Chapter 87: Looks Like the Peiyuan Pill Has a Chance

The Chu family, with Chu Yuanchu leading over a hundred clan members, stood solemnly before the main gate.

Aside from Chu Yuanchu, Chu Huatian, and a few others, the rest had no idea what was happening. Their eyes held varying degrees of confusion, unsure who they were waiting for.

Soon, the Ironclad Department's procession arrived in a grand and imposing manner.

Chu Yuanchu spotted Yun Ruo first, a flicker of shock flashing in his eyes. Immediately after, he saw Shi Xin at the rear of the procession, which eased his expression somewhat.

Chu Huatian was also scanning the surroundings. When he caught sight of Yang Ling following behind Shi Xin, he couldn't help but let out a slight sigh of relief, a glimmer of hope appearing in his gaze.

Yun Ruo led the group forward, her expression cool and detached, her gaze carrying a hint of faint chill as she assessed the crowd before her.

"Director Yun Ruo."

Chu Yuanchu forced a smile onto his face, stepped forward, and clasped his hands in a respectful salute.

"Chu Yuanchu, you know why I'm here."

Yun Ruo spoke calmly, "Let's not waste words. Today, I am here to seal your Chu family's medicine storeroom. Are the account books ready?"

Her words caused a stir among the Chu clan members, expressions of shock appearing on many faces, followed by a wave of murmurs.

Yun Ruo's brow furrowed slightly. Chu Yuanchu immediately barked,

"All of you, be quiet! Silence!"

The scene quieted down somewhat.

However, some of the elders wore anxious expressions, seeming to want to speak but hesitating.

Yun Ruo didn't stand on ceremony either, stating coolly,

"Our Ironclad Department discovered medicinal materials bearing your Chu family's wax seal imprint among the Rong tribe.

Furthermore, through analysis of the medicinal properties, it has been confirmed they grew within the lands of our Zhao State and originated from several of your medicinal gardens.

Therefore, today I am tasked with sealing your medicine storeroom and inspecting your account books to determine whether you have colluded with the Rong tribe.

During this process, anyone who attempts to obstruct will be considered a Rong tribe spy, and I will order them executed on the spot."

The Chu family members fell deathly silent, their eyes filled with terror.

How could something like this happen!?

After finishing her statement, Yun Ruo led her team directly into the Chu residence.

Seeing this, Chu Yuanchu immediately called over an elder to cooperate with Yun Ruo's actions, to prevent those below from doing anything rash.

"Lord Shi!"

Chu Yuanchu quickly approached Shi Xin and saluted respectfully.

Shi Xin said calmly, "You were truly foolish. You should have spoken up as soon as you knew about this matter, not waited until our Ironclad Department uncovered it before admitting it."

Chu Yuanchu's face flushed slightly red, a thousand words condensed into a long sigh:

"This matter is of great importance. At the time, I held onto a sliver of hope. Who would have thought... Ah!"

"A sliver of hope? Hmph."

Shi Xin swept his gaze around, "Are all the members of your Chu family from the prefectural capital here? Have all the supervisors and managers arrived?"

"They're all here, they're all here. Only one shopkeeper went out to deliver medicinal materials a few days ago, but he will return today."

Chu Yuanchu hurriedly nodded.

"Alright, let's continue inside. It's too crowded and exposed here."

Shi Xin glanced at the onlookers gathered nearby, then led his team into the Chu family courtyard.

In the courtyard, Chu Yuanchu and the others had already been gathered under the control of Lü Zhan and his men, forbidden from leaving the area without permission.

Meanwhile, Yun Ruo led her subordinates in inspecting the account books and sealing the medicine storeroom.

During this time, Chu Huatian kept trying to catch Yang Ling's eye, but Yang Ling simply refused to look at him.

This made Chu Huatian feel somewhat uneasy.

At this moment, Chu Yuanchu slowly began speaking, explaining the situation to the gathered Chu family members.

"Elder Brother, how could something like this happen right under your nose?! Father entrusted the Chu Family Medicinal Shop to you, and you actually, actually..."

A middle-aged man looked at Chu Yuanchu with disbelief, then immediately turned to Shi Xin:

"Lord, we had absolutely no knowledge of this matter!"

