To divorce his wife, the top scholar preferred being cuckolded to wearing a red hat.

Xiao Zhan entered Qingzhou City.

Upon entering the city, he summoned the city's garrison commander to see him.

"You must be Zhao Shoucheng." Xiao Zhan looked at the man who had come to see him and got straight to the point.

"Your humble servant Zhao Deyou greets Your Highness." The man who came was Zhao Deyou, the garrison commander of Qingzhou City.

"No need for formalities. Now tell me about the situation inside the city." Qingzhou City has been sealed off, allowing entry but not exit. He needs to understand the situation before going to see the prefect of Qingzhou.

"Your Highness, the number of new patients is now ranging from dozens to hundreds every day. Some patients have mild symptoms, such as coughing and fever, while others have severe symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting blood. Once the condition becomes very serious, the person will almost certainly die soon without treatment. This disease spreads rapidly and its progression is quite terrifying."

Zhao Deyou has witnessed firsthand the speed at which this disease is spreading and developing. The speed at which it spreads and develops is truly astonishing. If the source and treatment methods are not found soon, Qingzhou City may be destroyed.

Xiao Zhan frowned, not expecting the situation in Qingzhou City to be far more serious than he had imagined.

Where are those patients now?

“Ordinary clinics simply can’t accommodate so many people. Lord Yang has had patient reception points set up in all four directions of Qingzhou City. The number of patients is increasing, but there are only so many doctors. Several doctors have also been infected. Your Highness, if you don’t come soon, Qingzhou City will only be able to wait to become a dead city.” Zhao Deyou’s scalp tingled at the thought of this disease.

He had heard of plagues before, but subconsciously he felt that such things were too far removed from his own life. When they actually happened, he felt helpless.

If Qingzhou City doesn't have good doctors or officials to govern it, it might really become a dead city.

“The floodwaters receded in just half a month, how could this illness have come on so quickly?” Xiao Zhan frowned as he listened to Zhao Deyou’s words.

The speed of development doesn't seem to have happened suddenly.

Zhao Deyou shook his head: "Lord Yang has been working day and night to arrange for the patients these past few days, but they have no clue what the source is."

"Rest assured, the court is already aware of this matter. His Majesty sent me here to find the source, heal these wounded, and prevent any further trouble in Qingzhou."

"I know. When I saw Your Highness coming, I knew that Qingzhou was saved and that the court had not abandoned us."

"Take me to the various treatment centers first. I want to bring those imperial physicians with me. They are more skilled at treating and saving lives. They need to examine the patients before they know how to treat them or how to trace the source of the illness."

Given the current situation in Qingzhou, it's even more difficult to fight than a war.

The virus is in the shadows, while they are in the light.

Moreover, the virus spreads extremely quickly, and it is very likely that before a treatment is available, most of the people in Qingzhou City will be infected. At this rate, the situation of the people in Qingzhou City is worrying.

Xiao Zhan distributed the masks he had brought to everyone, and after everyone put them on, he went to the patient treatment center.

The ward was overcrowded. Patients were constantly being carried in, and patients who had already died were being carried out. The soldiers responsible for carrying patients in had no protective measures and were all exposed to the air.

Patients with mild and severe illnesses also lived in the same place.

The situation at the scene made Xiao Zhan frown deeply.

If this continues, before a cure is developed, the entire city of Qingzhou will likely be infected.

"Summon Yang Cheng, the prefect of Qingzhou, to see me." Xiao Zhan's expression was extremely grim.

Yang Chengjie heard that Prince Zhan had arrived and inspected the patient treatment center.

"Your humble servant Yang Chengjie greets Your Highness." Yang Chengjie looked like he had come from outside; he was still sweating, and his hair was sticky with sweat.

Seeing his appearance, I knew he wasn't slacking off and was indeed arranging for patients. My expression softened a bit: "The weather is hot now. Having so many patients together will only accelerate the spread of the virus. We should expand the number of patient care facilities and increase the distance between patients."

Yang Cheng wiped the sweat from his forehead: "Your Highness, it's not that I don't want to. It's just that there are too few doctors available in Qingzhou City. So far, five or six doctors have fallen ill."

Xiao Zhan also recognized this problem: "Let Physician Hu and the others come over and have them come up with a more efficient solution."

Before arriving in Qingzhou, Physician Hu thought it was a minor problem, but after arriving, he realized it was almost like hell on earth. People were constantly being added to the list, and people were constantly dying.

The newly arrived pharmacist and imperial physician almost made a scene and wanted to go back on the spot.

However, they also understood that they had come here on a royal mission, and if they failed to complete the task, they would live and die with Qingzhou.

"Your Highness, this disease is spreading too rapidly, and the usual methods will definitely not work. We must immediately order everyone to stay indoors and reduce their contact time with the sick." This disease is so severe that it can be transmitted at any time. Only by reducing outings and staying indoors can people reduce their contact with the sick.

Given the current situation, there is a possibility of infection as long as there is a possibility of contact.

Xiao Zhan remembered the medicine and masks Mingyue had prepared for him when he arrived, and distributed them to Prefect Yang and the others: "How many patients have you been in contact with? How are you feeling now?"

Just as Yang Cheng was about to speak, he felt a tightness in his chest, and the next moment, he spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Oh no! Lord Yang has also been infected! Everyone, disperse immediately!" Physician Hu exclaimed in alarm upon seeing the condition of Prefect Yang.

He stepped forward wearing a mask and inspected Prefect Yang.

Prefect Yang's condition resembled that of a seriously ill patient, but in the early stages he had no discomfort, only feeling somewhat tired.

Xiao Zhan thought of the medicine Mingyue had given her.

"Doctor Hu, I have some medicine here to clear heat and detoxify. Why don't you give it to Lord Yang?" Xiao Zhan wasn't sure if the medicine would work, but the other party was now seriously ill, and there was no better way until an antidote was available.

Physician Hu took the medicine handed to him by Xiao Zhan, smelled it, and found that the ingredients were ordinary, just common heat-clearing and detoxifying medicine: "You can give it to Lord Yang to try."

Plagues are usually caused by cold toxins entering the body, so methods to clear heat and detoxify may be effective.

"After we come into contact with the patients and we take good care of ourselves, we need to save the people of Qingzhou City, and we also need to survive. As long as we work together, we will definitely be able to defeat these viruses." The situation was far worse than he had imagined, and the most urgent task was to stabilize people's hearts and minds.

The more serious the situation, the more likely it is to cause trouble.

"Tell Zhao Shoucheng to guard the city gates carefully and not let a single person leave."

"Some people left before the city was locked down. We don't know if they were infected or where they went. You also need to send people to investigate the nearby counties. If any suspected cases are found, lock down the city immediately."

The most urgent task is to lock down the city; there is no other way.