It was impossible to produce protective suits, so Ji Zhaohé had silk fabric cut into appropriate shapes to cover the mouth and nose, then simply sewn to secure them in place on the face.

After having the servants mass-produce them, she distributed them to all attendants.

Before going out, Ji Zhaohé also ordered the rooms to be fumigated with vinegar and lime to be scattered around the east wing.

The carriage went straight to the county government office. The magistrate had only learned two days earlier that the Third Princess had come to Jiangnan. Due to the severity of the epidemic, he had been too tied up to pay his respects to her.

All the physicians in the area had gathered to discuss how to treat the epidemic. The magistrate listened on the side, burning with anxiety.

If the situation wasn’t handled properly or if too many people died, it would cost him his head. The last time an epidemic had broken out in Jiangnan was hundreds of years ago!

“Common cold medicine is completely useless!”

“I’ve never seen a disease so contagious. It seems simple, yet there’s no way to tackle it; it seems complex, yet the symptoms are ordinary. The mortality rate is extremely high.”

“The imperial court’s personnel won’t arrive for another two days. Who knows how many will die by then…”

“Now, even medicinal herbs are running short. The prescription sent by Her Highness contains too many ingredients—we simply can’t gather them all.”

“Ah! What are we supposed to do?”

The physicians argued noisily among themselves until the magistrate couldn’t hold back any longer and exploded: “What do I keep you around for? You can’t even treat a basic fever, yet you go around calling yourselves miracle doctors! Do you want me to shut down all your clinics?”

Ji Zhaohé had already entered with a group of guards, but the crowd was too engrossed in their discussion to notice the Third Princess leaning against the doorframe.

Jiang Deming coughed lightly, shot a look at the magistrate, and said in a thin voice, “Her Highness, the Third Princess, has arrived—”

Only then did everyone notice the Third Princess standing by the door. But why was her face covered with a piece of cloth? And why were her guards dressed the same way? The magistrate and the physicians quickly knelt, not daring to look too closely.

Ji Zhaohé said, “The ground is dirty. With the epidemic so severe, there’s no need to kneel when you see me.”

The magistrate scrambled to his feet, peering left and right behind Ji Zhaohé, a hopeful gleam in his eyes. “Your Highness, has the court’s delegation arrived?”

Ji Zhaohé shook her head and took the seat of honor. The light in the magistrate’s eyes instantly vanished, and he stood to the side with a worried expression.

Ji Zhaohé tapped her middle finger lightly on the desk, making a sound that was neither too loud nor too soft, drawing everyone’s attention. She issued concise instructions.

“Separate the infected into two rooms based on the severity of their condition and keep them in one place. Treat the severe cases with the prescription I sent. For those with milder symptoms and no fever, remove the gypsum. Administer two doses daily, one in the morning and one in the evening.”

The magistrate said, “But… the medicinal herbs are insufficient! They won’t last more than a few days.”

Ji Zhaohé propped her chin on her hand, her tone indifferent. “The court’s medicinal herbs will arrive soon. Use them without worry.”

The previous night, the emperor’s guards had come to the residence to convey the imperial order for her return. She had refused on the grounds that Shen Qingtang had contracted the epidemic and had instead ordered the guards to expedite the delivery of the herbs that were already en route.

“I’ve had people make scarves to cover the mouth and nose. I’ll give them to you shortly—distribute them throughout the city. Everyone must wear one at all times. Any infected person caught wandering around without a scarf is to be executed on the spot.”

The magistrate nodded like a chick pecking at rice.

“Also, have people take some mugwort and atractylodes to burn in areas severely affected by the epidemic to ward off evil miasmas. Advise those with no infected family members to fumigate their rooms with vinegar and sun their clothes and bedding. They should not leave home unless necessary, and food will be delivered to their doorsteps by designated personnel.”

“Those who die from the epidemic must be cremated—burial is not allowed.”

After explaining these measures, Ji Zhaohé rubbed her tired eyes. “Go and take care of this first. Later, I’ll accompany you to the placement center for the infected to assess the situation.”

The magistrate nodded, not doubting her intentions, and immediately arranged for people to carry out the tasks.

The original host’s tyrannical nature was known only to some in the capital. Although Jiangnan wasn’t too far from the capital, such royal secrets naturally hadn’t spread here.

