On the way back, Taishang Laojun asked in bewilderment, "I said a few words to your aunt at the entrance of the examination hall, and you gave me itching powder. That man even touched your hand, why didn't you give him itching powder then?"
Meng Anzhi said softly, "Grandmaster... think about the goodness of human nature."
"I can't think of anything..." Taishang Laojun walked ahead angrily with his hands behind his back. From afar, he saw Jin Shanyao standing outside the Anzhi Hall, leisurely basking in the sun.
Her two children toil away for their future every day, while she sits here basking in the warmth as if nothing's wrong. Is this repaying a debt of gratitude? This is enslavement!
The thought of the hardships the siblings had endured ignited a fire within him.
" Jin Shanyao... Look at the way you've raised your two children, this older one..." He pointed at Meng Anzhi, "His mind is full of healing and saving lives, he doesn't know how to fight back when he's bullied, and he still talks to me about the goodness of humanity."
"That little one, he's like a little bitter gourd, checking the answers himself... Why don't you hire a few more tutors? That's how I taught you!" With that, she angrily went back to the backyard.
Jin Shanyao was baffled by the humming. "What's gotten into him?"
Meng Anzhi learned everything that had happened outside. Seeing Jin Shanyao's face darken, she smiled and said, "I've already given the other party Half-Month Disablement; if it can't be untied, amputation will be necessary."
Jin Shanyao in satisfaction, "You did a good job... Calm yet sharp, silent yet accomplished. That old man, with his skills, naturally didn't care about the consequences. You can't do that..."
Meng Anzhi nodded, "Okay, Auntie, I'll go in first."
Jin Shanyao hand.
Several days passed in a flash, and notices began to be posted in the capital. Xu Dingshan, the general of the Beijing garrison, had his youngest son collapse on the street due to poisoning. After being sent home, he sought medical treatment everywhere without success, and was offered a high price of one thousand taels of silver to find a doctor.
At the Xu family home, Xu Zhuo's right hand was blackened and the blood vessels were blocked. Madam Xu was anxiously wiping away tears. "Think carefully again, what happened when you fainted?"
Xu Zhuo said impatiently, "Mother... I've told you so many times, I have amnesia. I don't remember anything that happened after I left the brothel."
Madam Xu cried and scolded, "I told you to stay away from places like that, but you wouldn't listen. Now look what happened... You don't even know why you fainted on the street."
"If your older brother hadn't returned from patrol, who knows what might have happened."
Xu Zhuo said unhappily, "What could possibly happen? Everyone knows my father is Commander Xu. Who would dare to mess with me...? They'd rather die."
"You..." Before Madam Xu could finish speaking, the door was pushed open with a bang, Xu Dingshan walked in with a livid face. "You unfilial son, you still dare to use my name to do evil."
You don't even know who poisoned you this time. How could I have given birth to such a useless person?
Xu Zhuo: "Yes... I'm a waste, but you're the one who gave birth to me."
"I'll beat you to death for talking back..." Xu Dingshan made a move to hit him, Madam Xu stood in front of her son, sobbing, "What are you doing... The most important thing now is to find a doctor for our son."
"Where can I find a doctor? I practically knelt in front of the Imperial Study to beg for a physician, but he just turned around and yelled at me and drove me away."
Madam Xu stammered as she explained, "You can't blame your son. If the imperial physician hadn't suggested amputation, would Zhuo'er have been cursing?"
"Alright... hold back your tears. He's like this because you've spoiled him. This time it was poisoning... next time it could be fatal."
Madam Xu turned pale with fright. "What should we do, husband...? You can't let the murderer get away with this! We must catch him!"
"They're already investigating, so don't make things worse..."
Unlike the chaos at the Xu family's house, all the doctors at the Anzhi Hall gathered together to discuss Xu Zhuo's condition.
Su Mu had been to the Xu family and knew a little about them. He told everyone, "That hand, starting from the wrist, the entire palm was black."
Qin Baitang asked in confusion, "What about your arm? Is it completely unharmed?"
