Zhu Xuefeng and Zhu Xuer, the two brothers, were in a sorry state, clearly having been beaten soundly. However, their injuries were only superficial, and the dire outcome they had imagined did not materialize.
"Is that how Young Master Xie cured the poison?"
Old Master Zhu, the second master, no longer expected Xie Jiang to cure Zhu Xuefeng and his brother. He merely wanted to know if they had been poisoned in the first place!
Xie Jiang, still engaged in the fight, did not deign to answer. "Is that how you speak to a physician, Second Master Zhu?"
Old Master Zhu, the second master, said sternly, "Stop."
The guards of Xing Shun Marquis's mansion immediately ceased their actions upon receiving the order.
A large number of people lay on the ground.
Old Master Zhu, the first master, hobbled over, supported by his servants. "Second brother, how are Xuefeng and Xuer?"
Without waiting for Old Master Zhu's reply, he hurried into the house.
"Did Young Master Xie truly cure Xuefeng and Xuer just now?" Old Master Zhu, the second master, stared intently at Xie Jiang with dark eyes.
Xie Jiang flicked his robe with a flourish. "Although my method of detoxification is rather unconventional, it is highly effective. If Second Master Zhu does not believe me, you can have a physician you trust examine them."
"So, Xuefeng and Xuer will no longer be troubled by bee venom?"
"Second Master Zhu worries too much. Would I damage my own reputation? While their bee venom has been cured, whether they can overcome their psychological barriers is no longer my concern."
Old Master Zhu, the second master, made an assessment in his mind. "It is good that Young Master Xie has successfully detoxified the bee venom. The remaining matters do not require Young Master Xie's concern."
Old Master Zhu, the second master, signaled the steward to escort Xie Jiang and his group out.
Old Master Zhu, the first master, emerged from the house with eyes blazing with fury, only to find that Xie Jiang and his entourage had already departed. "We've all been deceived by that brat! Xuefeng said they started fighting as soon as they entered, and that brat Xie Jiang stood far away, never touching them. How could he have cured them?!"
"I knew these brats had ill intentions when they closed the door! So, they went in just to bully Xuefeng and Xuer!"
Old Master Zhu, the first master, was so enraged that he felt dizzy, his vision darkening.
"Xuefeng and Xuer were never poisoned by bee venom," Old Master Zhu, the second master, unlike his elder brother, did not show his anger outwardly. He was just as furious but kept it concealed.
"What did you say? They weren't poisoned?" Old Master Zhu, the first master, was taken aback. "That brat lied to us?"
"Precisely."
Old Master Zhu, the second master's, gaze was venomous.
After seeing Zhu Xuefeng and his brother emerge, he had repeatedly emphasized to Xie Jiang whether they would be affected by bee venom.
Xie Jiang's answer was no.
Old Master Zhu, the first master, became even more confused. "Then what was the purpose of this charade? Was it just to beat up Xuefeng and Xuer?"
At this moment, a young servant ran in.
"Eldest Master, Second Master, Doctor Zhou from Rui Ren Tang has been invited and has gone to the Old Master's courtyard."
Old Master Zhu, the first master, scowled. "What did you say? Doctor Zhou has been invited? Wasn't Doctor Zhou on a house call?!"
The two brothers went to the courtyard of Old Master Zhu.
Although Old Master Zhu, the second master, already had an answer in his heart, he still called the servant who had been sent to fetch the doctor.
"I went directly to Rui Ren Tang, and Doctor Zhou was not on a house call."
Old Master Zhu, the first master, roared in anger, "That brat named Xie was lying to us from the very beginning!"
What collective house calls by all the renowned physicians in the city! It was merely the brat's empty words!
Yet, they had been made fools of!
Old Master Zhu, the second master, entered the inner chamber without a word.
Doctor Zhou had already completed his examination of Old Master Zhu.
"Thank you, Doctor Zhou. How is my father's condition?" Old Master Zhu, the second master, asked politely.
