Chapter 68 Medicinal effect, Killing lives
This was the first time that many people inside and outside the court had heard of "Liudan Poke Root", and they were all extremely curious. Qi Fufang and the rest did not care much about it.
However, Chen Sanyuan surprised Qi Fufang and the others. He replied, "This servant had never heard of Liudan Poke Root. When Miss Qi gave this servant three stalks of it, this servant only … only think of it as Poke Root…"
At this point, Chen Sanyuan firmly kowtowed and did not dare to get up again. His voice was almost trembling as he continued, "Miss Qi said … she said the Liudan Poke Root was a deadly medicine. She, she... she wanted to murder His Highness and frame Gu Feiyan … She also wanted to frame General Cheng! This is such a big thing; this servant really doesn't dare to hide it. Your Highness, this servant knows his wrongs, this servant knows his wrongs … "
No one paid any attention to Chen Sanyuan's words. The huge court had already fallen into silence. Even outside the court, there was not a single sound.
Everyone was shocked by the word "deadly". Even Cheng Yifei, who was hiding in the crowd, gasped.
The assassination attempt on the life of His Highness Prince Jing was not a small matter!
Amidst the silence, everyone was trembling with fear. However, Princess Huaining and the others were not nervous at all.
When she first went to bribe Chen Sanyuan, she did not explain in detail what Liudan Poke Root was and what its medicinal effects were. She only said that this medicine was as poisonous as Poke Root and could not be consumed in excess. This dog slave must have gone mad trying to frame the Qi family. Did he speak without thinking? He could actually say something like plotting to murder His Highness!
How laughable!
To seize this point was enough to prove that he was deliberately slandering!
Qi Fufang still had some brains, she remembered that Liudan Poke Root was a rarely known medicine. She did not directly point out Chen Sanyuan's trap. Instead, she acted according to Chen Sanyuan's words.
"Unjustly accused! Your Highness Prince Jing, this humble woman has been wrongly accused! This is the first time that this humble woman has heard of Liudan Poke Root, not to mention that this medicine could kill! Please enlighten me, Your Highness!"
Princess Huaining seemed to have forgotten all the things that have just been disgraced. She also walked out, pretending to be curious. She looked towards the Great Pharmacist, Lord Nangong, and said, "Lord Nangong, I, too, am curious about what Liudan Poke Root is. Quick, tell me!"
Qi Yu hesitated for a moment, then stood up as well, bowing to Lord Nangong.
"This one is the same as my sister, this is the first time I've heard of this medicine! My Qi family cannot be unjustly accused. I hope that Lord Nangong can enlighten us."
Gu Feiyan looked at the three of them, the corners of her mouth slightly curving upwards. She was obviously trying her best to hold back her laughter. She knew that the real show was here!
Lord Nangong stroked his beard and said seriously, "This medicine is a rare xenogeneic of Poke Root. Generally, Poke Root is bitter and cold, harmful to the spleen and stomach, toxic, can cause diarrhea, induced abortion and dysentery. But, Liudan Poke Root is completely different …"
Hearing this, Princess Huaining and the Qi siblings became a little agitated. They were waiting for Lord Nangong to slap Chen Sanyuan's face and deny his words.
Unexpectedly, Lord Nangong actually said, "Liudan Poke Root is more bitter and cold than the common Poke Root. It is a good medicine but also extremely poisonous. A little was enough to kill. If you take three stalks of Liudan at once, then … you would definitely die! "
"What?!"
The anticipations expressions on Princess Huaining and the Qi siblings’ faces stiffened at almost the same time.
They were dumbstruck, and all of them recovered their senses.
How could this be?
"What did you say?"
Qi Fufang muttered to herself, "Extremely poisonous? Definitely die? This, this …"
Princess Huaining subconsciously covered her mouth, as if she was afraid that she would lose control and say something that she shouldn't. How could this be? Pharmacist Jian had clearly said that this medicine was rare, but it wasn't harmful. After taking it, one's skin would at most itch, and it would even self-heal!
It was impossible for Pharmacist Jian to deceived her. Impossible!
How dare she?
The crime of murdering Prince Jing was heinous to the extreme!
Lord Nangong, was there … Was there a mistake?
Princess Huaining was about to say something, but Qi Yu beat her to it, "Lord Nangong, what you said is... Is it all true?"
"Young General Qi, the matter of medicines is not something that can be left ambiguous. Furthermore, this matter is extremely important, so how could this official dare to spout nonsense!? If the young general does not believe it, you can find a dog and try it on the spot."
Qi Yu knew that there was no need for Lord Nangong to lie, so he took two steps back and looked towards Qi Fufang. Qi Fufang's face was as white as paper. Of course she knew what Qi Yu wanted to ask. How could she have known that Liudan Poke Root was this kind of medicine! Who knew that Pharmacist Jian would lie to Princess Huaining!
She shook her head and quickly looked at Princess Huaining. She couldn't wait to tell Qi Yu that it was all because of Princess Huaining. She was the mastermind!
If she had known that Liudan Poke Root was a deadly thing, she wouldn't have helped Princess Huaining bribe the medicine workers!
For such a big matter, the Qi Family was going to be wiped out!
Qi Fufang regained her sense. In the end, she did not dare to be willful in this situation. Qi Yu didn't know what Qi Fufang meant, so he followed her to look at Princess Huaining.
Chen Sanyuan's evidence was not enough to convict a criminal. He thought that if Princess Huaining could commit a perjury like last night, then things would turn out better. At least they could buy some time to find out the real culprit!
Princess Huaining’s mind was...empty!
She had originally wondered how Prince Jing could be so serious about a lowly servant like Gu Feiyan, not giving her face. This time, she finally understood the seriousness of the situation. If this matter were to reach Imperial Father, don't even mention protecting her, he would even have the heart to kill her, right?
Perjury? She didn't dare to do that anymore. However, she still had to help. "Chen Sanyuan, you, do you have any other proof?"
Chen Sanyuan timidly answered, "This servant have said everything that I know!"
A trace of malice flashed in Princess Huaining's eyes. She decisively raised her hand and pointed at Gu Feiyan, "Prince Jing, she is also a suspect!"
Since she couldn't protect Qi Fufang, she had to pull someone as a scapegoat. At the very least, she could delay the case to give her a chance to investigate Pharmacist Jian.
"5000 gold is not enough to prove it. It's true that Miss Qi is a suspect. However, Gu Feiyan was even more suspicious! Everyone, this princess heard that the Liudan Poke Root was discovered by Gu Feiyan. I'd like to ask; how could a mere little medicine girl possibly identify a rare medicine like Liudan Poke Root? Could it be that someone pointed it out? Or perhaps, she was the one who swapped the Liudan Poke Root into the bag!"
At this point, the Qi siblings had somewhat calmed down. Qi Fufang knelt down quickly. "Your Highness Prince Jing, you are going to convict me of my sin just based on five thousand gold. I cannot accept this. The Qi family cannot accept this!"
Qi Yu also knelt down, "The Qi family is truly loyal. We would never do something so outrageous. Someone has plotted against the Qi family. I beg you, Your Highness, please reconsider!"
Jun Jiuchen had enough of watching the show, so he didn't pay any attention to either of them. Instead, he looked at Gu Feiyan and asked, "Medicine Girl Gu, do you have something to say?"
"Yes!"
Gu Feiyan was very calm and collected. She wanted to get up, but Jun Jiuchen seemed to be unhappy, and he coldly said, "Sit down and speak."