Chapter 86 This is Another Misunderstanding

Gathering herbs?

This statement stunned everyone present.

The whole of Yangcheng had turned upside down because of her. There was chaos and speculation, with people crying out in panic, yet she appeared leisurely and casually mentioned that she had gone to gather herbs.

It was like that year during the Lantern Festival in Yangcheng when panicked parents screamed that their child had been snatched away by kidnappers. The feudal authority locked down the city, the public was interrogating each other, and a night of exhaustion ensued with no one enjoying the lanterns. However, the child emerged holding a string of sugar figurines from under the bridge, claiming to have fallen asleep there by accident while picking up dropped sweets.

The child was unaware of life and death, unaware of what separation meant, and unaware of how important their own safety was to their family.

But Miss Jun was no longer a child.

Lady Fang shook with fury. She had no thoughts at all now.

The shock and delight of getting back what was lost, the solid feeling of everything settling, the annoyance of being played.

She had none of these thoughts now. The only idea she had was to slap the girl in front of her.

Hard, loud, a slap.

Last year she had almost constantly wanted to do this, but had never really done it.

Now, she certainly didn't always think like this, but as soon as the thought occurred, she instantly went to act on it.

Lady Fang quickly stepped forward and raised her hand towards Miss Jun.

But at the same time, someone also rushed forward, seemingly unintentionally but just in time, and wrapped an arm around Miss Jun's shoulder.

"Cousin!" he exclaimed joyfully, "I'm glad you're back."

Lady Fang's slap was blocked and hit his shoulder instead.

Fang Chengyu let out an "ah" as if he had just noticed his mother's action.

"Mother," he turned his head to look at her, his expression earnestly pleading, "please don't be angry, will you?"

She hadn't even really married into the family yet, and he couldn't bear to see her even move a finger? After such a big commotion, couldn't she even be angry with her?

Truly, marrying a wife and forgetting one's mother!

Lady Fang felt complex emotions.

She hadn't expected to taste the feeling of a son protecting his wife from her.

That feeling was really bittersweet.

The others now also came back to their senses, their expressions complicated, and they didn't know what to say.

If it were the former Zhenzhen, everyone would've openly scolded her without any reservations.

But if it were the former Zhenzhen, they also wouldn't have mobilised such a massive search for her.

Magistrate Ma sneered.

"Gathering herbs," he said, looking at the girl held by the young man and maid, one on each side, and then turned to Old Lady Fang, "Gathering herbs."

This matter is preposterous, is it an act put on by your Fang Family?

What are you trying to achieve?

He looked at Miss Jun, his voice intensifying.

"Why did you go gathering herbs? You are not a doctor or a herbalist, why did you go gathering herbs?"

Yes, why did you gather herbs?

The servants standing beside the officials also looked sharply at the young woman.

Does gathering herbs mean leaving the city?

Were you outside the city all of last night?

Where did you go? Did you, really, go gathering herbs?

Miss Jun looked at Magistrate Ma.

"I am indeed a doctor," she said with a hint of apology.

A doctor?

Magistrate Ma frowned at her.

"How are you a doctor?" he asked.

Questioning a doctor on why they are a doctor seemed to be an unreasonable question.

Miss Jun thought it over.

"Because my grandfather is a doctor," she answered seriously.

My grandfather was also a blacksmith!

Magistrate Ma shouted inside his head. How did I end up becoming an official?

"My lord, indeed it is so," Old Lady Fang stepped forward and took over the conversation, "My son-in-law comes from a family of doctors. Even though he managed to obtain an official post, the family's medical heritage hasn't been lost. She has been learning our family's medical skills since she was a child."

Jun Yingwen wasn't an official of Shanxi Road, but as he was related to the Fang Family, Magistrate Ma, of course, had reviewed his resume before coming and was aware of the Jun Family's medical background.

But still, but still.

Magistrate Ma looked at Miss Jun again.

"Why did you gather herbs?" he asked again.

Although the question had returned to its original point, the implication this time was different.

Why did you, particularly at this time, go to gather herbs? Why would you, as a young Fang Family lady, go gathering herbs?

