Qi Yihan was also busy beyond compare. He had to manage the overall situation, rushing between the old city and the new city for three consecutive days, so busy he had no time to see Li Maner.
However, he was very thoughtful, sending people to deliver food and trinkets to Li Maner from time to time, and even sending a handwritten note along with them.
Who would have thought that the notorious Ninth Prince would have such a tender and gentle side!
Li Maner's heart also gradually softened, and she even sent someone to deliver Xiao Xiang's medicine. To prevent the medicine from being tampered with, Li Maner also instructed Ah Si to go there personally. Anyway, she was not in danger in the new city, as the Mobei was no longer under the sole control of the Xiao family.
After Ah Si handed the medicine to Qi Yihan, she brought back some not-so-good news, "Miss, the Prince said he couldn't find Man Muhan He and his wife. They don't know if they are dead or escaped."
Only then did Li Maner remember that she had thrown the couple into her space.
"Oh no, how could I have forgotten about this!"
"Both are possible, right?" Li Maner remained very calm, "That night was a big melee, with a lot of explosives thrown. Everything was in chaos. Perhaps they died somewhere, or perhaps they escaped in the confusion. It's hard to say."
Ah Si, not knowing Man Muhan He's true identity, also said, "They must be dead. It's good if they are dead, they were a pair of troublemakers."
Li Maner felt extremely awkward, but her expression remained indifferent. Thinking carefully, there were quite a few people in her space, including her uncle, the ghost doctor Feng Jue, plus Qi Li and Ha Yue Zhu, and that eccentric old woman...
"Miss?"
Li Maner smiled, "It's nothing. Did you personally give the medicine to the Prince?"
"Yes, I handed it to the Prince myself, miss."
"Did you ask about Old General Xiao?"
Mentioning this, Ah Si's eyes lit up, "I specifically inquired. They said he has recovered a lot. He can get out of bed within a few days. Miss, your medical skills are amazing. Other doctors said Old General Xiao's descendants should prepare themselves, but you saved him with just one treatment."
Li Maner shook her head, "It's still too late. If it were earlier, perhaps there would still be hope." Even she could only extend Xiao Xiang's lifespan by half a year. To save this person, unless he drank a large amount of spiritual spring water, even a celestial being couldn't save him.
But Li Maner had always been a person who weighed pros and cons. Before doing anything, she would think it through clearly. If the risk was worth it, she would do it; otherwise, she would give up.
Saving Xiao Xiang carried too great a risk, and the preciousness of the spiritual mist spring water was self-evident. Therefore, Li Maner would not risk it to save him.
"Miss, you are already very capable. Don't blame yourself."
Li Maner said, "I'm fine. Ask Wu Ying and the others to come over later and help me with some work. Sorting and stirring herbs. I'll pay them for their work."
"Yes, I'll go now!"
Ah Si was very familiar with this area and quickly found Wu Ying and the young women she used to work with.
"Oh my, who is this?" Wu Ying, with sharp eyes, saw Ah Si at once and happily pulled her over to examine her. "Look, following Miss Li now is completely different from before."
"Exactly, look how much more accomplished you are now."
"What good fortune!"
They didn't know Ah Si's true identity and only thought she had been favored and chosen by Li Maner. Some were envious, others jealous, and their words were inevitably tinged with sarcasm.
Ah Si pretended not to understand, "Sister Wu Ying, our young lady has some work and would like to invite you to help. It's all about sorting and stirring herbs. We'll pay you."
Wu Ying immediately said, "What are you saying? Who is Miss Li? We know all about her deeds. She's a female general with the courage of a tiger, daring to single-handedly overturn the barbarian camp. It's an honor for us to work for Miss Li. What need is there for payment?"
"Exactly!"
"We can't take money that goes against our conscience."
"We will definitely do Miss Li's work beautifully."
Although these women were jealous of Wu Ying and had some envious thoughts, they admired and respected Li Maner.
"Alright then, if you're free, come with me!"
"Let's go!" Wu Ying said, "There's no war now, so we're the laziest people around."
"Indeed, let's go now."
A group of six or seven people set off grandly and soon arrived at the small courtyard where Li Maner was currently staying.
"Miss, I've brought them. Sister Wu and the others said they don't want any money and will help you for free."
Li Maner quickly said, "How can that be? This work isn't easy, it's quite strenuous. I can't just use people for free."
When Wu Ying saw Li Maner, she was once again amazed in her heart. She had seen this young lady a few times before, and each time, Li Maner seemed like a fairy who had stepped out of a painting, so beautiful. Compared to Li Maner, they looked like rough men.
"Miss Li, you are the great hero in our hearts. We know everything you've done to protect Mobei and its people. We are willing to help you with our own accord. Sisters, don't you agree?"
"Yes, Miss Li, we really can't take money. What would that make us?"
"Exactly, exactly. We have nothing to do anyway. Working will help us stretch our muscles and warm us up."
Seeing their firm attitude, Li Maner couldn't say anything more. In any case, she would not treat these people poorly.
"Alright then, shall we start working?"
"Okay!"
"Miss, we are all simple folk and don't recognize herbs and such, but we're fine with manual labor. Just tell us what to do."
Li Maner then led them to the adjacent wing room, where a lot of medicinal herbs were stored.
"Your tasks are not difficult, and you can all do them well if you are diligent," Li Maner pointed to the herbs in the baskets and said, "These need to be steamed and boiled. First, we must ensure that the stove is constantly lit, and the fire should not be too strong. Someone must always watch..."
Li Maner quickly assigned tasks to everyone, who would tend the stove, who would be responsible for cleaning the herbs, all clearly arranged.
As for herself, she had to refine pills, so she had no time to do these things.
Li Maner gave Ah Si a few instructions and then locked herself in her room, using the prepared herbs and the Scarlet Flame Lotus furnace to refine pills.
Her medicines, with the blessing of the spiritual spring water, were particularly effective, with far greater efficacy than ordinary pills. Their upcoming trip to the Moluo Mountains was likely to be fraught with danger. Even without the Xiao family's schemes, accidents in the mountains were unpredictable. She had to make thorough preparations.
Li Maner was focused on refining pills and accidentally lost track of time. It wasn't until she finished the last furnace of pills that she realized it was already dark.