Chapter 1793 - 1779

After a moment, Chu Ge retracted his True Qi.

"Alright, most of the poison has been expelled, but be careful these next few days. This wound wasn’t treated before, and now it’s a bit inflamed. Avoid water for the next two days and remember to apply medicine daily."

The soldier broke into a cold sweat from the pain, his lips pale, gratefully looking at Chu Ge and said, "Thank you, doctor."

"I’ll also clean up the wounds on your body. Due to previous improper treatment, there’s some necrotic flesh that needs to be cut away. But rest assured, this pain is much lighter than what you just endured."

While he could help ease the pain of cutting flesh, he couldn’t replace the pain that seeped from the bones.

The soldier nodded, "It’s alright, thank you."

Perhaps because the Old Gang Leader and Feng Luo were present, the soldier became unusually resilient, enduring everything without uttering a sound, though his tightly bitten lip showed his constant struggle to endure.

Feng Luo had never truly seen Chu Ge practice medicine. Now observing his meticulous focus as he performed surgery surprised her a little.

After a while, once Chu Ge finished, he disinfected the soldier and then bandaged him.

"All done. Just come by daily for medicine application." Chu Ge said calmly.

"Ah, thank you, thank you to this doctor, thank you Miss Feng Luo, thank you, Old Gang Leader." The soldier looked at the Old Gang Leader and Feng Luo with tear-filled eyes, "I didn’t expect the rumors to be true. You really came!"

"Yes, we’re here. You all have suffered because of my stubbornness, always arguing with people, causing you to suffer for my sake."

The Old Gang Leader spoke guiltily, sighing as he spoke. If he hadn’t come personally, it would be hard to imagine how his disciples were living.

"Alright, go back and rest well. Don’t think too much. Rest assured, I will go to the Prince to demand an explanation!" The Old Gang Leader reassured, "Child, go back and rest, remember to come back for medicine tomorrow."

"Yes."

After the soldier left, only the doctors remained in the military tent.

Doctor Fu had regained his composure. Confident in his position as Imperial Physician, he assumed no one would dare oppose him. Puffing up his chest and glaring at Chu Ge and the others, he said, "Since you doctors were recruited here, you must follow the rules."

"The rules?" Feng Luo sneered, "What rules? Could it be some Three Baptisms nonsense again?"

"I don’t care what Three Baptisms or Four, since you’re in this military tent as a military doctor, you must follow my lead."

Doctor Fu, in an authoritative demeanor, arrogantly looked at them.

Chu Ge’s lips curled into a cold smile as he began cleaning up the remnants from treating the soldier, casually saying, "In this military tent, it’s different from others."

"Different? You’re right, indeed it’s different! Here, everything must be under my command!" Doctor Fu laughed sternly, "You seem skilled for your age. Are you from the Beggar Gang too?"

"You misunderstood. What I meant by different is not that we listen to any one of us here, but to the patients. Here, the wounded reign paramount, and among us, we are equals."

Chu Ge spoke leisurely and glanced at Doctor Fu, saying lightly, "Even if you were dispatched as an Imperial Physician, you are still just a doctor here. An Imperial Physician? What is an Imperial Physician? One who serves the imperial ministers. Currently, you’re serving soldiers protecting the country, so you’re no different from us, no hierarchical superiority!"

"Well said!" Feng Luo applauded for Chu Ge. She knew that his silence all along was not his usual way, and now seemed he was holding back words, leaving Doctor Fu speechless.

Even the folk doctor who had just pleaded for help from Doctor Fu wanted to side with Chu Ge. He had been a military doctor for years, with no great merits but certainly some hard work, yet Doctor Fu came and claimed credit merely as an Imperial Physician, expecting subservience.

He had no choice but to feign compliance under pressure.

"You! Dare you assert equality with me, an Imperial Physician?" Doctor Fu bristled with indignation.

"Why wouldn’t I dare? Even when meeting the Prince, I don’t kneel, so do you think you’re bigger than the Prince?"

"You-you-you’re insolent!" Doctor Fu’s tongue tangled, "Fine, I won’t engage with you now, but let’s see going forward!"

Self-aware that he was outmatched verbally, staying would only invite further humiliation, so he stormed out with a swish of his sleeve.

Both the Old Gang Leader and Feng Luo surrounded Chu Ge, giving a thumbs-up, "Well done."

The military doctor stood dumbfounded, his face filled with trepidation.

Feng Luo beckoned to him, but he became more fearful, his whole body trembling.

"Don’t worry, I won’t hit you. I just have a few questions for you, come over."

Feng Luo commanded sternly.

He cautiously took a few steps forward, warily watching Feng Luo, fearing she would cover him with a sack again.

"I ask you, who instructed this unfair treatment to the Beggar Sect Disciples?" There must be a mastermind, or else, how could the subordinates dare?

"It was... it was..." That military doctor trembled, too afraid to speak the name.

"Speak quickly! Otherwise, I’ll let you feel that suffocating taste again!"

Feng Luo pressed harshly.

"I’ll tell, I’ll tell, it was Commander Zhang." The military doctor said, "This differential treatment of Beggar Sect Disciples in both medication and diagnostics was ordered by Commander Zhang. He claims it’s to vent the Prince’s anger!"

"Who is Commander Zhang?" Feng Luo asked further, glaring at him with anger. First the Three Baptisms circulating for years, and now even medical treatment required differentiation, it was simply too outrageous!

"Commander Zhang is just Commander Zhang."

"I’m asking you who his backing is!" Without backing, how could he be so arrogant?

"His backing..." The military doctor was even more terrified, his legs shaking. "I dare not speak of his backing."

"What is there to fear? Is his backing the Prince?" If it were truly the Prince, that would be manageable! She could directly confront the Prince!

"Not the Prince, but close to the Prince."

The military doctor swallowed hard before speaking, "If I tell you, you must promise not to say it was from me."

"Stop wasting time! Speak!"

"Commander Zhang is related to Vice General Ge, the Prince’s favored subordinate, as the concubine’s brother-in-law."