Qingshan

Chapter 39 : Chapter 39

Chapter 39: Frame-Up

When I left Prince Jing’s mansion, it was already evening.

Xibing stood inside the mansion gate, waving goodbye. I stood on Anxi Street, my heart heavy.

I walked in the fading sunlight, catching the aroma of meals drifting from homes along the street, and finally felt a bit of relief.

Dark Cloud poked its head from the eaves, leaping into my arms: “Who beat White Prajna? I didn’t touch it!”

I smiled, patting its head: “No one beat it. It was just Consort Yun’s excuse to summon me to the mansion.”

I murmured to myself: “Back then, Consort Yun said the lead-barium glass cup that caused Consort Jing’s miscarriage was a gift from her family, so I didn’t think much of it. But now, seeing Consort Jing’s ties with the Liu Family, it might’ve been deliberate… Has she cursed the Liu Family recently?”

“Yes, she cursed her brother Liu Mingxian, really harshly,” Dark Cloud replied.

“That’s it,” I sighed: “I was too focused on logical reasoning back then, not digging deeper into human nature. Indeed, human nature defies common logic. But Old Master Liu’s death wasn’t my doing, I didn’t send the cup, and I didn’t kill Liu Shiyu. Why target me instead of the Liu Family or the Secret Spy Division… Hiss, Liu Shiyu was silenced by the Liu Family. There’s a ruthless figure in that family!”

I gasped, reviewing all the clues, suddenly realizing how ruthless the Liu Family was, even toward their own kin: “Old Master Liu in that coffin—wasn’t he killed on the spot too?!”

Dark Cloud looked at me with awe: “Fierce, fierce!”

Was such ruthlessness effective? Of course. If they weren’t so ruthless, Yunyang and Jiaotu wouldn’t be in prison, and the Liu Family would’ve been guilty of deceiving the emperor.

Back at the clinic, Old Man Yao was behind the counter, poring over the ledger while fiddling with an abacus, looking cunning yet confused…

I teased with a smile: “Master, why not toss some copper coins to divine the accounts and be done with it?”

Old Man Yao glared at me: “Less nonsense. Think I’m itching to whip you? Divination shows direction, not exact coins and cents!”

“Where’re my senior brothers?” I asked curiously.

“Cooking in the back,” Old Man Yao squinted at me: “Didn’t you go treat that cat? No medicine prescribed?”

“No…”

Old Man Yao sneered: “Thought you were cautious. Even if the cat’s fine, you should’ve sent some cheap trauma medicine to the mansion. Act the part fully, or someone will catch on eventually.”

I paused, then said: “Thanks for the reminder, Master. Old ginger’s still the spiciest. Tomorrow I’ll send some cnidium.”

I headed to the back courtyard, where only Liu Quxing was in the kitchen rinsing rice for porridge, no sign of She Dakang.

As I was about to check the apprentice dormitory, She Dakang pushed the door open and came out.

Seeing me, She Dakang jumped: “Huh? Weren’t you at the mansion?”

I said: “The white cat’s injury was minor. I checked and came back. What were you doing in the room, Senior Brother She?”

“Just changing clothes. Come, help pick vegetables. If dinner’s late, Master will scold us,” She Dakang said, pulling me toward the kitchen.

But at that moment, orderly footsteps came from outside the clinic, along with the clinking of iron armor scales as guards moved.

I noticed She Dakang’s grip on my arm tighten suddenly, his sweaty palm palpable through my clothes.

Old Man Yao walked to the door, frowning: “Miss Chunhua, General Wang, what’s with blocking my Taiping Clinic’s entrance?”

I broke free from She Dakang’s grip and headed out. Liu Quxing, holding a spoon, poked out from the kitchen: “What’s going on?”

Outside Taiping Clinic, Chunhua was unusually plain today, wearing only a light green ruqun skirt, no jewelry, her hair simply pinned with a wooden hairpin.

