Frost for a Thousand Years

Chapter 104 Song Shi'an is almost dead

Xin Yue sensed Song Shi'an's vulnerability.

The reason he made this request might be because when he was a child, he heard the same words when his mother fed him medicine: "Dalang, drink your medicine."

However, she simply couldn't act as his mother and speak to him in a more gentle and doting manner.

Because of this, it's strange.

How many of us died?

Even as he was still trembling while taking the medicine, Song Shi'an still asked.

“Two thousand soldiers died and four thousand seven hundred civilians died,” Xin Yue said. “But His Highness put the militia of those bandits in soldiers’ armor and sent them to the city walls, and the army was replenished to twelve thousand.”

"The losses are still a bit too much."

Although there are a total of 45,000 people in the city, they are different from Ji Yuan's more than 200,000 people. His side consists entirely of adult men (14 years and older).

In the north wind, there are nearly 10,000 women and about 5,000 children.

Women can be counted as 0.6 of the labor force, while children can only be counted as 0.2.

If the fighting continues like this, in the end, perhaps less than a third of the people will survive.

“Since Ji Yuan must also have malaria, will they back down?” Xin Yue asked.

“Impossible,” Song Shi’an said firmly. “Normally speaking, the number of deaths and injuries caused by a malaria outbreak, both inside and outside the city, is incomparable.”

From Ji Yuan's perspective, his opportunity was about to arrive.

Even in the most severe cases, the total mortality rate in his area due to malaria is at most ten percent.

Of course, it's not that one out of ten people who get malaria will die. Generally, seven out of ten people who get this disease will die. The remaining three are not saved by ancient medicine, but simply because their condition is not too serious and they have strong resistance.

That is, out of more than 200,000 people, 20,000 died.

In the city, generally speaking, at least one-third, more than thirty percent, would die.

"But with our advanced preparations and artemisinin treatment, we can reduce the mortality rate to the same level as the other side, or even lower."

Song Shi'an felt that it would definitely be less.

He did everything he could, from prevention and control of the spread to treatment.

This is what we call a dimensional reduction attack.

"Just as you predicted, a plague has indeed broken out."

Xin Yue still finds it somewhat unbelievable.

Because not every war results in a malaria outbreak.

"It's because there are just too many people here in Shuofeng."

In response, Song Shi'an explained, "It's the height of summer, and once one case occurs, it's hard to contain. Fortunately, summers are short in the north, so we just need to get through this hottest month."

"Can you get through this?"

Xin Yue, having finished feeding him the medicine, gazed at him.

"I know my own body, and I'm fine now."

Song Shi'an felt the chill subside considerably and a faint smile appeared on his face: "Indeed, God is looking out for me."

Seeing him like this, Xinyue relaxed a little: "That's good."

But as soon as he finished speaking, Song Shi'an's expression changed drastically.

It's visibly wrong.

"What, what's wrong?"

Xinyue was also a little flustered.

"Water, fetch water," Song Shi'an said, shivering as he threw off the blanket wrapped around his body.

Seeing this, Xinyue quickly went out to fetch water.

Hot, scalding hot.

Is this fucking malaria?
Oh God, my dear Heaven, how cruel you are to me!
That should have been during the cold snap.

After that comes the period of intense fever, which is as ferocious as a wild beast.

It felt like there was a furnace inside his body, burning intensely. His skin became scalding hot, and his head was throbbing. Song Shi'an felt that his body temperature was probably around 40 degrees Celsius.

No, it must be over forty degrees!
I'm going to become the Fire Man!
Song Shi'an impatiently took off his stuffy clothes.

Just then, Xinyue came in carrying water and saw Song Shi'an, who was completely naked in front of her. Her face flushed slightly, and her heart tightened, but without any hesitation, she poured the water into the wooden bucket.

At this moment, it's impossible to associate it with anything lewd or immoral.

Yes, there was some sympathy.

He really looked a bit like he was dead...

Continuing on, Xinyue ran out to fetch water.

Song Shi'an also soaked in the wooden tub. He could feel and hear the red-hot iron making a 'sizzle' sound in the water.

Fortunately, my health has improved a lot.

Xinyue then filled buckets with water, one bucket at a time, until the wooden buckets were more than half full.

"what……"

With his hands clasped over the edge of the wooden tub, Song Shi'an's head was throbbing so badly that he was experiencing tinnitus, as if an airplane was taking off inside. The pain was so intense that he felt like he was being tortured.

"Drink, do you want to take your medicine, Da Lang?"

Xinyue was at a loss.

"Drink, keep drinking," Song Shi'an said reluctantly.

How could Song Shi'an, a liberal arts student, possibly know how artemisinin is extracted from Artemisia annua?

All he can do is push the volume up.

Moreover, one should always drink hot water.

At this point, don't worry about the potential side effects of medicine; staying alive is the only way to maintain health.

"Okay, right away."

Xin Yue continued to feed Song Shi'an his medicine.

Am I a good magistrate?

While being given the medicine, Song Shi'an, who was extremely weak, asked in a dazed and powerless manner.

Xin Yuexin was on the verge of tears.

This guy thinks he's about to die and wants people to give him a final, definitive answer!
"Drink your medicine quickly." Xin Yue said while feeding him the medicine, "You are something else. You can treat ordinary people like human beings, and that's already something."

"Did I do something wrong?"

"No, I witnessed it all myself. You have done right by everyone."

"So, am I a good person who has transcended vulgar interests, is noble, trustworthy, and likable?"

