The diplomatic expedition continued its slow advance eastward. With their grain reserves destroyed, the entire retinue had no choice but to survive on wild fruits gathered from the forests along the route. Meanwhile, Grand Preceptor Xiao Ruochen and Prince Mo Xuan continued using their respective networks to investigate the masterminds behind the granary fire.
It had to be said that Prince Mo Xuan possessed an almost unparalleled talent when it came to dealing with noble ladies. In less than half a day, Qin Man noticed that he had effortlessly blended into the circle of aristocratic young women, conducting his investigation beneath the guise of casual conversation and flirtation.
By carefully observing their expressions and listening to scattered remarks, he quickly identified the owner of the burned veil fragment. Following that lead, he uncovered her accomplice—a military physician traveling with the diplomatic corps.
After a thorough interrogation, the truth finally emerged.
Both saboteurs had acted under orders delivered through secret imperial correspondence. Their mission had been to administer the sedative and destroy the grain supplies. However, their contact with the true mastermind had been limited to written instructions. Neither had ever met the individual in person, nor did they know their identity.
Their loyalty had been secured through far crueler means.
When they were children, both had been forcibly poisoned with a slow-acting toxin. The organization periodically supplied the antidote, ensuring absolute obedience. Refusal meant death.
Princess Mo Yueyao immediately ordered the pair shackled in heavy irons. Once they reached Chaozhou, they would be handed over to the local authorities for formal prosecution.
Inside the command tent, Princess Mo Yueyao and Mo Xuan studied the maps with dark expressions.
According to their route, the next stretch of travel would take them through dozens of miles of remote mountain wilderness. There were no villages, towns, or military outposts anywhere nearby.
The entire retinue had now gone more than a day without proper food.
Wild berries and edible plants could barely keep them alive, but they could not provide enough energy for prolonged military operations. If an enemy attack occurred now, their troops would struggle to maintain combat effectiveness.
To make matters worse, two days of consuming unfamiliar wild plants and untreated water had begun taking a severe toll on everyone’s digestive systems.
The noble ladies and civil officials who had spent their lives in luxury were especially vulnerable. Cases of stomach illness were spreading rapidly throughout the camp.
The physicians had already exhausted most of their medicine supplies.
For the past two days, Qin Man had secretly relied on the herbs stored within her pocket dimension, preparing anti-diarrheal remedies and restorative medicinal broths to keep the situation under control.
But now she stood inside her dimensional laboratory with growing concern.
Many of her medicinal cabinets were empty.
Even worse, the vacant planting plots showed no signs of regeneration.
“Xiaobei, why aren’t the medicinal herbs regrowing?” she asked.
The system spirit immediately replied:
“Host, these particular herbs were introduced after your arrival in this world. Due to the large quantities extracted over the past two days, the pocket dimension’s energy reserves have fallen to a critically low level. There is currently insufficient energy to support automatic regeneration.”
After a brief pause, Xiaobei continued:
“Additional warning. The black medicinal compound currently applied to your face functions as a skin-repair treatment only when used for limited periods. Prolonged continuous application will produce the opposite effect and damage healthy tissue. It is recommended that the host remove the compound during rest periods.”
Qin Man sighed heavily.
This was troublesome.
If the dimension could no longer replenish her medicine supply, she would have to gather herbs personally from the surrounding mountains.
And if a major epidemic broke out while she lacked sufficient medicine…
The consequences would be disastrous.
Remembering Xiaobei’s warning, she called out:
“Su Li, bring me some clean water.”
After entering her room, Qin Man carefully dissolved the black medicinal paste covering her face using a special cleansing solution. Once it was removed, she applied a light layer of moisturizing cream.
When Su Li and Xiao Ya returned carrying fresh linens, both women froze.
The person standing before them seemed almost unreal.
Without the dark medicinal paste concealing her features, Qin Man’s flawless skin appeared luminous beneath the lantern light. Her beauty was so striking that neither maid could find words for several moments.
“Miss…” Su Li finally whispered. “You are truly beautiful.”
Qin Man laughed softly.
“The scar has completely healed. Continuing to wear the medicinal paste would only damage my skin now.”
“Then you can simply wear a veil,” Xiao Ya suggested quickly. “No one will know.”
Qin Man nodded.
“That should work.”
Before they could discuss it further, a panicked voice sounded from outside.
“Miss Qin! Her Highness requests your immediate presence in the command tent! It’s an emergency!”
Qin Man immediately covered her face with a white silk veil and hurried over.
Inside the command pavilion, she found Princess Mo Yueyao, Mo Xuan, Xiao Ruochen, and several senior physicians gathered together.
Their expressions were grim.
“Muxi,” the Princess said urgently, “multiple members of the delegation have suddenly fallen ill. The physicians’ treatments aren’t working. Several patients have developed severe fevers. Can you help?”
