Chapter 276 Giving Up One's Pursuit
Pei Zhi was encouraging her not to give up on her pursuits just because she was worried about affecting others.
"I understand." Ye Wanning nodded. "Please tell Lord Pei that I will think about it carefully."
After she finished speaking, Li Dequan responded and left.
Ye Wanning slowly returned to the Heritage Hall, lost in thought the whole way.
Qin Yue is right; she cannot back down because of a little difficulty.
The Western Regions spice therapy can save many patients, and she cannot give up on it.
But she was also worried that it would implicate Pei Zhi and Qin Yue.
Back at the Heritage Hall, Su Ning noticed that she was in a bad mood and quickly came up to her, asking, "Miss, what's wrong? Did your talk with Physician Qin not go well?"
Ye Wanning nodded and told Su Ning what had happened.
“Miss, I think Physician Qin is right,” Su Ning said. “You can’t give up just because Liu Yuan is making things difficult for you. Besides, the Prime Minister said he would help you, so don’t worry too much.”
Ye Wanning sat in the swivel chair and sighed softly, "I know. But I just don't want others to get hurt because of me."
“Girl, you’re too kind,” Su Ning advised. “But kindness doesn’t mean you can back down. Those bad people dare to bully you because they’re exploiting your weaknesses.”
"You should be stronger, like Physician Qin and the Prime Minister, and fight against those bad people together for what you want to do."
Ye Wanning remained silent. Su Ning's words had stirred some doubt in her heart.
Inside the Prime Minister's residence, Pei Zhi listened to Li Dequan's report: "Prime Minister, Doctor Ye and Physician Qin had an unpleasant conversation."
"Doctor Ye wanted to put aside the Western Regions spice therapy, but Physician Qin disagreed, and Doctor Ye seemed very sad."
Pei Zhi put down his pen, feeling a pang of heartache: "She's always like this, bearing everything on her own."
"Have someone keep an eye on her, so that Liu Yuan doesn't take the opportunity to cause her trouble."
"This servant understands."
Pei Zhi stood up and walked to the window, gazing at the pitch-black night outside.
He understood Ye Wanning's concerns and her kindness, and he hoped that she could be brave and not give up on her pursuit because of other people's opinions.
"I hope she can come to her senses," Pei Zhi muttered to himself.
Pei Zhi's defense of Qin Yue and Ye Wanning in court was soon discovered by his political rival, Wang Kun, the Minister of Revenue.
Wang Kun had always disliked Pei Zhi and was always looking for an opportunity to bring him down; this time, he finally got his chance.
The next morning, Wang Kun took a document of "evidence" to the palace to see the emperor.
"Your Majesty, I have something to report." Wang Kun knelt down with a thud. "The current Prime Minister, Pei Zhi, has misused public funds and shown favoritism towards Ye Wanning, a female doctor from the common people."
"He has been trying to win over the medical community for his own personal gain, which has already threatened the safety of Your Majesty. I beg Your Majesty to investigate this matter thoroughly!"
"Minister Wang, what evidence do you have to prove that Prime Minister Pei has embezzled and accepted bribes?" the emperor said. "Prime Minister Pei has always been honest and upright."
"Your Majesty, I have evidence." Wang Kun pulled out a stack of things from his robes and handed them over. "Please take a look at this!"
"This is a detailed list of the huge sums of money Ye Wanning received from the Prime Minister's residence. It clearly states that the Prime Minister's residence sent money and gifts to her heritage center on multiple occasions."
"Pei Zhi did this simply to win over Ye Wanning and use her influence in the medical field for personal gain."
The emperor took it and looked at it. The date, quantity, items, and the signature of the so-called "person in charge" all looked genuine.
After Wang Kun left, the emperor ordered an investigation into the authenticity of the accounts and summoned Pei Zhi to the palace.
Upon receiving the imperial decree, Pei Zhi immediately rushed to the palace. Seeing the emperor's unusual expression, he already had a pretty good idea of what was going on.
