The Poisonous Consort, the Regent's Beloved

Arsenic?

"I know, Gu Qibai must have poisoned my husband."

The woman didn't know why the venom tested wasn't snake venom, but she quickly realized what was happening and immediately bit back.

Gu Qibai's eyes remained gentle as he said softly, "If it's arsenic, that's easy to handle. Go to the pharmacies in the capital and check who bought arsenic today."

The officials immediately took action, and Lord Chen stepped forward to say to Gu Qibai, "I will definitely clear Doctor Gu's name."

"Thank you, Mr. Chen."

The person returned quickly, because a small pharmacy not far from Renhetang had sold arsenic yesterday. As soon as the pharmacy owner arrived, he pointed to the woman on the ground and said, "That's her. She came to buy arsenic last night."

The woman on the ground protested, "It wasn't me! My husband wasn't poisoned by arsenic, it was snake venom!"

Why was she so sure? Because she hadn't used the arsenic she bought; it was meant for that old hag after the deed was done. She hadn't had a chance to use it yet, so how could her husband have died from arsenic poisoning?

"Sir, this was taken from her house."

A young constable ran over, sweating profusely, and handed over a packet of white powder.

The coroner took it and immediately recognized it as arsenic upon smelling it.

Su Fuying couldn't help but admire the efficiency of this Lord Chen.

"If you didn't give this arsenic to your husband, would you still be sleeping in your house with it?"

As soon as Su Fuying spoke, the old woman beside her understood: who else in the family was besides her?

Unable to contain herself any longer, she rushed forward and knelt at Lord Chen's feet, crying out, "My lord, I want to sue my daughter-in-law! My son wasn't killed by Doctor Gu at all; it was this poisonous woman!"

The old woman's eyes were bloodshot as she pointed at the woman and said, "It's her. Yesterday she told me that even if my son is cured, he won't be able to do heavy work in the future. No one will be able to support my family. It would be better to let him die and extort money from Renhetang. She's pregnant with my Li family's grandson, and then we can live a good life."

"I never expected that she would cheat on my son with someone else. Waaah, my life is so miserable. It's all my fault for being so blind. I didn't know whose bastard was in her belly."

These words were like a bombshell dropped into the crowd, instantly causing an uproar.

Lord Chen's face darkened with anger. "You audacious woman! How could you be so vicious? Guards, take her into custody!"

"No, that's not how it is. How dare you turn around and accuse me, you old woman?"

The woman looked on in disbelief, unable to believe that the old woman had suddenly turned against her.

The old woman's face showed even more remorse. "You took bribes from others and caused the death of my son. Tell me, who is the adulterer?"

He was about to pounce on her and tear the wicked woman apart.

The woman's eyes darted away, and she dared not speak. Su Fuying glanced at the tightly closed door of Huichuntang across the street, a hint of sarcasm flashing across her face. She had just opened the door to watch the show, and now she was closing it.

“If you reveal who is behind this now, you will only be considered an accomplice, and Lord Chen will certainly treat you leniently. If you take the blame alone, it will be a crime of murder, which, according to the rules of the Southern Xia Kingdom, is punishable by death.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the woman's face was completely drained of color, her lips trembled, and her expression showed some struggle.

Su Fuying stopped speaking. She thought that any intelligent person could understand the relative importance of the matter.

Finally, the woman was defeated and collapsed to the ground. "Yes, it was the people from Huichuntang who gave me money to frame Renhetang. They said they would give me more money and send me out of the capital after I succeeded."

Huichun Hall?

Now everyone understands that Huichuntang's medicines are expensive, and ordinary people can't afford them. Each consultation costs one tael of silver.

However, Renhetang was different. The medicinal materials were cheap and of good quality, and the doctors only charged a few coins for writing a prescription.

If someone really doesn't have money, they get a free consultation. Everyone prefers to come to Renhetang. Huichuntang doesn't like it and often comes to cause trouble, even wanting Doctor Gu to go to Huichuntang.

Now it seems that Huichuntang was behind this.

Just as Su Fuying was about to demand an explanation from Huichuntang, her wrist was gently grasped. Su Fuying turned her head and met a pair of warm eyes.

Gu Qibai shook his head at him. Su Fuying was puzzled, but since it was their own business, he didn't say anything more.

The person was quickly taken away, but a long queue still formed in front of Renhetang.

As the group entered Huichuntang, Gu Qibai, seeing Su Fuying's puzzled expression, quickly explained, "It's not that I don't want to investigate, you're new here and don't know, Huichuntang is the property of the Grand Tutor of the current dynasty, we dare not offend him."

Upon hearing this, Su Fuying's heart tightened. Of course, she knew who this Grand Tutor was. It was this very Grand Tutor who, along with the Grand Commandant, assisted the emperor in ascending the throne, becoming founding heroes. Now, the Grand Tutor was highly valued by the emperor and was a favorite of the emperor. Gu Qibai, on the other hand, was just a small pharmacy doctor, and naturally dared not offend him easily.

"Master?"

Su Fuying frowned, somewhat puzzled. Although she knew the Grand Tutor held a high position, surely he wouldn't be so arrogant and domineering towards a shop like Huichuntang?

Gu Qibai noticed Su Fuying's doubts and continued to explain, "The Grand Tutor is one of the Emperor's most trusted ministers, wielding great power. Huichuntang is also his property. Who would dare to provoke him!"

"Doesn't that mean that if they want to bully others, they can act recklessly without any restraint?"

Su Fuying said angrily. She couldn't accept this unfair situation.

"Hey……"

Gu Qibai and the shopkeeper sighed in unison, their faces showing helplessness. They were well aware of their powerlessness; faced with the powerful, they could only choose to endure and yield.

Su Fuying didn't say anything; she didn't intend to meddle.

Next, Su Fuying and Gu Qibai each took a spot while the old shopkeeper and the medicine boy dispensed the medicine. Almost no one came to Su Fuying's side, while the line for Gu Qibai's side seemed endless. With nothing to do, Su Fuying could only sit there in a daze and soon began to doze off.

Su Fuying had previously asked Gu Qibai why he was the only doctor on duty in such a large pharmacy. Gu Qibai replied that there used to be four, but they had all been poached by Huichuntang.

"How could this be?" Su Fuying found it very strange.

"Because they pay more," Gu Qibai shook his head helplessly.

"What are we going to do here?" Su Fuying asked worriedly.

"It's okay, I can handle it by myself."

Why don't you go?

Gu Qibai gave a self-deprecating laugh, "Even I'm gone, what will become of the suffering people of the capital?"

Su Fuying admired this person somewhat; he seemed gentle and mild-mannered, yet he could stick to his principles in certain matters.

She doesn't feel much about these things; she might feel pity, but she would never harm her own interests.

The highest bidder wins; that's the principle from beginning to end. Having been an assassin for so many years, she understood this principle long ago.

"Dr. Gu, Dr. Gu."

An old man, covered in blood, stumbled in.