Whether the prescription Zhu Qingyu once used was effective or not could only be known after seeing the patients.
However, someone had taken this four-year-old prescription, absolutely certain that the epidemic could be cured, and had already rushed to the northern frontier.
Gu Zhao extracted the key information from this:
"You said that the winter epidemic in Bianzhou City four years ago could be treated with this prescription. Qingyu, did you cure the epidemic in Bianzhou City four years ago?"
Zhu Qingyu felt that her mutual understanding with Vice Minister Gu was getting worse and worse. Today, they were just chatting, yet she was constantly left bewildered by his words. She replied:
"The winter epidemic in Bianzhou City four years ago was cured by the government. The government set up many medicine distribution points. I merely treated the patients inside the Yangzhou Chamber of Commerce in Bianzhou City beforehand, and then set up a stall at the entrance of the Chamber to distribute medicine for a while, that is all."
At that time, Zhu Qingyu had just transmigrated here. With no money, no identity, and no place to live, she was completely destitute no matter where she looked. She simply followed Zhang Shen, the first person in this world to speak to her, to the Yangzhou Chamber of Commerce in Bianzhou City where he was temporarily staying.
That very night, Zhang Shen suddenly contracted the epidemic and fell severely ill.
He was the first person she had a connection with in this world, and also her benefactor who took her in when she had no money, identity, or shelter.
Caught in the panic of potentially losing her only contact, Zhu Qingyu stayed awake for several days and nights. She exhausted every method, adjusted the prescription multiple times, and finally managed to save Zhang Shen.
People in the Yangzhou Chamber of Commerce also gradually fell ill. During her first few days in this world, Zhu Qingyu spent almost all her time diagnosing and treating patients. She was so busy that she did not even have time to wonder why she had transmigrated or what she should do in the future.
Gu Zhao pieced the fragmented information together and finally asked:
"Qingyu, when you were treating the patients at the Yangzhou Chamber of Commerce and distributing medicine at your stall, where did you go to get the medicine?"
Zhu Qingyu could no longer remember the events of four years ago so clearly. She tried her best to recall:
"There was a medical clinic right next to the Yangzhou Chamber of Commerce in Bianzhou City. I got it there. What was that clinic called again? Wang Family or Liu Family Clinic? I really cannot remember."
Thinking of something, Zhu Qingyu, who was usually out of sync with him, had a rare flash of inspiration:
"Did you just say Administrator Liu? The Liu Family Clinic? Dr. Liu became an Administrator?"
Gu Zhao's expression was very serious:
"Most likely. Qingyu, I will send someone to investigate and see if someone stole your prescription to rapidly advance their career and usurp a high position."
Investigate in Bianzhou City?
Zhu Qingyu suddenly became nervous, because her current identity could not withstand an investigation.
Her current identity was arranged by Zhang Shen later on. He had found a petty official in charge of refugee registration in Bianzhou City, obtained a real identity of a refugee for her, and used this identity to create a complete set of documents so that she could travel with a legitimate background.
If Gu Zhao arranged for someone to go to Bianzhou to investigate the epidemic from back then, it was highly likely that this flaw would be discovered.
Zhu Qingyu hurriedly advised:
"There is no need, let it go. Didn't I just say it? The books I write are meant to be read, and naturally, so are the prescriptions. Even in Yangzhou City, the medical books I wrote were placed out in the open for anyone to read—my apprentices read them, and the patients read them too. To me, there is no such thing as stealing a medical prescription. I wish the whole world could read them, remember them, and put them to use when needed. Even if it is as you say, that he presented the prescription to the government, regardless of his motives, he ultimately helped the government conquer the epidemic, which is a meritorious deed. If I had gone to present the prescription, the government would have given me a few taels of silver at most, and they certainly wouldn't have appointed me as an administrator. So, his position as an administrator cannot really be considered stolen from me."
Besides, the Zhu Qingyu of that time would not have dared to go to the government to present a prescription anyway. She was an unregistered citizen back then, and unregistered citizens feared government officials the most. If she had presented the prescription and they investigated, she would be deemed a suspicious person without an identity. Would that not just be asking for trouble?
Zhu Qingyu babbled on and on, but the gist was simply that she did not want to pursue the matter.
However, with such a long-winded explanation, she definitely had something she was trying to hide from him.
Could her hometown truly be Bianzhou? Were her relatives also in Bianzhou?
It seemed that sending someone to Bianzhou was an absolute necessity.
Gu Zhao lifted his eyelids and glanced at her.
"Zhu Qingyu, are you a Bodhisattva descended from the heavens? Someone stole your things, yet you do not care and want to just let it go? You can let it go, but I cannot. I am but a mortal of this earth, and I must investigate this thoroughly. Furthermore, if Administrator Liu truly climbed to a high position through plagiarism and is merely a fraud making up the numbers, I must expose him. Otherwise, if his virtue does not match his position, it will cause immense trouble, especially since the imperial physicians serve the nobility."
Zhu Qingyu felt a bit distressed, but then she thought:
"I will be returning to Shu in a few days anyway. Once I am back in Shu, the emperor will be far away. What does it matter even if he finds out?"
Thus, she stopped arguing with Gu Zhao. Zhu Qingyu simply let out an "oh" to show that she understood.
Seeing her expression of resignation, Gu Zhao softened his tone and asked again:
"So, Qingyu, are you certain about returning to Shu? Shu is so far from the capital. Does this mean I will never see you again? I want to forget you too, but I cannot. What should I do? Can you please tell me what kind of man you actually admire, so I can finally give up hope?"
Zhu Qingyu was caught off guard by his sudden question, wondering how the topic had abruptly shifted from Administrator Liu to this. She hesitated and said:
"You ask me that, but even I am not very sure."
Gu Zhao persisted:
"Qingyu, I also want to fulfill the promise between us. Help me out, please?"
For some reason, Zhu Qingyu felt that his tone was somewhat familiar, as if she had heard it somewhere before.
She also suspected that Gu Zhao might be using a strategy of showing weakness, as these words did not sound like something he would normally say.
But since he had put it that way, she was not truly that hard-hearted. She replied:
"If you ask who I admire, it is hard to say. But if I had to name someone, it would probably be someone like Lord Zhuang. You see, the difference between the two of you is quite vast."
Whether it was the young lady of the Zhuang family or Lord Zhuang, to Zhu Qingyu, they were both people of noble character, and she was referring to character.
However, upon hearing this, Gu Zhao instantly thought of Lord Zhuang's overly handsome face.
When Lord Zhuang first entered officialdom, he was a breathtakingly brilliant eighteen-year-old imperial scholar. More than a decade had passed, yet when it came to his striking looks, he remained utterly unrivaled within the royal court.
Other things could be changed, but how could one possibly alter their own face?
This little lady really was ruthless; her very first move was aimed straight at making him give up all hope.
After helping Zhu Qingyu onto the carriage, Gu Zhao watched the Zhang family's carriage slowly fade into the distance. It did not matter, he thought to himself. It really did not matter. If it could not be changed, then so be it.
If this path was blocked, he would simply forge another.
After all, whether it was Shuzhong or Bianzhou, Zhu Qingyu, you will not be going anywhere.
