The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 1164 - 1143: Getting Through

Chapter 1164: Chapter 1143: Getting Through

Bai Shan’s lower back was practically unable to straighten, and there was a bit of awkwardness in his movements as he stood up. When he turned his head and saw Xiang Chao awake, he greeted him without much sincerity, and then squatted down to throw all the used instruments—knives, scissors, tweezers and the like—into the pot of boiling water for a thorough soak.

After that, he washed them a second time, before wiping them dry and packing them into a cloth bag. Xiang Chao had been wanting to say something the whole time, but Manbao looked even more exhausted than Bai Shan, with half-closed eyes, picking out medicines in front of the medical chest, so he opened his mouth but didn’t dare to disturb them.

It was only after Bai Shan had finished cleaning and handed over the instruments to Manbao, who then tucked them into his sleeve, that Bai Shan finally turned towards Xiang Chao, "For now, the person is still alive. Move aside a bit and give him some space."

Xiang Chao immediately moved aside with difficulty, making way for most of the space for Second Young Master Xiang.

Bai Shan looked at the space, nodded in satisfaction, and then loudly called for the jail runners outside to come in and help lift the person onto the kang bed.

Those in the prison had never seen someone wrapped up like this before, and they watched curiously for a good while. However, they knew this person was now an important witness or possibly a criminal, so they did not dare to handle him roughly.

After all, with such injuries, if they caused his death while lifting him, would they be held accountable, or would it fall on these two doctors who looked so young, or on the Prince of Yizhou?

Therefore, they lifted carefully, and Xiang Chao immediately said, "The same as me, with his head facing out."

When they finally got the person onto the blanket and covered him with it, everyone exhaled a sigh of relief.

An officer couldn’t help but strike up a conversation with Manbao, "Young miracle doctor, can this person be saved?"

Manbao responded with a grave face, "It’s up to fate."

The officers then felt that there was little hope, and looking at the candle that hadn’t completely burned out, they couldn’t help but click their tongues twice, "You two haven’t slept all night."

Neither Bai Shan nor Manbao replied. Bai Shan had already boiled the needles, wiped them dry, and placed them into the needle bag. Then, he poured out and washed the pot again, before casting a disdainful glance at it, and then at the food on the table, "How are we supposed to eat this?"

Knowing his distaste for the pot that had been used to boil instruments covered in blood, Manbao coughed lightly and looked expectantly at the three officers who had come to help, "Brothers, could you possibly bring us a small jar so we can warm up something to eat?"

"That won’t do; without orders from above, we dare not bring you anything."

Bai Shan then searched his person, took out three silver ingots each weighing an ounce, and pressed them into their hands, "Please help us out, brothers."

The two stared at them with wide and round eyes.

Bai Shan intentionally wore his student robe from the Imperial College when he entered the palace, his entire attire pure and as refined as jade. What sort of people had they not seen in the heavenly prison? Those prominent in position and power, erudite and educated, as well as from all walks of life, foul and nefarious. But like Bai Shan and Zhou Man—innocents by nature, yet so young to be imprisoned, one even a student from the Imperial College with a boundless future—it was the first of its kind.

Thus, after hesitating for a while, the three men grasped the silver in their hands and nodded, "Alright, but we don’t have a new jar, only the one we use to boil water for drinking outside. We can spare you one of those."

Bai Shan released a breath of relief; it was fine as long as it hadn’t been used for boiling anything strange.

They went out, closing the prison door again behind them, and before long they brought back a jar for them. Bai Shan took it while speaking to them, "Is it daylight outside?"

"It’s past the hour of Mao, the sky is already somewhat light; it won’t be long before full dawn."

Bai Shan nodded, expressing his thanks.

Then looking at the table full of cold rice and dishes, he started to worry. How to deal with this?

He couldn’t help but look towards Manbao...

Manbao had already started boiling the newly prepared medicine. Now she sat in front of the stove, staring into space. A bit overwhelmed, dealing with the wounds on Second Young Master Xiang required intense concentration. She was young, and after being busy for an entire night, let alone her body, even her mind was no longer working.

Bai Shan glanced at her, shook his head, and simply made the decision himself.

He poured the leftover rice into a pot, added water, and put it on another stove. Then he picked through the now cold dishes on the table, and with a look of disdain, added a bit of minced meat.

The water in the medicine pot began to boil, the scent of herbs slowly wafted through the air, and it was then Manbao gradually came back to her senses. She turned back to see Bai Shan had only added a little minced meat, touched her stomach which was cramping from hunger, and her dissatisfaction grew. She stepped forward, took over the plate, and said, "This is not enough to eat."

After speaking, she added half a plate more, then moved a plate of green vegetables to the edge of the table, laying a thick layer at the bottom of each of their bowls, and said, "When the porridge is ready, just pour it in and it can be eaten once it’s heated up."

Once Doctor Zhou Junior finally stopped zoning out, Xiang Chao immediately asked, "Doctor Zhou Junior, my Second Young Master... "

"Don’t worry, he can survive, as long as we have a continuous supply of medicine."

Xiang Chao let out a sigh of relief, "Then what did you mean by saying ’it’s all up to fate’ before?"

"That was to mislead our enemies, you know?"

Bai Shan: "You sure think a lot."

"Indeed."

Bai Shan, seeing that she was no longer in a daze, smiled and started tending to the fire with focus.

Manbao moved a stool and sat beside Second Young Master Xiang, propping up her face and studying him seriously, "Your Second Young Master has quite the endurance, with his Achilles tendon sliced, yet he still says nothing."

Xiang Chao was startled and became agitated, "What, his Achilles tendon has been sliced?"

"Don’t get excited," Manbao comforted him, "That’s why I say even if he survives, he’d probably end up with a lifelong disability."

Xiang Chao’s eyes lit up, he crawled over a little and asked, "What about the less likely half?"

"The less likely half means that, if I can get out, he can too. If there is no shortage of medicinal materials needed for the treatment, like those used for Ji Hao and Su Jian, then maybe I can reattach it for him. After reattachment, he might not be the same as ordinary people, but at least he will be able to walk."

Xiang Chao then swallowed, "Then, can we get out?"

Manbao sighed.

Bai Shan said, "It’s impossible in the near future. In two days at the earliest, they will bring us for interrogation. In theory, if the evidence we provided is confirmed to be true, we should be able to get out. But your Second Young Master, I’m afraid not; he is an assassin."

"But our Second Young Master is also a victim!"

Bai Shan’s gaze grew deep, "Even so, he’s still an assassin. Forget about whether the Empress Dowager is present or not, even if she’s gone, by law, the Ministry of Justice won’t release him."

Manbao asked, "Then what if we don’t follow the law?"

Bai Shan lowered his eyes and said, "That would depend on the Emperor’s will. If he says it’s possible, then naturally it’s possible."

Xiang Chao opened his mouth but said nothing. How could they have the gall to ask the Emperor for such a favor?

Manbao was also deep in thought. Should they seek help by leveraging their favor from treating the Empress?

It seemed somewhat inadequate.

Bai Shan also lowered his head in contemplation. The jail cell quieted down, only the glow of the fire illuminated their faces, casting a faint orange-red hue on their otherwise pale complexions.