After transmigrating into the book, I helped my mother reconcile with her divorced husband.

The epidemic began to spread from villages near the capital. Unlike the strange insects that turned people into monsters, these people first experienced thirst, then fever, and then their entire bodies began to ulcerate. It took about seven or eight days from the onset of the disease to death.

At first, they thought it was just a common illness, but as more and more people in the village died, and as news of the emperor's lockdown of the city came, they realized that it might be related to poisoning by the people of Southern Chu.

It's unclear who started it, but people from nearby villages who hadn't yet fallen ill gradually gathered at the city gates. Now, all four gates—east, west, south, and north—were blocked by villagers. They begged the emperor to open the gates and allow the city's doctors to treat their illnesses.

Approximately how many villagers are there?

Xie Chaoyun lifted the curtain and looked outside. Compared to when she left the Marquis's residence yesterday, the garrison on the street had changed.

“There are four city gates, and I estimate there are two to three thousand people.” Imperial Physician Jiang looked anxious. “There’s a possibility that there are spies from Southern Chu among them. If we let them into the city…”

Does His Majesty know about this?

"I understand!" Physician Jiang clenched his fists. "Lord Xie has already reported this matter to the Emperor, and the Emperor has summoned all the physicians from the Imperial Hospital."

Physician Jiang hesitated, his expression growing even more anxious.

"The villagers' illness is related to the batch of grain that the Southern Chu people sold before. The grain entered the city, and there were also patients in the city who hadn't yet shown symptoms. That's one reason." Xie Chaoyun lowered the curtain. "Secondly, the city has just settled down, and the city gates have been opened. It's possible that Southern Chu spies took the opportunity to cause trouble. If they hadn't been opened, those villagers would have died at the city gates. Thirdly, even if we know it's related to that batch of grain, we don't know the cause of the illness, so we can't diagnose it, let alone prepare medicine."

"Yes, that's why I went to the General's Mansion to find Yuan'er." Imperial Physician Jiang rubbed his hands together. "You really divorced Lord Lu? Yuan'er isn't coming back to the General's Mansion with you?"

"The divorce was a bit sudden. The Lu family didn't want me to take Yuan'er back, and Yuan'er also had her own ideas." Xie Chaoyun pursed her lips: "Brother Jiang, can we ask Yuan'er about the villagers' problems? She's just a child. Even if she knows some medical skills, she can't cure every disease."

Upon hearing the words "Brother Jiang," Physician Jiang became flustered; he hadn't heard those words in many years. His heart raced, and he pressed it firmly, turning his head to one side: "I don't know why, but I always feel that Yuan'er can handle this matter."

The carriage stopped in front of the Marquis's residence. Imperial Physician Jiang told the coachman to knock on the door. After several knocks, a sleepy servant came to open it. Upon seeing that it was the coachman, he immediately started cursing. Only when Xie Chaoyun called his name did he cautiously say, "This servant didn't know he was Madam's coachman? Has Madam forgotten something? Perhaps this servant should go and inform the Marquis."

“I haven’t forgotten anything. You don’t need to inform your lord. Go find your young lady and tell her that Physician Jiang is looking for her.”

"Is it Miss Yuan'er?" The servant hesitated, then slapped his head. "Look at the way I asked that. Physician Jiang must be here to see Miss Yuan'er. Please wait a moment, Madam. Physician Jiang, please wait a moment. I will go and fetch Miss Yuan'er right away."

Lu Zhiyuan lived in Fangfei Courtyard, which was occupied by Ji Wanwan. Considering Ji Wanwan's identity and the rumors outside, the servant was unwilling to cause trouble, so he went to Fulin Courtyard to find Old Madam Lu.

As soon as he arrived at the door, he was embraced tightly by Old Madam Lu, so frightened that he didn't dare to breathe.

"Who are you, young man? Are you here to propose marriage? My mother said I'm destined for wealth, and no one without money can marry me."

