Chapter 690 The Poisoner is Liu Kui
In August, the fragrance of osmanthus blossoms spreads for miles.
After Cheng Wanwan returned from Yangzhou, she happened to be there when Cao Yingying was giving birth. Just as Cao Yingying had wished, she gave birth to a baby girl.
After finishing the children's three-day celebration, he called Wu Xiaochui over and asked about the matter of poisoning the crayfish.
Wu Xiaochui had wanted to report this for a long time, but Zhao Ergou said that Aunt Zhao hadn't slept well almost every day since she went to Yangzhou and forbade him to disturb her, so he could only wait.
Having received the order, he immediately went into the courtyard, stood at the foot of the steps of the flower hall, and began to report in detail.
“After my aunt went to Yangzhou, I investigated the entire Lijia Gou area. I found out everyone who entered or left Lijia Gou and appeared near the pond.” He flipped through a small booklet he carried with him. “Most of them were relatives from Lijia Gou. They went to Lijia Gou to learn how to raise crayfish and wanted to participate in crayfish farming next year… There were also some businessmen from the city who wanted to buy crayfish from the villagers of Lijia Gou at high prices, but the villagers refused. I was still checking the identities of these people one by one when someone suddenly told me that Liu Kui from Liujia Village in Baiyun County had come to Lijia Gou in June…”
Cheng Wanwan narrowed her eyes.
Liu Kui, Cheng Yuanyuan's ex-husband, was someone she saw at the Qian family's wedding banquet in Baiyun Town in the spring. She had someone secretly keep an eye on him. The person keeping an eye on him did say that Liu Kui had been to Lijia Gou several times, but also reported that Liu Kui had not only been to Lijia Gou, but also to many nearby villages. He wandered around here and there every day, but did not do anything outrageous. So she gradually lowered her guard... After all, she couldn't always focus her attention on a scoundrel.
It seems that Liu Kui is definitely involved in this matter.
“I knew Liu Kui and his aunt had some issues, so I focused on him.” Wu Xiaochui quickly turned to the next page. “In January, Liu Kui was released from prison for meritorious service and began a life of debauchery with the hundred taels of silver awarded by the county. Not only did he not squander the silver, but it kept increasing. The people in Liu Family Village said that his gambling luck had come… I never believed in gambling luck, so I secretly investigated for many days and finally found out that he didn’t win money gambling, but that someone had been secretly supporting him, which is why he was able to live so freely.”
"After the crayfish poisoning incident spread, he had even more money and spent money to take three beautiful concubines. Countless people fawned over him... However, when news of the He family's incident in Yangzhou reached Huzhou, Liu Kui suddenly went from being a rich man to a pauper. His newly bought house was gone, and his newlywed wife and concubines had all run away... I suspect that someone bribed Liu Kui to poison the pond. After it was done, Liu Kui received a huge sum of money... But later the matter was exposed, and the person behind it vented their anger on Liu Kui, so he was doomed..."
"However, these are all my guesses, and there is no evidence yet."
Wu Xiaochui closed the notebook and sighed.
The matter was actually quite clear, but there were no witnesses or physical evidence, so there was no way to convict Liu Kui.
Cheng Wanwan sneered: "If there's no evidence, then we'll create it."
She was able to set a trap to imprison Liu Kui back then, and she can do it again this time. However, she will not give Liu Kui another chance to get out of prison.
She stood up and dusted off her sleeves: "Ninglan, prepare the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone."
Ninglan nodded and immediately went to the study to prepare.
She sat down at her desk, picked up a brush, and began to write a statement of her crimes. She finished writing it in about half an hour, and then asked Cheng Yi to drive the carriage to Baiyun County.
As soon as she appeared at the entrance of Baiyun County Government Office, Magistrate Bai came out to greet her with trepidation: "This humble official greets Lady Sui. May I ask what brings you here, Lady Sui?"
Cheng Wanwan handed over the indictment from her sleeve: "I am accusing Liu Kui of Liu Family Village in Baiyun County of attempted murder by poisoning. Many people in Qingzhou and Yangzhou have been poisoned, and some have even died as a result, causing serious consequences. Lord Bai is the local official in charge of Baiyun County, but this case involves too many people, and Lord Bai may not be able to handle it. Therefore, I hope that Lord Bai will immediately arrest Liu Kui and go to Huzhou together to ask the Prefect to handle the case!"
Magistrate Bai had naturally heard about the crayfish poisoning incident long ago. He had been inquiring about the news with the mindset of a bystander, never expecting that it would be related to someone under his jurisdiction.
He immediately said, "Please wait a moment, Lady Sui. I will send men to arrest Liu Kui right away!"
Cheng Wanwan said coldly, "Liu Kui is slippery, Lord Bai will probably have a lot to do. I'll go with him too."
Without waiting for Magistrate Bai's nod, she turned around and got into the carriage. Magistrate Bai quickly arranged for more than ten county officials to follow, and he himself also swiftly went along.
When the procession arrived at Liujia Village, many villagers came to join in the fun. However, upon closer inspection, they discovered that the procession consisted of officials from the yamen (government office). The villagers quickly dispersed, fearing they might get involved in any legal trouble.
Liu Kui's house had probably been renovated; the yard was much better than it had been two or three years ago, but it was still very dirty and messy, with all sorts of things scattered everywhere.
As they disembarked from the carriage, Liu Laoda came out to greet them: "Who are you... are you the county magistrate, or your second... second aunt?"
He recognized Cheng Wanwan and originally wanted to greet her warmly, but when he saw the cold look on her face, he knew that she was up to no good.
"Where is Liu Kui!" Magistrate Bai said coldly. "Bring Liu Kui out at once!"
Liu Laoda pointed to the corner of the yard: "My father went out drinking last night and didn't come back until almost dawn. I just found him asleep in this corner of the yard and was just about to carry him inside... I wonder what business the magistrate has with my father?"
His father had performed a meritorious service in the first month of the lunar year, and the county magistrate had personally visited their home. This was the greatest honor for their family. With the county magistrate's backing, their second aunt would probably give the Liu family some face, no matter what...
Unexpectedly, Magistrate Bai walked straight over and kicked him hard.
Liu Kui rolled over and waved his hand impatiently: "Who dares to kick me? They're asking for trouble..."
After saying that, he continued to snore loudly.
"Tie him up!" Magistrate Bai's face darkened. "You lot, go in and search. Don't let anything suspicious slip by!"
"yes!"
More than a dozen constables rushed into the house.
Old Liu panicked: "Sir, what's going on? My father has definitely not done anything wrong recently. Is there some misunderstanding?"
Magistrate Bai said coldly, "Your father is incredibly capable; he almost killed hundreds of people. As his son, were you involved in this?"
Boss Liu looked completely bewildered: "I don't know what you're talking about, sir. I'm innocent, sir..."
While the county magistrate and Boss Liu were talking, Cheng Wanwan stepped into the courtyard.
She walked into a slightly dilapidated room, flicked her sleeves lightly, and then shouted, "Someone come quick! There's something hidden here!"
Four or five constables quickly arrived and pulled open a burlap sack. Inside, there was a hole, and hidden in the hole was a bundle. They carefully took out the bundle, untied it, and revealed a large pile of paper-wrapped, unidentified medicinal powder...
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