Chapter 577: Chapter 202 Regrettable
Two days later, a major incident occurred at Shengjing Medical Practice.
Envoy Cui Min of the Hanlin Medical Institute had been accused of framing colleagues and stealing medical prescriptions.
The entire Cui household was imprisoned overnight, along with Cui Min’s most trusted subordinate, Cao Huai, who also fell into great misfortune.
When this news spread throughout Shengjing, officials and commoners alike were astonished.
The affairs of the Imperial City were not well known to the common folk of West Street, but they had heard of Envoy Cui, who, as a commoner, had entered the Hanlin Medical Institute and compiled "Cui’s Medical Theories" to benefit all medical workers and the people. Now, he was suddenly exposed as a scoundrel with a beastly heart—
"’Cui’s Medical Theories’ were not even written by him, but by his colleague. That man has no shame, stealing others’ credit and causing them to be thrown into prison! What a disgrace, less than a beast!"
Official Hu stroked his long beard and shook his head: "Indeed, one should not hastily deem a man a gentleman from transient praise; nor should one deem a man a petty person from transient slander."
Sister Song spat out a mouthful of melon seed shells: "Speaking of which, the medical officer who was framed, last name Miao, shares the same surname as Old Miao on our street. Both practice medicine. I wonder if they knew each other before, maybe they’re distant relatives?"
The crowd discussed this, then turned to look at Renxin Medical Hall.
Behind the medicine cabinet, Lu Tong sat at a table, his head lowered, busily organizing the recorded medicinal records, and Mr. Miao was nowhere to be seen.
"Miss Yin Zheng," Tailor Ge asked, "why isn’t Old Miao here today?"
"We’re missing two herbal ingredients in the cabinet. Mr. Miao has gone to the Medical Practice to restock," Yin Zheng replied with a smile: "He won’t be back until after noon!"
...
Miao Liangfang, the person mentioned by the people of West Street, was at this moment standing before Shengjing Prison.
The prison cell was cold and gloomy, with the bright sunlight of summer blocked from the inside, like two distinctly separate worlds.
The prison guard handed him a brass token, pointing off into a direction deep within the prison.
Miao Liangfang took the token, offered his thanks, and looked towards the dark depths, hesitating for some reason, all the more as he approached the end.
Cui Min had been imprisoned.
The conspiracy of colluding with outsiders to frame him had been revealed; along with years of accepting bribes as the envoy, hoarding prescriptions, and using his position as an Imperial Physician to leak confidential imperial court news... Each and every charge was a grave crime.
When they earnestly wish to punish someone, there is always an abundance of charges.
He knew everything. Lu Tong had asked him if he still wanted to see Cui Min, as there may not be another chance in the future. After much consideration, Miao Liangfang had finally decided to come.
Dwelling on the past was pointless, and the things missed over ten years would not return. Yet, he still decided to see Cui Min one last time since there was something he did not understand and wanted to ask him about.
His cane echoed crisply in the quiet prison as Miao Liangfang, using his staff, slowly limped his way forward, stopping in front of a cell.
In a corner of the cell, a person was curled up.
The man wore a long robe that had become filthy from rubbing, his head bowed, silently sitting against the wall. Hearing the noise, he abruptly lifted his head, and on recognizing the face of Miao Liangfang, he was taken aback: "It’s you?"
"It is I."
Miao Liangfang put away his cane, held onto the cell bars, and gradually sat down on the ground.
Cui Min remained motionless, coldly looking at him: "Are you here to mock me?"
Miao Yaofang shook his head.
"Then you’re here to gloat," proclaimed Cui Min, lifting his scarred face, his expression bitter, "I haven’t yet congratulated you. You’ve laid out this plan for so long and have finally gotten your wish. Seeing me in such a state must be satisfying for you."
"Cui Min," Miao Liangfang looked at him, "I came only to ask you one question: why did you conspire against me in the Medical Officer Institute back then?"
Cui Min paused.
"It’s been over ten years, and I’ve never understood why you did that."
Cui Min looked at the man outside the prison cell.
In the gloomy prison, Miao Liangfang sat outside the cell in rough-spun clothes, his demeanor as calm as it had been back then.
But back then, he was inside the prison, while Cui Min was outside. A decade had flown by in the blink of an eye, and although their positions were reversed, they had come to this same ending.
Cui Min suddenly let out a cold laugh.
"Why?" he retorted: "Don’t you know the reason?"
Miao Liangfang frowned.
"Cui Min, I worked with you as an apprentice in the pharmacy, we took the spring examination together, and we both entered the Medical Officer Institute. Throughout the past, I, Miao Liangfang, can’t think of a single time I have wronged you. Why have you done this to me?"
"How have I wronged you?" Cui Min looked at him: "Just because you led me to take the spring examination and gave me the opportunity to enter the Medical Officer Institute, I should be grateful and indebted to you?"
He started laughing: "Stop dreaming! Your helping me was only to fulfill your own pretentious hero dream. You never considered my circumstances; you cared only for yourself, only wanting to show off!"