The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 1063 - 142: Did You Ask for Leave?

Chapter 1063: Chapter 142: Did You Ask for Leave?

The two of them felt a sudden apprehension and immediately pulled their heads back in through the window. Unfortunately, in their haste, they knocked their heads together. Manbao felt a sharp pain on the top of her head, while Bai Shan’s eyes reddened as he clutched his chin, unable to speak.

Retreating into the carriage, Manbao, holding her head, warily eyed his face, "Are you okay? Let me take a look."

She forcibly pried his hand away to get a look at his chin, and then asked, "Open your mouth, let me see inside."

With watery eyes, Bai Shan obediently opened his mouth for her inspection. Manbao, bending low, examined seriously and muttered softly, "It looks swollen. Did you bite yourself?"

Bai Shan nodded slightly.

Bai Erlang also leaned in to take a look, but Bai Shan pushed his head away disdainfully and mumbled, "You are not a doctor, what’s there for you to see?"

Daji had been waiting for the Old Madam’s carriage to pass, then turned around the carriage and followed them. The Bai Family servants had purposefully left a space for them to join.

Because there were still panting figures doggedly trying to catch up, Daji beckoned a servant over and slipped into the carriage himself.

Their carriage blended in with the fleet, passing by the few scattered pursuers without arousing suspicion, and smoothly took the turn back into Changqing Alley.

Old Madam Liu lifted the curtain to look outside and spoke to the approaching Liu Gui, "The last two carriages are for Mr. Zhuang, Dalang, Erlang, and Manbao. Their baggage can be unloaded here. The rest will be sent back to our other residence. Have someone tidy up the rooms and heat water; we will head over shortly."

Liu Gui bowed and helped his mother down, and Nanny Liu then turned to help Ms. Zheng. Only after that, they reached out to assist Old Madam Liu.

Having already hopped from the rear carriage, Bai Shan rushed up with Manbao and Bai Erlang. The three squeezed past Nanny Liu and Ms. Zheng, sweetly and cleverly reaching out to support Old Madam Liu.

Old Madam Liu cast a glance at the trio as her hands found theirs, stepping down. Ignoring Bai Shan, she continued holding Manbao’s hand as they entered and laughed, asking, "What were you just about to do?"

With her left hand held, Manbao scratched her head with her right, "We were just..."

She involuntarily looked towards Bai Shan.

Only then did Old Madam Liu turn her attention to Bai Shan and Bai Erlang, inquiring, "Aren’t you going to school today?"

All three children’s eyes rounded in sudden remembrance of their ordeal. Right, they were supposed to be going to school!

With a sweep of her gaze over the three, Old Madam Liu, holding Manbao’s hand, said, "Come on, let’s go inside and meet Mr. Zhuang first."

At home, only Mr. Zhuang was present. Having heard of Old Madam Liu’s arrival, he came out to greet her, only to see three disciples who were supposed to be at work or school.

He paused momentarily in his steps, then advanced to invite Old Madam Liu inside.

Old Madam Liu greeted him with a smile and then conversed with Mr. Zhuang in the backyard.

She told him about her journey, and Mr. Zhuang expressed everything was well with them in the capital.

Having discussed the essentials, they both turned to look at the three standing aside.

The three simultaneously lowered their heads. Mr. Zhuang slightly furrowed his brow and asked, "If you wanted to welcome the Old Madam, why didn’t you tell your mentor?"

Manbao, swallowing nervously, spoke up as the Senior Sister to clarify the misunderstanding, "Master, we didn’t know about the Old Madam’s arrival in the city today, we encountered her on the road."

Mr. Zhuang’s frown deepened, "Then why didn’t you go to school or to work?"

Exchanging glances, the trio lowered their heads and explained how they had been surrounded earlier that day.

Old Madam Liu was taken aback, then delightedly asked, "Manbao, are you now known throughout the capital as a divine physician?"

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Manbao said softly, "It was paid for."

The women of the Bai Family were stupefied, "What?"

Bai Shan said sheepishly, "Grandmother, we paid for it."

In telling them about spending twenty taels to gain fame, he explained the whole affair.

The women of the Bai Family were dumbfounded.

Mr. Zhuang cleared his throat, a technique they had learned from him, and without dwelling on the topic, he asked, "Did the news really spread that widely and deeply overnight?"

All three nodded.

Mr. Zhuang’s frown deepened, "And those people believed it?"

"Whether they genuinely believed it or not, they were all surrounding Manbao calling her a divine physician, gathered at Jishi Hall asking for her medical attention," Bai Shan explained, "It was madness. I’ve never seen such craziness, not even during the Mid-Autumn Festival. We had no choice but to run."

With a tight furrow on his brow, Mr. Zhuang turned to exchange a glance with Old Madam Liu, then said, "Stay inside today. I’ll have someone go out to gather information."

"No, no," Manbao was eager to hear what others had to say about her and protested, "Master, they don’t recognize me. As long as I don’t go to Jishi Hall, nobody on the street should recognize me."

Mr. Zhuang glanced at her, "You want to go out?"

Bai Shan added, "It takes the thief to catch the thief. We should find Dashan and ask him."

Ask how he had the ability to make such a situation happen in just a day and a night.

Mr. Zhuang replied, "I doubt it’s within his capability."

"Ask him anyway," Manbao suggested, "he does this kind of thing; he must know some news. Otherwise, where would we begin to ask around on the street?"

Mr. Zhuang considered and, after glancing at Old Madam Liu, waved them off.

Just as well, he needed to review recent developments with Old Madam Liu and discuss strategies, as the Emperor wished to bring forward Bai Shan and the others for an imperial hearing.

With permission granted, the three were thrilled and about to leave when Mr. Zhuang suddenly recalled something and called out to them, "You two aren’t going to school, did you ask for leave from the Imperial Academy?"

Bai Shan and Bai Erlang: ...

Mr. Zhuang understood immediately and waved them away, "Go on, I will have someone ask for leave on your behalf."

Relieving their anxiety, Bai Shan said, "Master, remember to ask for sick leave for us."

Mr. Zhuang gave him a look and slightly nodded. After they left, he wrote the leave request and had Liu Gui deliver it to the Imperial Academy.

Bai Shan and the others dashed off as if pursued by a tiger, hopping into the carriage. Realizing they were still disheveled, they turned away from each other to tidy up.

Daji took them to look for Dashan, but he was not found in his usual spot.

Standing at the alley entrance and looking around, they were somewhat bewildered, "He’s gone, where should we look for him?"

Bai Shan looked around and then suggested, "Don’t rush, let’s walk ahead a bit. There are a lot of vendors there, and they often hang around this area. We can ask them."

The trio dug into their pockets, brought out some coins, and proceeded to buy food up ahead. While purchasing, they inquired, "Uncle, do you know Dashan, the one who often plays in the alley up ahead?"

Upon sizing up the three, the uncle, seeing that they were about the same age as Dashan, nodded and said, "Yes, are you looking for him to play together?"

Bai Shan nodded, "But he’s not there today. Do you know where we can find him?"