"Old Master Zhu was temporarily overcome by anger. I heard that the poison doctor, Young Master Xie, had attended to him earlier. With the poison doctor's intervention, there should be no problem."
"Are there any other injuries on my father?"
Old Master Zhu, the first master, was still somewhat concerned that Xie Jiang might have tampered with things in secret.
Hearing the insinuating remark, Doctor Zhou suddenly remembered that he had vaguely heard people mentioning in the past few days that the Xing Shun Marquis's mansion had a considerable feud with the poison doctor, Young Master Xie.
And that Young Master Xie had come to treat Old Master Zhu?
However, after practicing medicine for so many years, he had encountered all sorts of strange things, but they had nothing to do with him.
As a physician, one was only responsible for treating illnesses and saving lives. At other times, one had to be deaf and mute, especially when dealing with noble families.
"If Eldest Master is still concerned, this old man can conduct a more detailed examination of Old Master."
Old Master Zhu, the first master, thought for a moment. "Then I will trouble Doctor Zhou."
Old Master Zhu, the second master, did not object.
Although treating their father was merely an excuse for that brat to enter Xing Shun Marquis's mansion, and their main objective was to bully Xuefeng and Xuer, it was impossible for them to trust that brat's character in this lifetime.
Even if the brat hadn't tampered with anything, he wouldn't have put his full effort into treating their father. It was good that Doctor Zhou could fill in any gaps.
Doctor Zhou re-examined Old Master Zhu.
"Apart from some old ailments, Old Master's condition is perfectly fine."
Only then did the Zhu brothers, the first and second masters, truly relax. They trusted Doctor Zhou's medical skills.
Old Master Zhu, the second master, then asked Doctor Zhou to treat Zhu Xuefeng and his brother for their injuries.
Doctor Zhou spent a good half hour examining both brothers.
Finally, he confirmed that Zhu Xuefeng and his brother had not been poisoned by bee venom.
Nor were there any signs of other poisoning.
Old Master Zhu, the first and second masters, breathed a sigh of relief.
However, Old Master Zhu, the first master, became even more enraged. "As expected, that brat lied to us!"
They had been played like monkeys today by that brat!
Made to run around in circles!
Old Master Zhu, the first master, could not swallow this insult.
After seeing Doctor Zhou off, the two brothers went to the study.
"I heard that brat organized an auction at Chun Se Man Yuan, and it caused quite a stir. Should we..." Old Master Zhu, the first master, said with malice in his eyes.
Old Master Zhu, the second master, shook his head and rejected it without hesitation. "I heard that several old princes and dukes will be attending tomorrow night's auction. Even if we disrupt the auction, we won't be able to seriously harm that brat, and we might even offend people we shouldn't."
"Are we just going to let this matter go? And watch that brat get rich!" Old Master Zhu, the first master, had another infuriating day. He only wished to flay Xie Jiang alive!
"Of course, we can't just let it go. Everything he has taken from us, he must return in kind."
"Then what should we do?"
Old Master Zhu, the first master, knew that his second brother, while unassuming, was a man of ideas.
Old Master Zhu, the second master's, eyes were sinister. "The Xie clan wants to pledge allegiance to Da Yu, so they must have something to offer. That brat is setting up a glass factory in Ninghe, isn't he? That's to increase their bargaining chip. Let's give him a great contribution."
"You mean..."
"Not long ago, the capital was abuzz with the news that this Young Master Xie, with only a dozen guards and the assistance of Duke Xu's dozen guards, annihilated over three hundred bandits from Huang Lan Mountain. Since Young Master Xie has such capabilities, why shouldn't we give him an opportunity to achieve merit in Da Yu?"
"You mean using the Huang Lan Mountain bandits..." Old Master Zhu, the first master, made a throat-slitting gesture.
"I heard His Majesty is very interested in the Xie clan's allegiance. If we were to kill that brat named Xie, it might only bring us trouble..."