A sharp, piercing scream shattered the tranquility, startling the birds perched in the forest.
On the main road, the first group to halt was that of Madam Ding. The sudden scream from a distance made everyone shudder.
"What happened?" Madam Ding frowned, her face weary as she fingered her prayer beads.
A servant went to inquire and the Ding family steward came back to report, "It seems to be from the group of that scholar, Xie Qikang, who was traveling behind us. Madam, what should we do?"
Madam Ding pursed her lips. "Send someone to check what's happening. We'll continue moving forward."
"Yes, Madam."
Ding Suman looked at her grandmother and asked, "Grandmother, shouldn't we stop to see if they need any help?"
Madam Ding gave her a glance. "We don't have a doctor with us. What help could we offer? Let's go."
If it weren't for Qi Qian's presence at the inn yesterday, she wouldn't have bothered interacting with a mere scholar and a merchant's daughter. They weren't worth her time. Especially since the interaction had failed to leave a good impression on Qi Qian and had instead caused embarrassment. It was a complete miscalculation.
Madam Ding's expression was displeased as she closed her eyes and rapidly moved the prayer beads through her fingers. Ding Suman, seeing this, dared not say more but glanced back once.
Meanwhile, Zhou Shi was in utter panic. Seeing Xie Qikang suddenly collapse and die before her eyes, she screamed in terror and tumbled out of the carriage, shouting for help. The Zhou family entourage was thrown into chaos.
Qi Qian's group approached slowly. Zhou Shi, realizing her husband's state, turned and stumbled towards them, falling to her knees in front of their procession and pleading for the young doctor's help.
Qin Liuxi lifted the curtain and looked out. Her keen vision quickly noted Zhou Shi's changed appearance, indicative of a recent death in the family. She glanced towards the carriage in the distance where Ling Rong stood holding her son, staring at the carriage interior, and understood the situation.
"Xie Qikang is dead. His crimes need investigating, but now he's dead without evidence," Qin Liuxi said to Qi Qian with a hint of schadenfreude.
Qi Qian's expression darkened.
Qin Liuxi got off the carriage and raised her hand, signaling Huo Lang and the others to let Zhou Shi approach. Zhou Shi crawled over, crying out, "Doctor, save him! My husband..."
"A doctor can only heal, not save a life. He is dead," Qin Liuxi replied coldly.
Zhou Shi stiffened, her lips trembling.
Before she could say more, the urgent sound of galloping hooves filled the air. Several riders in black uniforms with red sashes dismounted, approached Huo Lang, and after a brief exchange, looked towards Zhou Shi's group.
"Where is Xie Qikang of Huixian? We have received a report implicating him in several murders. He must come with us for a thorough investigation."
Zhou Shi's mind went blank, instinctively looking towards their carriage.
The carriage door was open, revealing Xie Qikang's body slumped against the wall, his face towards the door, eyes wide with terror, clearly dead but not at peace.
Qi Qian glanced at Qin Liuxi, his eyes filled with complex and profound meaning.
The guard sent by the Ding family witnessed the entire scene and quickly returned to report it accurately.
Madam Ding, upon hearing the news, tugged hard on her prayer beads, breaking the string and scattering the beads in the carriage, her eyes filled with fear. He really did not survive past three days?
Ding Suman's face was equally pale. She stammered, "Grandmother..."
That young doctor had not even taken the man's pulse but had already predicted his death. What did this indicate?
A divine doctor couldn't have done better! No, he was a fortune-teller!