"What poisoning?"

Xiao Ming shouted noisily, "One minute it's pancreatitis, the next it's drug stimulation, then it's poisoning, what are you even talking about?"

Shi Minghua asked doubtfully, "Was I not clear enough? Or were you not listening carefully? Okay, let me explain it to you in more detail. Although the deceased died of jaundice, it was because he frequently ate food that conflicted with his usual medication, or food that was inherently toxic. This is equivalent to the deceased taking a slow-acting poison every day. There may be no immediate reaction, but jaundice is a disease that can strike suddenly, and one can die if one is not careful."

"The deceased are generally in this situation."

Huang Zhen bowed respectfully to Shi Minghua and asked, "Mr. Minghua, are you sure?"

Shi Minghua calmly said, "Even if I were to perform another autopsy on the deceased a hundred times, I would still reach this conclusion. As for what other famous doctors' conclusions are, I dare not say that they are the same as mine, and I have no say in that."

Shi Minghua emphasized the words "renowned doctor".

Huang Zhen tentatively asked, "So, Xiao Tian didn't die from a sudden illness, but was murdered?"

Shi Minghua said seriously, "It was a sudden illness, but it was also murder."

"Understood!" Huang Zhen's expression changed immediately, and he shouted, "Xiao Ming! Xiao Luomu!"

When Huang Zhen took office, he addressed the people directly, and Xiao Luomu and Xiao Ming quickly stepped forward and knelt down.

Huang Zhen asked, "Who is in charge of Xiao Tian's meals?"

Xiao Ming said, "It's...it's the cook Xu Fu. He's been in charge of my brother's meals for over ten years."

Huang Zhenchao looked around and asked, "Is it here?"

A young man of similar age to Xiao Luomu walked over and said, "Xu Fu is no longer with the Xiao family."

Huang Zhen asked, "Who are you?"

“I am Xiao Ming’s son, Xiao Luoyan.”

"Xiao Luoyan, I'm asking you, where did Xu Fu go?"

"He went back to his hometown."

When did you leave?

“He left after his uncle passed away. He said he had been cooking for his uncle alone for more than ten years, and now that his uncle was gone, he didn’t want to stay in the Xiao family anymore.”

"Didn't you suspect anything about something so suspicious?" Huang Zhen said angrily.

Xiao Luomu interjected, "Xu Fu was an old member of the Xiao family. He had been working for the Xiao family for several years before he took charge of my father's meals. Because of my father's death, he wanted to go back to his hometown to retire, and we didn't think much of it."

Where is he from?

“A village in the northern suburbs of Hainei City.”

"Men! Go after them immediately!" Huang Zhen pointed at Xiao Luomu and said, "Arrange for someone who knows Xu Fu to follow them!"

Xiao Luofeng also came over and said, "I'll make the arrangements."

Huang Zhen turned to look at the coffin and said, "Now that the autopsy has concluded, let's not delay the burial of the Xiao family head. You can continue. After we're done... Xiao Ming, Xiao Luomu, Xiao Luoyan, and..."

Huang Zhen turned his head to look at Xiao Luofeng and said, "General Longxiang, you haven't been home, so you don't need to go."

Xiao Luofeng shook his head and said, "There's no need for special treatment. Investigate what needs to be investigated. If my father was murdered, then I am also one of the beneficiaries. I will be investigated along with them."

Huang Zhen nodded and said, "In that case, General Longxiang, I'll trouble you to bring them to the Prefect's residence after the funeral!"

"Yes!" Although Xiao Luofeng's current rank is higher than Huang Zhen's, he was Huang Zhen's subordinate when they were in Qingdong City, and he did not object to Huang Zhen's orders.

After making the arrangements, Huang Zhen walked down the mountain. He paused briefly beside Zhao Cheng of Jingguo and whispered, "Young Prime Minister, do you think this arrangement is acceptable?"

Zhao Cheng said, "Lord Huang is the father and mother of this city, so he is naturally fair in his dealings."

After saying goodbye to Huang Zhen, Zhao Cheng gave Yuan Fei, Zhao Wu, and Heng Wenhao a wink.

The three of them immediately and quietly descended the mountain.

...

In a village five miles north of Hainei City.

Xu Fu hurriedly packed his things, glancing out the window every now and then.

He threw his clothes around in a mess, while his wife and daughter folded them up beside him.

Xu Fu was a man in his forties, but it seemed that he spent most of his time in the kitchen and ingested too much oil and smoke, which made his face look very old.

"You two, stop folding your things so neatly, hurry up and get ready to leave!"

Xu Fu's daughter complained, "Father, we haven't even stayed one night since we got back, why are you in such a hurry to leave?"

Xu's wife also said, "That's right, where are we going?"

"Stop asking, stop asking, just hurry up and leave!" Xu Fu turned his attention back to packing, saying, "In short, the wind won't blow you and your mother away, the rain won't beat you and your mother away, and you won't starve!"

Xu's wife asked doubtfully, "Have you changed your mind and are you going back to Qingdong City?"

"Go back? What do you know?!" Xu Fu suddenly roared, "If it weren't for Young Master Luo Yan arranging for people to escort us to the territory of Hai Nei City, we would probably all have died on the way!"

Xu Fu's wife and daughters' expressions immediately changed.

Xu's wife asked, "Husband... what did you do?"

"I've bought a house elsewhere. I'll let you know when I get there. Now, pack your things and get out of here! Hurry up!"

Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Xu Fu's wife and daughters dared not delay and quickly began to pack up.

An hour later, Xu Fu and his family of three had left the village and were far away from Hai Nei City.

Da da da!!

Just as the three were about to enter a narrow path surrounded by trees, a dozen or so riders suddenly caught up and blocked their way.

Xu Fu quickly stepped in front of his wife and daughter, shouting, "What are you doing?"

A dozen or so riders dismounted, and the leader tossed Xu Fu a knife, laughing, "Xu Fu, will you end it yourself or do we have to do it?"

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!