The Lucky Farmgirl-Chapter 2044 - 2019: Departure

Manbao brought Zhou Liru to Jishi Hall, where Liu Sanniang, Zheng Gu, and Zheng Shao were already waiting.

Also waiting were the Luo family couple; if there were no issues after Manbao’s examination today, First Lady Luo would be entrusted to Liu Sanniang for care.

The other brothers of the Luo family had returned a month ago, leaving only Luo Dalong with First Lady Luo.

They continued to rent a room to live in. Zhou Wulang found him some work next door at the grocery store, and occasionally, when there was no work at the grocery store, he would carry packages outside.

The money earned was saved enough to barely cover their living expenses and buy some medicine, with Manbao not charging them for medical fees. Occasionally, Jishi Hall, out of respect for Manbao, would give them a discount, so the couple hadn’t even spent all the copper coins they brought previously.

Although every day was spent anxiously, watching his wife get better day by day, he was still very happy and felt that his persistence was correct.

After checking First Lady Luo’s pulse, Manbao noted that her lochia had stopped, although her body was still very weak. Starting today, she would need a change in acupuncture methods and prescriptions.

Manbao not only taught Liu Sanniang and Zhou Liru but also taught Zheng Gu and Zheng Shao who were standing by.

She said, "Even if patients resist male doctors administering acupuncture in the future, they can still use medication, so you should also study this condition seriously."

Zheng Gu and Zheng Shao nodded obediently.

Only after Manbao prepared the prescriptions and gave some pointers on their prescriptions did she allow Ms. Doctor Liu to perform acupuncture on First Lady Luo.

Because it was a new acupuncture method today, Manbao stayed nearby, closely monitoring the process. After the needles were removed, she checked First Lady Luo’s pulse, nodded in satisfaction.

"Alright, take the medicine and go home."

First Lady Luo was now able to dress herself and even walk a few steps. She nodded repeatedly, got up, and dressed.

Luo Dalong then took the prescriptions to get the new medicine, expressed gratitude to Zhou Man, and finally carried First Lady Luo away.

Liu Sanniang came after washing her hands and asked, "Master, will she be fully recovered in two months?"

Manbao said, "If she follows medical advice, she may not even need two months. It’s a pity her family is poor; otherwise, eating some eggs and meat every other day would speed up her recovery."

Currently, Luo Dalong had already been generous in providing food for First Lady Luo, but it was only two eggs every two days and meat once every three days.

While Manbao was busy with these patients, Prince Gong was finally set to leave the capital.

He planned to take his wife and children back to Luozhou and had scheduled a departure date. Although they had initially planned to leave after the Lantern Festival, Princess Consort Gong caught cold that night, delaying the departure until now.

Changyu invited her to join in sending Prince Gong off, and Manbao was surprised, "Should I really go to see Prince Gong off?"

Changyu replied, "Yes, just to the palace gate. After all, you’ve been treating Third Brother’s leg wound for a long time, and once he leaves for Luozhou, who knows when you’ll see him again."

If it were in the past, Changyu wouldn’t have said this; Luozhou isn’t far from the capital. Even if it was, as long as he was favored, the Emperor would summon him to the capital during festivals.

But times were different now; with Prince Gong’s departure, the Emperor was unlikely to summon him back, only for major events between Emperor and Empress might he be summoned to the capital.

From Changyu’s perspective, she naturally hoped for long-term peace and stability for her father and mother.

So she said that once gone, who knows how long it will be before they meet again.

In this era, parting could truly mean farewell forever.

Manbao thought for a moment. While her relationship with Prince Gong wasn’t exactly close, she had been treating him for a long time, so she decided to go along with Changyu and promised to see him off at the palace gate the next day.

Since Manbao would be going, naturally Bai Erlang, as Mingda’s future Prince Consort, had to go as well.

Seeing this, Bai Shan thought briefly and decided to join them too, since there were no classes.

When they arrived, Prince Gong was bidding a tearful farewell to the Emperor, though inwardly he was looking forward to returning to Luozhou.

Now that he had lost the chance to vie for the throne and had a limp, staying in the capital felt like imprisonment, so although he was reluctant to leave his father, Prince Gong still wiped his tears and said goodbye.

While Prince Gong was tearfully bidding farewell to the Emperor, he was more reserved with the Empress.

The Empress sighed slightly, reached out to touch his hair, not only did Prince Gong but everyone else was slightly dumbfounded.

The Empress touched him like she used to when he was a child, sighing, "Remember to write to us once you return to Luozhou."

She added, "Mother just hopes for you to be safe and healthy all your life."

Prince Gong nodded in agreement.

Manbao and the other three then approached, merely handed over the prepared gifts, and wished Prince Gong a smooth journey.

Prince Gong looked surprised upon seeing them, clearly not expecting them to come to see him off. He hesitantly accepted what they handed over, turned and gave it to his subordinates, then nodded slightly.

Everyone merely exchanged a word.

Time was running short. After leaving the palace, they had to leave the city, so it was time to go, with Prince Gong reluctantly mounting his horse to depart.

The Crown Prince personally escorted him out of the city.

As the convoy went further away, seeing Prince Gong following closely behind the Crown Prince, only a step behind, Bai Erlang couldn’t help but whisper, "Didn’t the Emperor have the Crown Prince escort Prince Gong? Won’t they fight along the way?"

"No, they won’t," Bai Shan said. "It’s a long-established tradition for the heir to escort departing vassals."

Only when the carriage vanished from sight did the Emperor, supporting the Empress’s hand, turn to return to Taiji Hall, nodding contentedly at the sight of Manbao and the others, "The Prince Consort is still thoughtful of old ties, these three."

Though they didn’t interact much with Prince Gong usually, they’ve come to see him off.

The Empress glanced at the Emperor playing deaf, feeling Manbao and the others weren’t all that nostalgic, but rather courteous.

Manbao and the others lowered their heads, waiting for the Emperor and Empress to walk away before running forward to chat with Mingda and the others.

Bai Erlang, concerned, looked at Mingda whose eyes were slightly red, "Are you upset about Prince Gong leaving?"

Mingda shook her head, "Third Brother’s return to Luozhou is quite good; it’s just thinking this might be years until we see him again makes me a bit sad."

"That’s nothing; if he can’t come to the capital, if you want to see him, go to Luozhou to visit him."

Manbao also nodded, "Exactly, you can also enjoy a visit to Luozhou."

Mingda couldn’t help but smile, wiping the tears from the corner of her eyes, "So, it’s visiting Third Brother or going to Luozhou for fun?"

"It’s basically the same thing, just do both."

Changyu said, "I don’t know what good food there is in Luozhou; Third Brother’s been back for so long and we forgot to ask him."

Such matters usually were managed by servants, something Changyu never cared about before, but now she actively inquired and considered.

The five of them walked back, Mingda and Changyu found an excuse to detour to the Eastern Palace to see the Crown Princess and the little princes.

The Emperor and Empress didn’t stop them; the daughters are grown up now, naturally going off to play as they please.