"Everyone, please judge fairly. Doctor Wang stayed here specifically for everyone's ailments. This young lady, with her baseless accusations, claims we are cheating people for money, damaging Doctor Wang's reputation, which is tantamount to damaging the reputation of Wan Xiang Lou. If the constables do not uphold justice for us today, we will absolutely not agree!" The madam waved her hand imperceptibly towards the back. She silently gave a signal, and a few girls whispered into the ears of the customers who had come for treatment. Those customers, half-believing, started to walk towards the exit.
Seeing the situation, it looked like they intended to clear the room, leaving only the people of Wan Xiang Lou so the madam could twist the truth.
However, before those customers could reach the door, it was suddenly slammed shut with great force. A tall figure blocked the entrance. Xia Yun Ting's expression turned cold, and everyone felt a chill down their spines. They no longer dared to take a step further and had to retreat dejectedly.
The customers looked at the madam blankly, the girls' faces were awkward, and Li Zhao's expression showed some impatience. The scene became stiff for a moment.
"Why leave? Since this madam wants justice, let's find witnesses and evidence in front of so many people. Everyone, take out the medicine you just bought and let's see if it's hawthorn cakes! Let's see if it can cure your ailments?"
Rong Zhi faced the crowd, her voice calm and powerful. The crowd felt that she wasn't there to cause trouble, so those who had bought medicine took it out to look, smell, and taste. They did indeed detect a hint of hawthorn cake.
In fact, they had suspected it when they bought the medicine. However, they couldn't believe that Doctor Wang would use something so obvious to cheat them, so they hadn't doubted it.
At this moment, hearing Rong Zhi's words, they began to think in that direction, and the pills in their hands looked more and more like hawthorn cakes.
"That's not right, this is a miracle drug! My neighbor was cured by this medicine, he told me himself. How could this be false? Perhaps it just tastes like hawthorn cake."
A patient spoke, easing the tense atmosphere.
"Right! My cousin has the same condition and also bought medicine from Doctor Wang. Who is this young lady? I've never seen her before. Isn't she here to cause trouble?"
"If that's the case, the constables must not let them go. Constable Li, you must act based on evidence. Aren't the testimonies of so many people enough proof?"
Such voices grew louder. The madam relaxed slightly. They were all regulars of Wan Xiang Lou, so they naturally spoke in their favor. Moreover, she had imposters.
Li Zhao looked at Rong Zhi, "Miss, where is your evidence?"
Rong Zhi said, "The physical evidence is what I gave you just now. I'll bring the witnesses back for you, husband!" Rong Zhi called out to Xia Yun Ting at the door. Xia Yun Ting nodded and went outside to apprehend the imposter from earlier.
Everyone was shocked when the bound man was thrown to the ground.
"Isn't that the one who wanted to pay fifty taels of silver for medicine just now?"
The man looked around in panic. When his gaze met Xia Yun Ting's, he was so scared he almost lost control of himself. He frantically shook his head, "No, it's not me. The madam gives me one tael of silver every day to pretend to buy medicine. That fifty taels was also given by the madam. I was just taking money to do a job, I don't know anything."
"What? So he was an imposter."
Someone exclaimed, and others retreated a couple of steps from the crowd, concealing themselves.
"Besides you, who else is like this?" Xia Yun Ting asked, his voice carrying an irresistible authority.
The man struggled to stand up, scanning the crowd. Then he pointed them out one by one: "Him, him, and him..."
Those pointed at, seeing they couldn't escape, pointed at his nose and cursed, "Don't talk nonsense! Who's like you? I'm just here to see a doctor."
"You still won't admit it? You clearly took money from the brothel just like me and helped them cheat people!" The man was desperate. If they were to die, they would all die together. He had already witnessed the man's prowess and dared not disobey in the slightest.
"What are their names?" Xia Yun Ting asked.
"That one is called Li Long, that one is called Gao Hu, and that one is called Wang Er..." The man listed their names one by one, even detailing the specific times and amounts they received their wages. He spoke so convincingly that the named individuals visibly panicked.
"Is it true?" Li Zhao reprimanded sternly, "Lying will land you in jail."
"It... it's true." Seeing that further prevarication was useless, they had no choice but to admit it. Then, they suddenly remembered something and, with tacit understanding, raised their hands and pointed at the madam: "She taught us to do it!"
"You're talking nonsense!" The madam's face turned red with anger. She hadn't said anything yet, and these people had already sold her out.
"Do you still want to get paid..." Before she could finish, the madam realized the mistake in her words. She had betrayed herself. She put on a pitiful face.
"What else do you have to say? Hurry up and compensate them!" Li Zhao impatiently urged again. Wouldn't it have been better to do this earlier? It had caused him so much trouble. "If you don't compensate, you'll spend half a month in jail." His tone was filled with threat.
"I'll pay, I'll pay, okay?"
The madam's spirit deflated. She glared resentfully at Doctor Wang beside her, thinking what a terribly unlucky day it was.
"All those who bought medicine from Doctor Wang just now, come forward and line up to get your money back."
