In ancient times, the powerful and wealthy seized power step by step.

Whether the prescriptions Zhu Qingyu used were effective can only be determined by seeing the patient.

But some people, armed with this prescription from four years ago, are convinced that the epidemic can be cured and have already headed to northern Xinjiang.

Gu Zhao extracted the key information from it:

"You said this prescription could be used to treat the winter plague in Bianzhou four years ago. Qingyu, did you cure the plague in Bianzhou four years ago?"

Zhu Qingyu felt that her chemistry with Lord Gu was getting worse and worse. Even just chatting today, she kept getting confused by his conversations. She replied:

"The winter epidemic in Bianzhou four years ago was cured by the government. The government set up many medicine distribution points. I only treated patients in the Yangzhou Chamber of Commerce in Bianzhou before that, and then set up a stall at the entrance of the Yangzhou Chamber of Commerce to distribute medicine for a while."

When Zhu Qingyu first arrived here, she had no money, no status, and no place to live. She had nothing at all. So she followed Zhang Shen, the first person in this world to speak to her, to the Yangzhou Chamber of Commerce in Bianzhou City where he was temporarily staying.

That evening, Zhang Shen also suddenly fell ill with an epidemic and never recovered.

This was the first person in the world she had any connection with, and also the benefactor who took her in when she had no money, no identity, and no place to live.

Zhu Qingyu was in a state of panic, fearing she might lose the only person she could still contact. She worked tirelessly for several days, trying every possible method and adjusting the prescriptions several times, and finally managed to save Zhang Shen.

People in the Yangzhou Chamber of Commerce also gradually contracted the disease. In the first few days in this world, Zhu Qingyu spent almost all her time treating patients. She was so busy that she didn't even have time to think about why she had transmigrated and what to do in the future.

Gu Zhao pieced together the fragmented information and finally asked:

"Qingyu, when you were treating patients from the Yangzhou Chamber of Commerce and distributing medicine at your stall, where did you get the medicine from?"

Zhu Qingyu couldn't remember the events of four years ago so clearly, but she tried her best to recall:

"There was a pharmacy next to the Yangzhou Chamber of Commerce in Bianzhou City. I got the medicine there. I can't remember what it was called again, was it the Wang Family or the Liu Family Pharmacy?"

Suddenly, Zhu Qingyu, who was usually at odds with him, had a rare flash of inspiration:

"You just mentioned Judge Liu? Liu's Medical Clinic? Doctor Liu became a judge?"

Gu Zhao's expression was very serious:

"That's most likely it, Qingyu. I'll send someone to investigate whether someone stole your prescription and used it to rise through the ranks and seize a high position."

Should we go to Bianzhou City to investigate?

Zhu Qingyu suddenly became nervous because her current identity could not withstand investigation.

Her current identity was arranged for her by Zhang Shen. He found a minor official in Bianzhou City who was in charge of registering refugees and gave her a real identity as a refugee. He then used this identity to make a complete set of documents so that she could have a legitimate identity to move around.

If Gu Zhao arranges for someone to investigate the epidemic in Bianzhou back then, they will likely uncover this flaw.

Zhu Qingyu hurriedly advised:

"No need, forget it. As I just said, my books are meant to be read by others, and prescriptions are no exception. Even in Yangzhou, my medical books are out there for anyone to read—my apprentices read them, and so do my patients. There's no such thing as stealing prescriptions from me. I wish everyone in the world had seen them, so they could remember them and use them when they need them. Even if, as you say, he offered the prescriptions to the government, whatever his motives, if he ultimately helped the government quell the epidemic, that would be a good deed. If I were to offer the prescriptions, the government would at most give me a few taels of silver; they wouldn't appoint me as a court physician. And his position as court physician isn't something he stole from me."

Moreover, Zhu Qingyu didn't dare to present the prescription to the government at the time. She was an unregistered person, and unregistered people are most afraid of government officials. If she presented the prescription and was found to be a suspicious person without any identity, wouldn't that just be asking for trouble?

Zhu Qingyu wrote a long, rambling post, but simply didn't want to delve into it.

But with such a long and detailed list, she must have something she doesn't want him to know.

Is her hometown really Bianzhou? And do she have relatives in Bianzhou?

It seems we absolutely must send someone to Bianzhou.

Gu Zhao lifted his eyelids and glanced at her:

"Zhu Qingyu, are you a bodhisattva descended from heaven? Someone stole your things, and you don't care at all, thinking you can just let it go? You can let it go, but I can't. I'm just a mortal on earth, and I must find out the truth. Furthermore, if Judge Liu really did rise to a high position through plagiarism, and is just a fraud, I will definitely investigate him as well. Otherwise, he's unworthy of his position, and the imperial physicians serve all the nobles, which will cause a lot of trouble."

Zhu Qingyu was somewhat worried, and then thought:

"Anyway, I'll be returning to Sichuan in a few days. Once I'm back, far from the emperor's reach, what can he do even if he finds out?"

So Zhu Qingyu stopped arguing with Gu Zhao and simply said "oh" to indicate that she understood.

Seeing her resigned expression, Gu Zhao softened his tone and asked again:

"So, Qingyu, are you sure you want to go back to Shu? Shu is so far from the capital. Will I never see you again? I want to forget you, but I can't. What should I do? Can you tell me what kind of man you like so I can give up?"

Zhu Qingyu was taken aback by his question, wondering how the topic had suddenly shifted from Judge Liu to this. She hesitated and replied:

"You're asking that, but I'm not entirely sure either."

Gu Zhao persevered:

"Qingyu, I also want to keep our promise. Please help me, okay?"

For some reason, Zhu Qingyu felt that his tone was somewhat familiar, as if she had seen it somewhere before.

She also suspected that Gu Zhao might be using a strategy of feigning weakness, as these words didn't sound like something he would say.

But since he had said that, she wasn't truly heartless, and replied:

"If I had to name someone I like, it would be someone like Lord Zhuang, wouldn't it? You see, there's quite a difference between you two."

Whether it was the Zhuang family's daughter or Lord Zhuang, they were both people of noble character to Zhu Qingyu, and Zhu Qingyu was referring to their character.

But as soon as Gu Zhao heard this, he immediately thought of Lord Zhuang's overly handsome face.

When Lord Zhuang first entered officialdom, he was an exceptionally handsome 18-year-old who ranked third in the imperial examinations. More than a decade has passed, and in terms of appearance, he has never been able to rival anyone in the court.

Other things can be changed, but how can one change their appearance?

This young lady is really something; she went straight for the point of trying to make him give up on her.

After seeing Zhu Qingyu off onto the carriage, Gu Zhao watched the Zhang family's carriage gradually disappear into the distance. He thought to himself, "It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter. If it can't be changed, then it can't be changed."

If this road is blocked, then we'll try another one.

In any case, whether it's Sichuan or Bianzhou, Zhu Qingyu, you can't go there.