Can't a princess ascend the throne?

Chapter 103 No matter which one, they are all villains.

The two didn't have much time to talk, so they had to make the most of it. After exchanging a few important words and agreeing on a time, Yang Hui's voice came from outside.

"What are you two doing standing at the door? Where are Doctor Xue and Xiao Jiu?"

"Brother Yang and the others are sewing rabbit skins, saying they want to practice their sewing skills. It's so creepy to watch, I can't bear to look..."

"Alright, alright, what use are you guys?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Yang Hui appeared at the cave entrance. He immediately glanced at the two men and noticed that although they were sitting close together, a piece of rabbit skin separated them. Moreover, the rabbit skin had been sewn up, and the stitches were quite even. Upon seeing the stitches, he thought of Niu Er's leg, and Yang Hui couldn't help but feel like gagging, but he managed to hold it in under everyone's gaze.

At this moment, a hint of joy appeared on his face, and the two of them could tell at a glance that he had brought good news, and indeed he had.

"Dr. Xue, I just discussed it with my brothers, and they all agree. However, since we have connections, we can only go out to collect herbs for a short time each day. The rest of us are all laborers, and none of us recognize the herbs, so we'll have to trouble Dr. Xue to go up the mountain to collect them. There are too many snakes, insects, and rodents in these mountains, but don't worry, we will do our best to ensure your safety. I will send a few brothers up the mountain every day. We're all roughnecks and don't know the herbs, but we can still help Dr. Xue carry a basket or something. What do you think, Dr. Xue?"

He had already explained everything very thoroughly, so what could Xie Mingchen say? He couldn't very well refuse under these circumstances.

Seeing his agreement, Yang Hui's expression softened considerably. He glanced at the taciturn Xiao Jiu, his eyes flickering slightly. Although he had temporarily appeased the highly skilled Doctor Xue, the man had been brought here under duress and was bound to harbor resentment. To truly make him work for him willingly, a combination of kindness and firmness was necessary. Although Xiao Jiu looked rather thin, his behavior these past few days had been quite remarkable. What was there to be afraid of if he was timid? It was precisely because he was timid that he dared not do anything out of line.

“Dr. Xue, the conditions in our mountains are simple, and we don’t have a woman to serve us. I think Xiao Jiu is quite good. She’s meticulous, strong, and can even suture. Why don’t we let her stay with you? Maybe she can learn a trick or two, and we can enjoy the good life together.”

"Um……"

Xie Mingchen pondered for a moment, his gaze sweeping over Xiao Jiu, with a slight hesitation.

"But I'm not from around here. If the injured person is alright, I need to go back..."

"Oh, no rush. We're all brothers here at the mines. With your excellent medical skills, you'll inevitably be traveling back and forth between the mines. Niu Er's leg will need your continued care. I'm shamelessly asking you to stay here a little longer. To be honest, we brothers are always short of medical care at the mines, and we've all suffered some hidden injuries. We'll need your help to recuperate. While you're here, let Xiao Jiu take care of you. She's obedient, I promise. Xiao Jiu, what do you say?"

Jiu Que's body trembled slightly, and he nodded repeatedly.

"Dr. Xue, please let me serve you. I'm quick and efficient, and I can take good care of you!"

"...Okay then."

Doctor Xue seemed reluctant, only agreeing out of necessity, which actually lowered Yang Hui's guard. If Doctor Xue had agreed so readily, Yang Hui would have become suspicious; Xiao Jiu looked withered and was covered in dirt and black grime. Although people who had worked in the mine for a long time all looked like that, regardless of age or gender, Yang Hui couldn't bring himself to do it. So the matter was settled. In the late afternoon, Niu Er woke up. Thankfully, he didn't have a fever, but his face was deathly pale from blood loss. However, having escaped death, he was incredibly grateful to Doctor Xue.

Even Xiao Jiu received a kind look from him, whereas before Niu Er would never have given Xiao Jiu a second glance.

Aside from the matter with Niu Er, as dusk was falling, Yang Hui came over again, somewhat hesitantly, to ask Doctor Xue to examine him. Previously, when he had taken their pulses and prescribed medicine, they hadn't hesitated this much; now, for some reason, they were being secretive.

As Doctor Xue's temporary assistant, Xiao Jiu naturally followed along. However, when they finally arrived at a dark cave after many twists and turns, they understood why Yang Hui had such an expression.

Inside this dark cave, a section of land was enclosed by a wooden fence, where more than a dozen disheveled, ashen-faced women were imprisoned. Due to the lack of ventilation, the cave emitted a complex, foul odor.

Jiu Que clenched her fists tightly under her sleeves. She was no naive girl. The moment she saw these women, she understood why they were being held in solitary confinement. A flash of bloodlust crossed her lowered eyes.

She couldn't assume that Yang Hui and the others were still salvageable just because they didn't seem too bad. Were these women imprisoned voluntarily? No wonder he hadn't seen many women along the way, except for a few helping in the kitchen. They were either old or unattractive; they were imprisoned here.

"Dr. Xue, could you please take a look? Two of them are bleeding profusely. If you can save them, please do so; if not, then forget it."

Yang Hui's tone still held a hint of regret. The two women seemed to be the wives of some minor official; their faces were incredibly beautiful, their skin as smooth as eggs. He, who had grown up relying on the kindness of others, had never seen such beautiful women before. He just hadn't expected that these two women, not only of good birth, but also with the physiques of young ladies from noble families, were on the verge of death. If they could be saved, that would be best; if not, so be it, there were other women still alive. These days, the number of people the zombies were bringing back from outside was dwindling, and even the few they managed to capture weren't particularly attractive women.

The guys are toiling away like oil in this godforsaken mine, this is the only bit of fun they have left. Otherwise, wouldn't the guys down there go crazy?

Xie Mingchen was silent for a moment, and Yang Hui had already had the two women, who were pale, thin, and bleeding profusely from their lower bodies, dragged out.

The two women were young and bore a resemblance, suggesting they were related. They were completely exhausted; the man who had dragged them out released them, and they collapsed to the ground, their eyes dark and lifeless. They were barely breathing, not exhaling.

Yang Hui was still a little anxious.

"Look, that's it. Half-dead, but still breathing. Wouldn't it be a waste to just drag it out and bury it?"

Xie Mingchen closed his eyes, silently bent down, and took the pulses of the two men, ultimately giving an ambiguous conclusion.

"My body is severely depleted, but I can give it a try."

(End of this chapter)