The Princess Wei Yang (106+)

Chapter 133 - Continuous Traps - Part 2

Everyone's faces changed, so it turned out to be fake?!


Li Xiao Ran had closely studied calligraphy and painting. He pointed at the Qing Feng painting with a stiff face: "Liu Shu was drunk every time he painted. It is precisely because of his eccentric personality that he titles the paintings contrary to convention. According to convention, the opening title is written right to left, on the blank part of the painting, but he writes from left to right, inscribing it between the bamboo and stone. The calligraphy style is a combination of Li and Kai, presented in a slanted manner and each word is different in size, staggered in height, truly a special intrigue! Although this painting is almost an exact copy of Qing Feng, the title is written like ordinary paintings, from right to left! So, this is by no means Liu Shu's work!"


Li Lao Furen sighed deeply and said: "The Princess would not gift a counterfeit painting, so someone must have exchanged them!"


Everyone's attention returned to Li Wei Yang once again, but she smiled coldly and said: "So everyone suspects it's me? The food and clothing in the residence are all strictly managed. Who bought which medicine, who used which medicine, which doctor? The residence knows best. When have I ever even touched musk incense? Even the Calming Mind incense in the incense burner in my room is the lightest type. There isn't even the slightest of musk incense. I boldly ask: if I wanted to harm someone, where would I even get musk incense? This isn't an ordinary item. Since everyone suspects me, might as well visit every shop and ask if you have seen me or my yatous ever step foot into a medicine shop!"


"Third Xiaojie, may I be as bold as to ask if you are willing to be searched?" Rong Mama said coldly.


"Then search." Li Wei Yang responded indifferently. She had already expected the other party would do so! It was just a trick.


Luo Mama glanced over at Lao Furen. Lao Furen nodded, and Luo Mama immediately left with people in tow. She returned an hour later and reported: "Third Xiaojie's room is clear, there was nothing."


Li Lao Furen breathed a sigh of relief. She really didn't want Li Wei Yang to be involved in this matter.


At that moment, Jiang Yue Lan tightly clenched her teeth as if suppressing her hatred and cried out: "Master, if it's not Third Xiaojie, then who tampered with this painting? You must find justice for Yue Lan!"


Li Xiao Ran had a headache, his voice was cold: "Was nothing really found?"


Luo Mama immediately responded: "Nubi carefully checked and found nothing."


Rong Mama suddenly interjected: "Master, there's still Seventh Yiniang, there's no guarantee that it's clear!"


Li Wei Yang sneered: "Rong Mama, Seventh Yiniang is an honest person, do you even suspect her? Or are you simply saying that there is musk incense on my Fourth Brother too!"


Rong Mama sneered to herself and feigned concern: "Third Xiaojie, Nubi speaks honestly, does Xiaojie need to be so angry?"


Li Wei Yang's lips slightly curved, her smile appeared like burning flames engulfing thick sheets of ice: "Oh? You speak honestly? Then why do you want to throw dirty water on Qi Yiniang."


"It will be clear if this is throwing dirty water or not once she is called here!" Li Xiao Ran said coldly, waving a hand to have someone invite Seventh Yiniang over.


Li Wei Yang's lips rose into a smile, completely cold and solemn, making others tremble within. She knew very well that she wasn't her opponent's only target! Looking at the weak, official mother lying in bed not too far away, Li Wei Yang sneered. Jiang Yue Lan, you are rather daring, not only did you accuse me, you even dragged Seventh Yiniang in. Fine, very well, so be it!


"Lao Furen, Master." Tan Shi greeted but saw that no one said anything in response, so she awkwardly stood off to the side. Liu Mama was kneeling down there, and Li Wei Yang had a cold expression. Seventh Yiniang felt it was a bit strange, but she didn't think much of it.


"Tan Shi, Furen miscarried. Were you aware?" Li Xiao Ran looked directly at her with an unspeakable sternness.


When Seventh Yiniang heard Li Xiao Ran's question and the displeasure in his voice, she quickly said: "What happened to Furen? I didn't know, otherwise I would have already come to see her."


"That is not necessary. Let me ask you, has Wei Yang ever handed items to you?" Li Xiao Ran asked, clearly convinced that Li Wei Yang was using Seventh Yiniang to hide something away.


Imperial Physician Wang suddenly interrupted and said: "One moment." Everyone gave him a strange look. He quickly went over to Tan Shi and said: "Forgive my rudeness, Yiniang, please remove the fragrant sachet on you."


Tan Shi was taken aback, but then she subconsciously complied and took off the sachet.


Imperial Physician Wang smelled it, and his face changed. He immediately poured out the herbal pills inside the sachet, carefully tasted them, and then solemnly said: "These are Liquid Styrax Pills." From the moment Tan Shi came, he had detected a very faint yet unique fragrance. Now it seems it is really the case.


"What is that?" Li Xiao Ran frowned.


Imperial Physician Wang explained: "Some patients with ischemic chest pain or are prone to fainting will use Liquid Styrax Pills for relief."


"What are the ingredients?" Li Xiao Ran was quick to ask, appearing to have caught onto a critical point.


