Granny Lian was taken aback by the question, “At that time, I had my back to him, so I don’t know how he was stabbed.”

She turned to Yang Haiyan for input, “Madam, what do you think?”

Yang Haiyan thought for a moment and said, “Actually, I’m not sure either. I was blocked by Granny Lian and couldn’t see. But one thing is clear: he was stabbed after reaching Granny Lian. Also, I think he deliberately rushed at me because even though I stepped aside, he still came toward me. Normally, even if someone was in a hurry leaving the clinic, they wouldn’t aim to collide with me, especially given how I was dressed. I don’t look like a commoner.”

Aunt Fan was curious, “Madam, how can you tell he was stabbed after reaching Granny Lian?”

Yang Haiyan explained, “It’s simple. If he had been stabbed while rushing toward us, there would have been blood on the ground along the way. But there’s no blood trail from where he started running, meaning he was stabbed after reaching Granny Lian.”

Granny Lian asked, “But madam doesn’t know him. Why would he charge at you?”

Yang Haiyan had a theory. “I don’t think he was targeting me personally. Like you said, I don’t know him, and we have no enmity. He didn’t need to come after me specifically. I believe he rushed at me for a reason of his own. He collapsed in front of me after being stabbed. If you hadn’t stepped between us, it would’ve looked like I was directly involved. To others, it might appear as if I had caused his death.”

Aunt Fan frowned, “But even if people thought that, madam, you wouldn’t have any motive. Their assumptions would be baseless.”

Yang Haiyan shook her head, “I wouldn’t have a motive for murder, but what about an accidental killing?”

Aunt Fan was puzzled, “Are you suggesting he purposely rushed toward you to make it look like an accidental death? Was he trying to frame you?”

Yang Haiyan nodded. “That’s the only explanation I can think of. Granny Lian, did you listen carefully to what the woman beside the body was crying about?”

Lian Momo replied, “Yes, their family’s situation seemed difficult. And the woman seemed a bit strange.”

Yang Haiyan agreed, “I thought she was acting strangely too. What exactly did you notice, Granny Lian?”

Granny Lian said, “When most people lose their husband, they panic. But she seemed somewhat composed.”

Yang Haiyan added, “Exactly. Not only that, but when her husband collapsed from the knife wound, her first reaction wasn’t to call for help, even though we were at a clinic. Most people would immediately ask for a doctor to save their loved one, but she was just crying as if she already knew he was dead.”

Granny Lian quickly added, “Yes, yes! That’s what made it seem so strange. Also, the man rushed out from the inner part of the clinic. Something must have happened inside to make him act so impulsively. Doctor Feng should know what happened, but instead of explaining, he immediately asked if we were the ones who killed him. That’s suspicious too.”

As they continued discussing, the carriage carried them further from the scene.

They couldn’t be sure what had truly happened, but it didn’t concern them much anymore.

When they finally arrived at the camp where the group had set up, Yang Haiyan stepped out of the carriage and saw over a hundred tents in the area, giving her the feeling of looking at a Mongolian yurt village.

“You’re back,” Qin Fang said, stepping forward to help her down from the carriage.

The people in the camp glanced their way, eager for the news, especially since it was almost time for lunch.

Yang Haiyan said, “I’ve finally returned. I’ve brought a doctor with me.”

The doctor had arrived in his own carriage, accompanied by his assistant.

Yang Haiyan led Qin Fang over to introduce the doctor.

The highest-ranking official in the county was the magistrate, and it wasn’t often that the doctor got to meet someone of high status.

Now, standing before a fifth-rank general, especially one fresh from the frontier, the doctor was a bit nervous. “Greetings, General,” he said.

Qin Fang had only recently been appointed a general, and coming from a humble background, he didn’t carry himself with the air of authority that many other officials did.

However, the soldiers in the camp had an aura that was hard to ignore, making the doctor feel even more pressured.

Despite his nerves, the doctor was committed to his duty of saving lives.

Hearing about the need for his services, he had no reason to refuse.

Qin Fang bowed slightly and said, “Thank you, Doctor, for coming all this way. Please rest assured, no one will disturb you while you’re here. If nothing out of the ordinary happens, we won’t trouble you further.”

The doctor responded, “It’s no trouble at all. It’s my honor to assist the general. Now that I’m here and there’s no immediate emergency, how about I offer to check everyone’s pulse to ensure their well-being?”

Qin Fang thought this arrangement was great. “In that case, we’ll trouble the doctor. Captain Yang, please escort the doctor to his quarters.”

Captain Yang responded, “Yes.”

Next came lunchtime, and Aunt Fan and Aunt Niu’s went to distribute meat buns.

Compared to Aunt Fan, who had only bought meat buns, Yang Haiyan had a much more varied selection.

