PNB Chapter 2205 Anomaly Found
Chapter 2205 Anomaly Found
The night was as dark as ink, spilling over the large mansion that had been temporarily requisitioned in the west of the city.
The courtyard was brightly lit, with dozens of lanterns hanging high, their orange glow piercing the night and casting long and short shadows of busy figures.
The air was filled with a rich aroma of medicine, mixed with a faint scent of herbs and the coughs of patients.
Yan Ruyu had just finished administering acupuncture to a critically ill patient who was on the verge of death. Fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead and slid down her temples.
Inside the west wing, Dr. Cao was leading several doctors in taking turns to examine patients' pulses. A thick stack of papers recording symptoms had been piled up, and the staff were moving among them carrying steaming bowls of medicine.
"Your Highness, please have some tea."
Yan Ruyu turned around and saw Song Ping carrying a teapot, walking quickly over.
Song Ping walked to the stone table, picked up the white porcelain teacup on the table, and filled it with warm tea.
Yan Ruyu was indeed thirsty, and she had barely stopped quenching her thirst; her throat was so dry it felt like it was about to burst into flames.
She stepped forward, took the teacup, and drank most of it.
The warm tea slid down my throat, bringing a soothing coolness, and my fatigue seemed to lessen a bit.
She put down her teacup and looked at Song Ping. Seeing him standing to the side, glancing towards the courtyard every now and then as if he had something to say, she asked, "Is there anything else?"
Upon hearing this, Song Ping subconsciously turned his head and glanced around.
People were coming and going in the courtyard, and no one paid attention to what was happening here.
He then leaned closer and lowered his voice, saying, "Your Highness, I was helping register the newly arrived patients in the east wing just now, and I made a small discovery that I think I should tell you about."
Yan Ruyu's heart stirred slightly.
She knew that Song Ping was always cautious and meticulous, and he rarely spoke up. Once he mentioned "discovery", it must be something important.
She nodded slightly: "You've always been reliable, so feel free to speak your mind without worry."
"Yes," Song Ping replied, and continued, "Just now, three more carriages brought in several patients with mild symptoms, and they have all been placed in the east wing."
Among them was a woman in her early twenties who seemed somewhat different from the others.
"What's different?" Yan Ruyu pressed, her fingertips lightly touching the edge of the stone table as she calmly looked at Song Ping.
After a moment's thought, Song Ping said, "I am not a doctor and cannot distinguish the pulse and symptoms, but I can tell that the mild cases we are talking about are only relative to those severe cases where the patient is unconscious."
In fact, these patients with mild symptoms were quite ill; their coughs were excruciating, some even coughing so hard they couldn't straighten up, and their faces were pale and weak.
Yan Ruyu nodded slowly, agreeing with his observation: "You're right. This acute illness came on fiercely. Even the mild cases are much more dangerous than ordinary illnesses. We can't let our guard down at all."
“But that woman was different.” Song Ping lowered his voice even further. “She also coughed, but it was as if she could control her cough.”
While I was registering my information, an old man next to me was coughing badly, so she coughed a few times too, and it sounded quite convincing.
But after the old man stopped coughing, she was quiet for a moment, then coughed again, the force and frequency of which were different from before, as if it were deliberately done.
Yan Ruyu frowned slightly: "Don't disturb her yet, keep an eye on her secretly."
As she spoke, she took out a milky-white pill from the brocade pouch at her waist and handed it to Song Ping.
"Put this pill in her water. Remember, it's plain water, not a decoction."
Song Ping took the pill, carefully held it in his palm, and nodded in response, "Understood, subordinate."
“If she is really sick, she will naturally drink the herbal medicine, but if she is faking it, she will be wary of the herbal medicine and may not touch it.”
A sharp glint flashed in Yan Ruyu's eyes: "This is a sleeping potion. It's mild and won't harm anyone. It will take effect within a quarter of an hour."
If she faints, treat her as a seriously ill patient and quietly bring her to the west wing. I want to see her myself.
"Your subordinate obeys!" Song Ping carefully put away the pills and turned to walk towards the east courtyard.
Yan Ruyu watched him leave, then turned and looked back at the courtyard.
Night had fallen, and the faint sound of the watchman's drum could be heard in the distance; it was already past midnight.
The glow of the lanterns swayed gently in the night breeze, illuminating faces that showed pain, worry, or determination.
New carriages were constantly arriving at the courtyard, and the yamen runners were busy helping patients out of the carriages, registering their information, and arranging beds. The entire residence remained a hive of activity, with no sign of a moment's rest.
She sighed softly, thinking to herself: When will this turmoil subside, and when will these suffering people be able to return to peace?
From Governor Cao's full cooperation to the righteous assistance of several senior doctors, to the mountain of medicinal herbs delivered by Manager Qian, and the tireless efforts of those around them, they are all protecting Youcheng in their own way.
Surely, there are those with ulterior motives who want to use this sudden illness to disrupt the situation.
Since they've chosen to step forward, we need not be polite; we must expose them and not let their conspiracy succeed.
Just as I was pondering this, a familiar figure appeared at the courtyard gate, walking against the light.
Yan Ruyu looked up and saw Huo Changhe dressed in black casual clothes, carrying an exquisite food box in his hand.
His figure radiated warmth under the lamplight.
Upon seeing him, Yan Ruyu felt a sudden relaxation of her tense emotions, as if her fatigue and anxiety were being gently soothed by a warm current.
A faint smile appeared on her face as she quickly went to greet him: "Why are you here?"
“When Mother heard that you were staying here, she specially had someone make your favorite soup and asked me to bring it to you.”
Huo Changhe walked up to her, placed the food box on the stone table, and said with concern, "I'm afraid you haven't had time to eat again."
As he spoke, he opened the food box.
A rich aroma instantly filled the air, revealing two delicate side dishes: one of stir-fried seasonal vegetables and the other of braised meat.
There was also a bowl of golden mushroom and chicken soup, with a few red dates floating on the surface. The soup was clear and fragrant, and just looking at it made one's mouth water.
Yan Ruyu felt a sudden pang of hunger in her stomach. She smiled and nodded, "I really am hungry. I didn't realize it when I was busy, but now that I smell the aroma, I realize that I haven't eaten anything for most of the day."
My mother still remembers that I love mushroom and chicken soup; that's so thoughtful of her.
Huo Changhe picked up a clean handkerchief from the side and handed it to him: "Wash your hands first, and eat it while it's hot."
Yan Ruyu returned to the stone table and sat down. Huo Changhe had already ladled out a bowl of chicken soup and handed it to her, saying, "Be careful, it's hot."
Yan Ruyu blew on the soup, took a sip of the warm chicken soup, and the delicious taste melted on her tongue. The warmth spread from her throat to her heart, and all her fatigue seemed to dissipate.
She picked up her chopsticks, took a bite of vegetables, and asked while eating, "How's the investigation going on your end? Any new leads on Manager Zhou and Yishengtang?"
When the topic turned to business, Huo Changhe's expression darkened: "The secret guards are still keeping an eye on Manager Zhou."
His wife's death seemed accidental, a robbery and murder by bandits. The body had been examined by a coroner, and the family had no objections, but I still felt something was off.
"Could it be related to Yishengtang?" Yan Ruyu asked, taking another sip of soup.