Chapter 624 The Divine Doctor Makes a House Call (First Update)
To be honest, Gu Jiao felt that their methods of handling the case were too hasty and the evidence was incomplete. However, since it probably concerned the Crown Prince, they would rather kill the innocent than let the guilty go free.
Even though Gu Jiaozhen was arrested, she couldn't be convicted in the end. After all, she was a woman, and once that fact was discovered, everything would fall apart on its own.
However, as mentioned before, she cannot expose herself, so she absolutely cannot be taken back by these officials.
Gu Jiao said calmly, "I did not assassinate the Crown Prince. When the Crown Prince was in trouble, I was with the people from Tianqiong Academy."
The head officer asked in a cold voice, "Then who are you with?"
Gu Jiao's gaze immediately fell on the teacher.
The master's surname was Hu. He did not teach classes; he was only responsible for the academy's enrollment and general affairs.
Master Hu met Gu Jiao's gaze and his heart skipped a beat!
That's right, Gu Jiao planned to have Master Hu as her witness, otherwise she would tell everyone about Master Hu's visits to brothels.
Master Hu wasn't stupid; how could he not have guessed Gu Jiao's ulterior motives? He was so frightened that his face turned pale.
Although visiting brothels does not violate the laws of Yan, it does violate the academy's rules. If word gets out, his reputation will be ruined!
That brat better not do that! Otherwise he... otherwise he...
"He's with me."
A voice, like a flowing mountain stream, came from the corridor behind Gu Jiao. It was low and calm, yet possessed a unique youthfulness and magnetism characteristic of her age.
It is Mu Qingchen.
He walked over unhurriedly, like a gentle breeze and a bright moon, and stopped beside Gu Jiao.
When the officials saw him, they couldn't help but show more politeness on their faces.
The leading officer greeted him, "So it's Young Master Qingchen."
The madam and Master Hu looked at Mu Qingchen as if they had seen a ghost, not understanding what he meant by those words.
Gu Jiao was also somewhat surprised.
Given their current relationship, it would be normal for them to stab each other in the back or stand idly by.
The head officer asked curiously, "Young Master Qingchen, you said he was with you all night?"
Mu Qingchen said, "That's right."
The head officer then asked, "Do you have any evidence?"
Mu Qingchen said calmly, "You just want to find witnesses, and I am the witness. If you really don't believe me, you can ask my coachman. Of course, if you think I am lying on purpose, then you don't have to believe me."
The leading official frowned and softened his tone, saying, "That's not what we meant. Please don't take offense, Young Master Qingchen."
Oh, this young master Qingchen seems to have a high status and reputation in Shengdu. Even the officials in charge of the Crown Prince's case are so polite to him.
The leading officer then said, "However, there is one thing I do not understand."
Mu Qingchen said, "Please speak."
The head constable looked at Gu Jiao and said, "He is from a lower country. Why did Young Master Qingchen bring him into the inner city without permission? Young Master Qingchen is familiar with the laws of Yan. He should understand that even you, Young Master Qingchen, have no right to bring people into the inner city at will."
If even Mu Qingchen can't bring people into the city at will, then Master Hu certainly can't either.
She was just about to tell the officials that Master Hu had brought him into the city, but luckily Mu Qingchen interrupted her, otherwise she would have been exposed on the spot.
Mu Qingchen said, "The matter is urgent, and we can't wait to complete the inner city talisman for him."
A hint of inquiry flashed in the eyes of the leading official: "Oh? What could possibly make Young Master Qingchen disregard the laws of Shengdu and bring a person from a lower state into the inner city?"
In the inner city, a place of great importance, not only a lowly person from a lower state, but even a native of Yan must abide by the rules for entering the city.
"To cure the Duke's illness."
Upon hearing Mu Qingchen's words, everyone's expression changed.
The leading official was dumbfounded and couldn't utter a word for a long time.
Gu Jiao roughly understood that the Duke must be a person of high rank and power, and if she could treat his illness, she could be granted special permission to pass.
This doesn't mean that any doctor is qualified to treat the Duke; someone of great importance needs to be introduced to him, such as Mu Qingchen.
