It was common knowledge in Sheng Huang City that the proprietors of the Four Great Medical Halls showed no favoritism to anyone.
All patients who sought treatment at the Four Great Medical Halls were treated equally, and there was no possibility of using money to cut the line.
It was precisely this impartiality and benevolence that had earned the Four Great Medical Halls such an excellent reputation in Sheng Huang City.
The arrival of Wang Can, the proprietor of the Miraculous Hands Pavilion, had stirred up quite a stir within the Zhao family.
Whether it was those in the courtyard or those inside the house, everyone marveled at the incredible luck of Eldest Daughter Ji, to actually be able to invite the proprietor of the Miraculous Hands Pavilion.
Whispers and murmurs filled the courtyard. Madam Zhao, her body weakly supported on a chair, her face gradually losing its color, was as pale as the sickly, frail face of Ji Ziyan lying unconscious on the bed.
As for the young doctor standing by, his composure had crumbled the moment he saw Wang Can.
His legs went weak as he knelt on the ground, his voice trembling as he pleaded, "I, I am not a doctor from the Miraculous Hands Pavilion. I, I am merely a lowly veterinarian. It was, it was the Zhao family who stuffed a large sum of silver into my hands to have me diagnose the First Madam of the Zhao family..."
Madam Zhao flinched, her heart clenching painfully.
Ji Zizhao, who had already sat by the bedside and was fiercely protecting Ji Ziyan, wished she could skin and dismember every member of the Zhao family. "The Zhao family is truly remarkable, to have hired a veterinarian to treat my third sister. I wonder if the Zhao family intentionally wishes to delay my third sister's condition, or if the Zhao family members regularly consult veterinarians?"
Not only had they harmed her third sister to such an extent, but they had also resorted to a veterinarian to humiliate her...
If she claimed the Zhao family was not trying to disregard human life, Ji Zizhao was willing to chop off her own head and use it as a chair.
Grand Tutor Zhao's expression darkened, and he looked at Madam Zhao beside him with confusion.
Madam Zhao trembled, and tears began to well up in her eyes.
"I, I had no idea that the doctor the Zhao family had been seeing was actually a fraud. Today's events are all thanks to the proprietor Wang of the Miraculous Hands Pavilion. Otherwise, who knows how long our Zhao family would have been deceived by that charlatan!"
Madam Zhao was exceptionally clever. Since the young doctor had been exposed, she decided to abandon him without hesitation.
Grand Tutor Zhao naturally believed his wife. "Guards! Drag this impostor who dared to deceive the Grand Tutor's manor out and hand him over to the Fengtian Prefecture for punishment!"
The young doctor looked at Madam Zhao, who was kneeling beside him, in shock. He never expected Madam Zhao to discard him so cleanly and decisively.
"Mmmph mmmph mmmph... mmmph mmmph..." The young doctor pointed furiously at Madam Zhao, wanting to defend himself, but before he could, a servant of the Zhao family covered his mouth and dragged him out of the room, leaving him no room to struggle.
Ji Zizhao watched the receding young doctor with cold eyes, unsurprised by Madam Zhao's act of discarding him after he had served his purpose.
A family that could harm their third sister to such an extent – what kind of decent people could they be?
"Even if our Zhao family was deceived by a charlatan, it does not change the fact that Eldest Daughter Ji took action against Ziyan, causing the death of my Zhao family's grandchild."
Madam Zhao seized the opportunity, embracing Grand Tutor Zhao's legs and weeping with all her might. "It was witnessed by the servants of our mansion that Eldest Daughter Ji pushed Ziyan into the pond. Little did we know that now, mother and child are both gone, yet Eldest Daughter Ji shamelessly attempts to frame the Zhao family. My lord, you must bring justice for Ziyan in this matter! Under no circumstances should you believe the sophistry of wicked people!"
Wang Can looked at Ji Ziyan, who lay unconscious on the bed, his eyes filled with worry.
Although he was not acquainted with Ji Ziyan, as she was the sister of the family's matriarch, neither the Four Great Medical Halls nor he could stand idly by.
With this thought, Wang Can walked towards the bedside.
Upon hearing Wang Can's footsteps, Madam Zhao's lips secretly curved into a slight smile.
She could easily accuse the proprietor of the Ji family's patron of lying in league with Eldest Daughter Ji. As long as she insisted on her version, no one could touch her.
After all, the proprietor of the Miraculous Hands Pavilion had been invited by Eldest Daughter Ji.
"Proprietor Wang of the Miraculous Hands Pavilion, please stay your steps. My third sister's injuries do not require Proprietor Wang's concern." Ji Zizhao saw through Madam Zhao's vile machinations at a glance.
The Four Great Medical Halls in Sheng Huang City were the result of her years of effort and dedication, achieving their current reputation and standing.
Ji Zizhao would absolutely not allow her hard work to become a stepping stone for Madam Zhao's attempts at framing and malicious accusations!
Her thoughts exposed, Madam Zhao, even with her back to Ji Zizhao, could not help but feel guilty.
Grand Tutor Zhao sternly questioned, "If that is the case, does Eldest Daughter Ji admit to harming my Zhao family's descendant?"
Even now, his mind was solely focused on his grandson!
Ji Zizhao's icy, sharp black eyes swept over Madam Zhao, who was kneeling on the ground, before she once again looked directly at Grand Tutor Zhao. "My third sister is severely injured, and every moment's delay is a greater danger. Since the Zhao family repeatedly makes excuses and shirks responsibility for my third sister's injuries, it would be most appropriate to find a physician whom the Zhao family trusts to conduct the examination."
Both Grand Tutor Zhao and Madam Zhao were stunned by her words.
Ji Zizhao paused before continuing, "I'm afraid we will have to trouble an imperial physician from the palace to make a visit."
Madam Zhao, who had been filled with apprehension, nearly burst into laughter at this.
Indeed, the ignorant and incompetent were so oblivious to the immensity of the heavens. Imperial physicians in the palace only treated the Emperor, Empress, and royal relatives. How could a mere daughter of the Ji family possibly invite one?
Grand Tutor Zhao let out a cold laugh, his patience completely gone as he stood up. "Even if Eldest Daughter Ji wishes to delay, she should find a more convincing reason. It appears further debate is unnecessary. Our Zhao family will hand this matter over to the Fengtian Prefecture for investigation."
With that, Grand Tutor Zhao turned to leave.
Ji Zizhao, who was sitting by the bedside, however, spoke softly, "Does Fourth Prince intend to stand by and watch without offering aid?"
A slightly raised voice caused everyone present to tremble.
Grand Tutor Zhao stopped abruptly, turning back to look at Ji Zizhao in disbelief.
Fourth Prince Xie Jinglan had always been acquainted with the wastrels of Sheng Huang City. Now, during the Zhao family's birthday celebration, Grand Tutor Zhao had asked his son, who only knew how to idly pass his days, to use his connections to invite the Fourth Prince.
Therefore, the Fourth Prince's presence was not a secret to the Zhao family.
Grand Tutor Zhao was a shrewd man. Even though the Fourth Prince had graced them with his presence, he had not spread the news of the Fourth Prince's arrival, keeping it strictly confidential. This was all in order to present himself well before the Fourth Prince, letting him know that the Zhao family valued him as a person, not merely for his title.
So...
Even his own daughter was kept in the dark about this matter, how did Eldest Daughter Ji know?!