Tiger Guards

Chapter 120 Kindness Bone Setting
The sound of combat boots stepping on the ground was extremely heavy. Zhong Yao was lying on the couch and could hear it more clearly.

Like the sound of drums approaching and growing louder.

Zhao Ji came to the door and glanced inside the house. It was a single room with beds on both sides.

Zhong Yao was lying on a low couch on the right, his left leg against the wall wrapped in tree bark.

Zhong Yao lay on his back and forced a smile: "I didn't know Minister Zhao was coming. I was so rude not to come and greet him."

"No need to apologize. It was me who caused Mr. Yuan Chang to break his leg."

Zhao Ji stretched out his hand as he spoke, and the Huben beside him handed him a small jar and a bamboo tube, tied together with a hemp rope. Zhao Ji walked to Zhong Yao's side with the hemp rope and sat on the edge of the low couch.

Only then did he see clearly that Zhong Yao's left leg was made of willow bark, so he said, "This is tiger bone wine. I heard it's very helpful for healing broken bones."

As Zhao Ji spoke, he opened the lid of the wine jar, and a corrosive aroma of wine began to spread.

Zhong Yao forced a smile and said, "Thank you for your concern, Minister. You should put state affairs first."

"I came to see you, sir, about state affairs."

Zhao Ji waved the bamboo tube in front of Zhong Yao and said, "I don't know what it's called elsewhere, but this thing looks like a four-legged snake and loves water. It's also called bone-setting gallbladder and small ni. I heard it's best eaten raw, then mixed with wine to release its medicinal properties. There's no live ones in the city, only dried ones."

Zhong Yao's smile faded. He thought something strange would pour out of the bamboo tube, but it turned out to be a pill the size of a thumb.

Zhao Ji held one in his hand and said, "This is a bone-setting pill that has been recently ground. Mr. Yuan Chang needs to take three pills a day. Only then will I feel at ease."

"Minister Zhao, if you want to kill me, then kill me. Why humiliate me?"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, you people are always doubting my character like this."

Zhao Ji placed the pill into the bamboo tube, fastened the stopper, and then took out the bronze hammer from behind his waist. "I will be leaving the city tomorrow to fight against the bandits in all directions. I am worried about Mr. Yuan Chang's leg injury, so I came to treat him."

Zhong Yao clenched his fists and suddenly looked at the bronze hammer in Zhao Ji's hand. He also lowered his voice and said, "Minister Zhao, we can talk it over. I am definitely not Ding Chong's kind. I am willing to cooperate with you."

"now it's right."

Zhao Ji smiled and pointed his hammer at his left leg wrapped in willow bark. "Tell me the truth, is this leg injury real or fake?"

"It's a real injury. It's a bruise on the patella and hamstring. It's not a bone injury."

Zhong Yao supported himself with his hands, managed to sit up straight, and explained, "I am thin and have thin legs."

"The imperial court is in danger and needs talents, yet you are so careless and negligent about such a minor injury. Is this the way the Four Families of Yingchuan should be loyal to the emperor and the country?"

Zhao Ji asked as he used a hammer to poke at Zhong Yao's left leg, testing the position of the tibia through the bark, and raised his hand to smash it down with the hammer while speaking.

"Ah~!"

Zhong Yao cried out in pain and tried to get up and run. He tried to pull his left leg, but the pain was so severe that he collapsed on the couch. He raised his right arm and pointed at Zhao Ji, glaring angrily, "How dare you do this!"

"As you said, it's really over now. I saved you from the crime of deceiving the emperor, and you still don't thank me?"

Zhao Ji raised his hand and hit Zhong Yao's right tibia with another hammer while joking. Zhong Yao's body twitched in pain, and the twitching made his legs shake, and he fainted from the pain.

His screams attracted a dozen or so resting eunuchs to gather outside the door, not daring to come in.

Zhao Ji stood up and put the copper hammer into the leather buckle behind his waist. He turned around and looked around outside the door. All the officials took two or three steps back.

Dong Fen retreated a little slowly, and saw Zhao Ji looking at him. He immediately bowed awkwardly and said, "Minister Zhao."

"Zhong Yuanchang is, after all, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. There are no good bone setters in the city, and since I broke his leg, I'm afraid he'll become lame in the future, which will affect the dignity of the court."

Zhao Ji explained seriously, "When I lived alone in Jishan, I also learned the art of bone setting from the hunters in the mountains. I just re-set Minister Zhong's bones and left him bone-setting pills and medicinal wine. I think after a hundred days of rest, he will be as good as before."

Dong Fen looked distressed and didn't know how to respond.

Shangshu Lang Wu Shuo stepped forward and bowed, "At such a young age, you know how to set bones?"

Zhao Ji looked at the thin man with a small mustache, about seven feet two or three inches tall, and said, "Not only do I know how to set bones, I also know how to increase height by breaking bones. Would you like to try it?"

