Chapter Thirty-Seven

Li Heng's men were very efficient, and soon the messenger brought news from Su County.

Not long ago, a plague broke out in Su County, and many people died from the disease.

Just when things were at their most critical, a female doctor named Zhang Xiugu stepped forward. She devised a prescription and presented it to the county magistrate.

The magistrate saved all the people in the city. Later, someone reported that Zhang Xiugu had cut open her deceased husband's abdomen, committing the serious crime of harming a corpse.

The magistrate arrested her and brought her to justice. After being interrogated, Zhang Xiugu confessed that she had indeed cut open her deceased husband's abdomen, dissected the body, and dug out more than ten thin, long worms.

Only then was Zhang Xiugu able to diagnose the cause of the illness, prescribe the right medicine, and develop an antidote for the epidemic.

However, the request to dissect the body was made by Tang Ci himself, as it was the deceased's last wish. Zhang Xiugu was simply following his instructions and did not intend to break the law.

The magistrate was moved by Zhang Xiugu's prescription for saving the people and originally intended to let her go. However, some people in the city stirred up trouble and insisted on putting Zhang Xiugu to death.

Under pressure from public opinion, the county magistrate had no choice but to sentence Zhang Xiugu to death, with execution scheduled for the next few days.

Tang Fu was the only son of Tang Ci and Zhang Xiugu. Within a month, his father passed away and his mother was imprisoned and would soon be beheaded.

Tang Fu, who was not yet fourteen years old, could not bear to watch his mother die. Hearing that the Princess of Dingbei was a fair person, he sneaked into the capital and waited on the streets for several days before waiting for the princess's carriage to pass by.

After hearing what had happened, Gu Leyao sighed inwardly that Tang Ci and Zhang Xiugu were both rare doctors.

In this era, one man requested that his abdomen be dissected after his death to determine the cause of his illness, while another was willing to commit a heinous crime in order to save the people.

Moreover, Zhang Xiugu's ability to quickly identify the cause of the illness and develop a corresponding antidote demonstrates that she was a medical prodigy.

Such a gem was buried in obscurity for various reasons in the past, but now, Gu Leyao has the power to save her.

As a woman herself, she also wanted to save her.

*

Tang waited at the inn for three days, and the guard who brought him there paid for his food and lodging.

Tang was staying at the inn, where he had plenty to eat and wear, even better than the food at home, but he just couldn't sit still.

He stayed at the inn, enjoying good food and drink, but his mother was still in prison. Before leaving Su County, he bribed the jailer to visit his mother.

The prison was filled with prisoners, and it was filthy everywhere. The rats were as big as kittens, and the air reeked of excrement and urine.

When Tang Ci saw his mother, who loved cleanliness, locked in a filthy cell, her hair disheveled and her body filthy, tears immediately streamed down his face.

When my father was alive, he was a well-known doctor in the county. My mother could also treat women and earn some money to supplement the family income. Although the family was not rich, they had enough to eat and drink. Although the clothes in the family were all old, they were all clean.

My mother has always been a clean person. In public, she always has a neat and dignified appearance, and her hair ornaments are always impeccable.

But how could such a happy family fall apart in just over a month? Father passed away from a serious illness, and Mother was imprisoned.

Even if Mother really cut open Father's belly, wasn't that Father's last wish?

Father and Mother did this to save the people of the whole city! They saved all the sick people in the city! Doesn't that atone for their sins?

Why? Why? Why don't good people get good rewards?

Who exactly reported Mother to the magistrate? Father and Mother have always been kind to everyone in Su County, so he has no idea who they offended...

During his three days at the inn, these thoughts kept swirling in Tang Fu's mind. He couldn't figure it out and hardly slept at all.

His eyes were bloodshot, and he was exhausted, yet he couldn't fall asleep.

Tang even wondered if the princess was just making excuses for him. How could someone as noble as her care about the life or death of an ordinary person?

'Knock knock knock...'

Tang seemed to hear knocking on the door, one knock after another. At first, he thought it was a hallucination, but the knocking continued, and someone outside the door was calling his name.

Tang immediately jumped out of bed and ran to open the door.

"Brother Zhang, it's you."

Zhang Lang was the guard Gu Leyao had left behind last time. The prince had given him an order to take Vice Tang to Su County to settle the matter.

"Young man of the Tang family, what happened to you? You look like a ghost after just a few days. Shall I find a doctor to take a look at you?"

Although Tang Fu was clean on his body and face, he looked haggard, with sunken cheeks and bloodshot eyes.

It's not as good as when I first met him three days ago, at least back then his eyes had a sparkle.

Tang forced a weak smile. "No need to trouble you, Brother Zhang. I'm alright, I can manage. Brother Zhang, did you come here with some news for me?"

As he said this, he stared intently at Zhang Lang, his eyes fixed on him as if pleading or expecting something in return.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Lang smiled and said, "Young Tang, the Princess and the Prince have stood up for you. They have investigated the whole story of your mother's case and now your mother, Zhang Xiugu, is innocent. I can take you back to Su County this afternoon to bring your mother to the capital."

Zhang Lang patted Tang Fu on the shoulder, "Young Tang, look forward to everything. Your good days are coming. Not only will the Princess Consort uphold justice for you, but she will also allow you and your son to come to the capital. You can stay at the Medical Bureau for the time being. As long as you have real skills, you will definitely have no worries about food and drink in the future."

