Chapter 96.
After leaving the yamen, Yu Ying and Fu Wei headed straight to the western alley to return home.
Upon leaving the yamen, Yu Ying tore her handkerchief in half, giving one piece to Fu Wei. They both tied them over their faces, covering their mouths and noses.
The streets were deserted due to the yamen runners beating drums and gongs to urge people to return home.
The city gates were now closed to unrestricted entry and exit.
In Jade County, there were not only the city residents but also people from villages outside the city.
The yamen runners instructed them to wait at the county yamen. Once it was confirmed that there was no issue, someone would escort them back to their villages.
Yu Ying and Fu Wei were unable to contact their elder brother and didn't know if he was in Jade County or had returned home.
Worried, they found upon returning to their courtyard that their elder brother and others were already there.
They had probably arrived just before them, so everyone was still inside the courtyard.
Yu Ying asked, “The streets are filled with the sound of gongs and drums urging people to go home. I thought you and your wife had already returned to Lingshui Village.”
Wen Xing, looking worried, said, “Ning Ning developed a fever last night. We rushed here to find you and didn’t dare go back.”
Upon hearing this, Yu Ying's eyes suddenly tightened, and seeing her elder brother holding the tightly wrapped Fu Ning, she quickly approached.
When she saw Fu Ning in her brother's arms, her face abnormally red, Yu Ying reached out to touch and found him burning with fever!
Yu Ying instantly recalled the content in the book about Fu Ning's early demise, her face turning pale in an instant, her blood running cold at that moment.
What in the world was happening? The epidemic in Jade County wasn’t mentioned in the book at all!
The few who had just arrived in Jade County were unaware of the situation and found the eerily empty streets strange. However, they had no time to ponder on other matters, only focused on quickly bringing Fu Ning to his sister-in-law for examination.
Despite her hands trembling slightly, Yu Ying maintained her composure as a physician: “Let’s go inside first, so I can examine him.”
Fu Wei noticed her trembling hands, understanding the anxiety hidden in her heart.
He whispered to her, “With you here, Ning Ning will be alright.”
Yu Ying didn’t know why Fu Wei trusted her so much, but remembering how her elder brother and sister-in-law had survived their ordeal, she was certain Fu Ning wouldn’t suffer the same fate.
Originally, Fu Ning was malnourished and weak in the book, but after half a year of her care, although still frailer than other children, proper care would ensure that the flu couldn’t claim her life.
With this realization, Yu Ying felt a sense of determination.
After entering the house, Yu Ying asked everyone else to leave and also asked her sister-in-law to boil some water.
She then carefully examined Fu Ning's condition in the room.
Fu Ning, having not seen his young aunt for a long time and despite feeling unwell, weakly murmured, “Auntie...”
Yu Ying gave her a gentle smile, softly reassuring, “Auntie is here, and you’ll get better soon.”
She continued to examine Fu Ning, finding his condition consistent with the epidemic, her expression growing grave.
It was indeed the epidemic, but recovery was possible.
After comforting Fu Ning, Yu Ying asked her sister-in-law to take care of him, instructing that no one else, especially Luo and Fu An, should enter the room.
Hearing it was the epidemic, everyone’s face turned pale. Wen Xing, in particular, retreated into the house to weep in secret, wishing she had contracted the disease instead.
Yu Ying, unable to attend to these complex emotions, went into Fu Wei's room to write several prescriptions, then set off with her elder brother to Ji's medical hall to get the medicine.
Fu Wei stayed at home to look after the family, assuring the worried Luo and Fu An, “Sixth lady knows medical arts. Ning Ning will surely be safe.”
When Yu Ying and her elder brother arrived at the medical hall, finding it closed with all patients sent home to prevent the potential spread of the epidemic, Yu Ying knocked on the door.
A voice from inside called out, “We’re not seeing patients today, please go back!”
Yu Ying thought for a moment and then said, “I am the wife of Fu Wei from the yamen, Lady Yu.”
Moments later, the medical hall opened halfway, and an apprentice hurriedly gestured, “Come in quickly!”
Yu Ying and her elder brother quickly squeezed into the medical hall, where every corner was filled with the smoke of burning medicinal herbs from clay pots.
