Xia Yunting's gaze fell upon the pink handkerchief. Embroidered on it were a few dark purple morning glories, with two clumps of white clouds above. Though the pattern was simple, each stitch was meticulous, clearly indicating it was made with care.
He nodded, took the handkerchief, and tucked it into his embrace. The next moment, he felt a gaze on him.
Rong Zhi, though inside the side room, was peeking out from the window, her eyes fixed on the area over his chest with great interest.
"Go about your business."
He waved Chen Xing away and entered the side room. Immediately, he attracted the attention of all the patients, but they only dared to glance at him before lowering their heads, intimidated by his murderous aura.
Xia Yunting walked directly towards Rong Zhi.
"Princess Ning Hui is my friend. We've met a few times, but there's no romantic involvement. The Emperor has long chosen a consort for Princess Ning Hui, so don't overthink it."
"Oh..." Rong Zhi drew out the sound, then changed the subject.
"Since your people have arrived, I won't interfere further. I need to focus on treating these patients. Also, you promised to take me back to Medicine King Valley. Words are not enough, I need a written agreement."
Seeing her reaction so calmly, Xia Yunting was somewhat perplexed. Didn't she care at all?
He felt a strange sensation, and suddenly didn't want to agree so readily. "Are you afraid I won't keep my word?"
"Mm."
Her agreement was too straightforward, which made Xia Yunting feel a bit depressed.
"I'm hungry."
What? Did she intend to order him around using this opportunity? Never mind, it was just a meal.
"What do you want to eat?"
"Lean meat congee."
...
With so many more people suddenly in the haunted house, dining became a problem. It was a hurried affair yesterday, and Xia Yunting hadn't bought much. Rong Zhi had intended to ask him to buy more tableware and rice, when she suddenly saw a middle-aged man standing at the entrance. Judging by his attire, he seemed quite wealthy. He was peering inside, as if considering whether to come in.
Rong Zhi was coming out of the kitchen after tidying up when she saw this man. Guessing his purpose, she asked, "Sir, are you looking for someone?"
"Ah, yes, I'm looking for my nephew."
He said, glancing around. "I heard the traffickers on Swallow Mountain were arrested by the authorities, and all the people were rescued. Why haven't they returned home yet?"
Rong Zhi invited him in, explaining as she went, "Sir, the people have been rescued, but they suffered greatly and their health has been affected. I plan to treat them before sending them home. For now, they are staying at my place."
"Oh, young lady, you are truly a living Bodhisattva! My nephew is so fortunate to have met you, it must be the blessing of his past lives!" The man then bowed, and Rong Zhi quickly helped him up.
"You're welcome, sir. I am a physician, and this is what I should do."
"May I go and look for my nephew? He's been missing for several years."
"Of course." Rong Zhi gestured to the side rooms on both sides. "There are people in the rooms on both sides. Please open the doors and search yourself."
The man thanked her again and walked to the room on the left, opening the door. To his astonishment, he was dumbfounded.
"This... this small room is packed with so many people! How can this be? Ah Zhe! You're here! I've been looking for you frantically!"
He hurried inside, helped up a person in the corner with numerous wounds, who was looking down and silent. When he lifted the young man's head, he indeed found the person he was looking for. He couldn't help but turn and glare at Rong Zhi, "Young lady, I'm not one to pry, but my nephew is so severely injured, how could you let him stay here like this? You're being too irresponsible!"
Rong Zhi explained, "We returned in a hurry yesterday and didn't have time to find suitable places, so I had them all squeeze in here."
She personally felt it was not a big deal. Although it was a bit crowded with so many people, the side rooms were quite airy and dry, which would not hinder their recovery.
However, the middle-aged man did not seem to think so.
"Others may be able to manage, but my nephew is the young master of our household. He had many servants attending him at home. If you don't have anyone to serve him, you should at least arrange a separate room for him! As expected, rural doctors are unreliable. Come, Ah Zhe, I'll take you home."
"Sir," Rong Zhi's anger was also piqued, and her voice turned cold.
"This is all the space I have. We only returned yesterday. Even if I found rooms temporarily, I couldn't accommodate so many people. They are all patients in my eyes; there's no distinction between young masters and commoners. I treat them all equally. My goal is to save lives, not to serve a young master!"
"If you can't serve, then don't serve!" The middle-aged man raised his voice. "Our Zhang family has plenty of money, we can hire any doctor! We don't need you! Ah Zhe, let's go!"
He grabbed the young man's arm and headed for the door. The young man named Ah Zhe seemed unable to understand, merely following his movements blankly.
"No! The patient's injuries are not healed yet. If you disrupt things like this and delay treatment, it could be life-threatening! You cannot bear the consequences. We can discuss the housing situation separately, but you cannot take him away today!"
Seeing the situation, Rong Zhi immediately blocked the doorway.
"Get out of the way!" The middle-aged man, looking anxious, reached out to push her, but Rong Zhi grabbed his wrist and twisted it downwards. A crisp snapping sound was heard.
"Ah!" He cried out in pain, unable to even hold onto the person behind him. He sat on the ground, clutching his wrist and howling.
