The truth comes to light.

Zhao Bin’s face turned pale instantly. His legs buckled, and with a thud, he fell to his knees. He knew he was beyond redemption. Collapsing to the ground, his eyes were hollow, as though his soul had been drained, leaving only an empty shell.

He lowered his head, his voice trembling as he confessed his crimes.

It turned out that Baoyuantang had been thriving, preparing to open new branches in a grand manner. However, at that very moment, Weimin Pharmacy emerged, becoming a “roadblock” in Zhao Bin’s path to wealth.

Weimin Pharmacy not only had high-quality medicinal materials but also offered much cheaper prices than Baoyuantang. Their decoction services were surprisingly affordable. Additionally, they had come up with many strange and novel ideas—selling things like medicine packages, cotton swabs, and even homemade wheelchairs. These innovations attracted many people.

The modern elements were novel, and combined with Weimin Pharmacy’s attentive service, it quickly won the trust of the people. Baoyuantang’s business plummeted, with fewer customers and increasing deficits in the books.

Zhao Bin knew that if he didn’t take action, Baoyuantang would be doomed once Weimin Pharmacy grew stronger.

Thus, he devised a wicked plan. First, he secretly sent Zhang San to put laxatives in the well near the medical clinic, creating a “diarrhea incident.” Then, he took the opportunity to frame Weimin Pharmacy, spreading rumors that their medicine was the cause of the problem. He then promoted Baoyuantang’s “miracle pill,” claiming it was a life-saving medicine that could cure all diseases. The public was easily deceived, and Baoyuantang’s business boomed again.

However, all of this was just Zhao Bin’s scheme.

The magistrate Li cleared his throat and, with a solemn tone, announced the punishment for Zhao Bin and Zhang San.

“Zhao Bin, you instigated poisoning, endangering the lives of the people. This is the crime of ‘murderous intent.’ You also sold counterfeit medicine, deceiving the people. This is the crime of ‘fraud.’ According to the Great Ming Law, both crimes will be punished. You are sentenced to one hundred strokes, exiled three thousand miles, and sent to the frontier for military service. Furthermore, all the profits from the sale of counterfeit medicine by Baoyuantang will be confiscated and seized by the government.”

Li paused, a hint of severity in his voice, “Although you have shown remorse, your crimes have been committed, and leniency cannot be granted.”

Next, Li turned to Zhang San. “Zhang San, although you acted under Zhao Bin’s orders, you confessed voluntarily and showed remorse, so your punishment will be lighter. You are sentenced to sixty strokes and a fine of twenty taels of silver as a warning.”

He sighed softly and continued, “I hope you will change and not repeat your mistakes in the future.”

After announcing the verdict, Li added, “Although this case has been concluded, the result must be submitted to the Changsha Prefecture for review. If there are no objections, the verdict will be carried out.”

Once the truth was revealed, Wei Lan felt refreshed as she walked out of the courtroom. Zhang Wenyuan walked ahead and, with a slight turn of his head, spoke to her, “Miss Wei, come with me.”

Wei Lan was a bit confused but quickly realized that Zhang Daren must have something important to discuss with her after such a big case. She obediently followed him.

Back at the medical office, Zhang Wenyuan handed Wei Lan a piece of paper from a stack of documents.

Wei Lan took it, and her eyes widened when she saw the contents: “Changsha Prefecture Medical Licensing for Weimin Medical Center to issue a certificate for midwife training, hereby certified.” Her eyes lit up, and her face immediately blossomed with a smile.

“Thank you, Zhang Daren!” Wei Lan exclaimed, her voice filled with uncontainable joy. After speaking, she performed a big bow, her movements a bit clumsy but showing a kind of charming innocence that made people smile.

Wei Lan was about to turn to leave with the document when Zhang Wenyuan gently cleared his throat and teased, “You’re leaving just like that? I haven’t finished my words.”

Wei Lan stopped and turned with a sweet smile, her eyes turning into crescent moons. “What else do you have, Zhang Daren? Please, feel free to tell me!”

Zhang Wenyuan looked at Wei Lan, his heart filled with countless emotions. At first, he had been certain that Wei Lan had some powerful backing, considering how an ordinary woman could stir up such a storm in such a short time.

However, after today’s courtroom scene, he was completely changed in his perception. Wei Lan didn’t rely on anyone but her own strength to support the medical center, the pharmacy, and even boldly implement caesarean surgery, while also preparing to establish a training institute.

What amazed him most was how she had kept her composure during the diarrhea incident, using a map to deduce the truth and clearing up the confusion in just five days. Such capability was truly admirable, and Zhang Wenyuan had to admit that compared to her, he was indeed lacking.

He smiled, gently stroked his chin, and jokingly said, “You, Miss Wei, I can tell you’re no ordinary person. One day, you will soar, and when that happens, don’t forget about this old man, Zhang Wenyuan!”

Wei Lan froze for a moment, then flashed a brilliant smile, “Zhang Daren is joking. I’m not that capable. I was just lucky. Besides, you’ve taken such good care of me, how could I ever forget you?”

