Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1653: Chapter 1653: The Small Medicine Bottle in the Ruins

”She secretly poisoned him before you took him away. Once something happens, she’ll report you to the Emperor. You must be vigilant,” Nanny continued.

Upon hearing this, the Grand Princess stood up abruptly and said, ”Let’s go and have a look. I don’t believe the Imperial Doctor can’t find out the whole truth. And as long as the person is cured, let’s see what else Bai Ruozhu can say.”

So the Grand Princess took her personal nanny and maid to the yard where the servants lived. She didn’t like the smell there and covered her nose and mouth with a handkerchief.

”I can’t take it anymore. Quickly find Doctor Bai. I don’t want to die!” The person’s hands and face were covered in blood from scratching, and his cries were particularly haunting, scaring the others.

Whether it was something they ate or just psychological, they also felt a slight itch starting on their bodies.

”Don’t worry, everyone, the Imperial Doctor will be here soon. I invited the best from the Imperial Medical Hospital, and they will reside in the residence for your convenience,” the Grand Princess announced loudly.

This reassured the crowd somewhat. Now that they were here, they could rarely stay at the Princess Residence, with servants attending to them. How could they bear to leave?

As they spoke, the Imperial Doctor arrived, led by Mao Xingcai, the Chief Doctor of the Imperial Medical Hospital, along with a doctor specializing in burn treatment.

Mao Xingcai quickly checked on the mobster’s condition, and his expression changed dramatically. ”What did he eat earlier? Didn’t he know about dietary restrictions? Did he eat seafood?”

The Grand Princess’s expression was somewhat stiff, and she didn’t respond. It was the other disaster victims nearby who said, ”I saw him eat a lot of sea cucumber and abalone. He said he never had a chance to taste them before and kept saying how delicious they were.”

Mao Xingcai’s mustache curled with anger as he shouted, ”This is utter nonsense! With such severe burns, he ate seafood? Does he have a death wish? And he’s allergic to seafood. Look at these welts! How can we treat him now?”

The Grand Princess, upon hearing this, grew anxious. ”If Bai Ruozhu can treat him, why can’t you? Is Chief Doctor Mao’s medical skill not as good as Bai Ruozhu’s?”

In the past, these words would have provoked Mao Xingcai, but after the previous magical duel with Bai Ruozhu, he had admitted Bai Ruozhu’s superior skills.

”Indeed, my skills are not as good as Doctor Bai’s. But even so, Doctor Bai would not let patients foolishly eat such trigger foods. Now he’s at risk of losing his life—who can now be blamed?” Mao Xingcai replied.

”Nonsense. How can you, the Chief Doctor of the Imperial Medical Hospital, be inferior to a quack like Bai Ruozhu? Properly investigate whether she secretly poisoned him. How could it be that when I left, the allergic reaction suddenly occurred?” The Grand Princess looked incredulous.

Mao Xingcai’s face turned blue with rage as he bowed to the Grand Princess and said, ”I don’t have that ability. I’ve already told you it’s from eating indiscriminately. If the Grand Princess doesn’t believe, please seek someone more skilled.”

With that, he turned and left. Despite his age, his steps were brisk, and he quickly walked far away, followed by the other doctor, who did not hesitate to leave with him.

They were not without sympathy for such patients, but if they wouldn’t listen, any treatment would be for naught.

”Birds of a feather, birds of a feather!” the Grand Princess angrily shouted.

The entire yard was left dumbfounded, while the mobster’s cries of pain seemed to grasp the fragile hearts of everyone there, squeezing them relentlessly.

After leaving the Duke Zheng’s residence, Mao Xingcai immediately inquired about the situation. Upon learning everything, he was so angry that he nearly fainted. He then led many from the Imperial Medical Hospital to report the matter to the Emperor, filing a complaint against the Grand Princess.

”Your Majesty, setting aside the Grand Princess’s reckless actions, she set fire to numerous civilian homes. On top of that, she used relief efforts to bribe and, against advice, let patients eat indiscriminately, worsening their conditions. Such actions warrant punishment. Even a prince is not exempt from the law. I implore Your Majesty to decree severe punishment for the Grand Princess!”

Tang Yin was also infuriated. Having just received the message, he felt that his aunt was getting out of hand, utterly unreasonable.

”Deliver my orders: due to the Grand Princess’s reckless actions resulting in worsening conditions after the fire disaster, the patients are to be returned to the accommodations arranged by the Government Office, and she must apologize publicly to the citizens and Doctor Bai,” the Emperor issued verbally, thus leaving the Grand Princess some semblance of dignity. Had it been a formal edict, it would have gone down in the annals of history.

Of course, ordering the Grand Princess to apologize publicly was a fair measure.

Hence, Mao Xingcai and others did not further press for an edict. Once everyone had withdrawn, Tang Yin’s expression darkened further as he told Wang Shun, ”Tell the Grand Princess to reflect in seclusion. Until the matter is clarified, she’s not allowed to leave. Otherwise, it will be treated as an escape.”

”Yes, I will convey the decree at once,” Wang Shun hurriedly replied and withdrew.

This time, the Grand Princess had truly gone too far. Even Wang Shun, a servant who should have had no personal sentiments, found it unbearable. It’s imaginable that impeachment memorials against her would flood the palace like snowflakes.

As expected, soon countless memorials were submitted to the palace, mainly impeaching the Grand Princess and requesting the Emperor to take strict measures. However, some memorials defended her, citing her sudden widowhood and hatred for brothel women as understandable, claiming the severe fire was purely accidental and asking the Emperor to give her a chance to make amends.

As for the way to make amends? They suggested having the Grand Princess fund and assist in rebuilding houses for the citizens to make up for their losses.

The following morning during court, an officer found new evidence in the ruins: a Porcelain Bottle bearing Bai Ruozhu’s emblem!

Furthermore, the Porcelain Bottle was discovered at the scene of Duke Zheng’s incident, the brothel.

The officer immediately reported this to Fan Li, the Capital Administrator. Fan Li didn’t dare to make decisions independently and hurried to report it to the Emperor. Yet, somehow, this news had already leaked, and many, including the Grand Princess, were aware of it.

When Bai Ruozhu heard the news, she couldn’t help but laugh. What a coincidence that her medicine bottle was found, completely unscathed. How could it remain intact amid such a huge fire that reduced houses to charred wood?

And how the news conveniently leaked, informing the Grand Princess’s faction—such coincidences?

When the Emperor saw the evidence presented by Fan Li, he furrowed his brows and said, ”It’s intact? Bai, the chief medical officer, prescribed many medicines; it’s not surprising that these bottles appear anywhere.”

”That’s what I thought too, so I didn’t rush to interrogate Doctor Bai,” Fan Li answered with a forced smile.

The Emperor nodded, ”During this fire disaster, Doctor Bai contributed significantly and indeed has merit. I don’t wish to chill the hearts of loyal ministers.”

The Emperor was wise. Since Bai Ruozhu found it coincidental, how could he not also see the possibility? His words were a hint to Fan Li.

”Yes, Your Majesty, I understand,” Fan Li secretly rejoiced. Fortunately, he hadn’t rashly confronted Bai Ruozhu, avoiding a reversal of imperial intent.