Pang Nan’s expression became heavy again, "The medicinal herbs you mentioned, I have already made inquiries everywhere to purchase them. It’s just that the epidemic in Yuzhou City has been severe in the past few months, and the surrounding areas are unable to supply the medicinal materials. However, I have dispatched people to ride swiftly to other cities and have also been in contact with larger medicinal herb merchants in the vicinity. As expected, there should be a result by tomorrow. But based on estimates, it would also take about a week for the medicinal materials to arrive."
"That’s fine." Ye Qichi nodded, "The sooner the medicinal herbs are in place the better. I now want to go to the quarantine zone for the epidemic. I want to know the situation inside so that when the medicinal herbs arrive, we can treat them as quickly as possible."
"But..." Pang Nan still hesitated, "It’s too dangerous in there, and the environment is very poor. I’m concerned that Miss Ye might not be able to adapt to going inside..."
"Treating the sick and saving the wounded, when has the environment ever been a concern?" Ye Qichi stated.
Pang Nan couldn’t help but look towards Xiao Jinxing.
Xiao Jinxing didn’t nod; he did not dare make a decision.
"The main reason is..." Pang Nan saw that Xiao Jinxing disagreed and quickly continued, "Right now, the inside is a one-way access, no one comes out. If Miss Ye goes in now, with at least a week until the medicinal herbs arrive, you will have to stay inside for at least a week. Moreover, there is a lack of food inside – the amount of food we can spare is ultimately limited."
Ye Qichi fell silent.
She indeed wanted to go now.
But the situation described by Pang Nan was quite specific. Once inside, she couldn’t leave. If something happened outside, and she also needed to verify whether individuals like Pang Yuehuan had been completely cured... After thinking for a moment, Ye Qichi said, "In that case, I’ll go inside once the arrival of medicinal herbs is almost certain."
"That would be best." Pang Nan eagerly agreed.
Suddenly, rapid footsteps sounded outside the door, and from afar came a servant’s shout, "Master!"
Pang Nan turned his head.
A servant rushed in, whispering into Pang Nan’s ear.
Pang Nan’s face changed instantly.
Ye Qichi and Xiao Jinxing naturally noticed the peculiarity of the situation.
"What happened?" Xiao Jinxing asked coldly.
"The Military Governor has come to the mansion, I don’t know if he has heard some rumors."
"Chen Hezhi has seen me." Xiao Jinxing’s eyes narrowed.
"Chen Zihuan has also seen me!" Ye Qichi hurriedly added.
If both men were to come to the mansion and see them... it would be bad.
"You both hide first, I’ll go deal with him." Pang Nan quickly said.
"We must not let them find out about us." Xiao Jinxing cautioned.
"I understand," replied Pang Nan, his loyalty at least eighty percent now aligned with Xiao Jinxing’s.
Pang Nan left swiftly.
Ye Qichi and Xiao Jinxing, guided by other servants, hastily hid elsewhere.
Meanwhile, in the hall.
Chen Hezhi, accompanied by Chen Zihuan and a group of soldiers, made an imposing entrance.
Pang Nan quickly went forward and knelt to pay his respects, "Your Excellency, what brings you to my humble abode?"
"I’ve heard that someone in your house has contracted the epidemic."
"Your Excellency, what do you mean?" Pang Nan looked surprised, "How could my household have anyone contract the epidemic?!"
"I heard that during the outbreak, your daughter was out playing on the street and came into contact with several infected people!" Chen Hezhi said coldly, "Call out your daughter now!"
"Your Excellency, it’s so late, my daughter has already gone to sleep."
"Pang Nan, in all these years, I have never wronged you. Don’t be ungrateful."
"I will call out my daughter immediately," Pang Nan quickly responded.
"No need. Search!" Chen Hezhi suddenly gave the order.
"Your Excellency," Pang Nan said, not understanding.
"I don’t want to waste time here in the middle of the night!" As the words fell.
Chen Hezhi’s soldiers immediately entered the inner courtyards of Pang Mansion and began a thorough search.
Pang Nan was somewhat nervous.
Not because of his daughter, but because he was worried about whether Crown Prince Chen and the Princess would be found!
He even suspected that Chen Hezhi’s sudden show of force was not really for his daughter.
His daughter had been sick for more than two months now; if there was suspicion, it would not have waited until now.
The only possibility was... they were here to search for someone else.
Considering the size of Pang Mansion, if they were truly searching, it would be easy to find them.
Pang Nan was clearly nervous.
But he endured, trying to appear calm.
At least half an hour passed.
Pang Nan further solidified his internal thoughts.
To find his daughter would be easy; there was no need to spend so much time.
"Your Excellency!" A soldier appeared in the hall, "We’ve found Lord Pang’s daughter."
Pang Yuehuan was brought out.
She was still sleepy-eyed.
However, her cheeks were rosy, showing no sign of illness; she was just a bit shy in the presence of strangers, hiding behind a Maid and peeking out.
Chen Hezhi took a glance.
"Your Excellency, my daughter is indeed not sick," Pang Nan quickly said.
Of course, Chen Hezhi could see for himself.
The real purpose was not Pang Nan’s daughter, but he had received instructions from the King of Chu to search if Crown Prince Chen was hiding in Pang Nan’s mansion.
After all, there had been no news of Crown Prince Chen for so long. The King of Chu suspected that Crown Prince Chen might have already entered Yuzhou City.
And if Crown Prince Chen had entered Yuzhou City, the first person he would likely try to win over was Pang Nan.
"Your Excellency!" Another soldier rushed in from the backyard, "Subordinate has found two suspicious individuals in Lord Pang’s house!"
The atmosphere on the scene instantly became tense to the extreme!