Chapter 78: Lessons are meant to be tough.

Mu Qin and her son soon made a hasty exist from the room.

"I guess they were con artist! They didn't even stay to deny it!"

Lu Mingyu added over the call.

"Qianyu, I liked what sister did, but wasn't that lesson a bit too harsh?"

"I don't think so! Teacher Mu protected Mingyu with his body, she wanted to repay that by protecting him with her smarts and her voice."

"Daddy says lessons are meant to be tough, otherwise you won't learn and only get worse!"

Baobao added, he looked to his father then to Qin Qianyu for praise, however, he got it in a form of a kiss on the forehead from Mingxi,

"Hehe, it's good being right!"

Baobao added which caused Dr Cao to palm his own face, and the others around him to giggle quietly while Lu Mingyu and Mu Liang were being interviewed.

Zhu Yue interviewed the pair. It was going smoothly from then on out.

Elsewhere, other stations had picked up on this and the rush was on to find the "victims" from the grave site incident and reporters were all pressured to get an exclusive interview with them.

Stations that wanted to play the webcast on their shows were contacting Véridique via the website.

Su Yin had set it up in a way that she would also be able to collect revenue from all the other stations by setting a price for these stations to use Véridique's footage and interviews.

This served two purposes.

One was of course to bring money into the new studio, and the other, was because Qin Qianyu wanted to create a park designed for buskers that the public can come and listen to while in a safe and comfortable environment.

A memorial park in Cheng Yifei's name.

That way she would never be forgotten. Not her love for music, her hopes and dreams, or her senseless death that stemmed from the calculated and callous poisoning attack.

Soon, Su Yin started getting cease and desist letters from law firms representing the station the Xiu's owned, the Xiu's themselves as well as the family lawyers of the Chen's.

Su Yin sniggered and directed those that sent the letters to the government stating that everything they were doing was sanctioned by them, so if they want it stopped to direct it to them first.

Everyone knew that it was the government that requested the investigation into SIC and the consequent death of Cheng Yifei.

What Véridique were covering was part of that investigation. In essence, those lawyers and firms had no leg to stand on.

Su Yin carried on with business as usual after all that.

Over at News Now's station heated words were being exchanged between the new anchorwoman of the station and the former.

"You scab bitch! Everyone here knows that you're doing all of this because I became the new face of the station and they higher ups decided to toss your sorry arse out!"

"I'm only here as part of PIT's media relations team. You think I have the power to sway a taskforce of the four winds? Is your brain even working?"

" . . . "

"PIT are investigating and it didn't take them long to associate what's been happening here with you and those higher ups."

"Just so you know, PIT, ADT and Central's elite went all out yesterday to rescue a woman that was kidnapped and almost gang raped."

"So what! What's this have to do with me!?"

Mo Lin scowled, she really believed that with the Xiu's and Chen's backing her she wouldn't face any hardships anymore.

"The offenders, that were caught were every single person from your report yesterday."

"She and another man who's in hospital as we speak were attacked by them while trying to stop the desiccation of the girl's grave."

"The offenders even claimed they were paid by you! Who knew you would go so far and do such a thing for a story!"

Liu Bing left it at that, as a reporter she had to have a stance of impartiality, she just wanted to vent a little because she felt disgusted by her senior Mo Lin.

She and the cameraman with her followed the people that were arrested out of the building.

As they were being escorted, Liu Bing saw those that had gossiped about her mere hours ago staring at the floor not wanting to make eye contact in case they find themselves sitting next to those in handcuffs.

Liu Bing then conducted an interview with a spokeswoman for PIT outside of the studio as the caught offenders where being led into police vans.

"Our investigation into SIC had led us to find that certain individuals not directly involved with SIC but shared a connection with the deceased Cheng Yifei had been involved with committing numerous crimes and corruption."

"These individuals had an informant that was part of the officials from the police and his sole task was to direct attention away from these people and that had inconsequently impacted our own investigation into SIC which we at from PIT are duty bound and sanctioned to investigate."

