dark eyes full of disdain. "It's just a plague. Although it's rather troublesome, it's not entirely hopeless."

As Qu Yuanye spoke, he slowly stood up and paced in front of a row of medicine cabinets in the room, scanning each drawer with his eyes.

"Really?!"

Shen Zhizhi was filled with anticipation. She jumped up from the wooden stool, barely daring to breathe, hoping he could quickly come up with an effective solution.

Qu Yuanye stopped in front of a medicine cabinet, reached out and pulled open a drawer, took out a few dried herbs, and sniffed them lightly.

"This plague is fierce and its symptoms are complex and varied. We need to treat it according to its symptoms. You should first describe your friend's specific symptoms in detail, without omitting anything."

Shen Zhizhi remained silent for a long time, recalling the reactions of the patients when she had visited the plague-stricken area before.

If Zhang Jiali was indeed infected by them, his symptoms should be similar.

Thinking of this, she quickly recounted the symptoms of all the previous patients.

Qu Yuanye listened and nodded. After a moment, he turned and walked to the bookshelf, searching through the rows of ancient medical books.

Shen Zhizhi waited anxiously to the side, her eyes fixed on Qu Yuanye's every move.

A moment later, Qu Yuanye pulled out a rather old-looking medical book from the bookshelf, quickly flipped to a certain page, and pointed to the record on it, saying:

"Look here, the symptoms described here are quite similar to those of your friend, and the prescription given is worth a try."

Shen Zhizhi hurriedly stepped forward to look at the densely packed characters on the medical book, but unfortunately, most of them were obscure ancient Chinese and professional terms, leaving her completely bewildered.

Seeing this, Qu Yuanye gently patted her head and said, "Tsk, I don't know why I took you as my disciple. I knew you wouldn't understand."

This prescription requires a considerable number of medicinal herbs, some of which are extremely rare. Furthermore, they must be processed according to specific proportions and methods; the slightest error will significantly reduce their efficacy.

Ignoring the slight pain on her head from the slap, Shen Zhizhi hurriedly asked, "Master, what specific medicinal herbs are needed? Are they difficult to find?"

Qu Yuanye smiled, closed the medical book, lifted his dark purple robe, and sat down at the table. "If other doctors were to find this, it would be quite difficult. You're lucky to have met your master."

Upon hearing this, Shen Zhizhi's eyes lit up, and she felt a little more at ease. "So, Master, you really do have the antidote?"

"Do you think your teacher would make empty promises?" Qu Yuanye picked up a wooden box containing pills from under the table and handed it to him. "There are three pills inside. They will definitely be effective after three days."

Shen Zhizhi took the wooden box with delight, opened it and looked inside with curiosity. Three round pills lay quietly in the box, emitting a faint medicinal fragrance.

"Master, can this really cure him?" Shen Zhizhi still couldn't quite believe it.

After all, this plague is extremely fierce, and the previous epidemic left many doctors helpless.

And Qu Yuanye was able to cure the plague symptoms with just a few pills?

Qu Yuanye rolled her eyes at her. "Hmph, how could my medicine be fake? If you don't believe me, then give it back to me."

After saying that, he took the opportunity to snatch the wooden box from her hand.

Shen Zhizhi dodged to the side, turned back and smiled at him with a cheeky grin, "I naturally trust Master's medicine, but I never expected Master's medical skills to be so superb. A disease that everyone else is helpless with is as easy as turning one's hand for Master."

"Hmph, only someone as sweet-talking as you can be."

Qu Yuanye's stern face suddenly relaxed, a smile appeared on his lips, and he picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip. "Go and save him. If your friend's condition changes or any symptoms appear, remember to come back and inform your master immediately."

"Yes, Master, I've got it." Shen Zhizhi carefully put away the wooden box and turned to leave.

"Wait." Qu Yuanye suddenly called out to her again.

Shen Zhizhi turned her head with a look of confusion in her eyes, only to see Qu Yuanye's sword-like brows furrow slightly.

"This plague is highly contagious. You must be very careful when you go there, lest you get infected. Otherwise, your master won't have the time to save you, you silly girl."

Shen Zhizhi paused, a warm feeling rising in her heart. She turned around and bowed gracefully to Qu Yuanye, "Thank you for your concern, Master. I will be careful and cautious and will never cause you any worry."

After saying that, he quickened his pace and went out the door.

Qu Yuanye stared at her departing figure, unable to suppress a chuckle.

After a while, as if he had thought of something, he shifted his gaze to the painting in the corner.

He rose gracefully and went to a corner to slowly unfurl the scroll. He stared at the woman in the painting, gently touched her hand, and a thoughtful look appeared in his dark eyes.

"Zhu Yue, where are you...?"

……

Shen Zhizhi rushed out of Miaoshoutang in a panic, clutching a wooden box containing pills that could cure Zhang Jiali's plague.

If this pill were given to Shen Qinshou and she were to deliver it to the palace, Zhang Jiali might be moved and begin to focus his attention on her, no longer clinging to her.

As she ran, fine beads of sweat appeared on Shen Zhizhi's forehead.

When she arrived at the Prime Minister's residence, she didn't bother to wipe herself off and ran straight to the courtyard where Shen Qinshou lived.

"Second sister! Second sister!" Shen Zhizhi called out as she ran.

However, just as she was about to step into Shen Qinshou's courtyard, she was suddenly blocked by several guards.

"Halt! Third Miss, Second Miss has ordered that you are not allowed to step into this courtyard." The guards' faces were cold and stern, showing no sign of leniency.

Shen Zhizhi was taken aback. She didn't seem to have done anything to offend this young lady recently, did she?

Although their relationship wasn't great, it wasn't to the point where he wouldn't be allowed to enter the hospital.

Shen Zhizhi's lips twitched slightly as she gazed at the silent courtyard. She called out in a clear, sweet voice, "Second sister, it's me, Zhizhi. I have something important to discuss with you. Please open the door."

Inside the room, Shen Qinshou felt extremely uncomfortable being called "Second Sister" repeatedly.

Xiao Tao walked to the window frame, glanced out through the openwork carvings, and her face was filled with disgust.

"Second Miss, the Third Miss has been going to the plague area every day for the past few days, and she has been getting very close to the First Prince and the Second Prince. I'm afraid she has also contracted the plague. It would be best if we kept our distance."

"I understand that, of course." Shen Qinshou snorted and stuck the amulet she had obtained to the edge of the bed. "What bad luck. Fortunately, I haven't had much contact with that eldest prince. What if I had caught this disease?"