Gu Beiyue had hardly spoken when Gu Qishao strode in cheerfully. “Poison la.s.s, with your Qi

gege

here, no one can bully you.”

With

strife at home and abroad, Han Yunxi had to deal with Medical City’s

pressure, Medicine City’s troubles, Ning Cheng’s threats, the prominent

clan’s coercing, and the judgment and censure of the world on her

shoulders. But these words made all her worries evaporate. Actually, she

knew as early as Celestial Mountain that it’d be impossible to return

as soon as she cured Gu Beiyue’s legs. How could she simply depart when

he’d been doing his utmost for their sake?

Without Long Feiye around, she had to stay put and give all her energy to protecting his dominion.

How great would it be if he was here.

Then

everyone could join in a big battle together and subvert the world that

took Medical City as its master. They’d beat back all the rules and

laws and build up a new world order!

Han Yunxi had no idea that

Long Feiye was exchanging letters with Gu Beiyue nonstop from atop

Celestial Mountain. He was fighting shoulder-by-shoulder with the doctor

as well--or rather, directing everything from behind the scenes.

“We

can discuss the Poison Sect’s matters in detail later. I’m going to

take a look outside first,” Han Yunxi announced. There was still a

ruckus going on, which worried her. Gu Beiyue accompanied her out of the

bamboo forest before listening next to the wall. He wouldn’t let her

leave th estate. “Esteemed

w.a.n.gfei,

are you still ill at ease with this one managing matters?”

Han

Yunxi couldn’t refute his words. She suddenly felt that Gu Beiyue was a

lot more different than before, but she couldn’t figure out why. Gu

Qishao was an impatient man by nature, so he simply copied Han Yunxi to

listen by the wall as well. To curb the riots, General Baili had come to

suppress the five main clans for daring to trespa.s.s on the Duke of

Qin’s grounds. The two sides were still debating against each other, but

no one could settle things with General Baili’s miliary logic. He was

taking advantage of the fact that “literati had to explain themselves

clearly before men of the military.”

Clan Head Xiao was an

intelligent man who knew that civil officials didn’t fight with military

officials, and vice versa. Currently, the five prominent clans

controlled most of South Ning and could indirectly check the military by

controlling their grain rations and armor. But that was only the long

term picture. For the next few months, at least, they restrain the

military powers. Thus, Clan Head Xiao became the first to yield.

“General

Baili, is Han Yunxi a descendent of the Poison Sect or not? How much

catastrophe will she bring upon South Ning’s commander-in-chief’s

estate? Why don’t we sit down and talk over this nicely? If she can

convince this old man with words, then I’ll support her wholeheartedly.

Otherwise, we’ll try something else, alright?”

“You can’t agree to his terms!” Han Yunxi muttered.

As

expected, General Baili rejected the offer. Until Celestial Mountain

gave a formal announcement, he declared, anyone using the Poison Sect

against they were simple people with ulterior motives against the Duke

of Qin’s estate. Meanwhile, Gu Qishao’s collection of Poison Corpses had

nothing to do with esteemed

w.a.n.gfei

at all. Like this, General

Baili refused the five prominent clans’ demands and publicly issued

orders for his troops to surround the city. An announcement was made

that South Ning’s commander-in-chief’s estate was going to fight against

Medical City until the end.

His military orders made the five

clan heads, as well as the rest of South Ning officials, realized that

everything was a foregone conclusion. Clan Head Xiao was the first to

protest. “General Baili, just you wait. South Ning will be ruined at

this woman’s hands within three months!”

Han Yunxi was clear on

the ramifications as well. If they couldn’t keep doctors in the

prefecture, the citizens would either move away or revolt. They’d lose

the commander-in-chief’s estate then. Thus, every single second of their

actions from this point would be crucial. She had entertained plenty of

ideas on the way home, and now sat with her group in a gazebo in the

gardens to voice them.

“The most urgent matter of the moment is

the withdrawal of doctors from the prefecture. We have to find

countermeasures to this immediately to ease the pressure they’re

facing.”

Gu Beiyue said, “Calculations were already done. Three

days ago, about eighty percent of all pharmacies in South Ning

Prefecture shut their doors. The remaining 20 percent are overcrowded by

patients. There’s been many cases of dysentery since it’s summer, so

it’s natural to have more patients now. This one has already transferred

all of Pill Fiend Pharamacy’s on-call doctors here and contacted a few

good friends. They have disciples who are willing to treat the ill.

However, I don’t think we’ll be able to last past two months.”

“This

is even more horrific than a famine…” Han Yunxi gnashed her teeth.

Medical City’s schemes would probably have no peer, past or present! A

doctor had the heart of a mother or father, but the people there simply

had knives for hearts! The only purpose of medical arts was to save

people, but they turned it into a weapon in order to seek power and

force the world to submit.

It was inexcusable!

After

a pause, Han Yunxi declared, “I’m planning to pay high salaries for our

doctors. Those that are fifth rank or higher will get larger bonuses

per month. Have the government build up pharmacies and provide the

medicinal ingredients to keep the physicians here. Also, before

announcing this news I’m planning to acknowledge my status as a Poison

Sect descendant because that’s the ident.i.ty I’ll use to face off against

Medical City.”

She sighed. “From what I understand, Medical City destroyed the Poison Sect simply because of their ideas for ‘Poison

Gu

humans.’

