Jiang Wei walked up to the porridge stall.
The porridge vendor approached Jiang Wei with a distressed expression. "Boss, only a few people have come to collect our porridge today, and they even complained that it doesn't taste good." He glanced at the several large pots across the way, which were filled with porridge and meat, and were crowded with people.
Jiang Wei looked at the two pots of porridge that weren't very white and emitted a herbal aroma.
"It's alright, as long as everyone has food to eat." Jiang Wei followed the gaze and saw Hong Xinyue looking at her smugly.
At each of the city gates, many people were idly wandering around.
After confirming from afar that Jiang Wei was indeed the owner of the porridge stall next door.
They exchanged a glance, and immediately one of them collapsed to the ground.
His companions quickly helped him up and shouted loudly, as if afraid others wouldn't hear, "Oh dear... what happened?"
The person who lay down was rolling on the ground clutching his stomach, screaming very loudly.
As expected, curious onlookers gathered around to see what was going on.
"My stomach hurts so much, my stomach hurts so much!" The person rolling on the ground was rolling very hard, shouting all the while.
His companion quickly asked, "Did you eat something unclean?"
The onlookers hurriedly covered their stomachs. Everyone here was from Lanyu, and they all ate the same food. They were worried that they might also get sick!
"Is it because you ate the porridge given by the Prime Minister's daughter that you feel unwell?" someone asked impatiently.
In the crowd, someone else collapsed, saying, "Ouch... my stomach hurts too."
"What did you all eat?" their companion asked anxiously.
"I didn't eat much. I was just too hungry. There were too many people at Miss Hong's place, so I went to Xin Kang's place where no one was getting porridge and got some. Theirs was all black. I never expected my stomach to start hurting now."
Another person quickly chimed in, "I also thought there were too many people at the Prime Minister's porridge stall, so I figured as long as I could get enough to eat, I got the porridge from the side with fewer people."
Before long, people began to fall down one after another.
More and more people gathered to watch.
Hong Xinyue glanced at Jiang Wei and handed the spoon to a servant standing nearby.
He then walked over to those lying on the ground.
Hong Xinyue stood upright with her hands folded in front of her, displaying the poise and elegance befitting a noblewoman from a prominent family.
She walked into the crowd, and people made way for her.
She lowered her head slightly and asked with concern and gentleness, "What's wrong with you? Are you too hungry? Hurry up and go have some porridge so you don't have to wait in line."
Hong Xinyue clasped her hands tightly together. If it weren't for her reputation, she would never have stayed with these lowly people.
They had a foul, nauseating stench.
Hong Xinyue felt disgusted inside, but on the surface she still put on a good show.
The people around her praised her for being beautiful and kind-hearted, showering her with compliments.
"A lady from a noble family like Miss Hong, beautiful inside and out, is simply a model of aristocratic women." I don't know who said that.
Someone chimed in, "Indeed, Miss Hong is like a celestial maiden descended from the heavens to save us; she is a rare woman in this world."
"Yes, yes, it's truly our blessing to have met such a kind person as Miss Hong."
Hong Xinyue was quite pleased, and her concern became more genuine.
"You flatter me greatly. We are all citizens of the Great Xiao Dynasty. If any of you suffer misfortune, I will naturally help you without hesitation."
"Are you still able to walk? If not, I'll send someone to fetch a doctor for you. Just wait for me." Hong Xinyue said as she got up to make the arrangements.
The person on the ground struggled to say to Hong Xinyue, "Miss Hong, our condition is probably related to the porridge we drank this morning, because we all got porridge from the porridge stall over there and that's why we're like this."
"Did you all go over there to get some porridge?" one of the men asked them.
Those lying on the ground all said so.
"Then let a doctor come and take a look at you to see what's wrong. Don't delay in treating your condition," Hong Xinyue instructed.
"Thank you, Miss Hong, but we can't let this poisoning happen in vain. We have to find them and ask them why they harmed us. If they don't want to give out porridge, they don't have to. No one is forcing them."
The person lying on the ground struggled to walk towards Jiang Wei with the help of his companions.
After the crowd had all gone, Hong Xinyue followed behind.
A smug glint flashed in his eyes. Jiang Wei, you dare to offend me? You're dead!
Those who didn't have stomach aches helped their companions to Jiang Wei's side. "Pah... Merchants are greedy for profit, yet they also want a good reputation. If you don't want to give out porridge, then don't. Why make my brother eat your porridge and end up lying on the ground unable to get up?"
"Yes, Miss Hong personally served us porridge, worried that we wouldn't eat well, and even gave us meat. You only served a little porridge, and it made us sick. What are you up to?"
Everyone looked at Jiang Wei with disdain, wishing they could spit on her.
Those who were angry went up and smashed the two large pots of porridge that had already been cooked.
The crowd tried to push Jiang Wei aside, and even when Lian Sang tried to step forward, Jiang Wei stopped him, saying that they were all common people and they shouldn't be hurt.
Hong Xinyue stood behind, watching the commotion.
After everyone in front had vented their anger, Hong Xinyue stepped forward, feigning to mediate.
"Isn't this Miss Jiang from the Langzhong Mansion? What brings you to this porridge stall today? I thought you were too lazy to even come and visit these poor people because you couldn't earn any money." Hong Xinyue pretended to cover her mouth. "Oh dear... it's in a merchant's nature to pursue profit. We shouldn't expect Miss Jiang to do anything more. It's already incredibly generous of you to give away some porridge here. But you shouldn't have given them such bad porridge that made them all have stomach aches."
"Yes, we have no problem with you not distributing porridge, but why do you distribute porridge to harm us? We have no grudge against you."
As soon as Hung Hsin-yueh finished speaking, people immediately echoed her.
Just as they had agreed beforehand.
“If you don’t want to give out porridge, we won’t force you. You can take down your porridge stall today. But you have to take responsibility for those of us who feel unwell after eating your porridge.”
"Are you sure it was because you ate my porridge that you're like this?" Jiang Wei asked them.
Two pots of porridge were overturned on the ground, and the smell of herbs in the air became even stronger.
Everyone can smell it.
Someone immediately accused, "Smell your porridge. It has a strange smell. Who knows, it might be some poisonous herbs trying to harm us."
"Then tell me, what is it about you that I would want to kill?" Jiang Wei asked.
"My porridge does contain herbs, but they are all herbs for preventing epidemics and colds, and it is impossible for them to cause severe abdominal pain."
Jiang Wei looked at those people with a calm but unquestionable gaze, "Are you sure you ate my family's porridge before you acted like this?"
"If I don't tell the truth, and if I feel unwell in the future, I'll use the herbs here."
Jiang Wei pointed at them, "You are no longer qualified to use them."
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