There is a god in the sky

Chapter 61 Lord Xiao's Doubts 5

Shen Lan calmly guided him.

"First, lay him flat, straddle him with your legs apart, cross your hands and press hard against his abdomen, squeezing upwards, do this several times."

The shadow moved in sync with the movements, and although it looked a bit strange, after a few moments, the old man spat out a large piece of food.

"Cough cough..." The old man coughed violently.

Upon seeing this, the diners exclaimed, "So it was just food stuck in your throat! What are you eating?"

Shen Lan wrapped her hands in a handkerchief, scooped out the food, and then observed the old man's complexion. Seeing that he was breathing heavily, she quickly asked Suiying to pull him up.

The food inside the cloth was rock hard; it turned out to be a large fish bone.

These hard fish bones are so tough that even young people can't bite them, let alone an old person.

"That kid is really despicable. He eats the fish balls and fish meat himself, but gives the bones to his elderly father. What an unfilial son!"

The diners' criticisms made the young man blush with embarrassment.

He grabbed his father and ran off without paying.

"It's all your fault, you've completely disgraced us." The young man's harsh words carried on the wind.

The owner patted his chest and went over to clear away the uneaten food from the table.

As everyone said, based on the seating arrangement of the two people, the old man was indeed eating bones and drinking soup.

He shook his head and sighed; he had seen this situation many times before.

Poor parents in the world.

Shen Lan took some water to wash her hands and then returned to her seat.

Under Xiao Ji's probing gaze, Shen Lan calmly instructed the shopkeeper, "Please pack this up for me, I'll take it home to eat."

The host said gratefully, "Thank you so much for earlier. This meal is on me, no charge. I'll cook you another one to take home."

Shen Lan quickly refused, saying, "No need, this half portion is enough, I can't finish it."

Xiao Ji knew that Shen Lan had some medical knowledge, but he always thought she only had a superficial understanding.

But she could spot the patient's problem at a glance and provided timely treatment, just like a seasoned veteran doctor.

Moreover, it was she who saved Fu Qingyan from the brink of death when he was seriously injured.

He initially thought that it was Wei Laodao who saved the person, but Fu Qingyan told him that the real medical expert was Shen Lan.

His salary of one or two taels of silver was far too meager.

"Let's go, I'll take Miss Shen home."

When Shen Lan left, the shopkeeper handed her the packaged pot-side dish.

She knew the amount was wrong as soon as she touched it.

Xiao Ji shook his head at her, and then Shen Lan saw that Sui Feng gave her a little extra money when he paid.

When the shopkeeper refused to accept the money, he said it was a tip, not giving the shopkeeper a chance to refuse.

"Did Miss Shen also learn her medical skills on her own?" Xiao Ji asked curiously.

"I learned it from my godfather," Shen Lan always told others.

“Then Miss Shen must have surpassed her teacher. If she had a famous teacher to guide her, Miss Shen might be a modern-day Hua Tuo.”

Shen Lan dared not accept such a prestigious title.

"If Lord Xiao hears what you say, he will be laughed at for a long time. My meager skills are only of some use in the countryside. I dare not show off in front of you."

Xiao Ji had already thought of all the famous doctors in the capital.

In his view, Shen Lan's career as a coroner was not sustainable. If she could switch to being a female doctor, it would be a more promising career than being a coroner.

There has always been a shortage of female doctors in the capital.

The ladies in the mansions of the powerful and wealthy also preferred to use female doctors. If Shen Lanruo could find a famous teacher and make a name for herself, she wouldn't have to worry about the rest of her life.

Shen Lan was unaware of his thoughts. In this era, the vast majority of skills were in the hands of men.

Even those with exceptional skills mostly pass them on to men, not women.

Whether it's a female coroner or a female doctor, it's a million times harder for them to become famous than for men.

Upon arriving at his residence, Xiao Ji discovered that it had undergone considerable changes since his last visit.

Two potted cedar trees were placed at the entrance, door gods and couplets were pasted on the gate, and two beautiful lanterns hung under the eaves.

This place suddenly felt alive and warm.

Xiao Ji discovered that although the girl seemed aloof, she was very particular about her life and was someone who could live a peaceful life.

"There's a case to handle in the countryside tomorrow, Miss Shen. Please prepare yourself and be at the yamen promptly at 7:00 AM."

"Okay." Shen Lan didn't ask what the case was; if she was needed, someone must have died.

As she entered, she remembered something and turned to ask Xiao Ji, "Sir, are Zhang and her daughter still imprisoned?"

"Well, what happened?"

"It's nothing. Are there women's prisons specifically for women?"

“That’s natural.” Xiao Ji nodded.

But in fact, before Xiao Ji came to Jianzhou Criminal Division, there was no women's prison here.

He revealed a piece of information to Shen Lan: "If the beads we sent last time catch the eye of a noble person, the Zhang mother and daughter might have their sentences changed."

This is imperial grace.

"Can death row inmates have their sentences commuted?"

Have you ever heard of a general amnesty?

Shen Lan had certainly heard of it, but she thought that there were limits to general amnesty, since death row inmates had committed unforgivable crimes.

Zhang may be innocent, but Luo Yuemei has five lives on her hands.

"Luo Yuemei is young, and because she was vengeful against her family, she is not a repeat offender. In the eyes of many superiors, she can be let off lightly."

The laws we have always followed can also be changed with a single word from the emperor.

Now that you're in officialdom, you'll see many special cases in the future, some of which even I can't make decisions about.

This involves personal relationships, pressure from those in power, and unavoidable circumstances. Being an official, like being a person, requires a degree of flexibility; one cannot be too stubborn.

Xiao Ji was afraid that if this young girl saw the darkness of officialdom, she would lose her original aspirations.

She is intelligent, brave, and intolerant of injustice; she is clearly a straightforward girl.

Shen Lan knew these things better than he did.

Even in the 21st century, an era of propriety, law, and justice, it is impossible to completely avoid these issues.

Moreover, her goal is not to become a Bao Zheng (a famous upright official), so the things Xiao Ji was worried about will not happen.

"Thank you for your guidance, Lord Xiao."

Seeing that she was listening, Xiao Ji's lips curled up slightly.

On the way back, Sui Feng also said, "Miss Shen is truly intelligent and kind-hearted."

"For someone her age to have such abilities, it's not something that can be simply described as 'intelligent and virtuous.'"

Xiao Ji was very glad that he had gone to Qingmu County and unearthed such a treasure.

"But Miss Shen is, after all, a woman. Does Your Excellency really intend to take her back to Bianjing?" Sui Feng asked with some concern.

The relationship between men and women, especially between young men and women, is easily subject to criticism.

Jianzhou was a remote and impoverished place, so even if people gossiped about it, it wouldn't be a big deal.

But Bianjing is different. There is the Xiao clan there, and Lord Xiao's fiancée. If Shen Lan is suspected, she will face annihilation.

Xiao Ji put his hands behind his back and looked up at the sky.

“I have already reported Shen Lan’s achievements in this case. If we can give her a proper official position, we can dispel the rumors.”

Seeing that no one was around, Sui Feng cautiously asked, "Why don't you take Miss Shen into your household, sir? Give her the title of concubine, and you can keep her by your side more easily."

If it were when they first met Shen Lan, Sui Feng would never have made such a suggestion.

But now, he feels that this is a good way to protect Miss Shen.

Xiao Ji had seriously considered the suggestion, but ultimately felt it was inappropriate.

"Once she arrived in Bianjing, her status as a concubine would only confine her to the inner quarters and bury her talents."

He walked forward with his hands behind his back, saying in a good mood, "Don't worry about these things, things will work themselves out."