Ye Qingcheng followed the doctors, room by room, to examine the patients, taking their pulses and inquiring about their symptoms.
Seeing her fine attire and learning that she had come with the Regent, the doctors did not object to her presence.
After all the patients had been seen, the doctors gathered in the hall to discuss treatment methods and offer their opinions.
At this point, Ye Qingcheng stepped forward, her expression grave, and said:
"Everyone, in my opinion, the strange illness afflicting the patients is highly contagious. From now on, when treating them, it is best to wear veils and place a layer of gauze when taking pulses, to prevent yourselves from becoming infected."
She spoke with genuine sincerity, as if she were not joking at all.
After this round of examinations, Ye Qingcheng found it difficult to ascertain the precise symptoms and causes of the patients' ailments, only discovering the extreme contagiousness of this peculiar disease.
If these doctors did not take some isolation measures, they might very well become infected as well.
Doctors could not heal themselves. If all the doctors in Fengdu City fell ill, then there would be no hope left!
Ye Qingcheng believed her considerations were appropriate, but the doctors heard it differently.
Most of them opposed her suggestion, and some even stepped forward to accuse her.
"You officials are too precious! It's just a common illness. None of us are sick, so why be so cautious?"
"Exactly! Our purpose in treating patients is to help them recover. If they see us acting so delicate, their spirits will surely sink further!"
All the doctors murmured in discussion, universally rejecting Ye Qingcheng's proposal.
These doctors had been confined to this place for treatment since the strange illness broke out, so they had no idea how many people had died outside.
Coupled with Luo Qin Quan's deliberate concealment, and the fact that the deceased showed no obvious symptoms, the entire city remained unaware that this strange illness could be transmitted and cause death.
In this situation, Ye Qingcheng could only worry anxiously.
If she were to reveal her identity as the Regent's Consort and forcefully order them, it might have some effect.
However, she could not do that.
Xiao Wang Ye had just arrived in his fiefdom, Fengdu City, and had not yet consolidated his power. If she rashly revealed her identity, it would only make her a weakness for him.
Furthermore, orders forcefully imposed on others would only increase the doctors' dissatisfaction.
Considering this, Ye Qingcheng remained silent in the hall.
Seeing that she no longer spoke, the doctors ceased their discussion on the topic and resumed their previous treatment methods.
Each had different views on this strange illness, and they argued endlessly, eventually dispersing without reaching a consensus.
Back at the Luo Mansion, Ye Qingcheng remained deeply worried, fearing that if the illness fully erupted, no one in Fengdu City would be spared.
She paced in her room and, with a determined resolve, made a decision.
Ye Qingcheng summoned the guards who had remained at the Luo Mansion. These guards knew her true identity and obediently followed her instructions.
According to Ye Qingcheng's requests, they went to shops in the city to purchase cotton cloth and gauze.
Then, taking this cotton cloth and gauze, they found people to weave it, and in just one day, they produced over a hundred veils and a crude version of gloves.
When Xiao Wang Ye returned to the Luo Mansion, Ye Qingcheng pulled him into her room to show him the veils and gloves.
"What is this?"
Xiao Wang Ye recognized the veils, but these uniquely styled gloves were something he had never seen before.
Ye Qingcheng took one of each item and placed them in his hands, saying with a serious expression:
"I had these specially made based on the strange illness I examined today. The illness here is highly contagious. Although it hasn't broken out yet, it must be stopped promptly by taking some isolation measures!"
Upon hearing her words, Xiao Wang Ye paused, then nodded, not doubting her statement at all.
He had great faith in Ye Qingcheng's medical skills and naturally did not question her like outsiders would.
This gesture was much appreciated by Ye Qingcheng, and she unconsciously revealed a satisfied smile.
"Also, when you go to inspect and distribute food, you must be careful. Absolutely do not have direct contact with infected people. Even if there is physical contact, you must wear the gloves!"
Ye Qingcheng reiterated her concern, worried about the unknown number of people infected in the city.
She feared that Xiao Wang Ye might accidentally become infected with just one careless moment.
Looking at the items called gloves in his hands, Xiao Wang Ye nodded his agreement again, and patted her shoulder to offer comfort.
Not only did she give Xiao Wang Ye this batch of veils and gloves, but all the Regent's guards were also required to wear them at Ye Qingcheng's behest. As for the servants of the Luo Mansion, she did not have enough for them for now.
Moreover, they did not heed her.
Perhaps it was Ye Qingcheng's foresight, but on the second day after their arrival in Fengdu City, the city's sick individuals suddenly began to exhibit symptoms.
Overnight, red rashes appeared on their bodies, starting from their limbs, then spreading to their faces, and finally covering their entire bodies, slowly turning into pustules, which were exceptionally horrifying.
As the red rashes spread to their faces, they developed persistent high fevers and fell into comas.
With such identical symptoms, no one would believe they were not suffering from the same disease!
Not only that, but the number of people exhibiting symptoms continued to grow, one after another.
Many people who had previously appeared energetic and healthy suddenly developed red rashes and became patients.
Under these circumstances, the city was filled with apprehension, and all the citizens dared not go out.
When Ye Qingcheng arrived at the doctors' residences again with her medical kit, these self-proclaimed eminent doctors fell silent as they looked at her.
Yesterday, they had confidently declared that the symptoms of these patients were common and that Ye Qingcheng's suggestion was unnecessary worry.
Everything that happened today was a harsh slap in the face, leaving them speechless.
In fact, it was not entirely the doctors' fault. Their medical skills were not poor, and they had been diligently treating patients during this period.
When the strange illness first broke out, there were no obvious symptoms. The patients only felt weak and exhausted.
Such mild symptoms can appear in many diseases.
It was only because so many people in Fengdu City exhibited these symptoms that it was suspected to be a strange illness.
Precisely because the symptoms were so mild and difficult to take seriously, many people did not even consider the possibility that this disease was contagious.
Now, with several attending servants in the residences showing the same red rash symptoms and falling ill, the doctors had no grounds to refute Ye Qingcheng.
This time, they took the initiative to look at Ye Qingcheng and listen to her suggestions.
"I think we can first separate the patients with and without symptoms, and then devise a plan."