Chapter 38: The Truth Revealed (Part Three) Please add to your favorites and leave a comment.

“Qin Fu, do you have anything left to say?” Qin Ruoyang’s demeanor was gentle and refined, exuding a warmth like the sun in March, yet his gaze was as cold as midwinter, two icy arrows piercing straight through Qin Fu.

Qin Fu was beyond saving.

Anran paid no mind to Qin Ruoyang; she took a few steps, moving beneath the osmanthus tree to enjoy the shade, as if none of this concerned her. With her arms around the little fox, she became a scene unto herself, untouched by the tension between Qin Ruoyang and Qin Fu.

“Master, spare me! Spare me, Master!” Qin Fu knelt on the ground, knocking his head desperately, begging Qin Ruoyang for mercy. He’d only been blinded by greed and manipulated by Madam Gu. It was such an easy task—he could earn a handsome reward and gain a beautiful wife, so why not?

But he had underestimated Anran’s abilities and never expected Qin Ruoyang to arrive with the imperial physician. Otherwise, his plan would have been flawless, and none of this would have happened.

The “Melancholy Powder” had taken him great effort to acquire through unorthodox means. The arsenic and red-crowned crane poison were too potent; before he could frame Anran, Zihong would have died, making them useless. But the “Melancholy Powder” was different—the timing ensured Zihong’s demise and would implicate Anran as well. It was indeed the perfect poison.

Alas, man proposes, Heaven disposes.

“Still refusing to confess?” Qin Ruoyang maintained his graceful composure, though a sheen of sweat glimmered on his brow. His tall figure was stretched long by the blazing sun. He stood unmoving, casting a glance at Anran, his voice powerful and resolute.

Anran, from start to finish, never looked at him once.

“Yes, I confess!” Qin Fu trembled all over, stammering, “It was Madam Gu from the Prime Minister’s residence. She serves the Prime Minister’s wife and is Zihong’s aunt. Yesterday, she asked Zihong to approach me, gave me a silver note for one thousand taels, and asked me to invite Miss Anran to treat the lady—then find an opportunity to humble Miss Anran, teach her a lesson!”

“Hmph, humble me? I suppose you meant to kill me!” Anran snorted coldly, her voice sharp.

Leng Yiyun was truly vicious, and her old servant Madam Gu equally cruel. Anran now regretted buying that wicked woman years ago, only to let Leng Yiyun use her money to raise a traitor.

Before Anran could speak again, Qin Fu added, “The Prime Minister’s wife said the second young master’s leg couldn’t be broken by the young lady without consequences. Though Minister Lu could swallow his anger, she could not. This grudge had to be avenged, so she sent Madam Gu to find me. Master, none of this was my idea—it has nothing to do with me. Please, Master, have mercy, spare me...”

“Hmph!” Anran didn’t even spare Qin Fu another glance, longing only to leave and return to her medicinal herbs. “Young Master Qin, now that the truth is clear and my innocence proven, I trust the Qin family, with its reputation and status, would never shield its servants. Farewell.”

“Please wait, Miss!” Qin Ruoyang raised his hand to block her path, his voice gentle, a stark contrast to his earlier severity.

“Take Qin Fu and lock him in the woodshed. Later, we’ll ask Lady Zhen to decide his fate!”

“Yes, sir!”

No sooner had Qin Ruoyang spoken than someone emerged from the shadows and dragged Qin Fu away. It all happened in the blink of an eye.

“The rest of you, report for twenty strokes each!”

“Yes, Master!”

Qin Ruoyang was about to ask Anran if she was satisfied when a deep, seductive voice interrupted him:

“Brother Ruoyang, you truly deserve your post as Chief Justice of the Court. I am most impressed!”

PS: The showdown between the male lead and his rival is about to begin; aren’t you going to add this to your favorites?