In the carriage, Jun Mo Han and Leng Ruo Li traveled in silence, each occupying a side, lost in their own thoughts.
In less than the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn, they arrived at the entrance of a village in the western part of the city.
“Your Highness, we’ve arrived.”
Ye Yi stopped the carriage and called out to those inside.
Subsequently, Jun Mo Han and Leng Ruo Li alighted from the carriage with nimble movements.
Leng Ruo Li glanced at her surroundings, her face full of confusion, and asked, “Your Highness, why have you brought me to a village? I’m looking for a tiler.”
“This Prince is also helping you find a tiler,” Jun Mo Han replied unhurriedly.
Leng Ruo Li had initially assumed Jun Mo Han would take her to the Ministry of Works, where officials responsible for construction resided.
Just then, a middle-aged man carrying a hoe emerged from the village. He had only one arm and walked with a slight limp. Seeing them approach, he stopped, standing less than a meter away. He stared blankly for a long moment before coming to his senses. He hurried forward to Jun Mo Han and bowed respectfully.
“This humble subject pays his respects to His Highness Prince Leng!”
“Zhao Yuan Qing, rise quickly.”
Jun Mo Han’s tone was exceedingly gentle, creating a feeling of warmth as if one were basking in a spring breeze.
Leng Ruo Li was surprised that a high-ranking prince would speak with such kindness to a commoner, which caught her off guard.
“Your Highness, would you perhaps like to sit in my humble abode?”
Zhao Yuan Qing scratched his head, speaking with a touch of awkwardness.
“Yes, very well, then this Prince shall not be polite,” Jun Mo Han replied readily.
This further surprised Leng Ruo Li.
Following this, Zhao Yuan Qing quickly led Jun Mo Han and Leng Ruo Li to his doorstep.
Before they could even step inside, a particularly anxious female voice emanated from within the house, “Child, how are you? Please don’t scare your mother. Woo woo…”
As she spoke, the woman began to weep anxiously.
Zhao Yuan Qing quickly put down his hoe and rushed into the house, with Leng Ruo Li and Jun Mo Han following closely behind.
Inside, the woman was cradling a boy of about four or five years old, pacing restlessly. She was clearly distraught and at a loss for what to do.
“Brother Zhao, the child is choking on a peanut shell and can’t spit it out. What should we do?” the woman cried.
“Let me see.”
Zhao Yuan Qing took the child from his wife with one hand and placed him on a chair, gently patting his back.
The little boy’s face had turned a dusky purple, and he was struggling to breathe, on the verge of suffocation.
Leng Ruo Li quickly approached the boy and said to Zhao Yuan Qing, “I am a physician. Hand the child over to me, and I will save him.”
Zhao Yuan Qing looked up at the young woman, her features seeming vaguely familiar. He paused for a moment before handing Xiao Shi Tou over to Leng Ruo Li.
Upon receiving Xiao Shi Tou, Leng Ruo Li immediately performed the Heimlich maneuver.
As the little boy was still conscious and able to stand, Leng Ruo Li embraced him from behind, placing one fist just above his navel. With her other hand, she grasped her fist and applied rapid, upward thrusts to his abdomen, rhythmically and forcefully, to create an airflow that would expel the obstruction.
The people in the room watched Leng Ruo Li’s vigorous actions in astonishment.
“What are you doing to my son?”
The woman hurried towards Leng Ruo Li, attempting to snatch the child back, as she had never witnessed such a method of saving someone.
Leng Ruo Li, holding the boy, turned and evaded the woman.
“Brother Zhao, what is she doing? Our son is already suffering so much, why is she tormenting him like this?” the woman wailed, bursting into tears and making a scene.
At this point, Zhao Yuan Qing also approached Leng Ruo Li, intending to stop her actions, but he too was dodged by her turn.
If it weren't for his consideration of Leng Ruo Li being brought by Prince Leng, Zhao Yuan Qing might have fetched a knife from the kitchen to attack her.
“Young lady, my son is already in this state. If you continue to torment him, he will soon lose his life,” Zhao Yuan Qing said loudly, his face etched with anxiety.
“Be quiet!”
Leng Ruo Li, looking at the bothersome couple, icily ordered them to cease, her tone lacking any patience.
However, Zhao Yuan Qing and his wife still attempted to press forward.
Jun Mo Han, who had been standing by, suddenly spoke, “Her medical skills are excellent. You should trust her just this once.”
Hearing Jun Mo Han speak, Zhao Yuan Qing found it difficult to intervene further.
Time ticked by, and the group grew increasingly anxious.
After the time it takes for half a cup of tea to steep, the foreign object in the little boy’s mouth was finally expelled – a peanut shell, completely intact. The boy’s throat immediately felt clear.
As they watched the boy’s complexion gradually return to normal, everyone was filled with wonder, never expecting Leng Ruo Li to actually succeed in saving him.
However, they couldn’t help but find her method of rescue rather peculiar.
At this, Zhao Yuan Qing and his wife excitedly rushed to their son’s side, repeatedly checking his condition. Once they were certain he was truly well, the family of three embraced and wept tears of joy.
After a long while, their emotions began to subside.
“Child, it’s good that you’re alright. You had truly frightened your mother to death just now,” the woman sobbed.
“Mother, I’m fine now. Don’t cry,” the little boy said innocently, unaware of the danger he had just faced.
The boy even thoughtfully wiped away his mother’s tears.
“Alright, you mother and son, stop this now. We still have guests in the house,” Zhao Yuan Qing reminded them, his emotions having calmed.
“Yes, yes, Brother Zhao, we haven’t thanked this young lady yet.”
The woman then remembered to express their gratitude to their son’s savior.
The three approached Leng Ruo Li and suddenly knelt down, startling her.
“Young lady, you saved my son’s life just now,” Zhao Yuan Qing said gratefully.
“You are most welcome. Saving someone in distress is, after all, a physician’s duty. Please, there’s no need for such formalities.”
Leng Ruo Li quickly helped the family of three to their feet.
“No, no, young lady, we must kowtow to thank you. Especially since my wife and I misunderstood you earlier.”
With that, they prepared to kowtow to Leng Ruo Li, causing her brows to furrow. She detested such rigid ancient customs, finding no meaning in all the kneeling.
Jun Mo Han, sensing Leng Ruo Li’s impatience, spoke up, “If you wish to thank her, there is another way.”
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yuan Qing exclaimed with delight, “Your Highness, what way is that?”
“This young lady is the legitimate daughter of General Leng.” Jun Mo Han introduced her.
“What? Young lady, you are General Leng’s legitimate daughter?” Zhao Yuan Qing asked in surprise.
“This humble daughter is indeed.”
Although Leng Ruo Li was unsure why Jun Mo Han was revealing her identity, she nodded in cooperation.
“Eldest Young Lady, I was originally a deputy general under your father’s command,” Zhao Yuan Qing said excitedly.
“Alas, I was severely wounded on the battlefield, losing an arm and sustaining leg injuries. I had no choice but to retire from service. Without an income, our lives became very difficult. A month ago, when General Leng returned to the capital, I encountered him on the road. He learned of our plight and provided us wounded veterans with money to build our own homes,” Zhao Yuan Qing said with a touch of sadness.
Zhao Yuan Qing’s words greatly astonished Leng Ruo Li, who had no idea that Leng Jin Yu had privately done so many good deeds.
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