But the Poison Sect’s never done such atrocious deeds, nor has anyone

discovered the method to create them now. As I see it, Medical City

exterminated the Poison Sect simply because they wanted to get rid of

dissidents. They were using public office for private gains!”

Leaning

against the door, Gu Qishao glanced at Han Yunxi as his eyes flickered.

It was unclear what he was planning. Baili Mingxiang, on the other

hand, grew worried. “Esteemed

w.a.n.gfei,

once you admit you’re part of the Poison Sect, wouldn’t Medicine City have to stop giving you supplies?”

Han

Yunxi nodded. “The situation at Medicine City is extremely complicated.

They not only dread Medical City, but have over half of its members on

the Council of Elders who approve of the Poison Sect’s destruction. But

Medical City is determined to see me as a descendant whether I admit it

or not! w.a.n.g Gong won’t be able to hold out past the month.”

She

drank a sip of tea, then added, “I’ve already issued orders for Pill

Fiend Pharmacy to take back all s.h.i.+pments of materials they’ve sent

elsewhere. Combined with the medicine in the main pharmacy, we should

have enough to treat all of South Ning for about three months. If that’s

not enough, perhaps I can discuss things with the Pill King.”

Since

the reclusive Pill King had long retired from worldly affairs, he

wouldn’t care what Medical City thought, either. However, it wouldn’t

work to simply ‘beg’ him for favors, so Han Yunxi hoped her last resort

would only remain optional. Gu Beiyue started to speak next, but a

commotion suddenly broke out outside.

Chu Xifeng rushed in to report, “Esteemed

w.a.n.gfei,

it’s terrible!”

The

five prominent clan heads had just departed, so they couldn’t have

doubled back. What other ‘terrible’ news awaited them now? Han Yunxi

felt rathered perturbed by Chu Xifeng’s breaking point expression.

“Esteemed

w.a.n.gfei,

hurry and take a look outside. There’s a bunch of women with children outside surrounding our gates.”

Women with children? What’s going on?

Han

Yunxi dashed through the gates and saw dozens of women kneeling by the

entrance while holding children ranging from infants in swaddling

clothes to toddlers. All of the children were bawling.

Gu Beiyue was the first to discover something amiss. “Esteemed

w.a.n.gfei,

I’m afraid that these children have all fallen ill.”

Han

Yunxi suddenly realized what had happened. She couldn’t face the crying

children head-on and meet their innocent eyes or young, tender faces.

She knew what they were here for. The woman at the front held her

one-year-old child and stepped forward with the bawling child. Gu Beiyue

rushed down the steps and gently felt the child’s forehead.

“How many days of fever?”

“Three

days and three nights. Doctor Gu, I’m begging you, please save my

child. I would rather fall sick myself then have him suffer. I’ve

searched around all the pharmacies--it’s not that they don’t have

doctors, but that the lines are too long. Even the lines at Pill Fiend

Pharmacy will take ten days to reach the end! The child can’t afford to

wait!”

As she spoke, she turned towards Han Yunxi next. “Esteemed

w.a.n.gfei,

Medical City is heartless. We’re willing to follow you, but...but the children can’t shoulder this burden! Esteemed

w.a.n.gfei,

please save the children! Please!”

All of the women raised their voices at her cry. “Please save the children, save the children…”

Their

pleading mixed with the children’s cries to resound before the Duke of

Qin’s gates and carry into South Ning City’s skies. Even the most

ruthless heart would be moved by the sound. Han Yunxi’s hands were

shaking. She desperately wanted to comfort the crying child, but

couldn’t move. She knew that these people had been instigated to come

here. Ordinary citizens wouldn’t raise a cry at their very gates, but

the sight before her was real.

They couldn’t afford to beg for treatment!

Han

Yunxi grew unsteady, not because of the scene before her, but because

she had no guarantee that she’d win if she publicly went against Medical

City! Fighting against them under the banner of the Poison Sect was

only because she’d been pressured into a corner.

Suppose she lost?

A second thought rose to her mind amidst the crying.

I can acknowledge my guilt!

She

could shoulder all the trumped-up charges against the Poison Sect and

accept Medical City’s punishment. The sight before her had really swayed

her resolve.

It’d be worth it if my one life could be used to exchange for hundreds of thousands of patients!

Han

Yunxi never liked to compromise, but she couldn’t break free of her

fate this time. Abruptly, a voice as clear as a bell rang out.

“The

doctors are here. Pill Fiend Pharmacy arranged for ten famous

physicians just to treat children and the elderly. There’s no need for

long lines there, so everyone just hurry over. The head physician was

once Tianning’s Imperial Physician Huang Zhengming, and he’ll guarantee that everyone will receive the proper diagnosis. He won’t take a cent for examinations, either!”

Everyone

looked towards the source of the voice and saw Mu Linger standing there

in her goose yellow dress, looking more lively than usual. Next to her

stood an old man who was none other than Gu Beiyue’s friend, Tianning’s

Imperial Physician Huang. It was true that the crowd had come to make

trouble for Han Yunxi after getting some benefits, but their children

really

were

sick. Hearing the news, all of them rushed towards Pill Fiend Pharmacy until the gates at the estate were left empty.

Mu

Linger saw Gu Qishao from a distance, but she didn’t rush towards him

like usual. Instead, she simply stared at him and smiled--a brilliant,

if foolish-looking grin…