Chapter 39: Framing

By the time he emerged from the Prince Jing's Residence, dusk had already fallen.

Xi Bing stood at the gate, waving him farewell. Chen Ji, however, stood in the heart of An Xi Street, his spirit heavy with unease.

He walked through the lingering twilight, catching the scent of food wafting from the homes along the street, and only then did he feel a measure of relief.

Dark Cloud, its black fur a deeper shadow against the eaves, poked its head out and leaped across the air into his arms. "Who hit White Banruo? I didn't hit it!"

Chen Ji smiled, stroking its head. "No one hit it. It was just a pretext for Yun Fei to summon me to the residence."

He murmured to himself, "At the time, Yun Fei said that the lead-bismuth glass cup belonging to Concubine Jing was a gift from her maternal family, and I thought no more of it. But seeing Concubine Jing's relationship with the Liu family now, perhaps someone orchestrated it deliberately... Has she been cursing the Liu family lately?"

"Yes, she cursed her brother, Liu Mingxian. Cursed him quite obscenely."

"That fits." Chen Ji sighed with a touch of emotion. "At the time, I was so focused on the logic of the matter that I didn't delve deeper into human nature. Indeed, human nature cannot be judged by common sense. But Grand Elder Liu wasn't angered to death by me, the cup wasn't sent by me, and Liu Shiyu wasn't killed by me. Why would she seek revenge on me instead of the Liu family and the Secret Spy Department? Hiss, Liu Shiyu was also killed by the Liu family to silence her. That Liu family has some ruthless individuals indeed!"

Chen Ji drew in a cold breath. As he reviewed all the clues, he suddenly realized the Liu family's actions were unusually vicious, showing no regard for kinship even towards their own. "Could Grand Elder Liu, in the coffin, also have been recently killed?!"

Dark Cloud intoned solemnly, "Fierce, fierce!"

Was this fierceness useful? Naturally it was. If they hadn't been so ruthless, Yun Yang and Jiao Tu wouldn't have been imprisoned. Instead, the Liu family would have been the ones guilty of deceiving the monarch.

Upon returning to the medical hall, Old Head Yao sat behind the counter, gazing at the account book while fiddling with an abacus. He exuded an air of old cunning, yet seemed perpetually unable to calculate anything precisely...

Chen Ji smiled, teasingly saying, "Master, why don't you just toss some copper coins to do the accounts? It'd be quicker."

Old Head Yao glared at him. "Talk less nonsense. I think you're itching for a beating. Divination can only give you a general direction; how can it calculate precise amounts?"

"Where are the senior brothers?" Chen Ji asked out of curiosity.

"In the backyard, preparing food," Old Head Yao said, giving him a sidelong glance. "Didn't you go to diagnose a cat? Didn't you prescribe some medicine for it?"

"No..."

Old Head Yao gave a cold laugh. "I still thought you were careful in your dealings. Even if it had no injuries or illness, you should have prescribed some cheap wound medicine to send into the residence, playing the part completely. Otherwise, you'll be discovered sooner or later."

Chen Ji was taken aback. "Thank you for the reminder, Master. Ginger is indeed older and spicier. Tomorrow, I'll send some cnidium over."

He headed towards the backyard. In the kitchen, only Liu Qu Xing was washing rice and cooking porridge. She Deng Ke was nowhere to be seen.

Just as Chen Ji was about to go to the apprentice dormitory, he saw She Deng Ke push the door open and step out.

She Deng Ke was startled to see Chen Ji. "Eh, weren't you going to the residence?"

Chen Ji said, "That white cat wasn't seriously injured. I took a look and came back. What were you doing in your room, Senior Brother She?"

"I just changed my clothes. Come on, help me sort the vegetables. We'll be slow to cook if we don't, and Master will scold us again," She Deng Ke said, pulling Chen Ji towards the kitchen.

However, just at this moment, the sound of neat footsteps emanated from outside the medical hall, along with the clinking of iron armor scales as guards walked.

Chen Ji noticed that She Deng Ke's hand, which was gripping his arm, suddenly tightened. The sweat in his palm could be felt through his clothes.

Old Head Yao walked to the door, frowning. "Miss Chun Hua, General Wang, what is the meaning of blocking the entrance to my Tai Ping Medical Hall?"

Chen Ji broke free from She Deng Ke's hand and walked outside. Liu Qu Xing also emerged from the kitchen with a spoon in his hand. "What's happening? What's happening?"

Outside the gate of Tai Ping Medical Hall, Chun Hua was dressed particularly plainly today, wearing only a light green ru skirt, devoid of any jewelry. Her hair was simply held up with a wooden hairpin.

Chun Hua wore a hesitant expression, as if she wanted to speak but stopped. Beside her stood the Prince's guards, each holding a long halberd and clad in heavy iron armor. The leader was a man with a tiger-like gait and an eagle's sharp gaze.

