Be a small county magistrate in ancient times

Chapter 402: Finally Arrived at the Zong Mansion*
Meng Changqing promised, "The consultation fee will not be less, and I will pay it until you are satisfied."

Doctor Hu muttered as he rode on his horse, "I've never seen you have money, and you give it to me in a way that satisfies me."

The sound of horse hooves was too loud and Meng Changqing didn't hear it in the front.

After the group left the city, they saw Sanliting not long after walking.

While still some distance away, I saw someone standing in the pavilion.

Bafang was running in the front. He recognized the horse outside the pavilion with his sharp eyes and immediately judged: "Master, it's Laicai!"

Sure enough, when they dismounted outside the pavilion, Laicai came out to greet them. He brought the luggage that several people needed for the journey, "Master, this is for you."

After Meng Changqing took it, he went to help Bafang tie up his luggage. Bafang had one more package than others.

Lai Cai patted the extra money and said, "The dry food and water bag are all here." Then he took out a bag of silver from his pocket and said, "Don't lose it. Be careful on the road and remember to take good care of the young master."

"I know, don't worry."

Meng Changqing and others did not stay in Sanliting for long. They just picked up their luggage and left.

They headed south along the official road, traveling day and night, and only stopped to rest when the horses could no longer bear it.

On the eighth day of July, they arrived at the northern suburbs of the capital, only half a day's journey from the city gate.

Seeing that the horses were getting slower and slower, Doctor Hu on the horse could no longer bear it, so Meng Changqing asked everyone to dismount and rest.

There happened to be a river not far from the official road, and the water was relatively clear. She took several people's water bags to fill them with water. Bafang led a few horses and followed Meng Changqing. There were trees and grass by the river, so the horses could rest and eat grass under the trees.

Bafang settled the horse, squatted beside Meng Changqing, and took a few gulps of river water. When he turned his head, he saw that his young master had a heavy face, so he comforted him: "Don't worry too much, the elder of the clan will definitely have the imperial physician to treat him."

Meng Changqing nodded, met the gazes of all the people around him, and said with a smile, "I'm sorry for making you follow me."

"Why are you being so polite to me? It's not just me. There are no outsiders in our industry. We all understand your feelings." Bafang found a thin mat from the package and spread it under the tree. "Master, please sit here for a while."

Just as Meng Changqing was about to speak, he saw Doctor Hu holding his waist a few steps away and scolding: "You stinky boy, you only have your young master in your eyes, and you can't even walk without seeing me!"

"Ouch!" Bafang hurriedly ran forward and supported the man, "Please sit down!"

Meng Changqing also went forward to support him, and did not let go until he sat down safely.

Doctor Hu held his waist and said, "I'm telling you in advance, if you don't have 100 taels of silver, you can't send me away."

"One hundred taels is one hundred taels. Your medical skills are worth more than one hundred taels." Meng Changqing always said nice things, but it was not so easy to get her to take the money.

Doctor Hu knew her temper well and planned to ask her for money before writing the prescription.

Xi Bei and Chu Mufeng also came over, and the few of them rested by the river.

After wiping her face, Xi Bei said, "Changqing, I haven't asked you yet, how many days of leave will Lord Wei give you?"

"Twenty days." Meng Changqing distributed the dry food he had taken out to him.

"We don't have enough time. We have to set off back to Beishan County before the elder recovers completely." Xi Bei said.

"My mother and the others are still in Beishan County. I feel uneasy leaving them for too long. Besides, my medical skills are limited, so all I can do is send Doctor Hu to the clan residence." Meng Changqing looked solemn, and after a few days, there were vertical wrinkles between his eyebrows.

"Don't be impatient." Xi Bei advised her, "Just do your best and leave the rest to fate."

After a short rest, the five of them set out for the capital and entered the north gate of the capital before dusk. After washing and changing clothes in an inn along the street, they went directly to the clan's mansion.

When the gatekeeper of the clan mansion saw Meng Changqing, he immediately became excited and ran into the mansion waving his hands.

The servants of the Zong Mansion delivered the message as quickly as possible, and soon Zong Shouqing heard the attendant report, "Master Xiao Meng brought Doctor Hu to the door!"

Zong Shouqing didn't even bother to put his chopsticks away, he stood up and walked towards the door, "Hurry up and invite them in!"

He arrived at the gate almost at the same time as the servant who reported the incident. When he went out, he saw Meng Changqing and a few others standing at the gate. Tears flashed in his eyes. "Changqing!" He pressed Meng Changqing's shoulders and was so excited that he couldn't say a word.

Bafang took two steps forward to help Zong Shouqing. Meng Changqing took two steps back under the pretext of introducing him. “This is Doctor Hu.”

"Please come in quickly!"

After entering the gate, Zong Shouqing led his men to the room where Zong Ruwen was recuperating.

As soon as he entered the yard, the smell of medicine hit his nose. Meng Changqing became even more anxious, "What's going on?"

"Don't worry." Zong Shouqing said, "Why don't you let Doctor Hu take your pulse and tell you. That way it will be clearer and I will have a better idea."

Meng Changqing could tell from his words that he was worried about something other than his illness.

Pushing open the carved wooden door, the servant inside had already retreated to the side, and Doctor Hu was helped by Bafang to sit in front of the bed.

Zong Ruwen was originally sleeping in a daze, but the shadow of someone passing by woke him up gradually. When he opened his eyes, he saw Bafang bending over the bed.

He was surprised and was about to ask Bafang why he was here, but when he turned his head, he saw Meng Changqing was there too.

He knew that Meng Changqing must have returned to Beijing because the news of his illness had reached Beishan County.

Seeing the clan elder's gaze directed at him, Meng Changqing hurried forward and made way for the other party.

"Master." Meng Changqing squatted beside the bed and called softly.

"Why are you back?" The elder of the clan spoke weakly. He looked much thinner than before, his eyes were cloudy, and his face was pale.

Meng Changqing said: "I heard that you were not feeling well, so I came to see you."

Zong Ruwen shook his head, "It must be Shouqing."

Meng Changqing explained on behalf of Zong Ruwen, "My uncle Dai mentioned you in his letter home."

"I am sick, not confused." Zong Ruwen paused after saying two sentences, "If Shouqing didn't tell them, how would the people in Meng's house know?"

Doctor Hu said, "You keep talking and it will affect my diagnosis. You guys should go out and come back after I finish my consultation. Those who have been serving the elder for a long time should stay."

Originally, Meng Changqing and Bafang were driven out first, and Zong Shouqing stayed inside to answer Doctor Hu's questions.

As a result, before they could say a few words, Zong Shouqing was also driven out, leaving only the old servant who had served Master Zong for a long time and two nimble servants inside.

Meng Changqing saw Zong Shouqing clenching his palms and constantly tiptoeing to look inside the door, so he said, "I see that although Master looks sick and haggard, he is conscious and there shouldn't be any serious problems."

"I hope so." Zong Shouqing took a deep breath and said, "I hope my father can survive this."

Meng Changqing still doesn't know the condition of the clan elder, so he can only worry.

Finally the door opened and Doctor Hu came out.