Xu Dingshan sneered, "What a sharp-tongued girl. I ask you, on February 16th, were you setting up a stall to offer medical advice in front of the Pure Joy Pavilion?"
Meng Anzhi looked up at him, "What's wrong? They don't allow stalls there?"
Xu Dingshan's eyes grew even darker upon hearing her confession. "Someone witnessed Xu Zhuo taking pulses at your stall, only to be knocked unconscious by an old man. Now that he's poisoned, it's definitely related to you."
As he spoke, his eyes were fixed on Taishang Laojun behind Meng Anzhi, and he seemed quite Qi Ingestion towards the old man.
Meng Anzhi, "The master said someone saw it, then I'd like to ask, did that person see me holding silver needles? Did they see me sprinkling medicine powder? Did they see me being harassed by Xu Zhuo? Did they see my master almost faint while protecting me?"
Taishang Laojun looked at Meng Anzhi in shock—he almost fainted. Recalling the scene at the time, Taishang Laojun raised his chin.
Um... he almost fainted from anger.
Meng Anzhi continued, "Now that your son is poisoned, you've come to me. If he hadn't been poisoned, where would my master and I go to complain about our suffering? Could we also block the Xu family's door and demand an explanation?"
Xu Dingshan gritted his teeth, "Don't try to argue! Xu Zhuo is currently poisoned beyond cure. I advise you to hand over the antidote immediately, otherwise..."
He suddenly raised his hand, and the soldiers behind him stepped forward in unison. Xu Dingshan saw that Meng Anzhi was not afraid at all. With his hand raised in mid-air, he was caught in a dilemma.
He wanted to use force but was afraid his son wouldn't wait; he wanted to soften his stance but was unwilling to give in. After a long while, he waved the soldiers away, took a step forward, and lowered his voice.
"Young lady, my son is only twenty years old. Even if he has made a thousand mistakes, I, as his father, apologize to you. The imperial physician says that if they can't find an antidote for his hand, it will have to be amputated. Once it's amputated, he'll be a cripple, unable to take the imperial examinations, unable to join the army, and his life will be ruined..."
Xu Dingshan paused, "I don't know if you poisoned him, but I know that you were the last person he saw. And you are a doctor, I beg you... to help him detoxify."
"As long as the poison is neutralized, I won't pursue the matter regardless of whether it was you or not. Is that alright?"
Meng Anzhi was silent for a moment, then said, "Lord Xu, your son harassed me first and was poisoned afterwards. If I were to detoxify him, wouldn't it really be as if I were the one who poisoned him?"
Xu Dingshan's face stiffened, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "One thousand taels. I'm willing to pay one thousand taels as long as you can cure my son's poison."
Those around gasped in unison when they heard the amount.
Then they whispered among themselves, "This is way too much."
"I want to try it too..."
"What does this poison actually look like... that it's so valuable?"
Taishang Laojun slowly stroked his beard, his gaze lingering on Meng Anzhi and Xu Dingshan. He was surprised by the girl's composure; it seemed Jin Shanyao had taught them very well.
Meng Anzhi sighed softly, "Wait a moment, I'll go get the medicine box."
She turned and went into the shop, and when she came out again, a young boy was following behind her.
The young man bowed slightly to Xu Dingshan, saying neither humbly nor arrogantly, "This student is a candidate for this year's imperial examination and is willing to accompany my elder sister on this journey."
Xu Dingshan was taken aback, then his expression changed slightly.
The provincial examination had just ended, and the palace examination was imminent. Who in the entire capital dared to lay a finger on a single scholar? This young man followed in public. If he didn't return tonight, the impeachment memorials would pile up all over the emperor's desk by tomorrow morning.
Xu Dingshan initially thought she was just a female doctor, and that taking her away was no big deal. Little did he expect that a reckless young man with no future would suddenly appear.
Jin Shanyao took the medicine box from Meng Anzhi and said calmly, "Let's go."
Xu Dingshan glanced at the three of them, his Adam's apple bobbed, and after a long while, he finally managed to squeeze out a "please".
He had barely finished speaking when the white-haired old man, hands behind his back, leisurely followed behind the three, followed by the cat and dog...
Xu Dingshan had intended to take one person with him, but he hadn't expected to take an entire family with him... He took a deep breath and quickly followed.
The Xu residence.
Xu Zhuo stared intently at Meng Anzhi. "Miss, haven't we met somewhere before?"
Meng Anzhi remained expressionless, took out a silver needle, and began stabbing Xu Zhuo... Ah... A scream rang out, and Xu Zhuo's face instantly changed. "Where did you come from, you quack doctor, daring to treat me like this? Believe me or not, I'll have my father lock you up in jail."
"Shut up..." Xu Dingshan snapped from the side, "I'm warning you, if you dare to misbehave in my name again, I'll skin you alive."
Madam Xu's eyes welled up with tears of heartache. "Young lady... please be gentle... my son has always been afraid of pain."
Meng Anzhi seemed not to hear, took out a needle knife from her medicine box, and said calmly, "Hold him down for me."
Xu Dingshan immediately ordered his soldiers to press Xu Zhuo firmly into the chair.
Xu Zhuo watched helplessly as Meng Anzhi used a needle knife to cut open his palm, screaming in pain and struggling desperately, "Let me go! Let me go! You wicked woman..."
As the needle fell, black blood gushed out instantly, but in a short while, the originally dark palm gradually regained its color.
Upon seeing this, Madam Xu cried out in alarm, "Thank God, thank God... it's finally alright!"
Meng Anzhi pressed her hands against Xu Zhuo's palms, forcefully squeezing the blood towards the incision. Xu Zhuo screamed in pain, "Ah... Mother, I don't want it anymore, I don't want it anymore, it hurts too much..."
Madam Xu was frantic, like an ant on a hot pan, constantly trying to comfort her, "My child... just hang in there a little longer, it'll be over soon, look, the blood is turning red."
Xu Zhuo looked down and saw that the black blood was indeed gradually turning red. His hand had been saved. Meng Anzhi bandaged his wound and got up to pack her medicine box.
Madam Xu asked, " Doctor Meng, after my son fell into a coma due to poisoning, is it possible to recover some of his memories?"
"He can't be found. He suffered a head injury and has temporary amnesia; he needs time to recover."
Hearing this, Madam Xu was filled with resentment. If she found out who had hit her son, she would make them pay.
Xu Dingshan kept his promise, gave Meng Anzhi a thousand taels of silver and let her leave. Meng Anzhi held Meng Anci's hand and walked away in silence.
Meng Anci sensed her sister's unease and tightened her grip on her hand.
He climbed the ranks not for the sake of bringing glory to his ancestors, but to protect his family from being bullied. Otherwise, what use was the title of a successful candidate in the imperial examinations?
Commander Xu's incident further confirmed his idea... Only power can protect those you want to protect.
Taishang Laojun walked beside Jin Shanyao and warned, "The results will be released in five days. Do not use your Spiritual Power during this time to avoid unnecessary trouble."
Jin Shanyao gave a faint reply. As for Xu Dingshan's matter, why bother using Spiritual Power... two children could handle it.
However, over the years of repaying her debt of gratitude, her Inner Core has become warmer day by day, with layers of Merit covering it. Now it is crystal clear and radiant, so bright that it could dazzle everyone if taken out.
She was very satisfied.