What is to come will come, but fortunately Li Shu was prepared and was waiting for the Xiao family to make their move.
Xiao Ruidi first clasped his fists and bowed slightly to Li Shu.
Li Shu quickly reached out and supported Xiao Ruidi, "General Xiao is concerned about the country and the people. If you truly need my help, please do not hesitate to ask. If I can assist, I will certainly do so."
Xiao Ruidi thanked Li Shu repeatedly and reached out to pat his injured leg.
Li Shu's gaze fell on Xiao Ruidi's leg, and he appeared lost in thought.
"Your Highness, you know this leg was crippled on the battlefield. Back then… sigh, let's not talk about it."
In fact, everyone knew that Xiao Ruidi's leg was injured when he was ambushed while returning to the northern desert after being summoned to the capital. It was not crippled on the battlefield.
The ambushers all died in the end, leaving no clues. It was eventually attributed to the Xiao family's enemies or bandits.
Although no one said it aloud, everyone suspected that the Emperor might have been involved. After all, the Xiao family's influence was growing, and they were stationed far in the northern desert, beyond the Emperor's reach. It was natural for the Emperor to become suspicious.
Emperor Chenghua was a man of deep suspicion. How could he allow the Xiao family to become too powerful? Xiao Ruidi was young and capable, with high prestige in the military. If he were to die, the Xiao clan would surely suffer a blow.
Under heaven, all land belongs to the king. Even if they all guessed that the ambush of Xiao Ruidi was the Emperor's decree, who would dare to question it?
The Emperor did not directly attack the Xiao family by issuing an order to confiscate their property. The fact that he was willing to secretly arrange for an assassination attempt on Xiao Ruidi indicated that the Emperor still had some reservations about the Xiao family and would not act rashly.
Although Xiao Ruidi narrowly escaped death, his leg was shot by an arrow, leaving him disabled. Although he was still alive, he could no longer lead troops as before, ultimately losing his original advantage and also easing some of the Emperor's vigilance.
These thoughts swirled in Li Shu's mind. He looked at Xiao Ruidi's face and then said, "I understand what General Xiao means. You want my daughter to treat your leg?"
"It was I who was presumptuous," Xiao Ruidi said. "Many famous doctors have examined my leg before, but they all said the injury was too severe. To be able to maintain it as it is now is already a great blessing. But people are always greedy. Knowing that the eldest young lady has extraordinary medical skills and having personally witnessed her detoxify Your Highness and cure your stroke, I felt hope and therefore shamelessly came to Your Highness, hoping you would act as an intermediary and ask the eldest young lady to treat me."
If it were an ordinary doctor, Xiao Ruidi would not have gone to such lengths to seek treatment. He would simply have prepared sufficient consultation fees and placed a knife before the doctor, who would immediately know what to do.
But Li Man'er was different. She was, after all, from a marquis's mansion, a noble young lady. It was also rumored that she had never treated anyone else before. She had treated her own father for poison and illness, so there was no taboo.
He was a man, and to ask a young lady for medical treatment, he had to inform her family.
Just as Li Shu was about to speak, Xiao Ruidi added, "Of course, my leg has been disabled for many years. Regardless of whether the eldest young lady can treat it or not, I will pay double the consultation fee, and I, Xiao, and my entire family will have no complaints."
Li Shu smiled wryly. "You speak as if I don't know what to say." In fact, the father and daughter had already discussed this privately. Li Man'er had asked Li Shu not to offend the Xiao family, and that while she didn't need to agree too readily to the treatment, she also didn't need to refuse.
As a physician, she could treat Xiao Ruidi's leg, but if she couldn't cure it, there was nothing she could do.
Because of this, Li Shu agreed after a slight hesitation.
"General, rest assured. My daughter, as a physician, should treat patients. I will send someone to invite her. Please wait, General."
Xiao Ruidi did not expect things to go so smoothly. He cupped his fists and said, "Thank you, Your Highness."
Li Shu waved his hand. "General, you are too kind. Qin Si."
Qin Si immediately entered the room, bowed, and said, "Your Highness, please instruct."
"Go and summon the eldest young lady and have her bring her medical kit."
Qin Si understood immediately and replied, "Yes, I will go at once."
Qin Si turned and left the room. He whispered a few words to Old Sun in the corridor and then strode towards the main courtyard, quickly arriving at Li Man'er's residence.
"Young lady, Qin Si is here."
Li Man'er smiled. "It seems Xiao Ruidi can't wait any longer. Let him in."
"Yes." Liu Ya turned and called Qin Si in.
"Greetings, eldest young lady."
Li Man'er immediately said, "No need for formalities. Did His Highness send you?"
"Yes, His Highness asked you to bring your medical kit and come over."
Li Man'er was a little reluctant to move and asked a few more questions. "Is Xiao Ruidi there too?"
"Yes." Qin Si was not surprised that the young lady had guessed. Xiao Ruidi's open approach to the Marquis was something that could not be hidden, and the young lady would naturally know.
"Alright, wait here. I'll be right there."
"Yes." Qin Si withdrew and waited outside.
Two old women were peeking from the side room, their heads bobbing, clearly eavesdropping. Qin Si kept his eyes forward, waiting for Li Man'er to come out and escort her to Li Shu's place.
Li Man'er came out with her medical kit. Seeing this, Dong Si quickly took it. "Eldest young lady, I'll carry it."
"Mm." Li Man'er turned her head slightly and saw two heads quickly retract. She tugged at the corner of her mouth and followed Dong Si to the small courtyard where Li Shu was staying.
The first thing she saw upon entering the room was Xiao Ruidi. Li Man'er performed only a half bow and then hurried to Li Shu's side. "Father, are you feeling unwell again? Where is it sore? Let your daughter take a look."
She knew perfectly well that Li Shu was fine. All of this was merely an act for Xiao Ruidi.
"I'm fine," Li Shu quickly introduced her. "This is General Xiao."
Li Man'er then performed a junior's courtesy. "Greetings, General Xiao."
"Young lady, please rise," Xiao Ruidi said. Seeing Li Man'er, he couldn't help but feel envious. He wondered how Li Shu could have such good fortune, marrying a wife who was immensely wealthy. Although her lifespan was short, she left behind a daughter, which meant he had not severed ties with the Ning family.
Now, his daughter was a divine physician with extraordinary medical skills. What this divine physician represented was something anyone with a brain could figure out.
As Xiao Ruidi thought of this, another idea suddenly struck him: no matter how good or capable a daughter was, she would eventually get married, wouldn't she?
If this Li Man'er were married into his family, then this divine physician would become part of the Xiao family.
Yes, this was a good plan. His legitimate son, Xiao Si, was not yet engaged. Although he was a few years older than Li Man'er, it wouldn't matter.
With this thought, Xiao Ruidi's gaze changed, carrying a hint of gentleness. He looked at Li Man'er as if she were his own junior.
Li Man'er clearly saw the change in Xiao Ruidi's expression and a big question mark formed in her mind. What was this Xiao Ruidi planning?