36 - The Divine Physician’s Overbearing Wife

**Bansha Novel** **Chapter 36** Upon seeing that Yan Zhuguang and Qiu Qiao were determined to get to the bottom of the matter, the people from Qiuming Pill Pavilion immediately wore uncomfortable expressions. They exchanged glances, possibly communicating through silent spiritual means. Yan Zhuguang watched, uninterested in stopping them, curious about their next move. After a moment of silent exchanges, Qiu Qiao addressed Yan Zhuguang, "Since the young lady insists on probing the matter, I have no choice but to explain." He shook his head, "This is a family disgrace, unfit for outsiders. However, since you insist, I imagine you won't let us leave until the truth is stated. I'll swallow my pride." "Go ahead," she said, wanting to see what story they'd concoct. "Perhaps you are unaware, Miss Yan, but Qian'er came to the Pill Pavilion to break off our engagement," Qiu Qiao said, his expression dimming. "Recently, she contacted me, claiming there was an urgent matter to discuss. I sent two of my family's old servants to escort her." "Along the way, they were ambushed by monsters, and fortunately, you happened upon them, saving her. The rest, you already know." Yan Zhuguang nodded. "Qian'er, due to her frail health, cannot remain outdoors for long. After you left the Pill Pavilion, I intended for her to rest in the backyard. However, she refused and unexpectedly declared her intention to break off the engagement." "My shock was immense, as I have deep feelings for Qian'er and could hardly believe it. But she threatened to take her own life if I didn’t agree." "I sensed some hidden issue, so I pretended to agree, watching for developments. Unexpectedly, her servant suddenly demanded the token of our engagement." "The token was exchanged between the Qiu and Su families upon our betrothal. Mine naturally belonged to the Su family. If we were to break the engagement, I should return it. The servant seemed malevolent, leading me to suspect Qian'er was being coerced, so I refused. Instead, I ordered the Pill Pavilion's gate secretly closed to attempt capturing the servant." "Unexpectedly, the servant had a teleportation charm, ready to escape with Qian'er. Luckily, I had planted a tracking talisman on him before he left, allowing me to chase them using my charm." Qiu Qiao stuck to his original story but added more details, seemingly aligning with what Yan Zhuguang and Qiu Qiao had witnessed. "I didn't clarify earlier, but that servant intended a murder-suicide with Qian'er. The shopkeeper struck him down in the nick of time, resulting in Qian’er's unintended injury." He sighed, shaking his head, "We had no choice in the matter to save Qian'er. She is defenseless. If we meant her harm, how could she resist us or linger until your rescue?" "I see," Yan Zhuguang nodded. Just as the Pill Pavilion members sighed with relief, she added, "If I hadn't been ambushed by your men, I might have believed you." The shopkeeper's face flushed with anger, unable to hold back any longer, "This woman is utterly unreasonable! You demanded the truth, my young master disclosed our family's private shame, and now you doubt us. What sense is there in this?" "If you disbelieve, then so be it. What was the point of all this talk?" Yan Zhuguang chuckled, "I said before, I can't rashly jump to conclusions on this matter. We'll see once Miss Su wakes up. If you all hadn't rushed to explain, I could have just ignored it." "You—" "Sir," Qiu Qiao interrupted, shaking his head, "Forget it, those who are clear know. Qian'er's situation is prone to misunderstandings. If Miss Yan chooses not to believe, so be it." "As for the alleged ambush, I truly have no knowledge. Miss Yan, what I haven't done, I won't admit." Qiu Qiao's expression appeared exceedingly sincere. Seeing this, Yunni Xue was also somewhat puzzled. These people spoke logically, not seeming to lie. Could their story be true, just a misunderstanding? Yan Zhuguang saw her expression and whispered, "Don't believe them, Senior Sister. Traveling with Miss Su, I got to know her. She likes Qiu Qiao very much, never failing to mention him. How could she suddenly break off the engagement?" "And what about Miss Su's servant? He's honest, reserved, and utterly loyal to her. He would never contemplate a murder-suicide." Even whispered, Yan Zhuguang’s words were heard by the Paw Pavilion members. Qiu Qiao said, "Miss Yan, appearances can be deceiving. Can you be certain everything you saw was real?" "Then tell me, why did the servant turn hostile, taking Miss Su hostage and aiming for death when the return of the token failed?" Qiu Qiao’s face darkened, and the shopkeeper glared at Yan Zhuguang, "You’re pushing this too far!" With a grimace, Qiu Qiao said, "Miss Yan, you fail to understand that the servant...had an illicit relationship with Qian'er. Realizing my feigned consent to end the engagement and the eventual failure to claim the