"Dr. Lin, thank you for your kindness, but if my father doesn't return, I'm not going anywhere."
Seeing her like this, Rong Zhi didn't push further and could only say, "Then find a few more people to take care of you. Regardless, the medicine must not be stopped."
"This is all my fault," Cui Xi said, wringing her sleeves, looking somewhat lost.
"I overslept, I slept too late."
"You're not made of iron, how can you take care of her all the time? Find someone to rotate with you."
Cui Xi nodded, a very small movement, clearly showing some reluctance.
"Could it be that there isn't even a person to take care of here?"
"...My lord was arrested, and the servants, seeing the way the wind blows, are not attentive to Miss. If others take care of her... I don't trust them."
These words were filled with desolation, and Rong Zhi naturally couldn't just stand by.
"I'll go find Chu Qingze."
She planned to discuss it properly with Chu Qingze. They couldn't just leave a patient like this.
However, before she could even leave, Chu Qingze was already walking towards her. He moved quickly, seemingly in a hurry. When he looked up and saw Rong Zhi, he was somewhat surprised.
"What are you doing here?"
"Came to find you, and to see Miss Zhang. I wanted to ask you, why did you leave her here, leaving only Cui Xi to take care of her?"
"There was something to attend to back at the manor." Chu Qingze leaned in and whispered, "Master Zhang heard that the people from Yanzi Mountain were all arrested and insisted that Li Hao return his property. But that money has already been spent, how can it be recovered? I think he's just being unreasonable."
Rong Zhi's face turned stern. "Such a small matter, and you're dragging it out for so long. You stay here, and you're not allowed to leave. I'll take Master Zhang back to my place. His son is also here, so let them reunite."
As Rong Zhi spoke, she was about to leave. Chu Qingze's voice sounded from behind her, "What if he goes crazy on you?"
"Either he gets his money, or he loses his life!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Rong Zhi leaped over the wall, leaving Chu Qingze somewhat astonished. He had thought she would accept Master Zhang's demands, but he didn't expect her to agree so readily.
Given Master Zhang's condition, he hoped she would be tactful and not anger the man to death.
Rong Zhi arrived at the mass grave and went straight into the cellar, heading behind the secret door.
Two coughs suddenly erupted from the previously quiet underground room, and a hoarse, stubborn voice rang out.
"I've told you, if you don't return my family's money, I'm not going anywhere, and I'm not taking any medicine! You don't need to persuade me!"
Rong Zhi's eyes narrowed. She approached the bed and suddenly put on a smile.
"Old man, it's me."
Master Zhang was somewhat surprised. He paused, then began to cough violently again.
"It's you. Go tell that person named Chu, if he doesn't return my fortune, I won't leave!"
"You don't want your son either?"
"Yes, I don't want my son... What did you say?"
He stopped halfway, his eyes widening, and his voice rose several decibels.
"Your son has been found, and he's at my place now."
At these words, Master Zhang's eyes shone with excitement, and his complexion visibly improved. But, as if remembering something, he immediately suppressed that look.
"Then what about our family's money?"
"Old man, your son is back, and you're not concerned about your son, but about money? It seems we saved your son in vain?"
"I want my son, and I want my money. If either is missing, I'll just stay here and refuse to leave!"
He straightened up, his expression utterly shameless.
Rong Zhi thought to herself that this man was truly beyond redemption.
"Of course, the money is still here," she said slowly, her voice soothing. Seeing Master Zhang's eyes light up, Rong Zhi continued, "I was just about to take you there. If you don't go, how can I personally hand the money over to you?"
"Then how do we go..." Before he could finish his sentence, Rong Zhi suddenly raised her hand and scattered a handful of powder. Master Zhang's eyelids drooped, and he fell asleep.
What a bother. It was simpler to just knock him out.
Rong Zhi searched the surroundings and finally found several sacks used for medicinal herbs in a corner. She took one, dressed Master Zhang in it, and carried him over her shoulder out the door. She flew back to Yunshui Village using her qinggong.
Arriving at the side room, she found Young Master Zhang still squatting in the corner, seemingly lost in thought. Rong Zhi brought out Master Zhang and laid him flat on the bed.
This action attracted Young Master Zhang's attention. He glanced over but didn't move.
"This is your father."
Only then did Young Master Zhang's eyes show a different light. He slowly walked over, took a look, and reached out to feel if there was still breath beneath his nose.
"He's alive, just ill. You'll both recuperate here. No causing trouble, or I'll send you back to the Zhang family. There's no one there anymore, and your life or death will be of no concern to me then. Do you understand?"
Young Master Zhang neither nodded nor shook his head, but simply sat down by the bed.
Rong Zhi paid him no mind. She would let the father and son communicate themselves once Master Zhang woke up.
After some thought, she still hung a lock on the outside of the side room before returning to the main house. She found Xia Yunting lying on the bed, his back to her, seemingly fast asleep.
Rong Zhi tiptoed quietly onto the bed. Just as she was about to sleep, a magnetic voice came from behind her.
"You're back."
"Mm."
Was he so vigilant, or was he not asleep at all?
"Xiao Mo, I need your help with something."
"What is it?"
...
The next day, a long line formed in front of the haunted house. Almost all the villagers of Yunshui Village had gathered there, looking at Rong Zhi sitting by the door with curiosity.