"Prime Minister Pei, do you know your crime?" The emperor threw the accounts in front of Pei Zhi.
Pei Zhi picked it up, glanced at it, and sneered, "Your Majesty, these accounts are fake."
"I did not provide Ye Wanning's heritage hall with a huge amount of funding; these are all fabrications."
"Fake?" The emperor frowned; the accounts looked extremely realistic.
“Your Majesty,” Pei Zhi said in a deep voice, “I did send some medicinal herbs to Doctor Ye as a thank you for treating my headache, not as a large donation.”
"I know nothing about the money and goods in the accounts; it is clear that someone has forged them to frame me."
"I have already sent people to investigate," the emperor said. "If it is found that the accounts are falsified, I will severely punish those who framed you."
"But you should rest at home until the results are in, and you don't need to attend court."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Pei Zhi replied and withdrew. He knew that the emperor suspected him.
Although he was not punished, he was temporarily stripped of his right to attend court.
After leaving the palace, Pei Zhi did not go straight home, but went to the Prime Minister's study to have people investigate the mastermind behind the scenes.
He knew perfectly well that Wang Kun was the one who did it.
The news quickly reached Ye Wanning's ears; it was Su Ning who heard it from the people on the street when she returned from grocery shopping.
"Miss, something terrible has happened!" Su Ning rushed into the Heritage Hall. "Everyone outside is saying that Minister Wang impeached the Prime Minister!"
"They say the Prime Minister gave you a huge sum of money to build your influence and win you over, so the Emperor ordered the Prime Minister to stay home and not attend court anymore!"
"What?" Ye Wanning's heart skipped a beat, and the medical book in her hand fell to the ground with a "thud".
She recalled that she had once misunderstood Pei Zhi's intention to win over the new faction. Now it seemed that it might actually be true.
No, impossible. Pei Zhi wouldn't be that kind of person.
"Su Ning, is what you said true?" Ye Wanning picked up the medical book, her voice trembling slightly.
“It’s true, young lady.” Su Ning nodded. “Several people have said so, and they even said that Minister Wang used the accounts as evidence!”
Ye Wanning was in a state of utter confusion. She recalled the note Pei Zhi had given her when he delivered the medicine, and how he had defended her in court.
If he truly wanted to win me over, why would he do all this? And how do you explain Minister Wang's accounts?
She recalled her previous misunderstanding and felt guilty.
If it weren't for her, Pei Zhi wouldn't have been impeached or suspected by the emperor.
"No, I have to go to the palace and tell my brother the Emperor the truth!" Ye Wanning stood up and was about to leave.
She couldn't let Pei Zhi be wronged because of her.
"Miss, you can't go!" Su Ning quickly grabbed her. "The palace is not a place you can just walk into."
"The emperor is currently suspicious of the prime minister. If you try to explain now, you'll only make things worse and implicate him!"
“But I can’t just stand by and watch Lord Pei be wronged!” Ye Wanning’s eyes filled with tears. “It’s all my fault. If it weren’t for me, he wouldn’t have ended up like this.”
At this moment, two men dressed as guards from the Prime Minister's residence walked in and blocked her way.
“Dr. Ye,” one of them said, “the Prime Minister instructed us to protect your safety.”
"The Prime Minister said that this matter has nothing to do with you. You don't need to worry about it. Just rest well and don't go out unnecessarily."
"Lord Pei..." Ye Wanning was stunned.
"Doctor Ye, please listen to the Prime Minister," another guard said. "The Prime Minister is doing this for your own good."
"There are a lot of rumors going around now. If you go out casually, it will only give others more ammunition against you."
Ye Wanning looked at the two guards, feeling both touched and guilty.
Pei Zhi himself was in dire straits, yet he was still worried about her safety.
She slowly sat back down in her chair, and tears finally streamed down her face.
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