On her wedding night, she went into exile with her pharmacy arsenal

Chapter 2283 Seizure of the Pharmacy

The prison was still a bit stuffy. Qin Zhao changed into prison clothes and sat down against the damp wall. The straw beneath him was hard and prickly.

He gazed at the dim lights outside the iron bars, his thoughts a jumbled mess.

In just a few days, he went from being a high-profile pharmacy owner to a prisoner.

He couldn't understand how the Soul-Severing Grass could appear in the medicine packets of the Qin family's pharmacy when he had never done anything to poison it.

Just as I was in a daze, a series of light footsteps came from the end of the passage, accompanied by the deep voice of the jailer.

A familiar figure was drawn over; it was his wife.

"My lady!" Qin Zhao's heart tightened, and she quickly got up, walked to the iron railing, and gripped the cold bars tightly with both hands.

He looked Madam Qin up and down, his eyes full of concern: "Why are you here? Have you suffered any grievances? Has anyone made things difficult for you?"

Madam Qin was dressed in a plain-colored dress, her eyes were red and swollen, the dark circles under her eyes were hard to conceal, and her face was as pale as paper.

She walked to the iron bars and looked at her husband's haggard appearance. Her nose tingled and tears welled up in her eyes.

She shook her head gently, her voice thick with a nasal tone: "I'm fine, no one is making things difficult for me."

She raised her hand to wipe away her tears, looked up at Qin Zhao, her eyes filled with confusion and heartache: "Husband, what exactly happened?"

They said you poisoned the medicine and harmed the patients, but that's not true, is it?

Qin Zhao nodded hurriedly, his tone urgent and aggrieved: "Of course it's not true!"

My wife, you know me best. I worked hard to establish the Qin Family Pharmacy. I've put so much effort and energy into it.

How could I possibly use it to adulterate poison?

It's obvious someone's framing them!

"What about the women from Miaoyin Pavilion?" Madam Qin's tears fell even harder. She bit her lower lip, as if making a great decision, before asking, "Husband, I believe you about the shop, but..."

But there are rumors circulating that you and Miaoqin conspired to harm the trade routes of Youcheng. Is that true?

Qin Zhao's body stiffened for a moment, and his grip on the railing loosened slightly.

He paused for a moment, avoiding Madam Qin's gaze, and lowered his voice: "I did indeed have a relationship with her..."

Madam Qin trembled, and her tears flowed even more rapidly: "Why? Why did you do this?"

Qin Zhao watched her cry, his heart aching as if being stabbed: "I just wanted you to have a good life..."

Madam Qin shook her head repeatedly: "Husband, aren't our lives good enough now?"

The shop is thriving, and my husband and I have a harmonious relationship. I feel very happy with this; I don't need anything better!

"Not enough!" Qin Zhao suddenly raised his eyes, his gaze filled with a hint of obsession and resentment. "Wife, you don't understand!"

I married into the Qin family, and even if my parents didn't say anything, outsiders always looked at me with a hint of disdain.

I've worked my way up in the Chamber of Commerce for so many years, and I've done so much for it.

But those old shopkeepers never truly trusted me; they always treated me like an outsider!

He took a deep breath, his voice full of grievance: "I want to expand my business, establish myself in the Chamber of Commerce, and let everyone see that I, Qin Zhao, am not a son-in-law who relied on my father-in-law to get ahead. I have my own abilities!"

My collaboration with Miaoqin was simply to leverage her influence to gain control of the Chamber of Commerce.

Then we'll have more wealth and status, and you'll be respected by everyone. Wouldn't that be wonderful?

"I don't want any respect, nor do I want any more wealth!"

Madam Qin, with tears streaming down her face, shook her head and said, "I just want you to be safe and sound, and for my husband and I to live a peaceful life, keeping the shop our parents left us."

My husband, why don't you understand?

For these illusory things, and for a woman like Miaoqin…

Seeing his wife crying so heartbreakingly, Qin Zhao felt as if his heart was being cut by a knife.

He knew his wife was telling the truth, but the resentment in his heart grew wildly like weeds.

He has contributed so much to the Chamber of Commerce, why shouldn't he receive the recognition he deserves?

"I'm not reconciled..." Qin Zhao's voice choked with sobs, "I'm not reconciled to being treated like a son-in-law for the rest of my life, I'm not reconciled to my efforts going unseen."

Seeing that he still refused to repent, Madam Qin felt both pained and anxious, but she didn't know what to say.

She gazed at Qin Zhao through teary eyes, her lips moved, but in the end, it only turned into a long sigh.

Qin Zhao felt a pang of sorrow as he looked into his wife's despairing eyes.

He reached out to touch his wife's cheek, but was stopped by the cold iron bars.

“My lady,” Qin Zhao’s voice was low and hoarse, “no matter what, I did not poison anyone.”

If... if I really can't get away in the end, you must live well, take care of yourself, and don't worry me.

Madam Qin could no longer hold back and burst into tears, shaking her head repeatedly, unable to utter a single word.

Just then, the jailer came over and whispered, "Madam Qin, visiting hours are over. It's time to go."

Madam Qin looked at Qin Zhao with lingering reluctance, turning back every few steps, her vision blurred with tears.

Qin Zhao stood behind the iron bars, watching his wife's frail figure gradually disappear into the distance.

Until his wife's figure completely disappeared at the end of the passage, Qin Zhao could no longer hold back, and tears rolled down his cheeks.

Outside the prison, Yan Ruyu and Huo Changhe stood beside the carriage.

Madam Qin stepped forward and greeted them, too saddened to speak. Yan Ruyu nodded, allowing her to leave.

Before long, Constable Cui Chong strode over and bowed to report: "Your Highness, I heard Qin Zhao and his wife's conversation clearly."

Qin Zhao admitted to cooperating with Miaoqin in an attempt to seize control of the Chamber of Commerce, but firmly denied the allegations of adulterating the goods with poison.

Upon hearing this, Yan Ruyu nodded slightly but remained silent.

Over the next two days, with Huo Changhe personally overseeing the operation and Governor Cao providing full assistance, the purge of Miaoqin's remaining followers progressed exceptionally smoothly.

Miaoqin's men were mostly a rabble, easily defeated, and were wiped out in no time.

The three shops that colluded with Miaoqin were also raided by the government, and all those involved were arrested. They will face severe punishment under the law.

When the people of Youcheng learned of this, they were all overjoyed. The patients in the treatment center with mild symptoms had already left, and those with severe symptoms were gradually recovering.

The atmosphere on the streets gradually returned to its former liveliness.

That afternoon, a notice was posted in front of the governor's mansion, stating: Qin Zhao colluded with Miao Qin in an attempt to manipulate the merchant guild; the evidence is conclusive. However, the matter of adulterating the medicinal herbs has not yet been determined and further investigation is required. The Qin family's pharmacy will be officially sealed off early the next morning, pending further action.

As soon as the notice was posted, it immediately attracted a crowd of onlookers.

Some people were discussing it, while others shook their heads in regret.