On her wedding night, she went into exile with her pharmacy arsenal

Chapter 2277 He is a Traitor

Tie him up.

Yan Ruyu's finger.

Everyone followed her gaze and locked onto one person.

It was Qin Zhao, who had just been held hostage by Miaoqin.

Many people looked at Yan Ruyu in disbelief.

"Your Highness, why...?"

"Manager Qin was just held hostage by Miaoqin. He would rather die than let everyone be threatened. He was so willing to sacrifice himself for righteousness. Why should we tie him up?"

Whispers rose and fell.

"Manager Qin is the vice president of our chamber of commerce. He donated so much food and medicine during the epidemic. Why would we want to kidnap him?"

"Your Highness, are you mistaken? Miaoqin is the villain, and Manager Qin is the victim!"

Qin Zhao stood still, his brows slightly furrowed, but there was no trace of panic on his face. Instead, he straightened his back and took a step forward.

He said solemnly, “Your Highness, if I can exchange my life for everyone’s peace of mind and for the stability of the Youcheng trade route, I, Qin Zhao, would not regret dying!”

His voice was firm and resolute, carrying a chilling aura. The bloodstains on his neck had not yet faded, adding to his tragic air.

"Manager Qin is so righteous!" Manager Yu couldn't help but exclaim.

Someone's face was full of pity: "Your Highness, we old friends have all seen Manager Qin's character. He is definitely not the kind of person who would do evil. Are you sure you're not mistaken?"

"Righteousness?" Yan Ruyu chuckled and looked up at Qin Zhao, her eyes full of mockery. "Qin Zhao, what does the word 'righteousness' have to do with you?"

The moment these words were spoken, the murmurs in the hall ceased abruptly.

Qin Zhao's face was ashen. He took a deep breath, suppressed his emotions, and said in a deep voice, "I am just a small merchant in Youcheng. My status is low and insignificant. I am not worth mentioning. I have never been afraid of death."

But I always remember that doing business comes before being a good person, and that righteousness transcends social status and wealth!

I have always respected the prince and princess and regarded them as my role models.

I never expected... the Princess's words are truly disheartening to this humble subject.

Yan Ruyu's tone became increasingly contemptuous: "Qin Zhao, for your own selfish interests, you secretly colluded with Miaoqin and others, using the plague to disrupt Youcheng, intending to murder all the shopkeepers present and take control of the entire Youcheng trade route."

Tell me, what kind of righteousness is this?

How could they possibly have the nerve to keep mentioning the Youcheng trade route?

"what?!"

"Colluding with Miaoqin?"

"How could Manager Qin collude with such a vicious woman?"

Yan Ruyu's words were like a thunderclap, instantly causing an uproar among the crowd, with exclamations rising and falling.

"Your Highness, Manager Qin has been discussing with us these past few days how to deal with the epidemic and stabilize trade routes. How could he be colluding with Miaoqin?"

Is there some mistake somewhere?

Qin Zhao's face instantly turned bright red, and he said angrily, "Your Highness! Although you are of noble status and I am grateful to you for getting rid of the villain Miaoqin in Youcheng, I am not convinced by your baseless accusation that I colluded with evil people and harmed my colleagues!"

His voice was filled with suppressed anger, his eyes were fixed on Yan Ruyu, and his tone was firm, without the slightest hint of backing down.

Yan Ruyu's expression remained unchanged, and she waved her hand dismissively.

Standing to the side, Song Ping turned around and took an ebony box from the hand of his attendant behind him.

"Does it look familiar?" Yan Ruyu asked.

Qin Zhao's gaze fell on the box, his throat bobbed involuntarily, and his eyes flickered slightly.

He quickly recovered and shook his head, saying, "This humble subject does not know what this is; I have never seen it before."

"Never seen it before?" Song Ping sneered, his voice full of sarcasm. "Manager Qin seems to have a bad memory. This box was found in a hidden compartment in your study."

He handed the box to Yan Ruyu with both hands.

Yan Ruyu took the box, opened it, and a dazzling array of jewels rushed out. Everyone curiously peered inside. The box contained many pieces of jewelry—a bracelet made of high-quality pearls, a translucent jade pendant, and several hairpins inlaid with gemstones, each piece of considerable value.

Beside these jewels was a thick stack of silver notes, each worth hundreds or thousands of taels; at a glance, there were dozens of them.

"So much money!" someone couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice.

"Although Manager Qin comes from a wealthy family, surely he doesn't have this much hidden wealth?"

"The amount in these banknotes is probably equivalent to half of the Chamber of Commerce's working capital!"

The murmurs resumed, and the crowd looked at Qin Zhao with even deeper suspicion.

Yan Ruyu glanced at the valuables in the box and chuckled, "Manager Qin, what's your explanation?"

Qin Zhao's expression shifted, and he pursed his lips, shaking his head as he said, "I truly do not know why this box is in my study!"

"I have never seen this box before, nor have I ever hidden these things. Someone must have framed me!"

"Framed?" Yan Ruyu raised an eyebrow, a look of surprise on her face, as if she were really thinking about his words. "Then who hid such valuables in Manager Qin's study to frame you?"

Qin Zhao immediately replied, "This humble subject also does not know!"

Perhaps it's Miaoqin's remaining followers, or someone else who has a grudge against me, trying to use the princess to get rid of me!

He looked around and addressed the crowd: "Fellow managers, you have known me for many years and should know my character!"

Over the years, everyone has witnessed how much I, Qin Zhao, have done for the Chamber of Commerce!

When the Chamber of Commerce ran into cash flow problems, I voluntarily used my family assets to cover the gaps.

When trade routes were blocked in various places, I personally led people to travel to all the prefectures and cities to clear them;

When the epidemic broke out in Youcheng this time, I donated food and medicine, saving countless lives!

"What Manager Qin said is true!" A manager surnamed Wang next to him immediately nodded in agreement. "Last time the southern trade route was robbed, it was indeed Manager Qin who led people to negotiate and managed to bring the goods back intact. He was even injured in the process."

“During the epidemic, I personally witnessed Manager Qin and his staff delivering medicine on the streets. They worked tirelessly for several days without sleep, and their voices became hoarse,” another manager, Manager Li, added.

Manager Yu hesitated for a moment, then nodded: "Manager Qin, as the vice president of the Chamber of Commerce, has indeed done a lot of practical things for the Chamber of Commerce and Youcheng over the years, there is no doubt about that."

With the corroboration of several shopkeepers, Qin Zhao felt even more confident.

He straightened his chest and said loudly, "Your Highness, I have always acted with integrity and have lived up to my conscience and the people of Youcheng!"

If it is for the sake of the peace and stability of Youcheng, and for the safety of everyone, this humble citizen is willing to die to prove his innocence!

But this stigma of colluding with evildoers is something that ordinary citizens absolutely cannot accept!

I implore Your Highness to investigate thoroughly and restore my innocence!

His voice was tinged with grief and indignation, but his eyes were resolute, and the surrounding merchants nodded in agreement.

Yan Ruyu listened quietly to his words, watching his impassioned demeanor, and a faint sneer appeared on her lips.

"Slander? Not necessarily."

"Qin Zhao, is this your first time dealing with Mr. Mo? You know nothing about their cunning."

Yan Ruyu picked up a silver note: "The evidence is right here."