Li Zhao organized them into a line and refunded the money based on the quantity and amount of medicine purchased earlier. Although the patients were somewhat disappointed, being cheated of money was clearly more serious than not being able to cure their illness, so they didn't complain much.
Only Young Master Zhang harbored deep resentment.
"So this Doctor Wang is a fake doctor. When I get a chance, I'll teach him a lesson!"
As soon as he spoke, he saw Rong Zhi standing opposite him with her arms crossed, looking at him meaningfully.
Feeling ashamed, Young Master Zhang covered his face with his sleeve, intending to sneak away. However, as he turned, he found Rong Zhi already close by.
"Doctor Lin, why do you walk so silently? You scared me to death."
He jumped in fright and patted his chest nervously.
"Where do you intend to seek medical treatment?"
"I..."
Young Master Zhang lowered his head, unsure of what to do. He had experienced something very embarrassing on Swallow Mountain, and was now half-crippled. Even if he wanted to seek medical help, he was too embarrassed to go to a reputable clinic, so he came to such a place for folk remedies. Who would have thought that this doctor was also a swindler?
Seeing his long silence, Rong Zhi said, "I originally intended to tell you after your condition had fully recovered. Since you are so anxious, I will prescribe another set of medicine for you. It's the same as your current medicine. Three doses a day, and two months of treatment will lead to a full recovery."
"Really?" Young Master Zhang's eyes lit up, full of anticipation.
Rong Zhi borrowed paper and a pen from one of the girls in the brothel and quickly wrote down a prescription, handing it to Young Master Zhang: "Here, take this. Follow the doctor's orders to get and take the medicine. If you have any problems, come find me in Yun Shui Village. Don't trust these quacks anymore."
Young Master Zhang smiled shyly, a hint of blush on his face. "There's a difference between men and women. How can I bother you with such matters?"
"What does that matter? I've been practicing medicine for many years, what haven't I seen? What is this to you?"
Rong Zhi said casually, ignoring Young Master Zhang's stunned expression, and waved him away.
After Young Master Zhang left, Rong Zhi saw Xia Yun Ting's inquisitive gaze.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
Rong Zhi thought she had something dirty on her and looked herself up and down, finding nothing unusual.
Xia Yun Ting's expression was complex, and he asked with curiosity, "What have you seen in your past lives?"
"..."
After refunding the money, Li Zhao severely reprimanded the madam. The madam paid a large fine again before escaping imprisonment. As for Doctor Wang, since a fine had already been imposed, Li Zhao didn't intend to punish him severely. However, Rong Zhi took an interest in him.
"You're a doctor, right? I see you're quite interested in medicine, but you've gone down the wrong path. How about this? I'll introduce you to a place, the Imperial City, at the Hundred Herbs Pavilion. Doctor Fang Tian Hua is a highly skilled physician. Go find him and become his apprentice. In no time, you'll master the art of medicine and perhaps wash away the sin of your fraudulent activities."
"What? The Imperial City?" Doctor Wang was stunned. How far was the Imperial City from here? Why should he travel so far to learn medicine? Most importantly, although he was in the wrong, why should he listen to this stranger?
"Then I'd rather go to jail."
"No, I've taken an interest in you, and now it's not up to you." Rong Zhi, without waiting for his reaction, quickly popped a pill into his mouth.
"What is this?" Feeling something enter his throat, Doctor Wang didn't react immediately and accidentally swallowed it. He was suddenly terrified, "It's not poison, is it?"
"So clever. This is Seven-Day Powder. If you don't reach the Imperial City and find Doctor Fang within seven days, your life will be forfeit."
"Ah?" Doctor Wang's face contorted into a bitter expression. He began to desperately try to cough out the poison from his mouth, but it was no use. The medicine had dissolved more than half of it upon contact with his tongue. By the time they were talking, it had all entered his stomach.
"What a sin!" After trying for a long time with no result, Doctor Wang had no choice but to accept reality. He turned to the madam and said, "Madam, I apologize. I must leave immediately. If I'm any later, my life will be in danger! Farewell!"
With that, he didn't wait for the madam's reply and bolted out the door, presumably to pack his bags.
Li Zhao was stunned by this series of actions. By the time he reacted, Doctor Wang was no longer in the room.
"Miss Lin, what you did is not in accordance with the rules."
"What's not in accordance with the rules? Have I broken any laws?"
"Uh, no, you haven't."
"Since it's reasonable and legal, then let's not dwell on it too much. I'm just taking on a few more apprentices for my master."
"Alright." Li Zhao was helpless and didn't want to get involved further. Seeing that there was nothing else, he left with the constables, looking as if he was afraid someone would chase after him.
Who wouldn't be afraid? All the constables knew clearly about Rong Zhi's bandit suppression on Swallow Mountain. Because of this incident, Rong Zhi had an excellent relationship with the Prefect. If they were to go back and report Lord Zhang Chu's acceptance of bribes to the Prefect, they would all be in trouble.
Rong Zhi didn't stop them. After they left, she said to the madam, "Madam, after this incident, the number of guests at your establishment will be significantly reduced."
Hearing this, the madam instinctively clutched her purse.