After going through thick and thin together for so many years, apart from Chang Yan who was constrained by his identity and unable to leave due to the prolonged wedding banquet, Fang Heng who stayed guarding the frontier for his beliefs, the rest were inseparable.
If one had to mention separation, it would perhaps be Xu Mo during times of clear winds and bright moons, perhaps Zheng Ruqian running around, or even the carefree Jiang Sheng.
Only Wen Zhiyun was the most unlikely.
He was the silent young doctor, the weakest younger brother in the family. He was as delicate and pretty as a little girl, with a timid nature mixed with cowardice, always tight-lipped without speaking.
His attachment to this family was visible to the naked eye, his reliance on his loved ones ran deep into his bones.
Yet now, he said with his own mouth...that he wanted to separate.
Jiang Sheng stared blankly at Fourth Brother, not knowing how much struggle he went through, how much effort he exhausted, before making this decision.
Xu Mo was shocked into speechlessness. After a long time, he said, "Little Four, I know you care about the common people, but the Imperial Medical Office has already sent messengers, and countless famous doctors in Jiangnan are investigating whether it is really the epidemic.
Compared to this, perhaps Long Yan's coronation is the most important matter."
"But Eldest Brother." After struggling, the tranquility returned to Wen Zhiyun's eyes. "The envoys from the Imperial Medical Office are advanced in age. They once taught me medicine, and also guided me when I was lost. I cannot bear to let them take such risks."
"Moreover, Fengjing is far from Jiangnan, while Anshui Prefecture is only a few days away. If I arrive early, I can also deal with the epidemic sooner."
"At worst, the people who caused the epidemic outbreak have malicious intent. My younger brother is waiting to ascend the throne, so I, as Fourth Brother, should also do something for him."
The sixteen-year-old boy looked up with a fair and delicate face, a thin and frail figure, carrying a medicine box wider than his shoulders. He looked so weak as if he would collapse with a push.
Yet his gaze was so firm, his spine radiated weight and determination, as well as prudent consideration.
He seemed to still be that frail Little Four, yet in a flash, he had become a true doctor, as well as a mature and steady older brother.
Eight years flew by in the blink of an eye, and more than one person had grown up.
Unnoticed by all, their little Fourth Brother had also grown up.
Xu Mo heaved a long sigh, still wanting to say something, but Jiang Sheng had already grabbed his arm.
"Eldest Brother," the girl's eyes shone with reluctance, yet her tone was extremely lively, "Let's go to Fengjing first to wait for Fourth Brother. He will catch up with us, right Fourth Brother?"
"Right." Wen Zhiyun nodded solemnly.
"Then it's settled, we'll wait for you in Fengjing." Zheng Ruqian added his big head.
The siblings couldn't help laughing again. As they laughed, tears welled up in their eyes.
That was growth for you. In childhood, you look forward to growing taller; when you're taller, you look forward to growing up; and after growing up, you have to face separation.
It was inevitable for humans to have sorrow and joy, parting and reunion, just as the moon has its phases of brightness and darkness.
"Fourth Brother, we'll wait for you in Fengjing, you have to come quickly..." As the girl's call grew more distant, the carriage galloped away, becoming a small black dot, racing towards the distant city.
Wen Zhiyun hugged the small medicine box tightly, and looked at Jiang San who was acting as his medicine boy. "Let's go."
Jiangnan was a land of many waters, and where there was water, there was wealth.
As soon as they arrived at Danyang Prefecture, the refined and elegant buildings already provided ample visual impact. Unlike Fengjing's majestic grandeur, Jiangnan was more like a graceful maiden, exquisite down to every detail.
Yet in his impressions, Jiangnan should have been bustling with carriages and people coming and going, noisy with wealth and prosperity.
But now, there were few pedestrians on the road. The restaurants on both sides had no guests, only waiters with white towels hanging around listlessly, sighing long and loud.
"When I came to Danyang Prefecture with the young master previously, it was extremely lively. How did it become like this now?" Jiang San frowned and murmured.
The epidemic.
It was the epidemic.
The mysterious illness that could not be figured out became a knife hanging over the hearts of the people of Jiangnan. They did not dare to step out of their houses, shut their doors tightly, trying to use flimsy wooden boards to resist the unknown.
However, the epidemic could spread in countless ways - the water they drank, the food they ate, even a tiny mouse could bring endless disaster.
Wandering around the city was meaningless now. Wen Zhiyun's lips tightened as he decided to head to the Danyang prefectural office first.
When a place descended into chaos, the first people to look for were the magistrates. Only after communicating with them could they root out the traitors and quell the internal turmoil.
But Jiang San had knocked for a long time without even a gatekeeper coming out.
Wen Zhiyun wrinkled his brow, feeling the coldness in his sleeve. Just as he was hesitating whether to use it, the door opened a crack, revealing a pair of pitch-black eyes. "The master is not seeing guests these days."
How could a prominent magistrate refuse to see the common people?
Jiang San put force into his feet, forcing the crack wider and wider until the door was flung open.
The emaciated gatekeeper fell to the ground, covering his face in panic. "I already said the master is not seeing guests. All of Danyang knows the master is not seeing guests. Who exactly are you people to force your way into the prefectural office? Do you know what crime this is?"
Jiang San was furious and was about to arrogantly flaunt what the young miss taught him.
But Wen Zhiyun frowned and squatted down, placing three fingers on the gatekeeper's pulse. "Are you sick?"
The gatekeeper was even more indignant. "I offered you wine but you didn't drink it. Now you'll drink punishment wine. Guards! Seize these hooligans..."
He didn't get to finish because a gleaming golden token appeared before his eyes, smoothly engraved with the three words "Crown Prince Order".
An imperial prohibition, the Crown Prince's word held the utmost importance.
Those who saw the Order were as good as seeing the Prince in person.
Wen Zhiyun came to Jiangnan on Long Yan's behalf. Long Yan used the Order to protect fragile Fourth Brother.
This was how loved ones assisted each other.
"The Prefect of Danyang is infected with the epidemic, correct?" Wen Zhiyun put away the Order. "Take me to see him, or I'll have your life right now."
Behind him, Jiang San cooperated by drawing out a long saber. The shining blade reflected light, illuminating the gatekeeper's awe.
Everything progressed smoothly.
The gatekeeper led the way ahead while Jiang San slipped over to ask softly, "Young master, how did you know the Danyang Prefect was infected?"
"The epidemic's deadliness lies in its infectiousness. Even the gatekeeper is so severely ill, how could the Prefect escape it?" Wen Zhiyun gripped the medicine box tightly. "Even the trees, grass, and leaves here are not spared."
"Then aren't we also..." Jiang San's face was terrified, his footsteps hesitant.
Martial artists feared nothing, not the heavens nor earth, not wounds nor schemes. Only disease made them cower.
But now, looking at the young doctor's thin yet upright shoulders, Jiang San could not speak of retreating.
There were no deserters on the battlefield, no cowards in the face of disease.
If it came down to it, it would just be death. Eighteen years later he would be a fine fellow again.
Jiang San staggered and laughed. He did not even have time to regret it as his eyes gradually filled with the decisiveness of death before glory.
"What's wrong with you?" Wen Zhiyun looked back. "The source of the epidemic hasn't been found yet. Even if found, there is still a chance of curing it. Falling ill doesn't mean certain death."
This time Jiang San really tripped. After standing up straight, he scratched his head sheepishly to cover his embarrassment.
The gatekeeper leading the way finally stopped and softly said, "The master is...inside."
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