Why My Domineering Prince Regretted Filing for Divorce?-Chapter 680 - 536: The Life-Saving Thing, How Can You—_2

"..."

Seeing her downcast expression, Shang Ruyi immediately understood. The thirty-plus deaths yesterday, along with the seventeen from last night, were likely all from here.

A healer’s heart is compassionate. Watching patients die one by one while being powerless, how could one not feel sorrow?

Shang Ruyi thought for a moment and said, "It’s not your fault that they couldn’t be saved."

"..."

"It’s the fault of this epidemic."

Hearing this, Su Qinglan lifted her eyes again, a trace of gratitude surfacing in her smile.

Shang Ruyi also looked at her with newfound respect—being a female official is already difficult, and to stand out is even harder. This Su Qinglan could persist, and in such times of epidemic, she stands firm at this place. It shows she has a resilient mind and a character like an orchid.

She truly lives up to her name.

However, amid her reflection, Shang Ruyi noticed the bundle Su Qinglan placed aside, containing five or six paper packets, likely filled with medicine. She picked up a nearby fan to cool the decocted medicine, so it could be more palatable for the patients later. Then she asked, "Where did these medicines come from?"

The medicines she’d stocked up were not for these people.

Su Qinglan glanced at her own bundle and said, "My family has some medicines stockpiled. This time, I heard that it’s impossible to buy any medicine in the city that could cure this epidemic, so I brought them all out."

"Oh..."

As they spoke, the medicinal decoction in the bowl had cooled considerably and was ready for consumption.

Seeing that another stove’s medicine was about to be ready, Shang Ruyi said, "You stay here and stay busy. I’ll handle giving the medicine to the patients."

After speaking, she picked up the bowl, preparing to head out.

Su Qinglan found it exceedingly strange that the General’s wife, a Second-Rank Imperial Decree holder, would personally come to the disease-stricken Changle Square. Yet, she didn’t expect that she would truly take action herself, being willing to care for the seriously ill patients.

For a moment, her mind was more filled with confusion and doubt.

But at this moment, she couldn’t say much and could only stop Shang Ruyi, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Then, I’ll trouble the Young Madam. However, some have already drunk one round of medicine. When the Young Madam goes, just look at the patients’ hands. I’ve marked those who don’t need to drink it."

Shang Ruyi finally understood why she had just marked people’s hands with something.

In her heart, Shang Ruyi held more unsaid respect for Su Qinglan, realizing that she wasn’t just bound by a physician’s sense of duty and compassion towards these patients. She genuinely wanted to heal these people, which explained her meticulous care.

She nodded, "Alright."

With that, she took the bowl and left the stable. Arriving under the eaves ahead, the stench here was overwhelming, almost making it impossible to open one’s eyes. Shang Ruyi knew this wasn’t a long-term solution. Someone needed to clean this place immediately. But for now, she had to feed this medicine first. She gritted her teeth, endured the smell, and looked one by one, until she found a patient’s withered, thin wrist that didn’t have a charcoal mark.

She squatted down, gently tapped the elderly man who was lying on his side facing the wall.

"Elder, it’s time for your medicine."

The person let out a low, hoarse groan, then slowly turned around.

Upon seeing the person’s face, Shang Ruyi immediately widened her eyes in astonishment, "It’s you?!"

"..."

The person was already critically ill, with dim eyes barely able to move, and lifelessly gazed at Shang Ruyi for a long time, finally seeming to see her in their eyes. Their dry lips moved slightly, silently saying, "Yu Wen... Young Madam..."

"It’s me,"

As Shang Ruyi spoke, she helped the elderly man, who was lying on the ground covered in dirt and barely breathing, sit up. She said softly, "Mr. Jiang, have you also contracted the illness?"

This old man was none other than Jiang Yu, whom she had met before at Dayan Temple!

She hadn’t expected their next meeting would be here, even less so that this previously spirited and optimistic elder would become so ill.

Seeing Shang Ruyi, he seemed to come alive a bit, but had no strength to move, nor the ability to speak. Shang Ruyi didn’t say much, quickly responded, "Let’s drink the medicine first; it will help."

Saying so, she brought the bowl to his lips.

Despite being severely ill, the elder instinctively opened his mouth at the thought of medicine, taking a sip which immediately caused him to cough violently. Fortunately, Shang Ruyi, having just seen Su Qinglan’s method of feeding medicine, quickly pulled the bowl away, gently patted him on the back to help him catch his breath, then gave him another sip once he was more stable.