The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan-Chapter 595 - 593 A Mighty Dragon Doesn’t Oppress the Local Snake (First Update)

Chapter 595: 593 A Mighty Dragon Doesn’t Oppress the Local Snake (First Update)

"I saw several physicians rushing into the garment workshop, could it be that there has been another death there?"

"Doesn’t seem like it, they say a female worker fainted and passed out."

As soon as Li Xianyun heard this, she couldn’t walk any further—she had to go see for herself.

Li Xianyun was very enthusiastic about treating diseases and saving lives.

The more complex and challenging the illness, the more interested she became.

Li Xianyun asked Bater to stop the carriage, opened the door, and stepped down, standing amidst the crowd.

Voices of discussion immediately flooded her ears from all directions.

Someone whispered near Li Xianyun.

"During the winter campaign, the most urgent need for the soldiers is cotton clothing. The nearby prefectures have all received a task to produce ten thousand pieces of cotton garments, but our Yanzhou volunteered to take on the task of twenty thousand pieces. They even made a bold claim to finish it within five days. That’s twenty thousand pieces of cotton clothing! Even if the female workers worked without resting or eating, they couldn’t complete it. With such a heavy task, coupled with such ruthless and cruel management, it would be strange if no lives were lost, right?"

Another person responded in a lowered voice, "He beats and scolds those poor female workers at the drop of a hat. If anyone is slow, he won’t let them eat. The less they eat, the slower they get, doesn’t it?" freēwēbnovel.com

"Isn’t that the truth? He doesn’t care about that at all, he just knows how to lash out with his whip. I pity those women who signed their lives away with those deadly contracts."

"Poverty reduces the value of life." Someone said with emotion.

Li Xianyun now roughly knew the situation. However, to determine if there were any misunderstandings or discrepancies, she needed to continue observing.

Still, saving someone was the most urgent matter at hand.

Bater, upon Li Xianyun’s signal, pushed his way through the crowd and moved forward.

The bystanders looked over with curiosity.

Some were dissatisfied with Bater making his way through the crowd.

If a quarrel ensued, it would inevitably waste time.

Li Xianyun explained loudly, "I am a physician, here to save lives."

The poor could empathize with the plight of the poor.

Hearing Li Xianyun’s words, someone helped, shouting, "Make way, make way, there’s another physician here."

The crowd parted to create a path.

Li Xianyun and her party were able to reach the entrance of the garment workshop.

The Young Servant guarding the door blocked their way, "Who are you and what do you want?"

Li Xianyun said, "I am a physician. I heard there’s a sick person inside and wanted to come in to provide treatment."

A Young Servant impatiently said, "We have our own legitimate physicians inside, we don’t need you, scram!"

"Yes, off you go, off you go!" Another Young Servant tersely shooed them away.

Many things happening inside were not meant for the light of day; the less outsiders knew, the better.

Li Xianyun had just been testing the waters, but having encountered such resistance from the Young Servant, she knew there must be some trickery involved.

Even though the garment workshop was under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Court, there were times when even their reach was insufficient.

Especially in a frontier region that was somewhat backward with rough and uncouth local customs, this place had become a breeding ground for some people’s malicious schemes.

Li Xianyun glanced at Bater.

Bater took out a token from inside the garment over his chest and placed it in front of the Young Servant.

The Young Servant’s expression changed instantly, looking uneasily at his companion.

This was an Official Government token.

Wasn’t their Chief in good standing with the officials of the government as if they were one and the same?

Why would the Official Government suddenly send someone at this critical juncture?

Moreover, looking at these three individuals, they did not seem like government officers.

Could it be a ruse?

The young servant took the token and examined it, turning it over in his hands. It was indeed an official government token, unmistakably genuine.

Li Xianyun said, "You only need to release the person with this token, and no one will dare to make things difficult for you. But if you offend the official by doing so, pleading won’t get you off the hook."

The two young servants were still hesitant.

Bater stepped forward and said brusquely, "Are you going to let us pass or not? Make it quick!"

The two young servants looked at the man before them, tall, dark, and burly, and stepped back in fear.

One young servant said, "Please wait here, esteemed guests, while we go in and report."

Li Xianyun replied calmly, "The patient won’t wait for anyone. If something happens because of this delay, will you take responsibility?"

The two young servants had no choice but to step aside and said, "Please, this way."

One of the young servants signaled with a glance to another in the yard, who immediately went inside to pass the message.

Bater looked at Li Xianyun, who was leading the way, with reverence.

That morning, when Li Xianyun was about to go out for a stroll in the city and was almost in her carriage, she suddenly stopped.

Bater and Youlan looked at Li Xianyun with puzzlement.

Youlan asked, "Master, have you forgotten something?"

"Indeed, I have forgotten something," said Li Xianyun, looking at Bater. "Bater, go get me an official government token, just in case."

Bater was stunned upon hearing this.

Why did they need an official government token when they already had one from the palace?

Seeing his reaction, Li Xianyun explained, "It is said that even a mighty dragon cannot crush a local snake. No one in such a remote place would recognize a token from the palace, but they would certainly recognize one from the official government."

It seemed the Queen had truly been far-sighted.

A young servant led the way, with Li Xianyun and her entourage following closely behind.

The garment factory was vast, with several neat rows of workshops, and in the corners were rows of low houses for the female workers to live in.

The workshops were large and imposingly built, but the living quarters where the female workers stayed were deplorably shabby—

The houses were low, and the walls were in terrible disrepair.

Some walls were on the verge of collapse, propped up by long, thick wooden stakes, and the roofs had undergone numerous repairs.

These low houses could collapse at any time, and who knew how many people would be killed or injured.

The spacious courtyard was also filled with horse-drawn carts transporting goods and large piles of discarded looms.

The official government’s insignia could be seen everywhere on the workshops and walls.

The group quickly arrived at the workshop where the sick female worker was located.

From the outside, the workshop appeared tall and spacious, but upon entering, it was dark and damp.

Countless looms were packed tightly together, leaving only a narrow corridor for walking on the edges.

In this crowded environment, the female workers wove non-stop, their shuttles weaving back and forth in a dizzying fashion.

The constant clacking of the looms filled their ears.

A woman wanted to turn around to look at her fallen colleague, but as soon as she turned, she received a lash.

The man who wielded the whip was burly and commanded sharply, "She’s not dead, what are you looking at?"

The woman trembled with fear and dared not defy him again.

Li Xianyun was led by the young servant through these women who were haggard and had lifeless eyes.

She saw many Han people among them.

A Han woman just then raised her head and caught sight of Li Xianyun and Youlan, also Han, surprise flashing in her eyes.

But a lash promptly followed, and she quickly lowered her head, continuing with her work, not daring to look up again.

As Li Xianyun breathed in the foul, musty air and saw the fear in the women’s eyes, she knew that these women had been kidnapped from somewhere and were living a life worse than death in this hellish place.

It appeared that the depth of issues at this garment factory was no shallow matter.