When Jiang Yanyan entered the room, she saw Auntie Liu feeding medicine to the City Lord and hurriedly called out to stop her.
“Wait!”
Her voice rang out abruptly, making Auntie Liu’s heart jolt. Her hand froze, and the medicinal liquid in the spoon sloshed, splattering a few drops onto the brocade quilt.
When she saw Jiang Yanyan, a flicker of panic flashed through her eyes. She quickly replaced it with an expression of displeasure, set down the spoon, and said to her, “Miss Yan, what brings you here? You’ve only just woken up, and you haven’t fully recovered yet. Why aren’t you resting in your own courtyard? What are you doing here?
“I’m feeding medicine to the City Lord. Your sudden shout startled him—what if something happens to him?”
Auntie Liu’s every word seemed to be spoken out of concern for the City Lord, but her trembling hands betrayed her guilty conscience.
Seeing her daughter arrive, Jiang Yun hurried forward and took her arm. Her eyes were full of concern, and her voice softened as she said, “Yanyan, you’re awake? Are you feeling better? Why didn’t you stay in your courtyard to rest? Why did you come here? Your mother is here. Go back and rest.”
Hearing her mother’s concerned questions, Jiang Yanyan quickly replied, “Mother, I’m fine now. Don’t worry.”
Her eyes then fell directly on the bowl of medicine in Auntie Liu’s hands. She strode over and, before Auntie Liu could react, reached out and took it from her.
The porcelain bowl was slightly warm, and the medicinal broth gave off a bitter smell. But after being nourished by the spirit spring water, Jiang Yanyan’s five senses were far sharper than those of ordinary people. She immediately detected something unusual.
Auntie Liu was stunned by the sudden move. After forcing down her panic, her face darkened at once. She stepped forward and asked indignantly, “Miss Yan! What do you think you’re doing? This medicine is for the City Lord. It took a full hour to prepare! You can’t simply snatch it away whenever you please. What kind of behavior is that?”
Jiang Yan was propped up against the headboard, watching his granddaughter with bewilderment in his eyes. He was weak, but he trusted that Jiang Yanyan was not the sort to make a scene without reason, so he merely watched her actions in silence.
Noticing her daughter’s unusual expression, as well as Auntie Liu’s panicked appearance, Jiang Yun grew even more wary. She asked softly, “Yanyan, is there something wrong with the medicine?”
She had always known that her daughter had studied medicine under a master since childhood. Yanyan was well versed in medicinal ingredients and medical theory, so Jiang Yun naturally trusted her daughter more than any outsider.
Holding the bowl, Jiang Yanyan looked up at Jiang Yun and said, “Mother, you know I studied medicine under my master. I also like to read medical texts in my spare time. Something is wrong with the smell of this medicine.”
“Black aconite is supposed to be an auxiliary ingredient used to counteract poison, but its dosage has been increased threefold. Grandfather was already poisoned by the Qianji poison, which has damaged his meridians. This excessive amount of black aconite won’t suppress the poison. Instead, it will clash with the toxins in his body and accelerate their spread.
“If Grandfather drinks this bowl of medicine, he won’t last more than an hour. The poison will spread into his lungs, and no medicine will be able to save him.”
“Impossible!”
The moment Auntie Liu heard Jiang Yanyan’s words, she immediately retorted. Most of the color drained from her face, but she stubbornly tried to distance herself from suspicion. Turning to Doctor Wang, she said, “Doctor Wang, you personally prescribed this formula. How could there be a mistake?
“The medicine was prepared under the constant supervision of the mammy who serves me. She never left the stove for even a moment. How could anything have gone wrong?
“Miss Yan must still be confused after waking from her coma. She’s talking nonsense!”
She repeatedly called her “Miss Yan” and dismissed her words as nonsense, trying to make Jiang Yanyan’s accusation sound like the foolish rambling of a child. But her panicked eyes betrayed her.
The moment Jiang Yanyan mentioned the dosage of black aconite, Doctor Wang’s expression had already changed. Cold sweat instantly broke out across his forehead, and his eyes darted evasively.
Now that Auntie Liu had called him out, he became even more flustered. He hurried forward, bowed to Jiang Yan, and anxiously defended himself.
“City Lord, Miss Yan, you must not accuse this old man unjustly! I have served in the City Lord’s residence for ten years. The City Lord once saved my life, and your kindness toward me has been as weighty as a mountain. I have always been loyal to you—how could I possibly prescribe the wrong medicine?
