"Ah!"
This time, Jia Wei screamed in pain. The needle had pierced his ankle, and the sensation was excruciating!
He couldn't take it anymore. He leaped off the bed, reached down, and pulled the needle out of his leg, shouting, "It hurts so much!"
Xu Hongchuan sneered, "Today, we must cure Young Master Jia's leg. Qi Yue, continue the acupuncture. Men, hold him down!"
Seeing two Embroidered Uniform Guards approaching him menacingly, Jia Wei immediately jumped off the bed and paced back and forth a few times, then smiled awkwardly, "Sir Xu, no need, no need. This young man's leg can walk."
Xu Hongchuan chuckled, "Indeed, a descendant of a divine doctor. In such a short time, the leg is cured."
Old Master Jia nervously forced a smile, flattering, "Divine doctor, divine doctor! Thank you, Sir Xu."
Xu Hongchuan glanced at Old Master Jia and said slowly, "The leg is better, but the arm is still injured. Qi Yue, continue the acupuncture!"
With that, he gave a look to the Embroidered Uniform Guards. The two guards stepped forward and pinned Jia Wei to the bed. Qi Yue, with nimble hands, inserted needles into his arm, one after another, causing Jia Wei to scream like a pig being slaughtered.
Jia Wei struggled desperately, crying and shouting, "Sir Xu! Sir Xu! This young man's arm is also better. Please, divine doctor, stop!"
Xu Hongchuan watched the screaming Jia Wei and the anxious Old Master Jia pacing back and forth, and slowly said, "Stop."
Qi Yue pulled out the needles from Jia Wei's arm one by one, and the Embroidered Uniform Guards immediately released him.
Jia Wei, as if afraid Xu Hongchuan wouldn't believe him, swung his arms in circles, saying, "Look, sir, it really is better."
Xu Hongchuan folded his arms, looked at Qi Yue, and said, "Excellent needlework! Go examine Young Master Jia's pulse again, and see if his internal organs are injured."
Jia Wei shuddered, looking at Old Master Jia for help. But what could Old Master Jia do? He could only plead on the side.
Qi Yue stepped forward, grabbed Jia Wei's arm, and placed his right hand's fingers on his wrist. After a moment, he said with a smile, "Strange, Young Master Jia's pulse… aside from a deficiency of kidney essence, everything else is fine!"
Xu Hongchuan stared at Jia Wei with a meaningful look, saying word by word, "Young Master Jia, are there any other discomforts? If there are injuries, then continue the acupuncture."
Jia Wei, having tasted that excruciating pain, no longer dared to pretend to be sick.
He quickly knelt down and cupped his hands, saying, "Sir Xu, this young man has no discomforts, no need for acupuncture."
Xu Hongchuan sneered, "That's strange. Isn't Young Master Jia seriously injured? How is he so lively today?"
Jia Wei and Old Master Jia were now covered in cold sweat and didn't dare to respond.
Xu Hongchuan said to himself, "I think the doctor's skills are not good, truly a quack."
The doctor on the side was already terrified and knelt down, crying, "Sir Xu, I dare not!"
Xu Hongchuan sternly said, "Bold commoner, you dare to confuse the public! You dare to interfere in the Duhui Commandery's case! Men, take him down!"
Two Embroidered Uniform Guards instantly twisted the doctor's arms.
Old Master Jia wiped his sweat and forced a smile, coaxing, "Sir Xu, it's all a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding."
Xu Hongchuan coldly said, "Since Young Master Jia is fine, then the case can be withdrawn. I will take this quack doctor back to the Duhui Commandery for questioning."
The doctor, upon hearing this, was so frightened that he wet his pants on the spot. He was in dire straits; on one side was the Prefect of Qingzhou, and on the other was the King of Hell from the Duhui Commandery. He truly had no way out!
The case of Jiang Wencheng's injury was thus closed. After the Embroidered Uniform Guards left the Jia family, Xu Hongchuan, along with Qi Yue, rode horses toward Changle County, heading straight for the Jiang family.
After Xu Hongchuan drank two cups of tea, he said to Jiang Yuanfa casually, "Since your son and Young Master Jia had a dispute, perhaps there were already grievances between them in the past. I must also question Lady Li, and ask if he had ever said anything in the past."
He had already made inquiries and knew that his "sister-in-law" was surnamed Li, whose father was a scholar, and had some fame in Changle County. He had passed away half a year ago.
Chen Xuan hurriedly said, "Sir Xu, this young man knows my cousin's affairs best. He and that Jia Wei had no animosity at all in the past."
Xu Hongchuan looked up and asked, "How is it that he doesn't tell his wife his thoughts, but only tells you?"
Chen Xuan was taken aback by the question and smiled awkwardly, "Of course not. It is indeed necessary to ask my cousin-in-law. My cousin-in-law went to the kitchen just now. This young man will go call her."
Jiang Yuanfa interjected at this moment, "It's getting late. Please, sir, do us the honor of staying for dinner, and this commoner can also fulfill his duty as a host, and we can ask while eating."
Xu Hongchuan glanced at Jiang Yuanfa and smiled slightly, "Then I will trouble you, Member Jiang."
"Not at all, not at all. Sir, if you are willing, our humble home will be bright."
Rong Yue returned to the main courtyard from the kitchen, having completed her mother-in-law's instructions, and then served her by changing her clothes and combing her hair.
Madam Chen wanted to wear all of her precious jewelry and took out her only set of peacock feather-woven clothing and silver-striped outer garments to change into.
Rong Yue could tell that her mother-in-law was afraid that Xu Hongchuan would look down on her, especially after the previous embarrassment with him.
After changing clothes and combing her hair, Mama Zhao came to deliver the message that dinner was ready.
Rong Yue bowed to her mother-in-law and said gently, "Mother, Sir Xu is a male guest, Rong Yue will have dinner in her own room."
Madam Chen was about to nod, but Mama Zhao, who was beside her, hurriedly said, "Look at my memory, Madam. The master said, let the young mistress go too, saying that there are questions to ask the young mistress regarding the young master's case."
Rong Yue was stunned, and nervously clutched her sleeve, refusing, "Mother, Rong Yue is afraid that it is not in accordance with etiquette."
Madam Chen hesitated. This involved her precious son, and what were etiquette considerations? She had done things that were even more against etiquette. Having a meal together was nothing.
Madam Chen said sternly, "Since Sir Xu has questions for you, you should go too."