Chapter 91
Chapter 91: Confrontation with the Medicine Apprentice
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
After assisting Jian Mei into her bed, Ye Xiao acknowledged Jiang Peihuan with a subtle nod. However, lying in bed, Jian Mei wore an irritated expression. She shot a cold look at Jiang Ruyun and Jiang Peihuan, then said, “Eldest Miss, Second Miss, I’m not feeling well and need to rest. Could you please leave?” “You’re nothing but a liar!”
...The moment Jian Mei finished her sentence, Jiang Ruyun’s eyes flashed with rage as she yelled at her, “You intentionally set up my mother!”
At the sound of Jiang Ruyun’s accusation, a flicker of panic passed over Jian Mei’s eyes, only to disappear swiftly. She turned to face Jiang Ruyun, wearing a smile, “Second Miss, I’m afraid 1 don’t understand what you mean.”
Although Jian Mei had swiftly recovered her composure, Jiang Peihuan had kept a steady gaze on her, catching the brief guilt in her eyes.
Jiang Ruyun didn’t let up, “You accused my mother of poisoning you. Do you even know how much poison was supposedly in that soup? Two taels’ worth.”
“If you’d indeed consumed the soup, you would be dead by now. So, you weren’t poisoned.”
Hearing the initial part of Jiang Ruyun’s statement, panic flickered in Jian AAei’s eyes once more, but by the end, she’d regained her composure.
She turned to Jiang Ruyun, her voice steady, “Second Miss, I’m not sure why you’re making such unfounded accusations against me. If you believe I’m poisoned, why not get a doctor to verify it? Why resort to unfounded claims?” “Indeed, you’ve been poisoned by arsenic. But the dose you’ve ingested could only inflict some harm to your body, certainly not lethal,” Jian Mei’s words were followed by Jiang Peihuan’s calm retort.
Settling into a nearby chair, she continued, “Miss Jian, if I’m not mistaken, you were the one who added the arsenic to the soup, right? Your ignorance about medical matters led you to believe that just adding the poison would work, but you didn’t consider the mismatch between the dosage and your symptoms.” “Those are mere conjectures. Do you have any concrete evidence?”
She stared coldly at Jiang Peihuan, Jiang Peihuan voice a chilled whisper, “The evidence will present itself soon enough.”
No sooner had Jiang Peihuan’s words settled, a commotion arose from outside. Following this, Deputy General Liu led a man into Jian Mei’s room.
Upon seeing the man, Xi Er’s eyes lit up with a tinge of panic.
Surprise flitted across Jian Mei’s eyes, but she didn’t display a hint of worry. She directed a contemptuous gaze at Jiang Peihuan, “Miss, what’s the meaning of this?”
“Miss Jian, have patience. All will be revealed shortly.”
As the time to sip half a cup of tea passed, both Jiang Yuan and Zhou Rongfang entered Jian Mei’s room.
Observing the situation, Jiang Yuan’s eyebrows furrowed. Turning to Jiang Ruyun, he asked, “Yun Er, have you discovered something? And who is this man?”
Jiang Ruyun look at Jiang Peihuan. After receiving her nod, she turned to her father, “Father, this young man is an apprentice from the Hundred Herb Hall. The arsenic found in this soup was bought from him by Xi Er.”
“Xi Er bought it?”
Jiang Yuan was shocked by this information. His gaze instinctively went to Jian Mei, only to find her eyes brimming with tears, her head shaking incessantly.
Taking note of her reaction, Jiang Yuan’s expression turned icy as he fixed his eyes on the apprentice, “Let me ask you, did this maid truly buy arsenic from you?”
“In response to Lord Jiang, indeed someone from your household bought arsenic from me, but it wasn’t this young lady here, but that one over there.”
The apprentice raised his hand, pointing straight at Ping Er, who was standing next to Zhou Rongfang.
“No, I didn’t… You’re lying! I’ve never bought any arsenic.”
“Madam, so it was indeed you.”
Upon hearing the apprentice’s words, fear took hold in Ping Er’s eyes. Jian Mei, her eyes filled with tears, looked towards Zhou Rongfang, who was visibly stunned.
Jiang Ruyun was also stunned, her gaze fixed on the apprentice, “You’re spouting nonsense, you…”
“Enough!”
At this juncture, Jiang Yuan raised his voice, his eyes reflecting his irritation.
Turning towards Zhou Rongfang, Jiang Yuan’s eyes were dark and his words heavy, “Initially, 1 thought your only flaw was a bad temper, now it seems that you…”
“Second Uncle?”
Before Jiang Yuan could finish, Jiang Peihuan interjected.
Seeing that Jiang Yuan was looking at her, Jian Peihuan said softly,” Second Uncle, the matter has not been investigated clearly. You cannot accuse Second Aunt just like that.””
“Isn’t the matter clear enough? The apprentice has already spoken.”
“But that’s just one side of the story.”
Initially, Jiang Ruyun’s eyes reflected nothing but panic. However, when she saw Jian Peihuan’s indifferent appearance, her emotions suddenly calmed down.
Rising to her feet, Jiang Peihuan approached Jiang Yuan, her voice soft. “Second Uncle, ordinarily, this matter would only concern you and Second Aunt, and 1 shouldn’t interfere. However, our Jiang family has always been united, which is why 1 took the liberty to intervene. Please forgive me.” “Second Uncle, may I ask this apprentice a few questions?”
“Go ahead,” Jiang Yuan allowed, causing Jiang Peihuan to nod in acknowledgment.
Turning to the apprentice, Jiang Peihuan’s demeanor was calm, her voice gentle. However, her words instantly threw him into disarray. “You claim that Ping Er purchased the arsenic from you, correct?”
Following her gaze to Ping Er, the medicine boy nodded almost instinctively.
“Very well. If Ping Er was indeed the one who purchased the arsenic, 1 have a few questions. When did she make this purchase?”
Before the apprentice could speak, Jiang Peihuan pre-empted him. “Think before you answer, our servants need to report when they leave the premises. If she was on duty at the time you claim, your story won’t hold up.”
“Moreover, she must have paid you for the arsenic. Did she use silver notes, coins, or perhaps copper?”
“Finally, do you remember what color her clothes were when she came to buy the arsenic?”
With each question Jiang Peihuan asked, the apprentice complexion grew paler.
Eventually, he gritted his teeth and muttered, “1… 1 was too busy at that time, so… I can’t recall.”
Jiang Peihuan responded, “It’s understandable to forget given the heavy traffic at the Hundred Herb Hall. But as 1 remember, the Hall keeps a record of everyone who makes a purchase.”
Turning back to Jiang Yuan, she continued, “Second Uncle, why don’t we have the proprietor of the Hundred Herb Hall bring their ledger? We can check if Ping Er was at the mansion when the arsenic was supposedly purchased. If she was, then this medicine boy must be lying.”
“Deputy General Liu, bring the manager of the Hundred Herb Hall here,” commanded Jiang Yuan.
“Yes, sir.”
As Deputy General Liu made to leave, the apprentice, filled with panic, cried out, “No, don’t…”
“Please, spare me… I… I lied.”
At his confession, Jiang Yuan’s eyes narrowed dangerously. His voice was icy cold as he declared, “Speak the truth quickly, or I’ll have you thrown in jail..”