Three Kingdoms: Intercepting Liu Bei's forces and marrying Lady Mi.

"The Chen family of Yingchuan?"

Zhen Mao frowned, then slowly lowered his hand.

At this moment, Chen Ming, Zhang Fei, and Guan Yu were waiting outside the manor.

Judging from the fact that the manor gates were tightly closed and Chen Ming knocked on the door without receiving a response, something serious must have happened to the Zhen family.

"Second Brother, these people have no respect for you at all. Let me kick the door open!"

Zhang Fei's voice was deafening, and the Zhen family's private soldiers on the wall were so frightened that they swallowed hard.

Guan Yu gripped the hilt of his sword, stroked his beard, and said, "Don't rush, don't ruin Yun Qing's plan."

Zhang Fei cursed under his breath, "Damn it, what kind of people is the Zhen family, so arrogant!"

The door opened as soon as he finished speaking.

Zhen Mao walked out with a smile, followed by the other two owners of the Zhen family, as well as Zhang Shi and her daughter Zhen Jiang.

Zhang and Zhen Jiang were a bit far from Zhen Mao and the others.

Zhen Mao stepped forward, bowed to Chen Ming on horseback, and said, "Young Master Chen, I am truly sorry for not greeting you sooner!"

"Zhen Mao, from the second branch of the Zhen family, pays his respects to the young master!"

Why Chen Ming?

The reason is obvious.

First, Chen Ming stood in the middle of the group, near the front.

Secondly, Zhang Fei and Guan Yu don't resemble young masters from noble families; only Chen Ming has that kind of air about him.

Chen Ming did not immediately reply to Zhen Mao's words.

The second wife of the Zhen family?

Today he is visiting the eldest branch of the Zhen family, namely Zhen Mi's father, Zhen Yi.

The gazes cast from afar were clearly visible; they belonged to a mother and daughter.

The woman's eyes were slightly red, she had just cried; the younger girl bowed her head politely in greeting.

Where is Zhen Yi?

Chen Ming got straight to the point: "I have come today to pay my respects to Zhen Yi, the head of the Zhen family, to discuss important matters. Please introduce me."

Chen Ming remained seated on horseback, without dismounting.

Given the prestige of the Chen family of Yingchuan, the Zhen family was not enough to make him personally dismount and greet her.

"Oh, Young Master Chen, your timing is unfortunate. My elder brother is seriously ill, but there's no need to worry. If there's anything you need, just let us brothers know!"

After speaking, Zhen Maoyan began to introduce the people behind him.

Chen Ming saw through everything before him.

This is exactly the kind of drama that unfolds in wealthy families, with brothers fighting amongst themselves and bullying orphans and widows!

The second branch of the family, Zhen Mao, made it clear that the head of the Zhen family, Zhen Yi, was seriously ill, and he would take over all family affairs.

Chen Ming sneered from his horse.

In the distance, Zhen Yi's wife was still crying, and his daughter was also pretending to be pitiful.

They've come to force me to resign.

Chen Ming shouldn't have meddled in such family matters.

But he considered himself a chivalrous hero.

Chen Ming dismounted, ignoring Zhen Mao's beaming face, and walked directly toward Zhang Shi.

"Chen Ming of Yingchuan greets Madam."

Chen Ming bowed respectfully to Zhang.

Ms. Zhang panicked and didn't know how to respond.

"Young Master Chen, there's no need for such formalities. Please rise. This...this..."

Zhen Jiang quickly came to her mother's rescue.

"My father is seriously ill, and my mother is overworked, so her physical and mental health have collapsed."

"Please don't mind if there's anything I haven't done well in our hospitality."

"Zhen Jiang apologizes to you on behalf of her mother."

After speaking, Zhen Jiang bowed respectfully to Chen Ming.

Chen Ming looked up at Zhen Jiang.

Her round face was like a full moon, her eyes were like autumn water, her lips were naturally red, and her eyebrows were naturally dark.

"You're exaggerating, young lady," Chen Ming replied with a smile.

This action greatly angered Zhen Mao, who had been ignored.

Just now in the backyard, Zhen Jiang's words and actions had already frightened Zhen Mao.

Now we have Chen Ming from Yingchuan.

If these two team up, the plan is doomed.

A cunning glint flashed in Zhen Mao's eyes.

No, we absolutely cannot let them collude.

Zhen Mao stepped forward again: "Young Master Chen has come from afar, please come to my house to rest."

"It's inconvenient at my brother's house, and I don't want to burden you," Zhen Mao said with a smile.

Chen Ming raised his eyebrows. He had a habit: he would refuse to do whatever others asked him to do.

Zhen Mao was in such a hurry to get rid of him that he must have some ulterior motive, but he insisted on staying.

"How dare you! You don't need to teach me how to behave as my second brother. I'll kill you if you do!"

Zhang Fei roared.

Zhen Mao trembled as he looked at Zhang Fei on horseback.

Zhang Fei resembled a small mountain, with a round head, large eyes, a full beard, and a menacing aura.

Guan Yu squinted, stroked his beard, and remained silent.

