MCSCPM -Chapter 171 Reputation Spreads Like Wildfire

Outside the city, the land had become desolate, almost unrecognizable compared to before.

“Miss Yin, I was blind before! If not for you, we villagers would have been doomed! Your great kindness—there’s no way I can repay you. Please, allow me to bow to you!” the old woman said with a sincere smile.

“Qingyue doesn’t deserve such a grand gesture. Grandmother, please stand up,” Yin Qingyue said helplessly.

“I can bear it! I never imagined someone so young would be such an excellent doctor. I truly admire you!”

“That’s only natural. Miss Yin is the divine physician of Xize. How could such an illness stop her? This is just a small test,” Leng Feng sneered from the side.

“You really went through a lot.”

“Grandmother, you still need rest. Although the antidote has been prepared, caution is still necessary,” Yin Qingyue said. She knew that even if the plague was resolved, the source of the disease had not yet been eliminated. If left unchecked, it could return.

“Where is your prince? I have urgent matters to discuss.”

Leng Feng snorted coldly. “Urgent matters? And you immediately come to my prince? Don’t you know the meaning of gratitude?”

“Forget it, I’ll go myself.”

“Wait, I’ll take you!” Leng Feng’s eyes showed helplessness. He didn’t want to face his prince’s cold stare.

“Grandmother, take care and rest,” Yin Qingyue said with a smile.

Under Leng Feng’s guidance, she quickly found Chu Jingcheng.

“Prince Jing, Qingyue has a request!”

“On what grounds do you think I would grant your request?” Chu Jingcheng said coldly, his gaze sharp.

“Yesterday, Prince Jing, didn’t you agree to Qingyue’s request and send people to find the bitter herbs? Without your help, how could the plague have been resolved? The people of Xize will surely be grateful to you.”

“And what is it you wish?”

“The floods caused the plague. They must be controlled, and the river pollution eliminated,” Yin Qingyue said, word by word, with absolute authority.

“Xize has already declared war on Beihao. Would I help an enemy nation resolve its plague?” The Emperor implied more than just helping Xize—he wanted to hear about Yin Qingyue herself.

“If Your Highness refuses, it’s none of Qingyue’s concern. I am only conveying the matter; how you choose to act is your own decision,” Yin Qingyue said.

“I never said I was asking a favor. I am only discussing it. Please, Your Highness, do not misunderstand!”

Her words struck Leng Feng with surprise. Having followed his prince for many years, he had never seen anyone dare speak to him so boldly—except for Yin Qingyue.

“Then let’s see… who will you seek help from?” Chu Jingcheng smirked.

“Really? Nangong Xiao, perhaps?”

Suddenly, the air seemed sour with jealousy.

“Since the divine physician has spoken, this favor, I will grant!” Chu Jingcheng said calmly, though beneath his calm, a whirlpool of thoughts churned. He could not allow Yin Qingyue to seek help from Nangong Xiao—that would be giving others an advantage.

“Leng Feng, you and Leng Yi go together. Fulfill any requests Miss Yin may have!”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Yin Qingyue snorted. “If I knew he would agree, why go around in such a long loop? Such a pervert!”

“Is Prince Jing not coming?”

“Do I need to report my whereabouts to Miss Yin?”

“Prince Jing really twists my words,” she muttered.

Nearby, a flash of pink appeared.

Chu Jingcheng advanced step by step, making it clear: whatever she said, he would not leave easily.

“Miss, I’m here!” Mei’er said, smiling.

“Have you been worried sick?” Yin Qingyue laughed. Only Mei’er could make her feel this kind of concern now.

“Of course! Since the little chick went missing, I’ve been frantic. Miss, have you been well?” Mei’er’s eyes glistened with tears of worry.

“You’re fine, arms intact, legs unbroken—what’s there to worry about?”

“Miss, don’t joke with Mei’er!” Mei’er blushed lightly.

“It was thanks to Prince Jing that Mei’er found you.”

“Then stay with Prince Jing. I have to handle the flood issue!”

“Miss, don’t be mad! Mei’er only cares for your safety.”

“I have urgent matters. It’s not suitable for you to come.”

“All right. You go early and return safely!” Mei’er said, disappointed, her smile gone.

Upstream, the river had turned black.

“Look! The water is contaminated. We must clean it immediately!”

“If it weren’t for the prince’s orders, I wouldn’t obey you!” Leng Feng said angrily.

“You will split into two groups. Leng Feng, Leng Yi, each lead a team. Leng Feng, you handle the pollution cleanup. Leng Yi, open the blocked waterways.”

“Why me? Why not you clean up the filthy corpses?” Leng Feng complained. Why did Yin Qingyue always target him?

