Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress-Chapter 1524 - 1519: Resourceful

"Your Majesty, the common people want to leave the city, but this is understandable since... there are no herbs in the city, and Minister Shen left for Liuxiang City, the hardest hit by the epidemic, three days ago. The people knew Minister Shen left and thought the city was abandoned. Fearing for their lives, they intended to force their way out instead of waiting to die here. I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness!"

Even though Qian Yongzhong had just called the common people troublemakers, in front of his own emperor, he couldn’t help but plead for the people to avoid the emperor’s wrath.

With his face covered by a cloth soaked in medicinal water, Bai Qingjue drew the reins and said to Bai Qingyan, "Eldest Young Lady, let’s enter the city first!"

Bai Qingyan nodded, then instructed, "Have Liu Pinggao escort the officials and herbs into the city and first visit the treatment center! Lu Ping, protect Doctor Hong."

"Yes!" Bai Qingjue responded, accepting the order.

"Qian Yongzhong, rise!"

Upon hearing this, Qian Yongzhong quickly bowed his head, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

He got up and stepped aside, shouting, "Welcome His Majesty into the city!"

"Welcome His Majesty into the city!"

The soldiers guarding the city kneeled in unison to welcome him.

At this moment, the people in the city truly believed that the Emperor of Zhou had indeed arrived...

"The Emperor of Zhou really came!"

"Why did he come at this time? Is he really bringing us herbs and doctors?"

Bai Qingyan rode a pure white steed slowly into the city. Even the boldest among the people dared not look and quickly lowered their heads, pressing their foreheads to the ground, not daring to lift them.

From atop her high steed, Bai Qingyan refrained from dismounting. She pulled on the reins, surveyed her surroundings, and looked at the kneeling citizens, speaking slowly, "Now that the epidemic is rampant in the Yan Kingdom, each city in Yan is self-occupied. I, from Zhou, have escorted officials and herbs with a large army all the way here. The gates of the cities are closed, and the infected people are kept outside. The road is littered with countless corpses! Zhou wishes to help, but Zhou must first consider the safety of its own people!"

The horse beneath Bai Qingyan’s seat stamped its hooves, exhaling thick white mist from its nostrils, its long eyelashes seemingly covered with a layer of mist.

"Therefore, today... any people who step out of the land of Zhou’s cities shall no longer be considered Zhou’s protected citizens! Their life and death will have nothing to do with Zhou!" Looking at the people who didn’t dare to breathe, Bai Qingyan spoke firmly, "Those willing to stay in the city with me to combat the epidemic must faithfully follow the arrangements and commands without defiance! When a thousand people are of one mind, they produce a thousand people’s strength; when ten thousand people are of disunited mind, none is of any use. As long as the entire city cooperates, our Zhou will surely overcome this calamity! In times of crisis, strict laws must be enforced. Those who defy commands will be executed without mercy!"

Bai Qingyan’s words were steady and swift, both soothing and intimidating, showing she considered the city’s people as her own, which is why she came despite the risks!

In just a few words... not only were the people, but even the guards were uplifted, as if suddenly given direction and strength, fearing nothing more.

"Qian Yongzhong!" Bai Qingyan called.

Boosted by Bai Qingyan’s words, Qian Yongzhong hurried forward and kneeled solemnly to the side, "At your service!"

Qian Yongzhong looked up at the young emperor high on horseback, feeling reassured as if he were given a stabilizing pill.

"If anyone else wants to leave the city, do not stop them! From today onward... in Zhou’s cities, except for those with permits, only exit is allowed, no entry! Anybody forcing their way in will be treated as a spy and executed on the spot!" Bai Qingyan finished, instructing Wei Zhong behind her, "Let the army enter the city!"

"Yes!" Wei Zhong replied, turning to relay the command...

Soon, the army entered the city. Qian Yongzhong hurriedly guided Bai Qingyan into the prepared residence, inviting her to stay.

"Rest assured, Your Majesty, only our own Zhou soldiers guard this place! Due to the epidemic, I took charge of releasing half the servants in this courtyard to reduce the risk of Your Majesty catching the disease," Qian Yongzhong explained as he led Bai Qingyan inside the courtyard.

"Prepare some simple hot soup. On the way... I had to rush and haven’t eaten yet. Join me and King Zhong for a light meal and discuss the situation in Yan’s Zhou cities!" Bai Qingyan said, looking at Qian Yongzhong while walking with hands behind her back.

"Yes! I obey!" Qian Yongzhong quickly turned to order the preparation of the meal and then hurriedly caught up with Bai Qingyan, informing her about the epidemic in the Zhou cities within Yan.

After roughly explaining the situations of several cities, Qian Yongzhong couldn’t help but add a few more words.

"Initially, the epidemic began in Yan; Minister Shen took precautions, but... despite our vigilance, our cities in Yan received repeated reports of the populace catching the epidemic. Minister Shen suspected it could be a Yan conspiracy. When the people of Liuxiang City started causing trouble, Minister Shen had to rush there to stabilize the people’s morale instead of personally receiving Your Majesty here," Qian Yongzhong concluded, bowing to Bai Qingyan. "Had Your Majesty not arrived in time, the soldiers might have inevitably clashed with the people, leading to unavoidable bloodshed."

After Qian Yongzhong finished speaking, he hurried forward to lift the curtain for Bai Qingyan, inviting her into the main hall.

Apparently aware of Bai Qingyan’s weak constitution and that she caught an injury years ago on the battlefield, leaving her vulnerable to the cold, Qian Yongzhong anticipated her arrival within three days. He had the Earth Dragon heated to warm the house and surprisingly, she arrived today just after they started the Earth Dragon this morning.

Qian Yongzhong mentally praised himself for his foresight.

Stepping over the threshold, Bai Qingyan was immediately enveloped by the warmth, even Bai Qingjue couldn’t help but commend the cozy environment...

Seeing Wei Zhong also step over the threshold, Qian Yongzhong hurried to have a stove brought in, fearing Bai Qingyan might catch cold, and then followed her inside.

Bai Qingyan frowned slightly, unfastened her cloak’s cord, casually handing it to Wei Zhong, and feeling the spring-like warmth of the room, asked Qian Yongzhong, "Does the treatment center have enough charcoal?"

Seeing the sky, it looked like snow was imminent, and the patients in the treatment center were already weaker than normal; charcoal supplies should not be insufficient.

Qian Yongzhong quickly responded, "Rest assured, Your Majesty, Minister Shen repeatedly instructed before his departure that snow was expected soon and the treatment center’s charcoal must be sufficient!"

She nodded, sat on the main seat, and a brazier was soon brought in. Wei Zhong stepped out, received hot tea from the servants outside the door, tested it before placing it beside Bai Qingyan, and after testing for poison, served tea to Bai Qingjue.

Qian Yongzhong hadn’t expected Wei Zhong to hand him tea as well, given Wei Zhong was the chief eunuch at the emperor’s side, but surprisingly, Wei Zhong personally handed tea to him too.