Hu Yuniang's scandalous affairs were common knowledge in the town, and Da Bao easily found out all the details.
He dared not delay any longer and rushed to Anyang prison early the next morning.
The jailer had learned his lesson this time. Seeing the silver Da Bao handed over, he let him in without a second thought.
"Sister Qingqing, I've found out that Hu Yuniang is extremely frivolous. She often flirts with strange men, and her husband died because of it."
Ever since her husband died, she's been completely unrestrained, spending her days with idle street urchins, engaging in illicit and ambiguous relationships.
However, in the last two years, he suddenly changed his ways, no longer associating with those scoundrels, but instead focusing on getting involved with the owner of Huichuntang.
As for Xiao Wu, the neighbors didn't see him often; they only saw him a few days before the incident...
Chen Dabao truthfully told Chen Qingqing the information he had found out.
Hearing this, Chen Qingqing frowned slightly. "Have you checked carefully? Is there no one else here?"
"No, Hu Yuniang's relationship with those street urchins was just a novelty for a few days. Plus, there were too many people, so it was impossible to find out their names. Only Miao Hong from Huichuntang had been with Hu Yuniang the longest, which was something all the neighbors knew."
“Miao Hong…” Chen Qingqing’s gaze deepened as she murmured, “Could it really be that he’s plotting against me?”
Chen Dabao also frowned, "Sister Qingqing, I've also inquired about Miao Hong. Although he's greedy for personal gain and has no medical ethics whatsoever, he's very timid. I don't think he would do something like framing someone like this."
Chen Qingqing frowned slightly. Those street thugs had no grudge against her and shouldn't harm her.
As for Miao Hong, he repeatedly questioned her medical skills, each time in an aggressive manner, trying to ruin her reputation.
Considering what Xiao Wu said, she was certain that Miao Hong was behind it all.
"Da Bao, you're still too kind. There's a saying that goes, 'Heaven can be measured, earth can be measured, but the human heart cannot be guarded against. The human heart is treacherous and unpredictable.'"
I had long heard about Miao Hong's character; he was not only greedy for money, but also extremely narrow-minded.
Since Jishetang opened, I have won the hearts of the people with my superb medical skills and reasonable medicine prices, and my business has been booming.
This would inevitably affect Miao Hong's interests and cut off his path to wealth by exploiting the people. How could he not be envious?
This fueled his resentment, leading him to devise this insidious and vicious plan.
He had Hu Yuniang seduce Xiao Wu, and then had Xiao Wu steal medicine from the clinic. He tampered with the process to frame me.
"According to you, Miao Hong is too cruel and vicious. Hu Yuniang helped him, and he actually poisoned her to death. It's unbelievable." Da Bao said, somewhat incredulous.
Chen Qingqing chuckled, "If I'm not mistaken, Miao Hong originally didn't intend to kill Hu Yuniang. Miao Hong should have made Hu Yuniang return those medicines to Xiao Wu, but Hu Yuniang didn't listen to him and unknowingly ingested the medicines, which led to Hu Yuniang's death from poisoning."
Upon hearing this, Da Bao suddenly understood. "Sister Qingqing, you are amazing! Your analysis has brought the truth to light. You are even more brilliant than a county magistrate in handling a case. I will go to the county government right now to beat the drum and appeal for justice, and arrest Miao Hong, who framed me."
"Don't rush, this matter is not as simple as you think."
"What do you mean by that? Your analysis just now was very logical. As long as we provide this clue to the county magistrate, I believe he will definitely judge the case impartially." Da Bao was eager to clear Chen Qingqing's name as soon as possible and leave this place.
Chen Qingqing's expression was solemn as she voiced her guess.
“Da Bao, since we were able to investigate these things, it should be even easier for the county magistrate. But he has no intention of investigating the case at all. Instead, he believes that my medicine poisoned Hu Yuniang. Why is he doing this?”
“There’s only one possibility: Miao Hong bribed Qin Shousheng. No wonder he refused to see me when I sent him a generous gift. It turns out they’ve been in cahoots all along.” Da Bao felt a chill run down his spine. “If that’s the case, this is going to be a real problem.”
"Don't worry, Miao Hong shouldn't have that much influence." Chen Qingqing shook her head, denying Da Bao's idea. "Qin Shousheng is greedy and insatiable. It's impossible for him to be bribed by Miao Hong unless there's some kind of interest between them."
"A conflict of interest? Does he want to seize our business?" Da Bao's face turned pale. "Our family are just ordinary merchants with no powerful backers. If Qin Shousheng sets his sights on us..."
"Da Bao, don't overthink it. Go and investigate Miao Hong's background. Find out if he has any connection with Qin Shousheng. If not, then it means Qin Shousheng is a muddle-headed corrupt official, and I can clear Jishetang of its crimes. Otherwise, we shouldn't bother. It's definitely Qin Shousheng who's eyeing our business and wants to take this opportunity to seize it."
Over the past few days, Chen Qingqing has learned a lot of dirty secrets about Qin Shousheng from the prison guards.
This man had served as an official for many years, using his power to extort money from the people. Every merchant doing business in Anyang had to give him gifts.
If they don't proactively offer money, they will find various pretexts to shut down the shop, fabricate charges against them, and throw them in jail.
I suffered this injustice for no reason, probably because I didn't understand the inside story here, which led to my current predicament.
Chen Dabao was terrified. No wonder Chen Qingqing told him to hide the valuables in the house; she had already anticipated this outcome.
His expression immediately became tense. "Sister Qingqing, we absolutely cannot sit idly by and wait to die. I will set off for the capital tomorrow to file a complaint with the emperor against Qin Shousheng for disregarding human life. I refuse to believe that there is no place to seek justice."
Chen Qingqing shook her head solemnly, “Since ancient times, it has been more difficult for ordinary people to sue officials than to ascend to heaven. According to the laws of Daqing, those who appeal beyond their jurisdiction will be punished with forty strokes of the cane and sent back to their place of origin, regardless of whether they are right or wrong. In the end, it will only result in a mess and will not solve the problem. They will also be implicated.”
"What can we do? I can't just stand by and watch you get wronged!"
"Don't worry, this place can't hold me back if I want to leave."
Hearing Chen Qingqing say this, Da Bao was not surprised at all. In his mind, Chen Qingqing was a god-like figure, and everything she said would become reality.
"Sister Qingqing, you should leave here immediately. I will arrange for someone to take you out of the city right away."
......
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