The leading officer glanced at Gu Jiao, then at Mu Qingchen: "Him?"
Mu Qingchen said without changing her expression, "That's right, he is the doctor I invited for the Duke."
The leading official had already thoroughly investigated Xiao Liulang's background. He asked suspiciously, "He's only been enrolled for one day, how do you know he's a doctor?"
With one hand behind her back, Mu Qingchen said calmly, "Is it difficult for me, Mu Qingchen, to inquire about someone?"
The leading official was speechless again.
Of course... it's not difficult.
Mu Qingchen is the head of the three young masters of Shengdu. He comes from a prominent family and is both talented and handsome. Investigating the background of a freshman is a piece of cake for him.
"I need all the information about this person within one day!"
With just a few words from Mu Qingchen, countless servants and assassins would fight tooth and nail for him.
The head constable, who was able to take on a case from the Crown Prince's residence, was certainly no ordinary person. He asked with some skepticism, "But why did he go to a brothel?"
Mu Qingchen said again without changing her expression, "He left because we couldn't agree on a price."
Gu Jiao: "..." How can you lie so calmly? It's a shame you're not a screenwriter or a movie star.
The leading officer narrowed his eyes and asked, "Then what about your fish-shaped tally?"
Mu Qingchen said, "I gave him the fish-shaped talisman so he could leave the city, but who would have thought he would be so lustful and go to visit brothels."
Gu Jiao's lips twitched. "Thank you!"
...
Because of Mu Qingchen's intervention, Gu Jiao had a perfect alibi, and the officials eventually left.
Master Hu walked over, glanced at Gu Jiao with a complicated expression, and said to Mu Qingchen, "No wonder Young Master Mu wanted to—"
Mu Qingchen cast a cold glance at him, and Master Hu shut his mouth: "I have something to do, I'll be leaving now."
After Master Hu left, Gu Jiao asked Mu Qingchen strangely, "What did he say?"
"It's nothing," Mu Qingchen said expressionlessly.
Gu Jiao gave him a deep look: "Why did you help me?"
Mu Qingchen's gaze was indifferent: "If I don't help you, you won't expose me? Is it better to be the one who was robbed by you or the one who willingly gave you the fish talisman?"
Gu Jiao raised an eyebrow and muttered, "That's true, you men care a lot about your image." It would be too embarrassing for the dignified Young Master Qingchen to be robbed by a freshman from another country.
Mu Qingchen said calmly, "What are you muttering about?"
Gu Jiao was in a good mood: "It's nothing, goodbye!"
She went to find Gu Xiaoshun, and Mu Qingchen also planned to leave. However, after only a few steps, the group of officials from before turned back, and among them was a man who looked to be of some status and position.
This person actually came on horseback.
He was in his early thirties, not wearing armor, yet he exuded an aura of decisiveness and ruthlessness.
He rode his warhorse and blocked Gu Jiao and Mu Qingchen's path.
"Young Master Qingchen," he greeted with a cold smile.
His attitude was much more arrogant than that of the officials.
Mu Qingchen's expression didn't change much; he remained as elegant and peerless as the Moonlit Gentleman: "Lord Shao."
Gu Jiao sensed an inexplicable undercurrent, as if Lord Shao and Mu Qingchen did not get along.
The young man addressed as Lord Shao sneered and said, "Young Master Qingchen said that this man from Zhao is a doctor that Young Master Qingchen invited for the Duke. It's not that I don't trust Young Master Qingchen, but the matter is of great importance, and Young Master Qingchen is still young. I am also worried that Young Master Qingchen might be used by someone with ulterior motives."
Mu Qingchen's gaze turned slightly cold: "What does Lord Shao want?"
The young man laughed and said, "Isn't he going to treat the Duke's illness? Then let him go."
Mu Qingchen said calmly, "If it can't be cured, will Lord Shao punish me and him for deception?"
The young man said with a gentle smile, "Young Master Qingchen, you flatter me. How could I dare to be disrespectful to you? It was this man from a lower country who deliberately deceived you. It was all his own idea and has nothing to do with you."
Gu Jiao: Very well, when gods fight, this little devil from Zhao Kingdom suffers.
A quarter of an hour later, Gu Jiao got into Mu Qingchen's carriage.
