Chapter 133 Rescue

During the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Li family strolled around the West Market, watched a circus performance, ate hand-pulled mutton, tasted honeydew melon, and enjoyed mooncakes and moon-viewing together in the evening. They had a wonderful time.

Just as Li San Niang was about to entice Xiao Si Lang to recite another poem after listening to him recite the poem, she keenly heard a rhythmic knocking sound coming from the back door.

Besides Li San Niang, only Li Da Xiong and Li Da Lang also sensed this.

The curfew had long passed, so who could be knocking on the back door of the Li family at this time, during the Mid-Autumn Festival when families should be reunited?

Without a doubt, who else could it be but the women from Shihualou in Pingkangfang who are in trouble?

Thinking of this, Li San Niang's heart skipped a beat, and her smiling expression immediately turned into worry.

If there's any unforeseen ailment among the women of Shihualou, it's likely that it's Jiu Niang, whom Li San Niang previously visited and diagnosed as pregnant.

"Oh no!"

Upon hearing Li Sanniang's voice, the rest of the Li family looked at her. Li Sanniang said anxiously, "Eldest brother, hurry and open the door. It must be the young lady from Shihualou coming to seek medical treatment."

Li Dalang hurriedly ran towards the back door, so anxious that he didn't even bother to pick up his lantern.

As Li San Niang and the others hurried toward the back gate, they encountered Qi Zhi Die, who was covered from head to toe in a black cloak.

Before Li San Niang could even ask, Qi Zhi Die, who had just pulled off her hood and knelt down in front of Li San Niang, burst into tears before she could even speak.

Brother Li and Brother Li Er carried lanterns, which vaguely illuminated Qi Zhidie's face. Li San Niang saw large tears streaming down Qi Zhidie's face.

"Madam Qi, what's going on? Is something wrong with Ninth Sister?"

Qi Zhidie's lips trembled as she looked at Li Sanniang and pleaded, "Li Sanniang, Jiu Niang has lost a lot of blood and has fainted."

As she spoke, Qi Zhidie bowed her head to Li Sanniang and kowtowed repeatedly. She continued, "Sanniangzi, please save Jiuniang! Please save her! We don't want the child anymore! We just want Jiuniang to live, just want her to live!"

In just a few words, Qi Zhidie's forehead turned red from banging her head against the ground.

Li Sanniang squatted down to help Qi Zhidie up, "Don't waste any time, I'll go! Let me get ready, then I'll go with you!"

Upon hearing that Li San Niang was willing to rescue Jiu Niang, Qi Zhi Die's eyes instantly lit up, and she wanted to smile happily. However, thinking of Jiu Niang's uncertain fate, her lips, which had just risen, drooped again.

Li San Niang guessed that Jiu Niang was originally a weak person. She had told her before that as the fetus grew, it would continuously absorb her nutrients due to its growth and development. But Jiu Niang's body could not withstand such nourishment, which led to Jiu Niang being "sucked" to death by the fetus.

In fact, the bleeding at this time is Jiu Niang's body trying to save itself, a way to kill the fetus and save "her" own life.

Li San Niang had barely taken two steps when she heard her elder brother Li call out to her, "San Niang, wait! Curfew has been imposed!"

Li Erxiong also felt sorry for the women in Pingkangfang, but if he forced his way in during curfew and was caught, he would be punished with caning at best and shot at worst. Li Sanniang was his own sister, how could he take such a risk?

Then, Li Erxiong chimed in, "That's right, Third Sister. It's curfew now, and Pingkangfang is so far away. What if something happens on the way?"

The joy in Qi Zhidie's eyes gradually faded. She knew she had forced herself to do it. Mr. Bu Ke from the Bad Guys had never given her any kind of token; each time, it was Mr. Bu Ke who sent people to find her. She couldn't guarantee that she could safely lead Li San Niang across the gate to Shi Hua Lou under the cover of night.

This time, she took it upon herself to seek help from Li San Niang. Although the coachman waiting outside the back door was a member of the Bad Guys, he wouldn't use his identity token to help.

With tears still on her face, Qi Zhidie looked up at Li Sanniang, who was walking into the courtyard, and said, "I'd like to trouble you, Sanniang, to prescribe some medicine for Jiuniang. I'll take the medicine and leave."

How could Li San Niang agree to this? How could she prescribe a medicine without seeing Jiu Niang's actual condition?

“I know, brothers, when lives are at stake, we can’t worry about anything else.”

Time is life. Li San Niang returned to the main hall, gave some instructions to her parents, and then went back to her room to pack up.

Mr. Li shook his head, the words of advice he wanted to say stuck in his throat.

Li's mother didn't intend to speak, knowing that Li San Niang wasn't someone who would listen to her advice just by offering a few words.

Now that things have come to this, there's no point in trying to stop it anymore.

Li San Niang carried her medical kit, covered herself with a black cloak like Qi Zhi Die's, and her eldest brother, Li, carried wrapped medicinal herbs that Li San Niang thought might be needed. Together with Qi Zhi Die, they got into the carriage parked outside the back door.

Before leaving, Li's father instructed Li San Niang to take the waist token issued by the Bad People, so that if she encountered the Imperial Guards on duty, she would have something to say. Whether it would work or not, he didn't know.

Brother Li's Golden Guard waist token should be useful, but it's fine if it's just for Brother Li alone. If you add Li San Niang and Qi Zhi Die, what reason can Brother Li give?

Brother Li sat on the other side of the carriage shaft, while Li San Niang and Qi Zhi Die entered the carriage.

As soon as Li San Niang sat down, the driver pulled the reins. Li Da Xiong looked at the carriage and the driver, with many questions in his mind, but he didn't say a word.

When it's curfew and you're traveling at night, it's best not to speak.

Brother Li's question lies in the fact that this is a horse-drawn carriage. If the largest brothel in Pingkang Ward could use a horse-drawn carriage, that would make sense.

How could a second-class brothel like Shihualou, with only twenty or thirty young women, possibly use a carriage? And one pulled by such a fine horse.

Last time, when Li Dalang accompanied his mother and Li Sanniang to Shihualou, they also rode in a carriage, but the horse pulling the carriage was not this strong and powerful stallion that looked like it was in its prime.

Last time, it was a frail, elderly horse that was on its last legs, used only for pulling a cart. Now, even if the cart is unloaded, saddled, and used on the battlefield, Brother Li thinks it would be perfectly capable.

Furthermore, Brother Li, who had served in the Imperial Guard for many years, immediately recognized the trained mannerisms of the carriage driver.

Li Dalang was young and had never met this type of person before, so he didn't notice anything amiss last time.

Brother Li was absolutely certain that there was something wrong with Shihualou, the women in Shihualou, and the coachmen in Shihualou!

Suppressing his doubts, Brother Li noticed that the coachman was very familiar with the roads in Chang'an City, not only the Changshou Ward where the Li family lived, but also the alleyway they had just passed through, which even Brother Li, a member of the Imperial Guard, did not know.

It was impossible to leave through the ward gate. The ward gate was closed long ago during the curfew. It could only be opened in case of an emergency military situation or other major event. Otherwise, it would not be opened for anyone.

But this driver was really amazing; he actually managed to find a way out in a hidden, seemingly dead-end place after going through many twists and turns!