"It is stated in ancient books that musk incense can quickly seep into muscles and bone marrow to exert its full medicinal potential. Therefore, musk incense is one of the ingredients of Liquid Styrax Pills—"


Li Xiao Ran was furious. Restless, he lunged forward to slap Seventh Yiniang, but Li Wei Yang was a step faster than him. She signaled with a glance and Zhao Yue held Seventh Yiniang and avoided it. Li Xiao Ran swatted at empty air, and his face grew even uglier: "Li Wei Yang! There is solid evidence, yet you still refuse to acknowledge your crime? Both mother and daughter are viciously cruel, even killing a little child, aren't you afraid of retribution?!"


Li Wei Yang signaled to Zhao Yue to protect the frightened Tan Shi and responded with hostility: "Father, let's wait for him to finish speaking before acting!" She turned around and asked: "Tell me, Seventh Yiniang, where did these pills come from?"


Tan Shi was absolutely terrified. Seeing that nothing could be concealed, she answered honestly: "Ever since I gave birth to Min Zhi, I have been suffering from isometric chest pain. I always wake up in the middle of the night. I have gone to see many doctors, but there was no use. I didn't say anything because I didn't want Wei Yang to worry! Later on, when I went to visit Furen, I happened to meet Physician He. He said that these pills could cure my illness, so I took his advance and started to use them, but I didn't know what these pills are made of!"


Li Xiao Ran was furious: "You didn't know, how could you not know? What you carried around is clearly used to harm people!"


Tan Shi was shocked. At that moment, she finally understood. Her legs went soft, and she fell to her knees, crying: "Master, Lao Furen, I would not dare to harm a single hair on Furen's head even if I had such guts. Not to mention a human life, I am also a mother, how could I do such a thing!"


"Think it's over if you don't admit it? Someone find Physician He to address this!" Li Xiao Ran said coldly.


On the bed, Jiang Yue Lan continued to cry incessantly. She hadn't quite made an appearance the entire time, but she only said a couple things, not a single word of accusation, and Li Wei Yang and Tan Shi were dragged underwater. One had to give her respect for that.


The whole room was silent. Everyone was waiting for Physician He to testify. Tan Shi kept looking at Li Wei Yang worriedly, but seeing her daughter had remained calm, she decided not to mind this matter too much.


Second Furen suspiciously eyed the panicked Tan Shi, then looked at Li Wei Yang, who was steadfast and calm. She grew even more suspicious, wondering whether the two of them were really mother and daughter. Why were they not alike at all? Compared to the honest Tan Shi, Li Wei Yang could be likened to reincarnated evil spirits. No, rather, she came to collect debts, why else was she unable to sit still in one place? The more Second Furen thought about it, the more convinced she was that this was the case. She whispered to Li Chang Ru: "When will this matter be decided? I want to rest early and look forward to tasting my daughter-in-law's tea tomorrow!"


Li Lao Furen angrily said: "Is this the time to be whispering about this! Not a bit of tactfulness at all!"


With the sudden scolding, Second Furen saw Li Lao Furen's stiff expression and trembling face muscles and did not dare to say anything else. She only looked away. Second Xiaojie quietly said: "Mother, don't say anything else, Lao Furen is angry."


Er Furen who always ran her mouth kept her mouth shut. The entire room was dead silent again, and yet there were still guests outside at the banquet. Li Min De had to go to the front and greet guests. He had sent someone to invite Li Xiao Ran over three times, but he refused to leave, determined to wait for the result of this investigation.


Physician He is about fifty years old with a white beard and clever eyes. He used to have a spirited appearance in the past, but when he came in through the door today, he was trembling and kept his head down.


Li Xiao Ran felt somewhat anxious: "Physician He, what are you doing with your head down?!"


Physician He responded: "Replying to Prime Minister Li... I... I accidentally fell, I wasn't careful and injured my face, so I don't dare to meet anyone."


"It's alright. I invited you here today because there are important matters to ask about." Li Xiao Ran, "Seventh Yiniang said that when you came to examine Furen, you gave Seventh Yiniang Liquid Styrax pills, is this true?"


Physician He's voice subtly shook: "Of course it's true, it's true—" He repeated it twice as if frightened and refused to even lift his head up.


Li Xiao Ran raised his voice: "Physician He, raise your head!"


Physician He had no choice but to raise his head. His face was covered in bruises and even his nose was broken. How could he have fallen? He was clearly beaten to end up in such a state. Everyone was shocked. Li Lao Furen quickly said: "Physician He—who dared to be so bold!"


Li Wei Yang frowned. She told Zhao Nan that he must not leave any injuries when seizing people, so who ultimately beat Physician He up? Could it be that Zhao Nan went against her orders? No. That didn't seem right. Zhao Nan never mentioned this, so he must not have even laid a hand on a single one of Physician He's fingers. She believed Zhao Nan had nothing to do with this.


Physician He fell to his knees with a thump and lamented: "Prime Minister, I don't dare to say more! I will die no matter what I say! I cannot offend the Third Xiaojie of your residence! I beg you to spare my life!"


