A few people who knew a bit about the situation at the mine deliberately explained it to her.
"I've heard that the criminals who go to the White Tiger Ridge Mine are treated like donkeys. They have to get up earlier than chickens and go to bed later than dogs. They only get three black cornbread buns a day and work non-stop. It's a miserable life!"
Those nearby, upon hearing this, also chimed in.
"That's nothing at all!"
I heard that the supervisors there follow behind with leather whips, and if anyone works too slowly, they are immediately lashed with the whip!
Countless pampered rich kids committed crimes and died there after being exiled!
"That's true. I heard that the foreman's leather whip was used to whip people all year round, and the blood on their bodies had turned them black! It's really creepy!"
"They deserve it. Those who are exiled there are just guilty and deserve it!"
Every time someone nearby said something, Old Man Xiao and Old Lady Xiao's faces darkened a bit. Now they were truly regretting it. If they had known it would be this serious, they would have given Xiao Wenli and the others more money back then, and like Master Cao, apologized to Sun Chongren first, so that they wouldn't have to be exiled!
By the time they arrived, it was too late to ask someone to intercede on their behalf!
Unfortunately, the two of them were always presumptuous and self-righteous. Cao Cheng'an didn't have to be exiled because he didn't come up with such a despicable idea, and because he confessed voluntarily and provided favorable evidence, which reduced his sentence. Xiao Yuanhang is such a despicable person, yet he still wants to spend a few taels of silver to reduce his sentence. Only the ignorant old lady Xiao would dare to have such a dream!
The two regretted their actions and complained about how stingy Master Cao was. Since he had come early, he hadn't even brought Xiao Yuanhang along when he rescued his son. They also complained about Xie Yushu, calling her a heartless ingrate who had been their daughter-in-law for a few months and showed no gratitude whatsoever. She was putting on airs like a local magistrate!
But she didn't dare to complain. She was terrified of being beaten by Nanxing, and even more afraid that Xie Yushu would really turn on her and drag her to be beaten with a board!
The crowd buzzed with complaints about the hardships of exile, while Xiao Yuanhang, who had been beaten, screamed until his voice was hoarse. This made Old Madam Xiao anxious, her face covered in tears and snot. Old Man Xiao was even more anxious, pacing around in circles, but there was nothing he could do!
After the beating was finished, Xiao Yuanhang was dragged out again like a dead dog.
Grandma Xiao and Grandpa Xiao rushed over and cried their hearts out.
Rarely, Xiao Yuanhang still retained some of his hazy consciousness. Recognizing it as Old Madam Xiao's voice, he raised his eyelids slightly and said in a weak voice...
"Mother, save me! Save me! I can't go into exile. I'm only in my early twenties. I don't want to die in that dark and gloomy mining area!"
"Waaaah... My son! I want to save you too, but that little vixen Xie Yushu has no conscience at all. Your father and I begged her, but she didn't show us any mercy!"
Han Zhongyu is like a stern-faced devil. I already told him that Xiao Yi is a general, but he doesn't take it seriously!
When Xiao Yi returns, I'll make him write a petition to the Emperor, accusing this Han fellow and demanding that the Emperor punish him!
"Cough, cough, Mother, go find the Princess! Go to the capital to find the Princess! She must have a way!"
"Yes, yes, Mother will go to the Princess later. The Princess will definitely save you!"
Before the two could finish speaking, Liu Nan and his men tried to drag them back to the prison. Old Man Xiao quickly asked a question.
“His injuries are so severe, he needs to be treated. You’re not just going to exile him like this, are you? Wouldn’t that be deliberately trying to kill him?”
"If you continue like this, I'll go to the princess and accuse you of using your position for personal revenge!"
Liu Nan scoffed.
"He's not worth our trouble. Don't worry, since he wasn't sentenced to death, we can't let him die like this, otherwise who will dig the stones in the mine!"
Old Xiao was so angry at Liu Nan's insults that he didn't dare to retaliate, his neck stiff with rage.
Seeing Old Man Xiao's appearance, everyone burst into laughter without restraint, but some also told him something intriguing.
"The imperial court had specific times for exiling prisoners, usually in early spring or early autumn, as it was difficult to travel in the icy and snowy winter."
Your son is definitely going to be in the wave next April! If you two care, hurry up and buy him some good medicine so he can be cured before he's exiled, and not die on the way!
The two breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. April was good; there were still several months left. They could still go to the capital to find the princess. Perhaps if the princess gave the word, they wouldn't have to be exiled and would be released directly.
Having learned from his previous beating, Xiao Yuanhang knew that the medicine given in prison could only guarantee that the wound wouldn't become infected or bleed; it could heal, but applying the medicine was excruciatingly painful, no less than being beaten again every day. So, with his last ounce of strength, he shouted at Old Madam Xiao...
"Buy me some good medicine!"
Then I closed my eyes and fainted!
When Old Man Xiao and Old Lady Xiao saw that their son had fainted, they were heartbroken and quickly inquired where they could find good medicine to treat external injuries.
A kind bystander pointed out Dr. Liu's compassionate clinic.
The two of them hurried off.
It just so happened that Liu Zhuoxuan was seeing patients at the shop. Xiao Yuanhang had been the talk of the town in Tai'an Prefecture lately. Moreover, his grandmaster and the Xiao family had a history of grudges. A few days ago, Xiao Yuanhang was running around the city. Liu Zhuoxuan had seen him there. Just by looking at the faces of the old man and the old woman, he knew that they were related to Xiao Yuanhang.
As soon as Old Mrs. Xiao opened her mouth...
"Doctor, please bring out your best medicine for treating external injuries!"
Liu Zhuoxuan took out the newly developed hemostatic powder. This stuff was made from the powder ground from a wasp stalk that her grandmaster stepped on. It had an excellent hemostatic effect and was cheap. Originally, she planned to sell it to ordinary people at a low price, but since Old Madam Xiao was so wealthy, of course she had to satisfy her!
My master taught me to be flexible and not to be rigid in my thinking!
So Liu Zhuoxuan mixed the wasp powder with a little borneol powder, a little vanilla powder, and some anesthetic powder. It smelled very fragrant and high-end. Seeing that it was about right, he put the prepared medicine into a small white porcelain bottle and solemnly introduced it to Old Mrs. Xiao.
"This is our newly developed, best hemostatic medicine. It not only stops bleeding, but also relieves pain!"
It feels cool and refreshing to the touch, which perfectly counteracts the burning pain of redness, swelling, and heat in the wound. It's just a bit pricey; it's not something ordinary people can afford!
Old Mrs. Xiao was very concerned about her image and always considered herself superior. Although she felt a pang of pain upon hearing that it was expensive, she remembered that she was the mother of a general, and those commoners and bumpkins were not worthy of being compared to her. Besides, this was for her beloved son, so she gritted her teeth and asked...
"How much!"
"This bottle is worth ten taels of silver!"
"Ten taels! You might as well just rob someone!"
"See, I told you long ago that ordinary people can't afford this medicine. These are all precious medicinal herbs and a unique secret recipe. Using it will save the injured a lot of suffering!"
If you think it's too expensive, here's a bottle for two hundred copper coins; it stops bleeding and relieves pain.
Upon hearing Liu Zhuoxuan's words, Old Madam Xiao no longer cared about the two hundred copper coins. Thinking of how her son had been beaten, she realized he probably wasn't in much pain. So, she gritted her teeth, took out ten taels of silver, threw it on the counter, grabbed the medicine bottle, and left.
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