"You're so weak, just say less and take your medicine."

Xin Yue, you motherfucker. After trying his best to lower his temperature with water, Song Shi'an slowly let out a sigh of relief...

"I want to transfer my pain onto Ji Yuan," Song Shi'an mused. "Or I could link him to my pain and we could just die together."

"You've started talking nonsense."

Xin Yue soaked the cloth, wrung out the water slightly, folded it into a long strip, and placed it on Song Shi'an's forehead after he tilted his head back.

With his eyes closed, Song Shi'an looked like a dead dog.

Compared to malaria, even a positive result is nothing special.

"Xinyue, remember to rub your body with mugwort water, especially since you're right next to me. Don't get bitten by mosquitoes. Malaria is caused by mosquitoes sucking the venomous blood of infected people and then transmitting it to healthy people. Don't argue with me, arguing with me won't help..."

Song Shi'an was indeed delirious from the fever, and began to mutter to himself incoherently.

"understood."

Xin Yue answered him, then sat down on the ground to the side, looking at the pitiful Song Shi'an, and asked with concern, "Since you know how it is transmitted, why did you personally go to prevent and control the plague? Giving orders from the main tent would have been the same."

Song Shi'an, leaning back with his eyes closed, replied, "I only believe in myself."

"But if you fall now, everyone will be in chaos."

"It's alright, I won't keep getting malaria for a long time. Once I recover, I'll have an indestructible body."

"What if you die?"

"Oh, right." Hearing her say this, Song Shi'an said hoarsely, "There's a memorial under my pillow. If I really die, give it to Xiao Wei. It has everything written in it and can keep him in charge until he returns to Sheng'an."

Xiao Wei...

Xin Yue suddenly wanted to complain, but she had something more on her mind: "Are you really that calm about death?"

"Who's calm? I didn't say I was going to die. Who the hell wants to die..."

"What I mean is, if you're after wealth and status, you've already passed the imperial examination with top honors. With your abilities, you'll become wealthy no matter which path you take. If you're greedy, your family is already rich, isn't it? If you're lustful, just continue as you always have, enjoying music and entertainment in brothels."

Why isn't "if" added before "lustful"...?

"Why!"

Xin Yue was determined to know, so she unusually pressed him with a determined question: "Why live, yet put yourself in a life-or-death situation, yet find a way to survive, and yet be so calm about the inevitable death?"

She really wanted to know.

"It seems you have quite a story, Xinyue..."

Song Shi'an, holding the towel, raised his head and slowly handed it over, saying weakly, "If I survive, let's have a drink together sometime and talk about life."

"Yes, let's talk."

Xinyue took the towel, soaked and wet it again, wrung it out until it was half dry, and placed it on his forehead.

Compared to the burning sensation earlier, Song Shi'an gradually felt better.

But my body is as weak as a noodle.

"I'm not dead... I'll sleep for a while."

Lying on the edge of the bucket, Song Shi'an was indeed quite tired.

Xin Yue leaned closer and used her fingers to feel the breath; it was so hot.

I touched his neck; it was burning hot.

He might die at any moment...

She sat nervously to the side, waiting.

Suddenly, she remembered that she hadn't used mugwort water to scrub her body today, so she boiled a pot of mugwort water.

With her back to the bathtub, she unbuttoned her clothes, sat on the stool, and, after wetting a towel, wiped every inch of her skin...

I can't sleep at all when I have malaria, even when I'm exhausted.

Song Shi'an opened his eyes, still half-asleep.

He saw that Xinyue was facing away from him, slowly wiping her body.

Her neck was long and graceful, and her shoulders were like those of a sculpted figure.

She was not a weak woman; though not exactly muscular, her graceful figure displayed strength and perseverance, and the several scars on her back did not diminish her beauty.

very beautiful.

Song Shi'an watched silently, completely calm.

He didn't close his eyes again until she finished wiping and stood up...

……

The next day, all discomfort had dissipated along with the painful memories of despair.

Song Shi'an is back in full force.

This is what malaria that isn't very severe looks like.

Although it may be intermittent and relapses are possible, at least we withstood the first wave!

At this moment, Xinyue was still holding her sword, leaning against the table, fast asleep on the ground.

I guess he stayed by my side all night.

Surprisingly, even in the military camp, there are girls who worry about dying.

A profound revolutionary friendship has been established.

Song Shi'an came out of the water, which he had 'heated' to a warm temperature, and was about to dry himself and change his clothes when Xin Yue was awakened by the noise and opened her eyes alertly.

The two looked at each other.

Xin Yue turned her face to the side.

Damn it, I'm being watched so many times a day, I'll never be able to get married.

After changing his clothes and adjusting his crown, Song Shi'an said to Xin Yue with a relaxed expression, "Thank you, Lady Xin Yue, I'm so glad I survived."

"Good."

Xin Yue turned her head and looked at him.

Suddenly, she covered her mouth and made a sound.

Song Shi'an's expression changed immediately: "You didn't catch it too?"

"No, no."

Xinyue quickly turned her head away, but her cough worsened, and her body began to tremble.

"You son of a bitch, I told you not to come, but you insisted on staying here!"

Song Shi'an walked over and reached out his hand with concern: "Are you alright?"

Suddenly, Xinyue grabbed his arm and stood up.

Then, he dusted off the dirt on his backside, picked up his sword, and casually prepared to leave the tent in front of Song Shi'an: "What could possibly happen if I'm just pretending?"

Song Shi'an: "..."

Are you an idiot?
(End of this chapter)