Ning Chen watched the old man take Doctor Chen away, then put his horse to a gallop and made for the Ministry of Justice.
He came to the Ministry of Justice, found Li Zhixing, and went straight to the point.
“What? You want to take Miss Zisu out?”
Li Zhixing’s face was all shock. “Marquis Ning, this is not a thing to joke about. Zisu’s father was wronged, yes, but His Majesty has not issued an edict pardoning Miss Zisu’s crime. Taking her out like this is the same as breaking her out of prison.”
“Lord Li, a life is at stake. There’s no room to weigh all that… The whole responsibility is mine. And remember to send up a memorial to His Majesty.”
Li Zhixing’s brows drew tight. “Marquis, aren’t you putting me in an impossible position?”
Ning Chen smiled. “I’m telling you to send up the memorial so you won’t be dragged into it… Afterward I’ll send Zisu back, and I’ll go to His Majesty myself and ask for punishment.”
“Don’t worry. I guarantee nothing will come of it.”
Li Zhixing looked at him. “The marquis is certain nothing will come of it?”
Ning Chen nodded.
Li Zhixing nodded. “Very well. Then we’ll do it the marquis’s way.”
Zisu was brought out of the prison, her whole face full of confusion.
She saw Ning Chen, and before she could open her mouth he had taken hold of her and was walking her toward the gate.
At the gate he helped Zisu up onto the horse first, then swung up himself.
“Hyah!!!”
Diaochan shot away like an arrow off the string.
The cold wind struck her face, and Zisu burrowed into Ning Chen’s chest without thinking.
The corner of Ning Chen’s mouth lifted.
“Ning Chen, has His Majesty pardoned me?”
Ning Chen had been to the prison to see her more than once lately, and had told her everything.
Ning Chen shook his head. “Not yet. You’ll have to stay in prison a while longer… But I think you’ll be free before long.”
His Majesty did not yet know what Ning Chen was to Zisu.
Not pardoning Yudie was about not letting another woman through the gate of the Ning residence ahead of the Ninth Princess.
If Zisu saved Liang Jingwu’s daughter-in-law this time, and he worked it properly afterward, he believed she could have her freedom soon enough.
For Yudie to get hers, he was afraid, would have to wait until after he and the Ninth Princess were married.
Zisu gave a start. “Then you’ve taken me out of the prison without leave?”
Ning Chen nodded.
“You… aren’t you afraid of angering His Majesty?”
Ning Chen said, “There’s no room to weigh all that. A life is at stake. I need you to save someone for me.”
“Save who?”
“You’ll know when we get there. Get inside my cloak, before you catch a cold.”
“A cold?”
Ning Chen said, “Er… What I mean is, don’t take a chill and come down with a fever.”
Zisu quietly rolled her eyes. And which of us is the physician?
“But I haven’t brought my medicine box.”
“It’s all right, there’s one there already.”
Doctor Chen had brought a medicine box.
Zisu gave a flat oh. It really was bitterly cold, so she pulled at Ning Chen’s cloak and wrapped herself up in it.
Curled in Ning Chen’s arms, leaning on that solid chest of his, feeling the warmth coming off him… Zisu felt very safe, and could not help thinking of what had happened in Xiuzhou when she was treating his wounds. Her small face went crimson.
Liang Jingwu’s house was right at the edge of the Inner City.
Ning Chen had looked into Liang Jingwu when he came back from the northern campaign.
He rode at a gallop to the Liang residence.
He swung down, then lifted Zisu down after him.
Before the doorkeeper could speak, Ning Chen said, “I am Ning Chen, silver coat of the Inspectorate, and a friend of your general’s. I hear your young mistress is in a difficult labor. I’ve brought a physician. Take me in, quickly!”
The doorkeeper did not dare delay. “Marquis Ning, this way, please!”
Marquis Ning?
Zisu was at a loss. She turned to look, and only now saw that what showed below the cloak was silver python on black.
“You… aren’t you a silver coat of the Inspectorate? Why are you wearing a python robe? You—”
“I’ll explain later. Saving her comes first.”
Ning Chen took off the cloak and put it around her shoulders, then took her hand and led her inside.
They came to the inner courtyard.
Several people were standing at the door of one room.
Among them was the old man he had met in the street.
Seeing Ning Chen, the old man hurried forward and made his bow. “This humble commoner greets Marquis Ning!”
The others saw it and hastily knelt.
“All of you get up. No need for ceremony.”
A woman of about forty, who had kept her charm, bowed to Ning Chen with her face full of gratitude. “My thanks to Marquis Ning. You have saved a life and I will not forget it to my dying day… When my husband comes home I will have him call on you himself.”
The old man hurriedly made the introductions. “Marquis Ning, this is our lady.”
“And this is our young master.”
Liang Jingwu’s parents were long dead, and he had taken no concubine. There was only his wife at home, his one son, and his son’s wife.
Ning Chen said, “Madam Liang need not stand on ceremony. General Liang and I are sworn friends to the death… How do things stand now?”
“Doctor Chen went in a while ago and has not come out. We haven’t dared disturb him…”
Just then a woman’s cry of agony came from inside.
The whole group lost their heads, every face full of worry.
Ning Chen said, “Madam Liang, this is Zisu, the student of Shang Lu, the Physician Immortal. Shang Lu is the senior classmate of Lin Wen, Master Director of the Imperial Physicians’ Bureau… Let Miss Zisu try?”
Madam Liang’s face lit up. She had heard of Shang Lu.
“The Physician Immortal’s own student! Miss Zisu, I put it in your hands.”
Zisu nodded. “Set your mind at rest, madam. I will do everything I can.”
With that, Zisu walked quickly inside.
Ning Chen and the rest waited outside, anxious.
From the room, a woman’s cries of agony kept coming.
Maids went in and out with basins. The water went in clear and came out blood-red, one basin after another.
Then, about two hours later, a baby’s clear crying suddenly came out of the room.
“Madam! She’s had it, the young mistress has had it, it’s a little young master…”
A maid ran out and said it in her excitement.
Madam Liang’s body went weak and she staggered a few steps, nearly falling. The strength had gone out of her.
Her own maid caught her at once. “Madam, are you all right?”
Madam Liang shook her head, her face full of feeling, and asked the maid who had run out with the news, “And the young mistress?”
“The young mistress is well. Mother and child both well!”
“Thank goodness, thank goodness. My thanks to heaven above!”
Madam Liang wept for joy.
Ning Chen smiled. “Congratulations, Madam Liang. Congratulations, Young Master Liang!”
As he said it, Ning Chen looked over at the young master… Liang Jingwu’s son was no more than twenty or so, and he was standing there stunned, like a block of wood. Probably his first time through anything of the kind, and it had frightened him.
“Young Master Liang, shouldn’t you go in and see your wife? She has just come back through the gate of the dead. What she needs most now is you beside her.”
The young master came to himself with a start. “My thanks to Marquis Ning for the reminder!”
With that, he took off at a run for the room.
Madam Liang went in close behind him.
Ning Chen waited a while in the courtyard.
Zisu left a prescription, then came out with Doctor Chen.
“May I ask the young lady’s honored name? I would not have thought it — so young, and such skill in medicine… May I know who your teacher was?”
Doctor Chen asked it with a smile, and there was admiration in his face.
Ning Chen said, “She is the heir of Shang Lu, the Physician Immortal.”
Doctor Chen was greatly startled. “The Physician Immortal’s own accomplished student, then! No wonder the skill is so high. Forgive me, forgive me!”
Zisu smiled faintly. “The senior praises me too highly.”
(End of Chapter 328)