Chapter 35 Bloodletting for Detox

Chapter 35: Draining Blood to Detoxify

"Little Master Qin's condition has just been explained to me by Military Doctor Hou. We have already discussed the method for detoxification, and I will administer it once I take his pulse again."

As Xiao Baiyu spoke, his gaze shifted to Xie Nai's left, where He Zhao stood with a worried expression.

Upon hearing Xiao Baiyu say that Qin Jiao's poison could be cured, He Zhao's face brightened slightly. But as soon as he noticed Xiao Baiyu staring at him, he turned away with a look of annoyance.

Seeing He Zhao ignore him, Xiao Baiyu was not upset and remained warm and polite with a smile.

"Well, isn't that a small world? They know each other. Unbelievable, unbelievable!"

The usually cocky Flowery Peacock was now as if someone coveted his most beautiful tail feathers, on edge and wary.

When He Zhao saw Xiao Baiyu still staring, he gritted his teeth and shot him a dirty look.

Xiao Baiyu didn't take offense. His eyes were deep, a gentle smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

Luo Bei brought the medicine box over. Military Doctor Hou took out a small silver flower cup and set it on the table, then lit a few bright candles, making the room even brighter.

"My skills are limited; please, Young Master Xiao, take it from here." Military Doctor Hou gestured for Xiao Baiyu to proceed. Xiao Baiyu gave a slight nod: "You flatter me, Military Doctor Hou."

Xiao Baiyu's medical rattle was called the "Flying Feather Bell." Inside the bell, besides the little copper jingles, there was also a hair-thin golden thread.

Xiao Baiyu unhooked the rattle from his belt. The moment it landed in his palm, it started whirring like crazy.

The rattle buzzed and hummed, then the hidden golden thread shot out with a "whoosh" and coiled around Qin Jiao's wrist.

After a moment, the rattle stopped dead, and the sound cut off. Everyone stared nervously at Xiao Baiyu, and Cong Shuang's face was whiter than the snow falling outside.

He Zhao gently nudged Cong Shuang and whispered to comfort her: "Sister Congshuang, don't worry. This guy's actually a decent doctor."

"Mm," Cong Shuang nodded in response to He Zhao.

Hearing that, Xiao Baiyu's brows softened with a slight smile.

About the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the Flying Feather Bell started ringing violently again. This time, instead of a clear chime, it let out a sharp, piercing screech, and the thread around Qin Jiao's wrist changed from gold to a dirty gray-brown.

The gold detects poison; the bell sounds the alarm.

Xie Nai's face darkened.

The next second, the discolored thread zipped back into the Flying Feather Bell with a "swish." Xiao Baiyu dropped the bell into the small silver cup beside him, and the clear water turned black as ink.

"I've taken his pulse. As Military Doctor Hou and I agreed earlier, Little Master Qin has three poisons in his system. Besides the Puzhi grass we already neutralized, there's Datura powder and something called Blood Withering that's been in him for at least ten years," said Xiao Baiyu.

A layer of frost covered Xie Nai's face. "What is the Blood Withering poison, and can it be cured?"

"Blood Withering comes from abroad. People poisoned with it seem perfectly normal day to day. But if they get hurt and bleed, the wound takes forever to heal. With a small injury, it saps your energy and blood; with a big one, the wound won't close, gets infected, and turns into an ulcer.

This poison is super sneaky and easy to miss. Over time, the victim's blood slowly turns into a thick, stinking white paste until they waste away into a rotting corpse."

Blood Withering drains your flesh and blood and dissolves your bones beneath the earth—that's what it means.

Xiao Baiyu's words hit Cong Shuang like icicles. She crumpled to the ground like she'd lost her soul, then started banging her head on the floor in front of Xiao Baiyu.

"Thump, thump, thump—"

Cong Shuang was too fast; Xiao Baiyu and He Zhao couldn't stop her in time. "Divine Doctor Xiao, please save our young master!"

Through tear-blurred eyes, Cong Shuang kept signing frantically. Right then, she hated being mute. He Zhao grabbed her and pulled her up firmly.

"Sister Congshuang, don't worry. This guy's really good..." He Zhao softly comforted Cong Shuang. "Qin Jiao will be okay, right?" He Zhao looked at Xiao Baiyu.

Xiao Baiyu met his gaze and said firmly, "Don't worry, it's curable."

That calmed Cong Shuang a bit, but she still couldn't stop crying—cold and shaking all over.

At least ten years poisoned. Ten years... that means he was already poisoned back at the Minister's Residence.

If they hadn't found this Blood Withering in him today, what would have become of him?

"I know this poison is weird, but with bloodletting through puncture and the Apricot Grove Manor's secret formula, we can draw the poison out. After that, with proper rest, he'll be fully recovered in two years at most.

But given his current state, I'll have to cut into his flesh. If his blood won't clot afterward, then..."

