"…" Feng Tang Yao's hand gripped tightly, and started to sweat. His entire body felt as if it had been struck by lightning, and his face revealed a nervous expression, causing him to be unable to breathe.
"Don't panic." Lian Zhaoyi whispered in her daughter's ear, but she also began to panic.
"No, no, Your Majesty. This humble servant understands that the young duke wants to save the Eleventh Princess, but I can't force myself to place the blame on this lowly one." Imperial Physician Liang hastily kowtowed as he spoke.
Xiao He nodded towards Imperial Physician Rong, indicating that he should take out the list of dried snow toads and dried shellfish that Imperial Physician Liang had paid for for for Beauty Li's expenses. He placed it in front of Imperial Physician Liang and asked,
"Four days ago, you paid eight dollars for the dried snow clams and dried shellfish on Beauty Li's side, didn't you?"
Imperial Physician Liang looked down and hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yes, that's right, this is a prescription for the treatment of Beauty Li. The dried snow toads and dried shellfish cost eight dollars."
"Eight coins?" You took away eight dollars, but what's written on Beauty Li's prescription is four dollars. There's still four coins, where did you use it? " He took out the prescription that Imperial Physician Liang had written when he was drunk and threw it in front of her.
Imperial Physician Liang's heart skipped a beat as he quickly picked up the pharmacy. When he saw the words, the signature, and the seal, he was suddenly struck dumb!
Hadn't he already made up his hands and feet and lost them?
Why, why did it appear again?
Could it be … The hand holding the prescription trembled as he tried to recall what had happened. Then, a flash of inspiration struck him as he suddenly recalled the incident where Imperial Physician He and Imperial Physician Li had gotten drunk together at the Sage Gathering Tower.
He suddenly raised his head to look at Xiao He …
"You, you …"
"Your majesty, this humble servant has seen it. This medicinal formula is indeed Beauty Li's."
Even Zhaoyi and Feng Lingyue were frightened out of their wits, especially Feng Lingyue. Her hands tightly gripped her handkerchief, twisting it around her fingertips until they were white, while her heart silently cursed Imperial Physician Liang for a thousand cuts! He swore that all the evidence had been destroyed, and that Feng Lingyue would not be able to turn the situation around. He said that he would not investigate them, but now —
Imperial Physician Liang's forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat. He suddenly said,
Your majesty, it was the young duke who framed this lowly position, it was the young duke who used this scheme to save the eleventh princess! Your majesty, this list was forced down by the young duke.
As he spoke, Imperial Physician Liang recounted the incident of Imperial Physician He and Imperial Physician Li inviting him for a drink, so much so that he ended up drunk at the Sage Gathering House.
"Heh …" Xiao He laughed coldly. "Imperial Physician Liang, I think you're really drunk. You don't remember anything."
"Your majesty, that beauty Li is a very meticulous person, she has a habit. Every time the imperial physician prescriptions for the medicine were written, she would get the palace maid to copy and keep them, and this humble servant would take a copy of the prescription from Li Mei." Your majesty, that beauty Li is a very meticulous person, she has a habit, every time the imperial physician prescriptions for the medicine, she would make the palace maid copy and keep a copy of the prescription from Li Mei.
At this moment, Imperial Physician Rong, who was cooperating with the investigation, produced another piece of evidence.
"Your majesty, the Grand Hospital has sent out such a criminal. As the history of the hospital, this lowly subordinate must take responsibility for it. The only thing I can do is cooperate with the investigation and expel this criminal from the Grand Hospital."
What...
Suddenly, Imperial Physician Liang's face turned pale, and his entire body felt powerless —
It's over, it's all over!
He didn't expect that the evidence Xiao He prepared was so sufficient.
"What I actually took that day should have been four dollars, not eight. Yes, I was wrong." Imperial Physician Liang was trembling with fear as he made his final struggles.
"Doctor Liang!" Imperial Physician Rong's face was filled with anger. "You still dare to quibble in front of the emperor? What kind of place is the Grand Hospital? How could they make a mistake over such a strict matter?" Every single piece of paper here has been clearly written down. Why don't you admit your guilt and prove the innocence of Princess Eleven! "
"Subordinate, subservient …" Imperial Physician Liang's forehead was drenched in sweat as large droplets fell to the ground.
When Xiao He saw the defense in Imperial Physician Liang's heart slowly crumbling, he deliberately pressed on, saying, "Imperial Physician Liang, you've framed the Eleventh Princess, and you've also harmed the Thirteenth Princess. How dare you?! This is a capital offense, and even your family won't be spared. They'll be beheaded."
Zhou Chengdi held the evidence in his hand and slowly clenched his fists as he said in a stern voice:
"Imperial Physician Liang, the evidence provided by Xiao He and Imperial Physician Rong is conclusive. What else do you have to say?"
"Pah!" A voice suddenly rang out, and everyone turned to look at Feng Ziyao, only to see the teacup in her hands drop to the ground with a thud, and she said, "No problem, I'm fine."
The palace maid hurriedly ran over and cleaned up the area.
"Imperial Physician Liang, the emperor asked you a question. Why didn't you say anything?" The murderous intent in Xiao He's gaze was enough to put Imperial Physician Liang to death.
"Subordinate, subservient …" Imperial Physician Liang was trembling with fear as his gaze began to flicker. Large drops of sweat were left behind, and his clothes were starting to get wet.
Lian Zhaoyi and Feng Yunyao were already trembling. Lian Zhaoyi glared fiercely at Imperial Physician Liang, as if warning him that if he dared to say words that were not on their side, he would definitely not let her off.
"Your majesty, this Imperial Physician Liang has committed a heinous crime, causing both princesses to die. This lowly general is certain that the emperor will torture him to death, then chop off his head and hang it on the city wall as proof of the emperor's position. His family and clansmen are all sitting together, and all of them will be bestowed with waists!" Xiao He knelt on one knee as he pleaded. Every word he said was extremely terrifying.
"…" When Imperial Physician Liang heard this, he felt his vision turn black —
Head of the wall? His family was sitting together?
This... This … this punishment is so severe … He was like the sun in the sky right now! How did it become like this in a single night?
"Your majesty, this still isn't enough. Imperial Physician Liang ruining the reputation of the Imperial Physician Guild is ruining the reputation of your majesty! This lowly general is even willing to request that your majesty sentence him not to be buried after his death, and to expose his corpse in the wilderness, turning him into a lonely ghost that won't be able to live a peaceful life!" Your Majesty, let this lowly general personally chop off his head.
As Xiao He continued to speak, every word of his was slowly drawing closer. He was like the king of hell.
Imperial Physician Liang's body turned limp as he fell to the ground, scared out of his wits.
"No, don't... "Your majesty, it was Princess Thirteen who ordered me to do this. I don't have such guts, it's Princess Thirteen. Princess Thirteen likes Young Marquis. Princess Thirteen said that as long as we get rid of Princess Eleven, we can request the emperor to make her our Young Marquis her consort!" "This is all Princess Thirteen's wish. This humble servant will only do as she says, Your Majesty."