CHAPTER 270: CHAPTER 270: JUST SAY WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY!

"Young brother, you truly have a keen eye, recognizing First-Rank Crimson with just one glance, while we... are getting old!"

An old doctor humbly clasped his hands towards Duanmu Nan, admiring him greatly.

"Where did you study, young man? To possess such insight at such a young age is truly impressive!"

Several other doctors also began to praise him.

Duanmu Nan, only in his twenties, was more skilled than these older doctors, earning their admiration.

Duanmu Nan smiled faintly and said, "You flatter me. I simply have a special interest in flowers and plants, which is how I noticed it. As for diagnosing illnesses, I wouldn’t dare compare myself to the esteemed doctors here, hence my hesitation to step forward."

Duanmu Nan tactfully gave the old doctors a way out, which they graciously accepted.

"You two must have been splashed by the juice of the First-Rank Crimson, which caused this, but it’s odd. Logically, it would splash onto the hand, not the arm,"

The old doctor, stroking his beard, found this puzzling.

"Perhaps it wasn’t splattered but applied deliberately?"

Long Yue got up, approached the two women, and spoke coldly.

Immediately, the two women’s faces changed dramatically!

"How... how is that possible? Would we do something so foolish as to smear First-Rank Crimson on ourselves for the sake of suffering?"

The freckled woman exclaimed, as if her tail had been stepped on, ranting. The plump woman also looked at Long Yue with rage, her gaze almost murderous.

"Hehe..."

Long Yue chuckled dryly, then his face suddenly turned cold, saying sharply, "By yourselves, maybe not, but if someone paid you well to do this to slander the Embroiderers’ Pavilion?

You could earn some money from that person and extort some from the Embroiderers’ Pavilion. Quite a profitable scheme!"

"You, you, you... nonsense, it’s not true! Don’t slander us with lies!"

"Yes... exactly, how could we make such a baseless accusation? The rash on our arms is truly from wearing their clothes!"

At this moment, the two women were visibly panicking, but seeing they had no choice, they adamantly insisted it was the Jinxiu Pavilion’s skirts that caused it. Otherwise, they would not get their money and might even be sent to the government.

But their flustered expressions betrayed their guilty conscience.

Long Yue chuckled lightly, "So, you’re planning to pin this on the Embroiderers’ Pavilion? No worries. Someone, report this to the authorities and let’s get to the bottom of it in the courtroom! Also, weren’t these two dresses purchased recently?"

"Yes, just a few days ago!"

A female worker, with a good memory, quickly stepped forward to identify.

"Good, let the government office’s specialized examiners thoroughly check these clothes for any trace of First-Rank Crimson. Once the truth is out, let’s see what they will say! By the way, Sister Yang, what is the punishment for falsely accusing others?"

"Fifty lashes and three years in prison."

"Oh... that’s quite lenient. Alas, let’s leave it at that. We’re going to the government!"

Long Yue finished speaking, waved his hand, and four burly men immediately stepped forward, seizing the two women to take them to the government office.

"No, no, no, I confess, I confess, isn’t that enough? Yes, someone did incite us to frame the Embroiderers’ Pavilion. We were foolish, not thinking clearly, leading to unintended harm. Please, master, spare us two!"

The two women initially attempted to maintain some dignity, but upon hearing the harsh penalty, they quickly relented and confessed.

Long Yue’s face remained cold as he raised his voice: "Who made you do this? Speak!"

"I... I don’t know! At the time, a masked person gave us each twenty taels of silver, saying we’d receive another thirty taels upon completion, so we agreed..."

"Humph, you dared to engage in such vile, unscrupulous behavior!"

"Someone paid us, how could we refuse? Besides, we already received twenty taels, who wouldn’t want the remaining thirty taels?"

The freckled woman pursed her lips, appearing to think taking money for such disgraceful acts was only natural.

"Heh, so you have no conscience? Making excuses for wrongdoing? Fine, very well! Someone, escort them to the government office, proceed according to regulations!"

Long Yue was truly angry, as these two women showed no remorse even after being exposed. They actually considered their actions justified?

Fine, very well, she intended to use this incident to deter those lurking around, eyeing the Embroiderers’ Pavilion covetously. These two had walked into the trap, perfect for making an example!

"No, please, no, I’ve confessed, why are you still arresting me?"

"Heh, do I need a reason to send you to the government? Take them away!"

"Ah, no, no... you wicked woman, wicked woman..."

The freckled woman and the plump woman screamed and struggled, but it was useless; they were physically outmatched by the burly men and were dragged off to the government office.

Long Yue looked at the crowd of onlookers, clapped his hands, brushed off non-existent dust, and said, "Well, the matter’s resolved. Everyone can disperse!"

When Long Yue finished, the crowd of noblewomen began to chatter.

"Oh my, it was a setup? I was really frightened, having bought quite a few of her clothes before!"

"Indeed, me too. I bought more than ten pieces, and they always fit comfortably. It must have been deliberate sabotage, but who? Who would plot against them?"

"How would I know? Let’s go, let’s go home!"

The crowd gradually dispersed.

"Yue’er, if there’s nothing else, I shall take my leave."

"Alright, thank you for your trouble, Master. Let me see you off..."

"No need, you seem busy. Go attend to your matters!"

Duanmu Nan smiled, shook his head, and left gracefully.

Su Yunniang watched the departing elegant white silhouette, her expression darkened, then she gratefully looked at Long Yue. Overcome with emotion, her lips moved, but she couldn’t utter a word.

Long Yue knew what Yun Niang wanted to say. She probably thought those words couldn’t express the extent of their kindness, so she chose to remain silent.

Long Yue smiled and said, "Since you’ve opened a shop on my turf, it’s only natural I help you, right? By the way, I noticed earlier that you seemed hesitant to speak up about something. Are you facing troubles? Is someone giving you a hard time? Speak up, why hide it from me now?"

Yun Niang watched the few burly men escorting the two women away, knowing the matter couldn’t be concealed, she sighed softly: "It’s the owner of Xu Jinji next door. He thinks we’re stealing his business and has been causing trouble for a while, even saying..."

"What else did he say?"

"That he would make us regret opening our shop here."

"I understand now!"

Long Yue chuckled coldly, comprehending the entire situation.

The fame of Yun Niang’s Su Jinxiu Workshop naturally drew many customers, drawing them away from other shops, which incited their resentment.

"That owner of Xu Jinji must have someone backing him, otherwise how would he dare do such a thing?"

"Well, on Zhuque Street, how many shops have no backing? Without backing, it’s hard to maintain!"

Yun Niang wore a troubled expression.