Chapter 104

Chapter 104: Did They Die for Nothing?

Under Sheng Zhi Wan’s questioning, Meng Yang completely panicked. “I-I didn’t know! Heir Apparent, this concubine truly didn’t know! How could there be an antidote for Qian Ji Powder’s poison?” This was a plant toxin that even the future had never managed to fully solve. Even in the future, they could only use painkillers to ease the suffering. In an ancient era this backward, how could anyone possibly make an antidote?

Meng Yang turned tearfully to Zhang Da Hu. “Brother Zhang Da, I only wanted to save you all. Believe me. I really meant well!”

But Zhang Da Hu refused to listen to her excuses. If Meng Yang had not tried to show off and relied on Qi Shu Xian to squeeze out the Military Physician, how could Zhang Da Hu have ended up like this? How could Zhang Da Hu’s brother have died so miserably?

So what if she meant well? Could a single sentence of “I meant well” bring back the lives of hundreds?

When Zhang Da Hu stayed unmoved, Meng Yang could only look to the Da Li Court Minister. “Lord, I don’t believe every Healer knows about this. Those who didn’t know aren’t guilty. Besides, I acted out of good intentions…”

The Da Li Court Minister ordered, “Go to an outside clinic and bring a few Physicians at random to be questioned.”

The Chief Constable accepted the order. Not long after, four Physicians were brought into the hall.

Meng Yang stared at them as if she had grabbed a lifeline. The Da Li Court Minister asked directly, “Do you know about the poison of Qian Ji Powder?”

The four men froze for a moment, then all nodded.

Meng Yang swayed, and Qi Shu Xian quickly wrapped an arm around her. Qi Shu Xian said, “Lord, Meng Yang comes from a farming family. Something that every Healer in the capital city knows, it’s normal if she didn’t. Besides, she truly was anxious to save people…”

Sheng Zhi Wan shot back, “With a Military Physician present, did anyone need a farm girl to interfere?”

Qi Shu Xian choked on his words.

The scornful, stunned looks around her stabbed at Meng Yang until she lowered her head. She shrank back and hid behind Qi Shu Xian.

Seeing that Qi Shu Xian still protected Meng Yang even now, Zhang Da Hu let out a cold laugh. “Qi Shi Zi probably still doesn’t know this. Last month that bitch Meng Yang wrote me a letter, crying about how Princess Qing Ning kept making things hard for her and how she suffered endless grievances.”

Qi Shu Xian froze.

Zhang Da Hu continued on his own. “That time Princess Qing Ning ran into Mountain Bandits, that was me!”

“What?” Qi Shu Xian surged forward in disbelief. “Who gave you the guts?”

Zhang Da Hu threw his head back and laughed. “Of course it was Meng Yang. Back then I was grateful to her, indebted to her. I couldn’t stand seeing her wronged. So what if it was a Princess? Whatever she asked for, even if it cost my life, I would do it!”

Qi Shu Xian spun around in rage and looked at Meng Yang. That icy, vicious stare made Meng Yang step back without thinking.

But Meng Yang steadied herself fast. Her eyes reddened, and she cried as tears poured down. “Heir Apparent, this concubine never told anyone to harm the Princess!”

“You truly never did?” Qi Shu Xian narrowed his eyes. His gaze swept between Meng Yang and Zhang Da Hu before landing on Zhang Da Hu. “Do you have any evidence?”

“Naturally!” Zhang Da Hu answered with certainty. “Jiang Mang personally delivered her letter to me. Jiang Mang can testify.”

Jiang Mang.

Qi Shu Xian closed his eyes for a moment.

The Da Li Court Minister immediately ordered someone to summon Jiang Mang. In less than the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Jiang Mang hurried in with a Constable. When Jiang Mang saw the scene inside, Jiang Mang was shocked.

“Heir Apparent, Miss Meng, why are you here?”

Meng Yang called softly, “Brother Jiang.” Tears still clung to Meng Yang’s face, making her look pitiful.

Jiang Mang had always respected her. Seeing her wronged, and then seeing Sheng Zhi Wan to the side, a surge of anger rushed up in Jiang Mang’s chest. Jiang Mang cupped his hands toward Sheng Zhi Wan in a perfunctory salute. “Princess.” Then Jiang Mang spoke with no courtesy at all. “You’re a noble Young Miss. Why do you keep picking on Miss Meng, just a commoner girl? Aren’t you afraid it’ll disgrace your status?”

“Brother Jiang!” Zhang Da Hu suddenly spoke.

Hearing that familiar voice, Jiang Mang stared over in disbelief. Not far away, a miserable figure lay sprawled on the ground, raising his head to look at him. Under the messy hair, that face looked faintly familiar.

