Chapter 1201 We met your parents on our way here

In Laishui County, Cheng Shujin, along with the few surviving yamen runners and a dozen newly recruited yamen runners, escorted the two dignitaries from the county yamen gate all the way to the city gate.

Even after leaving the north gate, they were still reluctant to leave.

"Princess, Your Highness, will you two return after you go to the government office?"

County Magistrate Cheng was very reluctant to leave, as he didn't know when he would be able to see his benefactor again.

Mo Beihan replied:

"Our purpose in going to the prefectural government is fourfold: first, to check on the effectiveness of the disaster relief efforts; second, to punish corrupt officials; third, to eliminate the prefect's henchmen, retrieve the official seal, and reappoint the prefect; and fourth, Princess Anning and the Ghost Doctor need to find a medicinal herb. After we finish these matters, we may return to Laishui County."

Mo Beihan did not tell County Magistrate Cheng that he had received an imperial edict and had the power to appoint prefects and county magistrates.

He already has a candidate in mind for the next prefect.

When Magistrate Cheng heard his benefactor say that he might return, a glimmer of hope was rekindled in him.

"By the time the Prince and the Princess return, the situation in Laishui County will surely be much better. Those who contracted the plague will gradually recover, and everyone will have the strength to prepare for spring planting."

Upon hearing him mention spring plowing, Qiao Ran's eyes darted around:

What are the main crops grown in Laishui County?

County Magistrate Cheng was touched to find that the princess cared about what crops the people were growing. He replied with gratitude:

"Laishui County has little rainfall and dry, infertile land, which can only grow wheat, corn, soybeans, cotton, jujubes, apricots, etc."

Qiao Ran nodded knowingly:

"I understand. We will send people to collect the seeds and bring them back to you."

"Thank you, Princess! Thank you, Your Highness!"

County Magistrate Cheng was extremely grateful.

I never expected that the nobles in the capital would be so considerate of us remote people, even finding us the right seeds for grain.

Mo Beihan then thought of Qiao Ran's plan and exchanged a smile with her.

Then, Qiao Ran remembered something important.

It's just that I've been busy with disaster relief and treating patients for the past ten days and haven't had a chance to tell Magistrate Cheng.

“Magistrate Cheng, we met your parents on our way here.”

Qiao Ran's simple words startled Magistrate Cheng, who thought he was hallucinating.

He picked at his ear, his eyes filled with eager anticipation as he looked at Qiao Ran:

"Princess, what... what did you just say? Forgive me for not hearing you clearly."

Qiao Ran understood his feelings and repeated them clearly once more:

“I told them that we met your parents on our way to Laishui County, and we promised them that we would tell you about them so that you could go and find them.”

"Really...really? You really saw my parents? Are they alright? Where are they? What about my brother and sister-in-law, and my nephews and nieces? Are they all alright? Where should I go to pick them up?"

Cheng Shujin was so excited that she forgot about social hierarchy and asked a series of questions impatiently.

Qiao Ran raised her hand to gesture for him to calm down, and then she picked out the important points to say:

"They're alright. They had also contracted the plague and were on the verge of death, but luckily they met us and were fine after taking my antidote pills."

Because of their distinguished demeanor, I chatted with them for a while and learned that the county magistrate of Laishui County was their youngest son. I also heard about your dedication to serving the people.

When we met them, it was just the two of them; no one else was with them. They said they had been separated from your brother, sister-in-law, niece, and nephew in the chaos, and didn't know what had happened to the others.

They are currently in Dingyang County, and the local magistrate will take good care of them. They are waiting for you there.

Cheng Shujin was very excited after hearing this:

"Good! Good! Good! Thank you so much, Princess and Prince, for saving my parents' lives! You saved my parents, so you are my greatest benefactor, Cheng Shujin! Please accept my bow, Princess!"

Ignoring Qiao Ran's attempts to stop her, Cheng Shujin knelt on the ground and kowtowed several times before getting up.

"Princess, I could never repay your immense kindness, even if I served you like a slave for the rest of my life. However, I am currently penniless and have no idea how I can repay you. I am truly ashamed!"

He was truly filled with remorse.

The princess not only saved him and the people of Laishui County, but was also a great benefactor who saved his parents.

This debt of gratitude is something he could never repay, even if he worked like a slave his whole life.

Now he is penniless and has to eat relief food with everyone else. He really doesn't know how to repay this immense kindness.

Seeing his gratitude and embarrassment, Qiao Ran waved her hand understandingly:

“Magistrate Cheng, there’s no need to blame yourself. Treating patients is what I should do. Just be a good official, stay true to your original aspirations, and always be a benevolent official who cares for the people. That’s how you repay me.”

“Your Highness is too kind. This is my duty, and I will do my best to fulfill it. But I will definitely repay your great kindness.”

"Alright, no need to say more. If it weren't for you, the people of Laishui County would probably all be dead. You are a good official who serves the country and the people. I am very happy to have saved you and your family. As long as you do your job well in the future, I will be very gratified."

"Yes! This humble servant will certainly remember the princess's words, strive to be a good official, and live up to the princess's expectations!"

Cheng Shujin made a solemn vow with a serious expression.

Mo Beihan glanced at the sky:

"Alright, it's getting late, we should get going. You and my subordinate Mu Yi will be in charge of arranging the disaster relief work in Laishui County from now on! We're off."

"This humble servant respectfully sees Your Highness and the Princess off!"

Although Laiyang Prefecture is located in a remote area, it covers a large area.

Starting from Laishui County, it took half a day even at full speed to arrive.

Some of the disaster relief teams have already started disaster relief work in Laiyang Prefecture, and the prefecture, which was originally filled with panic, has finally regained some vitality.

Although it's not as bustling and prosperous as before, most shops have reopened, and there are still a steady stream of pedestrians on the streets.

Horse-drawn carriages and oxcarts were rarely seen, indicating that the oxen and horses that pulled them had already been eaten as food during the disaster.

Qiao Ran, Mo Beihan, Gui Yi, and Mu Er rode their horses down the street, attracting the attention of many people.

The local people also heard that the Prince of Dingbei and Princess Anning were in charge of disaster relief this time.

Princess Anning is also the Sage of Medicine.

The doctors who came from all over the country to provide disaster relief and treat patients were not acting on orders from the imperial court, but on orders from the Sage of Medicine.

Therefore, the Sage of Medicine is the benefactor of the people of Laiyang Prefecture.

They were grateful to the imperial court for sending disaster relief grain, and even more grateful to the Sage of Medicine for condescending to travel thousands of miles from the capital to this remote prefecture, and for calling on so many doctors to come and save their lives.

Seeing these strangers on horseback, all with distinguished bearing, including two very handsome young men and women, I suppose they must be Prince Dingbei and Princess Anning.

"That must be Prince Dingbei and Princess Anning, right?"

"Definitely! I've never seen such a beautiful couple. Only noble people from the capital could have such an air about them!"