Great, it's just a lackey, we're saved!

Chapter 189 My hope rests on you!

The little red horse, carrying the princess and Zhou Wei, stopped at Ning He's soup kitchen.

Before the two even dismounted, they noticed that Ning He's soup kitchen was much more crowded than usual.

Upon entering the backyard, Zhou Wei casually handed a box she was carrying to Yun Mo'er, and then immediately spotted the Third Prince's entourage.

"Little Bean, what are you doing here? Your prince's leg is broken, aren't you going back to take care of him?"

Little Bean is short and oddly shaped, especially with many pockmarks on his face, making him unpleasant to look at.

"Replying to Aunt Zhou, the head of the Imperial Medical Academy has already examined the Prince. The Prince cursed the Imperial Medical Academy as useless, saying they were not as good as Aunt Zhou."

Zhou Wei was speechless upon hearing this: "I only gave him a few acupuncture needles. The hospital director's medical skills are superb. How can I compare?"

Little Bean replied, "Auntie, you don't know this, but the Prince first asked the head of the academy if limbs could regenerate after being severed. The head of the academy replied that they could not."

"The prince asked again if his legs could be allowed to stand and walk as before, without the need for crutches. The chief physician still replied that it was not possible."

"The prince immediately flew into a rage, saying that the dignified head of the Imperial Medical Academy was not as good as Aunt Zhou. You had said that you would let the prince walk normally."

Upon hearing Xiaodouzi's words, Zhou Wei burst out laughing.

He tapped Xiaodouzi's forehead with his fingertip: "I was wondering why the Third Prince, who always looked down on everyone, kept a pockmarked face like you by his side. Turns out you're quite clever!"

Ning He also came over, looking at Xiao Douzi with a smile.

“Alright, I don’t need your help here. I’ve received the grain and charcoal that the Third Prince sent. You can go back now. As for Aunt Zhou…” Ning He said, her smile widening, “Since Aunt Zhou said she could make the Third Prince walk normally, she will never go back on her word. She won’t let him send you here to keep an eye on him and test him.”

Little Bean looked embarrassed and scratched his head.

"Miss Ning is too kind. Our Prince really did send someone to help... just to inquire a bit..."

Zhou Wei replied, "I've been too busy these past few days and don't have time right now. Besides, his leg injury is new, and we need to let the wound heal before we can proceed to the next step."

"Tell the Third Prince not to bully the people of the Imperial Hospital, and to listen to the imperial physicians' advice on recuperating. I promise I will keep my word."

Xiaodouzi breathed a sigh of relief and took his leave after hearing Zhou Wei's promise.

Ning He smiled and said, "The Third Prince usually seems a bit silly, so how come he chose such a shrewd attendant?"

The eldest princess looked at the grain and charcoal piled up in the warehouse and nodded in satisfaction.

"Although Yue Lin is unruly, he does a good job of completing the tasks I assign him."

Zhou Wei held up her hand, a smirk playing on her lips: "Does he dare not complete it properly?"

At this moment, Jiang Zao finished caring for a patient and came out of the room. She was overjoyed to see Zhou Wei.

"Aunt Zhou, you've come! I have many questions I'd like to ask you, especially about acupuncture points..."

Before Jiang Zao could finish speaking, Zhou Wei interrupted her: "We can talk about acupuncture teaching later. I have other important business with the princess today."

Upon hearing this, Ning He immediately arranged for Yun Mo'er to watch over the porridge stall and led the Princess, Zhou Wei, and Jiang Zao into the room.

As soon as she entered, Zhou Wei couldn't wait to recount what had happened at the deer hunting banquet.

Upon hearing that the Crown Prince had led a beast tide that resulted in countless deaths and injuries among the people, Jiang Zao covered her mouth in shock.

"Crown Prince...Crown Prince...How could you do such a thing?"

Jiang Zao's views were greatly impacted!

All she ever heard in the palace was the Crown Prince's good reputation. The palace servants all said that the Crown Prince was respectful to the virtuous and kind to the palace servants and never punished them arbitrarily.

