After becoming pregnant, the cold-hearted nobles all went mad.

Remembering his master who had died on his deathbed a few years ago after saying these words, the little beggar held back his tears.

Shen Lingyi took a small bite of the expensive pastries that ordinary people couldn't afford and put them down. Seeing that he looked like he was about to cry, she frowned and said, "Why are you crying? It's like I'm bullying you."

After saying that, she pushed the box in front of him. "Alright, take it and eat it. I broke your steamed bun, so I'm giving you a box of pastries as compensation. You've made a profit, you little beggar, you know?"

Even though she decided to become a goddess, Shen Lingyi never thought about taking a populist approach.

It's better to kill her than to make her learn from Shen Tingjiao, speaking softly and caring to everyone. She can only pretend for a while, not forever.

The little beggar didn't mind her arrogant tone at all. He took the pastries and wolfed them down, leaving crumbs all over his mouth.

Shen Lingyi tossed a handkerchief at her: "Look at you, you look like a starving ghost reincarnated, are you still hungry?"

The little beggar was honest and answered whatever she was told. "The head monk in the temple is a good person. He gives us food, but there are too many people, and I'm too small to compete with others."

"Since that's the case, my household is short of a fire-tending boy. Would you like to come?"

The little beggar was stunned, staring at Shen Lingyi who had stood up. The sunlight shone into his eyes, and the rare warm winter sun became dazzling.

He and his master lived in Wuyi Lane. The two had relied on each other for many years, and they were able to make a living by relying on his master's skills in healing the sick and saving lives.

But one day, someone in the alley harbored malicious intentions towards the passing benefactor, thinking that he could take a gamble and have a better life once he had money.

result,

The nobleman was a distant relative of the Wan family. After escaping from the kidnappers, a troop of soldiers came the next day and poured kerosene everywhere.

The fire raged, killing countless people, including my master.

"I……"

The little beggar hesitated for a long time before finally asking the crucial question, "Is there any food in the manor?"

"Yes, all meals and lodging are included, and we have a good chef hired from Liangzhou at a high price."

"Then I'll go."

The little beggar had chubby cheeks and a very simple mind.

He wasn't a vagrant; it's just that Wuyi Lane was gone, and he couldn't make a living outside anyway. He was going to die either way, so he might as well sell himself to a nobleman.

"What's your name?" Shen Lingyi's lips curved into a smile. She had finally managed to get the person on board, so her trip hadn't been in vain.

The boy hesitated for a moment: "Qingyue."

This was the first time Shen Lingyi had learned his name.

The plot wouldn't mention the names of such minor characters, since they were all insignificant plot devices, but she nodded, indicating that she had remembered.

When Shen Su returned from Xiangguo Temple, he looked at the amulet she had gone to great lengths to obtain and felt incredibly soft-hearted, unable to even bring himself to scold her.

After that, Shen Lingyi did not go out again, and instructed the courtyard to prepare plenty of food for Qing Le.

She's too thin; she needs to take better care of herself, otherwise people will think she's skimping on her children's food.

There was a reason she didn't leave her home: a plague was spreading like wildfire in the Liangzhou area.

The matter was the subject of constant arguments in the imperial court.

Imperial physicians were dispatched in waves, and relief funds and medicines were continuously provided, but the plague could not be contained.

Inside the house, Mrs. Jiang was so worried that she couldn't eat. Her face, which was still charming despite being over forty, was pale and haggard, and her brows were full of sorrow.

Shen Lingyi stepped into the room. "Mother, I heard from the servants that you only ate a couple of bites before putting down your chopsticks again. This can't go on."

"How did it all get to you?" Jiang said wearily, rubbing her forehead as she held a letter under her arm.

Her intention was not to worry Shen Lingyi.

Upon seeing the opened letter, Shen Lingyi understood everything. "A letter from my maternal grandfather?"

Madam Jiang sighed, "Yes, your maternal grandfather's family is in Liangzhou. This plague has naturally affected them as well. Fortunately, your maternal grandfather is fine, but a few servants in the family have fallen ill."

"But the situation in the city is really not good."

"My maternal grandparents' family owns a pharmacy, so they must have no shortage of medicinal herbs. With the city's soldiers around, they're not afraid of the city's residents rushing in and looting them," Shen Lingyi comforted her mother.

That makes sense, but how can children not worry?

If the road to Liangzhou hadn't been blocked by refugees and government troops, Chiang Kai-shek would probably have flown back by now.

Shen Lingyi pondered for a moment, "If Mother is really worried, why don't we take some people and travel by water to Liangzhou?"

"Waterway?" Madam Jiang's eyes brightened slightly, then dimmed again. "That is a good idea, but His Majesty has ordered the closure of all roads from Liangzhou to the capital. To travel by water, one would probably need a pass."

"You can leave this mother to me with peace of mind." Her words aroused Jiang's curiosity, but Shen Lingyi refused to reveal what was going on.

After leaving the Jiang family, Shen Lingyi went to see Qing Le.

A few days ago, she "accidentally" discovered that the little beggar she had taken in knew medicine, so she asked him to come up with a prescription for the plague. He should have almost finished thinking about it by now.

Half an hour later.

Qing Le, with two large dark circles under his eyes, yawned and handed her the prescription in his hand; this was the result of his hard work.

He whispered, "The medicine has already been tested on the servants you sent over, Second Miss."

"Their condition has improved, and this prescription should be able to cure the plague."

Shen Lingyi excitedly took the prescription into her hands.

Actually, after hearing what Jiang said, she wasn't entirely unconcerned, since her maternal grandparents' family lived in Liangzhou.

If Liangzhou falls, they will surely not escape either.

Her maternal grandfather was the best person to her besides her parents, so how could Shen Lingyi not worry?

That's great!

With this prescription, not only can my maternal grandfather's family be saved, but the people of Liangzhou City will no longer have to suffer in dire straits.

The clearance permit was easy for Shen Lingyi to obtain; she simply wrote to Xu Yanqing, the official in charge of the Eastern Palace, to request it.

But at the last minute, the old lady caused another problem.

Ning Shou Tang.

The old lady lay on the couch, her brow furrowed, a faint smell of medicine still lingering in the room. "Cough, cough, cough, I won't allow you to go!"

"His Majesty has withdrawn troops from various prefectures and stationed them in Liangzhou. As a general in charge of 100,000 troops, you should be on standby at any time. What are you doing in Liangzhou at this time?"

"Mother, we are related to the Jiang family by marriage. How can we not even offer our condolences in this time of crisis?" Shen Su disagreed.

"Fine, fine, if your in-laws' lives are more important than mine, then go ahead and do it!"

"It will take you at least ten days to half a month to return from Liangzhou. By then, you can expect to be collecting my corpse."

The old lady pounded on the bed, her fierce temper from her younger days still evident despite her son's official title.

Shen Su couldn't retort.

Their family started as ordinary people, but later they were granted titles through military merit. The old lady lost her husband early in life and never remarried in order to raise her son.

He had come this far under his mother's protection and care, and he could not stand idly by and ignore the old lady.

Madam Jiang understood this as well, and said wearily, "What the old lady says makes sense. I will take my two daughters with me."