"I see you're not here to find someone, you're here to cause trouble. Leave quickly. Once these patients are cured, I will naturally send them back. You, without any basis, claim he is your nephew. What proof do you have that he is your nephew? You two look nothing alike! You say he is a young master, but are you perhaps eyeing his family's wealth and intending to extort them? Be careful, or I'll send you to the yamen, and let the prefect handle you!"
Rong Zhi's voice was not loud, but it was resonant and firm. A flicker of guilt crossed the man's face, and he suddenly stood up and ran towards the door. Rong Zhi picked up a small stone from the ground and flicked it, hitting the middle-aged man in the hollow of his leg. The man collapsed to his knees, unable to get up again.
"You shrew, how can you be so formidable..." His voice became weak, devoid of its previous assertiveness.
At this moment, Xia Yunting emerged from the room. He glanced at the person at the door and walked directly towards him.
"Husband, this man is causing trouble."
Rong Zhi explained. Xia Yunting lifted the middle-aged man by his collar. Just as the man was about to curse, he froze, "It's you?"
Xia Yunting recognized him?
In a flash, Rong Zhi suddenly remembered someone.
"He couldn't be..."
"Mm, he is Gu Zhou."
Gu Zhou was the shop assistant under Old Master Zhang. It was with his assistance that they had previously eliminated all those controlling the Zhang family's assets and transferred them.
Why was Gu Zhou here at this time?
"Are you here to take Young Master Zhang home?" Rong Zhi tilted her head, then immediately negated the thought.
"No, you want to abscond with Young Master Zhang and seize the Zhang family's fortune."
This time, her tone was very certain. Although the man said nothing, his guilty demeanor told Rong Zhi that she had guessed most of it.
Gu Zhou avoided Rong Zhi's gaze, and Rong Zhi knew she had guessed correctly.
Although Gu Zhou knew that Old Master Zhang was still alive, he also knew that Old Master Zhang was gravely ill and likely nearing his end. If Young Master Zhang were here, and he took him away, the Zhang family would be without a head. As a shop assistant of the Zhang family, and controlling most of their assets, all the property would then become his.
His plan was indeed ingenious, but his acting skills were lacking. Perhaps after being a shop assistant for the Zhang family for so long, his habitual arrogance couldn't be shed.
His cover blown, Gu Zhou's face flushed, and he suddenly started shouting.
"So what if I want money? That old geezer has been lying in bed for how many years? It's us shop assistants who have worked hard to manage his business. Last time you came to find me, I almost lost my head, and in the end, I still helped you. For such a big matter, is it wrong for him to give me some reward?"
Giving a reward wasn't the issue, but Old Master Zhang should be the one to give it first. He hadn't heard of anyone coming to take it before it was given, let alone the entire fortune.
"I don't care how you settle your finances. You cannot take my patient away. Oh, and you said your young master's living conditions were too poor? Then finding a house is your responsibility. Find a spacious house near Yunshui Village, and don't let your young master be wronged."
"I don't care."
He clutched his injured wrist, his nostrils flaring with anger. Rong Zhi squatted down, propped her chin in her hand, and smiled at him.
"Since you're here, aren't you ashamed to leave without doing anything?"
Saying this, she raised her right hand and clenched her fist, making a cracking sound. Gu Zhou trembled, as if her fist was about to fall on him at any moment.
"I'll do it, I'll do it, alright? Can you set my hand first?"
He thought to himself, I'll pretend to agree, trick her into setting my hand, and then run away as soon as I get outside. Without Young Master Zhang, even if I can't take all the assets, I can still get some.
Just as he was getting lost in his thoughts, something was suddenly shoved into his mouth. By the time he realized it, the object had already gone down his throat.
"What did you give me?"
He was greatly alarmed.
"Poison. Remember to come back to me for the antidote when things are done. Oh, and bring some food too."
She flashed a brilliant smile, patted his shoulder, and went back to check on Young Master Zhang.
"How could this happen?" Gu Zhou's face turned bitter. This was truly a case of trying to steal a chicken only to lose the rice.
He looked up at Xia Yunting. "Brother, can you help me..." He wanted to ask if the other man could set his hand, but upon seeing the calluses on the man's palm, developed from practicing martial arts, he quietly closed his mouth. Moreover, he wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but he felt a strong scent of blood emanating from the man.
Thus, he dragged his broken arm and lame leg and limped away.
Rong Zhi's confused voice came from the entrance of the side room.
"Why isn't it better yet?"
Xia Yunting saw her holding Young Master Zhang's arm and studying it intently. He walked over and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Look, although there's no apparent abnormality on the surface, this part of his skin is stiff, and the color is bluish, as if the blood circulation has stopped. It's like a zombie."
She handed the arm over for him to see, and indeed, it was so.
"I've never seen symptoms like this before. Chu Qingze has been treating them all along. It seems I'll have to ask Chu Qingze."
Unexpectedly, before Rong Zhi could set off, someone came to invite her.
The person who came to invite her was Cui Xi. She seemed to have run all the way, her head covered in sweat, her damp hair sticking to her forehead. After panting for a while, she managed to utter a complete sentence.
"Divine Physician Lin, please save our young lady! Our young lady is dying!"