In fact, Gu Jiao could have refused. It was obvious that the man surnamed Shao had a grudge against Mu Qingchen and wanted to use this as an excuse to cause trouble.
If she doesn't go, Mu Qingchen will have to take the blame alone.
But she has always been a person who clearly distinguishes between gratitude and resentment.
Mu Qingchen casually tossed a prescription to Gu Jiao and said in a low voice, "Memorize this. When you go to the Duke's mansion later, just pretend to come out. Do you know how to take a pulse? It's okay if you don't. Just remember to place it on the outside of the wrist, near the radius bone, about three fingers' width."
As he spoke, seeing that Gu Jiao remained silent, he frowned, "You should know about the radius, shouldn't you?"
"Yes, I understand." Gu Jiao nodded, continuing to look at the prescription in her hand: bezoar, musk, pearl, cinnabar, realgar, coptis...
Mu Qingchen whispered again, "It's okay if he can't cure you. He won't kill you. He's only doing this to confirm if you're a real doctor, and also... to humiliate me. Just act convincingly and don't give yourself away."
Gu Jiao gave a mumbled "hmm".
Mu Qingchen assumed Gu Jiao was diligently memorizing the prescription and didn't disturb her further.
The carriage arrived at the Duke's mansion under the "escort" of young men and officials.
"Young Master Qingchen, we've arrived," the young man said as he rode up.
Mu Qingchen looked at Gu Jiao: "Have you memorized them all?"
"Okay." Gu Jiao handed the prescription back to him.
Mu Qingchen and Gu Jiao got off the carriage.
The young man had never dismounted before entering the academy, but upon arriving at the Duke's mansion, he immediately dismounted and handed the horse over to the official standing nearby.
He explained his origins to the gatekeeper, who then entered the mansion to report and said to the group, "Young Master Qingchen, Lord Shao, please come in."
Gu Jiao entered the Duke's Mansion.
She became more and more confused as she walked.
Why does she seem so familiar with everything here?
Soon, led by the servant, they arrived at a secluded courtyard.
Gu Jiao blinked.
Wait, isn't this the courtyard she visited yesterday?
"Young Master Qingchen! Lord Shao!"
Accompanied by a familiar female voice, a lady dressed in a purple gown walked over, supported by her maid.
Gu Jiao recognized her voice.
Isn't this the lady from yesterday?
Is she... revisiting a familiar place?
"Second Madam." Lord Shao clasped his hands in a salute.
Young Master Qingchen also nodded slightly in greeting.
The second wife was quite surprised: "Why did you two come together?"
The young man smiled and said in a grand manner, "Young Master Qingchen found a doctor from Zhao Kingdom for the Duke, and I specially escorted them to the Duke's residence to treat him."
The second wife opened her mouth: "Ah... I see."
Clearly, the second wife didn't believe the nonsense that he would be so kind as to escort Mu Qingchen here.
However, no one would dare to break the unspoken rules.
"Alas." The second madam sighed. "To be honest, just now, Physician Luo's disciple came to treat the Duke. He just gave him acupuncture and hasn't left yet. He went to brew medicine for the Duke."
The young man asked, "Are you a disciple of Luo Feiyang, the number one physician in Chen Kingdom?"
“Yes!” the second wife said.
The young man gave Mu Qingchen a meaningful look: "Chen Kingdom is renowned for its medical skills, and Doctor Luo is the best among all doctors."
Ignoring his provocation, Mu Qingchen asked the Second Madam, "Has the Duke woken up?"
The second wife shook her head.
Mu Qingchen said to Gu Jiao, "Go ahead and give it a try. Don't put too much pressure on yourself."
The young man scoffed, "Indeed, even the disciple of the Divine Physician Luo was helpless. How could an unknown doctor from Zhao Kingdom possibly cure the Duke? Young Master Qingchen was probably just daydreaming from the start."
Gu Jiao looked at him irritably: "So noisy, are you a bird?"
The young man choked: "You!"
Gu Jiao went inside.
Mu Qingchen looked at Gu Jiao's back, seemingly surprised by her reaction, but said nothing and followed her into the house.
(End of this chapter)
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