The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 1069 - 148: Enraging Madam Tang (Bonus - for the reward from the reader "A Piece of Green Leaf")

Chapter 1069: Chapter 148: Enraging Madam Tang (Bonus Chapter for the reward from the reader "A Piece of Green Leaf")

Manbao stared at them with piercing eyes, conveying only one message: "Do you have an illness? If so, come see me!"

Everyone fell silent once more. After a pause, Old Madam Su laughed and said, "We have witnessed Young Doctor Zhou’s skill in treating external injuries. Truly, children at home are playful; falls and scuffles are common occurrences. And the older ones, practicing horsemanship and martial arts, often get injured. For us parents and grandparents, it pains our hearts to watch. We don’t know what kinds of medicine we should keep at home."

Manbao felt a bit regretful and suggested, "Our Jishi Hall’s Chinese ginseng ointment is quite good. The powder works as well, stopping bleeding and reducing inflammation. The powder can also be ingested—raw to promote blood flow and disperse bruises, cooked to replenish blood..."

Madam Tang laughed behind her hand, noticing that everyone was hesitant to speak with Manbao. She then relaxed in her chair and asked with a smile, "Tell us about this blood type thing. I heard from Old Madam Su that you’ve even named them. I’m quite curious about this; back when we were in Yizhou City, I never saw you use it on Young Master Ji. Oh, right, this is First Madam Ji, Young Master Ji’s great aunt."

First Madam Ji smiled at Manbao, "I’ve long heard of the young miracle doctor’s great reputation. My family’s Old Madam wrote to me about it, saying that if it weren’t for you, my child Hao might have faced a terrible situation."

Manbao humbly replied, "It was Imperial Doctor Fan and Doctor Ji who prescribed effective medicines, and they were the ones primarily in charge. All I did was help stop the bleeding."

Manbao explained, "At the time, it was Imperial Doctor Fan who did the suturing. The first time I ever sutured, I learned from him. It was because of Ji Hao that I started to ponder about blood transfusions."

It was a shame that there had never been an opportunity to use it. Unexpectedly, coming to the capital this time was such a coincidence; there was someone who had fallen from a horse, and I was able to use it.

Remembering this, Manbao smiled sweetly at Old Madam Su.

The crowd was genuinely interested and began to ask questions, such as how she extracted the serum and whose blood had been drawn before...

Manbao answered the questions she felt were appropriate while eating pastries, and the atmosphere became merry again.

But then she got carried away talking, and before she knew it, she had gone from discussing blood transfusions to nurturing vitality and beauty. The room full of women, young and old, listened with keen interest. Even Madam Tang, who knew her the best, was taken aback and wished she could grab her hand, call her "sister," and directly obtain a couple of prescriptions from her.

It wasn’t until the evening that the servants, keeping an eye on the time, reminded the ladies that it was nearly time to head home, after all, husbands and children were waiting.

Manbao looked up, realizing it was late, and immediately rose to take her leave.

Old Madam Su came to her senses, quickly prepared a medical fee for Manbao, and then had someone escort her home.

Manbao declined, "No need, no need; I came in a carriage."

Knowing Manbao’s family was well-off and she always had a servant accompanying her, Old Madam Su did not insist and personally got up to send the whole group off.

Madam Tang took Manbao’s hand and said, "Let’s walk together for a while; it’s been a long time since we’ve seen each other and we’re going in the same direction."

Manbao nodded and, upon seeing Daji at the front, said, "I will ride with Madam Tang for a while; you follow behind us."

Daji agreed, glanced behind him, and asked, "Is Miss Man okay?" How come you’ve been inside for so long?

Manbao knew what he was asking about, looked up at the sky with a sigh, and said in a melancholy tone, "It’s fine. The consultation only took a quarter of an hour, but chatting took up two whole hours, sigh..."

What a waste of time.

Daji: ...

He always had an uneasy premonition. Those two hours weren’t all spent by Miss Man talking, were they?

Madam Tang had already climbed into the carriage, and seeing Manbao still standing below, she lifted the curtain and said, "Come on up, do you really need me to help you?"

"No need, no need, I’m coming right now." Manbao scrambled into the carriage, plopping down opposite Madam Tang, and asked with a big grin, "Madam Tang, you don’t look as well as before, would you like me to check on you?"

"There’s no need for that. I’m just suffering from lack of sleep and anxiety; your medicines won’t help."

Manbao spoke earnestly, "Madam Tang, you should look on the bright side of things. If you’re really feeling down, why not go out and enjoy the scenery? The most important thing is not to keep things bottled up inside. Even the healthiest person can be spoiled by holding things in."

"That’s easy for you to say, so why don’t I just tell you and have you solve my worries?" Without waiting for Manbao to respond, Madam Tang continued, "I think I’m beginning to understand something. Bai Shan’s father, Bai Qi, used to be the County Magistrate of Shu County. Back then, Huayang County was still called Shu County. When he took office, the former Emperor had recently ascended to the throne, and yet he died in office after just over a year while dealing with bandits. Was his death related to the Prince of Yizhou?"

Manbao said, "Madam Tang, I think it might be better for you to keep it to yourself."

Madam Tang glared at Manbao crossly, "You heartless thing, after all the kindness I’ve shown you, you can’t even share a little bit of information with me."

Manbao’s face was a picture of conflict and curiosity, "Madam Tang, why would County Magistrate Tang keep things from you?"

Madam Tang paused before responding, "It’s official business, and it’s serious. Of course, he can’t tell me everything."

But Manbao felt something was amiss, "The studies and other official matters Bai Shan is involved with at school, he tells me everything about them, including what his teachers say to him in private."

Madam Tang: "...Are you and Bai Shan husband and wife?"

"We are not, but..." Manbao hesitated, then continued, "Isn’t it the same between two people? I think it’s pretty much the same."

Madam Tang said, "Don’t change the subject. I’m asking you, does Bai Qi’s death have something to do with the Prince of Yizhou? Why else would you three children get involved in such a perilous matter?"

Manbao asked quietly, "Madam Tang, do you know about the matter with the Prince of Yizhou?"

Madam Tang spoke in a hushed tone, "I’m not stupid. You all made it quite clear the last time."

Manbao looked surprised, "Was it that obvious?"

Madam Tang didn’t reply.

She and County Magistrate Tang had been husband and wife for several years, and she hadn’t neglected to learn about him before marriage. She knew his character well; even for a significant case like an encroachment dispute, as long as she asked, he would tell her. Given her noble background, was there really anything that needed to be deliberately hidden from her?

And considering County Magistrate Tang’s unusual behavior, what else was there to misunderstand?

Madam Tang huffed and glared sideways at Manbao, "So, are you going to talk, or not?"

Manbao was in a quandary, "Why are you asking me? It’s always like this with you adults; you always like going after the easy target. If you’re so capable, why don’t you go ask County Magistrate Tang?"

"It’s because he won’t tell me that I’m asking you."

"I’ve never understood this point," Manbao said, doubtingly looking at Madam Tang, "why won’t he tell you? He even told County Magistrate Yang, so why won’t he tell you? Isn’t it said that husband and wife are one?"

Madam Tang nearly choked on her own frustration, her anger threatening to erupt, had it not been for her long acquaintance with Manbao, she would have suspected that this girl was deliberately provoking her.

But because she understood, she knew Manbao was genuinely perplexed.

Indeed, it was because of this that she felt so blocked and irritated.