Amidst the discussions among the crowd, the Jingzhao Yin's investigation was also proceeding in full swing.
Li Zhengxuan knew that this case was of great importance, not only involving an official appointed by the court, but also concerning the reputation and law and order of the capital. Therefore, he was determined to get to the bottom of the case.
As soon as the autopsy report of the Dali Temple was released, Li Zhengxuan immediately set off and headed to the Dali Temple without delay, eager to delve into the details.
The autopsy was conducted by senior prosecutor Qiao Sanhe himself. Li Zhengxuan was looking forward to the results of his autopsy, hoping to find some clues from it.
"Sir Qiao, is there anything strange about this autopsy report?" Li Zhengxuan looked sharply at Qiao Sanhe in front of him.
Qiao Sanhe shook his head calmly, "Master Li, I have checked repeatedly, and the toxins in Zhang Ruoshu's body are indeed consistent with taking a large amount of a certain harmful medicinal herb. Moreover, this herb is not something she takes on a daily basis."
"Have you found out the source of the medicinal materials?" Li Zhengxuan asked.
"We're still investigating," Qiao Sanhe replied. "But what's certain is that this medicinal ingredient isn't something you'd normally find. Someone must have done it deliberately."
Upon hearing this, Li Zhengxuan turned and walked towards the huge case analysis chart hanging on the wall, tapping a point on the chart with his finger. "If the poison didn't come from her usual medication, then how did the murderer get the poison? There must be clues we haven't discovered yet."
Zhao Xin, a minor official standing nearby, hurried forward and asked, "Sir, should we re-examine Zhang Ruoshu's diet, daily life, and anyone she had contact with?"
"That's right." Li Zhengxuan nodded. "Zhao Xin, you will immediately lead a team to conduct a thorough investigation, starting with Zhang Ruoshu's daily diet and daily life. In addition, everyone who had close contact with her, regardless of whether they were close or distant, must be questioned one by one."
"Yes, sir!" Zhao Xin took the order and left.
Li Zhengxuan turned to Qiao Sanhe again, "Master Qiao, please continue to track down the source of the harmful medicinal materials. If you have any information, please inform me immediately."
"Don't worry, Lord Li. I will do my best." Qiao Sanhe bowed.
The petty official Zhao Xin led his men to the gate of the Liang Mansion in a menacing manner. Unlike the last time they came to arrest someone, this time they were searching for clues, and every face was filled with seriousness and earnestness.
Upon hearing the news, Mrs. Zhang just stayed quietly in the Buddhist temple, as if the turmoil in the outside world had nothing to do with her.
Little Zhang took the initiative to come out and took Zhao Xin and his party to the wing where Zhang Ruoshu lived before her death, as well as the small kitchen where she usually used to cook and make medicine.
"Master Zhao, this is where my daughter-in-law lived before she died." Little Zhang pointed to the wing room in front of her, her tone filled with sadness. "Please feel free to search. I hope you can find the real murderer soon, seek justice for her, and clear Fu Shan's name."
Zhao Xin nodded and signaled his men to begin a thorough search. They meticulously examined every corner of the room, searching for any potential clues. They paid particular attention to the entrances.
"Here's a bottle of medicine!" a searching man suddenly shouted, holding a bottle of seemingly ordinary pills in his hand.
Zhao Xin hurried over, took the pill and examined it carefully. "What kind of medicine is this? Who gave it to Zhang Ruoshu?"
Mrs. Zhang took a look and shook her head, saying, "I've never seen this kind of medicine before, and I don't know where this bottle of medicine came from."
Zhao Xin frowned and put the pill away. "Continue searching!"
The search lasted an entire afternoon. Zhao Xin and his men turned the Liang Mansion upside down, but apart from the bottle of pills of unknown origin, they found no other valuable clues.
In the slightly messy kitchen, Zhao Xin and his men continued their search. In the corner of the kitchen were piled various spices and ingredients, including some candied fruits.
Madam Zhang stood aside and explained softly, "Master Zhao, Ruoshu often had to take various medicines when she was alive. Most of those medicines were bitter and difficult to swallow. So, after each dose, she would eat some candied fruit to overcome the bitterness in her mouth."
Zhao Xin nodded in understanding. His gaze swept across the kitchen, finally landing on a cutting board covered in several plates of candied fruit. Among them, a dish of dwindling candied hawthorns caught his eye.
"What's going on with this plate of honeyed hawthorns?" Zhao Xin asked, pointing at the plate of honeyed hawthorns.
Madam Zhang took a look and said uncertainly, "This... must be what Ruoshu left over from a few days ago. There's been a lot going on in the mansion lately, so maybe the servants didn't have time to clean it up."
Zhao Xin took a closer look and noticed ants crawling around the other plates of candied fruits, but not the hawthorns. He had a feeling this might be an important clue.
"Come here!" Zhao Xin shouted, "Take all these candied fruits back, especially this plate of candied hawthorns. Keep them carefully."
"Yes, sir!" A subordinate stepped forward and began to carefully collect the candied fruits on the chopping board one by one.
Zhao Xin turned to Madam Zhang and said, "Madam Zhang, we need to take these candied fruits back for further inspection. If there are any clues among them, perhaps they can help us find the real culprit."
Little Zhang nodded, expressing her understanding and cooperation. "Master Zhao, please take it."
Zhao Xin smiled slightly to express his gratitude.
Outside the Jingzhao Yin Mansion, the sudden sound of rapid drumming shattered the evening tranquility. Li Zhengxuan, who was reviewing case files in his study, frowned slightly at the sudden drumbeats.
"Who is beating the drum outside?" he asked in a deep voice.
A minor official hurried in, "Sir, someone outside the palace is beating a drum to complain about an injustice, saying it's related to the Zhang Ruoshu case."
Upon hearing this, Li Zhengxuan immediately put down the case file in his hand and stood up. "Quick, take me to see it."
He hurried to the gate of Jingzhao Yinfu and saw a woman kneeling in front of a drum. Her eyes were red and swollen, and her expression was determined. When she saw Li Zhengxuan coming out, she looked up at him, with a determined light in her eyes.
"I, Zhang Wangshi, come to surrender myself," she said in a hoarse but firm voice, "I personally killed my daughter, Zhang Ruoshu."
Li Zhengxuan was shocked. Looking at the grief-stricken mother before him, he couldn't help but feel a surge of mixed emotions. He took a deep breath and tried to remain calm. "Zhang Wangshi, do you understand the consequences of turning yourself in? What exactly is going on? Why did you kill your own daughter?"
Zhang Wangshi closed her eyes, tears falling from the corners of her eyes. "Sir, I know what I am doing. I poisoned Ruoshu because I couldn't bear the suffering she was going through."
Li Zhengxuan frowned, "What do you mean by suffering?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