Li Xiao Ran scoffed loudly and shot up to his feet from his chair. His gaze swept over to Li Wei Yang like a sword. Maybe he didn't know it himself. Although his eyes were sharp, there was deeply rooted unease and worry in them like the sharp tip of a sword trembling in the wind. There was fear in his heart reserved for Li Wei Yang, a terrifying fear, but he must punish her now. If he backed down, he would lose all his respect and authority as a father and the head of the household: "Li Wei Yang, what did you do! Did you go and threaten Physician He!"


Li Lao Furen's looked as if she wanted to spit something out stuck in her chest, but her lips remained stiffly shut. She didn't say anything yet.


Rong Mama said: "Physician He, how did Third Xiaojie threaten you? Speak truthfully, Master will find justice for you! You won't be wronged by bad people!"


Li Wei Yang let out a scoff: "That's right, Physician He, how did I threaten you, why don't you just say it?"


Sweat broke out over Physician He's forehead. He knelt down on the cold grounded as if he was deeply conflicted.


Finally, Lao Furen spoke up: "Speak truthfully, if it is true—you cannot hide it either!"


Physician He boldly glanced at Li Wei Yang and deliberately straightened his back: "Lao Furen, the other day, on my way back after treating patients, I was kidnapped by a group of thugs. They took me away and locked me up. They even tortured me and demanded I do as they say—I refused to comply no matter what, so they let me go. Afterwards, they bribed me with gold and silver, instructing me to say that Furen is not actually pregnant but using medicine that made it seem like she was pregnant to deceive other physicians that came to see her pulse—I vaguely heard them say that their master was Anping Xianzhu... Seeing that I wouldn't give in, they even kidnapped my grandchildren, so I had no choice but to agree!"


Everyone in the room was stunned and became even more fearful. They all stared at Li Wei Yang with incredulous eyes.


However, Physician He continued to say: "I did indeed prescribe Liquid Styrax pills for Seventh Yiniang. The pill actually contains very little musk incense, so it would not affect people with a healthy body, but Seventh Yiniang insisted, saying that it was not effective enough, and she still had trouble sleeping everyday. She made me increase the amount, so I gave her Liquid Styrax pills with a higher concentration, which this musk incense—"


Everyone came to an understanding at this time. Li Wei Yang initially colluded with Seventh Yiniang to trick Physician He into giving them musk incense. Then, the musk incense was used to tamper with the landscape painting, killing the official mother's child. They even forced Physician He to denounce Jiang Yue Lan of her "fake pregnancy" in front of everyone, then deliberately cause her miscarriage to wrong Li Wei Yang, truly a wicked mind!


Li Wei Yang glanced at Zhao Yue and also saw the surprise on her face. She couldn't help but sigh to herself. Both brother and sister were guards with assassination skills. They aren't good at scheming. Jiang Yue Lan planned for every possibility. She was actually pregnant, but she purposely roused Li Wei Yang's suspicion, making her think that Jiang Yue Lan was only pretending to be pregnant, so that she would find out the "truth" from Physician He. Zhao Nan found out about Jiang Yue Lan "disguising" her pregnancy from Physician He, but it seems everything had been part of the plan from the start, including Physician He's testimony, the cage had been cut loose, this was all part of Jiang Yue Lan's thorough trap.


Physician He took out a silver banknote: "This is the banknote Third Xiaojie used to bribe me. If I genuinely accepted it, I wouldn't feel at ease! Master, please take it back!"


Things had come down to this where the witness and evidence were present, there was no room for denial! Li Xiao Ran did not explode in anger, but his eyes burned with a frightening light, murderous intent even, but when his eyes met Li Wei Yang's cold eyes, his mouth quickly curved into a cruel and resentful smile—forcefully interrogating Li Wei Yang: "You wretched thing, do you have anything else to say!"


He made up his mind to use this opportunity to get rid of this out-of-control daughter for once and for all!


In Li Wei Yang's current situation, she had been forced to the edge of the cliff, but she continued to condescendingly stare at Li Xiao Ran, thinking about how cowardly and ridiculous he was. It was rather ironic to say it outright. Her father occupied the position of Prime Minister, shouting this shouting that all day long and no one would say anything, but deep down, he was more cowardly than anyone else. He himself knew that there was something strange behind this matter, but he only wanted to take the opportunity to get rid of her. In the end, it was only because of her refusal to be controlled that made him even more anxious and afraid!


She lowered her head to hide her cold smile, then lifted her head and stared straight into his eyes. Li Xiao Ran only felt that her eyes had a haunting chill, deep down to the bone. He shuddered, the flames of anger suddenly vanished—he had never seen Li Wei Yang make this sort of face and was momentarily stunned.


Li Wei Yang faced him with a cold smile but slowly turned her attention to Jiang Yue Lan, her dark eyes bearing a sense of unpredictability: "Mother, I hope you won't change your original plans now."


Her voice was soft and gentle, but there was a hint of mercilessness. Jiang Yue Lan seemed to experience a hallucination—she was about to fall into the depths of hell! No, how was this possible?! She was clearly the victor who was about to succeed. She hardly believed there was anything Li Wei Yang could do to turn things around.
-----------------------*****------------------------Translator: ChauEditor: Chau