Her long hair cascaded down, the ribbon fluttering in the wind. Though the human-skin mask remained, the woman's delicate features were revealed.
Everyone was shocked.
"She's a woman?"
The curses that had been hurled at her moments before now seemed stuck in their throats, unable to be spat out.
Luo Muchen's eyes widened in surprise.
He had never imagined that the "daddy" the little bun had been calling for was actually a woman.
If that was the case, then the little bun's earlier clamor in the carriage about finding a father for her mother was true?
"Miss Du suffers from a scrofulous ulcerous disease, this illness..."
Setting down Miss Du's skirt, Gu Qianying stood up and faced the crowd: "This illness is a contagious disease caused by scabies."
Her clear voice pulled Luo Muchen back from his thoughts.
"Ah? A contagious disease!"
The people around them recoiled in fear.
Even the little maid kneeling beside Du Qingyue turned pale, her hands touching the ground as she retreated.
Among those present, only Du Yuhang showed no surprise.
Gu Qianying caught his expression.
"This disease causes papules or small blisters to appear on the lower abdomen. Therefore, the rude behavior of this young lady just now was to verify the symptoms of this illness. Furthermore, one of the ingredients in the prescription used to treat this illness is *he shi*, and if the dosage of *he shi* is excessive, it can be poisonous."
As she spoke.
Luo Muchen pointed to Duan Xifeng and little Yi Hao, who stood obediently behind Gu Qianying: "From this, it can be seen that Miss Du's poisoning and death have nothing to do with them."
Upon hearing this.
The crowd erupted.
The constables present exchanged glances, unsure whether to continue apprehending the people.
They looked back at the leading constable.
The leading constable then glanced at Du Yuhang.
Du Yuhang gave him a look.
"Even if it's proven that you didn't poison Miss Du to death, this murder case was caused by you. Even if you are not the murderer, you are an accomplice! Guards, take all of them to the yamen!"
These illogical words became the constables' reason for arrest.
The people around them who understood the situation quickly moved far away.
They didn't want to get involved in such trouble.
"Speaking up for them is also a crime! Take them all away!"
"That's right! Why are you arresting them!"
A few people standing beside Luo Muchen, who were on good terms with him, were furious.
Since it had been proven they didn't kill anyone, why were they still being taken to the yamen? What logic was this!
"Speaking up for them is also a crime! Take them all away!"
The leading constable had no desire to argue with these commoners.
The maid Wuzi, unable to bear it, exclaimed: "Why are you arresting people arbitrarily? Do you know our young lady is..."
Before she could finish her words, she received a look from Gu Qianying.
Wuzi quickly shut her mouth.
"Who dares to touch them, try it!"
Duan Xifeng blocked Gu Qianying, his aura fierce and his eyes filled with murderous intent.
"You dare to stop me from arresting people alone? Hah! Arrest them!"
The leading constable drew his saber and slashed at Duan Xifeng.
Duan Xifeng, with a cold expression, engaged him in a fight.
Meanwhile, the constables who had received the order were struggling with the bystanders, and several people were injured.
And around Gu Qianying, it was all chaotic.
Even two constables stepped forward to apprehend her.
However, as they approached, their eyes met Gu Qianying's clear, cold gaze, and it felt as if a knife was at their own throats.
The constables immediately dared not apprehend Gu Qianying.
At this moment, Gu Qianying once again examined the characteristics of Du Qingyue's illness.
After the examination, she remained beside Du Qingyue, seemingly lost in thought.
The surrounding people kept their distance from Du Qingyue.
They were afraid of being infected.
In the midst of the chaos, Luo Muchen, who had been silent for a long time, raised his sleeve and took out a jade token, presenting it to the crowd.
"The jade token personally gifted by His Majesty is here. Do you still intend to arrest people arbitrarily?"
Upon seeing this jade token, everyone was stunned.
"What? Personally gifted by His Majesty?"
The crowd exclaimed, all looking at Luo Muchen.
Some among them doubted the authenticity of the item in Luo Muchen's hand.