A young man beside him quickly nodded in agreement:

"Nowadays, the Chu Family Medicinal Shop is entirely managed by Uncle and his branch. We only receive a monthly allowance for household expenses and have no involvement in the business at all!

If Uncle colluded with the Rong tribe, it has nothing to do with us!"

"Enough! If our Chu family faces trouble, we face it together. We conduct ourselves with integrity and have absolutely no ties to the Rong tribe. Why are you all so panicked!?"

Chu Yuanchu couldn't help but rebuke them sharply.

Yang Ling's mind stirred as he observed the father and son pair.

During the earlier meeting, Sun Biao had briefly described the current state of the Chu family.

Chu Yuanchu was the family head, personally overseeing all business operations.

He had a younger brother from the same mother and father, as well as several older half-brothers and sisters from the same father but different mothers.

The former remained with the Chu family, while the latter had been sent by him to various places to retire, none of them involved in any Chu family business.

It could be said that from top to bottom, the Chu family's business was firmly in the hands of Chu Yuanchu's direct line.

At that moment, several middle-aged men were brought forward under guard.

Their faces wore expressions of terror, and they stood there looking utterly lost and helpless.

"Lord Shi, the incoming and outgoing medicinal materials for the storeroom were all handled by these individuals."

Chu Yuanchu stated.

Seeing this, Shi Xin immediately began personally interrogating the three men.

During this time, Lü Zhan and the other Ironclad Constables covertly observed the expressions of Chu Yuanchu and the others.

Most showed fear, anger, and panic.

After watching for a good while, they hadn't gained any useful insights.

"Lord, we only release goods after receiving signed requisition slips."

"These slips all bear the signature and seal of the head of the family."

One of the middle-aged men, his face pale, said:

"Perhaps some of those slips were forged by others at the time. We failed to detect the flaws, which led to the medicinal materials being stolen."

"So you also only discovered the discrepancy because the slips didn't match up?"

Shi Xin looked at Chu Yuanchu.

Chu Yuanchu slowly nodded, "Because the quantity was so small. If Huatian hadn't meticulously checked several times, it really wouldn't have been easy to notice."

"Such a small amount of medicinal materials, yet they specifically smuggled them to the Rong tribe? Wouldn't it have been more straightforward to sell them and just send the silver over?"

Shi Xin murmured softly to himself.

Chu Yuanchu's eyes lit up, and he quickly added,

"Lord, that's exactly what I said! If our Chu family truly colluded with the Rong tribe, the discrepancies in our accounts over the years would be enormous. How could it only be these twenty-some thousand taels? We are truly wronged!"

"Enough. Whether you're wronged or not will be determined after our investigation is complete. Your word alone doesn't count."

Shi Xin said coolly, "All of you people, after Director Yun Ruo finishes handling matters here, will accompany us back to the Ironclad Department for a thorough review!"

"Lord, we have nothing to do with the business. Must we also go to the Ironclad Department!?"

Chu Yuanchu's younger brother now spoke up, his voice a mix of shock and anger.

"This case is complex, with many suspicious points. If you don't go to the Ironclad Department, how are we supposed to investigate?

Everyone related to the Chu Family Medicinal Shop must make a trip. Are you refusing to comply with the order?"

Shi Xin shot him an icy glare.

The man was momentarily speechless, his heart chilled with fear, and he dared not speak again.

"Twenty thousand taels... The Spirit Nurturing Pill and other benefits the White Horse Pharmacy gave me are roughly that amount."

"There really are major suspicious points here. However, if those points cannot be identified, according to regulations, this Chu family head will undoubtedly be punished."

"After all, the medicinal materials did genuinely end up with the Rong tribe."

Thinking this, Yang Ling suddenly cast his Insight Technique on Chu Yuanchu's younger brother.

The content was normal, nothing suspicious.

Then, after a moment's thought, he cast it on the man's son.

[Chu Huasheng, yesterday murdered a shopkeeper of the Chu Family Medicinal Shop. The body is hidden under the large locust tree in the western suburbs.]

Yang Ling's mind stirred. It seems the Foundation Consolidation Pill is within reach.

At that moment, Chu Huasheng suddenly clasped his fists and declared,

"Lord, the mistakes made by Uncle and his branch have nothing to do with us. If you insist on arresting us all and throwing us in prison, I, Chu Huasheng, refuse to accept it!"