"Dr. Lin is actually treating us for free. What a good thing this is."
"She's truly a good person! She saved our relatives and is treating us for free. Good deeds will be rewarded!"
"I hope it can really be cured. This ugly face of mine, even I can't bear to look at it."
At the front of the line was the village chief, Yu Rong. He placed his wrist on the table and asked hesitantly, "Miss, can my face still be cured?"
"No problem. Everyone has simply accumulated too much poison in their bodies. All that's needed is to expel the poison."
"It's that simple?" Yu Rong was somewhat disbelieving. Ever since they were poisoned last time, few people in their village looked presentable. Yu Cheng, in particular, had to move to the farthest house and live alone due to the severe disfigurement of his face. He never expected this illness could be cured.
"What kind of poison is this?"
"That, I'll have to see everyone's condition before I can say. Next!"
"Alright."
Yu Rong stepped aside, allowing the next person to come forward for a pulse diagnosis.
Actually, Rong Zhi was not only treating illnesses but also wanted to inquire about the specific circumstances of their poisoning, as the method of administering each poison and the bodily sensations after ingestion differed. From these details, she could deduce what poison they had used and then formulate an antidote.
As Rong Zhi examined each person, she asked them a few questions. Xia Yunting recorded everything by her side. By the time everyone had been diagnosed, half the day had passed, and Rong Zhi had a general understanding of the poison.
"Alright, everyone, go back and rest. When I've formulated the antidote, I'll send it to you all."
"Dr. Lin, what poison did we contract? And why did we become like this?"
Someone couldn't help but ask.
"It's a chronic poison called 'snake saliva.' The change in appearance is just a side effect. There are still some residual toxins in your bodies, but not much. If you drink two doses of medicine I'll prepare, you'll be fine."
She said it so casually that everyone present breathed a sigh of relief.
"That's great then."
"Then we'll rely entirely on you, Dr. Lin."
Some people were already starting to express their gratitude.
"Everyone, don't linger here. Go back and attend to your business. Wait for good news from Dr. Lin!" Yu Rong shouted to everyone, and they dispersed. Along the way, they were still discussing things after their recovery.
"Uncle Yu, wait a moment."
Rong Zhi called out to Yu Cheng, who was about to leave.
"Girl, what is it?"
His expression was somewhat nervous, as if he thought something was wrong with him.
"I'm worse off than they are. Is there no hope for me?"
"No, Uncle Yu, don't worry." Seeing that he had misunderstood, Rong Zhi quickly tried to comfort him.
"Your symptoms are indeed more severe than theirs, but it's not a big deal. It's just because your dietary taste is heavier. I just wanted to tell you to eat lighter in the future, and you'll still need to take medicine for a while."
"Ah!" Hearing that there was no problem, Yu Cheng's expression finally relaxed.
He sighed, "Girl, you've apprehended the traffickers and are now helping us cure our illnesses. You've truly done us a great service."
Rong Zhi smiled, "It's nothing. The traffickers were apprehended by the Prefect, it has nothing to do with us. I am a doctor, and I live in this village. Treating everyone is our duty."
Yu Cheng nodded, but a hint of understanding appeared in his eyes. Others might not know, but how could he not? From the beginning, he could tell that these two were extraordinary and must have come specifically to solve the case.
Although he knew he shouldn't ask further, he couldn't control his curiosity.
"Girl, are you... people of the Emperor?"
The officials here couldn't handle the traffickers, and they were arrested as soon as they arrived. Besides the Emperor's people, who else could have such great power?
Rong Zhi nodded, "Of course. Everyone under the heavens is a subject of the Emperor."
"That's true." Yu Cheng smiled knowingly. Knowing that she didn't want to say more, he didn't press further.
After Yu Cheng left, Rong Zhi suddenly noticed that two people had not left, Gu Wu Guixiang and Gu Xinlan.
The two had been standing there quietly, not making a sound. Rong Zhi hadn't even noticed them.
Seeing Rong Zhi see Yu Cheng off, Wu Guixiang stepped forward with a smile.
"Dr. Lin, I know you have superb medical skills and a kind heart. Since you can cure everyone's poison, you can surely heal my Xinlan. Please take a look, can Xinlan ever recover to her former self?"
As she said this, she pushed Gu Xinlan forward.
Gu Xinlan didn't struggle, standing obediently in front of the table, her eyes curiously observing Rong Zhi.
Rong Zhi said, "Auntie, Xinlan has an ailment of the heart, which cannot be cured by medicine alone. It won't be cured in a short time. Only with slow care, without letting her be stimulated, can she recover."
Wu Guixiang's heart sank upon hearing this, and her smile became somewhat strained.
"How long will it take? My Xinlan is of marriageable age. If she never recovers, what will happen to her in the future? If one day I die, who will take care of Xinlan?"
Towards the end, her tone became tinged with loneliness.
Rong Zhi thought for a moment and said, "How about letting Xinlan stay with me? I'll find some work for her to do, and perhaps, slowly, I can find a way to cure her."
"This... can it really work?"
"Let's try for now." Even with years of medical experience, Rong Zhi still habitually kept some room for maneuver.
"Then thank you, Miss Lin!" Wu Guixiang left with gratitude. After she left, Rong Zhi spoke to a spot in the corner and said, "Brother Liu Hong, you can come out!"