All Hail Cousin Brother

Chapter 886: As Greedy As a Tiger

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Xia Tao quickly agreed and left the living room.

Yu Youyao calmed herself down and looked at the two people kneeling on the ground. “Everyone can see that Madam Zhang publicly intercepted my carriage and cried out for justice on the streets. At least one thing is certain. Madam Zhang’s husband indeed died from taking the medicine from the People’s Relief Hall. The People’s Relief Hall can’t escape responsibility.”

Old Master Bai hurriedly said, “Yes, it must be that after Madam Zhang finished grabbing the medicine, someone tampered with it and framed the People’ Relief Hall. The Jimin Hall has been in operation for more than 20 years and can be considered an old name in Xiangping City. Although the medicinal herbs in the shop are all inferior medicinal herbs, there are also differences in quality between the inferior medicinal herbs. The doctor in charge of grabbing the medicine will choose to pick the medicine from the inferior medicinal herbs according to the severity of the illness diagnosed in the prescription. The quality of the medicinal herbs will be better if the illness is more serious. If the illness is less serious, even if the medicinal effect isn’t obvious, it won’t hurt anyone’s life. If the prescription included a ruthless medicine, the People’s Relief Hall will only grab the other medicinal herbs. We usually recommend them to go to the Baiji Medicinal Shop to grab that strong medicine. The two of us are only here for money. We definitely won’t harm anyone’s life…”

As soon as news of Madam Zhang’s complaint spread, he knew that this was a scheme by the Han family against the Bai family.

Yu Youyao’s voice was indifferent. “So what? As there’s no problem with the prescription, and Madam Zhang can’t produce any key evidence, the county office finds this case unfounded. However, it’s also a fact that the People’s Relief Hall is selling inferior medicinal herbs. Once this matter spreads, Madam Zhang’s complaint will be well-founded and the government can file a case.”

The North lacked supplies, and strategic supplies like medicinal herbs were often 20% more valuable than other places. The Bai couple was blinded by greed and violated the unwritten rules between the pharmacists, openly selling inferior medicinal herbs for profit.

They were as greedy as a tiger.

Those who sought the skin of a “tiger” would ultimately be devoured by it.

Old Master Bai’s body went limp. “After Madam Zhang reported it to the county office, I immediately went to the People’s Relief Hall and looked for the doctor who was collecting the medicine at that time to verify the prescription. I’m sure that the doctor was collecting the medicine according to the prescription. Ordinary cold medicines all use ordinary medicinal herbs. There were no ox bezoars in the prescription. Even if the medicinal effect isn’t obvious, it won’t kill her. Princess, please investigate.”

Yu Youyao believed this. Since Old Master Bai and Madam Bai dared to come and look for her, it meant that they were confident that the death of Madam Zhang’s husband had nothing to do with the medicine administered by the medicine shop.

But!

Yu Youyao said coldly, “Do you have evidence to prove that Madam Zhang’s husband’s death had nothing to do with the People’s Relief Hall and was just framed by others?”

“It’s also true that the People’s Relief Hall sells inferior medicinal herbs. Can you guarantee the medicinal effect of inferior medicinal herbs?”

“If there’s no guarantee, it means that Madam Zhang’s husband might have died from the inferior medicinal herbs. As long as the person who framed you is clean enough and you can’t get any evidence, the People’s Relief Hall will have to bear all the blame.”

Madam Zhang’s complaint killed two birds with one stone.

The Bai Residence insisted on turning to the King of the North. The Han Clan was bound to use the fact that the People’s Relief Hall sold inferior medicinal herbs to deal with the Bai Residence. The Bai Residence would be involved in a human life lawsuit, and their family business would be destroyed in a day. The threat the Bai Residence posed to the Han Clan would undoubtedly be much smaller. At the same time, it had the effect of deterring other nobles.

“Princess, please show me a clear path.” Old Master Bai was terrified. There was no turning back. Since they had decided to join the King of the North, he had no other choice.

