Disease rights policy

Wen Shao: "You want to recruit?"

Qiao Ran had already been lifted up by two guards. She struggled for a moment, but her stubbornness remained. "Why would you ask me to confess to something I didn't do? Give me time, sir. I will hand over the real murderer to you before midnight tonight."

"With you?" Wen Shao narrowed his eyes, his expression turning cold.

"On me."

Qiao Ran landed on her feet again. She needed to clear her name as quickly as possible, even though she knew Wen Shao would eventually find out. She had to prove herself to the Empress.

She left the palace.

She didn't want to lose this hard-won opportunity easily.

Wen Shao looked her over, a faint smile playing on his thin lips, and turned to ask the guard, "What time is it now?"

"Vice Envoy, it's past 3 PM."

“You have four hours left,” Wen Shao said with a wave of his hand, and the other guards withdrew. He stared at Qiao Ran as if she were a vulture eyeing its dying prey.

Qiao Ran knew that fear was useless. She lowered her brows and said coldly, "Can I leave now?"

Wen Shao said, "Okay."

Qiao Ran straightened her clothes, and only after taking a step did she belatedly realize that her legs were a little weak. She walked out of the dark interrogation room as if nothing had happened, and the sunlight outside suddenly pierced through her, so she couldn't help but raise her hand to shield her eyes.

As I left the Imperial City Guard Office, a young man approached me. The guards treated him with great respect, addressing him as "Commander."

Gong Yuyi was Wen Shao's superior, but he and Wen Shao had never gotten along, and Qiao Ran had heard about it.

Gong Yuyi was different from what Qiao Ran had imagined. Although he was in the palace, he was not wearing the official robes of a commander. Instead, he wore a pure white robe with silver embroidery, which made him look tall and slender. His hair was pulled back, which was completely different from Wen Shao's coldness. On the surface, Gong Yuyi seemed to be a refined and elegant person.

Qiao Ran brushed past him. Gong Yuyi only glanced at her briefly before going inside. Qiao Ran naturally didn't make a fuss and quickly left the Imperial City Office, heading towards Shufang Palace.

Gong Yuyi turned around after a long while, the calm and indifferent look in his eyes fading slightly, and his fingertips unconsciously touched the white jade pendant at his waist.

"Is she Qiao Xiaoran?" Gong Yuyi asked Wen Shao directly as he came out, "Is she deeply involved in this case?"

Upon seeing Gong Yuyi, Wen Shao's expression darkened. "Commander, what brings you to the office?"

Gong Yuyi lifted his eyelids slightly. He was not an aggressive prime minister, but his gaze towards Wen Shao suddenly turned cold, as if he were questioning him.

Wen Shao said coldly, "It's a minor case. No need for the commander to worry about it. I will handle it myself."

"The death of the Censor-in-Chief's daughter in the palace is considered a minor case?" Gong Yuyi followed up with a cold voice. "Wen Shao, this matter has already alarmed His Majesty. As the Commander of the Imperial City Guard, I have the responsibility to supervise its handling."

Wen Shao's dissatisfaction was evident on his face. "I will definitely give His Majesty an explanation today. What's the rush, Commander?"

Gong Yuyi watched Wen Shao's departing figure, his expression hardening. He raised his hand and summoned his men, "Those watching Shufang Palace, report to me immediately if there is any movement."

Gong Yuyi already knew everything Wen Shao did. After all, the Imperial City Guard was his territory. He knew exactly what Wen Shao asked and what Qiao Xiaoran answered in the interrogation room. However, the two had been enemies for a long time, so he decided to wait and see.

-

After Shufang Palace was sealed off by the guards, no one was allowed to enter or leave. For a time, everyone crowded into the main hall, and people were in a state of panic. Occasionally, two people could be heard crying softly. Xu Shangjian sat upright, his eyes fixed on the door. Unconsciously, the sweat on his palms had soaked the handkerchief in his hand.

"Could it be that Qiao Xiaoran killed Liu Yun?"

As soon as the voice came out, everyone reflexively looked over. He Yingying's face turned pale, and she stammered, "I... I was just saying... that's all. After all, Qiao Xiaoran hit Liu Yun before."

Xu Shangjian frowned deeply.

Kong Hanyan coldly retorted, "Then you might as well name me and say so too. I was partly responsible for beating Liu Yun, so does that mean I killed her?!"

He Yingying was stunned by Kong Hanyan, her body trembling, and tears fell to the ground with a "plop", making her look pitiful.

“That’s not what I meant,” He Yingying said, tears streaming down her face, looking at Kong Hanyan. “I misspoke, please don’t be angry, Sister Kong.”

Kong Hanyan frowned. She hadn't paid much attention to He Yingying before, but now she realized that this person was quite good at playing the victim. Remembering how He Yingying fawned over Liu Yun all day long, she couldn't help but feel a little suspicious.

This commotion only increased everyone's fear. Just as they were about to fall silent, Qiao Ran's sharp and cold voice came from outside. She raised her voice as if she was deliberately making sure everyone could hear her.

"I'm not even back yet, and you're already crying and sobbing. You'll be crying even more later, so you'd better keep pretending! He Yingying!"

He Yingying trembled violently again, almost in terror, and ran behind Xu Shangjian, shivering as she watched the people rushing in through the door.

Qiao Ran's dress was dusty from the interrogation room, and the layers of fabric had seeped out, making her look somewhat disheveled. She had been walking quickly and was covered in sweat, looking fierce now, with glistening beads of sweat on her forehead, leading people to speculate about what she had gone through at the Imperial City Guard.

But her eyes, deep and bright, glared fiercely at the crowd, as if she were finally no longer hiding her sharp claws; she was about to take revenge.

The young ladies were all terrified.

