Chapter 114 Old Wang
The various government offices that collaborated in investigating Xiaofeng's identity made no progress and had no choice but to post Xiaofeng's portrait everywhere.
In a tavern, a middle-aged man, his eyes blurry with alcohol, boasted to his companions, "I know who the person in the portrait is."
"Do you know?" His companion, also drunk, forgot to lower his voice, "Who is it? Tell me quickly."
The middle-aged man burped: "No, I won't tell you."
His companion hooked his arm around his shoulder, and with a drunken chuckle, he asked, "Are you planning on collecting the reward?"
The middle-aged man hurriedly shook his head: "I won't go. Dealing with officials will not bring good results--"
He suddenly noticed that his companion was staring blankly. He turned around and was immediately sobered up by the shock.
"S-Sir..."
The two Jinlin Guards looked serious, and one of them pressed his shoulder: "Come with us."
The middle-aged man was so frightened that his legs went limp and he started crying: "Xiaomin was drunk and was talking nonsense—"
"Whether it's nonsense or not, come with us." The two Jinlin guards spoke in a cold tone, but they were a little excited in their hearts.
If this drunkard really knows something, then they will have done a great job.
The middle-aged man was taken to the yamen and interrogated by a captain of the Jinlin Guard.
Arriving at such a place, the middle-aged man became completely sober. He didn't even have the courage to lie and told the truth.
"The young man in the portrait was surnamed Liu, and he used to live in Wanfufang. His father was an official, and he had an older sister who was incredibly beautiful. About seven or eight years ago, his sister went out to play on Chinese Valentine's Day and was only found the next day. They said she had eloped with her lover and was chased back. Perhaps she was forced to separate from her lover. We don't know the specific reason, but after her sister was found, she hanged herself. His father died not long after, and there has been no news of the family since then, and the house is empty..."
I didn’t expect that this child would be arrested by the government. I don’t know what he did wrong.
After hearing the man's detailed account, the captain asked, "How do you know so much?"
The middle-aged man hurriedly explained, "I used to live there, but later my family fell into poverty and I moved away."
The captain still had doubts: "The boy in the painting is already fifteen or sixteen years old, and he was just a child seven or eight years ago. How did you recognize him at first sight?"
"This kid looks quite a bit like his sister. Well, his sister was around the same age back then, and she was pretty, so I was quite impressed..."
The captain's face turned cold and he warned, "I will send people to investigate. If they find that you have told even a single lie, I will pull out your tongue."
It would be easy if you really lived in Wanfufang for many years. Even if seven or eight years have passed, many neighbors would still remember this family.
The Jinlin Guards, who finally got a clue, began their investigation. On the other side, the old man who revealed the notice was searched inside and out and was brought before Emperor Tai'an.
"Your humble servant greets the emperor." The old man bowed politely, with neither servile nor arrogant demeanor.
Emperor Tai'an sat on the dragon throne and looked at the old man.
The old man's hair and beard were all white, and he was in good spirits. The loose robe on his thin body gave him the feeling of an immortal.
Emperor Tai'an was naturally suspicious and didn't trust the old man's apparent reliability. He calmly asked, "Are you the miracle doctor who revealed the winner?"
"I don't dare to call myself a miracle doctor. I just know a little bit about the acupuncture method of relieving pain."
"A little understanding?" Emperor Tai'an raised his voice slightly.
"I understand a little bit." The old man replied calmly.
Emperor Tai'an glanced at the eunuch Liu Chuan standing beside him, and Liu Chuan immediately shouted, "Bring the person here."
Soon a young guard came into the hall and saluted with difficulty.
The guard had a white cloth wrapped around his arm and his expression looked relatively calm. However, if you looked closely, you could see beads of sweat on his forehead and pale lips.
"Please ask the miracle doctor to relieve his pain." Emperor Tai'an said lightly.
There is no doubt that this is a test for the old man. The prince's precious body is not to be messed with.
The old man walked up to the young guard and started to untie the gauze.
Eunuch Liu Chuan considerately blocked Emperor Tai'an's sight and said, "Your Majesty, please ask the miracle doctor to go to the side hall to perform the operation.
Emperor Tai'an remained calm and said, "No need, I'll take a look."
Hearing him say this, Liu Chuan stepped aside.
The old man had already removed the layers of white cloth wrapped around the young guard's arm, revealing a hideous wound. The wound looked fresh, clearly having been sustained not long ago.
The young guard's face turned even paler, beads of sweat rolled down his face, and he gritted his teeth to restrain himself from losing his composure in front of the emperor.
"Do you have any golden needles?"
Emperor Tai'an frowned subconsciously after hearing this: "Didn't the miracle doctor have any preparations?"
If you don’t even have golden needles, how can you understand how to use them to relieve pain?
The old man replied calmly: "A set of gold needles is too expensive."
Emperor Tai'an was silent for a moment and nodded to the eunuch Liu Chuan.
Liu Chuan winked at a eunuch, who quickly brought out the golden needle.
Liu Chuan took it and handed it to the old man personally.
The old man glanced at the golden needles of all lengths and thicknesses, picked up a slightly longer one, and gently inserted it near the wound of the young guard. In just a blink of an eye, he had pierced a circle.
The young guard looked visibly more relaxed.
Emperor Tai'an stared at the young guard intently and asked hurriedly, "How is it?"
The young guard said respectfully, "Your Majesty, the pain has eased considerably."
After a while, the young guard said again: "It only hurts a little bit."
Emperor Tai'an showed a delighted expression, but he hesitated as he looked at the young guard's hedgehog-like arms. "It's inconvenient to sit or lie down with these thorns on, right?"
Does the prince have to keep his hedgehog-like arms exposed?
Of course, it's not impossible compared to unbearable pain.
The old man nodded in agreement: "It's inconvenient."
Before Emperor Tai'an could ask any more questions, he saw him taking out the golden needles one by one with his fingers flying.
"That's convenient."
Emperor Tai'an: "..." He suddenly felt like a fool for asking the question just now.
Fortunately, he kept his composure and didn't show any embarrassment on his face. He asked the young man, "How do you feel about removing the golden needle?"
The young guard seemed in disbelief, even moving his arm slightly, and said in shock, "It doesn't hurt anymore!"
Emperor Tai'an looked at the old man with a smile on his face: "The miracle doctor is indeed amazing."
"Your Majesty is overly kind. Acupuncture and moxibustion won't permanently stop the pain; it only lasts for a certain period of time."
"How long will it last?"
"If you give the needle three times a day, you won't be bothered by the pain."
Emperor Tai'an was relieved upon hearing this: "Then the Crown Prince will be in the care of the miracle doctor."
"I will do my best."
After confirming that the man before him was no idiot seeking fame, Emperor Tai'an finally felt inclined to ask, "What is the name of the miracle doctor?"
"My surname is Wang, and everyone who knows me calls me Old Wang."
Old Wang? Isn't that a bit too casual? Someone with such a miraculous skill as acupuncture should at least be called Doctor Wang, right?
"Which clinic does Divine Doctor Wang work in?"
The old man remained calm and said, "I usually set up a stall on the street to tell fortunes."
Emperor Tai’an:?
After a while, the emperor finally decided how to address him: "Liu Chuan, take Mr. Wang to the East Palace."
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