The servant, his eyes tightly shut, said tremblingly, "Reporting to the old lady, this servant is the gatekeeper of the mansion. We have distinguished guests!"

Lu Huai pulled the old lady away from behind and ordered the nanny to lock her back in her room.

"My lord, what's wrong with the old lady?" The servant turned to look at the old lady, and when he caught a glimpse of Lu Huai's expression, he quickly stood up straight: "Reporting to the lord, there are distinguished guests outside the manor."

"Distinguished guests? The Emperor's city lockdown order was issued for the Marquis's residence?" Lu Huai appeared unusually agitated. "My people can't leave the Marquis's residence, yet you all manage to come one after another? To see my Marquis's residence make a fool of itself?"

The servant pursed his lips: "It's...it's Physician Jiang, here to see Miss Yuan'er."

"Imperial Physician Jiang, you've come looking for my daughter?" Lu Huai clenched his fists. "Oh, so you know Chao Yun and I are divorced, and you've come to help her snatch her daughter back."

Lu Huai stormed toward the front yard, but was stopped by the steward: "My lord, please don't be impulsive. Physician Jiang may have come to treat Miss!"

How could he forget that he had always been the one to treat Lu Zhiyuan's illness, and even cured some of his mother's old ailments?

Looking across the entire Northern Liang, he was the most talented and best-skilled imperial physician.

His mother's illness couldn't be delayed, and even if they went outside the manor, they might not be able to find a better doctor than him. Lu Huai's pride and integrity had to yield to reality.

Invite Physician Jiang to Fulin Courtyard, and while the nanny is looking for Yuan'er, ask him to treat your mother. Fearing that Physician Jiang will refuse, deliberately say that your mother's illness was caused by Xie Chaoyun.

With a compassionate heart, Physician Jiang did not refuse and carefully took the old lady's pulse.

When did the old lady begin to suffer from this illness? Were there any warning signs before the onset of the illness?

"She felt unwell in the evening. According to the nanny who takes care of my mother, she had nightmares all night and only fell asleep at dawn. She slept for about half an hour, and when she woke up, she was like this. She didn't recognize me, didn't remember her identity, and was acting crazy, as if she had returned to the age before she was married."

"That's strange." Physician Jiang pried open Madam Lu's eyes to examine them. "Madam Lu's pulse is normal. She doesn't seem to have lost her mind."

“Normal pulse? How is that possible!” Lu Huai pointed outside: “A woman of such advanced age calling the gatekeeper in the manor ‘little brother’? Is this something an old lady of a marquis’s mansion with a normal pulse would do?”

"Perhaps my medical skills are inadequate. If Your Majesty is truly worried, you may ask another doctor to come and take a look." Physician Jiang stood up and bowed: "Please ask Your Majesty to bring Miss Yuan'er here as soon as possible. There are thousands of people outside the city waiting for her treatment, and we really cannot delay."

"Is Physician Jiang joking with me? There are thousands of people outside the city waiting for Yuan'er to be treated!" Lu Huai was both angry and amused by Physician Jiang's words: "An eight-year-old child... I know, you are deliberately refusing to treat my mother! Physician Jiang, please come in!"

"Lord Lu, I am here on the Emperor's orders to invite Miss Yuan'er." Imperial Physician Jiang's expression changed, and he took out the token bestowed by the Emperor: "Not only me, but the entire Imperial Hospital, including all the clinics and doctors in the city, must obey Miss Yuan'er's orders! Please, Lord Lu, invite Miss Yuan'er out!"

Lu Huai was stunned. When did his daughter become so capable?

Outside the city, some people began to fall ill, and the illness spread rapidly. Some were panicked and frightened, crying and shouting to enter the city. Seeing the people starting to ram the gates, the guards panicked and ordered someone to fetch Xie Yubai.

Xie Yubai had just come out of the palace and hadn't even boarded his carriage when Physician Wu came rushing over, wiping sweat from his brow: "Lord Xie, something terrible has happened! People in the city have fallen ill too."