Head Ji, covering his face with a damp cloth, approached and asked, “What brings Lady Yu here?”
Yu Ying said, “I need to pick up some medicine.”
Head Ji, whose opinion of her had completely changed due to today's events, called over an apprentice and instructed, “This lady needs to pick up some medicine, help her out.”
The apprentice nodded, and Yu Ying handed over the prescription.
While the apprentice was preparing the medicine, Yu Ying asked, “Head Ji, have you confirmed it?”
Head Ji nodded gravely, “Indeed, it's certainly an epidemic. The yamen runners have just reported back.”
Continuing, he looked at her and said, “I prided myself on years of medical practice and experience, yet I failed to recognize this epidemic in time. Had it not been for you, Lady Yu, it might have taken us several more days to identify it.”
Yu Ying replied, “I just returned from the county seat and noticed many sick people on the streets, which caught my attention immediately.”
“Modern flu has become a common annual illness. Both traditional Chinese and other hospitals see an influx of flu patients during the transitions between autumn-winter and spring-summer, based on my experience.”
“There’s no need to be modest. Fortunately, we discovered it in time, and the county magistrate acted swiftly. This epidemic should be under control soon. Had we delayed for another two days, the consequences would have been unimaginable.”
Indeed, Yu Ying had read about the terrifying nature of ancient epidemics, with heavy casualties. Just thinking about those records made her heart race.
Soon, the apprentice brought over several large packages of medicine.
These medicines, unavailable in Lingnan, along with the herbs she had stored, were sufficient for about a hundred people.
Yu Ying paid for the medicines and then left with her elder brother, wearing her face mask.
When they returned home, her sister-in-law had calmed down. Yu Ying instructed her to burn charcoal while she prepared the dosage for pediatric ephedra decoction.
While the medicine was being prepared, the charcoal her sister-in-law had lit was burning. Yu Ying quickly placed it in a clay pot and spread Atractylodes, Dalbergia, and Mugwort on top. As these herbs slowly ignited, smoke began to fill the room.
These gases have the effect of purifying the air and avoiding epidemics, acting as a disinfectant.
Yu Ying instructed her sister-in-law to fumigate each room for half an hour, starting with the room where Ning Ning was, for a quarter of an hour.
Since it was just ordinary charcoal, the rooms shouldn't be sealed for too long during fumigation.
While decocting the medicine, Yu Ying learned from her sister-in-law and elder brother that many villagers had already developed coughs and fevers.
Hearing this, her expression immediately turned solemn.
With the New Year approaching, villagers from miles around had been coming to Jade County to buy holiday goods. In the past two days alone, countless villagers had visited Jade County.
Because Fu Wei worked in the yamen, neighbors started knocking on their door, inquiring about the sudden lockdown of Jade County.
It was a delicate matter to explain without causing panic, so Yu Ying opted to say she wasn't clear on the details and that they were waiting for news from the yamen.
In the afternoon, yamen officials went door to door, inquiring if anyone in the household had a fever. Those who did were to be immediately taken to a designated place for free medical treatment.
Free treatment was not necessarily good news, and it instantly caused widespread anxiety.
Fearing they wouldn’t be allowed to return, some people concealed their condition.
As a result, not many volunteered to go to the designated facilities that afternoon.
Left with no choice, the county magistrate had to take a firmer stance, explicitly stating it was an epidemic. Those who didn't want to endanger their families or be endangered themselves were advised to go to the designated areas.
Anyone with a high fever who refused to go was violating the law, facing a fine of two hundred wen. Informants reporting someone hiding an infected person were rewarded ten wen per case.
The county magistrate's decisive measures quickly filled the designated facilities with feverish patients.
With Fu Ning infected by the epidemic and Fu Wei being a yamen official, he couldn’t set a bad example. The county magistrate would not make exceptions, even for an official like him.
As Fu Ning was young and Yu Ying was going to the quarantine facility, she decided to take care of him herself.
Fu Wei was worried about her.
But he understood that avoiding the epidemic out of fear was not in her nature.
He didn’t want her to go, yet he didn’t try to stop her.
