Reborn Together: The General and I Reach for Power
Chapter 43 - 41: Thunderbolt

Chapter 43: Chapter 41: Thunderbolt

Song Min saw Xie Liangchen handing something to Li You, and although he didn’t know what it was, an ominous feeling arose in his heart, and he wanted to immediately step forward to stop it.

But under the current circumstances, he could only think about it.

In the cloth bundle, a few sheets of paper were stacked. Li You reached out and took the paper, unfolded it, and saw a picture of a plant drawn on it.

Alongside the plant, in delicate handwriting, it read: Yangtao Vine, commonly found on hillsides, forest edges, or in thickets, with twigs and petioles densely covered in brown soft hairs, old branches hairless...

The juice extracted from its stems can be used for smooth water, and its roots have effects of clearing heat, promoting diuresis, activating blood, and reducing swelling.

The handwriting on the painting is the same as that on the confession Song Min presented to him, obviously coming from the same person, only the writing on the painting is more orderly and meticulous, while the confession appears anxious and sloppy, indicating the writer’s mood at the time.

Li You did not speak immediately but turned his attention back to the painting. The current Emperor has always liked calligraphy and painting, and as a close minister to the Emperor, he has seen many famous works from ancient to modern times along with him. A few days ago, the Emperor even rewarded him with landscapes from masters of the previous dynasty, which are now enshrined in the hall of his residence.

But he is just a rough person who doesn’t understand appreciation, and rarely takes the initiative to examine them, but at this moment, he couldn’t take his eyes off this painting.

Li You continued to turn the pages, and the next paper depicted: Huang Shu Kui, also with detailed descriptions on how it looks, where it grows, and its medicinal uses.

There were also Chaihu, Fangfeng, Huang Jing...

Song Qizheng had been waiting for Li You to speak, but unexpectedly, Li You kept flipping through the sheets without saying a word, so he couldn’t help looking over to see what Li You was holding.

The two were not far apart, so Song Qizheng could roughly see the handwriting on them, then he frowned, glanced up at Miss Xie, and then moved his gaze to Song Min’s face.

Song Qizheng didn’t speak, but the father and son had long been in tacit understanding, and Song Min almost immediately discerned Song Qizheng’s thoughts.

Something went wrong with this matter.

Song Min wanted to remedy the situation, but he didn’t know where the problem lay. At the moment, he felt like he was being led by the nose.

Li You’s voice echoed in the room: "Did you draw all this?"

Xie Liangchen replied, "Reporting to my lord, both the drawing and handwriting are by me, a common woman."

Li You asked, "Why have your younger brother carry them with him?"

Without hesitation, Xie Liangchen said, "If I hadn’t been brought here, I would already have taken my brother to the neighboring village to teach everyone to recognize medicinal herbs.

It’s not just Yangtao Vine and Huang Shu Kui; there are other medicinal herbs in the northern mountains. Previously, the medicines everyone collected were randomly sold to drug dealers. It was fine if they met conscientious dealers who could offer a fair price, but if they met black-hearted ones, they would suffer losses.

If people knew medicinal herbs, understanding what they had gathered, they would have a sense of how much money they should sell for."

Xie Liangchen paused here: "Moreover, I want the villagers to understand some medicine qualities, because they cannot afford to hire a doctor when sick. A single dose of medicine costs dozens of coins, and they can’t even fill their stomachs regularly. Where would they get the money for this?

They often recklessly self-medicate in secret, which often worsens their conditions. If they understood, they would at least consider before using medicine.

Initially, I only painted the herbs without writing because the villagers were illiterate. But then I thought, after the war is over, life will get better and better. Children like my brother may also learn to read and recognize words in the future.

So I wrote annotations under the drawings, so that the understanding of the medicinal herbs would be clearer."

Li You frowned, the image portrayed by Miss Xie appeared before him, unable to eat or wear, falling ill with no one to save them. This was the current situation of the people.

Regaining his thoughts, Li You’s gaze became more gentle when he looked at Xie Liangchen again, and he said just one word: "Good."

Only someone who understands the villagers can say such words and think of such a method.

Li You believed that what Miss Xie said was true, and compared to her words, the confession seemed utterly ridiculous.

Li You continued, "Since that is the case, why did you write that confession? Admitting you don’t recognize medicinal herbs?"

Xie Liangchen pursed her lips, after a while she finally looked up at Song Qizheng.

Song Qizheng was unable to avoid the gaze of the weak girl, his brows furrowing deeper. He wanted to say something but found it hard to speak.

Xie Liangchen looked back at Li You and said, "Because recognizing medicinal herbs is not up to what I say as a common woman."

With these words, everything was clear.

Song Min stood up first: "Mr. Li, that confession was all her own admission, we merely presented it truthfully to you."

The gentleness on Li You’s face vanished, replaced with sternness in his eyes: "There are countless ways to make someone write such a confession. Didn’t Mr. Song just use one?"

Song Min froze, subconsciously trying to recall what he had said.

Li You continued, "I personally heard Mr. Song use the villagers of Chen Family Village as leverage to force Miss Xie to confess."

Song Min’s chest froze, instinctively holding his breath. With Li You’s reminder, he understood where he had gone wrong.

Just now, as Miss Xie wanted to speak but hesitated, seeing his plan about to succeed, he couldn’t help but use words to coerce her...

He didn’t expect it to become evidence against him.

Wanting to exploit this farmer girl, he ended up being harmed instead.

Song Min hurriedly defended, "Sir, it’s not like that..."

Song Min’s mind raced, suddenly thinking of something: "Perhaps what you saw is fake, someone arranged this beforehand, this isn’t real."

As soon as Song Min finished his sentence, Song Xian said calmly, "Then what is real? The people of Chen Family Village are working for me, Miss Xie went to the Paper Workshop because she followed my instructions. I deliberately acted in front of Mr. Li to ask him to seek credit for me before the Emperor.

Is this the truth you want people to believe?"

Xie Liangchen bowed again to Li You, "Mr. Li, I went to the Paper Workshop without being instructed. The people of Chen Family Village had seen General Song Xian before, but only when the General was defending the city and passed through Chen Family Village.

After I offered the recipe, General Song Xian sent food-grain rewarded by the court. I said what I mentioned to you to General Song Xian, hence the General agreed to give us ten days to gather medicinal herbs. Besides this, we have no other dealings with General Song Xian.

Please, Sir, do not let General Song Xian bear this injustice."

Song Min’s face was pale, sweat covering his forehead, while Song Qizheng looked at Song Min with dark eyes, seeking the truth from him.

"Sir," Xie Liangchen said, "I was forcibly brought here and was forced to write this confession. I’m not afraid of death, but I’m afraid the people of Chen Family Village will suffer because of this, sir... Can you bring us justice?"

After speaking, Xie Liangchen knelt down, and beside her, Chen Zigeng stepped forward a few steps and knelt beside Xie Liangchen.

"Sir," Chen Zigeng’s young voice pleaded, "please bring us justice."

Li You quickly stepped forward and personally helped Xie Liangchen and Chen Zigeng up, "Although I am not the parent of Zhenzhou, I am entrusted by the court and the Emperor to be here... As long as I am here, no one will force you again.

If I can’t do it, I will take you to the capital to appeal for justice."

It was as if a bolt of lightning struck over Song Qizheng’s head, and he could no longer sit still, standing up abruptly.