Seeing her humble demeanor, Zhang Wenyuan’s smile grew, but then his expression turned serious. “Miss Wei, today’s events were extremely dangerous, all because Zhao Bin had powerful connections with the county magistrate. The magistrate favored him, which is why Zhao Bin was treated so leniently. You need not only medical skills but also the ability to manage relationships. You should learn more about this.”

Wei Lan frowned slightly, seeming somewhat dissatisfied. “Zhang Daren, I’ve always relied on my abilities to get things done. I never feel comfortable relying on connections.”

Zhang Wenyuan burst out laughing and waved his hand with a hint of helplessness. “Miss Wei, your point is valid, but this is how the world works. If you don’t want to be tripped up by others, you must work on relationships. This is the lesson I learned from my own experiences. You must remember it.”

Wei Lan tilted her head and flashed a sweet smile, “I’ll do my best~”

After saying her goodbyes to Zhang Wenyuan, Wei Lan tightly clutched the approval document, feeling as though she was floating on air. She skipped back to the clinic, humming a little tune.

Everyone had been exhausted lately, dealing with Zhao Bin’s framing and the troublesome diarrhea incident. She thought about treating them all to a good meal at the Old Tang Restaurant to reward them.

As soon as she stepped into the clinic, she saw the bustle inside. Everyone was busy—some cleaning dust in the corners, others organizing the medical equipment on the shelves, and some wiping tables and chairs, preparing for the reopening.

The air was filled with the mixed scent of disinfectant and herbs, making everyone feel at ease.

Excitedly, Wei Lan walked into the outer hall, and she quickly spotted Shunxing crouched in front of the medicine cabinet, swiftly sorting the medicinal materials. She ran over, holding up the approval document high, and waved it in front of Shunxing’s eyes, her eyes sparkling. “Shunxing, look! Our midwife qualification certificate has been approved!”

Shunxing looked up at the sound, and when he saw Wei Lan’s face full of joy, his eyes lit up. His lips curved into a smile. “Really? That’s great! Sister, this is all thanks to you!” He always acted especially obedient around Wei Lan, looking at her with admiration in his eyes.

Wei Lan nodded in satisfaction and looked around. Suddenly, she realized someone was missing. “Where’s Ming Yi? Why don’t I see him?”

Shunxing coughed lightly and pointed to a half-open room with a mischievous smile, “He’s in there…”

Wei Lan followed his finger and looked over, her eyes filled with confusion. “What’s he doing in there?”

Shunxing leaned closer to Wei Lan’s ear and whispered, “Miss Tang Er is in there too.”

Wei Lan’s eyes instantly brightened, and her gossip-loving curiosity flared up. “Oh? Miss Tang Er is in there too?”

Inside the consultation room, Ming Yi was focused on taking Tang Xue’s pulse, his fingers gently resting on her wrist, his brow slightly furrowed.

After a moment, he slowly looked up. “Miss Tang Er, your pulse is much stronger than before, which means your energy and blood are gradually becoming replenished, and your health is improving. However, your liver energy is still a bit stagnant from overthinking, which is still affecting your body. You need to relax more and not stress too much.”

He paused and continued, “I’ll prescribe some medicine for you. If you take it regularly, you’ll improve over time.”

Tang Xue spoke softly, “Ming Yi, calling me ‘Miss Tang Er’ feels a bit distant, you know my name is Tang Xue.”

Her voice was gentle, with a hint of familiarity.

Ming Yi paused for a moment but did not change his address. He wrote out a prescription and handed it to her. “Weimin Pharmacy isn’t officially open yet. If it’s convenient for you, you can get the medicine at another pharmacy.”

His voice was still calm, with a touch of polite detachment.

Tang Xue took the prescription, her eyes flickering slightly, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of her lips. “Weimin, does the ‘Weimin’ mean for the people, or is it a reference to Wei Lan and Liu Mingyi?”

Her voice was light, almost like she was telling a playful riddle, but her eyes were probing, as if waiting for Ming Yi’s reaction.

Ming Yi froze for a moment, then smiled faintly. “It’s just a coincidence.”

He never considered that someone as simple-minded as Wei Lan would think of such a connection when naming the pharmacy. He pondered it quietly while maintaining a neutral expression.

Tang Xue’s eyes held a trace of curiosity. “Ming Yi, is Wei Lan really your sister? After all these years, how did you recognize her? Her appearance must have changed a lot.”

Ming Yi, unwilling to explain further, simply replied coolly, “No doubt about it.” As soon as he finished speaking, he opened the door of the consultation room and walked out.

Outside, the group of people who had been eavesdropping scattered like startled birds when Ming Yi emerged.

Wei Lan, standing at the front, reacted the quickest. She took the lead in pretending to be nonchalant and continued her work, with the others following suit, pretending to be busy. However, their movements were clearly distracted, and their eyes kept drifting toward the door.

Ming Yi, standing in the doorway, glanced at the “busy” scene and couldn’t help but raise his hand to rub his forehead. His lips twitched slightly as he sighed in helplessness. “How did all these people get influenced by Xiao Lan?”