Detoxification

Zhao Heng arrived just in time.

Wen Ruo glanced outside, got up to serve tea, and picked out another teacup from the counter. "Young Master Zhao came to see me, did he see my couplet, or is he also asking my mother to arrange a marriage?"

also?

Zhao Heng's face darkened, and he turned around, cupping his fists and saying, "Lord Cao, Cao Xi and I grew up together. Forgive me for speaking out of turn, but even if Lord Cao wants to marry off his daughter, he should choose carefully. What kind of people have you been marrying off these days? Has Lord Cao's taste deteriorated?"

He sent people to inquire about the Fang family regarding Cao Xi's marriage proposal. Before he could even make a move, he heard that Cao Xi had refused. He was overjoyed for a few days because Wen Ruo's booklet did contain some genuine information. Who knew that more and more things would follow?

I thought Old Cao had calmed down these past few days, but it turns out he was so desperate for a cure that he ended up seeking help from an acquaintance.

Cao Jinhai blushed, stood up abruptly, said "Excuse me," and then pulled his wife away.

Zhao Heng calmly withdrew his gaze. "You left your purse at Lenghua Tower, and a waiter picked it up. It just so happens that Miss Zhou knows him. I've already reprimanded the waiter, and I've come here to apologize to you."

Wen Ruo nodded. It's been half a month. What difference does it make whether the purse is hers or not? She sees through it but doesn't say anything.

Wen Ruo counted the copper coins one by one. Zhao Heng didn't dare to expose this secret, so she pretended not to know. She couldn't interfere with Cao Xi's decision.

Zhao Heng scrutinized her for a moment, noticing her worried expression, and spoke first, "Does Lord Cao want you to persuade Cao Xi?"

"You know?" Wen Ruo was surprised. This matter didn't seem to have spread yet, did it? Was Zhao Heng keeping watch at the Cao residence every day, or did he have spies planted there?

Zhao Heng looked at his former confidant and said, "You wouldn't do something that's thankless and exhausting, would you?"

Wen Ruo straightened her back, looking completely matter-of-fact, "Of course, he's not my father."

As expected, it suited his taste perfectly. He was just as carefree as Qi Guanlan, sending her couplets and documents with all his heart.

It's one thing to eat what's in her bowl, but to inquire about the scholars taking the imperial examinations? Judging from her mother's demeanor, it seems she's already taken a liking to one. If Qi Guanlan knew that Wen Ruo was Xi You, I wonder what would happen.

"You support her doing this?"

Cao Xi refuses to marry, and Zhao Heng is already timid enough, but he doesn't even leave himself a chance? Is he really that open-minded?

"nature!"

They are not good enough for Cao Xi.

"Zhao Heng, what are you doing here?" Qi Guanlan shoved her aside and looked at Wen Ruo with a fierce expression. "Go back now. Why are you out again? Don't you know what day it is today?"

Zhao Heng bumped into the counter unexpectedly, hissing as he rubbed his back and looked at the two figures. He suddenly didn't want to tell Qi Guanlan anymore; after all, he wasn't a great philanthropist.

Wen Ruo asked in a low voice, "Do you also support Cao Xi going to Honghu Academy?"

Qi Guanlan said indifferently, "It has nothing to do with me. She can go wherever she wants."

Wen Ruo sighed. Asking was pointless. She was told to wait for her at Honghu Academy, but she couldn't get in. Did Cao Xi overestimate her? She hadn't even mastered calligraphy and hadn't read many books.

Today, the shop is unusually crowded.

Wen Ruo sat at the table, realizing she had become the center of attention. She had been drinking Master Yi's medicine for seven days, and her voice was so weak it was almost unbelievable. "Is this some kind of execution drug? Mother, come back to the house with me. They're acting too scary."

Qi Guanlan was silent for a moment, then took out a small purse from his sleeve, stuffed it into her hand, and said seriously, "I'm buying this to ward off bad luck."

Wen Ruo held it in her hand, looked up in surprise, and Qi Guanlan raised the corners of his lips, "You can dig the other one yourself when you're better."

What a life-saving fee! Who would be willing to die for that?