In addition to the supplies she had procured, she had also secretly bought food for herself, including flour, cured meats, braised meats, chickens, ducks, and various vegetables.

For lunch, Yang Haiyan ate meat buns like everyone else.

After finishing her meal, she instructed Aunt Fan to start preparing ingredients for dinner, as she wanted to have a freshly cooked meal that evening.

Once everyone had finished eating, Qin Fang had the group line up. Those feeling unwell were asked to step forward so the doctor could take their pulse and assess their condition.

The atmosphere was quite harmonious.

Since most people were idle after lunch, Qin Fang instructed Captain Lu to lead a group of soldiers out hunting.

If they were lucky, they might be able to provide the soldiers with an extra serving of meat for dinner.

With over 3,000 people who had marched for six or seven days on foot, many were experiencing discomfort, mostly due to fatigue.

Some also had other health concerns.

The doctor performed only cursory checks, given the large number of people, as examining each one thoroughly would take all afternoon.

Qin Fang stayed by the doctor’s side, observing.

After the doctor had seen a number of people, Qin Fang asked, “Based on their current health, if it rains, will their conditions worsen?”

The doctor replied, “To answer the general, those who are exhausted are more likely to suffer than those in better health.”

This was essentially a matter of immunity and resistance, though such terms weren’t known at the time. “In my humble opinion, they could take some medicinal herbs to strengthen their bodies. After all, their bodies and lives are their own.”

Hearing this, Qin Fang stood up and addressed the group: “Everyone, I am responsible for leading you to Yunxiang County to settle.

Considering your health, I’ve specially hired a doctor to look after you. Even if it doesn’t rain in the coming days, we still have a ten-day journey ahead of us.

Who can guarantee that everyone will remain healthy the whole time? And if it rains, the situation will only worsen.

After discussing with the doctor, we’ve decided to prepare some medicinal herbs to strengthen your bodies.

However, since your bodies are your own responsibility, you’ll need to cover the cost of the medicine. If you’re willing, sign up for it.

But if you’re unwilling to spend the money, you won’t receive any of the medicine when it’s prepared.

Consider this carefully before registering because you must take responsibility for your own health—no one else can.”

Those who had money didn’t hesitate to sign up right away, while those who were strapped for cash had to think twice.

Qin Fang couldn’t do anything about that. He wasn’t in a position to cover the costs for others, as they were essentially strangers.

Besides, if he helped one person, what would stop others from asking for the same?

After several people registered, the doctor wrote prescriptions, and the medicine boy was sent to retrieve the herbs.

By the time the medicine cart returned in the evening, it had started to rain.

Although the rain came later than Niu Da had estimated, it had finally arrived.

The group retreated to their tents, while the doctor supervised the preparation of the medicine.

Yang Haiyan had ginger tea with brown sugar prepared as well, since temperatures drop when it rains outdoors, and without proper precautions, many could catch a cold.

Everyone huddled in their tents, eating steamed buns delivered from the bun shop and listening to the sound of the pouring rain outside.

Their moods gradually calmed.

Although no one knew the exact situation of the other generals and the barbarian troops, the barbarians with them felt content.

After all, both the general and his wife had treated them well.

In the main tent, Yang Haiyan and her group sipped chicken soup, feeling warm and cozy.

The chicken soup wasn’t shared with the barbarians or soldiers, as it was something Yang Haiyan had purchased herself, and making it was quite a hassle.

She wasn’t about to offer this freely.

However, the personal guards’ families, as well as the Yang and Lü households and their servants, all enjoyed some of the chicken soup, having paid for it themselves.

Yang Haiyan couldn’t afford to give away free food every time she prepared something.

Madam Yang sighed, “I imagine this rain will last all night—it’s unsettling.”

Madam Lü added, “It’s a good thing we have a doctor here. Otherwise, any mishaps would be troublesome.”

Yang Haiyan wasn’t too concerned and treated it like a camping or outdoor adventure.

While such weather conditions might have been a hassle for people in ancient times, for modern people, it was sometimes the very climate they sought out for fun.

It was a kind of modern-day recklessness.

They initially thought they had everything under control, with precautions in place and the doctor on standby, but things didn’t go as smoothly as expected.

By the middle of the night, many people started developing fevers.

Though no one noticed immediately, by the next day, some were weak and lethargic, and the doctor could tell they were ill at a glance.

“Doctor… Doctor…” Meng Qiushi rushed into the doctor’s tent, calling out, “Doctor, come quickly and see my daughter. Her forehead is burning.”

Behind her was Meng Ping, carrying the feverish Meng Qiu.

The doctor’s tent was right next to the main tent, so when Meng Qiushi called out, Yang Haiyan heard her.

She stood up and said, “Grandma, let’s go see what’s happening next door.”