Su Mu slammed his hand on the table and exclaimed, "What are you talking about? That's the strange thing! Logically, necrosis of the palm should involve the wrist or arm, but Xu Zhuo didn't. It was just the palm, cleanly severed."
Qin Baitang glanced at Jin Shanyao, "Boss, why don't you let Anzhi give it a try... She's been sitting in the shop for almost two months and hasn't seen a single patient."
If Xu Zhuo can be cured... it will surely cause a sensation throughout the capital.
Jin Shanyao looked at Meng Anzhi and happened to see Taishang Laojun sitting next to her, tilting his head and scrutinizing her.
Jin Shanyao to Qin Baitang and said, "Let me ask her opinion first." She then went to Meng Anzhi's desk and tapped it. " Shopkeeper Qin, do you want to go to the Xu residence to treat Xu Zhuo's hand?"
"What are you looking at? I'm not looking..." Taishang Laojun glared at her, then continued to stare at Meng Anzhi.
Meng Anzhi turned the pages of the book as if she hadn't noticed anything. She said indifferently, "Never mind... there are plenty of skilled doctors in the capital, it won't make a difference if I'm not one."
No sooner had she finished speaking than Taishang Laojun leaned closer to her and asked in a low voice, "You poisoned her, didn't you?"
Meng Anzhi gave a soft "Mmm," and said, "He touched my palm."
Taishang Laojun was taken aback when she admitted it, staring at her in astonishment for a long time. "When did you download it? I didn't see it."
"When I took his pulse..."
"The poison is hidden in his palm."
"Um..."
Taishang Laojun:...
He turned to look at Jin Shanyao, then at Meng Anzhi, hesitating as if he wanted to say something, then got up and pulled Jin Shanyao the study door and set up a protective barrier.
"What's going on?? This girl's words and actions don't match up. Is she schizophrenic?? Just a few days ago she was talking to me about the goodness of humanity, those words are still ringing in my ears, and now she's telling me she poisoned me??"
Jin Shanyao her head, "This child is introverted and doesn't like to show off..."
Taishang Laojun's expression was complicated. His expectations were too high. How could a tree that knew nothing teach a human child? Now that its personality was set, it would be difficult to correct it.
I just hope they behave well and don't do bad things!
As soon as the Xu family posted the notice, doctors from all over the capital flocked to the Xu residence... The Xu family steward arranged for everyone to sit in the courtyard, one doctor going in and the next doctor preparing.
Three or four more days passed, and he took a lot of random medicines, but his condition did not improve at all. Meanwhile Xu Dingshan had discovered that the last person Xu Zhuo met was the doctor from the Anzhi Hall.
That day, he led his troops to surround Anzhi Hall completely. Qin Baitang had never encountered such a scene in his three years in the capital, and hurriedly came out to shout, " Commander Xu, what are you doing? Let's talk this out, but what did my little shop do wrong?"
Xu Dingshan swept his cold gaze over them, "Does your Anzhi Hall have a young lady around fourteen years old?"
Qin Baitang's heart skipped a beat. He subtly took out a fifty-tael silver note and stuffed it into Commander Xu's hand, only to have it flung away by the other man.
"Is the shopkeeper trying to bribe me?"
Qin Baitang was so frightened that he hurriedly bowed and smiled obsequiously, "How dare I, a commoner..." He was only halfway through his sentence when Jin Shanyao pulled him behind him.
She stood in front of Qin Baitang, facing Xu Dingshan, and said coldly, " Commander Xu? I wonder what I, Anzhi Hall, have done to warrant such a large mobilization from you?"
Xu Dingshan's eyes immediately fell on Meng Anzhi beside her. A ruthless smile curled at the corner of his lips. Ignoring Jin Shanyao, he said to Meng Anzhi, "This young lady, will you come with me?"
Meng Anzhi remained calm. " Commander Xu's words are utterly unreasonable. You come to my door and expect me to go with you? There has to be some reason, otherwise, wouldn't it make me look like I'm abusing my power and bending the law for personal gain?"