Tang hadn't eaten or drunk much for three days. He almost fell over after being patted a few times by Zhang Lang. He was overwhelmed by this huge surprise.

The princess actually took his matter to heart, and his mother was able to get out of prison!

"Brother Zhang, let's go back to Su County now. I need to rescue my mother first!"

Zhang Lang scooped Tang Fu up, saying, "You little rascal, why are you in such a hurry?"

He asked the innkeeper to get him some steamed buns, which the two of them would take with them to eat on the road.

Tang was now in high spirits. Following Zhang Lang, he felt his legs were strong again and his mind was clear. "Brother Zhang, let's hurry up and go. It will take a day and a night to travel two hundred li. Let's set off quickly and we can reach Suxian by noon tomorrow."

Seeing Tang Fu's expression, Zhang Lang grinned. He liked people who were filial to their parents, and he could understand Tang Fu's current anxious state.

"Young Tang, don't worry. I'll have the shopkeeper prepare the horses so we can get to Su County faster."

Tang Fu had previously traveled to the capital entirely on foot, and this time, returning from the capital, he would naturally need to listen to Zhang Lang, who had experience in the field.

He was quick-witted and immediately quieted down, following Zhang Lang's instructions.

Zhang Lang was very efficient. He had prepared horses and provisions, and also brought a small bundle containing documents and tokens.

Zhang Lang, spurring his horse, scooped up Deputy Tang and said, "Let's go, Tang kid!"

The horses kicked up their hooves, leaving a cloud of dust in their wake.

...

*

The horse galloped all night and finally arrived at Su County.

Tang, the deputy, dismounted and rushed to the gate of the Su County government office, banging on the door.

Zhang Lang tied his horse to the entrance of the county government office, carrying a bundle in his hand, and followed Tang Fu at a leisurely pace.

Soon, someone came out of the gate, "Coming, coming, what do you want?"

Tang finally got home, his face flushed with anxiety, and he suddenly couldn't speak. He stammered "I...I...I" for a long time.

Seeing that he was rambling incoherently, the man became angry and said, "Don't bother me if you don't have something to say!"

Zhang Lang patted Vice-Tang on the shoulder, gesturing for him to go behind him.

Tang, his face flushed, hid behind Zhang Lang.

Zhang Lang took out a token and said coldly, "I want to see the magistrate."

The man wiped his eyes, took another look, and then opened the door wide. "Please come in, esteemed guest. I was blind to your greatness. Please forgive me."

Zhang Lang and Deputy Tang then entered the county government office.

Upon hearing about the token, the magistrate quickly tidied his clothes and came to see them first.

The magistrate was in his forties or fifties, and was quite stout. It was clear that he rarely exercised, but now he ran very fast.

Upon seeing Zhang Lang and Vice Magistrate Tang, the magistrate wiped the fine sweat from his brow, took a breath, and forced a smile. "Sir, what brings you here?"

Zhang Lang was also a military officer who had been on the battlefield, but he only served as a guard in the Prince's mansion. He was worthy of the title of "magistrate". "The Prince has already learned about Zhang Xiugu's case and has specially requested the Emperor to make a judgment. Now the Emperor has made a decision and ruled that Zhang Xiugu is innocent."

Zhang Xiugu, Zhang Xiugu... Who is Zhang Xiugu?

The magistrate's mind raced. Yes, Zhang Xiugu was the woman who offered the prescription!

How did her affair become known even to the prince, and even reach the ears of the emperor?

This... does she have powerful connections? But Zhang Xiugu is just an ordinary woman, at most she knows a little more medicine than other women. She has lived in Su County for generations, how could she possibly know any important people?

Tang Fu had calmed down by this time. He stepped out from behind Zhang Lang and said, "Please release my mother, sir."

As he spoke, he bowed deeply.

The magistrate remembered that Zhang Xiugu had a son who had been kneeling in front of the county government office, begging him for a long time.

The county magistrate would naturally like such a filial child; any normal person would be moved by Vice Tang's filial piety.

However, someone accused Zhang Xiugu of crimes and even hired a lawyer, determined to kill her.

The magistrate really didn't want to take responsibility, so he went along with it and sentenced Zhang Xiugu to death.

After all, Zhang Xiugu did commit the crime of harming a corpse, so sentencing her to death was justifiable.

The county magistrate still remembered Vice Tang. "You're Vice Tang...did you go to the capital to invite someone?"

The magistrate was genuinely surprised. How could Tang, a mere teenager, possibly impress such an important person?

When the magistrate questioned him, Vice Tang dared not refuse to answer. “I went to the capital and met a noble person there. This noble person is kind-hearted and even cared about the life of a commoner like me… In short, thanks to the noble person’s help, my mother’s life was saved.”

The magistrate, however, sensed something else in Tang and his mother. There must be something about them that caught the eye of a powerful figure. Otherwise, why would such a high-ranking person stoop down to help two insignificant ants?

Thinking back to his previous actions of being unwilling to take responsibility and simply imprisoning Zhang Xiugu, the county magistrate felt a pang of anxiety.

If Vice Minister Tang and his mother become prominent in the future, even a small mishap could be enough to give him a hard time.

He needs to think of a way to remedy the situation.

In an instant, the magistrate's expression changed, and he looked somewhat troubled. "Young Brother Tang, to be honest, I didn't want to sentence your mother to death before. Someone forced me to do it, and I had no choice but to make a mistake."