“I calculated the dosage of black aconite according to the medical texts. I swear there was not the slightest error!”
His voice trembled, and he looked terrified, though his fists were clenched tightly.
Jiang Yanyan glanced at Auntie Liu and Doctor Wang. From their reactions alone, it was obvious that something was amiss.
She let out a cold laugh and asked, “Since Doctor Wang comes from Divine Physician Valley, your medical skills should naturally be excellent. And Auntie Liu is the City Lord’s concubine, so she supposedly wouldn’t harm him.
“Then how did the amount of black aconite in this medicine end up being three times higher than it should be? Surely the medicine didn’t grow legs and add it itself?
“Either Doctor Wang deliberately altered the prescription, or Auntie Liu tampered with the medicine while it was being prepared. Why don’t you tell us—which one of you did it?”
At those words, both Auntie Liu’s and Doctor Wang’s faces turned even paler. They exchanged a panicked glance and were left speechless, unable to offer a single explanation.
Jiang Yanyan had no patience to waste time arguing with them. Her grandfather was still lying on the bed, his life hanging by a thread. If they delayed any longer, something might happen.
She turned toward the doorway and called out clearly, “Guards!”
The guards stationed outside the courtyard immediately rushed in. They bowed and clasped their fists.
“Your servant is here!”
“Take Auntie Liu and Doctor Wang into custody.” Jiang Yanyan looked at the two of them, her voice cold as frost and utterly decisive. “Lock them in the dungeon for now and keep them under strict guard. No one is to have contact with them.”
“How dare you!”
Auntie Liu had no idea where things had gone wrong, but she was unwilling to sit back and wait for death.
“Jiang Yanyan! You—you! What right do you have to arrest me?
“I am the City Lord’s concubine, and your elder, at the very least. You have no evidence whatsoever, so what right do you have to lay a hand on me?
“I think you’re taking advantage of the City Lord’s critical condition to plot against him. What exactly are you scheming?
“Miss, I don’t even know how I’ve offended you to make you so suspicious of me! This matter truly has nothing to do with me!
“Miss, you’d better keep your daughter in line. She’s being completely unfilial!”
She turned to Jiang Yun, hoping Jiang Yun would defend her, but Jiang Yun merely stared at her coldly, icy hatred filling her eyes.
Her husband was dead. Her father had been poisoned. Her daughter and son were still young. And now, before anything had even happened to her father, someone had already been unable to wait and was making a move.
If anything happened to her father, the entire family would likely be reunited in the underworld.
She should have realized it sooner.
Doctor Wang hurriedly spoke as well, his voice full of desperation. “City Lord, I’ve been wronged! I’ve served you for ten years, working tirelessly at your side. I have never once harbored disloyal thoughts. How could I possibly harm you?
“Besides, you once saved my life. How could I repay your kindness with treachery? Miss Yan must have misunderstood. City Lord, you must uphold justice for me!”
Watching the two of them, how could Jiang Yan possibly fail to understand what had happened?
Still, they had both served him for many years, and he could not help feeling disappointed.
“Take them.”
Jiang Yan’s voice was not loud, but the guards had all come from Muyun Manor. They had trained in martial arts since childhood and possessed exceptionally sharp hearing. Upon hearing the City Lord’s command, they did not delay any longer and immediately moved forward to seize the two suspects.
Seeing that Jiang Yan had already given the order, Doctor Wang understood that the situation could no longer be reversed. He suddenly rose and tried to shove aside the guard in front of him so he could escape.
As someone from Divine Physician Valley, he had naturally learned a few rudimentary self-defense techniques in addition to his medical skills.
But before this group of guards, such skills were utterly useless.
The two guards exchanged a glance. One seized his wrist while the other twisted his arm behind his back and pressed down on his shoulder. With a sharp crack, Doctor Wang’s arm was wrenched behind him. He grimaced in pain, cold sweat beading even more thickly across his forehead, and could no longer move.
Auntie Liu, on the other hand, was merely a woman with no martial arts skills to speak of. Besides, she was the City Lord’s woman, so the guards found it inappropriate to lay hands on her. Instead, two maids twisted her arms behind her back and held her down to one side.
Jiang Yanyan looked at the two of them. “If you’ve truly been wronged, what are you panicking about? An upright person has no fear of a crooked shadow. If this really has nothing to do with you, I’ll personally apologize and clear your names. You may punish me however you wish. But if you truly are responsible, don’t blame me for showing no mercy!”
