Don't be tempted, sir

Porridge was distributed in an orderly manner in each porridge stall. Qizhu took Huan'er to the government office. The prince was now preparing to leave for the coastal area to pacify the pirates.

Qizhu rushed forward and said, "Master Yan, I want to build a place to treat the wounded."

The prince turned around and looked at Magistrate Liu and introduced him, "Magistrate Liu, this is Zhao Qizhu, the envoy who came to Yong'an this time."

County Magistrate Liu bowed and said, "I am here to meet Miss Zhao. If Miss Zhao has any instructions, please let me know. I will do my best to help you."

Qizhu bowed back, "Thank you, County Magistrate Liu."

"We are already working on arranging the treatment for the injured that Miss Zhao mentioned. Please follow me."

Qizhu looked at the prince and said, "Master Yan, I'm going to get busy now. Master Yan, please be safe and be careful on your journey!"

"Okay! Miss Zhao too, see you later."

"See you"

Qizhu came to the camp for the wounded, which was still under construction, and told Huaner to go to the square to inform everyone of the location of the camp. Then more people came one after another, and Qizhu stood in front of the camp and shouted loudly, "Is there anyone who knows how to build it? The camp is still a little unfinished, I hope everyone can help!"

Then someone responded, "My brother has injured his leg! Let's put my brother in first and I'll help the lady!"

"And me! I..."

Qizhu looked at Magistrate Liu and said, "Magistrate Liu, I am not very familiar with Yongzhou. Please invite some doctors with good medical skills to come to the camp to treat the wounded."

"Madam Zhao is polite"

Qizhu said to Huan'er, "Get a pot for cooking porridge at the campsite. The injured cannot move around easily."

"Yes, Madam."

Everything was going on in an orderly manner. Everyone was hungry and tired. The porridge pot was set up to cook thick porridge. Everyone's stomachs were rumbling with the smell of rice. Someone worriedly said, "Madam, we are currently displaced and don't have much money. Do we have to pay for food and medical treatment?"

Someone responded in a rage, "Yes! Especially for medical treatment! We don't have money."

Qizhu raised her hand to comfort him, "Don't worry, everyone! This is provided by the imperial court. Just rest and recover! Later, I will ask everyone to contribute their strength, and we will rebuild our home together!"

Everyone raised their hands and responded, "Good! Good! Thank you for the court's consideration of us! We will definitely serve!"

On the other side, the prince arrived at a coastal village, and some pirates had set up flags and camps in the village.

"Kill! Kill the pirates without mercy!!!"

A thousand cavalrymen rode into the village with spears in hand. The prince led the way and fought all the way to the next village. When they were driven to Anfu Village, a ragged woman knelt on the ground and kowtowed with fear in her eyes.

The soldiers asked, "Are you a villager of Anfu Village?"

"No, no! Please, sir, save my sister! We are from Wang Village next door."

The prince said, "Stand up and speak."

"Sir, Wang Village is the main pirate base! Many sisters are imprisoned in the ancestral hall, and some have been transported to the ship. Please save them, sir!"

A soldier asked, "Why are you here?"

The woman's eyes were filled with fear. "My sister and I are twins. My sister switched me out. Please save my sister!"

The prince said, "Ten people will search Anfu Village, and the rest will go to Wang Village!"

Following the woman to Wang Village, they found themselves happily drinking and eating meat.

The pirates were no match for the well-trained cavalry, and were quickly captured. The prince's bloody sword lifted the leader's jaw and said, "Tell me, where is the woman you smuggled?"

The pirate turned his head away and said, "Pfft... You want to know? Let me go!"

The prince sneered fiercely in his eyes and used the sword to cut open his chest little by little. The pirate couldn't help but cursed, "Do you know that I am the second in command of this sea area! If you kill me, I will not let you go."

The prince said indifferently, "Oh! Not the leader..." Then he stabbed his left leg with a sword. He slowly turned the hilt of the sword and said, "Do any of you want to say something and still have a chance to live?"

A timid person spoke up, "I'll tell you! I'll tell you! They kidnapped the Yongzhou woman and planned to sell her to another country... It's all their fault. I didn't do anything!"

The prince's face was splattered with blood. He turned around and asked coldly like a madman, "Where are they now?"

