Even though she knew she was here to help, at this mont, even Shang Ruyi herself was almost overwheld by this atmosphere, feeling a bit helpless and uncertain.
However, it was not yet the ti for helplessness. Shang Ruyi instinctively wanted to take a deep breath but stopped imdiately, turning her head to Wu Huanzhi and said: "Mr. Wu, this ti, I must ask you all to pay more attention. Please don’t worry about other matters; if we can save more people, we should do so."
Wu Huanzhi exchanged a glance with the two dical Directors behind him, both showing a trace of surprise.
The words Yu Wenquan said outside the Taiji Palace that day, not only they knew, but now it seed like half the world knew. Not only knew, but who could fail to grasp the deeper aning in those words?
This treatnt of the plague was, indeed, a future struggle for the Crown Prince’s position!
But now, Shang Ruyi was asking them not to worry about "other matters," clearly indicating that saving lives should be their priority.
Could it be that Second Young Master Yu Wen and the Young Madam would not compete?
So, they allowed chaos in the neighborhood?
Though surprised, since Shang Ruyi had already spoken, they had nothing more to say and agreed. And Wu Huanzhi hesitated for a mont before saying, "Since the Young Madam said so, there are so words I don’t know if I should say——"
At this mont, Shang Ruyi glanced around and said, "Are these all the patients from these few streets?"
Wu Huanzhi paused.
Feeling his gaze flickering, Shang Ruyi imdiately sensed sothing: "It’s not?"
Wu Huanzhi hesitated again before saying: "There are so more in the stables over there."
"Stables?"
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi frowned tightly. Allowing people to sleep outside was already very uncomfortable, how could they put patients in the stables?
She then said: "Patients should not be placed in the stables!"
Wu Huanzhi replied bitterly: "Young Madam, we also lack manpower, and besides—this plague is different from other illnesses; those infected for over half a month are nearly beyond saving. Elderly patients have very slim chances of recovery."
The other two dical Directors echoed: "We’re doing this for the sake of the patients here."
"Yes, we are just trying to save more people."
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi found herself at a loss for words, remaining silent for a mont before saying: "Then, please take to see."
Wu Huanzhi then sent the two dical Directors to work, taking her through the neighborhood himself.
They passed through several long streets, then another passage, nearing the city wall. The fog and sll of dicine were heavier ahead, with a hint of unspeakable stench mixed in. Even though everyone wore face coverings, it made them frown deeply, and Tushere couldn’t help but retch.
The sll was not unfamiliar to Shang Ruyi.
Previously in the Taiyuan Military Camp, it was the sa sll, almost causing Tushere to faint. Despite so much ti passing, she hadn’t improved. Shang Ruyi gave a bitter smile and said: "Alright She’er, stay outside; don’t go."
Upon hearing this, Tushere hurriedly wiped her mouth: "I’m fine; I want to follow Xiao—ugh!"
But before she finished, another bout of retching ensued. Wo Xue hurriedly supported her, patting her back, and Shang Ruyi sighed: "If you go like this and really vomit, it will only add trouble."
"Ah..."
"It’s the sa helping outside. Changle Square is full of patients."
Hearing her words and feeling downhearted, Tushere could only reluctantly stay behind to help the doctors on the other side take care of the patients, while Shang Ruyi, accompanied by Wo Xue, continued forward with Wu Huanzhi.
The passage ended at a vast open area but was muddy, mixed with unswept horse manure and urine — an intense stench, while opposite the open space under the city wall several rows of tall stables were built. The horses had been taken away, and so patients were moved there. Others, though, could stay under the eaves that barely shielded them from the wind and rain.
And they, didn’t even have straw mats.
These people’s conditions were obviously more severe than those outside; so were already comatose, while those conscious resembled emptied-out sacks, lying limp on the ground. As outsiders approached, their gray-white eyes didn’t blink; they lost vitality long ago.
The air was full of stench and heavy with the scent of death.
Seeing this situation, Wu Huanzhi sighed: "Apart from those who have already—, these patients were the first to contract the plague, and now they’ve reached a critical point, difficult to cure."
"..."
"Young Madam, we aim to cure diseases but must save lives."
"..."
"These people’s conditions are so severe that even if we distribute dicinal soup outside, they can’t drink it anymore, let alone——"
At this point, his gaze flickered, his tone hesitating like when earlier his prediction was interrupted by Shang Ruyi, and he said uneasily: "There’s also no money."
"..."
Shang Ruyi’s brow slightly arched.
But she still didn’t speak, simply staring at the desolate scene before her.
At that mont, a slender figure suddenly entered her vision.
A person wearing a gray-green robe, sleeves tightly bound, face covered with a veil approached, carrying a bowl of dicine, and went under an eave, raising a patient to feed them, though the patient apparently couldn’t take dicine normally and coughed violently after one sip, spraying the concoction onto the person.
Shang Ruyi felt a twinge in her heart.
But the person didn’t get angry, rely wiped their robe and softly said: "Take it slow."
The voice — it was a woman!
Shang Ruyi widened her eyes, watching her patiently feed the dicinal soup bit by bit, the patient quivering and coughing while the soup mixed with saliva ran down her hand, yet she seed indifferent. Upon looking at her robes, it was clear she was wearing the Imperial dical Bureau dical Director’s robe, slightly differing from the ones worn by the two n previously!
It was actually a female dical Director!
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