The village head wiped the cold sweat from his brow, still looking like a startled bird. His face was pale as he nervously faced Qi Yuan, anxiously awaiting his fate.
He knew exactly what it meant when soldiers surrounded a village on all sides.
Throughout history, whenever an epidemic broke out, this was the most common official response.
If there were any signs of it spreading, the authorities would not hesitate to wipe out an entire village, or even a whole town, to avoid trouble and uncontrollable consequences.
He had thought that Gaojia Town would meet this exact fate.
But out of nowhere, a young woman had appeared and actually forced the soldiers to retreat.
With a thud, he dropped to his knees in front of Qi Yuan, choking back sobs: “Miss, I beg you to show mercy! There are people infected in the town, but many others are still healthy! Gaojia Town has over three thousand people…”
He couldn’t finish. Collapsing forward, he suddenly burst into loud, uncontrollable sobs.
All the fear and anguish he had held back over the past few days came pouring out.
For a moment, silence reigned. Then, one by one, the townsfolk also knelt.
A young man cried out, “I haven’t even married yet! I don’t want to die!”
“My child’s still so young! He’s only three! He’s not sick, I’ll die in his place, please, I’m begging you, spare the child!”
Qi Yuan cast a cold glance at the ashen-faced Fang Yuanping, but when she looked back at the village head, her tone softened. “Get up and speak. You’re the village head here?”
The village head quickly nodded and scrambled to his feet, voice trembling as he explained Gaojia Town’s situation to Qi Yuan.
Gaojia Town wasn’t far from Hongdu, about half a day’s journey.
It sat beside the Gan River, blessed with fertile land and abundant resources.
So the town had always been relatively prosperous.
But this plague had thrown everything into chaos.
The more he spoke, the more pained the village head became.
Qi Yuan gave a small hum and lowered her gaze. “I understand the people are innocent, and I know none of you wanted this plague. But one thing I must say clearly: you cannot leave the town.”
Hearing that, the village head’s lips trembled, and his face instantly went pale.
He had thought they’d been given a way out, but they were still being sealed inside?
Qi Yuan bent down and helped up the little child who’d been kneeling on the ground, then turned to the village head. “I’ll send twenty physicians into the town. Don’t worry, I will do everything I can to help them find a way to save you.”
The child held her hand, gazing in confusion toward the crowd.
The people stirred instantly, murmurs rippling through them.
Some believed her. Others did not.
But in the end, the will to survive overpowered everything. Someone couldn’t help but cry out, “Why should we believe you?! What if you’re lying to us?!”
Qi Yuan grabbed Fang Yuanping by the hair, lifted his head, and showed his face to the crowd. Her eyes swept over the townsfolk coldly as she declared in a loud voice: “You believe me because I stopped this explosion. Because of him! I swear on the entire clan of Jiangxi’s Chief Commander Fang Yuanping, if I cannot save the people of Gaojia Town, then may his whole clan die miserably!”
Fang Yuanping’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
He truly couldn’t understand, how could there be such a shameless person in this world?!
If she wanted to make a vow, fine, but why drag his entire clan into it?!
And she even said it with such righteousness!
But of course Qi Yuan was righteous. Every single tael of silver Fang Yuanping had embezzled had benefited the Fang clan.
There wasn’t a single one of them who died unwronged.
Besides, the title “Commander of Jiangxi” still carried a good deal of weight.
Sure enough, the moment they heard her ruthless oath, the townspeople’s emotions gradually settled.
The idea that “the people cannot fight the officials” had been deeply rooted for generations.
They knew they could never overpower an official, but if his entire clan died with them, at least it would feel like justice.
Off to the side, Beize couldn’t help but click his tongue.
Liujin coughed lightly and muttered, “For Miss Qi to swear on his name, she must think highly of him.”
But honestly, it was kind of funny, Miss Qi really never suffered a loss.
Even when swearing an oath, she made someone else do it.
The village head was sharp. He understood clearly that this girl had no reason to lie to them.
If she hadn’t stopped it, Fang Yuanping would’ve already lit the fuse.
Gaojia Town would’ve gone up in flames.
So for her to make such a huge scene, she couldn’t possibly be doing it just to trick the townsfolk.
He understood what Qi Yuan meant.
The people of Gaojia Town were citizens, but so were those in Jinxian County, in Hongdu, and all across Jiangxi.
All of them were people.
So the plague had to be treated first. Once it was under control, then they could leave.
He realized this at once and said, “Alright! We believe you! If we die, we die in our own homes! This young lady has protected our home, we won’t abandon it either!”
As he spoke, he stood and turned to rally the townsfolk. “Everyone, let’s go! Let’s go home! Let’s wait at home!”
The people of Gaojia Town didn’t cause any more trouble. They kowtowed three times to Qi Yuan, then helped one another up and followed the village head, step by step, away from the town gate.
Their retreating backs vanished down the road, but the silence they left behind was deafening.
Even Liujin and the others felt shaken. Goosebumps prickled across their skin.
Qi Yuan glanced coldly at Fang Yuanping. “Did you see that? This is what the people are like. If officials like you would just do the bare minimum, they would be endlessly grateful. But you push them to the brink.”
Fang Yuanping couldn’t respond. He was silent for a long time before finally shaking his head. His voice hoarse, he mocked, “I don’t know who you are. But do you really think any of this will work?”
He laughed bitterly. “It won’t.”
The order had come from Huang Hongzhong, but behind him was Xiong Liangyong.
And without Qi Wang’s approval, Xiong Liangyong would never have made such a decision.
Qi Wang controlled all civil and military matters in Jiangxi. To put it plainly, he was the sky over Jiangxi.
If the sky wants you dead, what can you do?
He looked at Qi Yuan, seeing her as some naïve child. “If it’s not Fang Yuanping, there’ll be Ding Yuanping, Chen Yuanping, Lu Yuanping. You think you can stop them all?”
“Who said I’m here to stop them?” Qi Yuan slowly curled her lips. “Anyone who comes, I’ll kill. One by one, pair by pair, however many come, I’ll kill that many. None of these corrupt officials are worth sparing.”
She beamed at Fang Yuanping. “If Lord Fang doesn’t believe me, feel free to wait and see.”
Fang Yuanping furrowed his brows, not quite understanding.
Wait… for what?