""

"Sir, my cousin was treating my illness," Fang Chengyu answered before Miss Jun could.

Treating his illness?

Prefect Ma frowned.

"Sir, this matter is a long story," Old Lady Fang spoke up again, "you must know that my Chengyu was originally ill and near death."

Indeed, this was known.

Prefect Ma watched her.

"Now everyone can see that my Chengyu is much better," Old Lady Fang continued, pointing at Fang Chengyu.

The people around all nodded.

So what?

"Chengyu was cured by my granddaughter here," Old Lady Fang said, "using the Jun Family's medical skills."

The Jun Family's medical skills?

The crowd was taken aback, looking at the girl who was both unfamiliar and familiar at the same time; unfamiliar because most had not seen her face before, familiar because most had heard of her reputation.

That Miss Jun from the Jun Family, who had been causing trouble for both the Fang and Ning Families since her arrival in Yangcheng, had such capability?

Immediately there was a buzz in the crowd.

"This matter starts a long time ago."

The hall of the Fang Family was packed with people, officials such as Prefect Ma had been invited from the streets into the Fang Family's hall, where Old Lady Fang ordered tea to be served while she began her tale.

"Originally, when Chengyu fell ill, we searched for famous doctors, but to no avail; back then, my in-law was still with us, we had also asked him; he examined Chengyu as well but was also helpless."

"What I didn't expect was that my in-law had always been concerned about Chengyu's illness, deeply immersed in researching and tirelessly taking notes on numerous remedies, only it's a pity he passed away before he could find the solution..."

"What I didn't expect even more was that after my in-law passed away, my granddaughter not only took over the family's medical skills, but she also continued to concern herself with Chengyu's condition; ever since then, she has been following her in-law's notes..."

Was that so?

Indeed, it was so.

The people in the hall all looked at Miss Jun.

In the back of the crowd, a servant's brow furrowed, seeming confused yet also as if he had just realized something.

Whether this Miss Jun was proficient in medical skills or not was not important now, this could be inquired about later.

The current statement meant that the Fang Family had known all along that Fang Chengyu had been poisoned? Illness was by fate, poison by human hand, so had they all along been on guard and devising a plan?

"...She scoured through medical books, in Runan, in Funing..." Old Lady Fang's voice continued.

As she spoke with a nostalgic air, remembering the past, Prefect Ma, growing impatient, interrupted.

Who cares about how difficult it was, how sincere the efforts, or how the illness was treated.

"These things are not important," he said, "everyone knows your Fang Family has been framed by enemies, and that it hasn't been easy for you to plan a comeback."

Then he turned towards Miss Jun.

"But why did you go to gather medicinal herbs and not return overnight, and nobody in your family knew anything about it?"

Indeed, why?

And it just happened to be at that time.

Was it too much of a coincidence?

The servant lifted his eyelids to look at Miss Jun.

"This is truly too much of a coincidence," Miss Jun said with a face full of apology, "I didn't expect it to lead to such a mishap and cause such a misunderstanding."

A mishap and a misunderstanding?

The people in the room looked at her as Miss Jun sighed softly.

"I did indeed speak with Registrar Lin, and he wasn't lying; after we spoke, we said farewell, and I was supposed to return. As I was passing through a street, I saw a person," she said.

What did she see?

Everyone perked up their ears and listened attentively.

"A woodcutter," Miss Jun said.

A woodcutter?

"What about the woodcutter?" Old Lady Fang prompted impatiently, "Just spit it out, why drag it out like this?"

Was the dragging out meant to fabricate some lie?

The servant squinted his eyes.

Miss Jun looked hesitant, seemingly uneasy.

"The main reason is, I'm afraid you won't believe me if I tell you," she said, "The woodcutter had a child with him, and the child was holding a flower."

A flower?

"This flower is a medicinal herb, very important for the treatment of Chengyu's condition, and it's very rare. I had been looking for it for a long time without success," Miss Jun continued, "So I asked the woodcutter where he had picked it. Wanting to use the herb as soon as possible, I sent the woodcutter's child to bring a message home, while I went directly to gather the herbs."

She said this with a face full of apology and helplessness.

"It appears that the message did not reach home."