General, you should rest now; the lady is even more ruthless.

After carefully reviewing all the folded documents, Nineteen took six books with him.

These are the three memorials from before requesting the imperial court to send troops to support them, and the three that Cui Zhigang just threw in today.

Although the operation went smoothly, there were simply too many memorials to read, and by the time Shijiu finished reading them and returned to the inn, it was already past midnight.

The temperature difference in the Northwest region is large, and the sandstorms at night are several times worse than during the day. Shijiu decided to let himself and Jidian rest for one night and return to Beijing early the next morning.

By the way, let's hear what the people think about the "300-yuan exorbitantly priced medicine".

A dreamless night.

The next morning, Nineteen led his horse away from the inn toward the city gate. Sure enough, he saw a notice posted on the city wall in the distance, with several people gathered around it.

Although it wasn't a large gathering, it was the largest crowd I'd seen in the past two days.

Nineteen also joined in.

"Look everyone, this is wonderful! The imperial medicine is arriving soon! Cough cough, we can finally get treatment!" a withered old man shouted excitedly.

"Look closely, old man, three hundred coins a pair, can you afford it?" said another, younger man.

The withered old man clenched his fist: "I don't care if I die, but I only have one son, Xiaoyu. Even if it means going bankrupt, I will cure him. Cough cough."

The younger man paused slightly upon hearing the old man's words, as if he had thought of something, and chuckled, "My father died a couple of days ago. I... I'd better wait at home; I can go see him in a couple of days."

Surprisingly, no one seemed to complain about the exorbitant price of the medicine. It was as if they were used to it. They would rather wait to die or go bankrupt than dare to question the government.

Nineteen stood at the back and continued listening to the people's conversation.

An elderly woman carrying a child spoke up: "Folks, don't be discouraged. I heard from my great-aunt's nephew's cousin's neighbor that a miracle doctor has come to their county to treat everyone for free."

"Really? Is it far? I want to go too." A hope ignited in the eyes of a pale-faced man.

The old woman lifted the child closer to her: "It's not far, just over two mountains. I was just about to carry my daughter there."

"Wait for me, I'll go too."

“I have a basket to lend you, take me with you.”

......

Nineteen didn't know how to describe her feelings.

The common people were willing to cross mountains and valleys to survive, but the governor of the imperial court treated human lives as a joke.

How ironic.

He didn't linger, mounted his horse, and rode away.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

After a frantic drive, Nineteen finally returned to the General's Mansion before nightfall.

Shen Luo and Jiang Qiqi were both awake, waiting for his message.

"My lord, I have lived up to your expectations. I found the memorial that Cui Zhi, the prefect of Longcheng, had hidden and failed to report at his home." Nineteen took out the memorial.

"Well done," Shen Luo said. "You've worked hard."

"Nineteen, the medicinal bath has been prepared for you. Go take a bath quickly. The plague spreads extremely fast and should not be underestimated," Jiang Qiqi said.

Nineteen paused for a moment, then looked at his master.

Shen Luo was also stunned. He hadn't expected Jiang Qiqi to be so thoughtful: "Go, Nineteen."

"Yes, master."

"Thank you." Jiang Qiqi heard the person next to her say as the two were looking through the memorials.

"You're welcome."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

In the evening, Xiang'er found Twelve.

"Twelve, my young lady said you should boil some hot water for Nineteen to use for a bath when he comes back."

Twelve jumped three feet like a cat whose tail had been stepped on: "Nineteen, that kid wants me to boil water for him? Dream on! According to seniority, this guy should call me senior brother. What kind of senior brother boils water for junior brother!"

"But Miss said that the place Nineteen went to is ravaged by plague, and if she doesn't take a medicinal bath as soon as she gets back, she might get infected. You know what plague is like..."

......

When Nineteen returned to the house, she found that the medicinal bath tub had been prepared and Twelve was standing on tiptoe throwing flower petals into it.

