Chapter 102: Hall of Salvation

Traces disappeared ten li outside…… This group of horse bandits is indeed cautious.

Li Wenqing paced back and forth with a worried face; hearing the constable's report, he grew even more anxious, like ants on a hot pan.

This… could we just let them escape so easily?

Jiang Xiaomu lifted his gaze to Li Wenqing, speaking in a calm tone laced with chill:

Constable Captain Li, these horse bandits usually rob caravans outside the city.

This time they dare to sneak into the mansion to commit a crime—don't you find that strange?

Li Wenqing stared, then suddenly realized and said:

Mr. Jiang means…… there's an insider?

"Quite possible," Jiang Xiaomu said, curling the corner of his mouth in a cold smile.

Someone tipped them off, informing them of the situation at Zhang Fu.

Even colluding inside and out, helping them infiltrate the mansion.

Could it be… done by someone from Zhang Fu?

Li Wenqing's face changed; he looked uncertainly at Assistant Official Zhang and Wang Shi.

Assistant Official Zhang turned ashen, waving his hands repeatedly as he said:

No… impossible! My servants are all loyal and upright; they could never do such a thing!

Wang Shi also trembled with fear, hiding behind Assistant Official Zhang, not daring to speak.

Jiang Xiaomu ignored their excuses, merely saying lightly:

We cannot be certain now, but we cannot rule out this possibility.

He paused, then swept his sharp gaze over everyone present.

So, we need to investigate carefully and find that insider.

Li Wenqing took a deep breath, steeled himself, and said:

Good! Come here! Summon all the servants of Zhang Fu; I will interrogate them one by one!

The constable obeyed and left; soon, all the servants of Zhang Fu were gathered in the hall.

What is your name?

Jiang Xiaomu suddenly asked.

A maid startled by the sudden question trembled slightly and stammered in reply:

I… I… am called… Xiao Tao…

How long have you been here?

Replying to Mr. Jiang, I… I have been here for three years…

During these three years, what have you done?

Xiao Tao's face grew paler, her voice softer and softer.

I… I usually…

Just… just responsible for… cleaning… cleaning the rooms.

Also… also… also the young lady's… daily meals.

Jiang Xiaomu's gaze swept over the faces of everyone; he noticed a young servant, slight in build.

What is your name?

Jiang Xiaomu pointed at that servant and asked.

I… I am called… Er Gou…

The servant stammered, his voice trembling, showing he was very nervous.

How long have you been at Zhang Fu?

Jiang Xiaomu continued his questioning.

Replying to Mr. Jiang, I… I have been at Zhang Fu for three years…

Er Gou's forehead beaded with fine sweat, his gaze more unsettled.

Jiang Xiaomu did not ask further, but walked up to Er Gou and examined him closely.

Although Er Gou's build is slight, his hands are covered in old calluses, clearly from frequent hard labor.

What work do you usually handle?

Jiang Xiaomu asked.

I… I am responsible for… cleaning… cleaning the courtyard…

Er Gou's voice grew fainter, almost inaudible.

All the servants of Zhang Fu were summoned for questioning; the hall filled with people, thick with tension.

Li Wenqing questioned them one by one, from their daily work to their living habits.

Each answer was flawless, making it hard to find any loophole.

He felt like he had punched cotton, a sense of helplessness welling up.

Pacing back and forth, brows furrowed, he kept muttering:

Impossible… how could there be not a single clue?

It seems the people inside Zhang Fu can be ruled out.

Jiang Xiaomu broke the silence, his tone calm.

Li Wenqing abruptly lifted his head, a puzzled look on his face, and said:

Mr. Jiang, why are you so certain?

Jiang Xiaomu chuckled lightly and said:

"Sir Li, think carefully."

"If there really is a mole, under such strict interrogation, could they still remain so calm?"

"Unless..." He paused deliberately, his gaze sweeping over everyone.

"Unless they are all professionally trained assassins."

Li Wenqing blinked, then shook his head and said:

"Impossible, Assistant Official Zhang may have some family wealth, but he's just an ordinary merchant; how could he have the ability to raise assassins?"

"Moreover, what would he use those assassins for?"

"So, the mole is not at Zhang Fu."

Jiang Xiaomu spoke with certainty.

Just then, Jiang Xiaomu had a flash of inspiration and recalled something.

"Assistant Official Zhang, the doctor who treated you a few days ago, is Doctor Sun from Jishitang, right?"

Assistant Official Zhang blinked, not understanding why Jiang Xiaomu suddenly asked this, but he quickly nodded and said:

"Exactly, exactly Doctor Sun, his medical skill is superb, bringing the dead back to life!"

"Where is Doctor Sun now?"