"Don't dare."

Wu Shuo wanted to retreat, but felt that it would be too embarrassing, so he bowed deeply and said, "I am only worried about Zhong Yuanchang's injury, nothing else."

Dong Fen reached out and pulled Wu Shuo's long sleeves, pulling Wu Shuo behind him, and Wu Shuo naturally retreated into the crowd.

Dong Fen bowed, "Excuse me, Minister. I'm quite knowledgeable in medicine, but this is the first time I've heard of this bone-breaking height-increasing technique. I wonder how it works?" "Human bones heal naturally when they're broken. If you break it, leaving a small gap, the bones at both ends will grow and connect, and that's how you'll increase your height."

Zhao Ji raised his right hand and gestured with his index finger and thumb. "It's just that when a person is young, their bones grow rapidly, so this is suitable for them. After middle age, their Qi and blood decline, and broken bones grow slowly, so it won't work."

Dong Fen actually nodded slowly upon hearing this, feeling relieved: "Thank you for your teachings, Minister."

Seeing that this guy was just asking, Zhao Ji pointed inside the house and said, "Since you know medicine, you can also prescribe some bone-nourishing and nourishing prescriptions for Zhong Yuanchang. How much does it cost? If you have any hard-to-find herbs, you can make a list and send it to me. I will send someone to take care of it."

"Dong would like to thank Minister Zhao for his care on behalf of Zhong Yuanchang."

"There's no need to be so formal. We all serve the court, and in times of crisis, we should support each other."

Zhao Ji said, bowing, "Now that this matter is settled, I won't disturb you all from resting."

"Dong, please see Minister Zhao off."

Dong Fen also returned the greeting, and the other palace officials followed suit, and followed Dong Fen to escort Zhao Ji out of the residence.

Outside the building, Zhao Ji jumped on his horse, turned around and bowed to the officials standing on the steps to say goodbye, and everyone returned the greeting.

After watching a dozen or so Tiger Guards escorting Zhao Ji away, the officials looked at each other and wanted to say something, but they were afraid that the people around them would turn around and complain to Zhao Ji and Zhao Yan.

After watching for a moment, as Zhao Ji disappeared at the end of the street, Wu Shuo wanted to sigh, but he suppressed it, blushing: "Minister Zhao cares about his subordinates. Zhong Yuanchang is lucky."

If Zhong Yao was really lame and disabled, his official career would be ruined.

Being lame before becoming a minister and being lame after becoming a minister are two completely different treatments.

The situation is changing dramatically now. People with broken legs cannot walk or avoid risks. They can only lie in the house and leave their fate to fate.

Yesterday's great ministers and nobles can be said to have their futures completely ruined today.

Zhong Yao was just one step away from becoming an official. If he became lame, he would never be able to cross this threshold in his lifetime.

If Zhong Yao could not become a minister, how much value would be left?
The other officials were furious when they heard this, but they were also frightened.

Sometimes being killed is just a matter of being stabbed; but if you become disabled, the pain you suffer is much greater.

Unexpectedly, Dong Fen said, "I also think this might be a good thing. Good fortune and bad fortune are interdependent. It depends on how Zhong Yuanchang handles it."

Another official sighed and said, "I advised him yesterday. If he had listened to me, he wouldn't have ended up like this."

"Humph, if I had listened to your advice, the one who was kicked to death this morning would not be Li Boyang, but Zhong Yuanchang."

Wu Shuo sneered and turned away.

The other officials also dispersed. Dong Fen remained standing and asked his fellow Hongnong native, "I saw Minister Zhao heading to the county government. Could he be going to see Dong Gongren?"

"Why would you bother with this matter? Even though you are a Dong family member, aren't you also related to Dong Zhao?"

A fellow villager made a sarcastic remark, and Dong Fen smiled awkwardly: "He is from Jiyin, how can we be from the same family?"

The reason is simply that Cao Cao and Yuan Shao are behind Dong Zhao. If they move to Luoyang or Guandong, they can get some rewards from Dong Zhao.

Seeing Dong Fen's smile, Zhang Zan, a fellow Laker, smiled narrowly: "But you are not from the Zhao family."

Dong Fen didn't care and just smiled. She just wanted to live a better life.

After Zhang Zan's laughter subsided, Dong Fen glanced around before asking, "Can Dong Zhao survive?"

"That probably depends on Minister Zhao's mood. I think Dong Zhao will know what to do at this moment."

Zhang Zan asked in return, "Aren't you going to see Zhong Yao's wound? Minister Zhao asked you to prescribe medicine. This is a good opportunity."

"No, I have to go see Buqi Hou first."

After saying this, Dong Fen didn't even bow, but walked to find Fu Wan to report what happened here.

Zhong Yao is one of the four surnames of Yingchuan, and the next step is to be appointed as a minister.

It would have a huge impact on such a person if Zhao Ji suddenly broke his leg.

(End of this chapter)