As Jin Shanyao was leaving, she gave Old Madam Su a deep look and said, "If you miss your family, I can lend you my own ox; it won't take more than a few days."
Old Madam Su smiled with relief, "No, I'm too old for that."
Jin Shanyao didn't try to persuade her any further. "Alright, then I'm leaving..."
The two parted ways.
The old nanny helped her mistress walk back, saying, "I feel like Miss Jin's smile was a bit unnatural today."
When Old Madam Su recalled Jin Shanyao's expression, she couldn't help but chuckle softly.
Su Wenqian summoned Old Medicine Zhou overnight to verify the prescription, and only released the person after confirming that it was correct.
Old Medicine Zhou and perceptive man, knew things were not simple and quietly stockpiled anti-epidemic medicines the next day.
Su Wenqian summoned Constable Wang and ordered him to investigate who Fan Er had been in contact with at the Second Estate. Meanwhile, the government office purchased a small quantity of anti-epidemic medicine.
Since there was no vaccine available in Qingzhou Prefecture, he feared that issuing a statement rashly would cause panic, so he could only make arrangements secretly first.
Soon, Constable Wang reported back: Fan Er had never left the manor, and the only person he had contacted was Shi Chang'an.
Su Wenqian sought out Shi Chang'an to learn more about the situation.
"My lord, on my Qingzhou Prefecture, I encountered a constable who had collapsed. I intended to take him to a clinic, but he died halfway there."
A cold sweat broke out on Su Wenqian's back. He pressed on, "Has Shopkeeper Shi been in contact with anyone recently...?"
"The bodyguards, my family, and... restaurants and bathhouses," Shi Chang'an answered truthfully.
Su Wenqian's expression changed instantly. He thought to himself, "You really know how to run around recklessly!" He shouted towards the door, "Someone, lock Shi Chang'an up in one place."
Shi Chang'an panicked immediately. "Sir, I'm just an honest bodyguard. I haven't done anything illegal. Why are you locking me up?"
Su Wenqian didn't have time to explain and called the steward to disinfect the government office inside and out.
He then ordered clerks to write notices informing the people not to go out during this period and to stock up on medicinal herbs at home. The notices were posted, leaving the people of the prefectural city completely bewildered.
Some maliciously speculated that Su Wenqian and Jin Shanyao colluding, and that after the medicinal herbs were harvested, they couldn't find a market for them and were forcibly stuffing them into the hands of ordinary people.
Some people bought some with some skepticism and took them home for future use. Several days passed in the blink of an eye, and nothing happened in the prefectural city.
Shi Chang'an arrived in a daze and left in a daze. He ate and drank for free in the government office for several days without being interrogated. He was arrested and released inexplicably.
Su Wenqian was also puzzled. Could it be that the root of the illness wasn't with Shi Chang'an? Otherwise, how come he hadn't shown any symptoms after being back for so long?
Green Mountain Academy.
Shiyan was completely out of sorts, slumped on the table in a daze.
Meng Anci, "What's wrong?"
Shiyan said in a muffled voice, "I think it's a cold. I've felt unwell all over these past few days and have no energy... I'll lend you your book after school."
Meng Anci has detailed annotations, and he plans to go back and cram to avoid coming in last in the next exam.
That's the downside of the Prefectural City Academy; if you finish last three times in a row, you'll be sent back to your hometown. He's not even compared to geniuses like Meng Anci or Zhao Zhiyuan; he's far inferior to his classmates.
Good heavens! Why does Green Mountain Academy have to gather all the top students from each county together? Isn't this going to kill people?!
Meng Anci was worried and reached out to touch his forehead; it was alarmingly hot. "No, I have to take you to the medical clinic."
Green Mountain Academy has its own doctor. People usually go to the academy for treatment if they have a minor injury from playing football or horse racing.
Shiyan slumped weakly on the table, "I can't get up, my whole body aches... Anci, please call Anzhi for me, I want to see her one last time before I die."
Before he could finish speaking, a heavy slap landed on Shiyan's head. Meng Anci's eyes flashed with ruthlessness. "If you dare joke about my sister again, I'll kill you."
Shiyan's vision went black, his eyes rolled back, and he fainted... The classroom instantly erupted in chaos.
Zhao Yushan jumped three feet high and shouted at the top of his lungs, " Meng Anci killed Shiyan?!"
"Aaaaaah... Murder...!"
"Shut up, all of you!" Meng Anci snapped coldly, pushing Shiyan away. Shiyan's body went limp, and he slid to the side.
Meng Anci's heart tightened, and he quickly reached out to steady the man, his fingertips touching his nose. A faint breath of warm air sprayed onto his fingers.
Meng Anci a sigh of relief... He was still alive. He said to Zhao Zhiyuan, "Go find the Master and tell him that Shiyan fainted."
