Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside Chapter 1620: Siege, All-Out Assault [2]

With a bang, Ms. Gao Lei slapped the table, her face unfriendly, and said: "General Liang, treating an illness takes time, and it’s not like these sores are on your face. What’s the rush?!"

Ms. Gao Lei’s sudden anger startled Magistrate Hao. He quickly stepped in to mediate, "Old Madam, calm down. General Liang meant no harm. Let’s discuss the recipe for the insect attractant."

Hearing this, General Liang swallowed his disgust and anger, and said to Old Madam Gao, "Old Madam, the Lei Family’s Trading Team has always been righteous. Many soldiers on the city wall have contracted the poisonous insect disease, please provide the medicine."

Ms. Gao Lei smiled, "It seems that you two officials are hard of hearing. Company Commander Niu already said that the insect attractant belongs to Mrs. Qin Gu. Why are you asking me?"

She continued, "Since you asked, I will answer on behalf of Mrs. Qin Gu. The Rong people poisoned Great Chu, and Mrs. Qin Gu, as a citizen of Great Chu, won’t stand by while the Chu army and civilians die from poisonous insects. She is already making the insect attractant with her family. I’ll have them select and deliver it to you two officials to treat the soldiers defending the city and the citizens."

She didn’t give the two officials a chance to speak and directly ordered Peng Wen, "Go to the medicine yard and pick out the prepared herbs."

"Yes." Peng Wen immediately headed to the medicine yard, and neither General Liang nor Magistrate Hao could stop him.

But they really wanted that prescription, so they shamelessly asked for it: "Old Madam Gao, Lei Mao said the Rong people used sparrows to spread poisonous insects in Xing’an Prefecture, and the birds might fly to all parts of Great Chu, causing a disease outbreak. The recipe for the insect attractant must be given out; otherwise, only making medicines here in the separate yard will delay the distribution to all of Great Chu, endangering many lives!"

Ms. Gao Lei looked at them and smiled, "You two officials speak very rightly."

General Liang and Magistrate Hao’s eyes lit up at her words, but looking at Ms. Gao Lei’s smile and recalling her past behavior, they felt it was unlikely she’d hand the prescription over easily, and nervously asked, "Then this prescription?"

Ms. Gao Lei’s smile grew wider, and she loudly declared, "Mrs. Qin Gu, although young, is sensible and has decided to present the insect attractant recipe to the Emperor on behalf of all Kangrong Soldiers!"

What!

General Liang and Magistrate Hao were shocked, this...

Ms. Gao Lei asked as she looked at them, "Did you two officials hear clearly? Do you have anything else to say?"

Be smart, if you continue to ask for the prescription, it’ll look like you’re trying to steal credit from all the Kangrong Soldiers!

Currently, using military strategy is essential. Do you two dare to go against all Kangrong Soldiers?

Of course, General Liang and Magistrate Hao did not dare.

But they were not willing to give up and forced a smile as they said, "Indeed, Mrs. Qin Gu is noble. But, Old Madam, she’s only a Company Commander’s wife. How could she bring the prescription directly to the Emperor? Why not give it to us, we’ll write a memorial and report it to the Emperor, what do you think?"

Ms. Gao Lei, having a fearsome reputation for decades, looked at Magistrate Hao and said, "Magistrate Hao, I initially planned to inform you to write a memorial about the potential outbreak of the poisonous insect disease in Great Chu, for which you could have earned credit. I even avoided letting Doctor Qi know too much about the disease. But you are too greedy."

Magistrate Hao felt a chill, "Old Madam Gao..."

Old Madam Gao waved her hand to interrupt him, "In that case, I have no choice but to ask Duchess Yuan to help by sending a letter to the palace."

Upon hearing this, Magistrate Hao and General Liang turned pale with fright.

This Duchess Yuan is the current Empress’s own mother!

Though the Emperor is wary of Duke Yuan’s family, as the Empress’s sons died young and her health is poor, she could pass away anytime. Her brothers, aware of the Emperor’s suspicion, wisely avoided leading troops and even stayed clear of the Kangrong campaign this time. Despite how wary the Emperor is of Duke Yuan’s family, any prescription submitted by Duchess Yuan that can save all of Great Chu would be readily accepted.

Ms. Gao Lei got acquainted with Duchess Yuan due to a grandchild of Duke Yuan’s being among the orphans she raised. Through this child, she met Duchess Yuan.

As Ms. Gao Lei brought up Duchess Yuan, General Liang and Magistrate Hao, despite their reluctance, dared not ask for the prescription again.

But unwilling to miss out on the credit, they said, "Old Madam Gao, this great remedy did originate from Xing’an Prefecture, we..."

"The poisonous insect disease also originated from Xing’an Prefecture!" Ms. Gao Lei interrupted them, sighed, and said, "Two officials, your current priority is to resist the Rong people and hold Xing’an Prefecture. As long as you defend the city, why worry about the court not rewarding you?"

General Liang and Magistrate Hao were embarrassed.

Actually, compared to some officials, they were quite good; however, Magistrate Hao really did not want to stay in the Northwest. He wanted to accomplish a great achievement and be transferred back to the Capital.

The Northwest is chaotic, and one never knows when they might die. Anyone would want to leave as soon as possible.

"Old Madam, the insect attractant is here!" Peng Wen shouted from the courtyard with dozens of family members carrying the insect attractant.

Ms. Gao Lei: "Two officials, the medicine is here, go distribute it. If it’s not enough, we’ll send more, don’t worry."

"Thank you, Old Madam Gao." The two humbly accepted and went to distribute the insect attractant.

Ms. Gao Lei then turned to Gu Jinli, who had been standing there like she was facing a wall, and asked, "Are you satisfied?"

Gu Jinli nodded, "Granny Lei is indeed exceptional."

It certainly saved her trouble. Otherwise, she, just a Company Commander’s wife, could not confront two high officials, regardless of how strong-willed she was.

But Ms. Gao Lei really was a gem, even knowing Duchess Yuan.

Ms. Gao Lei smiled, "Naturally, I’m not one for nonsense."

Then she asked, "How’s Doctor Qi doing, can he lure and kill poisonous insects?"

Gu Jinli nodded, "He’s learned."

Though he nearly fainted in the process, he managed to endure his disgust and learned how to lure and kill the poisonous insects.

Ms. Gao Lei, feeling satisfied, got up from the guest hall and told Peng Wen, "Go call Doctor Qi, have him accompany General Liang to the tower to treat the soldiers."

Doctor Lu won’t treat them, and Qing Pu and Qing Hui are out of the question, as they must stay in the separate yard to help.

"Yes." Peng Wen quickly brought Doctor Qi.

Doctor Qi, upon learning he needed to go to the tower, was terrified and didn’t want to go: "I serve the Vice Magistrate’s Family, so I should prioritize their safety."

Ms. Gao Lei smiled and retorted, "Going to the tower and treating soldiers aids in resisting the Rong people. Is the Vice Magistrate against resisting the Rong people?!"

This was a severe blow. Doctor Qi couldn’t dare say a word of dissent and went along with General Liang.

As for Magistrate Hao, he took the insect attractant to treat the city’s citizens.

Before leaving, Ms. Gao Lei told Magistrate Hao, "Lord Magistrate, the separate yard’s medicinal materials are running low. If more insect attractant is to be produced, you need to send all the city’s herbs, with which we can make more insect attractant."

Robbery, this is clearly robbery!

But what could Magistrate Hao do? He could only submit: "Fine, I’ll send you the medicinal materials."

After speaking, he skeptically asked, "Old Madam, are your separate yard’s medicinal materials really running out?"