Li Man'er saw Zuo Cheng's bewildered expression and said, "Li Wenchang betrayed Father and colluded with the barbarians. On our way here, he led a wolf pack to attack our camp."
"What?" Zuo Cheng was stunned for a moment. "This… can't be true? Could it be a coincidence?"
"I saw with my own eyes that he was colluding with the barbarians; there's no mistake." Li Man'er's face was grim. "Moreover, he admitted it himself."
Zuo Cheng couldn't fathom Li Wenchang's reason for betraying the Marquis. In his haste, he couldn't help but ask angrily, "Why? Why would he do this?"
"I asked him, and he refused to say, only that he had his reasons for doing so." Li Man'er said, "You all came from Mobei together; didn't you notice anything unusual about him?"
Zuo Cheng thought back carefully. "Nothing! Everything was normal throughout the journey. It's just that I was supposed to go back originally, but Li Wenchang said it would be more stable if he went, so he swapped with me to pick up the eldest daughter."
"That makes sense. If you had gone, who would have set a trap for us on the road?"
Zuo Cheng cupped his fists. "Eldest daughter, we cannot see the Marquis now. I implore you and Third Master to devise a plan for this matter."
"Man'er, what are your thoughts?" Without realizing it, Third Master Li had begun to see Li Man'er as the leader. They were all rough men, not as meticulous as Li Man'er, and couldn't come up with any good ideas.
"Third Uncle, do we even need to think about this? Let's just go to their door!"
Huh?
Go directly to their door?
Li Nian was a bit confused. "Man'er, what do you mean?"
"Everyone knows I came to Mobei to treat Father. If the Xiao family blocks me from seeing him, it's clear they intend to harm Father. If we catch them in the act, we can even charge into the prefectural yamen with our troops, and who can say anything?"
"Exactly!" Li Nian's eyes lit up. "As expected, your mind is sharp. How did I not think of that!"
Zuo Cheng also said, "Does the Eldest Daughter mean that the Xiao family won't make things difficult for us?"
Li Man'er nodded. "To be precise, as long as I am here, seeing Father should not be difficult. But that doesn't mean the Xiao family won't make things difficult for us."
"Oh, Man'er, don't keep us in suspense. Tell us your speculations and thoughts quickly."
Li Man'er then said, "I suspect the Xiao family will not make things difficult for me and will allow me in to see Father. However, they will likely use the excuse of the yamen being a restricted area where unauthorized personnel cannot enter, and block all of Third Uncle and Father's guards outside."
"In other words, they will only allow you to enter alone."
"Because I appear easy to bully and manipulate. Even if they let me in, what difference does it make? It's just one more person to be imprisoned."
Zuo Cheng asked in amazement, "Even if the Xiao family had the guts, they wouldn't dare to imprison the Marquis, would they!"
"You think so?" Li Man'er inwardly thanked him, thinking, the situation is so obvious, yet you're acting like a fool.
"Then what should we do? The Marquis is already under the Xiao family's control. If the young lady goes in, wouldn't that be…"
"Wouldn't be what? We've come this far. What's more important than saving Father? If I don't go in, how can I know if Father is safe? If he's in danger, your tens of thousands of men could all perish here." Li Man'er said, "Third Uncle, the Xiao family has probably received the news by now. Prepare yourself, we'll go visit them."
Li Nian was extremely worried, primarily for Li Man'er's safety. "Man'er, you can't go in alone, can you? If something happens, you won't have any help."
Li Man'er pondered for a moment. "How about this, Third Uncle, can you lend me Liu Ya? Although she was sent by Third Aunt to take care of Qingyan."
"That's nothing. You take her with you with peace of mind. When Liu Ya came, your Third Aunt had already instructed her. You are a legitimate master of the Li family, so she will naturally obey you."
Li Nian then sent for Liu Ya. To his surprise, Li Qingyan, upon hearing about it, followed along.
"Cousin, are you going to see Uncle?"
"Yes!" Li Man'er smiled. "Qingyan, it's good that you've come. I'll be gone for several days, and your health is what concerns me the most. While we have time, I'll take your pulse and prescribe a couple of doses of medicine, then I can leave with peace of mind."
Li Nian couldn't help but sigh. Even at this critical juncture, Man'er still remembered to treat Qingyan. This child is truly…
Li Man'er was completely unaware of Li Nian's thoughts. She took Li Qingyan's pulse and found that the child's constitution had already undergone some changes, which made her smile with relief.
"Very good, it seems I need to change your prescription." Li Man'er wrote out a prescription and handed it to Li Nian. "Third Uncle, please take this prescription. After you get the medicine, be sure to have the accompanying military doctor examine it to ensure the medicinal ingredients are safe."
Li Nian took the prescription, understanding Li Man'er's intention.
"Don't worry, I understand." Although the military doctor's medical skills were not as good as Li Man'er's, he still recognized the medicinal ingredients.
"Also…" Li Man'er took out two porcelain bottles. "Give this to Jiu Jiu to take, the usual way."
"Alright." Li Nian immediately put the porcelain bottles and the prescription into his embrace.
"Qingyan, you must continue to memorize what I've taught you and don't try it yourself easily, understand?"
Li Qingyan nodded.
Li Man'er said, "Third Uncle, you and Zuo Cheng wait outside. I'll perform acupuncture on Qingyan first, and then we'll talk."
"Alright!"
Li Man'er looked at Li Qingyan's glum face and couldn't help but laugh. "What, you're reluctant?"
Li Qingyan had a bitter taste in his mouth and couldn't speak. Every time he had acupuncture, he had to undress completely, only having a towel around his waist. It was too shameful.
But Cousin said that a patient has no secrets in front of a doctor. He's just a little kid, nothing to be shy about.
"Alright!" Li Qingyan could only resign himself to fate.
The two entered the inner room. Li Man'er turned her back and waited for Li Qingyan to finish undressing and lie down before she picked up the silver needles and walked over.
The little fellow's appearance of being ready to face death truly amused Li Man'er.
"Alright, lie still, relax. How can I insert the needles if you're so tense?"
Li Qingyan closed his eyes, looking resigned.
Li Man'er took out the silver needles soaked in Spirit Mist Spring and began to insert them.
After about half an hour, Li Man'er removed the silver needles from Li Qingyan's body one by one. "You must remember to abstain from certain foods and don't run until you're sweating profusely, do you hear me?"
"I hear you."
"Alright, you can slowly get dressed now. I'll go out first."
Li Man'er tidied up her medical kit and walked out of the inner room.
The other three were waiting for her.
"How is it?"
Li Man'er nodded. "Third Uncle, rest assured, Qingyan's condition has improved. If all goes smoothly, he'll be fine for another year."
Upon hearing this, Li Nian couldn't hide the joy in his eyes. "That's good, that's good."