Chapter 22

Although she knew that Peng Wang was poisoned by a silver ring snake, she would not be so reckless without fully confirming there was a cure.

Squatting down in front of Peng Wang, He Zhiran first pried open his eyelids to check, then took his pulse, and finally examined the wound on his leg.

Judging by Peng Wang's current state, he would probably be beyond saving if he had come to find her half an hour later.

Fortunately, her clinic had a few vials of the right antiserum.

One could also say that meeting her was Peng Wang's fate to not die prematurely.

After examining him, He Zhiran slowly stood up under everyone's gaze and returned to the pile of sorted herbs. She found a bitter-tasting dragon gall herb and broke it off.

He Zhiran handed the dragon gall herb to Zhang Qing, who had just shouted at her.

Dragon gall did not actually treat snake venom, but she happened to be the resentful type.

"Chew this up and use it to dress the wound later," she said.

Zhang Qing was unwilling.

"Why don't I just pound it with two rocks instead of chewing it?"

"If you pound it with rocks, the herbal essence will be lost," He Zhiran was clearly somewhat impatient.

Zhang Qing knew he had to chew up this herb for his boss's life.

However, he did not completely trust He Zhiran.

"You wouldn't be getting back at me for scolding you earlier by giving me poisonous herbs, would you?"

He Zhiran rolled her eyes. She had not expected this official to be so wary.

"If you're afraid, then don't do it. Your boss's life and death have nothing to do with me anyway."

Seeing this, The Eighth Old Zhou urged, "Zhang Qing, just listen to the Hes for the boss's sake!"

Zhang Qing's face was already wrinkled up, ready to bravely sacrifice himself.

Just as he was about to put the dragon gall herb to his mouth, a young woman came running swiftly from the Li family's direction.

"Sir, don't listen to He Zhiran. She doesn't know medicine at all. Don't let her trick you."

He Zhiran squinted at the newcomer, searching the original owner's memories - it was an acquaintance.

Li family maid - Li Rou'er.

The only one the original owner had considered a good friend. He Zhiran recognized her at a glance. Moreover, the original owner had absolutely refused to marry into the Mo family, which was closely related to this Li Rou'er.

Li Rou'er had always nagged her, saying that any woman who married into the Mo family quickly became a widow.

Why should she have to live as a widow in the prime of her youth?

In short, everything Li Rou'er discussed with the original owner revolved around the word "widow".

As a result, the original owner developed a fear of marrying into the Mo family, which led to the later incident of He Yuanming and his wife drugging her.

It could be said that the original owner's death was directly related to Li Rou'er.

Thinking of all this, He Zhiran's gaze at Li Rou'er became sharper. Moreover, she had just tried to undermine her, hardly behavior befitting a good friend.

"Li Rou'er, since you say I don't know medicine, why don't you cure the officer's poison yourself?"

He Zhiran said and turned away.

Li Rou'er was stunned for a moment in response to He Zhiran's attitude.

The He Zhiran she knew had always been obedient to her, never this firm before.

Could it be she had made up her mind to marry into the Mo family after all?

While Li Rou'er was lost in thought, The Eighth Old Zhou looked at her unpleasantly.

"Who are you to come cause trouble?"

Li Rou'er was scolded back to her senses.

"Sir, I'm telling the truth. I'm always with He Zhiran but I've never heard she knows any medicine. Don't let her trick you."

Hearing Li Rou'er's earnest words, the officials hesitated.

However, after seeing the already dying Peng Wang, they were truly helpless.

Especially out here in the wilderness, it was impossible to call for a doctor.

The officials huddled together to discuss, and finally decided to grasp at straws and keep letting He Zhiran help cure their boss.

Zhang Qing called towards He Zhiran's back, "Miss He, come back and keep curing the poison."

He Zhiran stopped and turned around, but her gaze fell on Li Rou'er.

She said with a mocking smile, "Li Rou'er said I don't know medicine. Aren't you afraid I'll kill him instead of curing him?"

Hearing this, Zhang Qing's face immediately darkened.

This time his anger was directed at Li Rou'er.

"Who do you think you are, interfering in official business? Looks like you're tired of living."

To vent his anger, Zhang Qing directly took out his whip from his waist and lashed out fiercely at Li Rou'er.

"Ah..." Li Rou'er let out a scream as she was whipped.

At the same time, another woman who looked to be in her thirties came running again from the Li family's side.

The woman fearfully shielded Li Rou'er, pleading in a low voice, "Sir, my young miss doesn't know any better. Please be the bigger person and don't take it to heart."

After being whipped, the stinging pain constantly reminded Li Rou'er that this was all He Zhiran's doing.

If not for He Zhiran's sarcasm, how could the official have whipped her?

From the corner of her eye, He Zhiran could see Li Rou'er glaring at her hatefully.

She glanced around, then said to Zhang Qing, "Sir, weren't you worried the herb was poisonous earlier?"

Zhang Qing was a little confused by her meaning and nodded woodenly.

He Zhiran glanced at the still furious Li Rou'er.

"Actually, it doesn't matter who chews the herb."

Zhang Qing immediately understood and felt a trace of appreciation for He Zhiran's cleverness.

Why hadn't he thought of doing that?

Without hesitation, Zhang Qing handed the dragon gall herb to Li Rou'er.

"If you don't want to keep getting beaten, chew this up."

Li Rou'er was unwilling internally but did not dare to object.

She could only pitifully chew up the dragon gall herb in front of everyone.

Her already unattractive features were immediately twisted up.

This medicine was so bitter...

Zhang Qing also reflexively swallowed mouthfuls of the sour liquid that had risen due to nausea.

After chewing it up, Li Rou'er spat the contents into her palm with a distorted expression.

"Sir, is this enough?"

Zhang Qing also did not know and gestured for He Zhiran to check.

He Zhiran made a show of looking at the green, disgusting mess in Li Rou'er's hand.

She reluctantly nodded.

"That's good enough!"

Having said that, she did not look at anyone else's reaction and returned to Peng Wang's side.

He Zhiran had the officials help roll up his pant leg higher to fully expose the wound.

Ignoring everyone's stares, she directly tore off a corner of Peng Wang's clothes and said to Zhang Qing, "I need clean water."

Zhang Qing hurriedly took out his water flask and handed it to her.

He Zhiran used the water to soak that piece of cloth, then gently wiped Peng Wang's wound.

Although unsanitary, with so many people watching she could not take out alcohol swabs from her storage space and could only make do for now.