"What do you mean 'guilty conscience'? Young lady, what is the meaning of your wild accusations? The Du family has no enmity with you, why do you slander our people!"
Master Du's eyes showed anger.
Madam Du behind him only held Du Qingyue and cried, saying nothing.
Everyone present was in a state of confusion.
Magistrate Yang glanced at Master Du, then at his subordinate, Gao Lei.
Old Suan Shenmou's eyes narrowed coldly.
He seemed to understand something.
Gao Lei lowered his head, not daring to speak, let alone meet his superior's gaze.
Beside them, Luo Muchen, who had been watching Gu Qianying, held the sleeping child in his arms.
He said nothing.
But from his clear eyes, it was evident that he had guessed the general outline of some matters.
Instead of refuting Master Du's words,
Gu Qianying turned to Magistrate Yang and asked, "Magistrate, is the Du family also from a family of physicians?"
Magistrate Yang nodded. "Yes, that's right. The former Old Master Du was also a physician with profound medical skills, known as the Saint of Medicine by the people of the world. The Du Medicine Pavilion he founded was once a renowned medical hall. Later, after Old Master Du passed away, the Du Medicine Pavilion was not as prosperous as before."
"And now, if I'm not mistaken, after Young Master Luo's title of God of Medicine became famous in the capital, the Du family's Du Medicine Pavilion's business has become even more dismal."
Gu Qianying continued along the lines of Magistrate Yang's words.
Magistrate Yang nodded.
"Therefore, today's events, which seem ordinary, are actually part of a scheme. Miss Du was hit on the forehead by my little brat, causing her injury. This incident was an accident within the overall plan. As early as when Miss Du came here to participate in the medical competition of the Poisonous Doctor's Sacred Hall, the Du family's entire plan had already begun to be implemented."
With that said,
Gu Qianying walked to Miss Du, Du Qingyue, and reached out to take her pulse again. After putting her hand down,
Gu Qianying asked again, "Miss Du, before you left the manor, did you take any decoction to treat your skin condition?"
Du Qingyue let go of Madam Du and nodded at Gu Qianying. "Yes, I drank it. I was afraid that others would see my condition, so I specifically drank the medicine before going out to prevent embarrassment. This medicine's effects can last for an hour."
As she spoke, Du Qingyue blushed and lowered her head.
Having contracted an unspeakable illness, she was reluctant for others to know.
Even more so, she didn't want Young Master Luo to know.
"In that case, this matter is also understandable."
Gu Qianying looked at Du Qingyue. "The *Cuscuta chinensis* in the decoction you drank before leaving the house was intentionally increased in dosage, and the person who deliberately increased it calculated every step precisely, including when the poison would take effect after you left the house and when you would meet Young Master Luo."
At this point,
Gu Qianying turned her gaze to the little maid beside her.
"Of course, to be able to accurately track your whereabouts and plan precisely when you would arrive at the Poisonous Doctor's Sacred Hall, when Young Master Luo would appear, and when you would strike up a conversation with Young Master Luo, such a meticulous plan would be impossible without someone monitoring you."
She raised her slender finger and pointed at the little maid. "Therefore, you... are the one who monitored Miss Du, and you were also the one who, as instructed by Master Luo, lured your young lady to proactively strike up a conversation with Young Master Luo!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the little maid's face turned pale.
Du Qingyue clutched the letter hidden in her sleeve.
Her expression was also very unpleasant.
When she left the house, she had indeed followed her maid's advice and brought the love letter written to Young Master Luo with her.
The plan was to give him the love letter when she saw him.
But she was inexplicably hit on the forehead by a child.
The love letter had no chance to be delivered.
After understanding Gu Qianying's words,
Du Qingyue, with red eyes, looked at Master Du, her lips trembling. "Father, all my medicine was prescribed by you personally, and my illness was also treated by you personally. Why... why did you want me to die! I am your own daughter!"
"Qingyue, don't listen to this person's nonsense! She's just trying to clear her son of the crime of harming you."
"Heh!"
Gu Qianying laughed, and she looked at Master Du with cold eyes. "My son injured your daughter, and it is indeed his fault. If your daughter wants revenge, she can hit him with a stone, or beat him, and I will not complain."
"But... one matter is one matter. From the day you planned to ruin Young Master Luo's reputation during the medical competition in the Poisonous Doctor's Sacred Hall, Master Du, you made ample preparations, such as... sending people to investigate Young Master Luo's habits, bribing officials in the yamen, and... bribing those who deliberately attacked Young Master Luo verbally in the crowd!"
As she said this, Gu Qianying's clear eyes swept over those in the crowd who were trying to slip away.
Three men in ordinary robes.
With a glance from Gu Qianying,
Duan Xifeng immediately took action.
He kicked Du Yuhang away. As Du Yuhang cried out in pain, clutching his lower back, Duan Xifeng swiftly charged into the crowd.
With a palm strike, he instantly knocked the three men to the ground.
"We don't know anything. Master Du made us do it. Great hero, spare our lives."
One of the injured men knelt at Duan Xifeng's feet and begged for mercy, revealing the truth.
