After ten years of accompanying me in my studies, the entire court begged me to shut up.

Chapter 98 Your Hometown Has Been Taken Over

Xue Xinfu continued with the diagnosis and treatment.

The fifth, the sixth, the seventh —

Although the symptoms differed from one another, they were all caused by aconite poisoning.

After finishing his examination, Xue Xinfu stood up, clasped his hands in a fist salute to Han Zhong, and said, "Prefect Han, I have finished examining all these people. They are all suffering from aconite poisoning. Although the severity of their symptoms varies, the cause is the same."

The people kneeling on the ground immediately erupted in uproar.

"It really is the medicine that's the problem!"

"No wonder I felt so unwell after eating!"

"They called it a miracle drug, but it's actually poison!"

"Liar! Give me my money back!"

"They actually poisoned me! How vicious!"

Zhao Wu perked up even more, shouting at the top of his lungs, "Your Honor, did you hear that?! These people were all poisoned by the Medicine King Sect's pills! One or two could be a coincidence, but a dozen or so can't all be coincidences, can they?"

Qian Xuzi's expression finally changed.

Qingfeng, sweating profusely, tugged at Qian Xuzi's sleeve and whispered, "Sect Leader, this—"

Qian Xuzi shook off his hand, took a deep breath, and forced himself to say, "I cannot agree with Physician Xue's diagnosis. These people's symptoms may not necessarily be caused by aconite."

"Master Qian!"

Xue Xinfu interrupted him, his tone calm yet authoritative: "You are also skilled in medicine. If you don't believe me, you can come and examine me yourself, or invite a famous doctor from the capital to treat me. However, I must remind you that the toxicity of aconite cannot be hidden."

Qian Xuzi's face turned ashen, and he didn't move.

Han Chong sat in the hall, watching this scene, but his heart grew increasingly panicked.

The poison of aconite —

More than a dozen people were poisoned at the same time.

There's something wrong with the elixir —

He suddenly realized an even more critical problem.

His Majesty also took this medicine!

The Imperial Medical Academy examined it and said there was no problem.

But these dozen or so people in front of us got poisoned after taking the medicine for just a few days, so what about His Majesty who took it for so many days—

Han Zhong felt a chill run down his back, and his palms were sweating.

Qian Xuzi took a deep breath, steadied himself, and bowed, saying, "Your Excellency, this case is suspicious!"

Han Chong looked up at him and asked, "What's strange about this?"

Qian Xuzi pointed at the kneeling crowd and said, "My Hundred Herbs Pill has been verified by the Imperial Medical Academy! His Majesty has taken it and is in good health, isn't that a fact? In the past few days, no less than several thousand pills have been distributed, and hundreds or even thousands of people have taken them without any problems. Yet only these few people have encountered problems. Doesn't the Prefect find this too suspicious?"

Han Zhong said, "Do you perhaps think someone is deliberately framing you?"

Qian Xuzi immediately nodded and said, "In my humble opinion, it is clear that someone is jealous of His Majesty's favor towards my Medicine King Sect and deliberately instigated these people to frame me! I implore Your Excellency to investigate thoroughly and uphold justice for my Medicine King Sect!"

Han Zhong's face darkened after hearing this.

"Sect Leader Qian, it's your turn to give me an explanation, not for me to uphold justice for you!"

Qian Xuzi's expression changed drastically, and he asked, "Explain what?"

Han Chong pointed at the civilians: "Explain yourself! Why were these people poisoned?"

Qian Xuzi's face darkened. He said, "There must be some misunderstanding! Maybe they ate something else and are deliberately blaming me!"

Han Zhong stared at him, his gaze sharp: "You mean these people took poison themselves and then framed you?"

Qian Xuzi hesitated for a moment, then forced himself to say, "That's certainly possible."

Han Zhong sneered.

Having served as prefect for so many years, what kind of people haven't he seen?

Qian Xuzi was usually very tactful, but at this point, he started to resort to sophistry and unreasonable arguments.

So many people were simultaneously taking aconite to frame someone?

"Sect Leader Qian, if you can't provide an explanation for what happened today, you'll have to stay here!"

Suppressing his anger, Qian Xuzi said, "Prefect Han, I am someone summoned by His Majesty! Surely you wouldn't be disrespecting His Majesty by doing this?"

