Regent, please maintain your aloof image.

Su Qianrou didn't want to argue with her anymore, it was a waste of time, so she looked at Physician Xu and said, "Physician Xu, this is a matter of life and death, the people of Qingtong County are in your care."

"Your humble servant will do his utmost."

"You shall immediately return to the Imperial Hospital and select several imperial physicians to accompany you. We shall depart early tomorrow morning."

"Yes".

"Minister Su, the plague requires a large amount of medicine. The Ministry of Revenue must prepare a batch of medicine today. Tomorrow, I will go to Qingtong County with Physician Xu and others. Are there any problems?"

"no".

"Food and daily necessities should also be prepared as soon as possible and sent to Qingtong County."

"Yes".

"In addition, we need to select someone to go with Physician Xu and others to take charge of the overall situation tomorrow. I wonder if any of you gentlemen have someone in mind."

“Your subject requests permission to go,” Li Zixuan said.

Song Rui also said, "Your subject also requests to go."

"Who do you think is more suitable to go, Duke Su and Minister Song?"

"I believe that both of them are suitable. I wonder what the Duke of Su thinks?"

"Then let them both go. Vice Minister Song will set off early tomorrow morning to find out the situation and make arrangements. Xuan'er will serve as the grain officer and go with the grain later. What do you think, Minister Song and Minister Su?"

"feasible".

"What does the princess think?"

"The Duke of Su's arrangement is excellent."

"Then it's decided."

"I disagree, Father. That's a plague. Don't you know how dangerous it is? If you send Zixuan there, what if something happens to him?"

"This old minister understands the Empress Dowager's concerns, but as an official appointed by the court, and as the Vice Minister of Revenue, it is his duty. Besides, if he doesn't go, others will have to go. Why can others go but he can't?"

"How can that be the same? He is..."

"Aunt, don't worry, your nephew will come back safely."

"Everyone avoids the plague, but you insist on going forward. You are courting death, do you know that?"

"Man can conquer nature; success depends on human effort."

"You're really determined to go."

"Your Majesty, I am willing to share your burdens."

"Father, are you just going to let him do this?"

"Life and death are preordained; if something happens to him, it is his fate."

The Empress Dowager was furious. It was bad enough that the Duke of Su's mansion didn't stand by her side, but they even went against her. She had always thought of the Duke of Su's mansion in every way, so she felt betrayed by her family and was very angry.

"Very well, it was I who was meddling. Since you won't listen to me and insist on listening to her, I hope you will still be as obedient as you are now if something irreversible happens." After saying that, she turned and left.

The officials looked at each other in bewilderment.

"Take care, Mother," Su Qianrou said.

Su Jing'an also said, "Respectfully seeing off the Empress Dowager."

The ministers realized what was happening and quickly said, "Respectfully seeing off the Empress Dowager."

"Alright, time is of the essence. Every moment of delay increases the danger to the people of Qingtong County. I urge you all to arrange everything as soon as possible. I will not disturb you any longer," Su Qianrou said before leaving.

"Respectfully seeing off the Princess, please take care, Princess."

Qingxin Pavilion

Qiulan was packing her things when she saw Su Qianrou return. She asked, "Your Highness, have you packed everything? Are we going back to the palace?"

"I won't go back yet," Su Qianrou said, then sat down on the couch and added, "Qiulan, I have something I want to discuss with you."

Upon hearing this, Qiulan walked up to her.

"Qiulan, you should know that there is an epidemic in Qingtong County."

"Know".

"I'd like you to go there in person. Would you be willing?"

"This servant will obey the princess. If the princess tells me to go, I will go."

"The plague is no small matter; a slight mistake could lead to death. Are you really willing to do this?"

“When my grandfather was alive, he often said that doctors are there to save lives and heal the wounded. Since I know medicine, I should treat the sick and save people. Besides, it was my grandfather who cured the plague in Huai Prefecture twenty years ago. As his granddaughter, how can I be afraid of death?”

"Thank you, Qiulan."

"Your Highness, please don't say that. It's all what I should do."

At this moment, Chunzhu came in and said, "Your Highness, Physician Xu has arrived."

"Please come in."

A moment later, Physician Xu entered and greeted the Princess.

"Imperial Physician Xu, the selection of the imperial physician has been finalized."

"Your Highness, it has been confirmed: one chief physician, two imperial physicians, and myself, making a total of four people."

"Four people are probably not enough. Aren't there four imperial physicians? Let them all go."

“But in the palace…”

"Isn't there still one judge left? That's enough."

"Yes".

"In addition, I'll have Qiulan go with you. Her medical skills are quite good, and I think she'll be of help to you."

Physician Xu glanced at Qiu Lan and then said, "This... Miss Qiu's medical skills are indeed excellent, but she is a woman."

"What's wrong with women? Can't women heal the sick and save lives?"

"That's not what I meant. This plague is different from other diseases. I'm just worried that Miss Qiulan won't be able to handle it."

"Doctor Xu, there's no need to worry. Although I've never been exposed to the plague, my grandfather once told me about it, so I do know a little about it."

"Understanding is probably far from enough."

“I remember Physician Xu just said that you were one of the physicians during the plague in Huai Prefecture twenty years ago.”

"Yes, at that time I was just a minor imperial physician."

"The prescription was developed by the then Imperial Physician Wang, who was in charge of the Imperial Medical Academy."

"right".

"So, Dr. Wang's medical skills are very good."

"That's natural. Even now, I can't compare to him. It's a pity that Physician Wang has retired and returned to his hometown."

"Do you think the people he personally teaches would be bad?"

Physician Xu didn't quite understand what she meant, and was therefore somewhat confused.

"Qiu Lan was taught by Doctor Wang himself."

"What the princess means is that Miss Qiulan is the apprentice of Physician Wang."

"Not only that, Qiulan is the granddaughter of Doctor Wang."

Physician Xu was greatly shocked and couldn't help but look at Qiu Lan. "Miss Qiu Lan is the granddaughter of Physician Wang. No wonder, no wonder Miss Qiu Lan's medical skills are so high."

"Now that Physician Xu has agreed to let her go to Qingtong County with you."

“This is a blessing for the people of Qingtong County,” he said, then looked at Qiulan and added, “I was blind to your greatness, please forgive me, Miss Qiulan.”

"You're too kind, Physician Xu. I hope you'll give me more guidance when the time comes."

"I dare not accept such praise. It is I who should ask Miss Qiulan for more guidance."

"Alright, time is of the essence, Physician Xu should go back and prepare as soon as possible."

"Yes, I'll take my leave."

"Qiu Lan, you should go back and pack your bags too. Tell Li An while you're at it, or ask him to go with you."

"He doesn't know anything about medicine, so there's no point in him going. He might even need me to take care of him. Let's just forget about it."

"He's definitely worried about you. You should have a good talk with him."

"I will, then I will go back first."

"Okay, I'll wait for you to come back in the capital."

“And me, Qiulan, you must come back safely,” Chunzhu said.

"Yes, please take good care of the princess."

"You don't need to tell me that. Your Highness, I'll take care of you. Don't worry."

Su Qianrou chuckled.

"Your Highness, I will return as soon as possible."

"it is good".

Then, Qiulan went outside.

As Su Qianrou watched her departing figure, she couldn't help but recall the scene of their first meeting. If she hadn't saved her back then, she wondered what her life would be like now, certainly not as wonderful as it was now.