Chapter 246 Favoritism

Su Ning jumped up and retorted, "Master didn't suspect you, he was just asking about the situation, don't talk nonsense!"

Liu Ruyan suddenly pointed at her: "I think you stole it! Last night when I went to the toilet, I clearly saw you go into the study and stay there for a while before coming out!"

"Su Ning, are you planning to steal your master's wife's manuscript and keep it for yourself?"

As soon as Su Ning finished speaking, the apprentices erupted in a commotion. Su Ning was slow-paced and rarely spoke, yet her medical skills had improved rapidly.

Many people who were already jealous of her whispered among themselves, "Really? Su Ning seems quite honest."

"You can know a person's face but not their heart; who knows what she's thinking?"

"I heard her father used to be an advisor to the Wei family, and the Wei family are rebels! Maybe she stole the manuscript to give to the remnants of the Wei family!"

Those last words pierced Su Ning's heart like a needle. Her face turned deathly pale, and tears streamed down her face: "I didn't!"

“My father was not a rebel! He was forced by the Wei family, and later, when he opposed their rebellion, they killed him! My master can testify to this!”

Ye Wanning frowned. She had never let Su Ning know about her background, nor had she mentioned it to anyone else.

I was afraid that someone would use this to stir up trouble, but I didn't expect Liu Ruyan to know and even say it at this critical moment.

"Enough!" Ye Wanning stopped everyone. "I know Su Ning's character; she would never do such a thing!"

"Anyone who dares to gossip again, get out of the Heritage Hall!"

But Liu Ruyan wouldn't let it go, lying on the ground crying and shouting, "Master, you're just being unfair! Su Ning must have stolen the manuscript!"

"If you don't investigate this thoroughly, you'll be protecting the remnants of the traitorous party!"

The farce escalated and soon reached Sun Chengzong's ears.

The next morning, Ye Wanning received an imperial decree ordering her to enter the palace.

Inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Sun Chengzong stood in the center of the hall, holding a memorial of impeachment in his hand, and said with righteous indignation: "Your Majesty, Ye Wanning has harbored remnants of the traitorous party!"

"Now, with the theft of the medical classic manuscript, it's clear they have ulterior motives and malicious intentions!"

"Your Majesty, I humbly request that you severely punish Ye Wanning, shut down the Heritage Hall, and arrest and interrogate Su Ning!"

Ye Wanning bowed and said, "Your Majesty, Su Ning's father is a descendant of loyal officials, not a member of the rebels."

"As for the theft of the manuscript, I am investigating it and no conclusion has been reached yet."

"Lord Sun, it is far too hasty to impeach me based on mere speculation."

"Hasty?" Sun Chengzong sneered. "In the entire Heritage Hall, apart from Su Ning, that remnant of the traitorous party, who else would dare to steal the manuscript?"

"Ye Wanning, you are clearly condoning her and wanting her to hand over the medical classic to the remnants of the Wei family, so that they can bring disaster to the court!"

The emperor frowned and looked at Ye Wanning: "Ye Wanning, this matter is of utmost importance. You must find out the truth as soon as possible."

"If it's truly related to Su Ning, I will never forgive her!"

Someone in the hall echoed, "Yes, we must get to the bottom of this!"

"Yes, Your Majesty," Ye Wanning replied, knowing perfectly well that Sun Chengzong wanted to use this incident to strike at her and force her to close the women's clinic.

Back at the Heritage Center, Ye Wanning locked herself in her study.

Recalling the details before the incident, she felt a burning desire to find out the truth.

Ye Wanning remembered that Liu Ruyan's room was right behind the study, so perhaps she could find some clues there.

While Liu Ruyan went out to fetch water, she tiptoed into Liu Ruyan's room.

The room was very basic, with only a bed and a worn-out table.

There was a bundle on the table. Ye Wanning opened it and found a few changes of clothes, a silver ingot, and a note inside.

The note read: "A dilapidated temple in the west of the city, the meeting at midnight."

Ye Wanning's heart sank: "It seems that Liu Ruyan really is colluding with outsiders."

She put the note back where it was and quietly left.

That evening, Ye Wanning changed into black clothes and arrived at the dilapidated temple ahead of schedule.

At midnight, Liu Ruyan appeared furtively, followed by two masked men.

"Did you bring the goods?" one of the masked men asked in a deep voice.

Liu Ruyan took out a manuscript from her bosom; it was "The Secret Essentials of the Green Bag".

"I brought it! Where's the money you promised me?" she pressed.

"Also, you said you would help me frame Su Ning and ruin her reputation!"

"You'll get your share of the silver." The masked man took the manuscript and handed over a heavy money bag.

"Su Ning has become a suspect and will be sent to jail soon."

"Ye Wanning will also be implicated, and the female medical training program will have to close down sooner or later!"

Upon hearing this, Ye Wanning could no longer contain herself and rushed in, shouting, "Liu Ruyan, how dare you!"

Liu Ruyan was startled and turned to run, but Ye Wanning stopped her.

Seeing that things were going badly, the two masked men drew their knives and slashed at Ye Wanning: "Since you've seen us, don't blame us for being impolite!"

Ye Wanning knew some martial arts, but with that little skill, how could she possibly deal with two masked men wielding weapons?

Not long after, her arm was cut and blood flowed freely.

It reached Sun Chengzong's ears.

Just then, several dark figures darted over and subdued the two masked men in a few moves.

Ye Wanning looked up and saw Pei Zhi's bodyguards.

"Dr. Ye, are you alright?" the head guard asked.

Ye Wanning ignored him and turned to look at Liu Ruyan, who was being held down: "Speak! Who are these two people?"

Why did you steal the "Secret Essentials of the Green Bag"?

Liu Ruyan was terrified and cried, "I don't know who they are! They found me and said that as long as I stole the manuscript, I could frame Su Ning."

"They gave me money and even offered to help me get a job as a female physician in the Imperial Hospital. I was confused for a moment and agreed."

Pei Zhi walked in from outside. He was dressed in a black night suit, his posture was straight, and his face was expressionless.

His gaze fell on Ye Wanning's bleeding arm, and his eyes suddenly darkened.

"Who told you to come alone?" Pei Zhi's voice carried a hint of barely perceptible anger.

Ye Wanning pursed her lips: "This is a matter for the Heritage Hall, I can handle it myself."

"Can you handle it?" Pei Zhi walked up to her, grabbed her arm, and frowned.

"If my guards had arrived a moment later, you would be dead by now."

He took out some medicine from his pocket, squatted down, and carefully bandaged her wound.

The touch of his fingertips was slightly cool, and when it touched the wound, Pei Zhi couldn't help but tremble slightly.

As his fingertips brushed against her wrist, Pei Zhi suddenly froze, his ears burning slightly.

He lowered his head and continued bandaging, his movements much gentler than before.

"I found out, those two masked men are remnants of the Wei family," Pei Zhi said while bandaging his wound.

"They stole the 'Qingnang Secret Essentials' in order to concoct poison from the prescriptions and murder court officials."

"Lord Pei, have the remnants of the Wei family not been eliminated yet?" Ye Wanning was startled.

“There are still some remnants of their forces, lurking in the shadows, waiting for their chance to strike.” Pei Zhi bandaged his wound and stood up.

"I'll send someone to handle this. You come back with me first."