Fleeing from famine? Not a chance; the divine healer's wife made her fortune.

Falling into slander again, a conspiracy to break the deadlock

When Su Yunlan returned to the camp, she was met with a tense atmosphere.

Whispers filled the air, tinged with a sense of foreboding.

She was burning with anger and clenched her fists.

Magistrate Wu, what exactly are you trying to do?

!

"Have you heard? Magistrate Wu said that Madam Su has been hiding medicinal herbs and refuses to use them to treat patients..." A voice of an exile was low and wary.

"Really? Madam Su doesn't seem like that kind of person..." another person retorted, their voice filled with doubt.

"Shh! Keep your voice down, or Magistrate Wu might hear you..." The third voice was even lower, filled with obvious unease.

Upon hearing these rumors, Su Yunlan's anger burned even more fiercely.

She knew Magistrate Wu's sinister intentions, and the feeling of being schemed against made her very uncomfortable.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, and decided not to be swayed by these rumors.

As night fell, the campfire in the camp flickered in the darkness, illuminating faces that were either tense or anxious.

Magistrate Wu stood in the center of the crowd, his face gloomy, his eyes gleaming with cunning.

He spoke slowly, his voice echoing in the night sky: "Fellow villagers, today I want to tell you something important. We are exiled here, and life is already difficult. Now, with the rampant epidemic, it's even worse. But do you know that there is someone who, in this time of crisis, has secretly hoarded a large amount of precious medicinal herbs and refuses to use them to treat the sick?"

A commotion erupted among the crowd, and murmurs arose.

Magistrate Wu's words were like a stone thrown into a lake, stirring up ripples.

Su Yunlan stood not far away, her face calm, but her anger and grievances surged like a tide.

"This is Lady Su!" Magistrate Wu raised his voice a few decibels, pointing at Su Yunlan.

“How could that be? Madam Su has been so good to us, she would never do such a thing!” Hunter Chen stepped forward, his tone resolute.

“That’s right. Madam Su not only distributed medicinal herbs but also taught us medicine. The villains she manipulated also have what they consider reasonable reasons; the logic is consistent. You’ve all been deceived by her appearance!” Magistrate Wu sneered, continuing to incite, “I saw her take medicinal herbs out of her spatial storage; clearly, she has many more! She’s doing this simply to monopolize resources and control us!”

The discussions among the crowd intensified, and some disgruntled individuals began to stir.

Su Yunlan felt immense public pressure, but instead of explaining herself as she usually did, she strode confidently toward Magistrate Wu.

“Your Excellency, I heard everything you said.” Su Yunlan’s voice was clear and firm, as if it could pierce through the gloom of the night sky. “If you think I have a hidden stash of medicinal herbs, then let’s go and take stock of them right now!” Su Yunlan walked straight to his tent, lifted the curtain, and took out all the boxes of medicinal herbs inside.

In the firelight, the medicinal herbs in the box emitted a faint fragrance; there were many kinds and a considerable quantity.

She opened each box so that everyone present could clearly see what was inside.

Magistrate Wu's expression changed slightly. He hadn't expected Su Yunlan to so readily lay out all the medicinal herbs.

He originally thought that Su Yunlan would deny everything, and then he could take the opportunity to make trouble and incite everyone's dissatisfaction with Su Yunlan.

But now, Su Yunlan's actions caught him somewhat off guard.

“These are all the medicinal herbs I have,” Su Yunlan said, looking around at everyone. Her tone was calm and firm. “I use these herbs to treat patients every day and I have never kept anything for myself. If anyone doesn’t believe me, they can come and check for themselves.”

A murmur arose from the crowd, and the doubts and discontent that had been stirred up by Magistrate Wu gradually dissipated.

Su Yunlan's openness and sincerity won everyone's trust.

Xiao Yuhan stood beside Su Yunlan, his gaze fixed firmly on the crowd. The powerful aura emanating from him deterred those who were originally itching to make a move.

He knew Su Yunlan's character and believed in her innocence.

Su Yunlan took out a ledger from one of the boxes, which recorded in detail the source and use of each medicinal herb.

“This is my record of the medicinal herb usage,” she handed the ledger to Hunter Chen. “You can take a look; it’s all written clearly.”

Hunter Chen took the ledger, carefully read through it, and then passed it on to others.

The records in the ledgers were clear and concise, with every entry written down clearly, leaving nothing suspicious.

Magistrate Wu's face grew increasingly grim; he realized his plan had failed.

He glared fiercely at Master Ma, who trembled with fear and dared not utter a word.

Su Yunlan took out several special medicinal herbs, the same ones that had cured Feng Xiaohai before.

“I came across these herbs by chance,” she explained. “They are remarkably effective in treating epidemics. The reason I haven’t used them on a large scale is because the quantity is limited and the method of use is special, requiring repeated trials to determine the best treatment.”

Feng's child's parents also stood up to testify for Su Yunlan, and they thanked Su Yunlan with tears in their eyes for saving their child.

