Ling Wan followed the prescription to get the herbs and took them to the backyard to boil.
“Wei Ran, go clean his wound thoroughly, then apply the Qing Feng Yu Lu Gao to it.”
Feng Jin examined his injuries. Whip marks crisscrossed his skin, and a large area on his arm had been scalded with boiling water, leaving it a bloody mess. If the Qing Feng Yu Lu Gao was not used, it would surely leave a scar.
Wei Ran first cleaned the wounds, then applied the medicinal paste to them.
Two full bottles of Qing Feng Yu Lu Gao were used before the wounds were completely treated.
This precious medicinal paste, Feng Jin actually used on a servant with no connection to her, and even to frame her. Such generosity was truly admirable.
“Sister-in-law, the medicine is ready.”
Feng Jin took the medicine bowl and brought it to her nose. After confirming there were no issues, she had the servant drink it.
“Pfft…”
After drinking the medicine, the servant spat out a large mouthful of black blood.
Feng Jin placed a ginseng slice into the servant’s mouth. “Hold this, rest well. The poison in your body has been expelled.”
She paused, then continued, “However, were your injuries inflicted by someone?”
Such severe wounds must have been the result of a beating. Who could have done it?
After resting for a while, the servant’s consciousness gradually returned. He tried to stand up to thank Feng Jin, but after struggling for a moment, he had no strength to rise and had to give up.
He struggled to open his mouth, and a hoarse voice squeezed out from his throat, “Thank… thank you…”
“Your throat was damaged by the smoke. Once your body recovers, I will treat your throat. First, tell me your name, and how you sustained your injuries?”
“My name is… Yan… Yu… It… it was Feng Ruo Yan…”
Yan Yu mustered all his strength to squeeze these words out of his throat. The wounds, which had been smeared with medicine, were forcibly opened by his exertion, oozing a trickle of fresh blood.
“Don’t move, rest well. I understand. I will seek justice for you.”
Feng Jin soothed Yan Yu and instructed Wei Ran, “He is very weak now and cannot move. Let him rest here at the medical hall for a few days. Thank you for taking care of him.”
“Understood,” Wei Ran replied with a nod. He paused and said, “I did not handle today’s matter well…”
It was his negligence, not keeping a copy of the prescription, that allowed them to seize the opportunity.
“It’s not your fault. No matter how well you did, if they intended to cause trouble, it couldn’t have been avoided. Take good care of him; he might even be able to help us.”
This was an important witness to implicate Feng Ruo Yan. She had to be protected, without the slightest mistake.
…
“Master, something terrible has happened, Master…” Madam Sun rushed in anxiously.
“Ruffian! Can’t you see the Third Prince is here? What kind of behavior is this!” Feng Yuanping’s roar was filled with anger. What an ignorant woman, shouting so loudly, wouldn’t she be a laughingstock?
Upon seeing the Third Prince, a flicker of panic crossed Madam Sun’s face, which she quickly concealed. She plastered a familiar smile on her face. “Your Highness the Third Prince, please excuse me. It was my panic that made you witness such a scene.”
“Please don’t be offended, Your Highness. This woman is unaware of propriety. Hurry and leave, you have offended His Highness!”
“Prime Minister, you are too kind. Ruo Yan and I are already betrothed. After we marry, we will all be family. Speaking like this makes us seem like strangers.”
Chu Yanxi maintained his gentle and amiable demeanor. He looked around and asked, “Why do I not see Ruo Yan today?”
His purpose for visiting today was twofold: to win over Feng Yuanping, and his heart ached for Feng Ruo Yan, wanting to see her and express his longing.
“Yan’er…”
“Yan’er went to the matchmaker temple outside the city today to fulfill a vow. She specifically thanked the matchmaker for bestowing upon her a good marriage and fulfilling her wish.”
Before Feng Yuanping could speak, Madam Sun quickly interjected.
A hint of disappointment flashed in Chu Yanxi’s eyes, but upon learning that Feng Ruo Yan had gone to the matchmaker temple to fulfill a vow, a trace of joy arose in his heart.
“Since that is the case, I shall not disturb you further.” Chu Yanxi took a jade pendant from his embrace and handed it to Madam Sun.
“Please give this Mandarin Duck Jade Pendant to Ruo Yan as a token of my affection.”
He had personally carved this pair of mandarin duck jade pendants. It was a pair, and it represented his feelings for Feng Ruo Yan. He had had it divined that today was an auspicious day for marriage. Sending the mandarin duck pendant today would ensure that lovers would remain inseparable. He had intended to give it to her himself, but it was inconvenient, so he could only ask Madam Sun to deliver it.
“I will personally give His Highness’s sentiment to Yan’er.”
“Thank you for your trouble, Madam. I shall take my leave now.”
After Feng Yuanping, with a face full of fawning smiles, saw Chu Yanxi off.
Returning to the hall, he saw Madam Sun and his expression immediately soured. He said irritably, “Speak! What has happened now, and where has Ruo Yan gone?”
Madam Sun immediately became flustered, stammering and unable to utter a word.
“Bang!” Feng Yuanping slammed his palm heavily on the table. “You dare to hide this from me? Speak quickly!”
The loud noise startled Madam Sun. She immediately knelt at Feng Yuanping’s feet and hurriedly begged for mercy, “Master, save me! Yan’er… Yan’er has been arrested and taken to the Dali Temple!”
Feng Yuanping’s pupils widened abruptly. He slumped onto his chair, and it took a long time for him to recover before he angrily berated Madam Sun, “How could she have been arrested and taken to the Dali Temple?”
“Yan’er… Yan’er she…” Madam Sun’s face was filled with panic, and she was at a loss for words.
“Speak quickly! The situation has reached this point, and you still want to conceal it for her!”
Seeing that the matter could no longer be hidden, Madam Sun finally said, “Yan’er she…”
Madam Sun recounted the entire sequence of events to him.
Upon hearing this, Feng Yuanping felt as if the world had turned upside down. He rubbed his temples with his fingers, a surge of blood rushing to his head.
“You have audacious courage! To use such a poisonous scheme! Who is Ling Mo Han? What is the status of the Ling family? Even the current Emperor shows great respect to the Ling family. You dared to scheme on Ling family territory.”
“Master, Yan’er’s reputation has been ruined by Feng Jin. She was simply unable to bear it, and I was trying to help Yan’er salvage her reputation…”
“Silence!”
Feng Yuanping roared, kicking over a stool in front of him, his anger uncontrollable.
“Are you trying to salvage her reputation? You are trying to frame Feng Jin for selling fake medicine and taking human lives. If this crime is proven, the Ling family and the Feng family will both be implicated. We will lose our official positions and noble titles. The Feng family’s foundation will be destroyed by your foolishness!”
Why had he been blinded by infatuation in the past and let this vicious woman into the Feng family, leading to Miao Qing’s untimely death?
He had almost brought ruin upon the Feng family. What face did he have to face the ancestors of the Feng family?
“Master… you cannot abandon Yan’er. She is your only daughter… Master!”