"The people in the ancestral hall have been transferred to the ship. It will depart at 11:00 tonight and will be parked at the coast."

"Very good, it seems you are useless now." Then he drew his sword and prepared to kill the pirate. The arrogant pirate just now was afraid to speak, "Sir! Sir, please spare my life!"

The prince readily agreed! "Okay! Lead the way! Kill the rest! And take the one who just confessed with you."

He led them all the way to the bottom of the boat. Seeing that the situation was not going well, the people on the boat fired arrows and shouted, "Raise anchor and sail!"

The prince looked at the so-called second in command who was hit by several arrows, tilted his head and smacked his lips, "Tsk... Kill!"

The cavalry dismounted, holding up their shields, climbed onto the ship and threw down the stairs following the raised anchor. More cavalry climbed onto the ship and fought, and the pirates were outnumbered and defeated.

The prince found the hold where the girls were imprisoned, cut the chains, went in, looked around and said, "Wang Jiahui is here!"

A woman with the same face as the previous one emerged from the crowd and said timidly, "It's me!"

"Are all of you Yongzhou women here?"

“Yes, that’s all.”

"Okay! Let's go! Let's go home."

The huddled woman suddenly sobbed quietly. Everyone said, “Thank you! Thank you!”

The prince felt guilty and said, "I am sorry for coming late." The prince didn't know that at this moment he seemed like an evil savior.

The sky was turning pale, and the rescued woman looked up at the sunrise over the sea, smiling and crying with relief! The pirate leader and others were tied up and escorted, and the people cheered and cursed along the way! Until he knelt outside the state government to be questioned.

Qizhu was also very busy. She separated the patients with mild and severe illnesses according to the doctor's request, and asked County Magistrate Liu to organize officers and soldiers to dig pits to burn unclaimed bodies. She and the able-bodied people spread lime everywhere to prevent the epidemic.

Qizhu, who was carrying a bucket of lime, was now wearing a white lime-covered official uniform, with sweat all over her face and lime on her hands. She could only raise her hands and wipe the sweat off with her arms. As the sun rose, it was worth it to shine on the land.

A tall man in a black robe was running towards us from afar. He waved his hand from afar, "Qizhu! Qizhu! I'm back!"

Qizhu saw the lime bucket fall at her feet. The prince ran over, panting. Qizhu reached out her hand and quickly took it back, tears falling, "Yan Shang...you! Are hurt"

The prince's eyes were filled with heartache at this moment. He took out a handkerchief from his arms and gently wiped away the tears and sweat on Qizhu's face. "No, Qizhu, don't cry! This is not my blood."

Qizhu smelled the scent of sandalwood on the handkerchief and felt relieved and asked, "Are you really okay? Is it over?"

"Well, don't worry! I heard that you didn't sleep all night, so I came to find you to go back and rest."

"But...the work is not done yet." Qizhu was dragged away before she could finish her words.

Huan'er waved her hand and said, "Go ahead, lady, it will be done soon. I'll watch over it and come find you when I'm done."

The prince who was being dragged away also said, "There is no end to the work! You should take a rest! Otherwise, how can you take care of the people if you are exhausted?"

Qizhu also thought it made sense, so she followed him back without refutation. The prince first wiped the lime off Qizhu's hands with a handkerchief, and then fetched water for her to wash her hands. Her hands, which were as soft as jade when she was riding a horse not long ago, were now rough and cracked. The prince washed them carefully with concern, "Qizhu, go take a shower first, I'm outside! Call me if you need anything."

Qizhu looked at the person with dried blood on his face and said, "You! Look at all the blood on your face. I was scared at first! You should take a shower too. Don't worry about me! I'm not a delicate girl."

The prince was amused by her last words, "Okay! I'll go and force the girl too."

Then there were sounds of laughter in the room. Two days had passed since they came to Yongzhou. Both of them had done their job conscientiously and everything was going on in an orderly manner. Only then did they relax and go to sleep.

Before going to bed, the prince brought the ointment and smeared it thickly on Qizhu's hands, and told her, "Be patient with the stickiness, the ointment should be left on overnight! Otherwise, it will become dry and cracked."

"Okay! Go to bed."