Peaceful Farm Life

Chapter 1011: Chapter 1012: Despair Once Again

The blood of those afflicted by the plague is not something one can casually drink; once consumed, one would also contract the plague.

Gong Juechen’s action clearly showed his intention to contract the plague himself.

Everyone thought that Doctor Gong had gone mad.

An Jing and Xiao Changyi rushed to the Medicinal Diet Hall from the temporary palace as soon as they learned that Gong Juechen had drunk the blood of someone with the plague and questioned him about why he did so.

However, Gong Juechen appeared unconcerned, rummaging through the medicine cabinet and, with a teasing smile, said, ”I’m not crazy, I just want to test the medicine on myself. It’s inconvenient to constantly have others test it. It’s quicker and more convenient for me to do it myself.”

Listening, An Jing and Xiao Changyi felt uncomfortable but said nothing, both just watching Gong Juechen with complex expressions in their eyes.

After Gong Juechen found the medicines he wanted to mix, he didn’t bother to decoct them. Instead, he kept popping them into his mouth, munching away while flippantly saying to An Jing and Xiao Changyi, ”If I can’t find a solution, I’ll die in this city anyway. So I might as well burn my boats. Perhaps, I might actually find a cure by testing on myself.”

An Jing and Xiao Changyi remained silent, still just watching Gong Juechen.

Gong Juechen continued in his playful manner, ”If I do cure this plague, don’t forget the promise you made to me. I can’t stand being restrained, and my sharp tongue is something I truly can’t change—nor do I wish to. If we manage to survive and return to the Imperial Capital, you must keep your word and allow me to speak freely.”

”By the way,” Gong Juechen added, ”in light of my sacrifice, don’t let people knock me out again in the future. My neck has been hurting lately, probably because Zhuzhu knocked me out during that time, leaving a lingering issue. Ah, I don’t want to be riddled with ailments before I get old.”

An Jing and Xiao Changyi exchanged a glance before An Jing solemnly responded, ”We have always kept our word.”

After a pause, An Jing added, ”If we really do make it back to the Imperial Capital alive, we’ll try not to let anyone knock you out.”

Try, not definitely.

Gong Juechen laughed loudly, ”What, are you afraid I’ll do something unbearable by then?”

An Jing and Xiao Changyi did not respond.

But Gong Juechen still laughed, ”I even doubt myself sometimes, that I might do something unbearable. It seems... it’s not just towards you; I always seem to do things people can’t stand. I don’t know why, but I just like doing them.”

An Jing and Xiao Changyi remained silent.

”Alright, you can go back now, don’t interfere with my medicine testing,” Gong Juechen said while chewing on a piece of herb, gesturing for An Jing and Xiao Changyi to leave.

Thinking they wouldn’t be of any help by staying, both An Jing and Xiao Changyi left.

And so, Gong Juechen’s journey of testing medicine on himself began.

It was the night after the second day when Gong Juechen, having drunk the blood of the afflicted, started showing symptoms of the plague. Seeing the symptoms, Gong Juechen became even more reckless with testing medicines on his body, sampling various medicines and observing their effects on him.

Even some grasses and flowers in the city, he tried them all.

Alas, his condition grew worse; his body became covered in pustules, not at all alleviated by anything he had tried.

Gong Juechen experienced despair once again.

Meanwhile, in another part of the Imperial Capital:

In the Imperial Palace, the Assembly Hall:

”Emperor, over a thousand people have died within Nanshen City, and the highly skilled doctor who accompanied Prince Yi has also contracted the plague; there is still no cure for it,” Prime Minister Li reported.