That was why the original novel’s protagonist had ordered people to widely publicize her misdeeds everywhere.

However, the original host’s evil actions hadn’t yet become widely known. The magistrate and physicians here unanimously believed the Third Princess was a great benefactor who had risked her life to manage the epidemic.

Jiang Deming looked at the utterly exhausted Third Princess, his heart filled with both concern and confusion.

Since when did Her Highness understand pharmacology? Could it be that the prescription was sent by the Emperor’s personal guards?

After the magistrate finished handling various matters, Ji Zhaohé accompanied her to the placement center to assess the situation.

The magistrate’s efficiency was indeed impressive—within a short time, everyone in the city was wearing a face scarf.

The placement center was set up in a relatively remote and spacious suburban compound. The infrastructure was poor, with overgrown weeds everywhere and dilapidated buildings.

No sooner had the magistrate stepped into the courtyard than a young man in plain clothes clung to her leg, kneeling and pleading, “Your Honor, I beg you, please save my mother… I agree to the conditions you mentioned before.”

The magistrate impatiently tried to kick him away but failed. She coldly snapped, “Step aside! Don’t interfere with official business.”

This little wretch has no sense of timing! Can’t he see the Third Princess is behind me? Showing up now only makes a spectacle of himself!

The young man stubbornly clung to the hem of her robe, refusing to let go, his pleas growing more desperate. Suddenly, a foot pressed hard against his chest, and the woman forcefully kicked him aside.

The young man was sent sprawling to the ground, his plain clothes covered in dust, his hair disheveled.

The magistrate turned around with an ingratiating smile. “The lower classes don’t know their place, Your Highness. Please, follow me.”

Ji Zhaohé crossed her arms, choosing not to interfere. Men held extremely low status here, and given her sensitive position, it was unwise to offer help. But the next moment, the young man rushed directly toward her.

Before he could reach her, the guards behind Ji Zhaohé swiftly intercepted him. The young man, once caught, broke down completely, struggling frantically until he broke free. He kowtowed to Ji Zhaohé, mimicking the magistrate’s earlier address, and begged, “Your Highness, I beg you, save my mother.”

Ji Zhaohé waved her hand, signaling the guards to step back. She slowly walked over to him, while the magistrate disdainfully remarked, “This little wretch sure knows how to beg. Your Highness need not pay him any mind. This humble official has proposed to him several times, but he refused to become a concubine and stubbornly declined to marry. Now that his only remaining family, his elderly mother, has contracted the epidemic, he’s gone completely mad.”

Seeing that the Third Princess remained silent, the magistrate edged closer. Could it be that Her Highness has also taken a liking to this wretch? His looks are indeed quite striking, but he’s rather delusional—the son of a merchant, how could he ever qualify to be a principal husband?

Ji Zhaohé looked down and reached out to lift his face. Tearful, pitiful eyes gazed back at her, paired with a delicate and moving appearance that stirred a desire to dominate.

The beauty of Jiangnan was indeed captivating.

Trembling, the young man suppressed his fear and leaned his face into her hand, obediently allowing her to pinch his cheek.

But his face was too soft—not as resilient as her family’s at home, Ji Zhaohé thought.

Just as the hand caressing his face was about to withdraw, the young man gritted his teeth and quickly grasped her wrist, guiding it toward his collar. His soft fingers brushed against his collarbone, sending a deeper shiver through him, as he slowly guided her wrist downward.

Ji Zhaohé shuddered and immediately pulled her hand back. But the motion was too abrupt, and her fingertips harshly grazed a sensitive peak. The young man’s body went weak, nearly collapsing on the spot.

What kind of mess is this! Ji Zhaohé felt her vision darken as she straightened up.

She was here to work, not to acquire a concubine. What a situation.

Given that she had been intimate with this man in public, convention dictated that she should take him in. But… she had promised Shen Qingtang that he would be the only one.

Ji Zhaohé took a handkerchief and wiped her hand, her tone calm. “This young man is quite pitiful. Magistrate, you should take him in.”

Hearing this, the young man nearly choked.

This person had just been gentle and compassionate with him, only to turn around and hand him over to the magistrate. The magistrate had witnessed the entire scene—now that he was “soiled,” if he became her concubine, he would be treated like a courtesan from the pleasure houses, with no status to speak of, entirely at the mercy of a woman.

