Water Margin: The opening scene involves assassinating Emperor Huizong of Song and forcibly taking L

"Now that I have killed the adulterous couple, I can no longer stay in Jiankang Prefecture. My only option now is to go to Liangshan Marsh and seek refuge with Brother Zhao Dalang!"

"My uncle's remains are buried in Jiankang Prefecture, which can be considered as returning to his roots. I am afraid that I will not be able to pay my respects to him every day in the future. Please forgive me, Uncle!"

After saying this, Shi Xiu wiped away her tears, stood up, and walked out without looking back.

The woman was not yet dead; she struggled to reach out her hand and look at Shi Xiu.

"Help, help me..."

Just then, another gust of cold wind blew by.

The once-steady memorial tablet swayed for a moment, then suddenly collapsed again, smashing directly into the woman's face.

Shi Xiu's aunt looked at the memorial tablet covering her face.

Startled, his eyes widened in shock.

He was scared to death before he could bleed to death from his abdomen.

Back in her room, Shi Xiu quickly packed her things.

Looking at the sky, I estimated it was already past 9 PM.

Even though the Song court had a more lenient curfew, allowing people to stroll the streets at night, and even closing the city gates much later than in previous dynasties,

But even late at night, there is a time limit. By the time it reaches Hai hour (9-11 PM), the city gates will undoubtedly be closed.

Shi Xiu recalled the agreement Zhao Yuan made with Madam An during the day.

He then shouldered his packed bag and decided to go to Jishetang to check on the situation.

If the divine physician and his wife Ruo An have already left Jiankang Prefecture.

Shi Xiu then decided to find a place to spend the night, and once the city gates opened the next morning, he would immediately leave the city and head north alone to Liangshanbo.

If the divine physician and his wife had not yet left Jiankang Prefecture

Shi Xiu then joined them in leaving the city the next morning to meet up with Zhao Yuan.

......

Upon arriving at Jishetang,

Shi Xiu knocked on the door and went inside, only to unexpectedly see Ruan Xiaoqi and Wang Dingliu in the courtyard of the clinic.

Beside them, there was a strange man pacing back and forth anxiously!

"Brother Shixiu, what brings you here? And you're carrying a bundle, are you going out?" Wang Dingliu asked in surprise.

"Sigh, something happened,"

Because there were strangers present, Shi Xiu didn't say much, but instead asked in return,

"Since you two brothers are here, then has my elder brother also not left the city?"

"this......"

Wang Dingliu shook his head and recounted everything that had happened after he parted ways with Shi Xiu that afternoon, including how he had just rescued Zhang Shun and his mother.

"So that's how it is. Then the one treating this hero's mother is Doctor An?" Shi Xiu asked.

"No, not either,"

Wang Dingliu sighed: "The one seeing patients inside is Madam An."

......

It turns out that half an hour ago,

Ruan Xiaoqi and Wang Dingliu accompanied Zhang Shun and his mother as they hurried along, finally managing to enter Jiankang City before the city gates closed.

When the group arrived at Jishetang and knocked on the door, they also woke up Madam An, who was already resting.

Seeing Zhang Shun carrying the patient, Madam An quickly told him to put her elderly mother down.

He then hurriedly sought out An Daoquan for treatment.

However, after searching the entire clinic, they still couldn't find An Daoquan.

Madam An's heart stirred. She returned to the back room and counted the garlic-shaped gold coins on the table.

However, there were two fewer than before.

In the middle of the night, instead of being at home, he specifically took two gold bars out.

Mrs. An immediately understood.

An Daoquan was reluctant to part with the vixen in the brothel, so he took the gold bars and went to say goodbye.

At this moment, Zhang Shun had already carried his elderly mother into the side room, where he laid her face down on the bed, waiting for An Daoquan to come and treat her.

Unexpectedly, the miracle doctor didn't come; instead, Madam An walked in with a sullen face.

"Sister-in-law An, where is my brother?"

Zhang Shun and An Dao 083 were old acquaintances, so he immediately asked.

"Who knows where he's off gallivanting off to this time!"

Madam An said angrily, then walked to the bedside, took Zhang Shun's mother's pulse, and after a moment smiled.

"Brother Zhang Shun, don't worry, your mother's illness is nothing serious,"

Madam An explained, "If you had come two days later, the poison on your back would have invaded your internal organs, and even a god couldn't have saved you. But as you are now, you are a good doctor!"

Zhang Shun knew that Madam An's medical skills were no worse than An Daoquan's, and in fact, she was even better in gynecology.

He has little reputation in the martial arts world simply because he doesn't like to show off.

Upon hearing her words, Zhang Shun immediately felt relieved and bowed respectfully.

"I'm leaving everything in your care, Sister An!"

"Brother Zhang Shun, please don't be so polite. Let me wake up the old lady first!"

Madam An didn't remove the needles; she simply pressed on one of Zhang Shun's mother's acupoints for a while.

A moment later, the old woman slowly woke up. Before she could even see her surroundings clearly, she hurriedly asked, "Son! Did my son escape?"

Seeing this, Zhang Shun's eyes filled with tears, and he immediately knelt down on the ground, moving to the edge of the bed and sobbing.

"Mother, we've all been saved by kind people. I'm safe now. As for your illness, Madam An has said it's nothing serious. I can even live to be a hundred!"

Chapter 168

Seeing that Zhang Shun was safe and sound, the old woman was relieved and immediately struggled to get up to bow to her savior.

Ruan Xiaoqi and Wang Dingliu dared not accept her grand gesture and quickly stepped forward to help her up.

"Alright, everyone else, go out first. Let me treat the old lady's back wound."

Madam An began to drive people out. Ruan Xiaoqi and Wang Dingliu left the house, and even Zhang Shun was driven out.

