Ruan Lizhi emerged from the Xie residence and found his personal guards tied up like dumplings in the alley.
The people from the Xie residence, having received orders from within, no longer paid attention to the bound guards and retreated to the main gate to keep watch.
Ruan Lizhi called out to the Xie residence's people to untie his guards.
After waiting for a while, he looked back to see that the people from the Xie residence remained motionless, as if they hadn't heard him.
Ruan Lizhi's temper almost got the better of him.
In the end, Ruan Lizhi stepped forward himself to untie his guards.
The servants of the Xie residence completely ignored his commands!
With only one hand free, Ruan Lizhi didn't know what kind of knot they had used. He tugged for a long time before managing to loosen one.
As soon as the guard was freed from the ropes, he immediately jumped up, pulled out the foul-smelling socks and underwear stuffed into his mouth, his face contorted with extreme emotion and agitation.
"Second Master, these people from the Xie residence are simply too much! Let's charge in and wipe them out right now! Let's blood wash the Xie residence!"
Did Ruan Lizhi not want to annihilate the entire Xie family? But he looked down at their current state! To go in again would be to invite humiliation, like a meat bun thrown to a dog!
They would be the ones annihilated.
Moreover, Xu Hengyan was still at the Xie residence.
Could he deal with that little brat Xie Jiang in front of Xu Hengyan?
Ruan Lizhi's face turned so dark it was about to crumble. He slapped the back of the guard's neck, "Hurry up and untie the others!"
Ruan Ziji, supporting Cao Mian, came over and looked at the guard, saying, "Still not embarrassed enough?"
In front of Xie Jiang, Ruan Ziji was a bright and sunny little warm boy. But now, away from Xie Jiang's sight, Ruan Ziji exuded a chilling aura.
The guard felt a chill down his spine and turned back to untie his comrades.
Ruan Ziji handed Cao Mian over to a guard and walked to Ruan Lizhi's side, saying, "Second Uncle, we should have stayed at the Xie residence to treat our injuries. One thousand taels per person isn't too expensive."
Ruan Lizhi's bull-like eyes glared, "Stay there to be extorted by that brat! Why isn't one thousand taels expensive! That's one thousand taels, not one thousand coins!"
One doesn't know the cost of firewood and rice until they manage a household!
His words were exactly like those of a spoiled young master!
Ruan Ziji said, "Young Master Xie has such a large glass factory, earning thousands of taels daily. Does he need to extort this little bit of money from us?"
It seemed to make sense, but, "Who would dislike having more money!" Do rich people not covet wealth!
Ruan Ziji said, "Even if Young Master Xie makes a bit of money, what's wrong with that? Isn't the price worth it for a poison doctor?"
Ruan Lizhi said, "You're not even married yet, and you're already speaking up for him! Your elbow is turning outwards!"
He wasn't the one who mentioned marriage.
His sister-in-law, Princess Yuning, had said at home that she would treat him as if she had given birth to a daughter; if he were to get married someday, she wouldn't have to worry about him.
His elder brother and sister-in-law were currently trying hard for a second child.
Ruan Ziji rolled his eyes, "Second Uncle, do you still want to see the weapons in Young Master Xie's hands that can move mountains and fill seas?"
Ruan Lizhi: "Yes."
Judging by his tone, his eldest nephew seemed to have a plan?
Ruan Ziji said, "But if you completely offend Young Master Xie, it's impossible to see them in the short term. No matter how you struggle, you can't change this outcome. However, staying at the Xie residence to recover is a good opportunity. Regardless of whether you lose money or not, by spending this money, won't your relationship with Young Master Xie at least be slightly eased? If the relationship improves and you have some connection, won't it be much easier for you to see whatever you want?"
Ruan Lizhi nodded, "That makes some sense."
Ruan Ziji said, "Perhaps Young Master Xie proposed this, asking you to pay one thousand taels for treatment, is giving you a way to save face."
As Ruan Lizhi pondered this, the more he thought about it, the more it seemed to be true.