token, he planned to elope with her. When caught, he threatened a murder-suicide." Yan Zhuguang asked, "So, you killed him and claimed to have accidentally injured Miss Su, all to conceal this scandal...trying to kill your fiancée to silence her?" Qiu Qiao didn’t refute, though his expression was pained. "Hahaha." Yan Zhuguang burst into laughter, even clapping her hands, "Amusing, truly amusing." The Paw Pavilion members' faces were as dark as the bottom of a pot. Yunni Xue felt a bit awkward; Zhuguang’s mockery seemed somewhat excessive. She shook her head. She’d have to talk to her later, remind her of the importance of saving face for others. Yan Zhuguang, once done laughing, suddenly grew serious, "You’re quite something. Should I commend you for being dignified or flexible?" "All this to cover your true intentions, willing to wear a 'green hat.' Truly commendable, Young Master Qiu." She suddenly held up an old scrap of paper, waving it in front of the Paw Pavilion group, "What do you make of this?" Though Qiu Qiao remained unmoved, the shopkeeper leaned forward slightly upon seeing the paper, even quickly catching himself. Yet, Yan Zhuguang noticed. She had guessed right. "Allow me," she began to explain, "You desired this mysterious scrap of paper, sending your men under the guise of longing to see Miss Su. You lured her here, knowing she carried it. Arranging a beast ambush en route, you aimed to kill her for the scrap, disguising it as an accident." "But unexpectedly, I entered the scene. Your servants, wanting to prevent complications either from me noticing or potential investigations from Miss Su's family, feigned to hire me, dragging me to the Pill Pavilion to stall any such attempts." "After I delivered her, you arranged assailants against me and pressured Miss Su for the paper." "But unanticipated loyalty and a teleportation talisman meant Miss Su's servant fled with her. You pursued with your talisman charms to eliminate them." "The loyal servant delayed, costing his life but buying enough time for us to arrive and save Miss Su." Yan Zhuguang tilted her head, "Did I miss anything?" Judging by their expressions, they knew they were caught. Yunni Xue looked at Yan Zhuguang, recalling when she first encountered her in the Ling Field of Yi Miao Sect. The way Zhuguang spoke confidently about enhancing spiritual grains somehow mirrored the current scene. That self-assured, radiant appearance was truly the real Zhuguang. Qiu Qiao took a deep breath, closing and reopening his eyes, "Miss Yan, you're indeed intelligent beyond my measure. But how did you discern this from such brief encounters?" "And how did you know those ambushers were my people?" Yan Zhuguang chuckled softly, "Call it poor cultivation on your part." Yan Zhuguang couldn’t be entirely sure they were after that peculiar paper, but as she listened to the Paw Pavilion's nonsense, her mind worked rapidly, noting inconsistencies. The scrap Su Qian’er handed over was a significant clue. Su Qian’er spoke of repaying her debt of gratitude. However, who offers an ambiguously important scrap of paper as a life-saving gift? If it turned out to be useless, wouldn’t that provoke anger? Unless she knew its importance, confident it would serve as a gift—or was she hinting at something? If nothing had happened to Su Qian’er, it might have been the former. But now, it was clearly the latter. Perhaps Su Qian’er had sensed something, giving the paper as an insurance of sorts. In the event Yan Zhuguang discovered an issue, caught onto her hint, or realized the paper's value, she might return seeking explanation—or even return a valuable item—offering Su a possible lifeline. Even if Yan Zhuguang discovered nothing, handing that scrap of paper to her was a better option than giving it to a fiancé who sought to silence Su Qian'er through murder over it. Of course, Su Qian'er, deep down, might still hope her fiancé meant her no harm, that perhaps she had just been overthinking. With Yan Zhuguang's wisdom, had she not been in such a rush to head to Tianyu City in search of her senior sister, she likely would have noticed something was amiss and turned back to rescue Su Qian'er. As it turned out, fate was on Su Qian'er's side, as Yan Zhuguang encountered her senior sister on the way. Her senior sister happened to be coming to find her fiancé as well. Though roundabout, the outcome remained unchanged—Su Qian'er was saved. Yan Zhuguang wasn't interested in continuing the dispute with the people from Qiuming Pill Pavilion. She turned to Yun Mixue, "Senior Sister, how is Miss Su?" Yun Mixue was about to reply when the group from Qiuming Pill Pavilion suddenly moved. Dozens of spirit stones flew into the air, forming a massive array beneath their feet. It was a teleportation array—and a non-directional one at that. The array had already lit up and activated, rendering their figures swiftly blurred. Yan Zhuguang looked back and narrowed her eyes.