The crowd was astonished.
They had initially thought it was just a woman's wild talk.
But now that it had been verified, everyone was surprised.
Master Du's face was like a palette.
But facing the crowd, he still refused to admit it. "Nonsense! Even a tiger doesn't eat its cubs. How could I do such a despicable thing with my daughter's life!"
Master Du stood tall and faced the crowd. "Although our Du Medicine Pavilion is not what it used to be, our Du family has always acted with integrity. How could we do such a morally bankrupt thing? Everyone, don't listen to this woman's nonsense!"
Saying this, Master Du pointed at the three men Duan Xifeng had beaten.
"They were forced to confess under duress."
Turning, he looked at Magistrate Yang. "Magistrate, these people are acting so presumptuously in front of you. This is a contempt of your authority. Are you just letting them be so reckless?"
"This..."
In a few words, the tide turned.
Master Du shifted the blame to Gu Qianying and the others.
The surrounding crowd looked at her with different expressions.
"Damn it! You guys!"
Duan Xifeng, not good with words, could not bear to see his little sister slandered and became enraged.
He angrily stepped forward, intending to beat Master Du.
But he was stopped by a glance from Gu Qianying.
"Master Du, the word 'contempt' is a bit too strong. I see that this gentleman and this young lady seem to be from the martial world. People from the martial world are uninhibited and can be understood. Furthermore, I believe this matter is no longer just the Du family's internal affair, but also concerns the reputation of my Luo family."
Luo Muchen faced Magistrate Yang. "I request the magistrate to uphold justice for our Luo family."
Luo Muchen cupped his hands in a salute to Magistrate Yang.
Magistrate Yang hurriedly reached out to support Luo Muchen's wrist, flattered.
"Young Master Luo, there's no need for such formality. This matter concerns your reputation, and I, as the magistrate, naturally cannot stand by idly."
With that said,
Magistrate Yang released Luo Muchen.
He ordered the yamen runners behind him, "Come here. Since Master Luo and this young lady each have their own version of events, and this matter concerns the Luo family's reputation, I have decided to bring all members of the Du family and this young gentleman and young lady back to the yamen for a thorough interrogation."
Magistrate Yang glanced at Gu Qianying and Duan Xifeng.
His subordinates stepped forward.
"My lord! This commoner has something to say."
At this moment, Madam Luo suddenly walked over and knelt at Magistrate Yang's feet.
Seeing Madam Luo blocking Magistrate Yang's path,
Master Du became flustered.
"Ignorant woman, why are you causing trouble? Hurry back."
Master Du pulled Madam Du, urging her to get up.
"Slap!"
Madam Du slapped Master Du across the face and rebuked him. "Don't touch me!"
Master Du was stunned.
Madam Du's eyes turned red, and tears welled up in her eyes.
She kowtowed to Magistrate Yang. "Magistrate, I can testify that everything this young lady said is true, and..."
Madam Du pointed at the three beaten men in front of her. "These three are the three guards of our Luo family, and normally, these three directly obey my husband."
Saying this, Madam Luo burst into tears.
She angrily pointed at Master Du, faced Magistrate Yang, and tearfully accused Master Du of various wrongdoings, stating that for years, her husband had outwardly shown concern for their daughter, but in reality, he often used Du Qingyue as his test subject for medicine.
The crowd was shocked by what Madam Luo revealed.
"How can there be such cruel parents!"
"Exactly, it's too inhuman!"
The crowd began to point fingers at Master Du.
Master Du was furious. He couldn't stand it and proceeded to beat and kick Madam Du in public.
The crowd was shocked.
"Ahhh..."
Madam Du cried and knelt on the ground, covering her head.
Du Qingyue cried and rushed over.
"Stop hitting her, Mother!"
Du Qingyue protected Madam Du, shielding her.
Master Du, in his fury, kicked Du Qingyue several times.
The crowd was stunned, and no one stepped forward to intervene.
They were neither members of the Du family nor busybodies.
"Stop!"
"Stop it quickly!"
Two voices rang out at this moment.
Gu Qianying and Luo Muchen stepped forward to intervene.
Luo Muchen, a graceful gentleman, used his words, not his fists.
While persuading,
Gu Qianying directly took action.
Master Du was kicked away by her, his plump body landing on the ground with a thud, unable to get up for a long time.
The truth behind Miss Du's poisoning was revealed.
Master Du's plan failed, and not only did he not ruin Luo Muchen's reputation, but he himself was disgraced.
He was so angry that he convulsed and was eventually carried away by members of the Du family.
Du Yuhang, for poisoning his sister, committed a heinous crime and was arrested.
After Madam Du and Du Qingyue left together,
Magistrate Yang dealt with the yamen runners who had been bribed by the Du family.
The matter of the Du family concluded.
Among the onlookers, some left, while others remained.
"Alright, the matter is over. Shall we have a competition, and the loser marries the winner?"
Gu Qianying looked at Luo Muchen and said this with a half-smile.
"..."
Luo Muchen was stunned.
"What? Are you afraid I'll eat you?"