Chunhua looked hesitant, as if wanting to speak but stopping herself. Beside her, the prince’s mansion guards held long halberds, clad in heavy iron armor, led by a man with a tiger’s stride and eagle’s gaze, sharp and imposing.

I smiled and asked: “Miss Chunhua, what’s this about?”

But Chunhua turned to the head guard: “General Wang, some days ago, my lady lost a South Sea pearl given by Prince Jing. We first checked the maids in Evening Star Courtyard but found no trace. Then we thought, only this clinic apprentice named Chen Ji entered Evening Star Courtyard and handled my lady’s belongings!”

I frowned. Consort Jing!

After losing her son and nephew, Consort Jing’s retaliation came fast and fierce, not even waiting overnight!

General Wang stared at me coldly: “What do you have to say? Can you prove your innocence?”

I was silent for a moment, then said calmly: “When someone accuses me of theft, it’s hard to prove innocence.”

On Anxi Street, shopkeepers and clerks peeked from their doors, ready to close up but now witnessing a spectacle.

Someone whispered: “Little Doctor Chen from Taiping Clinic stole from the prince’s mansion?”

“I heard it’s a South Sea pearl Prince Jing gave the princess. I’ve heard of it—a pearl as big as a longan, worth hundreds of taels!”

…

…

I listened to the surrounding murmurs, my expression unchanged.

General Wang stared at me for a long time, then said grimly: “Restrain this apprentice and search inside!”

With that, two guards flanked me, their arms like iron hoops, tightly binding mine, making movement impossible and causing pain.

Chunhua followed the guards into the clinic: “General Wang, I’ll help search. I’ve seen that pearl; it’s easy to recognize.”

I watched her enter, pulling open medicine cabinet drawers, scattering herbs.

Old Man Yao watched coldly: “General Wang, if my Taiping Clinic really bred a thief, I’ll resign and return to my hometown, never setting foot in Luocheng again. But if no thief is found, what will you say?”

General Wang bowed from a distance: “Physician Yao, I’m just following orders. Miss Chunhua came with Consort Jing’s badge; I must apprehend the thief. Besides, people’s hearts are hidden—how do you know this apprentice isn’t one?”

Old Man Yao suddenly huffed angrily: “I’m certain he isn’t!”

I looked at Old Man Yao in surprise, not expecting him to stand up for me at such a moment.

As we spoke, Chunhua entered the back courtyard, first rummaging through the kitchen, then heading to the apprentice dormitory.

She searched the beds, then fixed her gaze on the apprentices’ wardrobe.

I understood—she was only pretending to search elsewhere; the wardrobe was her real target.

Chunhua knew the pearl was there from the start!

I glanced at She Dakang, seeing his tall frame tense and uneasy, hands wringing, lips bloodless.

When She Dakang saw me looking, he quickly averted his gaze, avoiding eye contact.

This was a premeditated frame-up by She Dakang and Chunhua!

I frowned, but She Dakang hadn’t left the clinic, and Chunhua hadn’t visited today. How did they pass the message and the pearl?

I scanned the surroundings. The clinic’s back courtyard was separated from the prince’s mansion by just a wall; voices from the other side could be heard here.

The wall wasn’t high—tossing a pearl over wouldn’t be hard.

I suddenly asked: “Senior Brother She, do you like Chunhua?”

She Dakang froze, stepping back instinctively: “Huh? What’re you saying? I don’t understand.”

I shook my head: “Never mind…”

Liu Quxing looked at me, worried: “You didn’t really steal, did you?”

I denied: “No. I’d never stoop to petty theft in my life.”

Seeing me say this, Liu Quxing believed me, but he felt Chunhua’s confidence was unshakable.

He turned to Master: “Master, say something!”

Old Man Yao stayed silent. If evidence was found, no one could help me.

At that moment, guards emerged from Old Man Yao’s room, shaking their heads at General Wang.

All eyes turned to Chunhua in the apprentice dormitory. She frantically searched the wardrobe, then stood frozen before it, back to the crowd, trembling, and began to cry.