"The state capital was washed away by the flood?"

Standing outside Yizhou City, looking at the muddy ground beneath her feet, Du Yueyao asked incredulously.

Typically, the location of a state capital is selected with geographical considerations in mind. Especially with large rivers nearby, slightly higher terrain would be chosen, unless a riverbank nearby collapses or the flood is simply overwhelming. If the flood is just coming from upstream, the state capital typically wouldn't encounter flooding.

And in this situation, both state capitals in Zhongyang Dao have been flooded. There's only one reason for this: the riverbank collapsed, specifically the riverbank section by the state capital.

The Da Jing Law stipulates that local riverbanks should be inspected and repaired autonomously, while the Central Capital Court conducts irregular inspections nationwide.

Logically speaking, the state capital would be the wealthiest place, and the riverbank should be the most solid part of the state. Even if other places collapse, the state capital shouldn't. Moreover, this year's flood, due to the court's proactive measures, isn't necessarily bigger than the one five years ago.

The current scenario is that the state capitals in Zhongyang Dao collapsed themselves, even when other counties' riverbanks remained intact.

Thus, the only reason for this situation is corruption—shoddy construction.

"It's simply like treating human life as worthless!" Du Yueyao exclaimed indignantly.

Wang Xiaowan nodded, "The harm caused by corrupt officials is greater than that of hundreds of demons."

The damage caused by hundreds of ordinary demons to a state capital might not be as severe as the casualties and property losses from a single riverbank collapse.

"As they say, the strongest fortress is often breached from within."

Lu Zheng shrugged. He wasn't as reactive as Du Yueyao and Wang Xiaowan since he had seen this so often; in recent years, every few days, you could hear in the news about some high official being brought down.

There's both appreciation for the persistence of the efforts and realization of the true extent of these officials' greed.

One can only say... every world is the same, in a world with immortals, even they can't suppress the greed rooted in human nature.

"Let's go over too; in a state with many people, I fear the physicians won't be able to handle it," Liu Qingyan suggested.

The group then didn't take to the air but lightly tapped the ground and swiftly headed towards the state capital.

While flying might be convenient, in the eyes of ordinary people, it resembles the actions of immortals and may lead to high expectations; it's easier to just appear as ordinary Exceptional People and act accordingly.

"Who's there?"

"Could it be more demons?"

"Be cautious!"

The appearance of Lu Zheng and his group caused a commotion in the gathering outside the city, but soon, stationed troops and constables showed up to maintain order and prepare for defense.

"No, they're human."

"Wow, so many beautiful ladies? And a handsome scholar."

"Only one rough man looks a bit ugly."

Yue Honghai: ???

Don't think that just because you're far away, I can't hear you. My ears are quite good!

"Not demons! Not demons! It's Lady Qingyi, Lady Qingyi has come!"

Lu Zheng's group walked along the river, not setting a fixed direction, so some of the people they had helped arrived in Yizhou fleeing ahead of them.

At the same time, they brought the news of Lady Qingyi's medical aid and grain relief.

So, before some troops and constables could react, many people sincerely bowed or knelt to greet them.

"Please get up quickly, I'm just an ordinary healer and can't bear the title of Lady Qingyi." Liu Qingyan hurriedly said.

"Miss Liu received an imperial plaque, embodying the Green Medical Benevolence with immense merit, and is worthy of the title."

A clear yet elderly voice came, and everyone turned to see an elder in his fifties, with white hair and beard, dressed in official attire, appearing behind the people.

"Lord Zhang!"

"The prefect has arrived!"

The people noisily made way, allowing a path for the noble elder.

"Lu Zheng from the White Cloud Temple, greetings to Lord Zhang." Lu Zheng stepped forward and cupped his hands.

"Liu Qingyan, a common lady, greets Lord Zhang," Liu Qingyan slightly bowed, speaking softly.

The elder's eyes lit up and he cupped his hands, "I am Zhang Zhitong, the prefect of Yizhou, greeting Young Master Lu, greeting Miss Liu, and greeting all the ladies."

He had heard the tales of Lady Qingyi before, especially since her "Little Star Hu's Four Spirits Antimalarial Soup" had played a significant role in various areas over the past years, but he hadn't expected that Lady Qingyi would have a noble confidant from the White Cloud Temple by her side.

"Under the Court's mandate, Qingyan and Yueyao are supporting physicians everywhere," Lu Zheng said, "We also have some friends accompanying us to help out."

"Many thanks, many thanks," Zhang Zhitong said, "I've already set up a refugee gathering place outside the city, but with the city washed away and persistent rainfall, there's no worry about food, but there are many sick individuals and not enough physicians. Your arrival is timely, Miss Liu."

He then led everyone to a designated area under the city walls for medical consultations.

Liu Qingyan and Du Yueyao went to join the medical practitioners of Yizhou, diagnosing and treating the sick among the refugees, while Lu Zheng focused his attention on a leaving convoy just outside the city.

In this convoy, there was a prison cart being pushed and several large boxes. Inside the prison cart sat an old man with disheveled hair and beard.

This convoy had just left the city but was blocked at the gate due to the gathering of people because of Lu Zheng and his group's arrival. Now, as the crowd dispersed, they continued to push the prison cart away.

The people around showed undisguised hatred for the person in the prison cart. Had it not been for the flood and a shortage of food, rotten vegetables and eggs would certainly have been there.

Lu Zheng asked, "Who's he..."

"Duan Boran, the former prefect of Yizhou," Zhang Zhitong said bluntly, "Five days ago, we found ten thousand strings of cash and property worth another ten thousand strings in his house."

Lu Zheng clicked his tongue. In a world where becoming rich used to be synonymous with wealth, a twenty-thousand-string fortune was indeed a colossal corruption case.

However...

Lu Zheng couldn't help but glance at the prison cart again, noticing the old man's vacant eyes, trembling lips, pale face, and panic-stricken look, but...

Lu Zheng furrowed his brows and carefully examined the prison cart, feeling something off.

Si Lingxi said lightly, "His heartbeat is very calm, his breathing is steady, and deep within his eyes, there's no ripples. The look on his face—all of it's fake."

Realization dawned on Lu Zheng. "I was wondering what looked off about him. It turns out that while his face appears distressed, his body's muscles are completely relaxed, clearly showing he's not nervous at all. His act is superficial!"

Hearing the conversation between Si Lingxi and Lu Zheng, Zhang Zhitong was startled, "What? Is he faking it? Does that mean he's actually confident?"

Lu Zheng nodded, "Clearly, that's exactly the case."