Chu Jiuqing smiled apologetically, "I wasn't pretending to be crazy. When you rescued me, I did forget my identity. If I hadn't been hit by Li the Butcher's stick, I wouldn't have been able to regain my memory."
After regaining consciousness, I wanted to tell you the truth about my background, but I was afraid of causing you unnecessary trouble, so I chose to leave quietly. Although I am in Kyoto, I have never forgotten to repay your kindness.
When I heard you'd been framed and imprisoned, I rushed here from Kyoto, only to find you'd already resolved the problem...
Chen Qingqing stared intently at Chu Jiuqing. It was almost unbelievable that a powerless and insignificant female healer like herself could command such elaborate rescue efforts from the War God, Prince Ning.
Did he need something from me, or was he simply here to repay a debt of gratitude and specifically to save me?
Regardless of this person's motives, she didn't want to get too close to any prince or nobleman without knowing why.
He also did not want to get involved in the princes' struggle and become a pawn in someone else's game.
In the hands of the powerful and wealthy, pawns are meant to be sacrificed...
Chen Qingqing remained calm, concealing her thoughts, and smiled faintly, "Thank you, Your Highness Prince Ning, for remembering me and saving me from danger by traveling so far."
Chu Jiuqing didn't miss the wariness in Chen Qingqing's eyes. She was such a cunning little fox, always on guard and cautious. But that was good; she would definitely be able to protect herself when they arrived in the capital.
The undisguised admiration in his eyes was evident; no wonder she was his savior, she was truly remarkable.
He actually managed to think of a way to escape from a desperate situation. Although the price of wandering the world was a bit high, it was still better than dying unjustly in prison.
He smiled and said, "A drop of kindness deserves a spring of gratitude. My benefactor, please don't be so polite. This is all I should do."
"Alright, since Your Highness Prince Ning puts it that way, then I won't stand on ceremony with you..."
Seeing Chen Qingqing so composed, Chu Jiuqing was quite surprised.
Instead of being secretly pleased that she had saved the prince, she spoke with a distant tone, as if she had no intention of making him her support.
Seeing that Chu Jiuqing remained silent, Chen Qingqing changed the subject, "Your Highness Prince Ning, since you won't let me kill that corrupt official, what do you plan to do with them?"
Chen Zhanshan chimed in, "Yes, yes, Your Highness Prince Ning, Qin Shousheng and Chen Ruolan are trying to kill Qing'er. You can't let them off so easily!"
"Don't worry, I will handle it myself."
Chu Jiuqing had already figured out the ins and outs of Hu Yuniang's case, so he didn't waste any words and immediately ordered Zhuifeng to go to Qingshui Town to interrogate Miao Hong.
Chen Qingqing wasn't idle either; she took out the antidote and woke up all the jailers who had been drugged.
When the jailers awoke and saw Prince Ning in person, they learned that Chen Qingqing was Prince Ning's savior and that the murder case would be reopened in the prison. They quickly tidied up everything.
Since Jishetang was shut down and Chen Qingqing was thrown into death row, Huichuntang's business has gradually improved.
Although not many people go to Huichuntang for medical treatment, Miao Hong rips off every patient who goes there.
He knew that patients were easily frightened, so he deliberately exaggerated the illness to make them obediently hand over their money.
He was sitting at home counting the ill-gotten gains he had made over the past few days when suddenly several men in black burst in.
Before he could figure out what was happening, everything went black and he knew nothing more.
A sharp pain struck, and Miao Hong slowly woke up. He held his head and slowly got up.
The moment he looked around, he was completely stunned.
Qin Shousheng, Shen Yuanze, and Chen Ruolan were seen kneeling there, looking disheveled.
Seated at the desk was a dignified and imposing young man.
When he saw Chen Qingqing standing beside the man, he was stunned and realized that his secret had been exposed. Knowing that disaster was imminent, he was too frightened to speak for a moment.
Chu Jiuqing sat upright at the table, his sharp eyes fixed on Qin Shousheng, Shen Yuanze, Chen Ruolan, and Miao Hong kneeling on the ground.
Qin Shousheng was so frightened that he wet his pants, and his nose and eyes were full of snot and tears.
He never dreamed that Chen Qingqing was actually Prince Ning's savior. It was all that bitch Chen Ruolan's fault for causing trouble and making him provoke someone he shouldn't have.
To survive now, one must admit their mistakes and shift all blame onto Chen Ruolan.
Once Prince Ning calms down, he will at most be considered to have listened to treacherous words, and his crime will not warrant death.
Thinking of this, Qin Shousheng scrambled to Chu Jiuqing's side.
"Your Highness, please spare me! I was blind and didn't know that Miss Chen was your savior. Please forgive me this time. Even if you gave me two lives, I would never dare to offend Miss Chen again."
As she spoke, she pointed at Chen Ruolan and said, "Your Highness, please be aware that the case of Hu Yuniang was all her doing. She was the one who wanted to kill Miss Chen. It has nothing to do with me."
Chen Ruolan had never seen anything like this before, and was so frightened that she was speechless and wet her pants.
Her eyes were filled with shock; she couldn't believe that the silly little fish from before was actually a prince of the Great Ning Dynasty.
Seeing that Qin Shousheng was placing all the blame on her, she panicked and hurriedly tried to defend herself.
"Your Highness, please understand! Chen Qingqing and I are the closest of sisters. How could I harm her? This is all a misunderstanding. I have been framed. It was Qin Shousheng who coveted my sister's family fortune. He made me do all of this. Otherwise, even if I had two lives, I wouldn't have dared to do it!"
Qin Shou's face turned a deep purplish-red with anger. He wanted nothing more than to strangle Chen Ruolan. "You, you're talking nonsense! You couldn't stand that Chen Qingqing was doing better than you, more capable than you, and earning more money than you. You were jealous of everything she had, so you conspired with Miao Hong to kill Hu Yuniang!"
I confess my guilt. I shouldn't have aided and abetted the evildoer, shouldn't have coveted the sugar factory's share, and shouldn't have condoned your crimes. But you were the ones who committed the heinous act; my crime doesn't warrant death.
Qin Shousheng knew that as long as the salt smuggling was not involved, this minor murder case was not serious enough to warrant execution. As long as he lived, the Crown Prince would ensure that he remained an official and could continue to enjoy wealth and honor.
Chen Ruolan felt guilty and weakly tried to explain, "No, that's not how it is. Qin Shousheng instructed me to do it all. Otherwise, even if you beat me to death, I wouldn't dare to take someone's life..."
Chu Jiuqing's eyes instantly turned cold. "You wicked woman, still dare to be stubborn? Take her away and give her twenty strokes of the cane!"
The two guards obeyed the order, took Chen Ruolan's arms, and led her outside.
A short while later, a dull thud of a cane striking was heard.
Even with her mouth stuffed full of rags, Chen Ruolan still managed to let out pitiful groans from time to time.
After being beaten twenty times, Chen Ruolan, her skin torn and bleeding, was thrown in front of Chu Jiuqing like a lump of mud.
Chu Jiuqing gave a wink, signaling Zhuifeng to remove the gag from her mouth.
"You insidious and vicious woman, you have a human face but do things worse than an animal. I'll make sure you die knowing why in a moment."
......
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