On her wedding night, she went into exile with her pharmacy arsenal

Chapter 2213 Sudden changes

The military doctor's voice was filled with barely concealed anxiety; he had run all the way here and hadn't even had time to catch his breath.

Huo Changhe frowned slightly upon hearing this: "Tell me slowly."

Dr. Cao swallowed hard, his eyes filled with hesitation and deep unease.

He looked at Yan Ruyu, his lips moved, and after a long while he said, "Treat the patients in the clinic..."

Those with mild symptoms had already shown improvement, some even able to get out of bed and walk around. But this morning, a check-up revealed five people suddenly unconscious, their faces deathly pale, their lips tinged with purple—a completely different set of acute symptoms from before.

As he spoke, his eyes became increasingly darting, as if he had something stuck in his throat, wanting to say it but holding back.

Yan Ruyu picked up the tea on the table and handed it to him: "Dr. Cao, have some tea to calm down first."

We're all family here, so feel free to speak your mind without hesitation.

Her voice was gentle, and Dr. Cao's tense nerves relaxed slightly.

Doctor Cao took the teacup, took a sip, and said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, Your Highness, I have practiced medicine for decades and have seen countless illnesses, but these five people just don't look right."

Their condition didn't seem to be worsening; rather... it seemed more like they had been poisoned.

"Poisoned?" Huo Changhe's voice deepened, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

Yan Ruyu had been worried since she had just captured Li Sanlang and his wife last night, and that it wasn't just the two of them. So she started this morning.

Yan Ruyu stood up: "We should not delay, let's go to the treatment center immediately."

"I'll order the silver ingots right now." Huo Changhe turned to look at the door and called out, "Silver ingots!"

Yin Ding quickly ran over from under the eaves: "Your Highness, what are your orders?"

"Come with me to the manor and summon Ma Liyu and the others. Tell them to bring their men to the treatment center immediately, take full control of the center's security, and thoroughly investigate everyone entering and leaving. Make sure to find every clue." Huo Changhe's tone left no room for argument.

"Yes!"

Huo Changhe looked at Yan Ruyu: "You go first, I'll come over as soon as I've settled things over there. Be careful in everything."

Yan Ruyu nodded: "Don't worry."

After saying that, she followed Dr. Cao out.

As soon as Yan Ruyu entered the treatment center, she clearly sensed that something was wrong.

Although yesterday was busy, the doctors and yamen runners performed their duties. The patients, despite their illnesses, all exuded a sense of peace, knowing that they were being treated well, and their eyes held hope.

But today, before even stepping through the gate, one could hear faint noises coming from inside, mixed with low sobs and discussions. An atmosphere of panic was palpable, like a thick layer of gloom, making it hard to breathe.

The guards at the gate panicked when they saw Yan Ruyu and Doctor Cao, and quickly stepped forward to greet her: "Your Highness, Doctor Cao."

Yan Ruyu nodded, and without stopping, walked straight inside.

In the courtyard, many patients came out of their rooms and gathered in twos and threes, their faces full of unease, talking in hushed tones, their eyes occasionally glancing towards the room on the west side, where the five unconscious patients were located.

The originally orderly diagnosis and treatment process was disrupted, and several doctors stood aside, looking solemn and at a loss.

"What on earth happened? Everything was fine yesterday. How did someone suddenly fall unconscious?"

"Yes, I saw that guy drinking water and eating by himself yesterday, how did he suddenly become like this?"

"Could it be that this disease is incurable and is actually getting worse?"

Whispers continued to rise and fall, growing increasingly outrageous, and a sense of panic spread through the crowd like a plague.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps came, and Governor Cao rushed in from outside the door.

His official robes were wrinkled, and there were two large dark circles under his eyes, making the fine lines under his eyes particularly clear, indicating that he had not slept for many days.

Since his wife fell ill, he has been working tirelessly on the front lines of epidemic prevention, and his face is now filled with anxiety and exhaustion.

"Your Highness!" Governor Cao's voice was hoarse. "How could someone suddenly faint? Have all our previous efforts been in vain?"

Yan Ruyu said calmly, "Prefect Cao, calm down. The more critical the moment, the less you need to panic. You are the backbone here. If you panic, everyone will feel even more uncertain."

Governor Cao took a deep breath, trying to suppress his anxiety, and nodded, but the panic in his eyes was hard to hide.

"Amitabha." A Buddhist chant rang out, and the abbot walked in from outside. He was wearing a kasaya, his expression solemn, and his steps steady.

“Governor Cao, Your Highness, I have come to offer my assistance after hearing of the trouble at the clinic.”

The abbot walked to Governor Cao's side and said softly, "Governor, you have worked hard these past few days. You must be exhausted."

Public sentiment is currently unsettled, and the most urgent task is to stabilize the situation. This old monk is willing to reassure the people on your behalf and put everyone at ease.

Governor Cao seemed to have found his pillar of support and quickly cupped his hands in thanks: "Thank you for your trouble, Abbot!"

The abbot nodded slightly, turned and walked toward the patients who were gathered together discussing, his voice gentle yet clear: "Esteemed benefactors, please do not panic."

The Princess is a highly skilled physician and will surely find a way to treat everyone. Please remain in your positions and do not panic, lest you delay proper treatment.

The monks also stepped forward to comfort the agitated patients. Gradually, the noise in the courtyard subsided, and although the patients were still uneasy, they were no longer as panicked as before.

Seeing this, Yan Ruyu turned to Cao Junyi and said, "Take me to see those five patients."

"Okay, okay." Doctor Cao quickly responded and led Yan Ruyu to the room on the west side.

The room was dimly lit, and a faint smell of medicine filled the air.

Five patients lay on the bed, their faces pale and bloodless, their lips an unnatural bluish-purple, their eyes closed, their breathing weak, and their chests rising and falling extremely slowly, a heartbreaking sight.

Yan Ruyu walked to the bedside, reached out, and gently placed her hand on the wrist of one of the patients.

The moment her fingertips touched the other person's cold skin, a slight warning came from the space. She knew in her heart that this was not an illness, but poisoning.

She withdrew her hand, turned and walked out of the room, saying to the yamen runners guarding the door, "Go and invite the abbot over."

A moment later, the abbot arrived: "Your Highness, what are your orders?"

"Abbot, please come with me." Yan Ruyu said, walking towards a secluded corner of the courtyard.

Once they reached a secluded spot, she whispered, "I need to retrieve some spring water from my space and then arrange for someone to brew fruit tea on-site. Half of it will be given to the five patients to drink, and the other half will be used to brew medicine. This two-pronged approach might be able to cure the poison."

The abbot's heart skipped a beat, knowing that this matter was of great importance, and he quickly nodded: "Alright."

They fetched clear spring water, set up several iron pots in the courtyard, lit firewood, which crackled and popped, sending up wisps of smoke.