Hu Yuniang was always fond of taking advantage of others, and she didn't take Miao Langzhong's words to heart at all.
How could I possibly return the medicine that I finally managed to get?
Moreover, the medicine from Jishetang was rumored to be incredibly effective, so she kept those few pills as if they were a life-saving remedy.
During this time, Doctor Miao asked her several times, concerned, whether she had returned the medicine.
Hu Yuniang assured him confidently that she had already given the medicine to Xiao Wu.
She thought that Physician Miao wouldn't know about this, but she never expected that it would lead to her death.
That day, Hu Yuniang started her period and was in excruciating pain.
She then remembered the elixir, immediately opened the paper packet, took out a pill, and swallowed it without a second thought.
At first there was no reaction, but after a while, a sharp, stabbing pain came from my stomach.
Remembering Physician Miao's warning, Hu Yuniang instantly realized that the medicine was poisoned.
That damned Miao Hong! He was planning to use her to frame someone else!
Terrified, she didn't want to die, so she struggled out of the house, intending to go to Jishetang to find Chen Qingqing to cure her poisoning.
But it was all too late. Her legs gave way and she collapsed to the ground, her limbs twitching a few times before she fell silent.
Only a pair of wide-open eyes remained, dying with their eyes wide open!
Just then, Hu Yuniang's neighbor, Zhang the Steamed Bun Shop, ran out of salt, so she came to Hu's Grocery Store to buy a bag of salt.
Upon entering the house, they did not find Hu Yuniang, so they called out several times, but there was still no response.
Baozi Zhang thought Hu Yuniang was in the inner room, so he walked in. But when he got to the door, he found that Hu Yuniang had already died. He was so frightened that he shouted and ran out. He quickly found someone to inform Wang Qizhang.
When Wang Qizhang heard that someone had died, he was so frightened that he rushed over in a panic.
As fate would have it, at that very moment, Xiao Wu, taking advantage of his lunch break, wanted to get close to Hu Yuniang. When he entered the room, he found Hu Yuniang slumped on the ground. Without thinking much, he went over to help her up.
The moment they touched Hu Yuniang's body, Wang Qizhang and his neighbors pushed open the door and entered.
Seeing Xiao Wu holding Hu Yuniang's body, they assumed he was trying to destroy the evidence.
Wang Qizhang then detained Xiao Wu as the murderer, ordered his men to guard the scene, and rushed to Anyang to report the case.
The county magistrate knew perfectly well what was going on, but to make the miscarriage of justice seem more real, he pretended to send the head constable and coroner to arrest the suspect.
When the constables arrived at the scene, they slapped Xiao Wu on both sides of his face several times, and he confessed to having an affair with Hu Yuniang.
The yamen runners sealed off Jishetang as a matter of course and escorted Chen Qingqing to the county yamen hall.
Qin Shousheng didn't want to waste any more words. He slammed his gavel and shouted, "How dare you, Chen Qingqing! You allowed your servants to poison Hu Yuniang! Do you know your crime?"
Chen Qingqing remained calm and fearless. "My daughter runs Jishetang in Qingshui Town, where she practices medicine and treats the sick. She has always abided by the law and has never done anything immoral. She has no idea where you came from saying that you condone her. I hope you can enlighten me."
"You dare to be so stubborn? It seems you won't confess unless I teach you a lesson." After saying that, Qin Shousheng slammed the gavel again. "Guards, bring the cangue on me!"
Chen Qingqing remained unfazed, her gaze fixed sharply on Qin Shousheng. "Even murderous robbers and wicked bandits have a chance to defend themselves. I wonder what law my daughter has broken that you would resort to torture right away? Do you intend to force a confession out of me?"
Qin Shousheng had witnessed Chen Qingqing's formidable nature and knew she wouldn't easily confess. He had intended to give her a warning, but he hadn't expected her to be so calm.
Qin Shousheng sneered and waved his hand, signaling the constables to step aside. "Bold Chen Qingqing, your Jishetang medicine has killed people, yet you still dare to speak so eloquently. Come on, bring the witnesses here, let her die knowing the truth!"
"Yes, sir."
As soon as he finished speaking, two constables escorted Xiao Wu to the main hall.
"Xiao Wu, what exactly happened?" Chen Qingqing asked hurriedly.
Xiao Wu was already terrified and was somewhat incoherent. "Shopkeeper, I... I don't know what happened. Hu Yuniang was fine yesterday, but she died suddenly. It really wasn't me. I didn't kill anyone. I've been framed."
Qin Shousheng slammed his gavel and shouted sternly, "Shut up, all of you! If you dare to make a sound again, I'll beat you to a pulp!"
As she spoke, she looked at Xiao Wu with icy eyes, "You are the apprentice of Jishetang, Hu Yuniang's lover—Wang Xiao Wu?"
"Yes, sir, and indeed, I am a humble commoner."
"You audacious Wang Xiaowu! Hu Yuniang has no grudge against you, why did you poison her? Who ordered you to do this? Confess now!"
"My lord, spare my life! No one ordered me to do this. I really didn't kill Hu Yuniang. I don't know anything!" Xiao Wu was so frightened that his face turned ashen, and he knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly.
Qin Shousheng gave a cold snort with an air of authority, "Nonsense! I have already investigated and found that you had close ties with Hu Yuniang and even gave her Jishetang's exclusive secret medicine. She died from poisoning after taking those medicines you gave her. How could it not have anything to do with you?"
Xiao Wu stole a glance at Chen Qingqing, feeling extremely guilty, but now that his life was at stake, he had no choice but to tell the truth.
"My lord, I did give Hu Yuniang our shop's exclusive deworming medicine, but many children have taken those pills, so they are not poisonous. Please investigate thoroughly, my lord."
Qin Shousheng smiled with satisfaction. "Whether it's poisonous or not, I will find out. Now I ask you, how did the medicine end up in the deceased's hands? Confess immediately, or you will be sentenced to death!"
"I will tell you everything."
Xiao Wu had already lost his composure and dared not hide anything.
He truthfully confessed that Hu Yuniang had asked him to get some medicine to treat his stomachache from Jishetang, and recounted how he stole the medicine.
After listening to Xiao Wu's explanation, Qin Shousheng continued to set a trap for Chen Qingqing, "So, Hu Yuniang died from poisoning caused by Jishetang's exclusive secret medicine, is that right?"
Xiao Wu quickly waved his hand, "No, no, no, sir, you've misunderstood. That medicine isn't poisonous."
Chen Qingqing was initially confused, but now she understood. It turned out that Xiao Wu had secretly taken medicine from the clinic for his lover, Hu Yuniang.
What puzzled her was that those insecticides were only mildly toxic and couldn't possibly kill anyone.
What is going on?
Did the deceased suffer a sudden illness that led to an accidental death?
No, Qin Shousheng's words were implying that the deceased had died from poisoning after taking her medicine. This was clearly an attempt to induce the victim, and she seemed to have sensed a conspiracy.
Jishetang has been open for six months. Xiao Wu is hardworking and honest; he must have been taken advantage of.
Who is this person, and why is he doing this?
Chen Qingqing was filled with questions; it seemed today's matter was a bit troublesome...
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
