I started as a concubine, and I made the crown prince cry with my delicious food.

A bowl of magical instant noodles not only filled everyone's stomachs but also greatly boosted morale.

When the team set off again, everyone's faces were no longer tired and dejected, but full of energy.

They felt that following a prince who could "conjure" hot soup noodles meant a bright future.

Xiao Jingshi became the most popular person on the rest of the journey.

Every time it was mealtime, Xie Zhao and Lu Chengyuan would stare at him expectantly, their eyes like those of two little dogs waiting for their owner to feed them.

"Your Highness, are we having noodles again today?"

Xiao Jingshi always felt inexplicably good when he saw their pathetic state.

However, Ye An'an prepared a limited amount of instant noodles for him to use in emergencies, so he couldn't eat them for every meal.

But occasionally, he would still take out one or two packets and share them with everyone.

Whenever that familiar aroma wafts through the camp, it is the happiest moment for everyone.

……

After several more days of trekking, they finally arrived at their destination for the disaster relief mission – Jiangzhou.

However, the moment they stepped into the territory of Jiangzhou City, everyone was shocked by the scene before them.

Although the floodwaters have receded, what remains is a scene of devastation.

Collapsed houses, accumulated mud and sand, uprooted trees, and a stench permeating the air... a mixture of rot, dampness, and despair.

On the streets, one could see emaciated, ragged disaster victims everywhere. They sat or lay down, their eyes vacant and their faces devoid of life.

Occasionally, the cries of children could be heard, but they sounded so weak and powerless.

This scene was a hundred times more cruel and shocking than the words they read in the reports.

The playful expression on Xie Zhao's face had vanished without a trace, replaced by a look of solemnity and reluctance.

Lu Chengyuan also frowned deeply, remaining silent.

Xiao Jingshi's face was so dark it could drip water.

He gripped the reins tightly, the veins on the back of his hands bulging.

These are the people he wants to protect, and this is the world he wants to govern.

The prefect of Jiangzhou, along with a group of officials, was already waiting at the city gate.

Upon seeing the prince's entourage, they immediately knelt down to greet him, uttering all sorts of flattering words.

"Your Highness, we respectfully welcome you! Your presence in Jiangzhou is a blessing to the people of Jiangzhou, and we are deeply grateful..."

"Enough." Xiao Jingshi coldly interrupted him, his voice filled with barely suppressed anger. "All I've seen on my journey is widespread famine and misery. Is this the Jiangzhou you govern? Is this your way of being an official?"

The prefect of Jiangzhou was so engrossed in his questioning that he broke out in a cold sweat, knelt on the ground, trembling, and couldn't utter a single word.

"Take me to the government office immediately and summon all registered officials in Jiangzhou! I need to hear a report on the disaster situation right away!"

"Yes...yes!"

……

That evening, the study in the Jiangzhou government office was brightly lit.

Sitting in the main seat, Xiao Jingshi listened to the evasive and evasive reports from the officials below, his face growing increasingly grim.

He discovered that the situation was worse than he had imagined.

The granaries were already empty, and the first batch of disaster relief funds allocated by the imperial court had disappeared without a trace. The resettlement of the disaster victims was in complete chaos.

Even more frightening is that there have already been sporadic reports of disaster victims dying from vomiting and diarrhea.

"Vomiting and diarrhea..."

Xiao Jingshi astutely grasped this word.

His heart skipped a beat.

plague!

These two words weighed heavily on his heart like a boulder.

He dismissed everyone and sat alone in his study for a long time.

Outside the window, there was endless darkness, and the faint groans of the disaster victims.

He felt an unprecedented pressure and...powerlessness.

Just as he was feeling confused and unsure of where to begin, his hand inadvertently touched the thick envelope in his pocket.

It was the letter Ye An'an gave him.

He suddenly remembered her serious expression at that time.

"Your Highness, this is more important than all the food I have prepared for you."

"What's written here are some methods I know for preventing plagues."

As if possessed, he took out the letter.

On the envelope, the two delicate characters for "peace" looked especially warm in the flickering candlelight.

He took a deep breath and opened the envelope.

The letter was very thick, with more than a dozen pages.

He opened the first page, and familiar handwriting, carrying a faint scent of ink, came into view.

The handwriting wasn't the best, but every stroke showed a lot of care.

"It is as if I have seen you in person. Your Highness, by the time you read this letter, you will likely already be in the disaster area. To make a long story short, you must, absolutely must, take what I have written to heart. Post-disaster epidemic prevention is of paramount importance!"

The very first sentence gets straight to the point.

Xiao Jingshi felt a chill run down his spine and continued reading.

"First, the water source! Never drink raw water! All drinking water must be boiled! Well water that has been flooded is very prone to bacteria growth and must be disinfected with lime before boiling and drinking."

"Secondly, sanitation! After the flood recedes, silt, garbage, and human and animal carcasses must be cleaned up as soon as possible and buried deeply or burned. They must not be allowed to rot. Public toilets must be built at resettlement sites, and public urination and defecation are strictly prohibited. Excrement must be covered with wood ash or lime."

"Third, isolation! Anyone found to have symptoms of fever, vomiting, or diarrhea, regardless of severity, must be isolated immediately! They should be placed in a separate location with dedicated caregivers, and all items they have used must be disposed of separately. The caregiver must cover their mouth and nose with a cloth and wash their hands frequently."

"Fourth, ventilation! In disaster relief sites, it is crucial to avoid overcrowding and ensure proper air circulation."

"Fifth, personal protection! I drew a simple mask design for all officers, soldiers, and medical personnel to wear, which can effectively block droplets. Wash your hands frequently, before meals and after using the toilet."

……

The letter listed each point clearly, one by one.

It covers almost everything, from major macro policies to minor personal habits.

Each viewpoint is unbelievable, yet it seems to contain some profound truth.

For example, drinking boiled water.

For example, isolation.

For example, that thing called a "mask".

These were all things he had never heard of or seen before.

The more Xiao Jingshi looked, the more shocked he became.

He seemed to see a door leading to a new world being slowly pushed open by Ye An'an.

This is hardly the "method" you read about in travelogues or miscellaneous writings.

This is clearly a complete, rigorous, and scientific... epidemic prevention system!

His hand holding the letter began to tremble slightly.

He finally understood why Ye An'an had such a serious expression when she handed him the letter.

Where is the letter in these thin sheets of paper, just a dozen pages?

This is clearly a life-saving manual that could save thousands of lives!

The wisdom and foresight contained in these words impressed him more than any other book of sages he had ever read.

He looked at the last sentence on the letter, "Hoping for your early return and safety," and in the candlelight, he seemed to see Ye An'an's bright, worried eyes.

At that moment, he suddenly realized that he was not fighting alone.

She stood behind him.