Qin Man’s heart sank.
She immediately responded:
“Your Highness, isolate every symptomatic patient at once. Separate them from the healthy population and establish a quarantine zone. I’ll examine them immediately.”
Outwardly, she remained calm.
Internally, however, alarm bells were ringing.
Unclean food.
Untreated water.
Exhaustion.
Diarrhea.
Vomiting.
Fever.
All signs pointed toward a serious infectious disease outbreak.
The guards acted quickly.
The sick were moved into two large quarantine tents, separating men and women.
Qin Man returned briefly to her own tent and entered her pocket dimension.
Her remaining supplies were dangerously limited, but she gathered every antiviral medicine, diagnostic instrument, and emergency treatment she still possessed.
As she emerged from her quarters, she discovered Xiao Ruochen waiting outside.
His gaze fell on the medical kit in her hands.
“Are you planning to accompany me?” Qin Man asked lightly, offering him a clean silk face covering.
“Wear this.”
Xiao Ruochen accepted it without hesitation.
“Protect yourself first,” he said quietly.
Together, they entered the quarantine area.
The sight inside was grim.
Patients lay pale and exhausted across rows of temporary beds. Many suffered relentless vomiting and diarrhea. Others burned with dangerously high fevers.
Qin Man moved methodically from patient to patient.
Diagnosing.
Treating.
Administering medicine.
Applying acupuncture.
Doing everything possible to stabilize them.
Beside her, Xiao Ruochen maintained order among the frightened officials and helped distribute medicine.
After several hours of examination, Qin Man reached a chilling conclusion.
This was no ordinary illness.
It was a highly contagious epidemic.
In the language of the era, it would be called a plague.
Without the correct medicinal herbs, it could spread through the entire expedition within days.
To prevent the disease from reaching nearby civilian settlements, Princess Mo Yueyao immediately suspended all travel and ordered a complete quarantine.
A war against an invisible enemy had begun.
Following Qin Man’s recommendations, everyone in camp was ordered to wear layered silk masks covering their noses and mouths. Strict isolation procedures were implemented throughout the encampment.
Throughout the ordeal, Xiao Ruochen watched Qin Man closely.
The calm authority with which she handled the crisis was unlike anything he had ever seen.
Could this truly be the same Qin Muxi recorded in the capital’s archives?
His investigations had already confirmed her identity beyond doubt.
Yet every day she revealed skills and knowledge that defied explanation.
Perhaps, he thought, the years spent struggling alone in the countryside had transformed her into someone entirely different.
Just as Qin Man finally left the quarantine ward, exhausted beyond words, a shadow guard rushed toward her.
His face was pale with panic.
“Miss Qin!”
She stopped immediately.
“What happened?”
“It’s Prince Mo Xuan!”
The guard’s voice shook.
“He has suddenly collapsed. Please come at once!”
Qin Man hurried to Mo Xuan’s tent.
The sight waiting inside made her heart tighten.
The normally dazzling prince lay weakly upon his bed. His complexion was deathly pale, and the vibrant charm that usually filled his peach blossom eyes had vanished.
When he saw her enter, a faint spark of life returned to his gaze.
“Muxi…” he whispered hoarsely. “You came.”
Qin Man immediately took his pulse and pressed a hand to his forehead.
The temperature shocked her.
He was burning with fever.
The epidemic had reached him.
Without wasting a moment, she administered her strongest antiviral medicine and inserted a series of acupuncture needles to reduce the fever.
“Brother Mo Xuan,” she said softly, brushing damp hair from his forehead, “the infection has caused a severe fever. Your attendants will help cool your body. You must rest completely for the next two days.”
Only after ensuring his condition was stable did she finally return to her own tent.
Her body was exhausted.
Her mind, however, remained fully alert.
Without more medicinal herbs, people would start dying.
The surrounding mountains were untouched wilderness. If medicinal plants existed anywhere nearby, they would be there.
After carefully considering the situation, she approached Princess Mo Yueyao.
“I need to enter the mountains and gather herbs.”
The Princess rejected the idea immediately.
“Absolutely not.”
“It’s too dangerous.”
“I’ll assign an elite escort unit to accompany you.”
Qin Man shook her head.
“Most of our soldiers are already showing signs of fatigue. The physicians are needed here. I know how to identify the plants. I’ll move much faster alone.”
The Princess argued repeatedly.
But in the end, she could see the determination in Qin Man’s eyes.
The entire expedition’s survival depended on finding medicine.
Reluctantly, she agreed.
After Qin Man departed, Princess Mo Yueyao paced anxiously around her tent.
Finally, she turned to her maid.
“Go to Grand Preceptor Xiao immediately.”
The maid bowed.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Tell him where Muxi went.”
The Princess’s expression was filled with worry.
“And order him to follow her.”
“He is to ensure her safety at all costs.”