"Twelve!!!" Nineteen stared at the bucket filled with rose petals, squeezing out a few words through gritted teeth, "Are you planning to pack me up and send me to the dragon's bed to serve him after I've finished washing?!"

Twelve paused for a moment: "The medicinal bath smell is too strong, it makes me feel uncomfortable. I want to sprinkle some flower petals to get rid of the smell."

"But if you really want to go... I can give it a try." So this was the dream that Nineteen had kept buried in her heart for many years?

"Go to hell, you big jerk!!!"

Nineteen was taking a bath, and Twelve was waiting in the outer room to add water for him.

"Nineteen, what kind of person do you think our lady really is?" Twelve poked at the hot water in the bucket, which he had spent the whole night boiling.

"I don't know, but he's definitely a smart person." Nineteen soaked his neck and below in the bathtub, feeling his heavy head clear up considerably.

"She seems to treat us quite well, and she also treats the master well."

Nineteen didn't reply for a long time, so long that just when Twelve thought he had fallen asleep, a soft "Hmm" came from inside the room.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

As Shen Luo and Jiang Qiqi read the six memorials, they grew increasingly silent, their eyes filled with shock and dismay.

When the nineteenth returned, the two had just finished reading all six memorials.

“The three counties of Longyou, Nanjiao, and Weishan all submitted memorials to the court requesting assistance after being invaded by rebel forces,” Shen Luo said, closing the memorial. “But Cui Zhi intercepted them all along the way.”

He closed his eyes, as if recalling that feeling of helplessness and powerlessness from back then.

“Master…” As someone who had followed his master since childhood, Nineteen understood what he was thinking.

"Nineteen, you went to Longcheng. What were your thoughts?" Jiang Qiqi asked.

"Reporting to Madam," said Nineteen, "the Prefect of Longcheng is all-powerful, and the people are living in hardship, but the county magistrates of those counties are doing their jobs well."

He recounted in detail everything he had seen and heard in Longcheng.

"Cui Zhi's evil deeds are too numerous to count. How could such a person be the governor of our dynasty?" Shen Luo wished he could grab his sword right now and chop off his dog's head.

“Longcheng governs seven counties, but only three county magistrates went to report, plus Magistrate Ma who died from the plague, making a total of four. Based on this, it can be deduced that these three counties must have already fallen.” Although Jiang Qiqi was angry, she forced herself to calm down and analyze the situation.

"Hiding battle reports privately led to the occupation of three counties in our country by the rebels. According to the law, this should result in the extermination of three generations of your family." As a general, Shen Luo was extremely wary of this situation. If such a thing happened during a war between two countries, it would undoubtedly be fatal.

“Not only that,” Jiang Qiqi said, looking through the infection data of the plague, each number was shocking.

"Compared to the report Cui Zhi submitted to the court, the figures in this memorial are more than ten times higher."

Shen Luo didn't understand: "Why would he underreport so much? What if the imperial court issues less medicine in the future?"

“I think it’s because he didn’t originally intend to save everyone,” Jiang Qiqi said. “As Shijiu mentioned earlier, Cui Zhi wants to sell the free medicine issued by the imperial court to the people for 300 coins per dose.”

“Three hundred coins. That number alone eliminates countless families, not to mention that one dose of medicine can’t even cure the plague.” Shen Luo frowned.

This was the first time he had encountered such a thing. If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he would never have imagined that someone would dare to tamper with the disaster relief medicines distributed by the imperial court and use these life-saving medicines to make dirty money.

“Moreover, it seems there must be ministers in the court colluding with them,” Shen Luo said, though he was reluctant to admit it, but it was the truth. “Otherwise, where would a mere prefect get such audacity? And where would he find the abyss-like maw to swallow so much money?”

"The most urgent task is to save the people of Longcheng from their suffering." Although Jiang Qiqi also wanted to punish that corrupt official, things always had to be prioritized.

"Hmm." Shen Luo nodded. "Nineteen, go and take these memorials to the post station, and tell them to make sure they reach the Ministry of War before dawn."

"These memorials must be delivered to the Emperor before the morning court session."