Han Zhong's expression turned serious, and he said sternly, "If His Majesty knew that the medicine you were selling was problematic, he would probably be even more eager to get to the bottom of it than I am to do so!"

Qian Xuzi opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word.

Han Chong waved his hand: "Guards, escort Sect Leader Qian down and treat him well!"

Liu Yong clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Yes!"

He strode up to Qian Xuzi and gestured, "Sect Leader Qian, please!"

Qian Xuzi was so angry that he trembled all over, his face turning pale and then red.

He glared at Han Zhong, gritting his teeth, and said, "Prefect Han, have you thought this through? I still need to supply His Majesty with medicine! If you delay His Majesty's treatment, can you bear the responsibility?"

Han Zhong, instead of being angry, laughed and said, "It is precisely because you are supplying medicine to His Majesty that I must investigate thoroughly! If there is indeed a problem with this medicine, it would be unbearable for me not to investigate!"

"you----"

Qian Xuzi wanted to say something more, but Liu Yong grabbed his arm.

"Sect Leader Qian, please don't make things difficult for me, please proceed!"

Qian Xuzi struggled for a moment but couldn't break free. He could only glare fiercely at Han Zhong before being dragged away by Liu Yong.

Qingfeng turned pale with fright and followed behind, trembling.

Qian Xuzi seemed to have thought of something and quickly turned around, saying, "Go back quickly and inform the other disciples that everyone should close their doors and refuse to see anyone! If His Majesty sends someone to urge for the medicine, just say that I have been arrested by the Shuntian Prefecture!"

"yes!"

Qingfeng agreed and started to walk out.

Unexpectedly, Liu Yong suddenly stopped him: "Stop!"

Qian Xuzi angrily retorted, "The person you're trying to arrest is me! Release my disciples and let them go!"

Liu Yong said, "No one is leaving without the prefect's order!"

Qian Xuzi became even more furious and said, "Can you bear the responsibility for delaying the important task of delivering medicine to His Majesty?"

Liu Yong remained unmoved, saying, "I'm just following orders!"

"Which is more powerful, your prefect's order or the imperial decree? His Majesty has ordered me, the sect leader, to deliver medicine. If you refuse to release him, you are defying the imperial decree!"

"Don't worry, His Majesty will send someone to retrieve it!"

Zhenwu Temple, west of the city.

After the people seeking medicine left, the main gate was deserted.

Two young Taoist boys were sweeping the floor at the entrance, chatting idly.

Suddenly, the sound of rapid hoofbeats approached from afar.

The two young Taoists looked up and saw a group of people rushing towards them. The leader was dressed in a flying fish robe and had an embroidered spring knife at his waist. He looked menacing.

Before they could react, the group of people had already rushed up to them.

boom!

The door was kicked open.

Li Chun strode across the threshold and shouted sternly, "The Embroidered Uniform Guard is handling a case!"

The two young Taoist boys were so frightened that their faces turned ashen, their legs went weak, and they retreated tremblingly.

Li Chun glanced at them and asked, "Where are the people from the Medicine King Sect?"

A young Taoist priest pointed tremblingly to the backyard: "In—in the backyard—"

Li Chun waved his hand: "Search!"

More than a dozen Imperial Guards rushed in like wolves and tigers.

In the back room, several disciples of the Medicine King Sect were tidying up medicinal herbs. Hearing the noise, they all looked up.

Before they could react, the door had already been kicked open.

Li Chun strode in, his gaze sweeping over the crowd: "Arrest them all!"

The Imperial Guards swarmed forward and quickly pinned the disciples to the ground.

A young Taoist priest struggled and shouted, "Who are you? What right do you have to arrest me?"

Li Chun flashed his waist badge: "I am Li Chun, a commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. And who are you?"

The young Taoist's expression changed, but he forced himself to say, "My name is Mingyue! Our sect leader has gone to Shuntian Prefecture. If you have anything to say, we'll talk about it when the sect leader returns!"

Li Chun sneered, "I can't wait, arrest them!"

The Imperial Guards took out ropes and tied the disciples up tightly.

Mingyue was sweating profusely with anxiety: "You mustn't be rude! Our Medicine King Sect supplies medicine to His Majesty!"

Li Chun glanced at him: "If it weren't for the medicine His Majesty provided, I wouldn't even bother arresting you!"

Mingyue continued to struggle, shouting, "What right do you have to arrest me?"

Li Chun ignored him and walked out.