Supervisor Xu and Kong Hanyan were the first to go forward. Supervisor Xu asked anxiously, "What did the Imperial Censorate ask you? Did it involve you?"

Kong Hanyan asked, "Xiao Ran, are you alright?"

Qiao Ran patted their hands to indicate that she was alright, then walked straight to He Yingying, whose eyes were darting around. She grabbed her hair and pulled her out with a terrified scream from He Yingying. The others tried to stop her, but were scared away by Qiao Ran's gaze.

"Ahhh... Let me go!" He Yingying screamed, her voice trembling. "Help! Let me go... Supervisor, save me!!"

“It is time to save you,” Qiao Ran sneered, her eyes devoid of any tenderness, and said coldly, “I will trouble the Imperial Guard to come over, since if someone dies, the Imperial Guard and the Imperial City Guard will have to be present.”

Xu Shangjian felt a chill run down his spine. "Qiao Xiaoran, release He Yingying first. Tell me what happened, or someone might actually die."

Qiao Ran: "One life has already been lost, so I suppose Shufang Palace wouldn't mind losing another one."

As she spoke, she stomped He Yingying to the ground. He Yingying's screams gradually turned into sobs. In Qiao Ran's hands, she had no power to resist at all.

"Go and fetch the Imperial Guards!"

Xu Shangjian had no choice but to send Wang Shangyi out to call for help. If something really happened, the presence of the Imperial Guards would serve as a witness.

He Yingying was still crying. Qiao Ran looked down at her, enjoying her fear, until she caught a glimpse of Yao Yuze out of the corner of her eye. Only then did she speak, "I was framed by you for no reason. Shouldn't I be the victim?"

He Yingying shook her head, "I don't know..."

"You're the one who secretly reported to the Imperial City Guard, saying you saw me push Liu Yun off the bridge last night, aren't you?" Qiao Ran suddenly leaned down and forcefully lifted He Yingying's collar, forcing her to look up at her. "I didn't even step out of the door last night, and you're already spouting nonsense. What are you up to!"

He Yingying continued to shake her head in denial, "It wasn't me... General, save me! Qiao Xiaoran killed Liu Yun, and now she's trying to kill me..."

Yao Yuze listened but did nothing, simply crossing his arms and watching the lively scene in the courtyard.

He didn't know what Qiao Ran was up to, but his right eyelid had been twitching inexplicably all day, making him feel that something bad was about to happen.

"Lord Wen Shao, the deputy commander of the Imperial City Guard, has already told me, so what are you pretending for!" Qiao Ran said angrily. "Could it be that the deputy commander framed you? Fine, let's invite the deputy commander over here and have him confront you, shall we?"

He Yingying was stunned.

Wen Shao, who had just arrived at the entrance of Shufang Palace, was also stunned. His thin lips were tightly pressed together, and his face was cold. He had not revealed to Qiao Ran who the person who betrayed her was, and Qiao Ran had not asked.

She was clever; Wen Shao pretended nothing was wrong and went into Shufang Palace first.

"Greetings, Commander; greetings, Deputy Envoy." Supervisor Xu hurriedly bowed upon seeing the people. "Why have all of you gentlemen come to Shufang Palace?"

When Qiao Ran heard that everyone had arrived, she slowly put He Yingying on the ground and turned around to pretend to greet everyone. Suddenly, her gaze stopped and met Chen Jiu behind Gong Yuyi.

Her half-open lips trembled, and for some reason she couldn't speak. Chen Jiu glanced at her, then pretended to look away as if nothing had happened, but the worry and heartache in his eyes struck Qiao Ran's heart hard.

She was also cared about by others. Chen Jinning told her that he had been framed and sent to the palace. This sickly woman must have been extremely worried.

Otherwise, how could someone who doesn't even want to leave the house appear in Shufang Palace?

Qiao Ran felt sad, but now was not the time to be sad, so she pretended to be a stranger and greeted everyone politely.

Yao Yuze: "Have you made enough of a scene? I thought you had some way to prove your innocence. He Yingying testified against you, and you said she framed you, but that's just talk."

Qiao Ran felt choked up when she saw Yao Yuze. She turned her head to look at Wen Shao... and felt even more choked up. She simply looked at Gong Yuyi and said, "The General said that words are not enough. It can't be true just because He Yingying said she saw it. Liu Yun was definitely not pushed into the water by me."

Wen Shao: "Who is that?"

"The thief cries 'stop thief!'" Qiao Ran turned around and stared at He Yingying with a sinister look. "Of course it's you, Miss He."

He Yingying had already been helped up, and she shook her head vigorously, "You're talking nonsense, it wasn't me."

"It wasn't you. Well, if you say it wasn't you, then it wasn't you." Qiao Ran sighed, then unexpectedly revealed a smile.

No one understood why she could change her expression so quickly, except for He Yingying, who kept trembling.

Qiao Ran smiled and approached her, asking, "I also don't think it was you. After all, you're close to Liu Yun, and we all think you're like Liu Yun's maid, having to serve her every day. How could a servant harm her own mistress?"

He Yingying shuddered violently, her jaw clenched, and her lips turned pale.

"Look, you still have Liu Yun's favorite sachet pinned to your waist. It looks a bit damp. She was wearing it with her when she fell into the water last night, wasn't she? How did it end up on your waist? It's a dead woman's thing, Miss He..."

He Yingying's eyes widened suddenly. She looked down at her waist, then screamed and ripped off the sachet, throwing it away. "How come... it's with me? It wasn't me... I didn't take it."

She hadn't touched Liu Yun's things at all, so how could they have ended up on her?

“It was you!” He Yingying pointed at Qiao Ran. “You put it on me.”

Qiao Ran smiled and said, "It was tied around your waist so tightly, but you insisted that I tied it there. So many people were watching, were they all blind?"