"Magistrate Wu, do you have anything else to say?" Su Yunlan stared sharply at Magistrate Wu, her tone laced with sarcasm.

Magistrate Wu was speechless. He had originally thought he could take this opportunity to bring down Su Yunlan, but he never expected that he would end up shooting himself in the foot.

His face was ashen, and he couldn't utter a single word.

A burst of laughter erupted from the crowd. Magistrate Wu's lie was completely exposed, and he became a laughing stock in everyone's eyes.

Su Yunlan felt extremely pleased to see Magistrate Wu in such a disheveled state.

She knew that there must be a deeper reason behind this conspiracy.

“Magistrate Wu,” Su Yunlan’s voice rang out again, tinged with coldness, “I want to know, why did you do this?”

Magistrate Wu's face turned pale, his eyes flickered, but he dared not look directly into Su Yunlan's eyes.

He stammered, "I...I'm just worried...worried that there won't be enough medicinal herbs..."

"Worried about not having enough medicinal herbs? Why didn't you say so earlier?" Su Yunlan pressed on, "As the county magistrate, you should set an example and work for the well-being of the people. But instead, you spread rumors, sow discord, and disregard the lives of the people. What are your true intentions?"

Su Yunlan paused, her voice becoming even sharper: "I not only know that you've been hoarding medicinal herbs, but I also know that you've embezzled the relief grain allocated by the imperial court, selling the life-saving grain to exiles at exorbitant prices and making huge profits! Do you think no one knows what you've done?"

Magistrate Wu's face grew even uglier. He opened his mouth, speechless, wanting to explain, but was interrupted by the angry exiles around him.

"Magistrate Wu, what else do you have to say?" Hunter Chen roared. "How could you do such a heinous thing!"

“You’ve fooled us all!” shouted another exile. “You’re not fit to be a magistrate!”

"Arrest him!" someone shouted from the crowd.

"Yes, arrest him and hand him over to the authorities!" more people echoed.

Seeing that things were not going well, Magistrate Wu turned around and tried to run away, but was grabbed by Xiao Yuhan.

Xiao Yuhan picked him up like a chick and threw him on the ground.

“Magistrate Wu, you can’t escape.” Xiao Yuhan’s voice was icy cold, like a judgment from hell.

Magistrate Wu collapsed to the ground, trembling all over. He knew he was finished.

A deafening cheer erupted from the crowd; justice had been served and the wicked had received their due punishment.

Xiao Yuhan excitedly picked up Su Yunlan and held her tightly in his arms.

Su Yunlan laughed happily in his arms, her laughter as clear as silver bells, echoing in the night sky.

People around them applauded and offered their blessings, creating a happy atmosphere.

Su Yunlan leaned against Xiao Yuhan's chest, feeling his warmth and strength, her heart filled with sweetness and happiness.

She looked up at Xiao Yuhan's sharply defined face and said softly, "Yuhan, thank you."

Xiao Yuhan looked down at Su Yunlan in his arms, his eyes gentle as water. He gently kissed her forehead and said, "Lan'er, no one will ever bully you again."

Su Yunlan nodded gently, her heart filled with emotion.

She knew that with Xiao Yuhan around, she had nothing to fear.

As night deepened, the campsite gradually quieted down.

Su Yunlan and Xiao Yuhan nestled together, gazing at the stars in the sky, their hearts filled with hope.

"Yuhan," Su Yunlan suddenly spoke up, "do you remember what happened in the first few days after our marriage?"

Su Yunlan nestled in Xiao Yuhan's arms, the night breeze gently brushing her face, bringing a touch of coolness and dispelling the pent-up frustration that had been weighing on her heart for days.

She looked up at the starry sky, her thoughts drifting back to the days when the epidemic broke out.

The smell of herbs in the air, the patients' painful groans, and Magistrate Wu's sinister face flashed before her eyes like a revolving lantern.

At that time, she was under tremendous pressure, not only having to treat patients but also dealing with all kinds of rumors and malicious slander.

She could almost feel the accusatory spittle about to hit her face; the feeling of being wronged made her feel like she was suffocating.

Now, the gloom has dissipated and the truth has come to light.

She not only cleared her name but also won everyone's respect and gratitude.

Looking at the faces around her filled with admiration and gratitude, Su Yunlan felt an indescribable sense of accomplishment.

She knew that she had not only defeated the disease, but also the darkness in people's hearts.

The exiles are about to set off for their next destination.

The morning sunlight shone on Su Yunlan's face. She stretched and felt the energy of a new day.

Xiao Yuhan gently pulled her into his arms and whispered in her ear, "Lan'er, we can continue our journey now."

Su Yunlan nodded, her eyes sparkling with anticipation for the future.

She knew that the road ahead was still full of unknowns and challenges, but as long as Xiao Yuhan was by her side, she had the courage to face everything.

While packing his belongings, Su Yunlan inadvertently caught a glimpse of several exiles whose faces were still sallow and who looked listless.

Her heart sank...

“Yuhan,” Su Yunlan pointed at the group, a hint of worry in her eyes, “Look…”