Not long after, the three of them heard Shi Xiu knocking on the door.

......

"So that's how it is,"

Shi Xiu nodded, then looked at Zhang Shun, who was pacing back and forth like an ant on a hot pan, and comforted him, "Brother, don't worry. Since Madam An said your mother is fine, then she will definitely be alright."

"I also believe in Madam An's medical skills,"

Zhang Shun said helplessly, "But this matter involves my mother, and I really can't calm down."

Ruan Xiaoqi and Wang Dingliu also came over to comfort them.

Just as everyone was talking, Madam An, looking exhausted, opened the door to the side room.

"Alright, we've already given the old lady acupuncture and applied medicine to the affected area. From now on, as long as she receives acupuncture and changes the dressing daily, she should recover in about half a month!"

"Thank you so much, Sister An!"

Zhang Shun quickly bowed in thanks, then hurried into the house to check on his mother's condition.

Outside, Shi Xiu frowned and asked, "Sister An, aren't you and the miracle doctor going to Shandong tomorrow? What about this old lady's illness...?"

"Oh right, how could I have forgotten about that!"

Mrs. An patted her forehead, her expression suddenly showing some difficulty.

Doctors have a compassionate heart. Although the disaster victims in Shandong need medical treatment, they cannot abandon the patients in front of them.

"Actually, I have an idea,"

Ruan Xiaoqi suddenly said, "I see that this man is very skilled. Why don't we take this opportunity to persuade him to join Liangshan? Then we can travel together by boat, and Madam An will naturally have time to give the old lady acupuncture and change her dressings."

"Can this brother be trusted?"

Shi Xiu warned, "Brother is a wanted criminal by the imperial court. Once his identity is exposed, there will be a lot of trouble."

"Brother Shixiu, rest assured, I know Zhang Shun well. He's a man of honor and will never betray Chief Zhao," Madam An assured her.

"In that case, what are we waiting for?"

Ruan Xiaoqi laughed heartily, "If we could bring this hero aboard, my brother would be overjoyed!"

The group exchanged smiles and went inside.

Madam An explained that she and An Daoquan were going to Shandong to treat the disaster victims and the epidemic.

Zhang Shun's mind went blank for a moment after hearing this, and he hurriedly asked, "Sister An, what about my mother?"

"I already have a plan for this matter, but I don't know if you, Brother Zhang Shun, are willing?"

Madam An slowly recounted the situation at Liangshan.

"This Chief Zhao was a man of great integrity. After he took charge of Liangshan, he stopped harming passing merchants and ordinary people. Instead, he acted on behalf of Heaven in Shandong, killing evil gentry and punishing corrupt officials, and was deeply loved by the people."

"It was this time that Chief Zhao traveled a long way to Jiankang Prefecture to invite my wife and me to Shandong to treat the epidemic for the disaster victims."

"Brother Zhang Shun is very skilled, why don't you join Liangshan? That way you can travel with us and it will be easier to treat your mother's illness!"

"this......"

Zhang Shun hesitated. He came from Jiangzhou, where Liangshan's reputation had not yet spread.

Although he trusted Madam An, Zhang Shun had previously promised his mother that he would never go down the wrong path again.

So, is joining Liangshan the right path or the wrong path?

Moreover, if I don't join Liangshan, what will happen to my mother's illness?

Zhang Shun was caught in a dilemma.

Seeing her son's hesitation, his mother thought for a moment and then asked...

"Are there really bandit leaders in this world who don't harm the common people?"

"Auntie, why would I lie to you about something like this!"

Madam An smiled and said, "When I first heard about Liangshan from Brother Shi Xiu, I didn't believe it either. But in the past two months, there have been many merchants and travelers from Shandong coming to Jiankang Prefecture, and some of them have come to my clinic for treatment."

"After inquiring with them, I realized that what Brother Shi Xiu said was true."

Shi Xiu looked at Zhang Shun's old mother, still somewhat skeptical.

He then suggested, "Auntie, how about this: you come with us to Shandong first, and along the way, let Madam An treat your illness. Once we reach Liangshan, you can have Brother Zhang Shun show you around, and then we can decide whether Brother Zhang Shun should join Liangshan!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Shun was quite tempted and quickly looked at his mother.

His mother thought for a moment and nodded.

"Please don't blame this old woman for being suspicious, everyone. It's true that all crows are black. Although I only know about things in Jiangzhou, very few of the bandits and pirates in our area have a conscience!"

"Take our place, for example. There are three tyrants in Jieyang, none of them are good people. They only know how to harm the common people. Take that so-called judge Li Li on Jieyang Ridge, for instance. He's practically a reincarnation of the King of Hell. All he cares about is taking sleeping pills in the inn and poisoning people, fat or thin, to make human flesh buns. This scoundrel has ruined the lives of countless travelers! How could ordinary people dare to travel there alone?"

"And then there are the Mu brothers in Jieyang Town, who prey on the villagers, only caring about harming good people and engaging in bullying and monopolistic practices. The surrounding people wish they could eat the two brothers' flesh alive to vent their anger!"

"Even worse, there's this beast on the Jieyang River who, on the surface, runs a ferry service, but in reality, he leads passengers into the river to rob and kill them..."

At this point, Zhang Shun's mother suddenly sighed and said with shame, "To be honest, this last beast was my eldest son. I have no face to see anyone when I mention him. I just want to die! Now that I have this terrible disease and encountered that thief on the river, isn't it all retribution?"

The old woman's words, (regarding money), left everyone present speechless.

Wang Dingliu was dumbfounded, Ruan Xiaoqi was speechless, and Zhang Shun was filled with shame.

At this moment, Madam An coughed and spoke up, saying, "Auntie, don't say such discouraging things. If it were truly retribution, why would Heaven have arranged for these two brothers to appear and save your lives?"