A peasant girl travels through time with a hospital, rising to become an empress.

Inside the Yishui County government office, the atmosphere was oppressive, almost suffocating. Zhang Tuo's face was ashen, his already pale face devoid of color. For several days in a row, he had only slept a few hours each day. Dark circles were under his eyes, his eyes were filled with anxiety, and he looked extremely haggard.

Jiang Zheng'an's appearance at this moment was no better. Back in Fulin County, he was a dashing young gentleman, but now, stubble had sprouted on his chin, his hair was disheveled, and he sat dejectedly in a chair, listening to his subordinates' report.

"Sir, the number of people infected with the epidemic has surged from just over ten to over a hundred in the past few days, and the number is still climbing every moment. If we can't find a cure soon, I'm afraid the entire Yishui County will fall into the hands of the virus." The person reporting this was filled with worry and fear.

After hearing this, Zhang Tuo couldn't help but cough violently, his voice becoming extremely hoarse. "How could it spread so quickly? Weren't we already arranging for people to be taken to the temple in the west of the city for centralized resettlement, isolating them from the county seat?"

The subordinate looked up, his expression a mixture of helplessness and anxiety. "My lord," he said, "Lord Wang embezzled silver, causing hardship for the people. They have long lost faith in the government. Those infected people don't believe we will provide them with centralized care and treatment. They keep shouting that the government is just letting them fend for themselves. Many people have broken through the blockade and run back to the city. Even if our men can catch one, we can't stop everyone from coming back."

At this point, his voice became increasingly choked with emotion, revealing a deep sense of helplessness. "Many of the officers and soldiers who went to arrest people have also been infected and have developed symptoms, including fever."

"The brothers on the front line have reported that some of the infected people in the temple have started to have their skin ulcerated, and after the pus has burst, blackish-red pus and blood are flowing out, and the stench is overwhelming."

Jiang Zheng'an grew increasingly alarmed as he listened. Upon hearing that some people's skin had become ulcerated and festering, a chill ran from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, and he couldn't help but shiver.

The man reporting trembled violently, and finally kowtowed repeatedly on the ground, tears streaming down his face, pleading, "Please, sirs, please, sirs, you must save our brothers! Sirs!"

Zhang Tuo's brows furrowed into a deep knot, his eyes bloodshot, and he asked anxiously, "Have any messages come from the people sent to the provincial capital?"

"Reporting to Your Excellency, there is still no news. Judging by the distance, the reinforcements from the provincial capital should have arrived long ago."

Zhang Tuo seemed to have all his strength drained away in an instant, aging several years in appearance. He sighed deeply, "The governor was summoned back to the capital for a meeting half a month ago. Based on past experience, he probably won't be back until before the end of the year. Without the governor, no one dares to make a decision on this matter. I guess everyone is just making excuses, wasting so much time for nothing." After saying this, he coughed violently again.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Zheng'an slammed his fist on the table and roared, "Absurd! They're not just wasting time, they're wasting the lives of countless ordinary people! We can wait, but the people can't! When I return to the capital, I'll definitely impeach them!"

Jiang Zheng'an stood up and paced back and forth in the room. He then asked anxiously, "The doctors in the county town have been studying this for so many days, but they still haven't reached a conclusion? What kind of epidemic is this, and how should it be treated?"

The subordinate was too frightened to look up. Although he didn't know Jiang Zheng'an's identity, he knew that he was a high-ranking official from the capital. "Reporting to Your Excellency, the doctor in the county town said that it might be... it might be the plague..."

"What?" Upon hearing this, Jiang Zheng'an was so shocked that he took two steps back and fell onto the table with a thud, his face turning ashen.

"Plague? The Great Yu Dynasty hasn't had a plague outbreak for decades, how could it be the plague?"

It is important to know that there is almost no cure for the plague. Once an outbreak occurs, the only option is to isolate the infected people and burn all the items they have come into contact with.

Zhang Tuo looked dejected and waved his hand, "You can leave now."

His subordinate took his leave, his eyes filled with despair as he closed the door. He had witnessed the reactions of both officials; high-ranking officials from the provincial capital and the capital were helpless. What was to be done for Yishui County? How could they possibly overcome this calamity?

Zhang Tuo's voice grew weaker as he said to Jiang Zheng'an, "Lord Jiang, the plague is spreading rapidly. You should leave as soon as possible. You came here on official business. Since Magistrate Wang's case has been closed, you shouldn't get involved in this mess and suffer an undeserved disaster."

Jiang Zheng'an sat on the stool, his fingers digging tightly into his palms under his sleeves, trying to suppress his fear.

“I cannot leave! As an official of the Great Yu Dynasty, how can I turn a blind eye to this situation, abandon the people, and become a coward who deserts his post? I, Jiang Zheng’an, will never do such an unjust thing.”

Moreover, the entire court knew about his official business. If he really ran away, what would become of the Jiang family's reputation? How could they maintain their footing in the capital? His own career would be completely ruined.

He knew in his heart that he couldn't leave, but faced with this difficult epidemic, he couldn't think of a good solution for the time being.

Zhang Tuo looked at Jiang Zheng'an. The two were in such similar situations and had such similar thoughts that they nodded to each other without saying a word.

Zhang Tuo closed his eyes, his heart filled with endless struggle. When he opened them again, his eyes were full of helplessness and pain. "If we still can't wait for people from the provincial capital, then we'll have to send more people and completely isolate the temple."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Zheng'an felt a chill run down his spine. What did complete isolation mean? It meant that those inside couldn't get out, medical personnel outside couldn't get in, and there would be no food supply...

A temple outside the Yishui County government office.

About a hundred people were crammed into this small space. Occasionally, painful groans could be heard, and the shadow of death hung heavy over the entire temple like a dark cloud. The air was thick with the stench of decay and medicine, making one want to vomit.

A five- or six-year-old girl lay weakly in her mother's arms, saying feebly, "Mom, it hurts." The girl slightly raised her right arm, revealing a horrifying lump on her arm, red and swollen, a sight that was heartbreaking to see.

"Mumu, it doesn't hurt. Let Mommy blow on it for you, and it won't hurt anymore." The woman speaking held back her tears and gently blew on the little girl's arm. Then she gently covered it with her clothes and hugged the little girl even tighter, as if this could drive away her pain.

The little girl buried her head in her mother's arms, her voice tinged with fear, "Mother, am I going to die?"

Mu Mu's mother, Rui Gu, gently patted Mu Mu and softly comforted her, "Mu Mu, don't talk nonsense. Mother is here. You won't die. Someone will come to save us soon. Just wait a little longer." But as soon as she finished speaking, a hot tear quietly fell onto the back of her hand.

A man standing nearby, disheveled and with a face that looked almost insane, shouted, "Wait? Wait for what? Those corrupt officials just want us to wait here to die. Once we're dead, they'll burn us alive!"

Mu Mu trembled in Rui Gu's arms, terrified.

Rui Gu's face was covered in tears, and feelings of despair, fear, and anxiety surged within her.

But she was a mother, and no matter how scared she was, she had to give her child a sense of security. She suppressed her emotions and tried to keep her voice calm, "Mumu, don't be afraid. What Uncle said isn't true. Someone will definitely come to save us, they definitely will. Sleep, sleep, when you wake up, everything will be alright."

With each gentle pat from Aunt Rui, Mu Mu finally drifted off to sleep. Once she was asleep, Aunt Rui gently pulled up her trouser leg.

In an instant, her pupils contracted sharply, and she saw a patch of blackened, swollen skin on her right calf...