Ruan Ziji continued, "Originally, Young Master Xie didn't intend to be against our Ruan family. Otherwise, why did he only capture you and Cao Mian? I was right beside you, yet he didn't even touch a single strand of my hair!"
Ruan Lizhi grunted while nodding frequently.
Ruan Ziji said, "Young Master Xie is a little overlord in Lan Yong. When has he ever been bullied? Look at how he dealt with the Zhu family! Isn't Young Master Xie being very polite to you, Second Uncle?"
Ruan Lizhi pointed to his broken arm and asked, "Polite?"
Ruan Ziji said, "Compared to the Zhu family of Xing Shun Marquis Mansion, isn't he being impolite?"
Ruan Lizhi muttered, "When you put it that way, it really seems so."
Ruan Lizhi tugged at his disheveled beard and stared at Ruan Ziji for a while, "Did that brat surnamed Xie take a liking to you? Is this a case of 'loving the house and its crow' towards me?"
Ruan Ziji said, "It's good that you know it in your heart."
"Then we'll stay and get treated!" Ruan Lizhi slapped his own thigh, then his wound, gasping in pain.
Could he not see that his eldest nephew had ulterior motives?
What did it matter.
Didn't he have his own ulterior motives?
Building some rapport with that brat Xie Jiang would be beneficial and harmless.
The guards, freed from their restraints, became incensed, their faces flushed and necks thick as they clamored to storm the Xie residence and teach the Xie person a lesson.
Ruan Lizhi's face darkened, "What are you all shouting about? Are you the only ones with ability! If you were so capable, who were the ones who lay there like dead dogs just now, tied up so they couldn't move!"
"Teach someone a lesson? Look at yourselves, your colors are already quite diminished!"
The more Ruan Lizhi scolded, the louder his voice became.
His personal guards, who had followed him for many years and been through countless battles, were subdued by a servant of a young brat without being able to fight back. He felt ashamed just saying it!
If Xie Jiang were an assassin, his head would have been gone by now! Relying on these guards!
The guards were so scolded they couldn't lift their heads.
Ruan Lizhi said, "All of you, wait here quietly! Reflect on yourselves!"
With that, he beckoned, had a guard carry Cao Mian, and returned to the Xie residence.
Coincidentally, Xie Jiang, Xu Hengyan, and Lou Yi'an were still in the front hall, drinking tea under the shade of the trees.
As Ruan Lizhi entered, he bellowed, "Young Xie, I've changed my mind. One thousand taels per person it is! You'd better heal my arm. If I can't swing my wolf tooth mace or meteor hammer, I won't accept it!"
The three under the tree all looked towards the entrance.
Although Ruan Lizhi's legs weren't broken, each leg had been hit many times with sticks, causing him pain with every step.
Xie Jiang looked at Lou Yi'an, "If there's work, take it. Why not earn money? Otherwise, we hit them for nothing."
Lou Yi'an said expressionlessly, "You injured them so I could earn medical fees?"
Xie Jiang said, "Earning a bit on the side. If you don't earn it, you don't get it. Work hard and earn money."
Lou Yi'an casually pointed to an empty room and said to Ruan Lizhi and Cao Mian, "Patients, go in and rest first. Do not move casually until your wounds are properly stabilized."
Ruan Lizhi looked at the tall, thin young man in front of him, who exuded the scent of herbs all over, "Are you treating our injuries?"
Then he looked at Xie Jiang, "Brat Xie, aren't you the one treating us?" Where was the promised poison doctor?
Xie Jiang said, "Rest assured, let Doctor Lou treat you. Doctor Lou's medical skills are no less than mine."
Ruan Lizhi looked at Xie Jiang, then at Lou Yi'an.
Although the brat surnamed Xie had the reputation of a poison doctor, if he had to say, he felt that this dark-faced Doctor Lou was more reliable.
Did the brat surnamed Xie look like someone who could treat people?
If Xie Jiang hadn't actually cured Madam Xu, he would have suspected Xie Jiang of impersonation.