Today, his wife had gone to the Dragon Phoenix Temple to publicly support Princess Shaoyi’s actions. They had already angered the Han Clan. If they were disloyal once, others would always think that they were unloyal. Even if they changed their minds at the last minute, they would not be able to get anything good in front of the Han Clan. It was better to walk the path to the end and ask Princess Shaoyi for a way out.

The Xie family had earned most of their wealth to teach the nobles of the North a lesson.

The Bai Residence was a noble in the Liaodong area and had a very high prestige among the nobles in the North. If they could withstand the pressure of the land-owning class and take the initiative to stand up for Princess Shaoyi, Princess Shaoyi would definitely protect the Bai Residence. When the other nobles saw that Princess Shaoyi was not afraid of the power of the land-owning class, they would also switch sides.

Yu Youyao’s mind was in a mess. Her rationality told her that protecting the Bai Residence was very beneficial to the current situation. This was also something she had been happy to see happen previously.

However, the Bai Residence’s actions of using the People’s Relief Hall to earn ill-gotten gains made her feel like a fishbone was stuck in her throat, and she was extremely disgusted.

For a moment, she couldn’t make up her mind.

Yu Youyao was silent for a long time before saying, “Go to the side courtyard to rest first.”

Old Master Bai and Madam Bai’s hearts couldn’t help but sink. Neither of them was a fool, and they both understood the crux of the matter. The People’s Relief Hall had violated Princess Shao Yi’s taboo.

Mrs. Bai kowtowed to Princess Shao Yi with a thud. “The incident at the People’s Relief Hall was indeed caused by the greed of the two of us. However, I can swear to the Princess that although the medicinal herbs in the People’s Relief Hall are all inferior medicinal herbs, they have all been tested and are effective. There’s definitely no disregard for human lives, and we won’t harm the commoners. Although the two of us aren’t kind people, it’s not easy for the Bai Residence to manage this branch of the family business, but there’s no reason to destroy the Great Wall…”

Yu Youyao’s expression darkened. “Leave!”

Madam Bai felt as if someone was choking her throat. The unfinished words were stuck in her throat, and she did not dare to say anything else.

At the side, Shu Yun hurriedly went forward to lead Old Master Bai and Madam Bai to the side courtyard to wait.

After Yu Youyao was conferred the title of Princess, other than Chun Xiao and Dong Mei, Xia Tao and Qiu Xing also became her maidservants.

Chun Xiao served her personally as usual. Dong Mei was in charge of the room. Xia Tao was smart and still did things that involved interaction with others. After being conferred the title of Princess, Yu Youyao’s study became an important place. Qiu Xing was still in charge of the study.

In addition, there were Liu’er and the four young maidservants — Qin Xin, Qin Yu, Shu Yun, and Hua Xin — who were personally chosen by Nanny Xu in the past. Other than Qin Xin, who was staying in the capital, the remaining second-in-charge maidservants were Qin Yu, Shu Yun, and Hua Xin.

Nanny Xu had personally taught her, and she was also her most capable person.

In addition, Cui Zhu and Bi Zhu, who had been arranged by her grandmother, were also second-in-charge maidservants. Although they were not by her side to serve her, they were arranged to serve her in the Jiushao Courtyard.

The living room returned to silence. The maidservants did not even dare to breathe loudly.

At this moment, Auntie Xu brought the medicinal cuisine into the front hall.

Chun Xiao immediately heaved a sigh of relief.

Auntie Xu placed the wooden plate on the table and scooped a bowl of vegetarian soup from the bowl of food. She placed it in front of Yu Youyao. “This is a vegetarian soup with more than ten types of mushrooms, plus female ginseng, Ligusticum striatum, astragalus, ginseng roots, and more than ten types of Chinese medicine. Just the stock alone has been brewed for an entire day. Drink some. This soup can’t be kept overnight.”

Therefore, if she didn’t drink it, her efforts for the day would be in vain.

“I didn’t say I wouldn’t drink it.” Yu Youyao muttered softly. Seeing that it was already dark outside, she realized that it was almost dark after a long day.