“Plague?”

“Yes, thanks to the medicine you previously gifted, Young Lady, the family head barely managed to keep his life, but he is already bedridden with illness.

Moreover, this epidemic is spreading extremely fast. Not only the family head, but the entire Fang County, and even several surrounding counties are affected.”

“It was also thanks to the Zhen Family’s merchant caravan passing nearby that we could barely manage to send a message out.”

On the way to the main courtyard, the maid who had hurried over—Xingyu from Madam Zhang’s courtyard—spoke with great anxiety and an extremely fast pace.

An Ning gave an almost imperceptible nod.

The ‘family head’ the other party spoke of was precisely Zhen Yu, the eldest son of the Zhen Family. As for the previous family head, Zhen’s father, he had already passed away when Zhen Yue was three years old.

And Zhen Yu, this eldest son of the Zhen Family who, in the original history, should have died young. Yet, due to her arrival, his life was saved three years ago. Last year, he had already been recommended as a Filial and Incorrupt candidate and was currently serving as the county magistrate of Fang County in Changshan.

Who would have thought, just after taking up his post, he would encounter such misfortune.

However, it wasn’t entirely unexpected. An Ning thought to herself:

In the late Eastern Han Dynasty, with continuous years of turmoil, and frequent natural disasters everywhere, such as the recent floods near Changshan, coupled with improper handling of livestock carcasses, epidemic outbreaks were the norm.

By this time, it was already nothing rare.

However, she now understood the reason for Madam Zhang’s urgent search for her.

Sure enough, as soon as An Ning stepped into the main hall, she saw Madam Zhang at the head of the room, her face pale, walking down. She bowed to An Ning with an unusually solemn and respectful salute:

“I beg Young Lady to save my eldest son!”

“As long as Young Lady is willing to lend a hand this time, should Young Lady ever have any need in the future, our Zhen Residence will absolutely not utter a word of refusal.”

Since ancient times, plague zones have always been perilous. Madam Zhang also knew her request was somewhat difficult, so her words were earnest and her posture exceptionally humble.

Even going so far as to make a promise like “absolutely not utter a word of refusal.”

But thinking about it, An Ning wasn’t surprised. Although the Zhen Family was a prominent local clan, the previous head of the Zhen Family had died young, leaving behind three sons and five daughters. The other two sons were still young, and the only grown male descendant to date was Zhen Yu alone.

In such chaotic times as these, the importance of an adult family head was self-evident.

Of course, An Ning also understood that there might also be the awareness that, given her temperament, she was not someone who would make exorbitant demands or be insatiably greedy.

But the other party’s thoughts weren’t important.

Plague!

Moreover, the Changshan area was mostly mountainous and forested. Although somewhat poor in material resources, mountainous land wasn’t without its benefits.

After carefully pondering the location of the incident, An Ning quickly smiled and nodded:

“Madam, you are too polite. Actually, before this, I originally intended to bid farewell to Madam and planned to travel and gain experience.”

“But since this matter has arisen now, making a trip to the east is no trouble at all.”

Her tone didn’t seem to place too much importance on the epidemic that everyone else currently feared like a tiger.

Recalling the other party’s miraculous medical skills, Madam Zhang subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.

It was only then that she reacted… Wait, bid farewell?

Madam Zhang was stunned for a moment, but when her gaze fell upon the longsword worn at the other’s waist, she seemed to quickly understand something.

Oh, not surprising, the great vengeance of a wiped-out family!

Over these years, An Ning had practiced swordplay with exceptional diligence and hardship. As one of the heads of the household, Madam Zhang naturally had seen it with her own eyes.

She even had a rough idea of the current person’s strength.

This was also why, over the years, although the entire Zhen Family held her demonstrated abilities in high regard, they had never truly considered forcing her to stay.

It could only be said, she truly lived up to being a genius figure whom an entire sect had expended all its efforts to protect.

Though regretful, Madam Zhang understood in her heart that such a formidable person was destined not to be kept by their Zhen Clan.

Since she couldn’t be kept, they could only befriend her, not offend her.

But… was she feeling that her training had borne fruit and was already planning to go seek revenge?

Secretly pondering this, and considering this young lady’s inherently cautious character, Madam Zhang became even more cautious.

More than half an hour later, hefting the heavy blue bundle in her hand, which contained no less than several dozen gold ingots alone, An Ning couldn’t help but chuckle lightly.

Especially now, behind her, on the vast procession of ox-carts, there were several carts of medicinal herbs alone. Among them was also a considerable amount of grain and rice.

Even knowing the young lady’s combat prowess, before departure, Madam Zhang had still specially entrusted a merchant caravan and even household servants to escort her.

“Sister Shen…”

Before departure, Zhen Yue seemed to sense something. Right up until An Ning was about to set off, she kept tightly clutching the sleeve of the person before her:

“Elder Sister, will we meet again in the future?”

Truly worthy of being a great beauty who left her name in historical records. Though Zhen Yue was only eight years old now, with exquisite features, intelligent and delicate brows and eyes, she already possessed the beginnings of beauty that could sink fish and drop geese.

Especially now, staring at you with a pair of large, moist, pleading eyes.

An Ning almost couldn’t control her itching hands. In the end, she only cheerfully patted the little lady’s head:

“Don’t worry, we definitely will!”

Only then did the little lady break into a smile.

It wasn’t until An Ning’s figure completely disappeared from sight at the gate that Zhen Yue, persuaded by the maid at her side, slowly began to walk, heading straight for the inner courtyard.

On the other end, the speed of the caravan was not slow. Within a few days, An Ning had already left Zhongshan Commandery where the Zhen Family was located. And as expected, the closer they got to the southeast, the more fleeing commoners, or rather, wealthy families, they encountered along the way.

Were they afraid the epidemic would spread, fleeing with their entire families?

This showed the local situation was indeed not optimistic.

Of course, along the journey, things weren’t peaceful for An Ning’s group either. At any time, grain and medicine were extremely important supplies. Especially at such a critical juncture, with bandits running rampant in the Ji Prefecture region, just along their journey, they had encountered no less than a handful of “forest heroes.”

Fortunately, those Madam Zhang had selected were all first-rate experts. Most of the time, without An Ning needing to act, whether by giving up some money and goods, or by clashing swords, these men could resolve the situations themselves.

Until this day, inside the carriage, An Ning, who had originally been resting with her eyes closed (cultivating), suddenly opened her eyes.

Sensing the continuous sound of wind coming from the surrounding mountains.

Well! Finally here!

“Qiaoyun, say it’s my order. All vehicles ahead, stop!”

At the same time, seeing the caravan ahead not moving for a long time, a group of people traveling not far away also stopped…

“Wenruo, has something happened?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep