"Prince, please return to the palace"
The sudden screech of brakes from outside the door, like a pebble thrown into calm water, instantly broke the brief and eerie stalemate inside the locksmith shop.
The two police officers reacted extremely quickly, demonstrating their professionalism. Although the younger officer had been emotional just moments before, he immediately regained his composure, his eyes blazing as he stared intently at the doorway. He leaned slightly forward, his right hand gripping his equipment bag tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force.
He was incredibly nervous, and countless thoughts flashed through his mind—the police academy's admonitions, the solemn oath made under the national emblem, and even the tragic scenes depicted in some movies and TV shows when facing evil forces.
A surge of resolute determination—"Today, I will defend the dignity of the law with my own body"—was stirring within him.
The older policeman, while primarily focused on the composed Lü Yi, guarding against a sudden attack or escape, had his left hand silently reaching for his police equipment at his waist, his sharp eyes scanning the area between the doorway and Lü Yi.
"Ta-da--"
A series of hurried, chaotic footsteps approached from afar, sounding like there were quite a few people, at least four or five. The footsteps made the young policeman's nerves tighten even more, and fine beads of sweat even appeared on his forehead. He was almost certain that the "people behind Lü Yi" had arrived! A tough battle seemed inevitable.
However, when the group appeared at the door, the scene that greeted the young policeman, who was on high alert, was stunned.
There were indeed five or six people who arrived, and they were all quite strong and robust. However, the ones in the lead were not wearing the black clothes of gangsters or the floral shirts of gangsters that one might expect, but rather... pure white coats? The kind of white coats that doctors and nurses in hospitals often wear!
What's going on? Did the ambulance arrive ahead of schedule? But they just called 120 not long ago, and the sound didn't seem like an ambulance. This efficiency is too amazing! The young policeman was filled with doubt and confusion. He loosened his grip on his police equipment bag slightly, but his vigilance was not completely relaxed.
The leader, a man in a white coat, appeared to be in his forties, wearing wire-rimmed Glasses, and had a serious and tired expression. He quickly walked up to the young policeman, his attitude polite but his tone urgent, and proactively showed him his identification, saying:
"Hello, comrade. We are medical staff from the Municipal Fourth Psychiatric Hospital." As he spoke, he pointed to Lü Yi, who was still sitting inside the shop with his legs crossed, smoking a cigarette, and even smiling at them. "This man inside, Lü Yi, is Patient undergoing compulsory medical treatment at our hospital. His condition fluctuated recently, and he secretly ran away. We just received a tip from the public, so we rushed over to take him back for continued treatment."
As if to complement his words, when Lü Yi saw this group of "white coats," she was not afraid at all. Instead, she waved to them warmly, with a familiar expression on her face that said, "You've finally arrived." She even winked at the leader.
The middle-aged doctor in the lead ignored Lü Yi's antics. He took a thick folder of paper documents from a burly young man in a white coat next to him, then took out his ID card and work permit from the pocket of his own white coat and handed them to the young policeman with both hands.
"Comrade, these are the Patient's basic information, admission record, diagnosis certificate, and a copy of the compulsory medical treatment decision. These are my ID card and work permit; please verify them."
The young policeman took the stack of documents with some skepticism. He first carefully looked through the medical record, which clearly showed Lü Yi's name and the diagnosis of "bipolar disorder with impulsive aggressive behavior." It also included a court-issued compulsory medical treatment order, complete with the date and official seal.
He then picked up the man's work ID and quickly checked the photo and workplace information on it using his mobile police terminal. The information displayed on the screen confirmed the man's identity— Chang Deming, attending physician at the Fourth Mental Hospital; the information was correct.
The young and older officers exchanged a glance, both seeing a mixture of relief and a hint of absurdity in each other's eyes. So that's it! No wonder this man acted so erratically and violently, so ruthless yet displaying an abnormal mental state—he really was a mental Patient, and one who had escaped from compulsory medical treatment!
The young policeman finally felt a huge weight lifted from his shoulders, and his tense nerves relaxed. He handed the documents and files back to Dr. Du, nodded, and stepped aside to make way. "We understand the situation, Dr. Du. Please cooperate with the follow-up work."
"Thank you for your understanding, comrade." Chang Deming took the credentials, thanked him, and then led several officers in white coats straight towards Lü Yi.
"Lü Yi, stop making a scene and come back to the hospital with us," Du Mingyuan said, trying to keep his tone calm.
Lü Yi tossed her head back, a cigarette dangling from her lips, and said with an air of arrogance, "Say no! I can't just go with you like this! There's no ceremony at all! You have to say—'Prince, please return to the palace!'"
Du Mingyuan's lips twitched visibly, and a vein seemed to throb on his forehead. He took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and almost gritted his teeth as he repeated in a completely emotionless tone, "... Alright, Prince Lü Yi, please return to the palace. Can you leave now?"
"Still not enough!" Lü Yi pressed his advantage, twirling his toes. "Where's my carriage? Can I return to the palace without one? That's beneath my princely status!"
He was hard! Chang Deming's fist, hidden in the sleeve of his white coat, was completely hard! He felt his blood pressure soaring. But years of professional training made him suppress the urge to stun the "prince" and drag him away.
He turned to a young man in a white coat beside him, who was barely suppressing a laugh, and said irritably, "Alright, alright! Xiao Wang, go! Hurry up and get the 'Prince's' car! Quickly!"
Upon hearing this, the young man in the white coat, referred to as Xiao Wang, immediately responded and quickly ran out. A moment later, he and another person worked together to lift a... medical stretcher from the car outside!
When Lü Yi saw the stretcher, her eyes lit up. She immediately jumped up from the chair and, without needing anyone to urge her, quickly lay down on it. She even adjusted her position to find the most comfortable way to lie down, folding her hands in front of her chest with a peaceful expression.
Chang Deming, expressionless, picked up several thick restraint straps and handed them to the men in white coats beside him, his voice icy. "Here, tie the 'prince' up. Tie him tight, so he doesn't fall on the way."
Several strong men in white coats rushed forward, their movements practiced and swift. They used restraints to firmly secure Lü Yi's shoulders, chest, waist, thighs, and calves to the stretcher, wrapping him up tightly, round and round, making him look exactly like a newly unearthed mummy, or rather... a pig waiting to be slaughtered.
Although bound and unable to move, Lü Yi showed no dissatisfaction; on the contrary, his enthusiasm only increased. As several men in white coats lifted him up along with his stretcher, chanting slogans, he looked up at the ceiling and, in a tone that seemed to reflect a life of profound experience and deep emotion, said loudly:
"My esteemed ministers, my recent incognito visit to observe the people's conditions has been very insightful! Upon my return to the palace, I will certainly summon all of you to share my observations and reflections in detail!"
The men in white coats carrying him listened intently, their lips twitching and shoulders shaking as they tried desperately to suppress their laughter. They quickened their pace, practically running with this clown on their backs as they rushed out of the locksmith shop, afraid he might utter some more outrageous remarks.
Chang Deming watched as Lü Yi was carried away, and let out a long sigh of relief. He turned to the two policemen again, forcing a professional, apologetic smile on his face:
"Sorry to trouble you both. We'll take the Patient back for closer monitoring and treatment. If you need any further assistance, our hospital will provide full support."
What could the young and older police officers say? They could only nod in understanding.
After thanking him again, Du Mingyuan turned and quickly left the messy shop.
Inside the shop, only two policemen, a terrified young shop assistant, and the owner, still groaning in pain on the floor, remained. The group stared at each other, stunned for a long time, all feeling a sense of disorientation as if they had just emerged from an absurd farce.
After a long while, the young shop assistant seemed to suddenly come to her senses. She timidly grabbed the young policeman's sleeve and asked in a tearful voice, "Officer... he... he's just gone like that? Then... who... who will pay for my boss's medical expenses?"
The young policeman looked at the mess on the ground and the pitiful owner, sighed, patted the young man on the shoulder reassuringly, and explained:
"You can rest assured about that. According to procedure, you or the victim's family can pay the medical expenses in advance. Keep all medical receipts safe."
Once your condition stabilizes, you can file a lawsuit in court, demanding that the other party's guardian (in cases of compulsory medical treatment, this is usually the psychiatric hospital or their legal guardian) provide civil compensation and bear the corresponding medical expenses, lost wages, and other losses.
Upon hearing this, the young shop assistant nodded as if he understood, though he was still worried. At least he had a clear explanation, which put his mind at ease a little.