Chapter 224 My Duties
“He secretly collected evidence that Consort Hui had bribed Imperial Physician Li and presented it to the Emperor, which is why the Emperor made a decision so quickly.”
Ye Wanning stopped in her tracks, her heart filled with mixed emotions. Pei Zhi was still protecting her secretly, just like before, but why wouldn't he explain to her face?
Ye Wanning took the medicine back to the Heritage Hall and asked Chuntao to deliver it to the Pei residence. She then told the guard at the gate, "Tell Lord Pei that I understand his intentions and thank him for his help this time."
"You don't need to do things for me in secret anymore; I can handle things myself."
Chun Tao nodded and took the medicine to the Pei residence. Pei Zhi was handling official business when he received the medicine. He opened the bottle, and the familiar herbal scent warmed his heart, causing a faint smile to appear on his lips.
Ye Wanning does have feelings for him, but she's still misunderstanding him.
Even after Consort Hui's downfall, the remaining forces of the Wei family were still unwilling to give up and turned their revenge against the Jiangnan branch of the Heritage Hall.
That morning, as soon as the apprentices of the Jiangnan branch opened the door, more than a dozen thugs carrying sticks rushed in.
Before anyone could speak, the thugs smashed the medicine cabinets and herbs, shouting, "The Heritage Center is a cult clinic! They use evil magic to harm people! Everyone come and see!"
The apprentices tried to stop them, but the thugs wouldn't listen and started beating them with sticks. Several apprentices were beaten black and blue and lay on the ground unable to move.
The news quickly reached the capital. Ye Wanning was teaching her apprentices when she heard about it, and her face immediately darkened: "Chuntao, prepare the carriage! I'm going to Jiangnan!"
She grabbed her medicine box, her tone firm and unwavering: "Chen Sheng, you stay in the capital to manage the Heritage Museum. Send a telegram immediately and have the Prefect of Jiangnan stabilize the situation."
"Miss, it's too dangerous! Those thugs are desperate criminals, you can't go!" Chun Tao stamped her feet anxiously.
“I built the Jiangnan branch, and the apprentices are my people. If I don’t take care of them, who will?” Ye Wanning’s eyes were resolute. “I am a doctor, and the injured need me. This is my duty.”
That afternoon, Ye Wanning, along with several of her skilled apprentices, rode swiftly towards Jiangnan.
When they arrived at the branch hospital, the clinic was in complete disarray: the medicine cabinets were shattered, medicinal herbs were scattered all over the floor, and the injured apprentice was lying in the back room, pale-faced and still bleeding from his wounds.
"Madam Ye! You've finally arrived!" An uninjured apprentice ran over crying.
Ye Wanning took out silver needles and herbs and quickly treated the wounds. She used acupuncture to stop the bleeding of the apprentice who was bleeding heavily, applied crushed Panax notoginseng and Angelica sinensis, and wrapped the wound with bandages.
The bone was broken, and she carefully repositioned it, securing it with a splint. Her movements were clean and efficient, completely disregarding the chaos around her.
The apprentices looked at her and gradually felt more confident.
After treating the wounded, Ye Wanning stood up and stared coldly at the smashed clinic: "Investigate, who sent you here?"
The thugs they had just caught stubbornly insisted, "Nobody did this! We just didn't like you guys and wanted to teach you a lesson!"
"Is that so?" Ye Wanning snorted coldly and gently pricked a silver needle into the thug's body.
The thug immediately howled in pain, his whole body convulsing: "I'll talk! I'll talk! It was Boss Zhang from the Wei family's company who sent us!"
"He said if we smashed up the heritage hall, everyone would get a hundred taels of silver, and we'd also be allowed to spread rumors!"
Ye Wanning understood immediately; it was indeed the remnants of the Wei family retaliating.
"Chuntao, go and invite the prefect of Jiangnan," she said.
The prefect of Jiangnan, surnamed Wang, had his mother's chronic illness cured by Ye Wanning, and he held her in high esteem. Upon receiving the news, he immediately led his constables to the scene.
"Madam Ye, I'm so sorry, you've suffered such injustice!" Prefect Wang was furious when he saw the terrible scene.
