Chapter 667: Chapter 227 Assassination_3
"It’s too stuffy with so many people, I needed some air,"
Ji Xun nodded. Lu Tong asked, "Why have you come out as well?"
"I have something I want to talk to you about."
Lu Tong looked at him.
"Yesterday, Cai County Chief said that ever since they started putting plague-preventing medicine in the water wells, the number of new plague infections in Su Nan County has decreased," Ji Xun said. "Though the Plague-Preventing Incense and medicinal sachets also played a role, at least the epidemic has not continued to spread wildly."
Lu Tong said, "That’s good news."
"It is for the other residents of Su Nan, but not for them," Ji Xun glanced toward the Plague Hospital. Through the half-open door, faint sounds of lively laughter and the aroma of hot soup carried through, bringing with it a kind of bubbling warmth in this icy, snowy world.
"Not a single patient with the plague has recovered."
Lu Tong fell silent.
Ji Xun sighed, "Though the rate of death has slowed, in the end, they’re still going to die. Chief Physician Chang asked me earlier if we should switch to a new medicine."
Lu Tong frowned, "A new medicine?"
The treatments for the epidemic in Su Nan County, as administered by the Medical Officers, were all derived from the nine transmission treatment methods in the Liang Dynasty’s "Epidemic Discussion." As those infected with the epidemic were already weak, blindly switching to a new medicine without certainty could stimulate the patient’s condition and God knows what consequences it would bring.
"Chief Physician thought so too and was about to discuss it with you. But this might be a solution as of now; otherwise, without finding the exact remedy, everyone in the Plague Hospital will die."
"Cuicui’s Father heard me and the Chief Physician discuss this yesterday and volunteered to be the first to try the new medicine," Ji Xun said.
Lu Tong sharply turned to him, "You let him be a test subject?"
Her look suddenly became piercing. Ji Xun was taken aback, not understanding why she was so agitated, and explained, "This is also an opportunity for him, Cuicui’s Father was the one who proposed it. Besides, we won’t use medicine blindly..."
Lu Tong cut him off, "Testing medicine is different."
"The effects of an untested medicine on a human body, not to mention whether the outcome could actually be effective, might bring more severe pain, especially since he’s already ill. I do not approve."
She was very adamant in her opposition.
Ji Xun paused.
When he was at the Medical Officer Institute, he always thought that Lu Tong’s prescription methods were fierce and domineering, her formulations were extremely bold. He believed that Lu Tong would approve of drug testing without hesitation, so he was surprised to see such vehement opposition from her.
"If he can successfully test out a new medicine, Cuicui may have a glimmer of hope for the future. Otherwise, everyone in the Plague Hospital will ultimately not escape death. Doctor Lu, we have been in Su Nan County for so long now, and to this day haven’t cured a single patient. You are a healer; you know full well that this action is not entirely without risks. Why can’t you see that clearly?"
Lu Tong looked at him, was silent for a moment, then said, "Because being a medicine man is very painful."
Ji Xun was taken aback.
She said, "Leaving the physical pain aside, the fear of the unknown can destroy everything."
"I understand what you are saying makes sense, but please excuse me for not agreeing," she said.
Having said that, she no longer continued the conversation with him and turned to leave.
As soon as she turned around, she saw someone standing at the entrance of the Plague Hospital.
Pei Yunmeng stood in front of the Plague Hospital. Dressed in a black Imperial Guard uniform, not wearing a heavy cloak, countless snowflakes fell gently upon him, while the deeper snowstorm blurred the view, making it hard to discern his expression or know how long he had been standing there.
In the midst of the silvery-white snow fluttering around, on one side was Ji Xun, hesitant to speak, and on the other was Pei Yunmeng, quietly watching her. Lu Tong paused for a moment, then turned around and walked towards a medicinal basket in front of the Plague Hospital.
After only two steps, someone came running from afar.
It was a man in the uniform of a Government Official, holding a small basket, who said to Lu Tong, "Medical Officer Lu, these are today’s medicinal sachets to be changed, kindly take a look."
The medicinal sachets of the patients in the Plague Hospital needed to be replaced every few days. Lu Tong picked up a sachet, checking if there was any damage inside. The Government Official waited by her side.
While she turned the sachets over, she casually said, "These sachets have been used for ten days; they should all be destroyed after today’s use. The bags must be entirely replaced as well."
The Government Official replied, "Understood."
She glanced at the Government Official.
There were only about a dozen subordinates under Cai Fang of Su Nan County Office. Lu Tong encountered most of them daily while changing the Plague-Preventing Incense. This man, with his average looks, wouldn’t stand out in a crowd, but for some reason, Lu Tong’s intuition screamed alarm, and she paused.
She asked, "I don’t seem to have seen you before?"
The Government Official was taken aback and responded, "This subordinate was previously accompanying County Commander Li to maintain public order among the residents in the city, which is why Medical Officer has not seen me."
Lu Tong stared intently at him, "What’s your name?"
"To answer Medical Officer, my name is..."
The man mumbled, fumbling with his lips. In the next moment, a flash of cold light darted out, and a dagger tip suddenly appeared from the sleeve of the Government Official. Without any mercy, it pierced straight towards Lu Tong’s chest!