The Reborn Legitimate Daughter is Frivolous - Chapter 4
“Master, Dr. Li is here.”
The housekeeper led Dr. Li inside. He was a middle-aged man. When he saw Murong Jie, he immediately knelt down to pay his respects.
Murong Jie studied Dr. Li carefully, then after a while said, “You were the one who diagnosed and treated my wife?”
“Yes, General,” Dr. Li replied.
Seeing how Dr. Li didn’t even dare lift his head, Murong Qing thought silently to herself. When she glanced at Shui Xinting’s calm expression, she instantly knew that everything had already been arranged in advance.
Although she had expected this outcome, she couldn’t help feeling uneasy. She just didn’t know who Shui Xinting had chosen to take the blame this time.
Before Murong Qing could think further, Murong Jie suddenly shouted, “How dare you!”
“Speak! Who told you to deceive me?”
Murong Jie’s outburst startled everyone, but they could guess what it was about.
Dr. Li knelt trembling on the floor, too terrified to raise his head. His lips quivered as he stammered, “I… I… I don’t… I don’t know what the General… means…”
By the time he finished, sweat was pouring down his forehead.
“You still dare to deny it? Wan’er clearly died of poisoning! As a doctor, how could you not see that? You claimed she died of illness—what were your motives? Who told you to lie to me?”
Murong Jie’s roar echoed through the Wan Pavilion. No one dared to speak, though one person had to.
“What!? Madam was poisoned? How could that be…” Shui Xinting exclaimed, stepping forward and kicking Dr. Li to the ground. “You worthless doctor! Can’t you even tell the difference between an illness and poison?”
Her performance was flawless—her tone full of outrage and innocence. By calling him a quack, she cleverly implied that Dr. Li’s error came from incompetence, not bribery.
But Murong Qing wasn’t fooled. She knew Shui Xinting far too well. That explanation was far too simple.
Even if others might believe it, she never would. Something was definitely wrong here.
“Enough!” Murong Jie snapped. He glared at Dr. Li. “I’ll ask you one more time—who gave you the courage to do this?”
This time, Dr. Li broke down completely. “General, please spare me! I admit my mistake! My skills are poor, I misdiagnosed Madam’s illness for a small bribe! Please, General, I have old parents and young children—have mercy!”
He kowtowed repeatedly, tears and sweat streaming down his face.
Murong Qing watched coldly. Having lived in the palace in her previous life, she knew this was only the beginning. The real act was yet to come.
She wasn’t worried about the commotion itself, only that it might delay Yun Wan’s burial ceremony tomorrow morning.
Murong Jie, however, didn’t buy Dr. Li’s story. Suspicion already flickered in his mind. His eyes darkened as they fell on Shui Xinting. Still, he ordered, “Take Dr. Li to the magistrate immediately. Whether this was a misdiagnosis or a conspiracy, we’ll find out soon enough!”
Two guards grabbed Dr. Li by the arms, dragging him away.
Desperate, Dr. Li struggled and shouted, “General, please spare me! I’ll confess! I’ll tell you everything!”
At Murong Jie’s signal, the guards released him.
Dr. Li scrambled back to kneel before the general. “General, if I tell the truth, will you spare my life? I was blinded by greed. Please, show mercy!”
But before he could finish, Murong Jie kicked him to the ground. “You dare bargain with me? You have no right to negotiate! Speak now!”
“Yes… yes!” Dr. Li wiped the sweat from his brow. “I don’t know what the man looked like, only that his name was Yueshang…”
The moment he spoke the name, a weak voice cried out. A woman fell to her knees, trembling. “That’s not true! How could you slander me? I’ve done nothing to you! General, please, you must believe me!”
Murong Qing’s lips curved into a faint, mocking smile.
Yueshang was just a maid who once served in Murong Jie’s quarters. She had gotten pregnant by accident and given birth to Murong Yao, which slightly raised her status. But she was timid by nature, there was no way she would bribe a doctor to do something so vile.
So, Yueshang was the scapegoat. Shui Xinting’s plan was truly cunning.
Of course, Shui Xinting had probably threatened or lured her into silence, leaving Yueshang no choice but to obey.
How pitiful.
Slap!
Before Murong Jie could respond, Shui Xinting stepped forward and slapped Yueshang hard across the face.
“Wretched maid!” she shouted. “I treated you so well, and this is how you repay me? You’ve done something so heartless and vile! I must have been blind to ever think you were a good person!”
If the situation weren’t so serious, Murong Qing might have applauded her performance—it was impressive acting indeed.
With Shui Xinting’s cunning, Yueshang was doomed to take the blame. But Murong Qing had no intention of letting Shui Xinting walk away unscathed.
“Second Aunt, why are you in such a hurry? Father is still here. Even if he weren’t, I’m the eldest daughter—when did it become your turn to speak first?” Murong Qing said coldly.
“Master…” Shui Xinting’s face stiffened at the rebuke. Murong Qing had humiliated her several times in recent days, and now, in front of everyone, she was doing it again. Rage burned in Shui Xinting’s chest, but she forced herself to sound gentle, hoping Murong Jie would side with her.
Instead, he said, “Qing’er is right. You should mind your place.”
Shui Xinting froze, disbelief flashing across her face. She wanted to argue but had no choice but to bow her head. “Yes, Master. I understand.” She stepped aside, seething inside.
Everything was still going according to her plan, but the embarrassment left her simmering with resentment. She only hoped Murong Jie would finish questioning Yueshang soon so she could retreat and rest.
“What else do you have to say?” Murong Jie turned to Yueshang.
Still dazed from the slap, Yueshang came to her senses and quickly knelt again, crying out, “I’ve been wronged! I truly have! Please, General, see the truth! No matter how bold I might be, I would never do such a thing. General, you know me…”