Chapter 501 - The Villian’s Guess (1/2)

“Let’s go. Now there’s nothing much to see anymore.”

Zuo Qiuyu got up as he spoke to Lin Mengya with a helpless sigh.

The candidates who qualified for the next round of the competition had been decided. The so-called preliminary round had come to an end at this juncture.

There were altogether more than thirty participants but only five among them got through this preliminary round.

Even Lin Mengya was a little surprised by the percentage of participants being disqualified.

She heard that these thirty participants were picked because they stood out from thousands of people who applied for the competition.

Each of them was a talent who used to be extremely self-confident, but now they met people who were as talented if not even more talented than them. Hou Lingyu and the other four were actually rather pleasantly surprised to eventually emerge victoriously.

“Yes, but this is not the end yet. Cousin Yu, please get someone to protect these five candidates secretly. I can’t help but feel that the four elders are not so easy to deal with.”

In fact, it was not the intention of the elders to conduct this medical skills competition.

It was because the medical competition had been stipulated from long ago.

Since there was going to be a medical skills competition, it should be involved with not only the elders within the Pavilion of Herbs but other well-known physicians.

Moreover, Hou Lingyu was at loggerheads with them.

Even Qian Yuming had to agree to the outcome on the surface. One could tell from here the scheming that went behind was even more sinister.

These five people would become Lin Mengya’s chess pieces to create chaos in the Pavilion of Herbs.

For this reason, she had to protect them carefully in secret.

“Liu Xuan had already sent men to protect them. He is especially concerned about them.”

Zuo Qiuyu’s words somehow made Lin Mengya perplexed.

It seemed to her that Liu Xuan disappeared every two to three days since they arrived at the old capital. However, it was also observed that he had made arrangements for all things and had everything taken care of.

She was afraid that he might be more than a senior provincial office.

“That sounds reassuring. Oh yes, have you released our homer?”

Outside, Nan Rui had almost come to the last part of his speech.

His speech was certainly made up of words fitting of the situation. What followed were simply polite exchanges between the officials.

However, after what had happened, she had become known to everyone.

On such a kind of occasion, it would be wise for her to stay away.

“We released her last night, and she almost injured the guard who kept watch on her, but you can be assured because we’ve not lost her. We’ve merely hidden her.”

The person that they were talking about was none other than Sumei, who had been deliberately ignored by Lin Mengya.

All along the journey, although Lin Mengya had been passing thoughts about letting her get in touch with her outside contacts, Lin Mengya was in control of the frequency and the method by which she could do so.

Now they had arrived at the old capital. She had already kept this homer for such a long time, so it was time to let her go out to fly around for a few rounds.

“Keep a close eye on her. I suppose Hongyu will be arriving within a few days. Let them work on this carefully so that news about Hongyu will not be leaked.”

After they getting up from their seats, Yu An followed Lin Mengya down from the spectator stand.

There was no way Zuo Qiuyu could leave. Not all who came were keeping to the old thinking. Among them, there was no lack of people who stood on neutral grounds, who did not wish to offend either party.

Therefore, now was the best time to lick boots.

The only problem was that it was troublesome to them in her presence.

Once they got into the sedan and as Yu An instructed the coachman to start moving, suddenly a figure appeared in front of the sedan.

“My deep gratitude to Your Highness for your great kindness from a commoner like me, Hou Xiangyu.”

Lin Mengya was sitting in the sedan and was taken by surprise at the voice.

“Mr. Hou, you had qualified for the next round and outdone the rest because of your exquisite medical skills. What has that got to do with me?”

Although Lin Mengya had spoken through the curtain of the sedan and her voice was therefore not loud, it was clear enough for Hou Lingyu’s ears.

At this very moment, everyone was busy establishing connections and nobody noticed them.

Hou Lingyu took note of this and felt more at ease.

With a sincere voice, he said, “Your Highness, you knew from the beginning that I’ve overheard your conversation with Zhu Jiajing. Even so, you’ve sent someone to comfort me, knowing I was in a dilemma. You’ve done so to calm me so I could proceed with the competition. Neither did you blame me. Isn’t this a great kindness from you?”

At this instant, the curtain of the sedan was lifted and a pretty, smiley face looked out from within.

Hou Lingyu had only glanced at her when he was on the stage and thought her to be very beautiful and dignified.

He was surprised to find her even more stunning after taking a closer look at her.

He was a crude man who only knew to handle medicinal herbs every day. Coming face to face with such a beautiful woman had made him blush in that instant.

“It didn’t matter that I bear the guilt. It’s enough that I know myself to be innocent. The injustice suffered by the Hou Family had been much more than what I had to bear today. If you really want to vindicate me, please do all you can to clarify the undeserved wrongs of the Hou Family. By then, the wrong I suffered will naturally be made known to the world. I hope you understand me and if so, there’s nothing more I have to say.”

That little girl was put there by the prior arrangement of Zuo Qiuchen. When Lin Mengya had returned to the spectator stand, she had already given the girl necessary instructions secretly.

If Hou Lingyu showed the slightest sign of wanting to give up the competition, the little girl would go to tell him that she knew from the beginning that he was an eyewitness.

If Hou Lingyu truly wanted to testify for her, he should continue to do well in the competition.