"He usually sits in the clinic; why are you asking about this, Mr. Jiang?"

Assistant Official Zhang grew more puzzled.

Jiang Xiaomu didn't explain, merely turning his head to look at the steward.

"Take me to Jishitang; I want to see this Doctor Sun."

The steward, though bewildered, immediately replied:

"Yes, Mr. Jiang, please follow me."

Jishitang is located west of the city, a small but clean and tidy clinic.

A faint medicinal fragrance permeated the air, making people feel tranquil.

Inside Jishitang, the place was crowded, filled with a strong medicinal smell.

Doctor Sun, an old man with white hair and beard yet spirited, sat upright behind the consultation table.

Beside him, a young medicine boy swiftly grabbed the herbs, precisely measuring and packaging each according to Doctor Sun's instructions.

"Doctor Sun truly brings the dead back to life!"

"My old rheumatic leg, which has ached for over ten years, after taking the medicine prescribed by Doctor Sun, I can now walk briskly!"

An old man leaning on a cane, yet with a ruddy complexion, praised loudly.

"Indeed! My daughter-in-law's consumption, other doctors were helpless."

"Thanks to Doctor Sun, now we can go out and work!"

An old woman echoed, her face full of gratitude.

Jiang Xiaomu sat in the corner, quietly observing everything.

As the sun set westward, the patients in the clinic gradually dispersed.

The medicine boy tidied the medicine cabinet, preparing to close the door.

Only then did Jiang Xiaomu rise and walk up to Doctor Sun.

"Doctor Sun, I have long heard of your great name."

Jiang Xiaomu clasped his hands in a salute, his tone gentle.

Doctor Sun lifted his head, sizing up Jiang Xiaomu before him.

Seeing his extraordinary attire and calm demeanor, he also returned the salute politely, saying:

"Sir, what brings you here?"

"I am Jiang Xiaomu; I have come today to seek your advice on a few matters."

Jiang Xiaomu got straight to the point.

"Oh? Please speak, sir."

Doctor Sun stroked his beard, gesturing for Jiang Xiaomu to sit.

"A few days ago, Assistant Official Zhang suddenly fell ill and lost consciousness."

"It was you, Doctor Sun, who treated him; may I ask what ailment Assistant Official Zhang actually suffered from?"

Jiang Xiaomu asked, his eyes sharp as he fixed his gaze on Doctor Sun.

Doctor Sun blinked slightly, then said:

"Assistant Official Zhang suffered from wind-cold due to exhaustion and deficient qi and blood."

"I have already prescribed a medicine; as long as he takes it on schedule, he will recover."

"Exhaustion? Deficient qi and blood?"

Jiang Xiaomu repeated Doctor Sun's words, the corner of his mouth twitching in a barely perceptible sneer.

"Doctor Sun, are you sure?"

Doctor Sun frowned slightly, seeming somewhat displeased as he said:

"I have practiced medicine for decades and never misdiagnosed; why do you doubt me, sir?"

"Please don't blame me, Doctor Sun; I merely have some doubts."

Jiang Xiaomu's tone remained calm.

"As far as I know, Assistant Official Zhang has always been healthy, with no illness whatsoever."

"How could he suddenly suffer from exhaustion? Moreover, I have some knowledge of medicine."

"Observing Assistant Official Zhang's symptoms, it seems not an ordinary illness."

Doctor Sun's face darkened, and his tone also became a little impatient.

"What exactly do you want to say, young master?"

Jiang Xiaomu did not answer directly, but instead took out a silver ingot from his bosom and placed it on the table.

"Doctor Sun, I merely wish to understand the truth; I hope you will not grudge to instruct me."

Doctor Sun looked at the silver ingot on the table, his gaze flickered for a moment, and finally he sighed and said:

"Young master, you are unaware; Assistant Official Zhang's illness is not a common ailment, but......"

He deliberately paused for a moment, observing Jiang Xiaomu's reaction.

Jiang Xiaomu showed no impatience, merely waiting quietly for Doctor Sun's continuation.

"But it is due to poisoning."

Doctor Sun finally uttered these four words.

"Poisoning?" Jiang Xiaomu feigned surprise.

"How is that possible? Assistant Official Zhang rarely goes out; how could he be poisoned?"

"I, the old man, am not clear about this either; I merely judge from the symptoms, but Assistant Official Zhang's body indeed contains deadly poison."

Doctor Sun said:

"This poison is extremely rare; I, the old man, cannot identify its type."

"Doctor Sun, do you still remember before Assistant Official Zhang was poisoned?"

"Have you ever come into contact with anything special, or eaten anything special?"

Jiang Xiaomu inquired further.