Chapter 143: Isn't This the End?

Bao Mingzhi felt his heart drop into his stomach.

However, he maintained a composed facade and said, "Magistrate Di Qing, I am unaware of what crime I have committed that requires me to be taken away by you."

"Enough talk! Do government officers need to explain themselves when making an arrest? Take him away!"

With a wave of Di Qing’s hand, several officers stepped forward and seized Bao Mingzhi. He gritted his teeth in hatred but dared not resist. Upon reaching the courthouse, he was stunned to see the Governor of Pingci County personally presiding over the case.

Bao’s anxiety deepened. Had his schemes truly been exposed? But what evidence could they possibly have?

"Who stands before the court? Kneel!" the Governor barked.

Bao Mingzhi hurriedly knelt, putting on a fawning expression. "My Lord, I am the proprietor of Wanhua Restaurant. These officers suddenly dragged me here; I truly do not know what I am accused of."

The Governor glanced at Di Qing.

"You don't know what you've done?" Di Qing sneered. "Are the illnesses currently plaguing the townspeople not your doing?"

Bao Mingzhi turned pale with shock. "W-what are you talking about? I have always been an honest businessman! How could the sickness of the townspeople have anything to do with me?"

"My Lord, the witness is waiting outside," Di Qing said.

"Bring him in!"

Qin Zhengde soon entered. His state of health had improved significantly over the past few days. He glared venomously at Bao before speaking. "My Lord, a while ago, I was struck by a sudden illness. I suffered greatly, and it affected my ability to eat and sleep. Several doctors were unable to help. I used to frequent Wanhua Restaurant for my meals."

Before he could finish, Bao Mingzhi laughed. "Mr. Qin, by that logic, did you eat every single meal at Wanhua? Have you never eaten anywhere else? Besides, people fall ill for many reasons; it could be anything. How can you claim it was the food from my restaurant that made you sick?"

"I knew you would quibble," Qin Zhengde retorted coldly. "Tell me, your restaurant’s new dishes were clearly mediocre, so why were they so popular? Why did people find them so addictive?"

"Whether guests enjoy my food is not something I can control. If they love it, what can I do? A thousand people have a thousand different tastes. Just because you say they are mediocre doesn't make them so."

"Because you put a drug in your food!" Qin Zhengde accused him angrily. "This drug is not only addictive but harmful to the human body! We have investigated, and every single person in town who has fallen ill had eaten at your Wanhua Restaurant."

Bao Mingzhi began to panic, but he continued to argue, "That proves nothing. You say I put drugs in the food? Fine, what drug did I use? Where is your evidence?"

"You want evidence? Here it is."

A cold voice rang out. Bao turned his head and his expression shifted, his eyes flashing with malice. It was Lin Sangqian, accompanied by Guan Yanqing.

Upon seeing Guan Yanqing, the Governor froze for a moment before hurriedly descending from his seat in astonishment. He rushed over and bowed respectfully. "Guan..."

Before he could finish, Guan Yanqing shot him a cold look. The Governor, a shrewd man, immediately corrected himself: "Young Master Guan, why have you come here?"

"I am here with Miss Lin to provide you with evidence," Guan Yanqing replied.

He gestured, and An Yu led several men in, carrying a wooden chest. Bao Mingzhi’s face drained of color at the sight of the box—it had been hidden in the secret chamber of Wanhua Restaurant. How had they found it?

"Open it," Guan Yanqing commanded.

An Yu opened the lid, revealing a collection of small yellow flowers.

"My Lord, these flowers were found in Wanhua Restaurant. They are addictive and odorless. Bao Mingzhi had his staff extract the juice and add it to the dishes," Lin Sangqian explained. "That is why his business thrived after introducing the new menu, but these flowers are harmful to the body."

She looked at Bao with disgust. "For the sake of his own greed, Bao Mingzhi disregarded the safety of the entire town. I ask that you punish him severely!"

"Yes, of course," the Governor agreed quickly. He didn't know who Lin Sangqian was, but anyone arriving with Guan Yanqing could not be insignificant.

"My Lord, I am wronged!" Bao cried out. "I did collect these flowers, but they have no addictive properties, nor are they harmful!"

"Then eat them," Lin Sangqian said, grabbing a handful and thrusting them toward Bao’s mouth. "Eat all of these, and I’ll believe you."

Bao recoiled in terror. "What are you doing?"

Lin Sangqian did not relent, forcing the flowers toward him until he was trembling with fear.

"I suggest you confess," Guan Yanqing said coldly. "If you admit your guilt voluntarily, your sentence may be lighter."

Bao gritted his teeth, convinced they were only bluffing. "These flowers are not poisonous! You are all framing me!"

"Nonsense! I cannot listen to this any longer!"

A man roared as he strode in from outside. The Governor felt a headache coming on—why did his courtroom suddenly feel so lacking in authority? But with a figure as powerful as Guan Yanqing present, he dared not say a word.

The man who entered was an elderly gentleman with white hair and a beard. He walked straight up to Bao and kicked him.

"Who, who are you!" Bao was dazed by the blow.

"You don't recognize him? Fine, I'll tell you," Lin Sangqian said with a smile. "This is the Imperial Physician from the capital, the Chief of the Imperial Academy of Medicine, Lord Sun."

"So you are Lord Sun!" the Governor exclaimed, struck with awe.

"You're lying!" Bao muttered in disbelief. "How could the Chief of the Imperial Academy of Medicine travel thousands of miles to such a small place?"

Before he could finish, the Governor kicked him as well. "What do you know?"

With Guan Yanqing here, what was so difficult about summoning the Chief of the Imperial Academy?

Bao felt miserable. Was he a ball, that everyone felt the need to kick him?

"These flowers are known as 'Phantom Leaf Poison.' Consumption leads to addiction and internal toxicity," Lord Sun stated. "This is common knowledge in the capital; it simply hasn't reached this remote area yet, which is why you were unaware."

Hearing this, Bao Mingzhi felt as though the sky had collapsed. Was it not all over for him?