When An Jin learned of my decision, he insisted on accompanying me. I initially refused and ordered people to watch him closely. However, he managed to blend in with the accompanying physicians and, when discovered, declared, “I’m also a physician. Don’t you remember I cured your cold?” Reluctantly, I allowed him to join.
The disaster-affected area included five cities and three states in eastern Southern Rui. An Jin and I inspected local disaster assessments, comforted victims, distributed supplies, and dealt with corrupt state officials.
After covering four cities and three states, we finally reached Rao City, the most severely affected location.
Most dwellings had collapsed, and the ground was covered with horrific cracks. Livestock and human bodies were mixed together, creating a strange odor. Homeless civilians huddled together, shivering by the roadside, too overwhelmed to tend to their injuries.
An Jin and I divided tasks: he handled corpses and conducted rescues while I gathered disaster victims and coordinated treatment, distributing cotton clothing and food.
A city official, learning that imperial envoys had arrived, hurried to welcome us. I ordered my soldiers to detain him due to his inaction. He pleaded for mercy: “The Prince of Ning is not here, and I did not dare to make decisions independently. Please, Your Highness, show mercy!”
“Where is the Prince of Ning?”
“A few days ago, he was helping with relief efforts. Then someone reported that a young master had escaped, and the Prince hurriedly left and never returned.”
“A young master escaped?” I thought. Could it be about Xia Zhiyuan? Only he could make Yun Qiao so anxious. “He didn’t return, and you didn’t send anyone to look?”
“The city official looked distressed: ‘We didn’t have enough manpower—’
‘At least you know which direction he went, right?’
‘I heard he went west, towards Liuxia Mountain.’
An Jin tried to smile at me. ‘A Yao… think of something else. Think about when you were little, desperately… bullying me…’
I laughed weakly. ‘At this moment… you… just remember this?’
He smiled gently. ‘I remember… everything.’
I took a breath and carefully looked at him, knowing he had also reached his limit. ‘Brother Jin.’
‘Hmm?’
‘Will you… fall in love with… someone else?’
He was stunned. ‘No. Not in this lifetime.’
I smiled contentedly and nodded. ‘Then… I can rest assured. Although… this is a bit selfish…’
