But since the person has already been arrested, they can’t just be released without cause—otherwise, the Ministry of Justice wouldn’t be able to show its face in Beijing.
The soldiers had no choice but to pluck up the courage to say, "We are only taking Doctor Gu and Shopkeeper Hu back to understand the situation, and we will certainly not make things difficult for them. Please rest assured, Doctor Cui, and kindly reassure the Princely Heir."
"And these chains..." Doctor Cui looked at the chains bound to Gu Youyou and Shopkeeper Hu.
The soldier quickly said, "We will remove them immediately. Doctor Gu and Shopkeeper Hu are not criminals, how could we put chains on them?"
Gu Youyou was taken away by people from the Ministry of Justice, and Lin Qianqing hurried to find Lin Xingyi.
By this time, he had already returned to his residence and was in the study. She hastened to the study.
As soon as Qianqing returned, a maid reported to Madam Lin, "The young miss has come back, and she went to the study looking for the master. She seemed very anxious."
"Looking for her father?" In Madam Lin’s memory, whenever she got into trouble, she had always gone to the old Madam. This was the first time she had sought out Lin Xingyi.
Madam Lin also took a retinue of servants with her to the study.
Lin Qianqing was urgently explaining to Lin Xingyi about Gu Youyou being taken to the Ministry of Justice’s Prison.
"Father, please hurry and save cousin Youyou. The Ministry of Punishment’s Prison is a place that devours people without spitting out the bones. Cousin Youyou will surely suffer greatly there. She has only just recovered from a serious illness and won’t be able to withstand the torments of those people in the Ministry of Justice."
As he put on his coat, Lin Xingyi asked, "For what reason was your cousin arrested?"
"Today a patient came seeking cousin Youyou for treatment, but it turned out that the person was a wanted criminal by the Imperial Court. They said they were taking cousin Youyou back to the Ministry of Justice to understand the situation, but that kind of place can turn the innocent into the guilty."
"Well said, I’m heading to the Ministry of Justice right now."
"You are not to go. Wait at home." However, this voice didn’t come from Lin Xingyi but from Madam Lin, who had heard the news and hurried over.
Madam Lin snorted and said, "Climbing over the wall— I haven’t settled that matter with you yet."
"Father..." Lin Qianqing immediately cast a pitiful look at Lin Xingyi.
Lin Xingyi touched his nose and calmly said, "Your mother is right, and that climbing over the wall does indeed need punishment. How about you’re assigned to copy Buddhist scriptures for your grandmother?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Qianqing was immediately overjoyed and hurriedly agreed, slipping away to seek refuge with her grandmother.
Lin Xingyi also left the house; he needed to rush to the Ministry of Punishment’s Prison.
Madam Lin was left stamping her foot in frustration, her head throbbing with irritation.
"What sin did I commit to end up married into this family? Everyone is against me. If this child were a boy, perhaps it would be fine, but for a girl to act every day—how is she ever going to find a husband?"
Meanwhile, someone in the medical clinic has already gone to notify Yue Rujing outside the city, fearing that Gu Youyou might indeed suffer in prison. He quickly rode a fast horse to the Ministry of Justice, where he happened to run into Lin Xingyi.
At the Ministry of Justice, Minister Li was questioning them.
Since they were associated with Yue Rujing, they were not mistreated but underwent the standard interrogation process.
"Doctor Gu, what medicine did that person buy from you? What exactly did you talk about?"
Gu Youyou answered, "He only came to buy medicine and did not talk much with me. I saw his pale complexion and offered to take his pulse, but he refused and left after taking the medicine."
Minister Li nodded and then asked, "Why did he specifically ask for you?"
Gu Youyou said, "Because he had bought this type of medicine from me before. This medicine was originally for my own use, not for sale, which is why he couldn’t buy it from anyone else."