But his imposing physique and the gleaming Green Dragon Crescent Blade in his hand suggested he was not someone to be trifled with.

Zhen Mao swallowed hard.

"Young Master Chen, this is my elder brother... My elder brother is seriously ill."

Zhen Mao said, feigning sadness.

"What serious illness could be so severe?" Chen Ming asked.

Upon hearing this, both Zhang and Zhen Jiang looked very displeased.

Zhen Mao stepped forward and whispered, "My elder brother has a skin condition that can be contagious to you, young master."

"If you are truly like this, I will not escape my guilt even if I die ten thousand times."

"My wife and daughter are taking care of my elder brother... Young master, you'd better be careful."

Sores?

Chen Ming was hearing about it for the first time and didn't understand what kind of illness it was.

But Zhen Mao's mention of contagion and his nervousness indicate that the disease is highly contagious.

This era...

Chen Ming suddenly understood; he knew the reason.

It's smallpox, it's smallpox!

When Emperor Wu of Han sent Ma Yuan on a southern expedition, smallpox spread to the Central Plains.

From then on, the disease spread throughout the Central Plains.

People at that time were most afraid of smallpox and avoided it.

Ordinary people are no exception; even the emperor, the most powerful man in the land, can only wait to die if he contracts this disease.

Zhang and Zhen Jiang had given up hope.

"Young Master Chen, I'll help my mother back first. Please forgive me if I've been impolite."

Zhen Jiang's face turned pale, and she turned to leave.

Everyone was afraid of smallpox at the time, but he was not a person of that era.

"Don't go, young lady. This is just ordinary smallpox. Don't be afraid. I can cure it."

Chen Ming said confidently.

There was dead silence all around.

Everyone stared at Chen Ming with wide eyes, their gazes filled with a variety of emotions.

Some people were puzzled, some were shocked, some laughed, and some looked at him as if he were crazy.

Only Zhang Fei's eyes remained unchanged.

In his view, his second brother could lift a boulder weighing thousands of pounds, so there was nothing he couldn't do.

"Look at you guys, if my second brother says it's possible, then it's possible."

Zhang Fei turned to Chen Ming: "Second Brother, am I right?"

Chen Ming smiled and nodded: "That's right, knowledge is power!"

Although no one believed Chen Ming's words, the patients had no other choice, and they would seize any hope they could find.

Zhen Jiang immediately knelt down in front of Chen Ming.

"Young Master Chen, if you can save my father, I am willing to serve you like a slave."

She fought back her tears and stubbornly looked up at Chen Ming.

"Cough cough..."

"Stop talking nonsense, get up!"

Chen Ming reached out to help her.

She's so beautiful, it's a shame she has to be treated like a slave.

Before Zhen Jiang could get up, Zhang Shi knelt down again.

"Young Master Chen, you saved my husband; the Zhen family's property is yours."

Zhang made a ruthless decision.

She said this to get revenge on the Zhen family.

Zhen Mao, who was standing next to him, disagreed.

He knew Chen Ming couldn't cure the boils, but if he happened to be able to, he would lose everything.

"Young Master Chen, this matter is very serious."

"Although your elder brother's illness is important, you are of a high status and cannot take the risk."

"If anything happens to you, how will I explain it to your family? So, Mr. Chen, please don't get involved in this matter."

"Just tell me what you need, and I'll take care of it for you."

Zhen Mao grabbed Chen Ming's arm and said sincerely.

Chen Ming turned to look at Zhen Mao holding his hand: "Let go!"

Zhen Mao was startled and immediately released his grip, stepping aside.

"If I say it can be cured, then it definitely can be cured."

"Are you afraid that if I cure your older brother, you won't be able to inherit the family fortune?"

Chen Ming's words hit Zhen Mao where it hurt, and he blushed.

"Why do you say that, Young Master Chen? I... I'm also very worried about my elder brother's illness, but this sore..."

"Alright, that's enough. Go find a quiet place."

"I don't need you to tell me what to do."

"Yide, see the guests out!"

After Chen Ming finished speaking, he walked directly into the Zhen Family Manor.

Zhang Fei's eyes widened, his expression fierce, as if he wanted to devour someone.

Zhen Mao dared not speak and immediately led the people from the third and fourth branches of the family to escape.

When he got some distance away and saw Chen Ming and the others enter the manor, Zhen Mao stopped.

He stared coldly at the manor.

"This is too much, Second Brother, what should we do?"

The third wife, Zhen Wenwen, asked Zhen Mao.

Zhen Mao gritted his teeth and said, "What else can we do?"

"I knew Zhen Jiang wasn't a good person all along; she hooked up with Chen Ming in just half a day."

"Regardless of whether Chen Ming can cure the disease, we absolutely cannot take the risk!"

Zhen squinted as she spoke.

"Then what should we do?" asked Zhen Mao from the fourth branch of the family.

"Report to the authorities!"

Zhen Mao squeezed out those words through gritted teeth.

"If they insist on doing it this way, then let the authorities handle it. Don't blame us for being impolite then!"

"Do you agree?" Zhen Mao's eyes were fierce.

The third and fourth wives were initially hesitant, but after seeing his eyes, they immediately nodded.