Chapter 2: Stepping on the Flower's Great Nephew

Wei Zongluo asked puzzledly:

What on earth is going on? Who are you all?

The woman in red clasped her hands and bowed, saying:

I am Yang Hanlu, Chief Banner Officer of the Southern Zhenning Office; this is my subordinate Banner Officer Zou Zhen. Today we went out of the city to capture Southern Witch rebels and unfortunately got poisoned. We are urgently seeking a healer to treat him. Coincidentally, I see Lord Wei here, and I would like to trouble you for aid. Is this Manager Shen? May I trouble you to free a treatment room for us?

The Zhenning Office, having the ability to oversee officials, is naturally familiar with officials' appearances and city conditions.

Although the Zhenning Office's reputation is not great, in the eyes of healers they are merely patients.

Compared to other Zhenning Office officers, this female Chief Banner Officer is quite courteous.

Shen Qingshu showed no hesitation and waved, saying:

Someone help, carry the wounded inside.

Wei Zongluo, hearing this, also rolled up his sleeves and stepped forward to examine the wounded's condition.

Only see: the strong young Banner Officer Zou Zhen lying on the sickbed, on his right arm are three adjacent black spots the size of soybeans, the area around the spots is a patch of bluish-purple, the whole arm has swollen, the wounded area even shows signs of ulceration, and the fingernails of his right hand have turned black.

Wei Zongluo, seeing this, frowned and said:

Is it a poison needle?

Yes, the needle has been pulled out, we gave him an anti-toxin pill, tried to suck out the poison blood to no avail, then we used internal force to expel the poison blood, but strangely there is still no sign of relief.

How long has he been poisoned?

Just over two ke.

Wei Zongluo, hearing this, sucked in a cold breath, and Shen Qingshu beside him also couldn't help but exclaim:

What? It's already this serious after just over two ke? And you even did a detox treatment?

Although Shen Qingshu rarely treats poisoning in her usual practice, she has encountered some cases before, but this is the first time she has heard that after a complete detox treatment, the arm becomes useless in just over two quarter-hours.

Yang Hanlu's heroic brows furrowed even deeper, and she nodded, saying:

Indeed, that's why we are urgently seeking a healer.

Wei Zongluo, who in the Imperial Medical Office is considered to have some research on poisons, after examination likewise has no good solution.

All we can do is first apply acupuncture to seal Zou Zhen's right arm meridians to prevent the poison blood from flowing back, but after a thorough examination we still cannot determine exactly what poison it is.

Wei Zongluo turned his head and said:

Shopkeeper Shen, do you still have Paris polyphylla in the shop? If so, take three taels, crush it, mix with yellow wine, and bring it.

All right!

Wei Zongluo carefully covered the wound with the herbal juice using gauze, then shook his head and said:

His arm shows no sign of detoxification at all; the key is we cannot tell what poison it is, and the poison used by the Southern Witch people is indeed fierce.

My lord, do you have any solution?

His arm wound has already begun to ulcerate; if in the end we cannot prevent the poison blood from entering the heart vessels, we will have no choice but to amputate the arm......

Before he finished speaking, Zou Zhen lying on the sickbed struggled and waved his hand, saying:

No! I absolutely cannot lose this arm!

His agitation was as if someone wanted to kill his wife.

Wei Zongluo soothed, saying:

I mean, if the poison blood were to break through the blockade and rush straight to the heart. We still have time; let's think of another solution. This poison cannot be resolved by ordinary means; I suspect it may contain the Southern Witch's Gu technique, and we might need to find cultivators of fifth rank or above to discern it.

Upon hearing this, several people present also showed troubled expressions.

It's not easy to find someone of fifth rank or above; even Chief Banner Officer Yang Hanlu is only seventh rank, and those of fifth rank could already become Zhenning Envoys or Commanders of a Thousand.

Moreover, the fifth-rank cultivators of the Zhenning Office practice martial arts; even if they really came, they'd probably be of little help in treatment.

Most importantly, this poison is extremely potent; we really don't know how long Zou Zhen can hold out.

Yang Hanlu lightly bit her silver teeth, as if she had made some decision.

Please trouble Lord Wei to help stabilize the condition; I'll go find people to help right now!

All right!

Yang Hanlu said, turned, and took a swift step; her red silhouette rushed out of the Cang Medical Hall.

