Disease rights policy

The doctor hadn't arrived for a while, and Qiao Ran couldn't count on him for the time being, so she poured another glass of water. This time, she forced it into the delicate girl's hand, and luckily, the girl was also afraid of dying, and she drank it shakily before slowly suppressing her cough.

His complexion was even worse, almost like that of a dead person.

Qiao Ran watched as his hand gripped the water glass tighter and tighter, finally relaxing and letting it hang down on the edge of the bed. After a long while, his breathing gradually calmed down.

Qiao Ran had just plopped back down on her stool when she heard a deep, hoarse voice utter two long words: "Chen Jiu".

"What?" Qiao Ran's eyes lit up, and she looked up.

The other person closed their eyes briefly and then remained silent.

Qiao Ran smiled – Chen Jiu, a delicate and sweet name.

He really is the eldest son of the Chen family.

She curled her lips and said, "Young Master Chen is not good with words, so I will speak and you will listen."

Chen Jiu's life was temporarily saved, but he was in excruciating pain and could barely hear what Qiao Ran was saying. All the words spoken outside were now fragmented and indistinct to him.

He almost felt his life was coming to an end tonight, but strangely enough, he's managed to hold on until now.

Qiao Ran was after money, not her life. Chen Jiu could see that. He endured the torment of the illness eroding his body and looked with difficulty at the woman with bright eyes.

Qiao Ran said after Chen Jiu agreed, "I only want the 'Spring and Autumn Annals'. I won't take your life until the Chen family delivers the items. I'll let you go as soon as I get the 'Spring and Autumn Annals'. If you have any hidden illness, you'd better tell me clearly, otherwise you'll be the one who suffers if it gets in your way."

Chen Jiu only heard the words 'Spring and Autumn Annals'. His lips were white as he answered, word by word, "No."

Qiao Ran was stunned for a moment. "You fell into my hands, and even the soldiers were alarmed. You can imagine how important your status is. If your father doesn't give me the 'Spring and Autumn Annals,' given how easily you seem to lose your breath, isn't he afraid I'll take your life at any moment?"

Chen Jiu's heart felt like it was going to jump out of his chest, and he was having some difficulty breathing. He hadn't taken his medicine today, and his illness had flared up. He forced himself to stay awake and heard the words "I'll kill you."

Clenching his teeth, Chen Jiu said, "Take my life."

Qiao Ran froze.

"Even though Young Master Chen is in such a half-dead state, he's still pretty tough?" Qiao Ran said to Qin Huai, "See? Stop calling him delicate. He's a real man."

Qin Huai: "I didn't say he was a woman."

Chen Jiu curled his fingers slightly, piecing together the words "delicate...woman".

Such a humiliating disgrace left him powerless to refute. His bloodshot eyes, filled with pain, turned cold instantly, and he moved his lips, vomiting blood right in front of Qiao Ran.

Qiao Ran: "...Where did the doctor go?!"

Chen Jiu woke up the next morning. The room was still cold, but much better than the night before. There were two braziers by the bed. Perhaps because there was no charcoal in the village, they were using firewood. The person who burned the firewood was very careful, and there was not much smoke.

The fever still hadn't subsided, and Chen Jiu felt extremely numb all over his body. All his senses were affected, and he could feel that he had already stepped into the gates of hell.

It's just bad luck. If God wants to take him away at this time and let him die far from home... what can he do if he doesn't accept it?

With a "squeak" sound, the door opened.

Chen Jiu sat up, supporting himself on the edge of the bed. The scene before him was blurry. He saw a shadow float in and suddenly felt the approaching temperature and face.

He could roughly tell it was the woman from last night, the one who seemed interesting.

Chen Jiu frowned, about to speak, when a warm hand covered hers, and Chen Jiu was stunned.

Then the newcomer chuckled lightly: "Your fever seems to have gone down a bit. You're lucky; even the King of Hell won't take you."

Chen Jiu: "..."

Qiao Ran, being naturally outgoing, glanced at him and asked with a smile, "Are you really the eldest son of the Chen family?"

Chen Jiu's hearing gradually returned to normal, and he could hear clearly. Recalling the humiliation of last night, his chest ached with each thrust. But now he was the fish on the chopping block, and she was the butcher. He could only try to maneuver.