“If you’re unwilling, switch with Leng Yi!” Yin Qingyue said with a cold laugh. She knew Leng Feng would object.

Cleaning the polluted water required someone meticulous. Leng Feng was too careless and reckless, but with Leng Yi handling it, she could rest assured.

“Yes, Miss Yin. How should we proceed?”

“Wear masks first. Sprinkle this powder into the water and remove the filth. For corpses, after cremation, use the same method.”

Yin Qingyue took out a white medicine bottle—powdered bitter herbs capable of killing the bacteria in the water.

“All right.”

Leng Feng grumbled, “Yin Qingyue, you did this on purpose! Digging waterways is exhausting—you made me do it!”

“You chose this yourself. Whom are you blaming?” Yin Qingyue said coldly. No need to explain to someone so foolish.

“You… you woman!”

Inside the city, a dead silence prevailed.

“Third Prince, the refugees are rushing outside the city like mad!” a retainer said, excited.

“Have you investigated why they left the city?”

“No, sir. I just saw them and hurried to report, forgot to investigate.”

“Are you all idiots? Treating yourselves as useless?” Nangong Chen sneered.

“I’ll investigate immediately!”

Normally, refugees outside the city were few. Their sudden surge was suspicious.

“Find the cause, don’t come back until you do!”

After a day’s work, Yin Qingyue had completed most of her plan. The river pollution sources were cleaned, but flood control still required time.

Outside the city, the number of refugees inexplicably increased.

“Divine Physician, many refugees are coming to you.”

“All plague patients?”

“All of them. They heard of your skill and await your treatment.”

“No need. The plague source is resolved. Datou will handle the decoctions. Bitter herbs are sufficient. Everything will improve,” Yin Qingyue said with a smile.

These days, the city outskirts were full of plague patients—this would surely draw Nangong Chen’s attention. She had to leave soon.

“Divine Physician, are you leaving?” the old woman asked anxiously.

“The work is not yet done. Qingyue will not leave for now,” Yin Qingyue replied. The grandmother simply wanted her to finish helping the patients before leaving.

“Good!”

Rumors spread rapidly.

The story of Yin Qingyue, the “Divine Physician,” had spread across Jiangnan, reaching even Nangong Chen.

Inside the city:

“You useless lot! You can’t even manage a single woman. What are you good for?” Nangong Chen was furious.

He learned the refugees rushed out to see the divine physician.

Now that the Jiangnan plague was nearly controlled, all thanks to Yin Qingyue, his plans were disrupted.

“Find her and bring Yin Qingyue back!” Nangong Chen threw his teacup to the ground. This pawn was dangerous indeed.

With the plague mostly solved, even if Nangong Xiao returned, it would be meaningless.

“Yes, Third Prince,” the retainers said nervously, unaware that a single small slip had caused Nangong Chen enormous losses.

“Wait, I must inform Mother immediately.”

Nangong Chen wrote rapidly. In less than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, the message was ready.

“This letter must reach Mother as quickly as possible!”

Currently, the only ally Nangong Chen could rely on was Consort De. What he thought would be a single decisive move had now become a catastrophic failure.

At this moment, Yin Qingyue remained unaware of the severity of the situation.

In ancient times, royal power struggles spared no cost in pursuit of the throne.

When Nangong Chen decided to fight for the throne, he knew the risks—but no cost was too great for Yin Qingyue.

He took comfort in knowing that once he reached the peak of power, everything else would be fleeting.

“Third Prince, investigation shows the refugees outside the city are all rushing to see the divine physician. Though said to be ugly, her medical skills are remarkable.”

“Continue!” Nangong Chen said, word by word, commanding respect.

“The plague is mostly under control, even the floods…” The retainer dared not speak further.

“Yin Qingyue, you have such ability. I underestimated you!” Nangong Chen’s eyes turned bloodshot, staring like a poisonous spear at the nearby guards.

“The divine physician must be captured—alive or dead! If this fails, all of you will die!”

This matter concerned Nangong Chen’s fate. He knew within a day, it would reach the Emperor, and all opportunities would vanish.

“Yes, Third Prince.”

“One more thing: the divine physician is not alone. Several people resembling guards stay by her side.”

Nangong Chen sneered. “She’s just a woman—how could she have attendants?”

“They are not from Xize.”

“Could it be Chu Jingcheng?”

Now, Nangong Chen deeply realized the power behind Yin Qingyue. No matter his schemes, she would survive any disaster.

“Don’t alert her. Send people to track the divine physician. Report immediately if anything happens!”

“Yes.”

But things were far beyond Nangong Chen’s expectation. In less than a day, the story of the divine physician had spread across Xize, and his plans for the throne had collapsed.

“Nangong Xiao, don’t think you can escape death just like that!” Nangong Chen said coldly.