Despite feeling unwell, Li Sidan nodded and said, "Sir, I was just following Jiang Yaoguang's orders to hire someone to kill someone. I almost lost my life because of greed. That Jiang Yaoguang is a real scoundrel."
He originally thought that Jiang Yaoguang was serious about giving him a large sum of money if he became the Song family's son-in-law, but who would have thought that he would almost be poisoned to death before he even received the money.
It's his fault for trusting the other party too much, and for trusting himself too much. Knowing that the other party had such a big handle on him, there was no way he could let him live.
He originally planned to extort a sum of money from Jiang Yaoguang after the deed was done, then quickly hide away and wait for the right opportunity to extort another sum from Jiang Yaoguang.
Who would have thought that before good news could come from Qing Shi Village, he would have fainted from poisoning. If he hadn't been rescued, he would probably be dead by now.
Hearing this, the bearded men who had been quiet on the side became excited. "Sir, it's this man! This is the voice of the one who came to us that day to hire someone to kill someone."
Although the other person's voice was somewhat weak, it was still clear that it was the same tone, and the body shape was also similar.
These words caused an uproar both inside and outside the government office.
Jiang Yaoguang trembled and quickly retorted, "No, no, I, I don't know this person."
"My lord, Master Song, I'm innocent! This vile woman and that wicked lady must have conspired to frame me! Yes, it must be! I'm innocent, Master Song! Please believe me!"
He never expected that Li Sidan was still alive. He had clearly seen the other party drink the poisoned wine before leaving, so the man should be dead.
Song Changfeng was still somewhat incredulous. He stared at Jiang Yaoguang for a while before gritting his teeth and saying, "Sir, this doesn't prove anything. Even if this person hired someone, it doesn't prove that Yaoguang is the mastermind."
Who knows what this person is up to? Everything needs evidence.
He's just someone I picked randomly, how can I trust him?
The entire Qingshui County now knows that his daughter is going to marry this man. If something happens to him, it will also affect his daughter's reputation. As long as the evidence is conclusive, there is still a chance.
Jiang Yimian merely raised an eyebrow, enjoying the other party's desperate struggle, and said with a smile, "Oh, really? Is Mr. Song going to gamble the entire Song family?"
Song Changfeng frowned, somewhat displeased with the man's composure, and said coldly, "This has nothing to do with my Song family. I just don't want anyone to be wronged because of baseless rumors."
You keep saying that Yaoguang is the mastermind, but besides this person you brought, do you have any other evidence?
Without evidence, your words are nothing but speculation and slander.
Jiang Yimian just smiled and said calmly, "If Jiang Yaoguang is not the mastermind, why did he meet with Li Sidan at Ping'an Inn several times?"
Why did you hire someone to buy arsenic from Chen's Pharmacy yesterday evening? I remember that buying arsenic requires special records.
"Your Excellency can easily summon the managers of Chen's Shop and Ping'an Inn for questioning, so that Master Song can see whether or not Jiang Yaoguang is the mastermind behind it all."
Everything before was just to wait for Lu Cijian to bring the person, but what surprised her was the Bai family and that young girl. She hadn't expected that such an important person would get involved in this matter.
Fortunately, they didn't reveal their hand and successfully bought themselves some time; otherwise, the outcome might have been very different.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yaoguang's face turned even paler, and he collapsed to the ground, staring at Jiang Yimian in disbelief.
I just can't understand how the other party knew my flawless plan so clearly.
Before he could think it through, Zhao Da walked in from outside the yamen, followed by three people: two adults and one child.
"Sir, before I could even go to the Song family, I ran into the owners of Chen's Pharmacy and Ping'an Inn. They heard about the major case in Qinghe Town and came to provide evidence."
The three of them bowed together to the person in the high hall.
Song Quanzhao only frowned and glanced at Jiang Yimian, but ultimately said nothing more. He looked at the three of them and asked, "Who is the manager of Ping'an Inn?"
One of the short, stout men stammered, "Sir, I am the manager of Ping An Inn."
"Have you seen these two people at the inn?" Song Quanzhao pointed at Li Sidan and Jiang Yaoguang.
The short, stout man glanced at the two men, his gaze lingering for a moment on Li Sidan's pale face, before he hurriedly said, "Reporting to my lord, I have met you."
Li Sidan often drinks at the inn, and I'm quite familiar with him. I've seen this young master three times in the past few days, and each time I went to Li Sidan's room to talk.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yaoguang was so angry that he jumped up and down. His face turned pale and he was filled with anger. "You, you stop talking nonsense. I only went twice. Where did you get the three times?"
Besides, I always wore a straw hat when I went there, and I even disguised my figure. How could you possibly recognize me?
As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized something was amiss and suddenly snapped out of it, only to meet Jiang Yimian's ambiguous smile.
"Didn't my cousin say he didn't know Li Sidan? What, you're admitting it now?"
She thought this method was a bit risky, but unexpectedly Jiang Yaoguang panicked and was so eager to clarify that he walked straight into her trap.
If the other party insists on denying knowing Li Sidan, it will be quite troublesome. After all, this guy is overly cautious. He always wears a straw hat and disguises his appearance when he goes out.
Aside from the person involved, no one else could possibly know who it was, and it was highly unlikely that anyone from the inn would come forward to testify.
Jiang Yaoguang finally realized what was happening, his face filled with disbelief. He hurriedly tried to deny it, saying, "No, no, I just went to the inn for a meal. I don't know Li Sidan, no, I don't know him."
However, these words seem far too weak at this moment.
In particular, Li Sidan, who was standing to the side, quickly added, "Sir, this is a deposit of one hundred taels of silver notes that Jiang Yaoguang gave me. They also have one hundred taels of silver notes. They are all stolen goods."
The bearded man beside him quickly took out the hundred-tael silver note from his pocket and nodded, saying, "Sir, this is the deposit he gave me. He said he would give me the remaining four hundred taels after the killing."
The little beggar who hadn't spoken yet quickly said, "Sir, this is a tael of silver he gave me as a reward for buying arsenic for him."
Zhao Da took the silver notes and loose silver and was about to present them when Chen Ji, the shopkeeper, hurriedly said, "Sir, this is the shop's record book for purchasing arsenic. This little beggar did come to the shop yesterday."
He remembered it because he heard the shopkeeper ask the beggar his name, and the little beggar said he didn't have a name, he just helped people buy some arsenic to poison rats.
He glanced at it a few more times and then paid no attention, never expecting that he would get involved in this murder case.
If he hadn't been reminded that he could come to the yamen to testify, he probably would have stayed at home and wouldn't have dared to go out.
After all, the arsenic was sold from his shop, and if someone really died, he probably wouldn't be able to sleep soundly anymore.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
