Considering Liu Rumei’s words, there was some sense to them. Even though the distance was only two to three li, he was moving at a snail’s pace. This distance alone would take a long time, and it was still uncertain if he could even reach it.
Xiao Qing found a spot sheltered from the wind, piled up some dry grass to surround Liu Rumei, and then turned back towards Shuozhou.
Xiao Qing arrived outside Shuozhou city and frantically waved her arms at the guards on the wall. "Open the city gate quickly, open the city gate quickly! I am Miss Liu Rumei's maid, Xiao Qing! I am Xiao Qing!"
Soon, Zhao Guangzong, who was guarding Shuozhou city, was awakened by a soldier. He was told that someone named Xiao Qing had arrived outside. Zhao Guangzong was overjoyed. He didn't even bother to put on his armor and rushed outside.
Reaching the city wall, he looked down at the woman below. It was indeed Liu Rumei's maid, Xiao Qing.
Seeing that it was Xiao Qing, Zhao Guangzong quickly ordered, "Open the city gate quickly. It is indeed Miss Liu's maid, Xiao Qing."
As he spoke, Zhao Guangzong couldn't wait to run down the city tower. The drawbridge was lowered, the city gate opened, and Xiao Qing rushed in. The moment she saw Zhao Guangzong, she grabbed him and pulled him outside, "General Zhao, quickly! Where is Miss? Miss is injured, Miss is poisoned!"
Xiao Qing was out of breath, but she repeated these words over and over, sounding very anxious. Zhao Guangzong waved his hand and led more than a dozen men behind him, rushing forward with Xiao Qing. The two li distance was covered in a flash.
Xiao Qing pointed to the pile of dry grass beside them. "Miss, Miss is in here."
Zhao Guangzong stepped forward and pushed aside the dry grass. He saw that it was indeed Liu Rumei, leaning against a tree, her eyes tightly closed, her face ashen, barely breathing. Without a word, Zhao Guangzong took off his wolf fur cloak, stepped forward, wrapped Liu Rumei in it, slung her over his shoulder, and ran back into the city.
Zhao Guangzong rushed into Shuozhou city and straight into his mansion. He went to his own bed, ordered all his bedding to be thrown out and replaced with new ones, then laid Liu Rumei on top. He then ordered the stove to be fired up to its hottest.
After everything was settled, Zhao Guangzong finally had time to turn to Xiao Qing and ask, "Xiao Qing, what exactly happened?"
Xiao Qing, wiping away tears, recounted her and Liu Rumei's ordeal.
"It was all my carelessness. I didn't expect the enemy to be not completely dead, which led to Miss's injury. It’s all my fault for not protecting her well enough."
Zhao Guangzong gently patted Xiao Qing's shoulder. "Alright, don't blame yourself. Miss will be fine." As he spoke, Zhao Guangzong turned to the soldiers nearby and ordered, "Immediately issue an order. Anyone in the army who knows how to detoxify, come quickly to help Miss detoxify."
After speaking, Zhao Guangzong drew his short dagger and said to Xiao Qing, "Later, you help Miss clean her wound and first pull out the arrow."
With that, Zhao Guangzong took everyone out and arranged for two of his maids to assist Xiao Qing.
After half an hour of busy work, Xiao Qing finally finished treating Liu Rumei's wound.
Perhaps sensing the warmth, Liu Rumei's complexion showed slight improvement, which eased Xiao Qing's anxious heart a little.
Soon, soldiers arrived one after another to try and detoxify Liu Rumei. However, after examining Liu Rumei's pulse and complexion, they all shook their heads, stating that the symptoms did not match the various poisons they knew, and they dared not act rashly.
Zhao Guangzong was naturally extremely cautious. He also knew that many people in the Daguotian dynasty used poison, and there were countless varieties of poisons. Without absolute certainty, he would not let anyone try to detoxify Liu Rumei.
Back and forth, it was already dark, and there had been no progress. Zhao Guangzong began to worry.
Just then, a commander named Wu Datian from Shuozhou arrived.
Wu Datian cupped his fists towards Zhao Guangzong. "Greetings, General Zhao."
Zhao Guangzong returned the salute. "So it is General Wu."
Wu Datian said to Zhao Guangzong with a solemn expression, "General Zhao, I heard Miss Liu was poisoned, and I was very anxious. I specially invited a detoxification expert."
Hearing this, Zhao Guangzong's eyes were filled with joy. "Oh, where is this person? Quickly bring him to see me."
"He is waiting outside the mansion." Wu Datian bowed and turned to leave. After a short while, he returned with an old man.
The old man was wrapped in a sheepskin jacket, his beard was grizzled, and his face was as if carved by knife marks. Judging by the traces of time, he was at least sixty, if not seventy years old.
"General Zhao, this is Old Bang Uncle, an old hunter from outside the city. I have known him for many years, and he is skilled in detoxifying all kinds of poisons."
Old Bang Uncle stepped forward and bowed to Zhao Guangzong. "Greetings, General."
Zhao Guangzong looked at the old man, a look of doubt in his eyes. While it was true that desperate times called for desperate measures, he still had to be cautious.
"Old man, can you really detoxify?"
Old Bang Uncle looked up at Zhao Guangzong. He obviously knew that Zhao Guangzong didn't trust him. He smiled slightly.
"General, I know you don't believe me, and I don't blame you. However, any poison used by the people of Pingzhou city, I can detoxify. Even if it is the poison of the entire Daguotian dynasty, there are only a handful of poisons I don't know."
Seeing Old Bang Uncle's confidence, Zhao Guangzong looked at Wu Datian again.
Wu Datian quickly explained, "General, Old Bang Uncle speaks the truth. Old Bang Uncle's family has been hunters for generations. They usually solve their own minor ailments, and over several generations, they have researched various poisons."
"When Old Bang Uncle was young, he also served as a military doctor, accompanying us on campaigns. Later, when he got old, he retired to hunt."
Hearing Wu Datian's explanation, Zhao Guangzong nodded, and he was finally at ease. Su Dan Novel Network.
Zhao Guangzong accompanied Old Bang Uncle into the inner room. Old Bang Uncle stepped forward, examined Liu Rumei's complexion, and felt her pulse. A hint of relief appeared on his face.
"Generals, this poison is from a spider, called the Wolf's Head Spider."
"This spider venom is not common. Its toxicity is mild and not fierce, but it will cause the body to fester and die."
After speaking, he stood up.
He walked out of the outer room, picked up a brush, and wrote a few lines. "Go and get the herbs according to this prescription. Three doses will be enough to cure it."
Zhao Guangzong was overjoyed. While ordering someone to quickly fetch the herbs, he took out a bank note for three thousand taels and solemnly handed it to Old Bang Uncle. "Old man, you are a great benefactor to our entire army. Please accept this bank note."
Old Bang Uncle smiled and waved his hand. "I won't take the money. Back when I served in the army, I was fortunate enough to serve under Lord Liu. I still cannot forget Lord Liu's kindness to me. How could I accept money for treating his daughter?"
So there was such a connection. Zhao Guangzong no longer politely refused. He arranged for someone to prepare wine and food for him and invited him to stay for a meal and lodging. This time, Old Bang Uncle agreed.
After everything was settled, Xiao Qing came to see Zhao Guangzong. "General Zhao, please send a message to Wannian City to inform my master that Miss has returned."