His identity was little known, not even to the prominent families of Kyoto, let alone ordinary people.

After careful consideration, Chen Jiu looked up at Qiao Ran, a fleeting look of admiration in his eyes, but said nothing more.

Qiao Ran laughed again, seemingly not caring whether Chen Jiu answered or not, and continued teasingly, "The Prime Minister's illegitimate son? Something that can't be seen in public?"

"..." Chen Jiu felt a heart attack and was about to cough again.

Qiao Ran frowned, suddenly grabbed Chen Jiu's chin, and lifted his face to stop him from coughing. Chen Jiu's face turned red with embarrassment, but he was forced to take a clear look at Qiao Ran's arrogant expression.

"Do you know you almost died last night?" Qiao Ran's gaze was deep. "I went to see three doctors overnight, and they all said you wouldn't survive the night. To be honest, I also think you're a nuisance and don't want to keep you around."

Seeing that Chen Jiuzhen was having trouble breathing, she let go of her hand.

But you still didn't dare let me really die, Chen Jiu thought with a cold sneer.

Chen Jiu had never experienced anything like this before; he was on the verge of death after only a couple of moves from Qiao Ran.

He leaned on the edge of the bed, his white knuckles sweating. He slowly opened his mouth, as if he had been bullied and was displeased. He said with difficulty, one word at a time, "If you don't want me to die here and dirty your place, then let me go."

Qiao Ran heard his voice again; it was a little hoarse, but strangely pleasant to the ear.

"So you're finally talking?" Qiao Ran raised an eyebrow. "I thought you were really fearless."

Chen Jiu was indeed not afraid, but he only glared at Qiao Ran weakly.

Qiao Ran kicked away the brazier that was in the way, stood high on the bedside, and said seriously, "Whether you live or die, I've already spread the word. I'll have your father bring the 'Spring and Autumn Annals' to you. By sunset today at the latest, either you'll die first, or I'll get the item and you'll hold out until you're rescued."

Chen Jiu sat up a little, his eyes suddenly turning cold. "The capital is far from Sichuan. You can't get the 'Spring and Autumn Annals'."

Qiao Ran pursed her lips, "You don't need to worry about that. As long as your Chen family takes the things to the gates of Kyoto and hands them over to my people, I will release you immediately."

"dream."

"That depends on whether the things are more valuable or your life is more valuable," Qiao Ran said, "Young Master Chen."

Chen Jiu closed his eyes and said in a weak voice, "You won't get 'Spring and Autumn Annals,' young lady. Offending the Chen family will not benefit you."

Qiao Ran smiled helplessly, "I've already offended you, Young Master Chen. You probably don't know yet, but there are soldiers everywhere outside looking for you. That's why I'm so sure you're valuable. Whether you stick your neck out or not, you'll get hurt. So I've been forced into a corner."

Chen Jiu said, "If you release me, the soldiers outside will immediately withdraw, and you can leave safely."

Qiao Ran felt like she was laughing at herself. She had lived two lives and was a seasoned veteran. How could she believe such a thing?

Reaching out and pressing down on Chen Jiu's thin shoulder, Qiao Ran felt a pang of pity as her palm, sharp as a bone, chafed even through his clothes. She simply said, "That's impossible, Young Master Chen. At worst, I'll just carry your life and flee to the ends of the earth. The world is vast, and there are plenty of places where a mere woman like me can live a life of ignominy."

Chen Jiu was shocked and tried to brush Qiao Ran's hand away, but Qiao Ran deliberately pressed down harder, a smile spreading across her eyes. At that moment, she really looked like a good person.

She said softly, "Get some rest."

After Qiao Ran left, Chen Jiu felt relieved. He was worried that he would have another attack of his illness, so he calmed himself down and didn't want to get agitated. His body couldn't take another shock.

This is the first time I've encountered such a shameless person, and she's a woman too.

Indeed, the sages had not lied to him; only women and petty men are difficult to deal with.

It's laughable that he's fallen into such a predicament, ha...

“Before sunset…” Chen Jiu turned to look out the window and murmured, “A country girl, she doesn’t understand power.”

The power of authority is terrifying, and its speed is astonishing.

Before sunset, the soldiers could raze this barren village to the ground.