Liu Bing was professional in her bearing, she nodded as the spokeswoman spoke and then asked,

"Are there any aspects that were found during your investigation into these individuals you'll be able to share with us? How would they all likely to be punished?"

"At this point, I can tell you that we have found that these people had not only engaged in a comprehensive smear campaign against the late Cheng Yifei and her family by using the media companies that their family owns, they also engaged in illegal activities to further solidify their smear tactics. As for what they would ultimately be punished with, you'll have to wait for their day in court. Thank you."

When the spokeswoman said her piece, they now understood the gravity of the situation, Mo Lin especially.

She thought she was "in like sin" going against a dead nobody student and her poor family, she surely didn't think she'd end up like this.

While Qin Qianyu and the others continued watching, she noticed that there were no images of Xiao Yixuan.

Qin Qianyu did however spot Wen Wú Ting on a few occasions.

Lu Mingyu felt much better after watching the newscast. Mu Liang felt the same.

Lu Mingyu then made it known to everyone that it was Zhu Yue who had saved her in the warehouse by distracting the Chen's long enough til help arrived.

"Let's meet with him too when he's free. I'll organise a banquet for everyone that helped you,"

Lu Li added. Lu Mingyu nodded and looked to Mu Liang,

"If you need compensation just ask, I'm not overly rich but I have some money."

"What!? . . Ah! Don't take what my aunt said seriously. She's . . you don't have to listen to anything she said. Just knowing you're safe is good enough for me."

Visiting hours were soon over. Time flew a little too quickly for Mu Liang.

Everyone bade farewell to Mu Liang and wished him a speedy recovery.

Dr Cao left with Cao Guangyi, the Lu family left for their hotel. It was Highland Central where Lu Mingyu was already staying.

Qin Qianyu offered the family her home for them but Lu Li declined the offer.

Qin Qianyu didn't push it, it's good to have time with just family. She thought she should do the same.

"Heh! So much for paying me back!"

Qin Qianyu quipped as she, Lu Mingyu and the others were heading down the elevator.

"Ah! I forgot! . . I'm sorry!"

"It's fine, spend time with your family, I'll do the same. Meeting that horrid aunt and cousin just then has really drained me some, so I want some healing from my parents."

All of the Lu's nodded in agreement. They soon started feeling pitiful for Mu Liang.

The girls planned to meet the next day so Qin Qianyu headed home too to be with her family.

Qin Qianyu walked into her home and soon found Ouyang Zihan was having a nap on the couch, Qin Haoran was doing the same.

It looked as if he nodded off while massaging his wife's feet.

She used her shadowless steps to head out the back and went to Grandpa Wú's courtyard.

However, no one was there.

"He's still out?"

She had nothing to do really so she put on some gardening clothes and she along with Bai Saan went to the herb garden to plant what she had on hand including the seeds she was given.

A half hour later she was done. Qin Qianyu didn't plant all the seeds just yet. She wanted to test a few of them first.

The book gave an outline of what they were and their properties for certain stages of their life cycle for one particular seed.

The uses vary depending on the stage they are at when used.

The early stages the herb is not as potent in medicine so it was good for children but not infants.

In the middle stages, the herb was more of an emulsifier for complex formulas and often aggressive compounds found in other plants.

At the later stage of the cycle, it made good use of the properties of both the early and middle stages of the herb.

The other two seeds she wanted to know more about them fire she even planted them. There wasn't enough information about the seeds except that they were extremely precious seeds and the plants from them are also very rare.

This was noted by the "friend" that may have written the book.

Qin Qianyu and Bai Saan walked back to the main house. At that time, her parents had woken up from their siesta.

Seeing how she was dressed they knew where Qin Qianyu had come from.

Qin Qianyu filled her parents in on Lu Mingyu and the news that was being reported.

When Qin Qianyu mentioned this, relief showed on their faces because of what Lu Mingyu must have been through being with family at such a time can do wonders.

"I'll quickly was up and start making our dinner."

"Mhm, your mother and I were about to take a stroll in the garden, wash up and come join us."