Chen Ji smiled and asked, "Miss Chun Hua, what is the meaning of this?"

He then heard Chun Hua address the leader of the Prince's guards, "General Wang, a few days ago, my Madam lost a South Sea pearl given to her by His Highness. We first searched the maids in Wan Xing Yuan but didn't find any trace of the pearl. Later, we realized that only this apprentice from the medical hall, Chen Ji, had entered and exited Wan Xing Yuan, and he even rummaged through my Madam's belongings!"

Chen Ji's brow furrowed. Concubine Jing!

After losing her son and nephew, Concubine Jing's revenge came swiftly and urgently, without a moment's delay!

General Wang's gaze was cold as he looked at Chen Ji. "Do you have anything to say? Can you prove your innocence?"

Chen Ji was silent for a moment, then calmly said, "When others slander me for stealing, it is very difficult to prove my innocence in such matters."

On An Xi Street, shop owners and clerks alike all poked their heads out to watch. They were all about to close for the day, but unexpectedly stumbled upon a major spectacle.

Someone whispered, "Is the young doctor from Tai Ping Medical Hall stealing from the Prince's Residence?"

"They say it's the South Sea pearl that Prince Jing gave to the Princess Consort. I've heard of it; one pearl is as big as a longan, and a single piece can sell for several hundred taels of silver!"

...

...

Chen Ji listened to the surrounding discussions, his face unchanging.

General Wang stared at him for a long time, finally saying grimly, "Apprehend this apprentice and go inside to search!"

With that, two guards on either side lifted Chen Ji's arms. The guards' arms were like iron rings, tightly gripping Chen Ji's two arms, preventing him from moving and pinching until it hurt.

Chun Hua followed the guards into the medical hall. "General Wang, I'll also follow and search. I've seen that pearl and know it well."

Chen Ji watched her enter the medical hall, pulling open the drawers of the medicine cabinets one by one and scattering the medicinal materials.

Old Head Yao watched coldly. "General Wang, if there is indeed a thief in my Tai Ping Medical Hall, this old man will resign and return to his hometown, never to set foot in Luo City again. But if there is no thief in my Tai Ping Medical Hall, how will you respond?"

General Wang cupped his hands to him across the air. "Imperial Doctor Yao, this official is also acting on orders. Miss Chun Hua came with Concubine Jing's waist token, and I must follow orders and catch the thief. Furthermore, who can truly know another's heart? How do you know your apprentice isn't the thief?"

Old Head Yao suddenly let out an angry snort. "I dare to affirm that he is not!"

Chen Ji looked at Old Head Yao in surprise, not expecting him to speak up for him at this time.

As they spoke, Chun Hua had already entered the backyard. She first searched the kitchen, then immediately went into the apprentice dormitory.

He saw her searching around the bed, finally staring at the apprentices' clothes cabinet.

Chen Ji understood. Her earlier searches of other places were just a pretense. This was her true target.

Chun Hua knew the pearl was here from the beginning!

Chen Ji looked towards She Deng Ke. He saw the other man's tall and sturdy figure was nervous and restless, his hands twisted together, his lips devoid of any color.

When She Deng Ke saw Chen Ji looking over, he quickly turned his gaze away, not daring to meet his eyes.

This was a premeditated frame-up by She Deng Ke and Chun Hua!

Chen Ji furrowed his brow. But She Deng Ke clearly hadn't left the medical hall, and Chun Hua hadn't come to the medical hall today. How had they transmitted information and the pearl?

Chen Ji surveyed the surroundings. The medical hall's backyard and the Prince's Residence were only separated by a wall. Anything spoken on the other side of the wall could be heard in the backyard.

The courtyard wall wasn't high. Throwing a pearl over wouldn't be difficult.

Chen Ji suddenly asked, "Senior Brother She, do you like Chun Hua?"

She Deng Ke was stunned for a moment, subconsciously taking a step back. "Ah? What are you saying? I don't understand."

Chen Ji shook his head. "Nothing..."

Beside him, Liu Qu Xing looked at Chen Ji, worriedly saying, "You didn't really steal anything, did you?"

Chen Ji denied it. "No, I would never do such a petty thing in my life."

Liu Qu Xing believed him when he said that. But Liu Qu Xing clearly felt that Chun Hua had a plan in her chest, a very certain one.

He looked at his master again. "Master, say something quickly."

Old Head Yao remained silent, not saying a word. If the evidence was truly found, no one could help Chen Ji.

At this moment, the guards emerged from Old Head Yao's main room and shook their heads at General Wang.

Everyone's gaze fell on Chun Hua in the apprentice dormitory. Chun Hua was frantically searching the clothes cabinet, finally standing blankly in front of it, her back to the crowd, her body trembling. She let out a cry.