The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 1160 - 1139 Cooperation

After a brief reflection, he approached and said, "Brother Xiang Chao, you should rest first. Healing your spirit will help you recover quickly."

Xiang Chao shook his head, "No, I won’t sleep. I want to wait for the Second Young Master to wake up."

Then Bai Shan reached out to press a point on the back of Xiang Chao’s neck, saying, "Go to sleep. Your Second Young Master won’t wake up for a while."

Xiang Chao still wanted to refuse, but he felt himself getting sleepier and sleepier. Having been beaten so severely today and already injured, after enduring extensive questioning in the main hall, Xiang Chao’s defenses lowered with Bai Shan’s press, and his eyelids grew heavier, soon he fell asleep.

Once Bai Shan confirmed he was asleep, albeit not very peacefully, he found a long scarf and covered Xiang Chao’s eyes, blocking out the light and his line of sight.

Only then did he turn to glance at Manbao.

He saw her still staring into the emptiness, frowning, seemingly lost in thoughts of something unseen.

Bai Shan moved the lamp to the opposite side of her, casting light upon Second Young Master Xiang on the ground.

Although the light was still insufficient, there were two stoves burning fire in the prison cell, which was much better than complete darkness.

The other cells did not enjoy such treatment; they typically slept as soon as it got dark. The cells behind this one housed felons in the underground prison.

The continuous commotion here alerted the neighboring cells of a new prisoner’s arrival, though they did not know who it could be to be placed in that area.

Several cells on their side were still empty.

Bai Shan focused on boiling water, while Manbao concentrated on discussing the illness with Teacher Mo, which basically involved Teacher Mo making suggestions and Manbao determining the treatment plan after careful consideration.

Keke reminded Manbao that the time she had set was up, so Manbao then removed all the needles from Second Young Master Xiang’s body. Bai Shan held a piece of hemp cloth to help with the needle disposal. These needles would need to be boiled and cleaned shortly.

The medicine that had been prepared for Xiang Chao was ready, but instead of giving it to the sleeping Xiang Chao, they gave it to Second Young Master Xiang.

Bai Shan was responsible for administering the medicine, while Manbao began to wash his wounds with water in a wooden basin. She produced a cloth bag from somewhere, opened it on a stool to reveal a row of variously-shaped knives. Bai Shan had seen them, yet he hadn’t.

He had seen them because he knew she owned a set of surgical tools given by Imperial Doctor Fan, but he hadn’t as they had been inspected by the Ministry of Justice and were not allowed inside, and this set looked even newer than the one from Imperial Doctor Fan.

Bai Shan’s gaze returned, but he couldn’t help taking another worried look at Xiang Chao lying on the kang. He got up, covered Xiang Chao’s head with a piece of clothing lying on the kang, and then continued to carefully feed Second Young Master Xiang his medicine.

However, it was difficult to feed someone who was unconscious, so he asked, "Can we wake him up?"

Manbao glanced over and said, "It’s a bit difficult. Besides, I need to treat his wounds now. It’s better for him to be asleep at this time."

She thought for a moment and added, "There is a straw for administering medicine wrapped up in the medicine box, try using that."

Bai Shan went to search the medicine box.

Even with the straw to administer medicine, because Bai Shan was unpracticed in its use, at least half of the bowl of medicine ended up outside the mouth, but he felt it was good enough that half was consumed.

Manbao washed her hands with warm water, cut a clean piece of hemp cloth, and began cleaning his wounds.

Since the assassination attempt, more than a month has passed. His body bore new wounds upon old ones and clearly, the Prince of Yizhou failed to extract any information from him. That’s why he’s keeping him barely alive. Some of his wounds were treated with medicine, but obviously without care, and many were festering.

It is now deep autumn and the weather will only get colder, which for him is both good and bad. At the very least, the likelihood of his wounds becoming inflamed is not as high.

As Manbao cleaned his wounds, she proceeded to cut away the dead flesh, while Bai Shan held another wooden basin for her, his face turning pale at the sight.

Manbao, perhaps due to her frequent exposure and experience, remained composed, not to mention her adeptness at the task.

In a stupor, Second Young Master Xiang felt the pain and his muscles twitched, but he still did not wake up.

Manbao taught Bai Shan how to apply hemostatic and analgesic powders after cleaning the wounds, or how to apply the ointment.

The two had always shared a tacit understanding. Bai Shan was smart and had often assisted Manbao before; he gradually became familiar with the process she guided him through.

The pair spoke in low voices, one cutting away the dead flesh and cleaning the wounds, the other following up with the medication and observing the patient’s reactions.

His wounds were numerous, not just on his chest and back, but also on his arms and legs.

Fortunately, they had a stove with charcoal fire. After stripping the patient, Bai Shan moved the stove somewhat closer to provide some semblance of warmth.

Most of the guards outside were asleep, with only the duty officer dozing off. Occasionally, after regaining consciousness, hearing some noise, he would peek over to see the two busily working around the person on the floor. However, as Zhou Man’s back was turned towards them and Bai Shan had purposefully moved their dining table behind Manbao, they did not see the knife in her hands.

But they did see the medication bottles in Bai Shan’s hand. Shaking his head, the man walked away and said to his colleague outside, "They’re still trying to save him."

"What’s the point of fussing over him at this late hour? That man was already gasping his last when he was carried in. With some rice water, he might live another four or five days at most."

Having performed executions in the prison before, they had an instinct for judging someone’s state just by looking or touching; this was after all the sky prison.

"It’s not so certain. Do you know who that young lady locked up inside is? She is the one who saved State Duke Pi’s young master when all seemed lost, and when Imperial Doctors Ji and Zheng were at their wit’s end. She still revived him," he whispered: "Even the Empress Dowager seeks her out for medical care. So, I reckon that man might not be doomed."

"No wonder our superior agreed to Lord Wei’s decision to lock them up together. Hey, is what’s being whispered around the palace true? Did the Prince of Yizhou really revolt?"

"Whether it’s a genuine revolt or not, his desire to revolt is probably real."

"Then what they say must be true as well?"

"Falsely accusing a royal relative is a grave offense punished by extermination of the family – who would risk that?" he lowered his voice,"Putting aside those two adults, the assassins, the desperados – what about Doctor Zhou Junior and Young Master Bai? What could they possibly gain?"

"One is a divine doctor, and the other a student of the imperial academy with limitless prospects – who would gamble their own future and their family’s lives?"

"They might be gambling for a future nonetheless?"

"Hmph, as long as the Empress Dowager is still around, no matter whether it’s true or not about the Prince of Yizhou, it will be tough for them to hope for a future!"

Hearing this, his colleague conceded the point and grew even more convinced of the argument.

Unaware of these discussions, the two in the prison were busy treating the patient under the flickering light of the lamp and fire. The food on the table slowly grew cold and rigid, with the lingering aroma dissipating into the air.