Yu Ying handed over some medicines and prescriptions to Fu Wei, instructing him, “Uncle He and Aunt He’s family in the village helped us a lot during the thief capture and the land reclamation. I cannot ignore them. See if you and elder brother can return to Lingshui Village. If possible, take these medicines back, let the villagers fumigate their homes, and prepare a large pot of medicinal soup for those with a fever.”
Fu Wei nodded, “The magistrate is likely sending people to each village. Tomorrow they will also check each village. My brother and I will go together.”
At the end, Fu Wei looked at her intently, whispering, “Be careful.”
Yu Ying sighed softly, “I will be, and you be careful too.”
After speaking, Yu Ying packed clothes and bedding, preparing to leave with the drowsy Fu Ning, escorted by the yamen runner.
Fu An knew about the epidemic and its horrors.
Aware of where they were going, he clenched his fists, “I want to go with you, Auntie. I can help you and take care of my sister!”
Yu Ying ruffled his hair, “Your uncle will be very busy these days, and your father might be helping him. Only your mother and grandmother will be at home. You are a young man now; you need to take care of them.”
Holding back tears, Fu An said, “But I don’t want you and my sister to go to that quarantine place. Can’t you stay?”
Yu Ying shook her head, promising, “I’ll be back soon and will bring a healthy Ning Ning with me.”
Adding on, Yu Ying said, “You too must stay healthy.”
As they spoke, a yamen runner routinely searched the house to ensure no one was hiding.
With Fu Ning being taken away due to the epidemic, Wen Xing and Luo both cried inconsolably.
Yu Ying reassured them, “I will take good care of Fu Ning and will have the yamen runner send messages back.”
Luo, stepping forward, choked with emotion, advised, “Lady Yu, you must also take good care of yourself.”
Yu Ying felt a warmth in her heart and nodded lightly, “I will.”
After speaking, she left with the yamen runner to the designated quarantine area.
Fu Wei watched their departing figures from the alley, continuing to gaze long after they were out of sight.
“Ah Ying, come back early.”
“Come back safely.”
The quarantine facility was divided into three separate thatched courtyards.
The patients, each with varying degrees of illness, were housed separately.
The epidemic had struck unexpectedly, so the conditions were somewhat poor, but at least the place had been cleaned and fumigated.
Due to the urgency, the beds in the rooms were simply made of wooden planks.
County Magistrate Zhou had issued face cloths to every patient, instructing everyone to wear them over their noses and mouths.
Additionally, warm water was brought to them every half hour for drinking.
County Magistrate Zhou had specifically instructed that the doctors attending the patients stay in separate accommodations, two per room. As Yu Ying was the only female doctor, she was given a room to herself.
Hearing this arrangement, Yu Ying sighed with relief.
If there were too many people together, it was uncertain when Fu Ning would recover.
Yu Ying took Fu Ning into the room, made the bed, gave her half a cup of hot water from a bamboo container to drink, and then let her rest on the bed.
Just then, the yamen runner came to call for her, but Yu Ying asked him to wait a moment.
Yu Ying said to Fu Ning, “Be a good boy, Fu Ning. Auntie is going to treat others. You rest here in the room. Every half an hour, I’ll come back to check on you.”
Though scared of the unfamiliar environment, Fu Ning still nodded, “I’ll wait for Auntie to come back.”
Yu Ying put on a hastily made mask, stood up, left the room, and followed the yamen runner, asking, “Have the doctors from the other medical halls arrived?”
The yamen runner shook his head, “No, Lady Yu, you are the first to arrive.”
At this, the yamen runner developed a respect for Lady Yu.
A woman showing such fearless courage, what about the other doctors?
All these doctors, who always talk about serving the world, are just dawdling, scared for their lives.
We yamen runners fear death too, but we still came!
As they reached the courtyard, they encountered Head Ji, his son, and his eldest disciple who had just arrived.
The yamen runner was puzzled and asked, “The magistrate said each medical hall should send one person. Why has the Ji medical hall sent three?”
Head Ji glanced at Lady Yu behind the yamen runner and then said, “If Lady Yu is not afraid, we men should not be cowards either.”
