Jia Zheng gritted his teeth and decided to save him; he had no choice!
So he hurriedly chased after him, catching up with Lu Ming in the front courtyard. Having not exercised in a long time, and being older, he was panting heavily.
"Governor, please wait. Huff, huff."
Lu Ming looked at Jia Zheng's weak and feeble appearance and looked down on this frail man.
He clearly had money but didn't cherish his health. The working class toiled daily for basic necessities, yet he was weaker than them—it was a disgrace!
"What brings you here, Magistrate Jia?"
Jia Zheng was now the magistrate of Duling County, which was considered somewhat successful.
Being a local official made future promotions easier.
There was an unspoken rule to rise to the ranks of the Nine Ministers: one had to serve in a local government post.
This principle applies to everyone, regardless of their position—whether in charge of finance, personnel, or the Court of Justice handling cases and punishments—they all need to perform their duties in the local areas. This is evident from the arrangements made by the Yuan and Yang families; even they must adhere to this rule.
"Governor, please wait. My elder brother, Jia She, spoke carelessly after drinking, and has offended many. Now his injuries have flared up, and he is in critical condition. I implore you, Your Excellency, to treat him. I will certainly return to the manor and discuss with my grandmother; I will offer a generous reward in return." Jia Zheng was unsure what to offer, knowing that besides the painful donation, there would be additional expenses for medical fees—all because of Jia She's reckless words!
"Heh, alright, I'd like to see what you're offering. I can go and see; let's go." Lu Ming had thought of a way to manipulate the other party, a way to set an exorbitant price and leave no room for negotiation.
So he went back to examine Jia She's injuries.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Lu Ming stripped Jia She naked. Looking him over, he saw a large patch of blood on his back, emitting a foul stench. "This is a carbuncle on the back, already rotting and oozing pus. Acupuncture is needed to remove the necrotic tissue, followed by disinfection and sterilization to cure the disease. At the same time, medicinal decoctions will be used to clear heat, detoxify, reduce inflammation, and relieve pain. Heh, this whole process will cost quite a bit!"
Before Jia Zheng could speak, Lu Ming took out some ointment, scooped out a little, and tossed it onto Jia She's back. "This little bit of ointment is enough for him to last until tomorrow. Come back to me, Governor, after you've decided what you're willing to pay. Hmph, this kind of person doesn't deserve to die."
Lu Ming didn't hide his disgust for Jia She; to him, displaying righteous indignation was more appropriate.
Simple, pure, able to be outmaneuvered by others.
"Gentlemen, please proceed to the side hall. Since we've begun, let's begin the consultations together."
These nobles had plenty to say when it came to consultations.
They had, after all, paid for their services, so they had to ask.
Lu Ming was a renowned physician; such physicians were usually very expensive. Now, to receive 'free' treatment was a must-try.
Some incurable diseases were truly untreatable, and Lu Ming was the only option.
The nobles exchanged glances.
They silently began to queue, waiting for their turn. The first to enter was naturally Liu Chao, the Prince of Huainan.
After that, the order was determined by rank and status—first come, first served?
Even so, they had to consider their own worth.
The four major families all looked at each other with amusement.
As for the Xue family, they had already declined and were now dependent on the Jia family, so no one cared about their attitude.
The four major families exchanged glances, deciding to leave first and discuss their next move.
Jia She was carried back like a dead dog; if he couldn't be cured by tomorrow, he would surely die.
The awkward situation was instantly resolved, using medical skills as a pretext, supplemented by ruthlessness.
Lu Ming made sure all the nobles and powerful families in Chang'an understood his character: those who were on good terms with him would undoubtedly benefit immensely!
Those who opposed him would certainly wish for their own deaths. This was the new Governor of Liangzhou, this was the Prince Consort!
After a busy afternoon, Lu Ming, though exhausted, had gained quite a bit.
Nominally, the treatment was free, but the medicines were all provided by the families themselves; some ointments were sold to them cheaply.
He explained that the medicines were family heirlooms, passed down only to sons, creating an air of mystery and prestige to get the nobles to pay.
With their health at stake and Jia She's tragic fate as a precedent, these nobles dared not refuse to pay.
They didn't even have the slightest temper; the solution had been given, whether to comply was their own choice, and there was no need for coercion.
Having politely declined Yang Cong's invitation to the banquet, Lu Ming, along with his personal guards, left Chang'an and returned to their camp outside the city.
The nobles' money and provisions had already been delivered to the camp, and they were currently tallying the finances.
Fa Zheng was incredibly busy. Lu Ming could be a hands-off manager, but he couldn't. He had to handle all the affairs of the army, big and small, while Jiang Qin was merely an assistant.
This was the advantage of being a commander-in-chief: he could play around as he pleased, while his subordinates had to run errands. A single word could make them serve him hand and foot.
Power—only after experiencing power can one truly appreciate the pleasure and thrill it brings.
Why are so many people obsessed with power? Because it's highly addictive!
Lu Ming had no time to deal with these matters. Upon returning, he quickly showered and took a hot bath.
Then he went to Liu Ming and her mother's tent. Looking at the somewhat frightened young woman, a surge of desire ignited within Lu Ming.
He pressed down on her amidst her gasp. The tight, moist embrace gave him a fleeting pleasure.
Only a woman who hadn't had sex in a long time would have such tightness.
Moreover, his personal guards and spies were constantly monitoring the mother and daughter-in-law. If they showed any dissent, they would be executed.
He'd rather kill them than give them the chance to be cuckolded.
It sounded cruel, but what could he do? They were prisoners!
The thought of the petty official who had wronged him, now buried in a mass grave, probably dug up and eaten by wild boars and dogs, filled him with a vengeful pleasure!
He had raped his enemy's wife!
And he would also have his way with their mother. They hadn't even had a chance to see her; she was probably still suffering in hell! Whether Lu Ming will go to hell or not is unknown, but he will definitely live a very, very long time, having sex with countless women until he can no longer have sex with them!