But Yang Hanlu, lost in thought and unprepared, had just rushed out of the Cang Medical Hall when a figure descended from the sky and landed squarely on her shoulders.

Ugh!

With no preparation, her shoulders ached, and her whole body fell to the ground.

Rubbing her head and looking up, she saw a handsome young man in green robes, legs spread, stepping on the ground to either side of her waist, looking embarrassed at her.

Full of curiosity about Shangyang City, Jiang Yunzhou entered the city with his convoy, but his advance was not fast.

It was mainly because the streets were bustling and crowded, not merely because he enjoyed the praise brought by his new face.

Which family's young master is that? He's born so handsome and charming.

Really? I've never seen him before, and it looks like there's still a convoy behind him.

Leading his convoy to the Cang Medical Hall, seeing no one at the door, Jiang Yunzhou, relying on his internal energy, attempted a light-footed leap from the horse's stirrup to land gracefully before the door.

The maneuver was indeed light and fluid, but he didn't expect to land stepping right on a "red flower".

Hearing the woman's startled cry from below, Jiang Yunzhou quickly released force and spread his legs, thus avoiding stepping on her.

Following the sound and looking down, he indeed saw a woman in light red flying-fish robe fallen beneath him, her bright eyes heroic and piercing, her white teeth biting her black hair, brows furrowed, face full of anger as she stared at him, the one who stepped on the flower.

As expected of the capital, Shangyang City, a single step down can produce a beauty.

Jiang Yunzhou hurriedly stepped forward to help Yang Hanlu up, saying:

Sorry, sorry, miss, are you injured?

The people inside the medical room of the Cang Medical Hall, hearing the startled cries outside, also came out to check.

Seeing the handsome young master standing at the doorway supporting Yang Hanlu, Shen Qingru did not think of Jiang Yunzhou at all, after all, this had nothing to do with the dark-skinned chubby child in her impression.

Fortunately, the steward Hu following closely behind recognized Shen Qingshu at a glance and cupped his hands, saying:

"Miss Shen, long time no see!"

"It's Uncle Hu, you've finally arrived, please come in—is this person with you?"

"This is Yunzhou, you saw him when he was young—young master, come over quickly."

Shen Qingshu's eyes widened like watery apricot pits, and her heart swayed involuntarily.

This is Jiang Yunzhou?!

You really didn't switch the child midway, did you?!

Only then did Jiang Yunzhou see his master's ninth younger sister.

Powdered makeup and jade-carved features, exceedingly beautiful; paired with cold-colored attire, she retains a gentle elegance.

Some female doctors are like assassins, making people fear illness just by looking at them; but this ninth sister is clearly a gentle haven, making people wish to stay sick just to see her.

Although his heart delighted at such beauty, Jiang Yunzhou remained expressionless and respectfully said:

"Hello, aunt!"

Shen Qingshu didn't react from the contrast, forgot to correct, and said with a smile:

"We're family, no need for these formalities; I didn't expect that after so many years apart, Yunzhou has become this handsome—I can hardly believe it."

After coming to her senses, Shen Qingshu felt it better for Jiang Yunzhou to call her aunt, so as not to reveal his relationship with his elder brother and avoid unnecessary trouble.

Strictly speaking by age, they'd be more fitting as older sister and younger brother, but in front of outsiders she couldn't change her address.

The maid Bai Zhi beside them gasped, her small mouth opening wide, thinking, Miss, is this the dark, chubby child you mentioned?

Just because you're worried outsiders might take him away, there's no need to tell such an outrageous lie, is there?

Which part is fat? Which part is dark? Which part is small?

"Aunt, you overpraise me; this female constable, I'm truly sorry for bumping into you earlier, and I apologize here."

Yang Hanlu rubbed her shoulder, her sharp beautiful eyes glaring at Jiang Yunzhou, about to go out again to look for someone.

From the treatment room of the Cang Medical Hall came a miserable cry from Zou Zhen.

"Ugh—!"

Upon hearing the cry, Yang Hanlu immediately turned and ran back.

Jiang Yunzhou, puzzled, asked softly:

"Aunt, what's going on in there?"

Shen Qingshu frowned slightly, sighed, and shook her head, saying:

"Someone in the South Peace Office has been poisoned by gu; from the sound, it looks ominous."

"Just gu poison? I can cure it."