Hearing this, the yamen runner exhaled in admiration, “Such courage from Head Ji is truly commendable.”
Head Ji said, “We can catch up later. Let’s first attend to the patients urgently.”
Fearing that they might transfer serious illnesses to those with milder symptoms, they decided to first visit patients with less severe conditions.
Some patients, seeing a woman among the doctors, expressed skepticism, “We've never heard of a female doctor in Jade County. Is she just here to fill the numbers and deceive us?”
To the skepticism, Head Ji immediately retorted, “Lady Yu’s ancestors were imperial physicians. There’s no need to question her abilities. This epidemic was first discovered by her. You owe your lives to Lady Yu. The choice to be treated or not is yours!”
Everyone, including Yu Ying, was taken aback by Head Ji’s words.
Yu Ying didn't expect Head Ji to openly acknowledge that she was the first to discover the epidemic.
The people were also surprised. Considering Head Ji's reputation in Jade County, which many people respected, his words were undoubtedly true.
Observing the woman wearing a mask, they were quietly amazed by her ability to detect the epidemic. But then, recalling Head Ji's words about her being a descendant of an imperial physician, it made sense why she could identify the epidemic.
And certainly, her medical skills must be exceptional!
With this in mind, the people began to hope that this woman would be the one to treat them.
Yu Ying, along with the doctors from Ji’s medical hall, started to check the pulses of the patients, separating those who did not have symptoms of the epidemic for observation.
Approximately every hour, Yu Ying would return to check on Fu Ning.
However, fearing she might transfer the infection to Fu Ning, Yu Ying only looked in through the window and called out to let him know she was there.
The doctors from Zheng’s, Li’s, and Luo’s medical halls arrived much later.
It was probably due to some pressure applied by Lord Luo, so the first to arrive among them was from Luo’s medical hall.
These doctors came unwillingly, showing impatience with the patients, wishing they could keep as much distance as possible.
Their attitude highlighted the responsibility and care shown by Ji’s medical hall and the female doctor, earning them even more gratitude from the patients.
Chapter 96.
After leaving the yamen, Yu Ying and Fu Wei headed straight to the western alley to return home.
Upon leaving the yamen, Yu Ying tore her handkerchief in half, giving one piece to Fu Wei. They both tied them over their faces, covering their mouths and noses.
The streets were deserted due to the yamen runners beating drums and gongs to urge people to return home.
The city gates were now closed to unrestricted entry and exit.
In Jade County, there were not only the city residents but also people from villages outside the city.
The yamen runners instructed them to wait at the county yamen. Once it was confirmed that there was no issue, someone would escort them back to their villages.
Yu Ying and Fu Wei were unable to contact their elder brother and didn't know if he was in Jade County or had returned home.
Worried, they found upon returning to their courtyard that their elder brother and others were already there.
They had probably arrived just before them, so everyone was still inside the courtyard.
Yu Ying asked, “The streets are filled with the sound of gongs and drums urging people to go home. I thought you and your wife had already returned to Lingshui Village.”
Wen Xing, looking worried, said, “Ning Ning developed a fever last night. We rushed here to find you and didn’t dare go back.”
Upon hearing this, Yu Ying's eyes suddenly tightened, and seeing her elder brother holding the tightly wrapped Fu Ning, she quickly approached.
When she saw Fu Ning in her brother's arms, her face abnormally red, Yu Ying reached out to touch and found him burning with fever!
Yu Ying instantly recalled the content in the book about Fu Ning's early demise, her face turning pale in an instant, her blood running cold at that moment.
What in the world was happening? The epidemic in Jade County wasn’t mentioned in the book at all!
The few who had just arrived in Jade County were unaware of the situation and found the eerily empty streets strange. However, they had no time to ponder on other matters, only focused on quickly bringing Fu Ning to his sister-in-law for examination.
Despite her hands trembling slightly, Yu Ying maintained her composure as a physician: “Let’s go inside first, so I can examine him.”
Fu Wei noticed her trembling hands, understanding the anxiety hidden in her heart.
He whispered to her, “With you here, Ning Ning will be alright.”