Mr. Yi pushed the two aside, glaring at them and shouting, "You have a problem with my medical skills?"

"I can't wait." Wen Ruo held Shi Liu Niang's hand with her left hand and pulled Mr. Yi with her right hand, her eyes shining brighter than the stars in the night sky.

"Wait!"

Shiliuniang placed the tea on the table and then retreated to the doorway, where Qi Guanlan and the others followed.

Time passed slowly, and the hot tea was probably getting cold. Shiliu Niang's expression grew increasingly serious. "I don't know why, but I always feel uneasy. She's been taking medicine these past few days, but her health hasn't improved."

Zhang Tingjia became anxious upon hearing this, "What did Master Yi say?"

Shiliu Niang sighed, "I don't understand either. They said it was because of Jiao Dai Hong, but he said it had to be used, and Ruo Ruo agreed."

Zhang Tingjia offered her some kind words of advice, then sighed with her. Achu silently supported her, and the three of them looked like a family.

Qi Guanlan ignored this. He leaned against the door frame, his toes slightly raised, focusing all his attention on the two people inside. His hands were clenched tightly, like a soldier waiting to be called upon at any moment.

Apart from the sound of breathing, the room was completely silent, sometimes faint, sometimes rapid, and a few times with sudden pauses. Qi Guanlan could easily tell whose breathing it was.

He seemed to have become a puppet on strings, and the slightest movement inside could manipulate his heartbeat at will.

Her breathing became more and more even. Wen Ruo opened her eyes. Time seemed to have passed for a long time. A happy smile appeared on her pale face. Her voice was hoarse. "It seems that the poison has been neutralized."

Mr. Yi stroked his beard smugly. “Of course, it’s my medicine.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Wen Ruo suddenly showed a look of pain. She clutched her chest and spat out a mouthful of blood onto the ground. Red heat silently flowed from her seven orifices, dripping all over her face.

Qi Guanlan rushed over and asked anxiously, "What happened?"

The sound of hurried footsteps came from behind. A group of people stood in the room. Zhang Tingjia walked at the back. When he saw Shiliuniang's stiff back, Qi Guanlan's disoriented voice, and Wen Ruo's miserable appearance with blood flowing from her seven orifices, a smile suddenly appeared on his face.

"Get out, everyone."

Mr. Yi used his hands to fly needles at a speed so fast that it was almost invisible to the naked eye. When she came to her senses, the needles had already sealed her meridians. When he stopped, her back was drenched in sweat.

Shiliuniang immediately turned around, her body suddenly staggering. Seeing her panic, Qi Guanlan was afraid that something might happen to her and he would have to help her walk outside.

How could this be? Qi Guanlan stood outside the door, a nameless fear welling up in his heart. The moment Mr. Yi spoke, his breath stopped.

"Go and prepare the medicine."

He breathed a sigh of relief. He had been running around busily for several hours, spinning like a top, never daring to stop. The aura of death loomed over him, and he dared not slack off for a moment.

"Young Master, Aunt Pomegranate has not returned yet."

Qi Guanlan pushed open the door next to her and found that everything inside was normal, as if no one had broken in. If Wen Ruo woke up and her mother was gone, she would go crazy. "Who did she go out with? The woman who shared the room with her?"

"And Zhang Shusheng."

"Send people to search for her; we must find her before Wen Ruo wakes up."

The moon quietly rose overhead, like a jade plate. The shop was brightly lit, but lacked any liveliness. The old man who was reaping put away his needles and sighed deeply. Qi Guanlan's heart jumped into his throat, and he asked in a dry voice, "Why did you stop?"

The old man shook his head. Qi Guanlan's eyes widened in disbelief, her mind blank. She was dead?

How could she have died so easily?

In an instant, a sudden, sharp pain in his heart made it hard for him to breathe. His shoulders trembled slightly, and he looked regretful. "If I hadn't angered her, I would have noticed and stopped her sooner."

"What are you crying for? The poison is gone." The old man punched him again and clicked his tongue in disapproval. "You're too fragile, kid."

"He's not dead!"

