Chapter 237 - 236: Climbing Over the Wall
Zhen Zishan, after all, is a scholar. Although excited, he was not neglectful of formalities.
Mu Lianxiao recognized that this was Du Yunluo’s eldest maternal uncle and returned the greeting.
Since he and Du Yunluo were not yet married, he couldn’t refer to him by Du Yunluo’s familial title, just as he called Du Huaixi "Mr. Du".
Thus, he addressed Zhen Zishan as "Mr. Zhen".
Du Huaixi briefly introduced Zhen Wenqian and Zhen Wenyuan to Mu Lianxiao. The three greeted each other, and then Zhen Zishan stepped back a few paces, nervously watching the tightly closed wooden door.
Mu Lianxiao walked up to the door, knocked gently, then called out loudly, "Mr. Xing, Mu Lianxiao from the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion is here for a visit. Please open the door so we may meet."
After his voice fell, there was no response from inside, leaving them unsure whether the old imperial physician heard him.
After a while, the young servant boy mentioned by Du Huaixi did not come to relay any message either.
Du Yunluo’s heart jumped again.
Was this Imperial Doctor Xing really so eccentric?
If not even Mu Lianxiao could invite him out, then whose face would he care to see? The Prince Mansion’s or the palace’s?
Not to mention the difficulty of asking the Prince Mansion to intercede, even if someone opened their mouth, the currently serving imperial physicians in the Capital’s Imperial Hospital could be invited as well.
Mu Lianxiao called out once more. He had good hearing and could tell there were people in the courtyard, but they simply refused to open the door.
"Yun Qi," a hint of doubt flashed in Mu Lianxiao’s eyes as he called. When Yun Qi came forward, he said, "Climb over the wall and go in."
Seeing that Mu Lianxiao was not joking, Yun Qi flexed his muscles, assessed the wall’s height, and took a couple steps back.
Du Yunluo’s eyes widened. Climbing over the wall — wasn’t this akin to forcibly capturing a doctor?
If this angered Imperial Doctor Xing and he refused to properly treat Old Master Zhen, what then?
As he felt Du Yunluo’s gaze on him, Mu Lianxiao turned and whispered, "If it’s truly Mr. Xing, there’s no problem."
Du Yunluo was momentarily stunned. He understood her thoughts clearly and even took the trouble to reassure her, which warmed her heart. She pressed her lips together in a smile.
She didn’t know this Imperial Doctor Xing, but Mu Lianxiao did. If he said it would be fine, then it surely would be fine.
She trusted him.
Yun Qi sprinted to the wall, pushed off it with both feet, and soared up in a fluid motion, as agile as a swallow, landing inside. The courtyard erupted in a woman’s shriek.
Zhen Zishan was stunned speechless for a moment before regaining his composure.
This Young Master of the Princely Heir Mansion was indeed a product of a military family, acting decisively and firmly. He had even considered smashing the door to forcibly take the imperial physician, if only to have him treat Old Master Zhen. Even if it meant spending a few months in the government office afterward, he was willing.
But a thought was just a thought; he lacked the courage to gamble everything.
The wooden door creaked open from the inside, allowing Yun Qi to unlock it.
Mu Lianxiao strode in, casting a glance at the fierce woman holding a firewood stick. Behind her, a young child stood in the veranda, looking flustered and helpless.
Before Mu Lianxiao could speak, Zhen Zishan, who had faced rejection several times, rushed in, calling out, "Elder, elder, which room are you in? Please hurry and save my father."
The woman clenched her teeth, shrieking, "Get out, or I’ll call for help!"
Before she finished speaking, a sharp clanging sound rang out.
Mu Lianxiao looked toward the noise, eyeing a shabby little room to the west.
Yun Qi deftly bypassed the woman and pushed the door of the small room open. Zhen Zishan was right behind, peering in and gasping in shock at what he saw inside.
"Master, come take a look," Yun Qi called out.
Mu Lianxiao approached Yun Qi and needed only a single glance to tighten his lips into a line.
The room was a complete mess, with no windows. Light seeped in through various gaps in the roof, illuminating the scene. On a plank bed in the corner lay a skeletal old man, quivering and watching them, his eyes brimming with tears.
"Are you from the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion?" The elderly man’s voice was raspy, as if he were using all his strength to speak, "I’m Old Xing. Save me. Please, save me."
Even though Mu Lianxiao had met Imperial Doctor Xing when he was a child, he could still recognize that this greatly changed old man was indeed Imperial Physician Xing. When he drew closer, he noticed that the old man’s feet were blackened and necrotic.
Yun Qi also came in, and upon seeing the scene, picked up Imperial Physician Xing without a word and carried him out of the broken house.
Those outside were momentarily speechless with shock.
After a long pause, Mrs. Zhen finally whispered, "Is this person really Imperial Doctor Xing? How could he possibly be..."
The woman’s face turned terribly unsightly. "Where are you taking my father-in-law? Is this how officials treat people?"
"Your father-in-law?" Mu Lianxiao cast a cold glance at the woman. Her and her child’s clothes were clean, while Mr. Xing was unkempt and dirty. "This is how you serve your father-in-law? Do you know the meaning of filial piety? Mr. Xing was taken by the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion. You’re welcome to go to the government office and report us."
Lawsuits against officials — the woman was far too cowardly for that, and besides, she knew she was in the wrong.
The woman dared not move as Imperial Doctor Xing, shaking in their arms, expressed his wish to take Ning along. She suddenly leapt up, trying to protect the child in her embrace.
Several of the Zhen Family’s servants had good sense. Their Old Master relied on this half-dead Imperial Doctor, so naturally, they followed the doctor’s orders. If it meant bringing the child along or even dismantling and moving the entire yard back, they would roll up their sleeves without hesitation.
A single woman couldn’t stand against the servants, and Ning didn’t resist at all, allowing one of the servants to scoop him up and leave the courtyard.
The woman sat down, dejected, on the ground.
If the house had been in the village, her neighbors might have helped stop them, but situated on the village’s edge as it was, even if she screamed herself hoarse, few would hear her.
Seeing the group about to leave, she scrambled up to give chase.
Mrs. Zhen and Du Yunluo, being women, couldn’t outpace a rural woman, so Mu Lianxiao quickly stood in front of them and faced the advancing woman, saying, "If you want to follow, feel free. Once we reach Tong City, you’ll be sent to the government office."
The woman turned ashen, her feet as if filled with lead, and she dared not move another step.
She knew she couldn’t go to the government office. If she did, she would lose her life.
Back at the village entrance, Zhen Zishan allocated a carriage for Imperial Physician Xing. The rest squeezed in as best they could, while the servants who couldn’t fit took some silver and walked back to the city.
Du Yunluo clung tightly to Mrs. Zhen as they sat.
Zhen Zishan crowded with them in the carriage, speaking to Du Huaixi, "Brother-in-law, what do you think is going on with Imperial Physician Xing? He’s half-dead himself; can he really save my father?"
Du Huaixi frowned, saying, "It seems to me Imperial Physician Xing is injured in the legs and physically weak, not severely ill. His daughter-in-law hasn’t been taking care of him, which is why he’s in such a state. A doctor relies on skill, not legs, to save people—it’ll be fine."
That latter point made sense, and Zhen Zishan nodded repeatedly, "We misjudged him. He didn’t look down on us; he was in dire straits himself.
In the other carriage, Yun Qi attended to Imperial Physician Xing, while Mu Lianxiao sat nearby, holding the timid Ning.
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