The air seemed to freeze at that moment.
Lin Tingwan and Xiang Yunling, the parties involved, remained silent.
They both seemed unconcerned about this matter.
Song Qingchao tightened her grip on the handkerchief, then broke the silence first.
"Zhengxi, take him down and keep an eye on him first."
Zhou Zhengxi responded with a "Yes" and led the person away.
"Now that everyone knows the truth of what happened back then, I hope no one will slander Doctor Xiang with such words in the future."
As her words fell.
The crowd quickly responded with "Yes."
Some even slapped themselves to show their determination.
Saying they had wronged a good person.
Song Qingchao did not express much and directly handed over the remaining matters to Four, Five, and Six to handle.
Song Qingchao looked at these people and asked tentatively, "Shall we return to the backyard?"
"Okay." After a few people responded, they began to walk back.
Lin Tingwan naturally pushed Xiang Yunling.
Upon arriving at the backyard.
After everyone was seated, Song Qingchao spoke first, "I suspect someone from the Chang family has sneaked out."
Bai You'an sat beside her, "General Chang's city gates are probably not that easy to pass through."
"Not necessarily," Song Qingchao shook her head. "Nearly half of the guards watching the city towers are from the Chang family, and besides… General Chang's wife is about to give birth."
"General Chang is not that kind of person."
Song Qingchao did not expect Xiang Yunling to be the one to refute her.
Xiang Yunling placed the medicinal herbs on her lap onto the tabletop. "These medicinal herbs have been processed after being found to be moldy."
Bai You'an nodded in agreement.
"All the medicinal herbs from pharmacies within a hundred-mile radius are here with us."
Song Qingchao stared at the pile of herbs, lost in thought.
She wasn't afraid of the Chang family profiting.
But what if it was truly a member of the Chang family who had snuck out… would people in other regions be safe?
When she left, she had instructed Shuhou not to enter the city unless absolutely necessary, and to keep the team in the mountains.
The purpose was to prevent spreading it to other counties.
Shuhou had agreed.
And with Ying Zhong around, procurement was not a problem.
But she never expected to be hit from within.
"The most urgent matter is that we should first confirm whether someone from the Chang family has indeed gone out."
Song Qingchao's gaze landed directly on Lin Tingwan.
Lin Tingwan's eyes darted away, and she retreated.
But how could Song Qingchao let her off?
"Why are you running?"
Lin Tingwan looked at the water pool in the courtyard, "I'm not running."
"Alright then, come with me."
...
In the end, Song Qingchao dragged the extremely reluctant Lin Tingwan along.
Lin Tingwan had no posture when standing or sitting.
She leaned against the doorframe, appearing quite resentful.
Song Qingchao, on the other hand, was very relaxed.
She casually flipped through a book, teasing Lin Tingwan.
"You're that unwilling?"
Lin Tingwan pursed her lips and said nothing.
But eventually, she compromised, "It's not that I'm unwilling to go, it's Chang Pinghe; he's just a scoundrel."
Song Qingchao raised her eyebrows in surprise, looking at her. "I find General Chang to be understanding, and… a very gentle person."
Lin Tingwan wrinkled her nose after hearing this. "Yes, you find everyone to be gentle."
Song Qingchao burst into laughter.
"I brought you out for a reason; put on a proper attitude."
"My attitude is that of a model youth. In my opinion, you should be putting on Chang Pinghe's attitude later."
Song Qingchao immediately shook her head and then lowered her head to look at her book.
Recently, she had been reading books on agriculture, studying plant growth habits as well as agricultural equipment.
After this matter was resolved, she still had to return to Mobei.
Only in Mobei would her identity have a chance to be secured.
Moreover, Mobei was remote and suitable for her to lie low.
Not long after, they arrived at their destination.
Song Qingchao motioned for Lin Tingwan to get out of the carriage first.
But Lin Tingwan dawdled, refusing to get down.
Song Qingchao, unable to do anything with her, got out of the carriage herself and walked towards Chang Pinghe's courtyard.
"General Chang."
She saw Chang Pinghe coming out to greet her from afar.
"Miss Song, why are you here today?"
Song Qingchao bowed and followed Chang Pinghe into the house, lifting the hem of her skirt. "I've come to check on the soldiers' condition; are you all feeling better?"
"Much better. Chang thanks Miss Song again."
"Don't mention it." Song Qingchao sat down and went straight to the point. "I have something to ask today; have any people been allowed out of the city gates?"
Chang Pinghe, who had been laughing heartily, suddenly became serious. "Miss Song, what kind of talk is this?"
He put down the teacup he was about to pour. "I eat and sleep here all day; it's impossible for anyone to sneak out from under my nose."
Song Qingchao had a plan after hearing this. "It's like this: we recently discovered moldy medicine in the city being sold as a imitation of the special medicine's formula. Regardless of the quality of the herbs used, the dosage alone is extremely harmful to the human body."
She looked at Chang Pinghe's expression and continued, "Besides Guangji Temple in Feng County, there's absolutely no other medicine to be found. We've also purchased all the medicine within a hundred-mile radius. You saw it that day. Putting aside the issue of this bag of herbs being sold at a high price in Feng County, there are already many doubts about the source of these herbs. Therefore, I trouble General Chang to think carefully: was there any day you were not present?"
Her words were watertight, showing no suspicion towards Chang Pinghe.
After all, if she suspected the person she was asking for help, it would be her fault.
Chang Pinghe, who had stood up in anger, sat down again with a stern face.
He rubbed the rim of the teapot with his rough thumb. "If I must say, three days ago, a visitor from my clan called me back, saying that Wanwan was in trouble. When I got home, Wanwan was indeed not feeling well, but it hadn't reached the point where I absolutely had to be there."
"Has your wife always been looked after by people arranged by Elder Chang?"
Chang Pinghe nodded. "It's very chaotic here. Although she's not safe at home, it's still better than being here with me."
"It's almost nine months now, isn't it?"
"Yes, so I was very worried at the time. But I was only gone for about two hours. If someone went out to buy more and brought it back within two hours, it wouldn't be enough."
Song Qingchao smiled, holding her handkerchief. "But what if they, like me, had someone outside to deliver it?"
"Impossible."
Chang Pinghe quickly denied this assumption.
"There are no members of the Chang family outside the province."
Song Qingchao, however, expressed her disagreement. "If a person wants to go out, it only takes the time of an incense stick to burn. But if they want to bring something back, it will inevitably take longer. They could leave when you were eating, sleeping, or even using the restroom, then collect the medicine by turns, and contact the clan via carrier pigeon to arrange a return time, while you were being lured away."
"Impossible, I have trusted confidants!"
Song Qingchao directly retorted, "If a person wants to get out, no matter how hard you guard, you can't stop them."
She took out the letter that had been handed to her before her departure and placed it directly on the table. "Why don't we make a bet: will someone call you back tonight?"