Qi Guanlan staggered, subconsciously touched his face, and turned around awkwardly, saying, "You used too much force."

"Very well, very well, my divine power is terrifying indeed." He swung his arm triumphantly, pinched his nails, and brought them close to Qi Guanlan's face, mocking him, "But I only used this much."

"Then why is she sleeping like a dead person? I can barely hear her breathing."

Qi Guanlan pushed him away in a fit of embarrassment and anger. The huge weight on her heart was lifted off her shoulders, and she could finally breathe a sigh of relief. She couldn't help but stare at Wen Ruo again. When she saw her sleeping face, her mood changed drastically. "Why isn't she awake yet?"

"I just crawled out of the gates of hell, and I'm almost exhausted. You're just making things difficult for her."

Mr. Yi sat at the table, his fingers tapping lightly on the surface. Qi Guanlan served him hot tea and massaged his shoulders. "Old man, you've worked hard. How is her recovery going?"

"It's nothing serious."

Qi Guanlan increased the pressure, gritting his teeth as he said, "That's not what I meant."

Mr. Yi's eyes darted around, and he exclaimed, "You mean that? I only said that it wasn't easy to treat, and she never mentioned it again."

Qi Guanlan froze for a moment, then said urgently, "Is she confused? It's not that it's incurable, it's not that it's difficult to treat. Can this poison damage her brain?"

Mr. Yi shook his head. How would he know? The young girl was deep in thought; no one could guess what she was thinking. She probably couldn't bear to part with her half-baked master.

Glancing at Wen Ruo, who was still sleeping, Qi Guanlan, knowing she couldn't hear him anyway, sat down in front of her. "A doctor's heart is benevolent. You treat her now, and I'll take care of the rest."

Mr. Yi turned his head, and his body creaked. "Not now."

"Then when she wakes up, you can secretly treat her."

"Do you think she's as stupid as you? She'll realize it as soon as I treat her. Why don't you try to persuade her?"

It would be strange if she listened to me; he had experienced her ability to be outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant firsthand. Qi Guanlan shrugged and turned his head away. "Forget it, why should I meddle? How long will it take for her to wake up?"

"soon."

Mr. Yi looked towards the bedside with a meaningful look in his eyes. "It's hard to say about these things. The young girl is still young. Once she has someone she likes and wants to get married, she'll probably throw a tantrum and come begging to me."

By this time, it was completely dark. The candle on the bedside table had burned out, and the light shone on his face, making his bloodstains appear eerie and terrifying.

Qi Guanlan frowned, and soon brought in a basin of hot water. He wet a cloth and wiped the blood off her face, saying with satisfaction, "You're much better now. You were quite an eyesore just now."

Wen Ruo's pale face gradually regained color, and she seemed to be waking up soon. Qi Guanlan remembered something and said worriedly, "Her mother hasn't come back yet. Why don't you give her an acupuncture to delay her waking up?"

"What?"

The hoarse voice startled Qi Guanlan, causing his hand to tremble. He looked down and saw a pale, delicate face with curled eyelashes. The eyelashes fluttered a few times, and before the eyes were even open, the brows were already furrowed.

Did she wake up as soon as she heard her mother's voice?

Qi Guanlan's throat moved slowly; for some reason, he felt a little nervous. Wen Ruo slowly opened her eyes, looking at him expressionlessly. "My mother hasn't come back?"

"He left with that guy surnamed Zhang. I don't know why you trusted this guy surnamed Zhang. He's so attentive all the time, but he disappears when it matters." Qi Guanlan was furious just thinking about the scholar. "Don't you know that none of the scholars are good people?"

Even when they were robbers, scholars, relying on their more education, would spout platitudes about benevolence and morality, yet at the slightest sign of life or death, they would readily offer to die together with others.

Mr. Yi chuckled, "You're right."

She closed her eyes again, and Qi Guanlan looked at her, somewhat puzzled, wondering if she was disappointed or angry. "I've already sent people to look for her. Don't worry, your mother will be fine."

There was a sudden knock on the door, and Qi Guanlan immediately stood up. "Xiao Shunzi is back. Wait here."