“Your Highness, I don’t want that. Please, take me in instead,” the young man pleaded desperately, shaking his head wildly, tears falling in large drops.

Jiang Deming felt a pang of sympathy and secretly glanced at the Third Princess’s expression.

In the past, Her Highness would have accepted anyone who offered themselves so readily. Why was today different…?

Ji Zhaohé’s eyes remained cold and unreadable, giving no hint of her thoughts. “Let’s go. Let’s head inside and take a look.” Staying stuck at the entrance wasn’t solving anything.

This was said to the magistrate, who promptly nodded upon hearing it. As she passed the young man, she didn’t even glance at him.

Inside the courtyard, as Ji Zhaohé had instructed, the infected were separated into two wings. The doors were tightly closed and chained shut, likely to prevent anyone from escaping. In the center of the courtyard, two large pots were boiling medicinal decoctions, filling the air with an intensely bitter smell.

Ji Zhaohé coughed, overwhelmed by the odor, and tightly pressed the scarf over her nose and mouth.

“Your Highness, the west wing houses those with severe symptoms, and the east wing those with milder cases. Meals are delivered directly to their rooms by dedicated personnel. However, fear is rampant—many are terrified of dying. Every time food or medicine is delivered, some try to break down the doors and flee. I have stationed guards to prevent this.”

Ji Zhaohé nodded. This situation was relatively mild; in modern times, some infected individuals would intentionally go out to infect others.

“I will go see the people in the east wing.”

The magistrate was taken aback. “But…” The Third Princess’s status was far too noble. If she were infected, they could all lose their heads!

Jiang Deming anxiously tried to dissuade her. “Your Highness, you must not! Although their symptoms are mild, the place is highly contagious!”

Ji Zhaohé remained silent. She had heard Jiang Deming say “you must not” so many times that her ears were calloused.

If she applied modern dedication here, she might as well be a celestial being descended from heaven.

“Open the window slightly. Have those inside extend one arm. I will examine them through the window—will that suffice?” Ji Zhaohé said calmly. Seeing that he could not sway her, Jiang Deming could only sigh in resignation.

The magistrate stood before the door and announced loudly, “Her Highness, the Third Princess, has traveled a great distance to Jiangnan to treat everyone. Line up by the window. Once it is opened, extend your arms. Her Highness will personally take your pulses. Anyone who acts inappropriately will be executed on the spot!”

As soon as she finished speaking, murmurs arose within the east wing.

“The Third Princess? Can she actually treat illnesses?”

“It seems the court is taking this seriously—they’ve sent Her Highness herself to save us!”

“Hurry, line up! I want to be the first to be treated!”

“What a pity we can’t catch a glimpse of Her Highness…”

“We’re all nearly dead, and you’re still spouting nonsense? Get in line!”

“…”

The magistrate had an armchair brought over. Once everyone inside was ready, she ordered the guards to open the window just enough for an arm to extend out.

Ji Zhaohé sat in the chair, focused her breathing, and placed three fingers on the wrist to feel the pulse.

It was still a lung issue, no different from modern times. However… it didn’t seem as severe. Perhaps limited medical knowledge here and the slower efficacy of herbal medicine had allowed the condition to worsen.

Some herbs could be removed—only the most essential ones were needed.

Ji Zhaohé sat there for a full half-hour, while the magistrate and others stood by waiting. Only after the last person was examined was the window locked again.

The magistrate suppressed her anticipation, waiting for the Third Princess to speak.

Ji Zhaohé washed her hands with clean water and had Jiang Deming fumigate her clothes with mugwort before she finally spoke.

She carefully instructed the physicians on the adjustments needed for the medicinal ingredients and personally inspected the color of the boiled herbal decoction before feeling assured enough to leave.

After the carriage had traveled some distance, the magistrate sighed softly, brushing her sleeve. “The Third Princess is nothing like the rumors. Those who maliciously slander Her Highness in the tea houses—deal with them all.”

“But… what about Prince Wei’s side…”

The magistrate replied, “What she is doing is for the common people. So am I.”

If the Third Princess were truly as cruel and brutal as rumored, she would have let those rumors spread unchecked. But the reality was clearly different.