Chapter 51: A Thief Accusing a Thief
Lin Zhuoyue and Lin Tianzheng’s eyes lit up when Lu Qinghu mentioned the good news about the qi-gathering elixir rights.
“Of course it’s convenient!” Lin Zhuoyue readily agreed.
To him, Lu Qinghu’s request was a small matter.
“Head Elder, let’s follow Patriarch Lu and Second Master Lu to the back courtyard to take a look… what evidence our side relative, Lin Lan, can produce to prove that the formula for the blood-staunching elixir is hers,” Lin Zhuoyue called out to Lin Tianzheng as he rose from his seat.
Lin Tianzheng replied in acknowledgment and led the way to the door of the receiving chamber. He looked at Lu Qinghu and Lu Bao with a wide smile as he extended his arm and turned to show them in.
“Patriarch Lu, Second Master Lu, after you.”
The four of them filed out of the receiving chamber and made their way to the back courtyard of the Lin family mansion.
When they arrived, there was already a crowd gathered in the back courtyard, surrounding something like a human wall. The atmosphere was rowdy.
“Patriarch and Head Elder are here!” A sharp-eyed Lin family junior called out as he saw Lin Zhuoyue and Lin Tianzheng.
On cue, the gathered Lin family juniors respectfully moved aside to make a path for Lin Zhuoyue and his party to pass through.
On one side within the human wall were Zhou Donghuang and Lin Lan, with Fu and Granny Lian standing behind them. On the other side stood a sprightly old man of an average build with a ferocious look on his face. He was looking at them with disdain.
That old man was the fourth elder of the Lin family, Lin Tonghong.
“Patriarch, Head Elder.”
Lin Tonghong bowed in respect when he saw Lin Zhuoyue and Lin Tianzheng approach, and the second elder of the Lin family Lin Chonghuan who had been present for some time walked towards Lin Zhuoyue.
“Patriarch.”
Zhou Donghuang saw Lu Qinghu and Lu Bao as they walked over with Lin Zhuoyue and Lin Tianzheng.
Their eyes lit up when they saw that Zhou Donghuang had noticed them, and they were about to walk over to greet him when he stopped them with a look.
The two of them stopped in their tracks at once.
“Second Elder, this is the patriarch of the Lu family, who have just advanced to the rank of a preeminent family. This is Second Master Lu.”
Lin Zhuoyue introduced Lu Qinghu and Lu Bao who stood beside him as Lin Chonghuan approached.
“Patriarch Lu, Second Elder Lu,” Lin Chonghuan greeted them with a wide smile after they were introduced, knowing that the Lin family was at the Lu family’s mercy.
“Second Elder, please begin,” Lin Tianzheng instructed Lin Chonghuan. “Patriarch Lu and Second Master Lu are very curious as to what evidence a side relative of the Lin family can produce to prove that the formula for this blood-staunching elixir is hers. After this matter is resolved, we still need to return to the receiving chamber to discuss the matter of the rights to the Lu family’s qi-gathering elixir,” Lin Tianzheng prompted.
“I understand, Head Elder,” Lin Chonghuan replied.
Just then, Lin Lan led Zhou Donghuang over, bowing to Lin Zhuoyue and Lin Tianzheng.
“Lin Lan acknowledges Patriarch, Head Elder.”
“Humph!” Lin Zhuoyue snorted. “Lin Lan, do you still consider me your patriarch?”
This side relative, who ignored his orders and returned to the Lin family, was trampling on the dignity of the patriarch of the Lin family!
Today, no matter the outcome, he would not treat this matter lightly.
“Lin Lan, the patriarch and I already know the course of events… now, if you can produce evidence that this blood-staunching elixir is yours, it will suffice.”
Lin Tianzheng looked at Lin Lan as he said this, and he hesitated as a grim look flashed across his eyes.
“If you are unable to produce this evidence and are found to be slandering Fourth Elder, the punishment will be the maximum… If that happens, your life is forfeit,” Lin Tianzheng’s tone was as cold as it could possibly be.
“Agreed.” Lin Lan nodded solemnly.
Standing behind Lin Lan, Zhou Donghuang could clearly feel the enmity that Lin Zhuoyue and Lin Tianzheng felt towards his mother, Lin Lan, and the corners of his mouth curled upwards in a cold smile.
“Lin Lan, present your evidence.” Lin Chonghuan looked at Lin Lan. “As long as you are able to produce irrefutable evidence to prove Fourth Elder stole the formula from you, the family clan will make amends.”
“Yes, Second Elder,” replied Lin Lan. “Donghuang.”
Zhou Donghuang stepped forward and looked at Patriarch Lin Zhuoyue of the Lin family, he and said calmly, “Patriarch Lin, I heard that the Lin family has an intermediate-level medicine master? Let him be here as a witness.”
“Who are you?” Lin Zhuoyue frowned at Zhou Donghuang and asked threateningly. “What does Lin Lan’s business concern you?”
“Lin Lan is my mother. She was preparing to present the formula for the blood-staunching elixir to the Lin family to atone for her mistake, but it was stolen by the fourth elder of the Lin family, Lin Tonghong. This blood-staunching elixir was personally formulated by me… does Patriarch Lin feel that this is still none of my concern?” Zhou Donghuang countered as he glanced casually at Lin Zhuoyue.
