Chapter 193: Chapter 193: Clues

“Since it doesn’t harm the body, it means the drug’s effect is mild, and it can certainly be detoxified,” said Lin Qingqing.

“Do you know where the drug merchant is located?” Mrs. Lin asked.

Lin Qingqing shook her head, “He never lets me know.”

“He guards against me. Many things, he only lets me know partially, making it seem as if he trusts me a lot,” Lin Qingqing sneered, “But in reality, he only lets me know the surface. Just like this drug merchant, he lets me know there is such a person, but I have no idea how to contact him, I don’t even know what he looks like.”

“We must find the drug merchant,” Mrs. Lin said, “Hold Xiao Fengxing and Aunt Liu accountable for repeatedly poisoning Xiao Chengyu, forcing Xiao Fengxing to change his testimony and clear your name.”

“So, think carefully, is there any other clue?” Mrs. Lin asked.

When it came to the key point, Lin Qingqing recalled more vigorously.

“That person and Aunt Liu are both from the Northern Desert, naturally looking different from Central Plains people. We could investigate if there is a pharmacy in the capital, owned by someone with a foreign appearance,” Lin Qingqing said, “Oh, I heard he is somewhat older than Aunt Liu.”

There was no more information to be gleaned from Lin Qingqing, so Mrs. Lin prepared to leave.

“Mother, you must save me!” Lin Qingqing pleaded.

“Alright,” Mrs. Lin nodded, “Before the next hearing, take these days to think carefully if there’s anything important. Tell me when I come to see you again.”

“Alright.”

Mrs. Lin left the prison but did not return to the Lin Mansion; instead, she took a carriage to the Law Temple.

Even if others saw her, they assumed she was going to the Law Temple to pray for Lin Qingqing, without further thought.

When Mrs. Lin arrived at the Law Temple, she went to the back quarters of the monks, opened the door, and found Xiao Chengyu and Gu Yunze inside.

“Marquis, Little General Gu,” Mrs. Lin saluted.

“Did Lady Lin find out anything today?” Xiao Chengyu asked.

“There are indeed some findings,” Mrs. Lin reported Lin Qingqing’s words to Xiao Chengyu and Gu Yunze in detail.

Gu Yunze couldn’t help but glance at Xiao Chengyu.

Today, he accidentally heard the scandal of the marquis’ household.

Xiao Chengyu said helplessly, “I have embarrassed myself before Little General Gu.”

“Not at all, Marquis,” Gu Yunze replied, “In the future, we are all in-laws, practically family.”

Xiao Chengyu nodded with a smile.

Even though he had long suspected Aunt Liu and Xiao Fengxing of poisoning him, hearing it now still made him unable to hide his anger.

Because of those two’s venom, he and his mother, as well as Xiao Yingyue, suffered for years.

Xiao’s mother often blamed herself for not being careful enough when carrying Xiao Chengyu, causing harm to him.

“As for that drug merchant, my daughter indeed doesn’t know,” Mrs. Lin said, “But based on his foreign features, he shouldn’t be hard to track down.”

“Lady Lin, please return,” Xiao Chengyu said.

Mrs. Lin quickly asked, “Marquis, I wonder if the clues I provided are useful?”

“If they are useful, Marquis, can you spare my daughter?” Mrs. Lin promised, “As long as Qingqing can be released, we will send her far away, ensuring she never returns to the capital and will not be an eyesore to you.”

At that time, Qingqing would be sent to a small town in the south, where they would buy her a house and some servants, allowing her to live comfortably.

Better than being convicted and exiled.

“Alright,” Xiao Chengyu nodded, “If Lin Qingqing provides useful clues, we are true to our word.”

“Thank you, Marquis, thank you, Little General Gu,” Mrs. Lin said quickly, “I will have Qingqing think carefully for more clues, and visit her in a couple of days.”

Mrs. Lin hurriedly left.

Contacting Xiao Chengyu and Gu Yunze led back to last night.

Xiao Chengyu escorted his old lady back to the mansion, arranged for Aunt Liu’s proper surveillance, and then quietly went to the Lin Mansion with Gu Yunze at night.

They made a deal with Mr. Lin and Mrs. Lin.

As long as Lin Qingqing could provide useful information to convict Xiao Fengxing, they could spare Lin Qingqing.

Allowing her to be released.

The condition was that Lin Qingqing would never return to the capital in her lifetime.

Lin Qingqing had repeatedly troubled Fu Mingzhu, and Gu Yunze bore a grudge.

But compared to what Lin Qingqing did, Xiao Fengxing’s actions were more hateful.

Without Xiao Fengxing, and Lin Qingqing not being in the capital, she naturally couldn’t trouble Mingzhu.

So, Gu Yunze also agreed with Xiao Chengyu’s approach.

Mr. Lin and Mrs. Lin originally thought Lin Qingqing was beyond saving, but now that there was a turn for the better, they quickly agreed.

Even without Xiao Chengyu’s proposal, Lin Qingqing could not stay in the capital.

Mr. Lin stated that if Lin Qingqing were convicted, she would undoubtedly be exiled.

In the past, wealthy families could punish or even kill servants as they held their contracts, being their masters, controlling their lives and deaths.

But now, the maid belongs to the Fu Mansion and is not under a death contract.

She is a free citizen.

Lin Qingqing is not her master and does not naturally have the right to take life.

Even if it was attempted murder, it is punishable by law.

Xiao Chengyu and Gu Yunze received the clues and began their investigations separately.

This matter even alarmed the emperor and empress.

Compared to the maid’s near-death, the emperor and empress were more concerned about Fu Mingzhu’s condition and the identity of the true culprit.

The emperor specially authorized Gu Yunze to investigate personally, with Lord Tao instructed to cooperate with any interrogations.

With Emperor Jiawen’s decree, Gu Yunze openly went to the prison, ordering for Chang Tai to be brought out for questioning.

When Zhao Chang initially interrogated Chang Tai, fearing reprisal, he was not too harsh, allowing Chang Tai to hold out.

Thus, he dared to resolutely pin it all on Lin Qingqing, absolving Xiao Fengxing.

But now, with Emperor Jiawen’s permission, Gu Yunze had no reservations.

He used the most severe military punishments on Chang Tai.

Chang Tai, covered in blood, could not withstand a round of torture and confessed.

He even exposed the drug merchant.

During Chang Tai’s interrogation in the Fu Mansion, Zhao Chang found a jade pendant on him.

Fearing it might be useful, he kept it.

At this time, Gu Yunze showed it to Chang Tai, “Is this the token you used to contact the drug merchant?”

“Yes,” Chang Tai weakly replied, “That drug merchant was a cousin to Aunt Liu, and they nearly married. This jade pendant was a love token from the drug merchant to Aunt Liu.”

“Later, Aunt Liu came to the capital with her family for business and met the old marquis, who took her into the household. The drug merchant inherited his family business and reunited with Aunt Liu in the capital. Although he was already married, he still remembered the old affection with Aunt Liu.”

“Furthermore, Aunt Liu used the old marquis’s trust to give the drug merchant significant business benefits, prompting their collaboration.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep