Chapter 19
Burned to Death
The most obvious cases were those who were generally healthy but were now seriously ill.
Having woken up from their nap after drinking the medicine, these people showed no signs of dying. They were in high spirits and even asked for food.
The once unrepentant villagers remembered how they had refused to drink the medicine and had even intentionally spilled it. They could not help but shudder in fear.
Doctor Lu only managed to update the deputy commander with this information when he noticed that someone from the group had awakened. He rushed over to check the patient’s pulse. After doing the same to several patients, he let out a hearty laugh. “My lord, there is hope for Yuanjiang County! Mrs. Xie’s prescription is an excellent cure!”
“Really?” Deputy Commander Jiang Chunlai could not contain his excitement.
“Yes, it’s true. Lengshui Village will be completely free of the plague in a few days!”
“That’s great! General Gan, you’ve done an excellent job!”
Jiang Chunlai clapped his hands in delight.
Gan Maosheng could finally heave a sigh of relief.
He was glad he had made the right decision. Zhao Chuchu’s prescription was indeed a cure for the plague.
“Mrs. Xie, thank you on behalf of the people of Yuanjiang County.” Jiang Chunlai bowed solemnly.
Zhao Chuchu avoided his bow, saying, “My lord, you’re too polite. It is thanks to our ancestors’ blessing that I chanced upon this prescription. I will now hand this remedy to you, my lord. Please use it to rescue the people.”
Zhao Chuchu handed over the prescription without any hesitation.
Jiang Chunlai was deeply impressed.
“Thank you very much, Mrs. Xie.”
“It’s important to protect the people. We can talk about other matters after their lives are saved.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Xie, for your kindness.”
Now that Jiang Chunlai had received the prescription from Zhao Chuchu, he planned to send it to all regions of Yuanjiang County. He wanted to keep the plague under control as quickly as possible while avoiding unrest in the country.
When the woman who had caused trouble earlier saw that Jiang Chunlai was leaving, she quickly shouted, “My lord, please help. My husband does not have the medicine. He is still sick!”
Jiang Chunlai knitted his eyebrows.
“These people didn’t trust Mrs. Xie’s prescription and refused to drink her medicine. She asked for these people to be moved lest they cause trouble. They thought the Imperial Court was out to kill them,” Gan Maosheng hurriedly explained to Jiang Chunlai.
“My lord, now I know I’m in the wrong. It was Platoon Chief Liu who told me to do that. I was forced to say those things. Please have mercy and save my husband.” The woman bowed, her head on the ground.
Liu Kaixiong’s heart was pounding fast. He quickly knelt and pleaded, “My lord, I was worried they had come here to cause trouble. After all, almost half of the villagers at Zhang Village were infected. It’s my fault for not trusting Mrs. Xie and her prescription.”
Xie Heng retorted in a soft voice, “You don’t trust us and even tried to get someone to kill my wife? This platoon chief is out to seek revenge. If General Lin had not been quick enough, or if Chuchu did not die, she still would have been seriously injured!”
Zhao Chuchu glanced discreetly at Xie Heng. His eyes still did not look focused, and his face was expressionless.
Jiang Chunlai’s face darkened. “Guards, take him back with us. Yuze, you will be in charge of cordoning off Zhang Village.”
“Yes, my lord.” A young man stepped out and answered with his hands clasped together.
Liu Kaixiong was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. “My lord, I know that I was in the wrong…”
“We need doctors to control the plague. Yet you cannot tell right from wrong. You even wanted to make use of others to kill Zhao Chuchu. I can’t detect a hint of remorse in you.” Jiang Chunlai berated Liu Kaixiong coldly.
After a pause, Jiang Chunlai asked Zhao Chuchu, “It’s your prescription. What do you intend to do with these people?”
Everyone looked expectantly at Zhao Chuchu. They were plunging into an abyss of despair.
Zhao Chuchu said, “Simple, buy the prescription for two pieces of silver, just like those at Lengshui Village.”
“Where are we going to find the money?”
“Sell your land. Sell your grains. I’m sure you can find the money somehow.”
“Why can’t you save us?”
“I gave you a chance. You are the ones who rejected me first. I don’t owe you anything.”
“Shouldn’t a doctor like you be compassionate?”
“Forget it if you don’t wish to buy the medicine. Just get burned to death.”