Yu Ying didn’t know why Fu Wei trusted her so much, but remembering how her elder brother and sister-in-law had survived their ordeal, she was certain Fu Ning wouldn’t suffer the same fate.
Originally, Fu Ning was malnourished and weak in the book, but after half a year of her care, although still frailer than other children, proper care would ensure that the flu couldn’t claim her life.
With this realization, Yu Ying felt a sense of determination.
After entering the house, Yu Ying asked everyone else to leave and also asked her sister-in-law to boil some water.
She then carefully examined Fu Ning's condition in the room.
Fu Ning, having not seen his young aunt for a long time and despite feeling unwell, weakly murmured, “Auntie...”
Yu Ying gave her a gentle smile, softly reassuring, “Auntie is here, and you’ll get better soon.”
She continued to examine Fu Ning, finding his condition consistent with the epidemic, her expression growing grave.
It was indeed the epidemic, but recovery was possible.
After comforting Fu Ning, Yu Ying asked her sister-in-law to take care of him, instructing that no one else, especially Luo and Fu An, should enter the room.
Hearing it was the epidemic, everyone’s face turned pale. Wen Xing, in particular, retreated into the house to weep in secret, wishing she had contracted the disease instead.
Yu Ying, unable to attend to these complex emotions, went into Fu Wei's room to write several prescriptions, then set off with her elder brother to Ji's medical hall to get the medicine.
Fu Wei stayed at home to look after the family, assuring the worried Luo and Fu An, “Sixth lady knows medical arts. Ning Ning will surely be safe.”
When Yu Ying and her elder brother arrived at the medical hall, finding it closed with all patients sent home to prevent the potential spread of the epidemic, Yu Ying knocked on the door.
A voice from inside called out, “We’re not seeing patients today, please go back!”
Yu Ying thought for a moment and then said, “I am the wife of Fu Wei from the yamen, Lady Yu.”
Moments later, the medical hall opened halfway, and an apprentice hurriedly gestured, “Come in quickly!”
Yu Ying and her elder brother quickly squeezed into the medical hall, where every corner was filled with the smoke of burning medicinal herbs from clay pots.
Head Ji, covering his face with a damp cloth, approached and asked, “What brings Lady Yu here?”
Yu Ying said, “I need to pick up some medicine.”
Head Ji, whose opinion of her had completely changed due to today's events, called over an apprentice and instructed, “This lady needs to pick up some medicine, help her out.”
The apprentice nodded, and Yu Ying handed over the prescription.
While the apprentice was preparing the medicine, Yu Ying asked, “Head Ji, have you confirmed it?”
Head Ji nodded gravely, “Indeed, it's certainly an epidemic. The yamen runners have just reported back.”
Continuing, he looked at her and said, “I prided myself on years of medical practice and experience, yet I failed to recognize this epidemic in time. Had it not been for you, Lady Yu, it might have taken us several more days to identify it.”
Yu Ying replied, “I just returned from the county seat and noticed many sick people on the streets, which caught my attention immediately.”
“Modern flu has become a common annual illness. Both traditional Chinese and other hospitals see an influx of flu patients during the transitions between autumn-winter and spring-summer, based on my experience.”
“There’s no need to be modest. Fortunately, we discovered it in time, and the county magistrate acted swiftly. This epidemic should be under control soon. Had we delayed for another two days, the consequences would have been unimaginable.”
Indeed, Yu Ying had read about the terrifying nature of ancient epidemics, with heavy casualties. Just thinking about those records made her heart race.
Soon, the apprentice brought over several large packages of medicine.
These medicines, unavailable in Lingnan, along with the herbs she had stored, were sufficient for about a hundred people.
Yu Ying paid for the medicines and then left with her elder brother, wearing her face mask.
When they returned home, her sister-in-law had calmed down. Yu Ying instructed her to burn charcoal while she prepared the dosage for pediatric ephedra decoction.
While the medicine was being prepared, the charcoal her sister-in-law had lit was burning. Yu Ying quickly placed it in a clay pot and spread Atractylodes, Dalbergia, and Mugwort on top. As these herbs slowly ignited, smoke began to fill the room.
