Chen Xi had no idea that the First Prince was scheming to steal his prescription, for at this moment, he was speaking with the village heads of several major villages.
"Inform us immediately if any villagers in your village experience recurring fevers, so we can administer the appropriate medicine."
Along with the prescription had come an apprentice of Mu Zhuo, who had followed Mu Zhuo for many years and understood pharmacology.
Later, when Mu Zhuo pledged allegiance to Jiang Jin, Jiang Jin had great need for medical practitioners, and these apprentices began systematic study of medicine.
They already had a foundation, and with this year or more of professional training, their medical skills were quite good.
This was also what Chen Xi most admired about Jiang Jin: universal education was the foundation of all things, simplifying every endeavor.
And now she was cultivating talents across many fields; in a few more years, her ranks would bloom like a hundred flowers.
Ma Feng, the village head of the Ma Family Village, reddened at the corners of his eyes. "We thank you, Master Chen. You risked life and limb to treat us and gave us both porridge and medicine. We could never repay your great kindness, even in several lifetimes."
An Liuliang, village head of Anping Village, was so eager to kneel and kowtow that his voice trembled.
"Great kindness of Master Chen, we are endlessly grateful. This old man is clumsy with words and knows no pretty phrases, but if there is any place you need us, no matter how difficult, we will act."
The other village heads echoed their agreement.
Their gratitude was genuine. Indeed, had Chen Xi’s medicine not arrived, at least half the people in their villages—and very likely all of them—would have died.
They had heard that to prevent the spread of plague, many leaders would choose to burn the infected, along with everyone who had come into contact with them, to eliminate any future threat.
Chen Xi shook his head with a faint smile. "Then you’ve thanked the wrong person. This prescription is not mine; it comes from my master. If you wish to express gratitude, it should be to my master."
The village heads exchanged glances. "May we know the name of our benefactor?"
This was not the first time Chen Xi had heard such words, so they all knew he had a master; the one who truly saved their lives was that master.
But whenever they asked, Chen Xi would only say: "My master saves you not for fame nor profit, but only so that in this chaotic time, fewer souls die unjustly. Alas, the common people’s suffering is immense."
Each time he said this, their hearts warmed, and they struggled to hold back tears as they poured out their terror and despair.
Everyone knew the common folk suffered bitterly, but who had truly cared about their lives?
Just as they had endured countless hardships, losing many villagers along the way, finally reaching Si Prefecture, believing they had at last found a place to settle.
Yet they discovered Si Prefecture was already overcrowded, the local officials unable to accommodate them, even inventing various pretexts to extort their money and supplies.
They encountered obstacles everywhere, with nowhere to go, and finally gritting their teeth came to Jiuan, hoping for a slim chance of survival.
After all, the First Prince was stationed there, effectively at the emperor’s side. But even so, they could not enter the city. No government official came to provide disaster relief; they were left to perish.
With no destination in sight, they could only linger outside the city walls, praying that the First Prince might someday open his mercy and let them in, granting them a chance to live.
Worse still, not long after, they were stricken by plague.
Not only did Jiuan city offer no treatment, the gates that usually remained open were now shut tight.
Where once they could at least approach and make inquiries, now even being within thirty zhang of the city walls was forbidden—any who came close were shot with arrows.
Just when they thought certain death awaited, filled with utter despair, Master Chen arrived with his people, descending like a Bodhisattva from heaven.
Not only did they give them food, but they also risked their lives to treat them and cure the plague.
Chen Xi’s gentle voice came through. “In time, you’ll understand. My master saves you not for fame or profit, so don’t take it too much to heart.”
Then he added with a sigh, “Besides, the medicine was provided by the Qiu family, and the grain came from the Kang family.”
He sighed again. “The First Prince was kind-hearted enough to allow us to leave the city and treat you. Otherwise, we couldn’t have come out, and this shelter couldn’t have been built.”
The village elders were moved even more. They also felt grateful to the Qiu and Kang families.
But even more so, they were grateful to Master Chen and his master, for the invaluable medical formula came from Master Chen’s master.
They had risked their very lives by leaving the city to diagnose and treat them. Because they had come into contact with the victims, they couldn’t even return to the city now.
For this reason alone, they knew that only Master Chen and his master truly valued their lives.
As for the First Prince—though it was disrespectful to say—Master Chen was simply too kind-hearted.
They were ordinary farmers, but they hadn’t lived for decades in vain.
The First Prince? Kind-hearted?
The Qiu and Kang families had contributed grain—what had the First Prince contributed?
Even Master Chen and his team had to beg the First Prince for permission before they were allowed to leave the city and treat them.
Master Chen hadn’t said this outright, but they read it between the lines.
Honestly, with a crown prince like that, where were they supposed to turn?
Ma Feng hesitated for a moment, then asked cautiously, “Master Chen, you’ve seen much of the world—could you point us toward a way out?”
An Liuliang nodded eagerly. “Yes, yes. Winter is coming. We have no grain, no winter clothes, and nowhere to go. We can’t survive this harsh winter.”
Seeing the hesitation on Chen Xi’s face, Ma Feng quickly added, “Master Chen, don’t feel pressured. Saving our lives is already a great kindness. We’re simply at our wits’ end, so we asked…”
They had been in Sizhou for quite some time and had been shut out everywhere. That had made them face reality.
Sizhou simply couldn’t accommodate them. Even though their plague had been cured, Jiuan City would never let them in.
The villages in Sizhou’s counties were already packed with refugees who had arrived earlier. There was no place for them to settle.
Without a place to settle, they had no home. Without shelter in the bitter cold of winter, the consequences were obvious.
Ma Feng’s face was full of sorrow. “The whole world is vast, yet there is no place for common folk like us. All we ask is a patch of land to live on, and even that is so hard to come by.”
The other village elders’ eyes reddened, their faces full of helplessness. “We’re old; dying doesn’t matter to us. We just worry for the children.”
“That’s right—is there really no refuge left in this land? Sizhou was our last hope.”
Chen Xi shook his head and sighed. “Aside from Sizhou, there are other regions with Han forces. You might consider going elsewhere.”
Ma Feng frowned, a glimmer of hope lighting his eyes. “Master Chen, please guide us.”
An Liuliang and the others also fixed their gaze on Chen Xi, as if clinging to a lifeline.
Chen Xi hesitated for a moment, then said, “I do know of one stronghold. Not only do they take in refugees, but they also provide all kinds of work. As long as you’re willing to work, you can eat your fill.”
The village elders were stunned, but they quickly understood his meaning. Their eyes lit up, and they bowed respectfully. “Would you be willing to tell us where it is?”
It wasn’t that they were easy to convince, but they trusted Master Chen completely.
If even those who risk their lives to save others are to be doubted, then they truly have no hope.
Chen Xi looked troubled. After a long pause, he let out a sigh. “Ah, I’ll need to ask for more details first before I can say anything.”
Ma Feng and the others quickly bowed once more. “Thank you, Master Chen, for troubling yourself on our behalf. Please do ask—we are deeply grateful.”
While Chen Xi was speaking with the village officials, Mu Ning spotted someone she hadn’t expected to see.
She stopped a few paces away and looked at the woman before her. “Lady Hua, why have you come outside the city? It’s dangerous out here.”
Hua Ruo walked over to Mu Ning without concern. She stared at her, her eyes dark and unreadable.
A moment later, she leaned close to Mu Ning’s ear and whispered, “You… which faction do you belong to? What business do you have in Jiu’an?”