He would even speak up to stop anyone who mistreated palace servants.

The civil officials also greatly admired the Crown Prince!

This is also why Jiang Zao saved up money to go to the Eastern Palace. Since she was going to serve others anyway, she naturally wanted to choose a gentle and kind master.

Unfortunately, he was unlucky; even after paying money, he couldn't get into the Eastern Palace.

Hearing that the Crown Prince was acting so madly, Jiang Zao felt a chill of fear.

Perhaps seeing Jiang Zao's expression, Zhou Wei said, "Xiao Zao, to be honest, it's really fortunate that you didn't go to the East Palace, otherwise you might have been silently tormented to death at any time."

"Goddess Mei Xingyue and her three little beast children are even worse than the Crown Prince; their methods of torturing people are extremely vicious."

Jiang Zao was sweating profusely upon hearing this, extremely grateful that she had already left the palace, otherwise she would have died there sooner or later.

Ning He considered things more deeply, and her gaze toward Jiang Zao was somewhat hesitant.

The eldest princess directly exposed the crown prince's atrocities today, so she must be about to take action. Jiang Zao has only just arrived; can she be trusted?

The eldest princess and Ning He had known each other since childhood, so she naturally knew what Ning He was thinking.

Patting Ning He's hand, the Princess said, "I have an important matter to attend to at the grand court assembly in a few days. Before that, much preparation is needed."

"This matter is urgent and somewhat difficult. I entrust it to Sister Ning. You also need help! I think Jiang Zao is trustworthy."

Jiang Zao was not stupid; she immediately understood the meaning behind the princess's words.

Without any hesitation, Jiang Zao knelt on the ground: "Your Highness, please understand that my life was saved by Aunt Zhou and Miss Ning. If Your Highness needs my help, please do not hesitate to give the order. Even if it requires my life, I am willing to give it to you."

"I will keep what I heard about today to myself. If anyone dares to tell anyone else, I will be cursed to die a horrible death."

The eldest princess and Ning He exchanged a glance, then reached out to help Jiang Zao up.

"With Sister Ning here, there is no need to call you a servant anymore. Now that you have left the palace, you are no longer a palace maid. Once this matter is settled, I will grant you a good title, so that you can marry without any worries in the future."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Zao was overjoyed and gratefully kowtowed to the princess.

However, she did not agree with the eldest princess's suggestion that she should obtain a good household registration and then marry.

At Ning He's place, Jiang Zao saw a completely different world, and her mindset had already changed.

She will never forget the grateful and admiring look in someone's eyes after she treated them with acupuncture!

She liked this feeling, liked being treated as a real person.

If she obtains a good citizenship, she will continue to study medicine and heal the sick!

Ning He then asked, "Yue Li, what do you need my help with?"

"Sister Ning, have you heard about the excitement at the Prefectural Governor's Office today?"

Ning He nodded. "Early this morning, I heard that many people were kneeling in front of the government office to file a complaint, causing quite a stir. This attracted many people who were afraid of the cold and stayed indoors to come and watch the excitement."

"However, Wang Shu, the Prefect of the Capital, was a cautious man. Seeing that there were many people filing complaints, he was afraid of causing trouble, so he ordered the yamen runners to drive away the onlookers."

"So, although I know someone has filed a complaint, I don't know what it is about? But since you mentioned it, could it be related to the beast tide?"

The eldest princess did not deny it, and said directly: "It was I who asked the villagers to file a complaint. Those were people who survived the beast tide."

Upon hearing this, Ning He's expression changed. She was also well-versed in military strategy and naturally understood the meaning behind the princess's actions.

"Yue Li, are you trying to ruin the Crown Prince's reputation before the Grand Court Assembly? But the actions of Wang Shu, the Prefect of the Capital, might jeopardize your plans!"

The eldest princess smiled, seemingly unconcerned.

“Sister Ning, I know what kind of person Wang Shu is, so I have never placed any hope in him.”

"My hope lies with you, with Zhou Wei, and with Jiang Zao."