Jiang Mang’s eyes widened sharply. Jiang Mang rushed forward, crouched down, and brushed away the filthy hair. That face…

“Da Hu!” Jiang Mang’s voice trembled. “You-you… how did you become like this? Who-who did this to you?”

“Brother Jiang, I…” Zhang Da Hu could not hold back anymore. Two dirty tracks of tears ran down Zhang Da Hu’s cheeks. “I hate it. I hate it so much!”

Zhang Da Hu’s voice cracked as Zhang Da Hu shouted, “Qian Ji Powder has an antidote! Every single Military Physician can make it!”

Zhang Da Hu glared at Meng Yang like a beast. “It’s all because of that bitch Meng Yang! If not for her, my arm wouldn’t have broken! Er Hu wouldn’t have died! And so many Brothers wouldn’t have killed themselves for nothing!”

With his only remaining fingers, Zhang Da Hu gripped hard into Jiang Mang’s flesh, each word squeezed out like blood. Yet Jiang Mang did not feel the pain at all.

“Qian Ji Powder… the Military Physician could cure it?” Jiang Mang swayed. The news hit so hard that Jiang Mang’s mind went blank.

Jiang Mang muttered to himself and slowly looked at Da Hu. Then Jiang Mang slowly turned and looked at Meng Yang.

“No… impossible.” Jiang Mang forced a laugh. “If it really could be cured, why would Miss Meng lie to us? Da Hu, were you tricked by someone?”

Jiang Mang looked at Qi Shu Xian.

Qi Shu Xian avoided Jiang Mang’s eyes.

Jiang Mang then looked back at Meng Yang. “Miss Meng…”

Meng Yang cried like a drenched pear blossom. “I’m sorry, Brother Jiang. I truly didn’t know…”

The smile on Jiang Mang’s face froze. Jiang Mang asked slowly, one word at a time, “So Da Hu was telling the truth?”

Qian Ji Powder really had an antidote?

Meng Yang sobbed, “Brother Jiang, I only wanted to save people…”

“So…” Jiang Mang’s eyes slowly turned red. “So my many Brothers… they all… died for nothing?”

Jiang Mang stared around blankly, as if he had suddenly been dragged back onto that battlefield.

Jiang Mang saw Brothers rolling on the ground in agony.

Jiang Mang saw Jiang Yong.

Jiang Yong had once been called Er Gou Zi. He had no parents, no name, nothing. Until he met Jiang Mang. Until he took a blade for Jiang Mang, and that skinny boy said, “Elder Brother, Er Gou Zi’s life is yours from now on!”

Jiang Mang had cursed at him, “Get lost. I don’t want a dog. How about you take my surname instead? Jiang Yong, how’s that?”

He had only been seventeen.

He had rolled in the dirt, begging Jiang Mang to kill him and give him a clean end.

Jiang Mang raised his right hand. It shook so badly. It had been this hand, with one slash…

“Jiang Mang!” A fierce shout suddenly rang out from nowhere. “Did you ever pass a letter from Meng Yang to Zhang Da Hu?”

“I…” Jiang Mang’s mouth twisted painfully.

“Brother Jiang!” Zhang Da Hu clung to him like a drowning man. “Look at me! Think about the Brothers who died!”

“I…” Jiang Mang squeezed his eyes shut.

Jiang Mang’s injury had been a knife wound. If Meng Yang had not stitched it up, Jiang Mang would have died long ago.

But Zhang Da Hu’s ruined body lay right in front of him, and that seventeen-year-old Er Gou Zi was still looking at him.

Jiang Mang snapped his eyes open. They were bloodshot. “Yes. I did deliver a letter from Miss Meng to Zhang Da Hu.” Jiang Mang’s voice rang out like iron.

Meng Yang’s heart shuddered.

“You poisonous woman!” Qi Shu Xian slapped Meng Yang across the face. Rage twisted Qi Shu Xian’s features.

Sheng Zhi Wan was Qi Shu Xian’s principal wife. Even if the Emperor disliked her, Sheng Zhi Wan was still a Princess. How dare Meng Yang plot against her? And with such filthy methods!

“Heir Apparent…” Meng Yang covered her cheek and sobbed. “This concubine did write a letter, but this concubine never told them to rob the Princess. This concubine only said a few words about worrying that the Princess disliked this concubine.”

Meng Yang’s tears fell harder. “If this concubine had known Brother Zhang Da would be so bold, that he would actually dare to rob the Princess, this concubine would never have written that letter!”

Meng Yang grabbed Qi Shu Xian’s sleeve with trembling fingers. “If Heir Apparent doesn’t believe me, you can have them bring out the letter. This concubine is willing to confront them in court.”