These gases have the effect of purifying the air and avoiding epidemics, acting as a disinfectant.
Yu Ying instructed her sister-in-law to fumigate each room for half an hour, starting with the room where Ning Ning was, for a quarter of an hour.
Since it was just ordinary charcoal, the rooms shouldn't be sealed for too long during fumigation.
While decocting the medicine, Yu Ying learned from her sister-in-law and elder brother that many villagers had already developed coughs and fevers.
Hearing this, her expression immediately turned solemn.
With the New Year approaching, villagers from miles around had been coming to Jade County to buy holiday goods. In the past two days alone, countless villagers had visited Jade County.
Because Fu Wei worked in the yamen, neighbors started knocking on their door, inquiring about the sudden lockdown of Jade County.
It was a delicate matter to explain without causing panic, so Yu Ying opted to say she wasn't clear on the details and that they were waiting for news from the yamen.
In the afternoon, yamen officials went door to door, inquiring if anyone in the household had a fever. Those who did were to be immediately taken to a designated place for free medical treatment.
Free treatment was not necessarily good news, and it instantly caused widespread anxiety.
Fearing they wouldn’t be allowed to return, some people concealed their condition.
As a result, not many volunteered to go to the designated facilities that afternoon.
Left with no choice, the county magistrate had to take a firmer stance, explicitly stating it was an epidemic. Those who didn't want to endanger their families or be endangered themselves were advised to go to the designated areas.
Anyone with a high fever who refused to go was violating the law, facing a fine of two hundred wen. Informants reporting someone hiding an infected person were rewarded ten wen per case.
The county magistrate's decisive measures quickly filled the designated facilities with feverish patients.
With Fu Ning infected by the epidemic and Fu Wei being a yamen official, he couldn’t set a bad example. The county magistrate would not make exceptions, even for an official like him.
As Fu Ning was young and Yu Ying was going to the quarantine facility, she decided to take care of him herself.
Fu Wei was worried about her.
But he understood that avoiding the epidemic out of fear was not in her nature.
He didn’t want her to go, yet he didn’t try to stop her.
Yu Ying handed over some medicines and prescriptions to Fu Wei, instructing him, “Uncle He and Aunt He’s family in the village helped us a lot during the thief capture and the land reclamation. I cannot ignore them. See if you and elder brother can return to Lingshui Village. If possible, take these medicines back, let the villagers fumigate their homes, and prepare a large pot of medicinal soup for those with a fever.”
Fu Wei nodded, “The magistrate is likely sending people to each village. Tomorrow they will also check each village. My brother and I will go together.”
At the end, Fu Wei looked at her intently, whispering, “Be careful.”
Yu Ying sighed softly, “I will be, and you be careful too.”
After speaking, Yu Ying packed clothes and bedding, preparing to leave with the drowsy Fu Ning, escorted by the yamen runner.
Fu An knew about the epidemic and its horrors.
Aware of where they were going, he clenched his fists, “I want to go with you, Auntie. I can help you and take care of my sister!”
Yu Ying ruffled his hair, “Your uncle will be very busy these days, and your father might be helping him. Only your mother and grandmother will be at home. You are a young man now; you need to take care of them.”
Holding back tears, Fu An said, “But I don’t want you and my sister to go to that quarantine place. Can’t you stay?”
Yu Ying shook her head, promising, “I’ll be back soon and will bring a healthy Ning Ning with me.”
Adding on, Yu Ying said, “You too must stay healthy.”
As they spoke, a yamen runner routinely searched the house to ensure no one was hiding.
With Fu Ning being taken away due to the epidemic, Wen Xing and Luo both cried inconsolably.
Yu Ying reassured them, “I will take good care of Fu Ning and will have the yamen runner send messages back.”
Luo, stepping forward, choked with emotion, advised, “Lady Yu, you must also take good care of yourself.”
Yu Ying felt a warmth in her heart and nodded lightly, “I will.”
After speaking, she left with the yamen runner to the designated quarantine area.
Fu Wei watched their departing figures from the alley, continuing to gaze long after they were out of sight.
“Ah Ying, come back early.”
