Xin Bi's greatest pet peeve was people who chose to end their lives impulsively.
If they weren't afraid of death, what else could possibly make them unable to go on living?
Yet, the moment he saw the busy figures inside the room, Xin Bi's burning rage instantly cooled.
It was only then that Xin Bi remembered that the ones in charge here were from the Ji family.
Upon seeing Xin Bi, Ji Zizhao immediately gave instructions, "Have the charcoal heated, bring in the bathing tub, and seal all the windows."
Xin Bi was startled by the head of the household's orders.
Such a method of detoxification…
Could it be that the Ji family's second madam had taken the poison!
Without time to think further, Xin Bi quickly followed the head of the household's commands.
"You few, quickly go and burn several basins of hot water, and find a bathing tub."
"And you, bring over a few charcoal braziers and prepare plenty of charcoal!"
The several madams still standing in the courtyard watched Xin Bi directing the servants, too stunned to speak.
Normally, wouldn't Zi Shao be the one to be driven out?
Why did it seem like this Shopkeeper Xin was acting more like an assistant now…
Soon, all the prepared items were brought into the room.
With Xin Bi's assistance, Ji Zizhao placed the unconscious Second Madam, Yu Fenglan, into the bathing tub.
As Xin Bi continuously added lukewarm water, Ji Zizhao, with the pattern of plum blossoms as a guide on Yu Fenglan's chest, applied acupuncture and then opened up the meridians in her limbs.
The temperature in the room gradually rose, and Second Madam Yin Wenying's wrists and ankles began to turn purple, then black.
Ji Zizhao then took a curved knife, about the length of a finger, and quickly sliced open Second Madam Yin Wenying's wrists and ankles.
Soon, black blood began to flow out.
Within moments, the entire basin of clear water was dyed black.
Fifteen minutes later, seeing that the blood had slowly returned to its original red color, Ji Zizhao nodded at Xin Bi.
Xin Bi, who was already prepared, quickly stitched up the wounds of Second Madam Yu Fenglan.
Ji Zizhao then removed the soft cloth blocking Yu Fenglan's mouth and forced a large amount of warm water mixed with laxatives down her throat, diluting the remaining poison and eventually expelling it through her intestines.
After the entire process, the room was filled with an overpowering stench.
When Ji Zizhao laid Second Madam Yu Fenglan on the bed, Xin Bi pushed open the doors and windows.
The foul odor emanating from the room instantly turned the faces of the people in the courtyard green.
Xin Bi, however, showed no surprise or astonishment.
The deeper the toxins in a poisoned person's body, the more potent the smell of their expelled waste.
It was fortunate that the head of the household personally handled the detoxification today; otherwise, even he might not have been able to save someone with such a deep-seated poison.
"Cough cough cough… cough cough cough…"
Second Madam Yu Fenglan in the room was slowly regaining consciousness.
Seeing this, Xin Bi picked up his medicine box and was about to leave.
However, the few madams walking into the room blocked his path.
Looking at Second Madam slowly opening her eyes on the bed, the madams were overjoyed and tearful.
"Today's matter is truly thanks to Shopkeeper Xin."
"Rest assured, Shopkeeper Xin, our Ji family will certainly reward you handsomely."
"Shopkeeper Xin truly lives up to his reputation as the shopkeeper of one of the Four Great Medical Halls; your skill is indeed miraculous!"
Xin Bi, who had always been confident in his medical skills, felt a sense of undeserved praise for the first time.
Because he knew very well that all the credit for today had nothing to do with him.
Just as Xin Bi was about to explain, he saw Ji Zizhao look at him and shake her head.
Xin Bi understood that the head of the household did not want others to know what had just happened.
Although he knew that the head of the household had always been indifferent, how many people could truly ignore or remain unmoved by honor and gratitude?
Filled with emotion, Xin Bi was truly impressed.
As Xin Bi left, Second Madam Yu Fenglan's eyes completely opened.
The moment she saw Ji Zizhao, Second Madam Yu Fenglan couldn't help but cry out, "If Zi Xiu had half your composure, Zi Hao, I would be at ease…"
Ji Zizhao had only learned of her second sister's enlistment after returning home. She couldn't help but ask suspiciously, "Second Aunt, please calm yourself. Second Sister is just going to be a soldier, not doing anything shameful. But how did Second Aunt learn about Second Sister joining the army?"
Second Madam Yu Fenglan sighed weakly, "Didn't the army send someone to tell me? Zi Xiu, that girl, used our Ji family's military banner to try and sneak into the barracks to enlist. Zi Hao, tell me, isn't that embarrassing?"
Ji Zizhao frowned slightly.
If what her Second Aunt said was true, then her second sister was indeed being disgraceful.
But upon closer thought, given her second sister's personality, how could she do such a thing?
"It's currently the busy season for recruiting new soldiers. If Second Sister truly doesn't meet the requirements, or if what they said is true, they could just send Second Sister back. Why would they go to such great lengths to send someone to inform Second Aunt?"
The few madams in the room nodded in agreement.
Third Madam Yin Wenying, being quite lively, directly inquired, "Second Sister-in-law, what did the person who delivered the message look like? Do you still remember?"
Second Madam Yu Fenglan thought carefully, "It was a young servant."
Fourth Madam Xiao Jingshu immediately negated, "In the past, when our Ji family had men, the messengers always wore armor and soldier's uniforms. We never saw a young servant delivering messages."
Besides, Yu Lin already found it difficult to support its soldiers; where would they have the spare money to hire young servants in the army?
Her words were a wake-up call.
Second Madam Yu Fenglan then belatedly said, "Now that you mention it, I do feel something is not right. That servant even gave me advice, saying I should threaten to kill myself, and Zi Xiu would surely obediently return to my side."
At these words, everyone in the room gasped.
The potent poison they had just dealt with was no mere act.
First Madam Lin Wanyun, who had just entered, couldn't help but chide, "Second Sister-in-law, how could you be so foolish? Fortunately, we found Shopkeeper Xin from Hui Chun Tang today. If even the shopkeepers of the Four Great Medical Halls were unavailable, would you have considered the consequences!"
Second Madam Yu Fenglan also admitted her mistake, "I just wanted Zi Xiu to come back at that moment and didn't think of anything else. Who would be so vicious as to try to deal with me like this!"
The other madams were also taken aback by this statement.
Zi Xiu was just going to be a soldier; how could she have made enemies?
Ji Zizhao, however, said, "Perhaps, the target was not Second Aunt."
If her second sister learned that her Second Aunt had been harmed, she would surely rush home.
This way, she would miss the new recruit competition in the afternoon.
Every year, the army selected new recruits into two categories through competitions.
One category was for outstanding soldiers who could directly enlist.
The other was for auxiliary soldiers, who could only become regular soldiers through excellent performance later on.
Both outstanding soldiers and auxiliary soldiers were selected through the new recruit competition.
"It seems that Second Sister's opponent in this competition is quite formidable."
The poison Second Aunt had taken was arsenic; just a fingernail's worth was enough to kill.
Someone who dared to joke with human life could not be an ordinary person.