Xiao Baiyu trailed off, and everyone knew what he meant.

It was a life-or-death call. Xie Nai stared at Qin Jiao lying there, his eyes heavy and dark. "Luo Bei, get the Fengxue Bracelet."

"Your Highness, no!" Military Doctor Hou grabbed Luo Bei's arm, while Luo Yue beside him opened his mouth as if to speak but ultimately remained silent.

"Without the Fengxue Bracelet, you'll... no, there has to be another way," Military Doctor Hou said, his forehead wrinkled like tree bark.

"Go and fetch it."

Xie Nai's order was terse, but Military Doctor Hou stubbornly refused to let go of Luo Bei. Xiao Baiyu watched the scene without saying anything more.

Suddenly, a candlewick popped with a low crackle. Qin Jiao on the bed seemed startled and trembled violently.

Xie Nai's gaze returned to Qin Jiao. Luo Bei, having followed Xie Nai for years, knew that he would not change his mind.

Ignoring the furious Military Doctor Hou, Luo Bei quietly used force to pry his hand away. Military Doctor Hou initially refused to let go but eventually could not match Luo Bei's strength.

"You..." Military Doctor Hou sighed helplessly as he watched Luo Bei disappear into the snowstorm.

Only Cong Shuang was left bewildered. What was the Fengxue Bracelet? Why was everyone so concerned about it?

The only familiar person here was He Zhao. She tugged at his sleeve, and He Zhao knew what she wanted to ask, but it was not convenient to explain at the moment—after all, because of this Fengxue Bracelet, Xie Nai had been chasing him for several days.

Guiltily touching his nose, He Zhao said in a low voice: "The Fengxue Bracelet is a treasure that's really good for Qin Jiao. I'll explain later."

Soon, Luo Bei returned with the Fengxue Bracelet. The brocade box, carved with auspicious clouds from rosewood, was handed to Xiao Baiyu.

He Zhao wanted to see how the Fengxue Bracelet was used, but Military Doctor Hou began to shoo people away: "Everyone, please leave. The patient needs a quiet environment. Crowds bring bad luck, and unforeseen events may occur."

There was no choice; he couldn't watch anymore.

He Zhao helped Cong Shuang walk out. "Sister Congshuang, let's wait outside."

Seeing that Xie Nai still hadn't moved, Xiao Baiyu gently advised: "Don't worry, I will do my utmost to cure Little Master Qin."

"I gave you a lively He Zhao, so you owe me a safe Qin Jiao," Xie Nai replied.

Hearing this, Xiao Baiyu's eyes were full of smiles: "Alright, I owe you this. Go out first."

Xie Nai led Luo Bei and Luo Yue out of the main tent. Outside, heavy snow fell like goose feathers, as if the clouds were broken and willow catkins were flying.

The cold wind scraped like a knife against one's flesh. Xie Nai had only taken a few steps away from the main tent when he saw two figures standing in the heavy snow—Xiao Nianzhang and Xiao Yue.

It seemed they had been standing there for a while. A thick layer of snow had already settled on Xiao Nianzhang's dark blue cloak.

The weather was bitterly cold. Xiao Nianzhang had been lowering his head, blowing into his frozen hands, when Xiao Yue lightly bumped into him and said, "Governor, the prince is out."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Nianzhang hastily straightened his robes and hurried over to Xie Nai.

"I pay respects to the Prince! Please forgive me, Your Highness. My men pursued Li Chengwei to the tavern by the Raocheng River. We had caught him, but he feigned suicide. When the constables let down their guard, he turned and jumped into the river. The current was swift, and my men failed to find him—he got away."

Xiao Nianzhang carefully observed Xie Nai's expression. Only when he saw that Xie Nai did not flare up at the news of Li Chengwei's escape did he dare to continue.

"Xun Xi and Zhao Yunzhi have both been taken into custody. I have also summoned Xu Rujin's mother, Aunt Wu, along with the embroideresses from the Zhao Embroidery Tower, the Manager, the maids, and the servants—all gathered. Would you like to interrogate them personally, Your Highness?"

Previously, Xiao Nianzhang had been slow and sluggish in handling matters. However, the look in Xie Nai's eyes when he left after Qin Jiao was injured had left Xiao Nianzhang terrified for a long time, prompting him to be especially efficient this time.

Not only had he captured all those involved in the Nanzhou murder case except for Li Chengwei, but he had also sent a letter to the magistrate from Wuyuan County, requesting joint assistance in the investigation.

Additionally, he had apprehended a suspicious figure in black who had been lurking near the Qin residence earlier. When Xiao Nianzhang reported this to Xie Nai, a murderous glint appeared in his eyes.

"I have already taken the man in black I captured to the outskirts of the military camp. Would you like to—"

"Bring them all here." As soon as Xie Nai spoke, Xiao Nianzhang breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

He had guessed correctly.

It was Xie Nai's concern all along.

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