Zhao Zhiyuan dared not delay and turned to leave the Licentiate Candidate Institute. A moment later, Master Cen rushed over. He reached out and touched Shiyan's forehead, and his heart skipped a beat when he felt it burning hot.
He picked up Shiyan with one hand, tossed him down with the words, "Take out the scriptures and look at them. I'll take the exam when I get back..." and then hurried away.
Upon hearing this, everyone groaned in despair... and pulled out their scriptures to read them.
Meng Anci was worried about the safety of Shiyan, having heard that his sister had been buying a lot of medicine for colds lately. He planned to ask her what medicine she was using tonight and send some to Shiyan.
Less than 45 minutes later, noisy footsteps could be heard outside the courtyard. The children in the classroom put down their books and looked out the window.
Some of the bolder ones had already run to the courtyard gate, but upon seeing who it was, they ran back in fright, crying, "It's the government! It's the government..."
Meng Anci up and rushed to the courtyard gate in a few steps. He saw soldiers guarding the gates of each courtyard. "Brother, what happened?"
The soldier guarding the Licentiate Candidate Institute glanced down at him and said, "Go back to your books, don't wander off!"
Meng Anci had a bad feeling, vaguely sensing that this matter was related to Shiyan. Zhao Zhiyuan pulled him aside and whispered, "I heard from Shiyan that his father went to Jing'an Prefecture to escort goods."
My great-uncle said there was a plague outbreak in Jing'an Prefecture," he paused, Meng Anci expression worried, "I hope Shiyan is alright."
The Green Mountain Academy was bustling with noise. The students in each academy had long lost their interest in studying. Before they knew it, it was time to leave school. Some students wanted to go home but couldn't leave the academy.
The situation escalated to a point of no return.
Jin Shanyao and waited for Meng Anci, but he didn't come. Her Spiritual Power touched the necklace around Meng Anci's neck, and she found him standing in the middle of a group of students, listening to the teacher's instructions.
The atmosphere at the Licentiate Candidate Institute was not good; there were soldiers guarding the entrance.
Jin Shanyao immediately got up and headed to the academy.
A large crowd had gathered outside the Green Mountain Academy. Jin Shanyao had just squeezed to the front when she was stopped by soldiers.
"Halt! Green Mountain Academy is temporarily closed. Unauthorized personnel are not allowed to approach."
Jin Shanyao, "My child is still at the academy."
"Anyone here with a child inside? Go away, go away, stay away!" The soldiers shoved Jin Shanyao, forcing her to take a half step back.
Suddenly, a loud wail came from behind.
Jin Shanyao felt that the crying sounded familiar. Looking in the direction of the sound, she saw that it was the Madam Shi sitting on the ground throwing a tantrum. She took a few steps forward.
" Madam Shi..."
The Madam Shi looked up instantly, her eyes flashing with hatred. She lunged at Jin Shanyao, shouting, "It's all your fault! If I hadn't been escorting the goods for you, my son wouldn't have gotten sick!"
After returning home, Shi Chang'an showed no signs of illness, but unexpectedly, he caught the virus from his son. Madam Shi has also been feeling unwell recently, and she cried uncontrollably.
" Jin Shanyao, ever since I met you, nothing good has happened in my family. Give me back my son, give him back to me!"
The Madam Shi lost all reason and frantically tore at Jin Shanyao, only to be knocked unconscious by Jin Shanyao and placed on the oxcart. Then, Jin Shanyao sat down next to the Madam Shi and returned to the Anzhi Hall.
She first instructed Qing He to pack some pastries, and then hung a purse containing ginkgo nuts around Xiaoli's neck.
"Give the pastries to Anci, and the ginkgo nuts to Shiyan."
Without saying a word, Xiaoli slung its bundle over its shoulder and slipped out of the courtyard. It headed straight for the back gate of the Green Mountain Academy, leaped lightly into the courtyard, and, following the scent of its young master, arrived at the Licentiate Candidate Institute.
At the entrance of the Licentiate Candidate Institute, teenagers were crying their hearts out, begging to go home. Inside, a few people were reading.
The Xiaoli slowly walked into the house, placing its paws at Meng Anci's feet.
Meng Anci looked down and asked in surprise, " Xiaoli, what brings you here?"
The bundle on Xiaoli's body fell to the ground with a thud. Meng Anci put down his book, bent down, and squatted down to untie the bundle. The aroma of pastries wafted out.
The Xiaoli drew a cross on the ground with its paw, then raised its proud head, exposing its purse.
Meng Anci guessed, "Is this medicine for Shiyan?"
The Xiaoli nodded, then pressed its paws on Meng Anci's foot again, applying some pressure. Meng Anci gasped in pain and quickly untied the purse from the Xiaoli's neck.
Before she could even speak, Xiaoli turned and left... without the slightest hint of regret!
Zhao Zhiyuan rubbed his eyes. " Anci, your cat can write? That's incredibly intelligent!"