Qin Qianyu nodded her head and had a quick wash before joining her parents.

They chatted about nothing in particular, each of them where just happy and content being in each other's company.

Suddenly Ouyang Zihan placed her hand on her belly as a gasped escaped her mouth,

"What's wrong!? . . Are you alright!? . . Are you feeling unwell!?"

Qin Haoran uttered in a panic. Ouyang Zihan calmed Qin Haoran down and explained that their baby wanted to say hello to everyone.

Ouyang Zihan was currently around 16 to 18 weeks pregnant so it was understandable that baby would start moving around.

The entire Qin family have there hands on Ouyang Zihan's belly giggling in delight over feeling the movement of the baby inside.

This was the healing Qin Qianyu was after. It felt nice after the morning she had at the hospital.

Bai Saan could sense that Ouyang Zihan was with child and became protective, circling around the family while he held his head high sniff the surroundings.

When the family sat down, Bai Saan plopped his big head in between Ouyang Zihan and Qin Qianyu as he lay behind them.

As the afternoon wore on, Qin Qianyu excused herself to start preparing dinner.

The dinner table was filled with a lot of the favourite dishes Qin Qianyu knew Ouyang Zihan liked.

The family followed up the meal with tea and fruits before heading to bed early.

Qin Qianyu had told them that she was meeting with Lu Mingxi and the others tomorrow and would spend the day with them before they headed back to their home.

A few hours passed and Qin Qianyu was sure that both her parents were sound asleep.

Qin Qianyu snuck out of her room and headed to her lab. After changing into her phantom fox attire she left through her secret passage and after selecting a bike, she made her way to the warehouse where she would meet with Xiao Yixuan.

Qin Qianyu arrived, it was around 10:30, she was surprised to see someone already there.

After making sure, she was certain that the person was Xiao Yixuan.

"You came rather early,"

"Ah ma'am, mhm, this is important to me . . so, you know,"

"I understand,"

Qin Qianyu took a deep breath. What she was about to tell the commander wasn't going to be pleasant.

She explained that she found that the main poison was from a plant known as Gansui.

"The root itself has been know to treat things like ascites which affects the peritoneal."

Qin Qianyu noticed the "I don't understand" look on Xiao Yixuan's face.

Qin Qianyu explained that ascites is when fluids enter the peritoneal cavity filling it, the peritoneal is a membrane lining the abdomen.

"My analysis shows that this is what you have,"

Xiao Yixuan placed a quivering hand over her belly, as Qin Qianyu continued,

"In ancient times this root was used mainly in the back palace, or harems as they are known, as medicinal abortion tonic. This would trick the victim into thinking they're still with child but the cruel reality was that the child was either still born or nonexistent causing a false pregnancy."

"The amount you have in you would have started around four months ago. It will not only cause a false pregnancy due to ascites as the abdomen continues filling with fluids. This'll also cause the placental lining to shrivel up and rot inside the womb making it impossible to bare children ever again."

"So . . I . . I'm not . . . pregnant?"

Xiao Yixuan's voice was stuttered and soft. The quivering in her voice was filled with hurt and unwillingness. She didn't want to accept what she was being told.

Qin Qianyu understood this, she wasn't a heartless person, but, she needed Xiao Yixuan to understand that although she's not able to have 'this' child, she'll be able to conceive again after she's followed through with the course of treatment she'll provide.

Qin Qianyu told Xiao Yixuan this and reassured her of this fact before continuing.

"As to who the father would be, is totally your choice. But in all honesty, if he is the one that's poisoning you, then I strongly suggest you kick him to the curb and start anew. Your love for is going to waste."

Xiao Yixuan collapsed into a heap on the ground. Her legs had lost all its strength.

Qin Qianyu caught the woman and supported her.

"Where are you parked?"

"I caught a taxi then walked here. My lover borrowed my car as they had a business trip to attend."

She soon walked over to where her bike was and had the commander sit.

Once the commander settled her emotional state Qin Qianyu offered to take her home.