Chapter 1429: Framed
Chapter 1429: Chapter 1429: Framed
The Gu Family from the Qin family sent a doctor to save General Fan. After the rescue, Old Lady Fan wants to put Company Commander Qin and his wife to death. How could anyone be so ungrateful?
Mai Dong, quick-witted, stepped forward and said, "Old Lady Fan, if it was my master who poisoned General Fan, why would we send someone to save him? We could have just let General Fan die without care. Now, after all our efforts to save him, you turn around and bite back with no conscience!"
"You, you, you little brat, what are you saying?!" Old Lady Fan was infuriated and raised her cane to hit Mai Dong.
But Mai Dong was agile and easily dodged her, reminding her, "Old Lady Fan, you’re getting on in years and have been through a shock tonight. You shouldn’t get so angry; you could easily have a stroke."
San Qi nodded in agreement, intimidating Old Lady Fan, "Indeed, at your age, a stroke could mean complete paralysis, with slurred speech and drooping eyes, needing others to help with daily needs. It would be truly miserable."
Old Lady Fan feared death, especially fearing a fate worse than death. Hearing this, she dared not get angrier and looked towards Doctor Dai, saying, "Doctor, check my pulse and prescribe some calming medicine."
Doctor Dai was at a loss for words. This Old Lady Fan was really something.
But he obediently checked Old Lady Fan’s pulse and prescribed a sedative to prevent a stroke: "Old Madam, you need proper rest, avoid extreme emotions, and take things lightly."
Hearing this, Old Lady Fan looked at her son, lying naked on the fur blanket, and cried, "Oh my son, my dear son, you’re like this now. How can I take things lightly?"
Doctor Dai had no interest in hearing Old Lady Fan cry, so he packed up his medical kit and left with San Qi, Mai Dong, and Ye Dakou.
Vice General Fang escorted them and, seeing Qin San Lang, said to him, "Company Commander Qin, don’t worry. Old Lady Fan spoke in panic. We all know you didn’t poison General Fan."
Qin San Lang was a capable leader, while General Fan was incapacitated. With only two vice generals accompanying from Yongtai Prefecture, a shortage of capable personnel was evident. It was unlikely they would appoint another fourth-rank general to take command. The military might split the forces from Yongtai Prefecture, giving half for him to lead.
His family was not as well-established as the Fan family and needed capable people to assist. Qin San Lang was one such person.
Qin San Lang said, "Rest assured, Vice General Fang, I understand Old Lady Fan spoke unintentionally and won’t think much of it."
He added, "We still need Vice General Fang to oversee the situation here. Please stay; we’ll return by ourselves."
"All right." Vice General Fang heard the commotion in the tent and, having no time for more words, hurried back in.
"Wretched woman, wretched woman, Brother Tian was harmed by you, you wretch! I’ll beat you to death!" Old Lady Fan rushed forward, attacking Chunzhi.
Chunzhi cried out, "Spare me, Old Lady! It wasn’t I who seduced the General, but he who insisted I serve him. As a servant, how could I refuse? I have erred. For the sake of years of serving you, please spare me!"
Chunzhi was crying bitterly for mercy. But Old Lady Fan, needing a scapegoat, didn’t listen, and after seeing that some light injuries were inflicted, turned to draw a soldier’s waist knife to kill Chunzhi.
Chunzhi quickly rolled away, dodging Old Lady Fan’s slash, and shouted, "Old Lady, you can’t kill me. I’m pregnant with the General’s child!"
What madness, how could you know it’s a son even if you’re pregnant?
Old Lady Fan was stunned, asking, "What? You’re pregnant? When did you sleep with Brother Tian again?"
Chunzhi, shrewd, cried, "It was over half a month ago, when the General returned to the mansion. It happened in the outer room... and my monthly period hasn’t come yet."
This timing was skillfully stated. Over half a month, undetectable by pulse, but her period’s absence indicated possible pregnancy, so any exposure would be in over a month.
This one statement earned her more than a month of life.
Old Lady Fan was conflicted, looking at her son lying on the blanket, then at Chunzhi, considering her son’s severe illness and his uncertain future fertility. It wasn’t wise to rely solely on three sons, so keeping Chunzhi and seeing what she might give birth to was the right move.
Old Lady Fan couldn’t kill Chunzhi and shifted her anger onto Qin San Lang and his wife, ordering the two military doctors, "Go and check on Brother Tian, see if he’s poisoned. We can’t just believe whatever that rascal Qin San Lang says!"
The two military doctors were fed up. They were military doctors, treating soldiers in the camp, not servants of the Fan family. Could she stop ordering them around?
But there was no choice; Old Lady Fan was General Fan’s mother, so they still went to test for poison on General Fan, only to find nothing after an hour.
"Old Madam, General Fan is indeed not poisoned, it’s just a case of horse mania."
Just then, a soldier reported, "Vice General Fang, Company Commander Ding heard General Fan is ill and brought along a skilled doctor, claiming they can help General Fan."
"Quickly, invite Company Commander Ding in!" Old Lady Fan was excited, thinking someone had sent her precisely what she needed. If the Ding family doctor found Brother Tian poisoned, Qin San Lang and Gu Family would be doomed!
"Yes." The soldier quickly went out and invited Ding Ge and others in.
As soon as Ding Ge came in, he rushed to General Fan’s side, crying, "General Fan... you’ve suffered, I’m late."
Damn it, my chest of gold was given in vain. If it was horse mania, you could have said so earlier. After I gave the gold, you collapsed; isn’t this a scam!
After cursing General Fan in his heart, he got up to salute Old Lady Fan, saying, "Old Lady, rest assured..."
"Enough chitchat, have your doctor quickly see if Brother Tian is poisoned!" Old Lady Fan couldn’t be bothered with Ding Ge, ordering him rudely.
Ding Ge was slightly miffed, thinking, is this Old Devout Woman treating him like a servant? Doesn’t she know the Ding family is a noble family of Central Plains?
But Ding Ge’s purpose was also to see if General Fan was poisoned. After all, how could a person suddenly suffer horse mania?
Besides, he had received the gold and promised to help him in the near future against Qin San Lang. The illness’s timing was too coincidental, leaving Ding Ge suspicious.
The Ding family doctor hurriedly brought the attendant to take General Fan’s pulse, diagnose, and run poison tests, but even after an hour with daylight breaking, nothing was found.
Vice General Fang couldn’t stand it, asking, "Doctor, what’s the result? Is General Fan poisoned?"
He warned, "This concerns the reputation of General Fan and other soldiers. Anything reported to the court must be truthful. False accusations against Kangrong Generals are punishable by death."
Hearing this, Ding Ge frowned deeply. What did Vice General Fang mean? Was he siding with Qin San Lang? How could he be so biased?
The two military doctors said, "We’ve tested General Fan and found no poisoning. Furthermore, there’s no poison known to cause horse mania."
The Ding family doctor, hearing this, looked at Ding Ge... Should he claim poisoning?
In fact, before arriving, Ding Ge instructed him to insist General Fan was poisoned and blame Qin San Lang and the Gu Family, to frame them and ruin Qin San Lang in one fell swoop.