"Real or fake?"
"Young Master Luo doesn't seem like someone who would lie."
"A few days ago, I heard from my father that our young emperor had some strange illness, which Young Master Luo cured."
"This jade token might have been given then."
"Yes, yes, it's possible."
"Being gifted this jade token also shows the weight Young Master Luo carries in the eyes of our young emperor and Empress Dowager Meng."
"Then should we kneel?"
A few murmuring commoners declared they would kneel.
However... the leading constable's face contorted with anger: "Just any broken thing can be passed off as a gift from His Majesty? What audacity! Guards..."
Before he could finish speaking, someone suddenly raised their hand and slapped the leading constable across the face.
The leading constable was stunned, and everyone else was equally surprised.
His cheek swelled, and the pain struck.
"Damn it, you dare to hit me! I..."
He raised his hand to retaliate, but upon seeing the person in front of him, he was so frightened that his arm trembled, and he immediately knelt: "Your subordinate greets you, sir."
County Magistrate Yang, a local official, had rushed over immediately after receiving a letter from the palace.
Seeing their superior kneel, the other constables dared not stand.
When the surrounding crowd saw the county magistrate, their murmurs quieted considerably.
"Young Master Luo, these fools are blind. Please be magnanimous and do not hold a grudge."
County Magistrate Yang addressed Luo Muchen respectfully.
"Magistrate Yang, this item was gifted by His Majesty. His Majesty said it could be used to exercise a privilege once. Therefore, I would like to ask Magistrate Yang to thoroughly investigate the death of Miss Du and clear the names of my friends, how about it?"
He held no official position in the court and preferred to keep a low profile.
Had it been any other day, he would not have produced this jade token and would have gone to the yamen with the constables.
The clear would remain clear; he believed that the truth would eventually come to light.
But now... for some reason, he couldn't bear to see the little bun and... his mother taken away by the constables like this.
Perhaps he felt a certain closeness to the little bun?
He handed the jade token to County Magistrate Yang, who smilingly agreed.
Just then, the jade token in Luo Muchen's hand was suddenly snatched away by someone.
He was startled and turned to meet Gu Qianying's cold eyes.
"Is this item a gift from the young emperor to you?"
As she asked this, Gu Qianying's mind flashed back to past events.
This jade token was clearly something she had given to Empress Meng, now Empress Dowager Meng, before she left.
Now, why had the young emperor re-gifted it to Luo Muchen?
Was it intentional on Empress Dowager Meng's part, or was it given casually?
It was very strange.
"Yes, it is a gift personally bestowed by His Majesty."
Luo Muchen's voice was gentle as he answered truthfully.
For some reason, when he looked at the woman before him, a very special feeling arose in his heart.
He couldn't articulate this feeling or understand it.
"What illness did the young emperor have?"
Gu Qianying did not return the jade token to Luo Muchen but continued to press.
"That... I am afraid I cannot disclose."
Luo Muchen adhered to his principles.
"If that's the case, then fine. I'll ask another question: can you take me into the palace?"
There were too many things to clarify.
Without revealing her identity, she wanted to enter the palace.
"Miss, this... I'm afraid I'm unable to help. If you wish to enter the palace, you can participate in the selection when the court widely recruits new consorts."
Gu Qianying: "..."
According to her informants, Luo Muchen was a man of rigid adherence to rules.
In other words, he was a blockhead, unadaptable.
Since she couldn't reason with Luo Muchen.
Gu Qianying changed her approach.
"In the medical competition of the Poisoned Doctor's Sacred Hall, if I register and defeat you in the end, can I be selected as an imperial physician and serve in the palace?"
"That is certainly possible."
Luo Muchen's voice remained as gentle as ever.
"If that's the case, then fine."
With that, Gu Qianying made up her mind.
"It's just... the medical competition of the Poisoned Doctor's Sacred Hall today probably cannot proceed as scheduled."
Luo Muchen sounded a little regretful.
Too many things had happened today, and the competition time had passed. It seemed they could only reschedule the medical competition for tomorrow.
"Today!"