The Results

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation     Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

“Please, could you spare their lives?” Principal Zhou pleaded nervously.

Gu Chengrui met his gaze, his expression turning solemn, as if a dark cloud loomed over him.

The sudden shift in his demeanor startled Principal Zhou, who felt a surge of fear he hadn’t anticipated.

‘Him, harmless?’ he thought, bewildered. ‘How else could he have repeatedly eluded the remnants of the Hui Prince’s party and established medical centers under such scrutiny? We clearly underestimated him.’

Sensing Principal Zhou’s apprehension, Gu Chengrui softened his tone. “They won’t be executed, but the royal merchant title and the counterfeit medicine will be confiscated. The rest remains undecided.”

“That… that’s good,” stammered Principal Zhou, turning to leave.

“With three generations of imperial physicians in your family, I trust you won’t jeopardize your esteemed reputation,” Gu Chengrui called after him.

Principal Zhou mumbled, “It won’t happen,” before scurrying out.

As he disappeared down the street, a servant emerged from a nearby courtyard and rushed to the Li Manor, informing Imperial Physician Li about the conversation.

“So, I underestimated him,” Imperial Physician Li mused, swirling his teacup in contemplation.

He then instructed the servant, “Tell my second son to pay the fines. Reduce the medicine prices at our shop and dispose of all inferior quality products.” “Yes, master,” replied the servant, departing hastily.

After he left, Imperial Physician Li chuckled, “Marquis An Le, you certainly stirred the pot. Offending three imperial physicians in one go—I wonder how long you’ll last.”

Meanwhile, Gu Chengrui remained unfazed by their scheming. A clear conscience was all that mattered to him.

Half a month later, an investigation into the Qian family’s background revealed years of using the royal merchant title to peddle fake medicine.

Upon learning this, the Emperor’s face contorted in anger. He couldn’t believe they’d use the royal merchant’s reputation for such deceitful acts.

He swiftly stripped the Qian family of their title, ordering the execution of the patriarch and confiscating their entire estate. The family was forced into military service.

Principal Zhou, deemed negligent in his oversight, was dismissed from his position and subjected to a year-long salary reduction by half.

This incident was a stark warning to the imperial physicians, who became significantly more cautious in their conduct.

Both Imperial Physician Li and Imperial Physician Liu felt a lingering fear, grateful their offenses weren’t severe enough to warrant direct intervention from Gu Chengrui.

Returning home, Imperial Physician Li sternly warned his shopkeepers against any future price gouging, although the Jishi Medical Hall did raise their diagnosis fees by 20%.

The Emperor, rather than appointing a new royal merchant, entrusted the matter to the medical center.

As winter approached, Gu Chengxi married the fifth daughter of Consort An. Second Uncle Gu secured an independent courtyard for him on the West City-North City border, while Gu Chengrui and his wife gifted them a hundred acres of land.

By year’s end, Zhou Ying had learned of Gu Zheng’s successful revenge. His entire family, except his crippled father, was gone.

Now, his crippled father lived in a small farmhouse with an old caretaker.

Zhou Ying heard his report and asked, “So, what are you going to do next?”

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