“Prefect Wang, arrest Boss Zhang and these thugs, and clear the name of the Heritage Center,” Ye Wanning said.
"No problem!" Prefect Wang ordered, "Arrest the thugs! Then arrest Boss Zhang and investigate his residence!"
The constables quickly arrested Boss Zhang and found his written order to send thugs to cause trouble, as well as receipts for money given to the thugs.
"The evidence is conclusive!" Prefect Wang declared. "Mr. Zhang has committed assault and murder, and spread false rumors, his crimes are compounded! He shall be given fifty strokes of the cane and exiled three thousand li!"
"Each of the thugs involved in the disturbance shall be given sixty strokes of the cane!"
The bailiffs complied immediately.
Prefect Wang posted another notice to clarify the rumors surrounding the heritage center. Upon seeing the notice, the people discussed among themselves: "Boss Zhang is truly despicable!" "That local thug is wicked!"
People also came to the heritage center to help with cleaning and repairs. Within a few days, the Jiangnan branch reopened.
This incident didn't diminish the reputation of the Heritage Center; on the contrary, it made it even more renowned. Because of Ye Wanning's courage and medical skills, even more people came to seek treatment there.
Seeing the branch campus bustling with activity again, Ye Wanning breathed a sigh of relief. Little did she know, on her way to Jiangnan, she had been pursued several times.
Thanks to Pei Zhi's secret guards who protected her, she escaped danger.
That night, Ye Wanning stayed at an inn. Late at night, she heard noises outside. Just as she was about to get up, she heard the sound of fighting, which quickly stopped.
The next morning, she saw several thugs lying unconscious at the entrance of the inn, with signs of a struggle on their bodies, but she didn't know who had saved her.
It wasn't until they returned to the capital and saw the token on the waist of Pei Zhi's bodyguard that they recognized it as the Pei family's mark.
"Chuntao, take this envelope to Lord Pei," Ye Wanning said to her maid.
The letter contained only a few lines: "Many thanks to Lord Pei for his help. The entire Heritage Hall is grateful. If you ever need anything in the future, Your Excellency, I will certainly do my best to assist you."
Pei Zhizheng was working when he saw the letter. A long-lost smile appeared on his lips as he carefully put the letter away.
During her trip to Jiangnan, Ye Wanning learned from local ruffians that the Wei family had an old residence there, which contained account books detailing their collusion with remnants of the previous dynasty.
This ledger is very important; finding it will allow them to completely bring down the remaining members of the Wei family. Ye Wanning didn't tell anyone and decided to check it alone late at night.
She knew it was dangerous, but she didn't want to let this opportunity slip by.
That night, it was so dark you couldn't see your hand in front of your face. Ye Wanning changed into black clothes, took a flashlight, and headed straight for the old Wei family residence.
The old house was long abandoned, overgrown with weeds, and quite eerie. Following the directions given by the thug, she found the small courtyard behind the old house, where there was a secret room.
Ye Wanning used a silver needle to unlock the door to the secret room and went inside. The room was dark, damp, and filled with a musty smell.
She searched for a long time and found a wooden box in the storage room, inside which was the account book.
But as soon as she got her hands on the ledger, the door to the secret room was locked from the inside. Footsteps and a cold laugh came from outside: "Ye Wanning, you really came! This is a trap!"
Ye Wanning's heart sank. She gripped the ledger tightly and tried to rush out, but the door was locked, and there were more than a dozen armed men outside. She couldn't possibly defeat them.
The people outside started banging on the door, and it looked like it was about to be broken open. Ye Wanning retreated to the corner, feeling a sense of despair: Was she going to die here today?
Just then, the sound of fighting came from outside. Then, the door to the secret room was kicked open, and a familiar figure rushed in—it was Pei Zhi!
He was covered in blood, holding a long sword, and dressed in black, clearly having sneaked in undetected.
"Wan Ning, are you alright?" Pei Zhi came over and pulled her up.
Ye Wanning looked at him, her eyes instantly reddening: "I'm fine." She held up the ledger, "I found it!"
Pei Zhi breathed a sigh of relief and pulled her away, saying, "Let's go!"
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