At this moment, with Elder Liu Feng speaking, Zhou Xun naturally fell silent.
Yet having served in the Yaowang Pavilion for many years and being well-versed in medicine, he knew Zhu Gui’s death could not have been without cause. With Elder Liu personally investigating, how could Su Hua still deny responsibility?
Su Hua glanced at Zhou Xun’s smug expression and let out a cold snort.
She didn’t even bother taking him seriously.
Her purpose in coming to the Yaowang Pavilion was not only to deal with Zhu Gui, but also him.
The blockade of Jisheng Herb Shop by the Pavilion was, after all, orchestrated by Zhu Gui in collusion with Zhou Xun.
Once both were dealt with, Jisheng Herb Shop would return to normal.
After all, she understood well how a large organization was structured—it would never allow a lowly steward to act as if he ruled the world. Expose a flaw, and it must be purged to ensure long-term stability. Otherwise, one would only weaken the foundation.
Song Yao-shi, standing nearby, was extremely tense. Any of the Pavilion’s elder guardians were absolute masters in medicine, and the current situation…
Yet he looked at the young lady, calm and expressionless, as though fully confident that Elder Liu Feng would not detect a thing.
Su Hua caught Song Yao-shi’s worried gaze and smiled faintly. “Don’t worry. The result will be clear very soon.”
She had used herbs harvested from her jade bottle space—Heartbreak Grass, Bone-Eroding Grass, and Blood Thorn—as the main ingredients, carefully crafting a poison she named Three-Step Soul Severer.
Once ingested, the pill dissolved instantly upon contact with saliva, entering the body, coursing through the blood and organs, eroding flesh and blood. Within three steps, the victim would collapse, dead.
Though the symptoms appeared gruesome, any examination would yield only one conclusion: sudden natural death.
Her confidence in her own concoction was absolute.
At this moment, Mo Qianhan sat in his wheelchair, eyes fixed intently on Su Hua. Her confident aura had a unique charm, impossible to ignore.
Behind him, Liu Xing’s attention remained on the prince, thinking over the words His Highness had said: that Miss Su must possess some divine stratagem to dare come to the Yaowang Pavilion.
Indeed, as she now stood there, facing the personal inspection of the Pavilion’s elder guardians, her calm demeanor suggested it was but a trivial matter.
From yesterday to today, Liu Xing had followed His Highness and witnessed this young lady’s capabilities. In just two days, his prior understanding of her had been completely overturned.
In his eyes, no noble daughter in the capital could compare to Su Hua.
She sensed countless eyes on her, yet the most focused gazes were those of Mo Qianhan and his close attendant—master and servant, in perfect accord.
..
Soon, Elder Liu Feng, after examining Zhu Gui’s cause of death, rose to his full height. The result was clear: the man had indeed died suddenly, with no abnormalities detected.
Yet in his heart, a question lingered. A perfectly healthy man, suddenly bleeding from all orifices and dying… he had never encountered such a thing.
He looked at Su Hua—a young lady of the Prime Minister’s household. Surely she could not possess any supernatural means capable of evading his scrutiny?
Zhou Xun stepped forward impatiently. “Elder Liu Feng, how did Zhu Gui die?”
Liu Feng’s voice was firm. “There is nothing wrong. He simply died suddenly of natural causes.”
“Natural?” Zhou Xun could not believe it. “This is impossible. Elder Liu Feng, Zhu Gui is the younger brother of the Prime Minister’s wife—if—”
“If what!” Liu Feng’s authoritative voice cut him off. “Do you doubt my diagnosis? Even if the Prime Minister himself were here, this would still be my verdict. Consider this a warning: as a steward of the Yaowang Pavilion, tend to your duties. Should you again wrongly accuse someone before confirming the truth, do not blame me for being harsh.”
Zhou Xun bowed stiffly. “Yes, I understand,” though he glared viciously at Su Hua.
Liu Feng instructed the royal attendants and Pavilion guards, “Disperse. Since the man is the Prime Minister’s wife’s brother, have his body sent to the Prime Minister’s residence.”
Seeing the matter concluded, the crowd dispersed. The Pavilion’s elder guardians had confirmed that Su Hua had no part in Zhu Gui’s death, and no one dared linger.
Liu Feng glanced at Mo Qianhan in his wheelchair, then at Su Hua. “Miss Su, as long as you do not cause trouble within the Yaowang Pavilion, you are always welcome. The matter has been resolved, and I shall not disturb you further.”
Su Hua stopped him. “Elder Liu Feng, the matter is far from over. There is no need to rush away.”
“Oh? Still not finished?”
Zhou Xun blurted, “Miss Su, I advise caution in front of Elder Liu Feng!”
Su Hua’s cold, mocking smile appeared. “Elder Liu Feng, is this not the rule taught within the Yaowang Pavilion?”
Liu Feng: “…”
Su Hua signaled Song Yao-shi to hand over the prepared items to Elder Liu Feng.
Liu Feng, curious, opened the ledger she handed him. On the first page, a particular entry involving Zhou Xun immediately caught his experienced eye.
He dispatched his personal attendant to investigate further.
His cold gaze swept over Zhou Xun, then he addressed Su Hua: “Miss Su, rest assured. In any collaboration between the Yaowang Pavilion and a herb shop, the strongest survive. If anyone dares abuse their position or embezzle, the Pavilion will not tolerate it.”
Zhou Xun understood perfectly. Liu Feng’s gaze alone had already sealed his fate.
With Liu Feng’s investigation underway, any misappropriated herbs or outstanding accounts of Jisheng Herb Shop would be uncovered.
Zhou Xun, who had relied on Zhu Gui’s presence to shield him, realized with fury that the audacious girl Su Hua had undone him.
Kneeling, he begged: “Elder Liu Feng, please forgive me. I was reckless. I plead for leniency in view of my years of service. I am willing to return all and make amends to Miss Su.”
Liu Feng snorted coldly. “It is too late. The rules of the Pavilion cannot be broken. Those who break them know the consequences. From this moment, you are no longer steward of the Pavilion. Guards, take Zhou Xun away and await judgment.”
The Pavilion guards arrived promptly and escorted Zhou Xun out.
Liu Feng reassured Su Hua: “Miss Su, the cooperation between the Pavilion and Jisheng Herb Shop continues. Any losses caused by Zhou Xun will be compensated. As for Zhou Xun, he will never appear before you again.”
Su Hua admired the Pavilion’s decisiveness. “Perfect.”
With this, her mission here was complete. The follow-up could be handled by Song Yao-shi liaising with the Pavilion.