150 SAVE THE PROVINCES

Before leaving, Zoe didn't fail to examine the prisoner's condition and gave instructions to the servants that were attending to them.

"I hope the physicians and nurses are here too to check on them." Zoe thought out loud as they went outside.

Raigon's face turned gloomy at the mention of the physicians. 

But he won't let Zoe notice or she might be bothered by them too.

"You did a great job even without them."

He uttered instead, which made Zoe feel appreciated with her efforts once again.

It's not that she was expecting an award from her benevolent acts. But for her it feels good that someone noticed her unselfish efforts to help others.

They were already on the horse when Zoe asked him. "Does this mean that I'm free now, sire?"

"Not yet." Raigon responded in a short manner.

Zoe pouted her lips. 'This man is very strict.'

"I wonder if I can ask you a favor, your Highness?" 

She beamed at him even though she knew he couldn't see her because she was at her back.

"Make it wise."

"Can we drop by our house for a minute?"

"No."

Zoe's shoulders drooped in disappointment at his curt remark.

Even though she knew Azra would not allow anyone to hurt her, she still was concerned about her friend. If it wasn't for her, she wouldn't be here in this land in the first place. 

Zoe tried to peek at him from behind so she could see his face.

'What's with him? What is bothering him?'

She wanted to ask why and where they are going. But he was driving the horse like a bat out of hell.

As they neared the Gates of the City, Zoe saw someone in a horse with a woman behind her waiting for them.

Zoe covered her mouth in disbelief as they drew close.

"Eee- Lady Selena!" 

She wanted to get down from the horse and hugged her tightly.

Even though they just separated for one night, she felt like it was already a year.

Erin seemed to respond likewise as she waved her hand vigorously at her.

Zoe thought Raigon was going to stop or slow down his pace. But he did not.

He just went on past the Gates and outside the City.

"Wait!" 

But as she looked back, she noticed that Azra, who was driving the horse where Erin was in, was following them.

"This is serious stuff." Zoe concluded as they passed the fields.

"Is he going to kill both of us now that's why he is taking us away from the City? Did Adrian Liu die?!"

Zoe gulped as she imagined Raigon and Azra killing them both with a knife.

However, Zoe shook her head in denial. "That is ridiculous! Raigon wouldn't do that. Still, I must know."

She tugged at his clothes, making him slow down his pace. But it is still fast compared to a normal one.

"Why are you doing this, sire?" She shouted to his ear.

Raigon grimaced and tilted his head. "I can hear you loud and clear. You don't need to shout."

"I apologize, your Highness." She still yelled out but not on his ear anymore.

"I need your help."

Raigon explained the scenario at the provinces which made Zoe lose his balance and fall from the horse.

He quickly grabbed her from behind and helped her seat herself properly. 

"Hold on to me!"

He grabbed her hand and put it around his waist up to his abdominals.

Zoe didn't utter a word about it but rant on about the situation.

"But why would they leave the provinces? They are needed all the more in there! If they could treat the patients properly, there's no need to even guard the affluent families because the sickness wouldn't spread to the Capital anymore!"

A silly smile crept up Raigon's face at his reaction. "It's nice to see someone with the same thought as I."

Zoe gritted her teeth in anger. She remembered the same system in Cheng Hospital. She had an on the job training there as a resident doctor.

There was an epidemic outbreak and the Emergency Room was understaffed. The special internists were focused on the VIPS with a ratio of 1 to 2. 

She tried to ask for help as the patients kept coming. But she was just criticized as being a know-it-all because her Uncle was the CEO of that hospital.

It is the reason why she didn't want to work there even if her Uncle offered a job many times.

It didn't take them long before they reached another gate which seemed smaller and narrower than that in the first gate that they entered. 

Raigon stopped in front of the Gates and went down from the horse. He assisted her in climbing down.

Azra also stopped beside them and helped Erin get down.

Erin's gaze on Azra seemed different from last time. Azra's lips even stretched out a little as he looked at her. 

'I wonder what happened between these two.'

Erin quickly ran to Zoe and hugged her. She immediately flipped her over and then embraced her again.

"I'm so glad you're okay. Did they not torture you over there?"

Zoe chuckled. "No, nothing of that kind."

Meanwhile, Raigon was confirming to Azra if their location was correct.

"Is this Xinhai Province?"

"Yes, your Highness."

Raigon learned that this Province has the highest rate of those who acquired the disease. 

"Come on, everyone. We have no time to lose."

The four of them entered the location. 

And to their horror everyone in town was vomiting and spitting out, including children and old men and women. 

Some seemed dead or unconscious as their bodies were sprawled on the streets with no one attending to them. 

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"The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well." "No one has ever become poor by giving."