The crowd turned towards the source of the voice.
There, Nangong Li, clad in a magnificent brocade robe, strode in with a folding fan in hand.
Behind Nangong Li, Bai Qi, dressed in a black robe, pushed Nangong Mo forward.
Nangong Mo, at this moment, wore a snow-white robe and no expensive adornments. Yet, an aristocratic aura emanated from him.
His skin, in the stark white of his robe, was like the pure white snow lotus in the Kunlun Mountains. His eyes resembled the sacred waters of the Tianshan peak, cool and aloof.
As Bai Qi pushed him forward, Nangong Mo's gaze paused on Gu Qianying. He then swept his cold eyes over everyone present before speaking in a low voice, "Those who falsely accused the Wangfei shall be dragged out and beaten to death!"
"Yes!"
Bai Qi stepped forward.
Several hidden guards followed.
Among the crowd, those who had mocked Gu Qianying and insisted on pinning the theft on her, particularly the women among the contestants, were instantly terrified.
Some, in their fear, immediately knelt on the ground, weeping and begging for mercy.
At this moment, seeing Nangong Mo's arrival, Nangong Xuanning, overjoyed, excitedly ran to Nangong Mo's side and stood beside him. "Yes! Drag them all out and beat them to death!"
"Sir, this is the Poisonous Doctor's Sacred Hall. I, an old man, do not care who you are. You have no right to control anyone here, nor do you have the right to beat anyone here to death!"
One of the elders, an older man dressed in green, took two steps forward, blocking Bai Qi's path and preventing him from apprehending anyone.
His gaze was slightly angered, and he did not show any regard for Nangong Mo and his entourage.
To him, the rules of their Poisonous Doctor's Sacred Hall had always been the same: regardless of how noble the other party's status, even if it were the current Emperor, anyone who entered their hall must abide by their rules. Equality for all.
Simultaneously, as his words fell, over a dozen young medicine boys, clad in light-colored robes, rushed in from outside and stood on either side of the two elders.
"Haha! Let's talk things over peacefully. What's the matter? Come, everyone, please sit down and let's calmly discuss today's events, shall we?"
Nangong Li attempted to smooth things over with a jovial tone.
While most of the Poisonous Doctor's Sacred Hall personnel were martial artists, their backgrounds were far from simple.
Despite their noble status and influence, these royal princes would still incur unnecessary trouble if they were to directly confront the people within the Poisonous Doctor's Sacred Hall.
Therefore, he believed that everything should be discussed amicably.
However... someone else did not share this sentiment.
"Hmph!"
A cold sound escaped Nangong Mo's lips. His clear eyes turned towards the elder who spoke. "Bai Qi! What are you waiting for!"
Bai Qi and several hidden guards immediately drew their long swords.
The medicine boys opposite them quickly drew the concealed short weapons they always carried.
Amidst the glint of blades and the flash of swords.
Several medicine boys fell dead.
Two hidden guards sustained minor injuries.
A moment later.
The sounds of fighting here alerted the other elders within the Poisonous Doctor's Sacred Hall.
The Hall Master, along with several medicine boys, also burst in.
Just as everyone assumed another inevitable brawl and had already retreated to the sides.
The Hall Master, Meng Qinghua, calmly invited Nangong Mo and his group to the main hall.
This naturally included Gu Qianying, those involved in the theft and fighting, and those who had spoken ill of the matter.
Everyone also assumed that Nangong Mo would remain and deal with those who had gossiped.
But to everyone's surprise, Nangong Mo, the decisive prince, said nothing, merely ordering Bai Qi to push him towards the main hall.
After everyone entered.
Hall Master Meng first had his personal medicine boys prepare cups of hot tea for Nangong Mo and his entourage. He then ordered the medicine boys to drag out those whom Nangong Mo intended to punish, administer eighty strokes of the cane, and expel them from the Poisonous Doctor's Sacred Hall. He also commanded all medicine boys, both inside and outside the hall, not to allow those gossiping women to set foot within the Poisonous Doctor's Sacred Hall again.
Concurrently, those who had fought with Nangong Mo's hidden guards were also brought out for a lesson. Afterward, he had his personal medicine boys lead a few people to thoroughly search the beds and belongings of all the contestants.
After a long while.
The valuable medicinal herbs lost within the Poisonous Doctor's Sacred Hall were found.
The thief was one of the contestants who was about to enter the third round of assessment.
Her identity was the daughter of a common physician, named Yan Luo.
When she was apprehended by two medicine boys, she claimed she only wanted to win first place, which led her to commit such a heinous act.
Her explanation was riddled with loopholes. Just as the Hall Master was about to detain her for further investigation, she mysteriously died that same night.
The incident of Gu Qianying being wrongly accused of theft was thus nearing its conclusion.
However, in line with Nangong Mo's modus operandi, those who had been aggressive towards Gu Qianying were all given a severe beating.
Among them, those who had spoken most harshly had their tongues cut out by Nangong Mo's order.
As for those who had made milder sarcastic remarks, after receiving eighty strokes of the cane from the Hall Master's men and then being beaten by Nangong Mo's men, they lost the strength to open their eyes and fainted on the spot.
After the Hall Master had handled all matters, he expelled everyone from the main hall except for Nangong Mo and his group.
Gu Qianying and Nangong Xuanning remained.
Several people gathered around a table.
Fine wine and delicacies were served.
Nangong Mo sat opposite the Hall Master.
Two jars of good wine were placed before Hall Master Meng.
Facing Nangong Mo.
He tore off the human skin mask he had worn for years, revealing a delicate and handsome face.
"A'mo, long time no see."
His voice was no longer hoarse; when he spoke, it carried a more cheerful tone.
Looking at him as he gazed at Nangong Mo like an old friend he hadn't seen in years.
Gu Qianying, Nangong Xuanning, and Nangong Li were all stunned.
Gu Qianying furrowed her brows.
In her past life, she had met Hall Master Meng and worked with him for many years, yet she had never imagined that an elder who usually appeared very serious and weathered... would be such a handsome young man?
And this person seemed to be an old acquaintance of Nangong Mo.
Her gaze shifted, turning towards Nangong Mo.
When did this prince, who had difficulty moving, become acquainted with the Hall Master of the Poisonous Doctor's Sacred Hall?
"She is the Wangfei I will soon marry."
Nangong Mo looked at Hall Master Meng, not engaging in pleasantries, but simply reintroducing Gu Qianying's identity.
Hall Master Meng's expression paused for a moment. After glancing at Gu Qianying again, he smiled and said, "So, A'mo, you have a request for me?"
"Waive the third round of assessment, and the ultimate winner is her!"