“Come back safely.”
The quarantine facility was divided into three separate thatched courtyards.
The patients, each with varying degrees of illness, were housed separately.
The epidemic had struck unexpectedly, so the conditions were somewhat poor, but at least the place had been cleaned and fumigated.
Due to the urgency, the beds in the rooms were simply made of wooden planks.
County Magistrate Zhou had issued face cloths to every patient, instructing everyone to wear them over their noses and mouths.
Additionally, warm water was brought to them every half hour for drinking.
County Magistrate Zhou had specifically instructed that the doctors attending the patients stay in separate accommodations, two per room. As Yu Ying was the only female doctor, she was given a room to herself.
Hearing this arrangement, Yu Ying sighed with relief.
If there were too many people together, it was uncertain when Fu Ning would recover.
Yu Ying took Fu Ning into the room, made the bed, gave her half a cup of hot water from a bamboo container to drink, and then let her rest on the bed.
Just then, the yamen runner came to call for her, but Yu Ying asked him to wait a moment.
Yu Ying said to Fu Ning, “Be a good boy, Fu Ning. Auntie is going to treat others. You rest here in the room. Every half an hour, I’ll come back to check on you.”
Though scared of the unfamiliar environment, Fu Ning still nodded, “I’ll wait for Auntie to come back.”
Yu Ying put on a hastily made mask, stood up, left the room, and followed the yamen runner, asking, “Have the doctors from the other medical halls arrived?”
The yamen runner shook his head, “No, Lady Yu, you are the first to arrive.”
At this, the yamen runner developed a respect for Lady Yu.
A woman showing such fearless courage, what about the other doctors?
All these doctors, who always talk about serving the world, are just dawdling, scared for their lives.
We yamen runners fear death too, but we still came!
As they reached the courtyard, they encountered Head Ji, his son, and his eldest disciple who had just arrived.
The yamen runner was puzzled and asked, “The magistrate said each medical hall should send one person. Why has the Ji medical hall sent three?”
Head Ji glanced at Lady Yu behind the yamen runner and then said, “If Lady Yu is not afraid, we men should not be cowards either.”
Hearing this, the yamen runner exhaled in admiration, “Such courage from Head Ji is truly commendable.”
Head Ji said, “We can catch up later. Let’s first attend to the patients urgently.”
Fearing that they might transfer serious illnesses to those with milder symptoms, they decided to first visit patients with less severe conditions.
Some patients, seeing a woman among the doctors, expressed skepticism, “We've never heard of a female doctor in Jade County. Is she just here to fill the numbers and deceive us?”
To the skepticism, Head Ji immediately retorted, “Lady Yu’s ancestors were imperial physicians. There’s no need to question her abilities. This epidemic was first discovered by her. You owe your lives to Lady Yu. The choice to be treated or not is yours!”
Everyone, including Yu Ying, was taken aback by Head Ji’s words.
Yu Ying didn't expect Head Ji to openly acknowledge that she was the first to discover the epidemic.
The people were also surprised. Considering Head Ji's reputation in Jade County, which many people respected, his words were undoubtedly true.
Observing the woman wearing a mask, they were quietly amazed by her ability to detect the epidemic. But then, recalling Head Ji's words about her being a descendant of an imperial physician, it made sense why she could identify the epidemic.
And certainly, her medical skills must be exceptional!
With this in mind, the people began to hope that this woman would be the one to treat them.
Yu Ying, along with the doctors from Ji’s medical hall, started to check the pulses of the patients, separating those who did not have symptoms of the epidemic for observation.
Approximately every hour, Yu Ying would return to check on Fu Ning.
However, fearing she might transfer the infection to Fu Ning, Yu Ying only looked in through the window and called out to let him know she was there.
The doctors from Zheng’s, Li’s, and Luo’s medical halls arrived much later.
It was probably due to some pressure applied by Lord Luo, so the first to arrive among them was from Luo’s medical hall.
These doctors came unwillingly, showing impatience with the patients, wishing they could keep as much distance as possible.
Their attitude highlighted the responsibility and care shown by Ji’s medical hall and the female doctor, earning them even more gratitude from the patients.