“You personally formulated the blood-staunching elixir?”
Not just Lin Zhuoyue but also Lin Tianzheng, Lin Chonghuan, and all the people gathered there were stunned at Zhou Donghuang’s claim.
However, the looks they gave Zhou Donghuang immediately after were full of intent to provoke and make fun of him.
“This youth claims that this blood-staunching elixir that is more effective than what our intermediate-level medicine master can formulate has been formulated personally by him?”
“Does he take us for idiots? At his age, passing off as an inferior-level medicine master would already be a feat… formulating a blood-staunching elixir of that quality is a fool’s dream!”
“This is Lin Lan’s ‘proof’?”
…
The crowd of Lin family juniors shook their heads, none of them believing this youth dressed in white standing before them.
Now, out of all those present, other than Lin Lan, Fu, and Granny Lian, only Lu Qinghu and Lu Bao believed Zhou Donghuang.
The qi-gathering elixir that the Lu family had been selling like hotcakes throughout Yunfeng prefecture had been formulated by this youth before them. He could produce a formula for a qi-gathering elixir of that quality, so a formula for that blood-staunching elixir was nothing extraordinary.
However, thinking of the look Zhou Donghuang had given them, even though they wanted to stand up for Zhou Donghuang, they could only stand by and watch.
Besides, they knew full well that with Young Master Donghuang’s ability, he was entirely capable of resolving this matter himself.
“Hahahaha…”
Lin Tonghong could not resist laughing out loud, and he laughed for a long time before finally glancing at Zhou Donghuang a second time with a look full of condescension and disdain.
“Little fellow, you really do talk big. How dare you say that this blood-staunching elixir was formulated personally by you?”
“Do you take us for idiots?” Lin Tonghong smiled coldly.
“What’s the matter? The Lin family feels that I cannot formulate that blood-staunching elixir on account of my age? Why don’t you summon your intermediate-level medicine master and we’ll find out the truth?”
Zhou Donghuang ignored Lin Tonghong as he addressed Lin Zhuoyue calmly.
Now, Lin Zhuoyue looked at Zhou Donghuang with skepticism and disinterest.
“That won’t be necessary,” Lin Zhuoyue said indifferently. “Because whether or not we summon Medicine Master Huang, the result will be the same… that blood-staunching elixir could not possibly have been formulated by a young pup like you.”
Medicine Master Huang was the intermediate-level medicine master employed by the Lin family.
“Lin Lan, do you have any other evidence? Don’t embarrass yourself with this kind of evidence,” Lin Zhuoyue asked impatiently, looking back at Lin Lan.
“Patriarch, the blood-staunching elixir produced from that formula was indeed formulated by my son Zhou Donghuang,” Lin Lan said earnestly. “Invite Medicine Master Huang here and let him be the judge of it.”
“Patriarch Lin feels there is no need to invite Medicine Master Huang over… could it possibly be to cover up for your fourth elder, Lin Tonghong?” Zhou Donghuang looked at Lin Zhuoyue with an electrifying gaze, and his tone was icy cold.
Just when Lin Zhuoyue’s expression began to change at Zhou Donghuang’s perceived insolence and he was about to react angrily, Lu Qinghu spoke up. “Patriarch Lin, why don’t you invite your intermediate-level medicine master out…” Lu Qinghu suggested. “I, for one, would like to see how this youth will prove himself in front of an intermediate-level medicine master.”
“I agree, Patriarch Lin,” Lu Bao chimed in. “If you refuse to invite that intermediate-level medicine master over, it really will give the impression that you are covering up for your fourth elder, Lin Tonghong.”
At Lu Qinghu’s and Lu Bao’s urging, Lin Zhuoyue glanced at Lin Chonghuan and instructed, “Second Elder, go and invite Medicine Master Huang over.”
“Yes, Patriarch,” Lin Chonghuan acknowledged and left.
“Little fellow, I would love to find out… how you are going to prove that you formulated the blood-staunching elixir once Medicine Master Huang gets here?” Lin Tonghong looked at Zhou Donghuang with a murderous glint in his eyes and smiled coldly.
Then he turned to Lin Zhuoyue and bowed, saying, “Patriarch, there is one thing I haven’t told you yet. When I obtained that formula, Lin Lan had come to seek my help regarding the matter of the leaked formula by coincidence. Lin Lan was waiting at my residence, and I had placed the formula on the stone table in the courtyard. When I came out, she was reading the formula.”
Lin Tonghong continued, “Therefore, if her memory is not impaired, she should be able to remember the herbs, and the combinations of herbs, in the formula.”
“You lie!”
Lin Lan’s expression changed, and she trembled in fury, fire burning in her eyes. ”
That day when I gave you the formula, you said that you would present it to Patriarch… I never imagined that you would steal it, much less slander me!”
“So Lin Lan saw the formula.”
Hearing Lin Tonghong’s account, the gathered crowd of Lin family juniors seemed to come to a sudden realization. “Surely it is because she memorized the formula that she dares to accuse Fourth Elder of stealing her formula.”
“Ridiculous! Obviously she is the thief, but still, she accuses Fourth Elder… what is her status compared to Fourth Elder’s? How could Fourth Elder misappropriate her formula?”
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