Qin Yining looked at Xu Mao’s face beaming with satisfaction from having his vanity fulfilled, and slightly furrowed her brow.
It seemed this person was not only arrogant but also extremely arbitrary and ignorant. Although Qin Yining had some speculations and thoughts about these people’s origins, she was now unwilling to say another word in front of Xu Mao.
Having heard enough flattery from his subordinates, Xu Mao suddenly put away his smug expression and snorted coldly, scolding: “Useless fools!”
Qin Yining was startled by his sudden outburst.
Those subordinates surrounding Xu Mao were all stunned by his shouting.
Xu Mao snorted: “You bunch of useless fools, this official was merely testing you on purpose, and you all took it seriously?! Everything this official said was the opposite! Each and every one of you, can’t you use your brains!”
Everyone hurriedly smiled apologetically: “Yes, yes, your lordship is absolutely right.”
“Please instruct your subordinates, my lord.”
Xu Mao pointed at the corpses on the ground and said: “These people wore Great Zhou military uniforms, trying to give us exactly the impression I mentioned earlier, making us think that Great Zhou people couldn’t possibly brazenly wear Great Zhou military uniforms to carry out an assassination. But this official is certain that these people must be Great Zhou assassins! This is using a diversionary tactic to interfere with our judgment!”
“So that’s how it is!”
“Indeed, my lord has great insight!”
…
The chorus of agreement and praise came like a tide, with everyone talking at once until it was almost impossible to hear what they were praising. In Qin Yining’s eyes, their fawning faces were truly beyond stupid.
But Xu Mao found this scene quite satisfying, laughing loudly: “Thus, the case can be closed! These are all Great Zhou spies who dared to attempt assassination on Duke Dingguo’s wife and Grand Preceptor Qin’s wife and daughter… Hmm, they must have been sent by that bastard Pang Zhixi from Xihua City!”
“Exactly! It must be so!”
“My lord’s case resolution is swift as lightning, we all bow in admiration!”
“Our Five Cities Military Commissioner’s Office is fortunate to have Lord Xu in charge!”
“Precisely, otherwise we wouldn’t know what to do!”
…
Qin Yining really couldn’t bear watching these people’s fawning faces anymore. The Great Yan Dynasty’s corruption was being gnawed away bit by bit by these parasites!
Qin Yining then said: “Since my lord has already closed the case, I won’t disturb you further.”
Xu Mao seemed to just remember there was still another person beside him, and casually waved his hand dismissively.
Qin Yining had Song Lan escort Duke Dingguo’s wife back to the side courtyard, while she herself entered the room.
Lowering the warm curtain and closing the door, a bloody smell hit her nostrils. Looking up, she saw the man’s snow-white undergarment stained with blood, half-open, revealing his right shoulder’s solid wheat-colored arm. A broken arrow shaft had been removed and placed aside, and the water in the steaming wooden basin had turned red.
Bingtang had tied up both sleeves with bandages, and her arms were also stained with splattered blood, as was the rest of her body. She was currently frowning as she sutured the wound layer by layer. That gaping bloody hole looked so painful that Qin Yining felt sympathy pain just watching, yet this man didn’t even furrow his brow, as if the wound wasn’t on his own body.
Thinking again that if he hadn’t intervened to help, this bloody hole would have opened in her own body, and she would likely have lost her life, her heart filled with both gratitude and guilt toward this mysterious young master.
“Bingtang, is Young Master Yao’s injury serious?”
Bingtang didn’t answer immediately, first finishing the last two stitches before frowning: “The penetrating wound didn’t damage bones or tendons, so with proper care it should be fine. However, Young Master Yao lost too much blood, and the arrowhead was also coated with poison.”
“What!” Qin Yining was greatly alarmed. “What kind of poison? Is it serious?!”
Huzi also asked anxiously: “What can we do? Is there an antidote for this poison?”
He knew it—Qin Yining was a walking disaster! His master was simply cursed when it came to anyone surnamed Qin! Her father had harmed his master’s father, and now she had harmed him!
But Pang Xiao said nonchalantly: “I don’t feel anything unusual, just slightly dizzy. Isn’t that from blood loss?”
Bingtang said: “This poison paralyzes the brain. If not treated, over time it will cause paralysis. It seems the assassins used this poison thinking that if the assassination failed, even if they couldn’t immediately kill someone, they could still take away their mobility.”
Pang Xiao raised an eyebrow, secretly scoffing at the Tatars’ schemes. Such troublesome and sinister methods—they might as well have used crane’s crest red or peacock bile directly. Were they planning to enjoy watching him slowly die after becoming paralyzed?
Qin Yining’s brow furrowed with worry. “Bingtang, can this poison be cured? What medicine do you need? No matter how much silver it costs, we’ll pay. I’ll have someone arrange it immediately!”
Huzi glared at Qin Yining: That was at least a human thing to say.
Pang Xiao’s lips curved in a smile, his eyes gleaming as he looked at her. Those deep eyes seemed to speak, as if asking Qin Yining: Now you don’t suspect I’m in league with the assassins?
Qin Yining understood his meaning, her face growing warm as her cheeks flushed red, and she looked away.
Having finished applying medicine and bandaging Pang Xiao properly, Bingtang said: “This poison requires a tricky acupuncture technique combined with medicine to detoxify. The antidote medicine is easy to obtain, but unfortunately this acupuncture technique has been lost.”
To Huzi, this was like receiving devastating news.
He immediately began choking up, grabbing Pang Xiao’s uninjured hand: “Master, what can we do! Master, why were you so foolish? I, I wish I could take your place. Master, you can’t die! The Old Madam and Grand Madam are still waiting for you to come home!”
Qin Yining was also saddened by Huzi’s crying.
Even if she had suspicions about this man, she certainly didn’t want him to die!
If he died because of saving her, she would feel guilty for the rest of her life.
Qin Yining’s eyes reddened, but she remained relatively calm: “Don’t panic, don’t panic. I will definitely find a way to cure you, no matter how much time it takes or how much silver it costs. I will definitely cure you. If you really end up paralyzed, I, I will serve you for the rest of my life.”
Huzi’s tear-blurred eyes widened like saucers!
Fairy Liu smiled as she glanced at Pang Xiao, then at Qin Yining.
Pang Xiao’s phoenix eyes suddenly seemed to light up: “Do you truly mean this?”
“Naturally I mean it.” Qin Yining’s gaze was resolute.
Pang Xiao immediately burst into laughter. When he laughed, he was like spring flowers first blooming—his originally oppressive aura completely disappeared, and his handsome features softened, making Qin Yining’s heart race. She quickly lowered her long lashes to avoid looking at him.
Bingtang said helplessly: “I haven’t finished speaking yet. Why don’t any of you ask me about it?”
“What?”
Everyone looked toward Bingtang.
Bingtang pointed her fingertip at her own upturned little nose and snorted: “Unfortunately, I happen to know that acupuncture technique.”
“Oh my goodness! You little girl, you’re deliberately teasing me, aren’t you!” Huzi wiped the tears from his face and glared at Bingtang with wide eyes.
Bingtang snorted: “It’s because you’re so worthless, always crying. Are you even a man!”
“You stinky little girl! Little bean! Potato sprite!”
“Who are you calling a potato sprite!” Bingtang’s apple-shaped face turned red with anger as she put her hands on her hips and glared at Huzi. Being small and short, she was most sensitive about others pointing out her sore spots!
Pang Xiao paid no attention to these two, his gaze still focused on Qin Yining, smiling meaningfully: “Since that’s the case, young lady, you must take responsibility for me.”