After helping Rouyuan treating patients for several hours, Yexuan stepped outside the medical tent, reading over the reports collected by the soldiers regarding contaminated water sources.
The deeper he investigated, the clearer the truth became, this outbreak was not natural.
It was engineered.
That night, under the dim lantern inside his temporary command tent, he wrote a secret letter to the Crown Prince.
He asks Crown Prince to set a trap for Xue Qiwu.
To leak a false 'urgent relief budget' from Dongming City.
Ask Yan Bingyun to monitor who tries to alter the records.
And do not alert Prime Minister Zhao or Prince Yuntai.
If Xue Qiwu intercepted the bait, they would have solid proof.
The next morning, the Crown Prince received the letter and immediately summoned, Fourth Prince Murong Yunxi and Duke Lin Changyu.
Inside the Eastern Palace Strategy Chamber, Murong Yunqing unfurled a map.
"Yexuan sent word. We strike from the Imperial Treasury," he said.
Yunxi tapped the table. "We can create a fake relief order requesting another 200,000 taels."
"And falsify that it requires immediate approval," Lin Changyu added.
"He who's going to intercept it and stamp it."
The Crown Prince nodded,"Good. When he moves… we take him."
The trap was set.
The net slowly tightened around Prince Murong Yuntai's faction.
Murong Yuxin & Wen Xianyi — A Budding Romance
Back at Yunyan Pavilion, Wen Xianyi was working tirelessly to send supplies to Dongming Medical Camp—managing ledgers and items in Yunyan Pavillion, preparing herbs, sorting medicines, packaging soap bars, checking carts, organizing staff.
She barely had a moment to sit.
Murong Yuxin, who had stayed behind to 'keep an eye on internal movements,' came to help.
Or so he claimed.
In truth, he simply wanted to be near Xianyi.
Seeing her brows furrow while checking the inventory list, Yuxin leaned slightly closer.
"Your handwriting is starting to wobble," he teased softly.
"You should rest. Overworking is bad for beauty."
Xianyi flinched at his closeness and stepped away. "I'm fine. This is my job."
Yuxin smirked, "But isn't it my job to help you? I can carry the heavy crates."
"You're a prince," she muttered.
"And?" Yuxin tilted his head. "A prince can't carry boxes?"
Xianyi didn't answer.
She simply continued writing.
Yuxin plucked the brush from her hand.
"Hey—!"
"Rest. Just five minutes," he ordered calmly. His tone was gentle but firm.
"No."
Yuxin suddenly leaned closer, whispering with a grin, "If you faint, Rouyuan will blame me. So listen."
Xianyi's face heated.
"…Fine. Only five minutes."
Yuxin smiled brightly—like he had won a battle.
Inside, his heart murmured,
So stubborn…
So hardworking…
So adorable.
Deputy General Wei Shensu & Yan Doudou — Flirtation by the Fire
Back at the Dongming Medical Camp kitchen tent—
Yan Doudou was busy cooking large pots of porridge mixed with boiled water and herbs for the patients.
Deputy General Wei Shensu wandered in, pretending to 'inspect.'
Actually, he came for one reason,
Doudou's cooking.
And… Doudou herself.
He sniffed the air dramatically.
"Mmm… is this heaven?
Or is it just you cooking again?"
Doudou almost dropped her ladle.
"Your Excellency, stop joking," she muttered shyly.
"Who's joking?" He leaned on the table.
"I swear my soul leaves my body whenever I smell your food."
"…Our Deputy General Wei Shensu, please leave the kitchen," she whispered, flustered.
"Then feed me first," he grinned.
"I'm cooking for patients."
"Then I'm a patient too," he declared, sitting down. "A patient of hunger… caused by you."
Doudou blushed so hard she nearly steamed herself.
One of the Snow Wolf Cavalry elites whispered outside: "Our Deputy General has fallen in love."
Another replied, "Obviously."
Wei Shensu simply watched Doudou stir the pot, smiling softly.
'She's hardworking… gentle…cute...
And her food tastes like home.
How could I not fall for her?'
Bai Yunchen & Murong Qingshi — Sparks in the Midst of Chaos
At the disaster camp supply tent—Bai Yunchen was checking weapons used for cutting reeds along the riverbanks, searching for contamination sources.
Murong Qingshi followed him, saying she 'wanted to help.'
Yet she accompanied him largely for one reason—to charm and flirt with him.
Yunchen swung his sword to chop tall reeds.
Qingshi stood nearby, fanning herself.
"It's hot…" she complained softly.
Without thinking, Yunchen removed his cloak and draped it over her head.
"…Gege, how is this helping?" she asked under the heavy cloak.
Yunchen blinked, confused. "I thought you were cold."
"Even its rainy sometimes, but still, it's hot, Your Excellency."
Qingshi peeked out, her face red due to embarrassment and heat.
Yunchen scratched his head.
"Oh."
Qingshi laughed suddenly, "You're adorable."
Yunchen nearly dropped his sword.
"A-Adorable?"
Qingshi gave him a bright smile.
"Yes. Very adorable."
Yunchen's face turned red.
Rouyuan Falls Ill
Late that evening—Rouyuan had been moving nonstop between tents, examining patients, mixing ORS, inspecting water sources, writing treatment instructions.
Her face was pale.
Doudou touched her forehead.
"Ah Yuan… you're burning up!"
Qingshi panicked. "She's vomiting—get water!"
Rouyuan pushed their hands weakly.
"I'm… fine… still need to—"
"No!" Qingshi snapped.
"You're a physician, but you're human too!"
They helped her back to the tent.
Her fever climbed rapidly.
Her breaths grew weak.
Yexuan, meanwhile, was miles away at a riverbank, examining the water contamination site with Snow Wolf Cavalry.
One rider came galloping—
"Your Highness!
Young Lady Bai—she collapsed with a high fever!"
Yexuan froze.
His heart stopped.
Without hesitation—he jumped onto his horse.
"I need to return to camp immediately. All guards continue the investigation without me!"
The soldiers were stunned.
"The commander… left the investigation?"
"He never abandons post…"
But they understood, he would let the world burn before he let Rouyuan suffer alone.
He rode like the wind.
When Yexuan burst into the tent, Rouyuan was trembling in her sleep, Xiaoya pressing a cold cloth to her head, Doudou crying, Qingshi fanning her.
"Rouyuan…" Yexuan whispered, kneeling beside her.
Her eyelids fluttered, "…Yexuan…?"
He took her hand firmly.
"I'm here."
She closed her eyes again—finally resting.
Yexuan stayed the entire night, refusing to move even once.