After the twenty strokes of the cane, Wang Er was already unconscious. The yamen runner skillfully brought a basin of cold water and poured it on his head.
He slowly opened his eyes and was dragged to the court by two yamen runners.
"Bang!" The county magistrate slammed the gavel.
"What's going on? Why don't you tell the truth?"
Wang Er had no choice but to tell the whole story in detail and in bits and pieces.
"Sir... I am innocent! I didn't have the time to commit the crime..."
The county magistrate was overwhelmed. "You have a motive for murder, and the arsenic was also from your hands. Now you are still crying out for injustice?"
At this moment, his eyes fell on the shivering servant beside him.
"Did you notice anyone in the warehouse before this?"
The servant pretended to be calm and said, "My lord, the master forbids anyone from entering the storeroom. I heard the sound of a wine jug falling and asked a few questions. In the past, the master would have been furious and cursed, but last night there was no sound at all. So I bravely went in and found the master bleeding from all seven orifices and dead..."
He was extremely panicked. He was the only one present when Mr. Zhao died. He had the opportunity to commit the crime, but he didn't have the courage!
The county magistrate frowned slightly. "One of you has the motive for murder, and the other has the opportunity to kill. You will be imprisoned for now! There are many suspicious points in this case that need to be investigated. I will adjourn the court for now and retry at a later date."
The two were stunned. One weakly cried out that he was innocent, while the other shouted loudly, "This is none of my business, sir, please understand!"
In the study:
The county magistrate rubbed his brow and looked at Master Li: "Master, do you have any advice?"
Master Li bowed respectfully, "There are many suspicious points in this case. The perpetrator began planning a month ago, and he also has the key to the warehouse!"
"Oh? The real murderer isn't those two?"
Master Li stroked his beard and said, "Sir, that servant is as timid as a mouse. It is said that he developed a high fever that night. How could Wang Er, a person who only works in the toilet, have the chance to find the key? Besides, his smell is too obvious. If he hides in the house, he will definitely be discovered."
"Oh? Why don't you think it was a collaboration between the two?"
"If the two of them teamed up, it must be for the money. If they took advantage of the panic to transfer some of the money, that would make sense. But one of them was so frightened that he was bedridden, and the other didn't even think of taking the money. This is strange!"
The county magistrate also stroked his beard, "There are indeed many doubts! The perpetrator must be someone else! But the clues are cut off here!"
Master Li shook his head. "Mr. Zhao is dead. Whoever benefits the most is the murderer!"
The county magistrate suddenly realized what was going on and said admiringly, "Master, you are extremely intelligent. I am fortunate to have your help!"
Master Li smiled faintly, stood up and bowed: "If you hadn't saved me when I fell into the water, I would have died!"
The county magistrate had a bad feeling and stepped forward to pat him on the shoulder. "It's just a small favor. You've been helping me for three years. I should be the one thanking you!"
Master Li took a step back and bowed, his tone sincere: "Sir, please forgive me for making an unreasonable request."
The county magistrate gave him a fake hand and said, "What are you doing? There's no need for this between you and me!"
Master Li suddenly became a little depressed. "To be honest, sir, my son's incident has given me an epiphany. I want to take the imperial examination and become an official!"
The county magistrate was slightly startled, a little sad, and his tone was also somewhat lonely. "You are a juren. I am sorry for having wronged you for so many years!"
"Sir, I have learned a lot from you in the past three years. You are both my teacher and my friend!"
The county magistrate suddenly felt a little sad. "Never mind. You are smart and resourceful, and you are suitable for serving in the court. However, now that the disaster victims are pouring in, please help me for a while longer!"
He heaved a sigh of relief after receiving a positive response. "Sir, this is as it should be!"
"Okay, okay... Once the disaster victims are settled, I'll let you go. But don't forget me, your old friend, when you pass the imperial examination..."
The two of them didn't seem to have any disagreement because of his departure, but Master Li knew that the county magistrate was just pretending.
At night, he sat in the dining hall without saying a word, pouring wine by himself, looking lonely.
Li Hongyuan opened and closed his mouth, but still didn't say anything.
But Yun Ge'er beside him tried to dissuade him: "Father, is there anything bothering you?"
Master Li glanced at him and waved his hand, "Don't review your lessons tonight, both of you. Keep your eyes open!"
The two of them immediately stood up, bowed slightly, and said goodbye.
Li frowned slightly and snatched the wine pot away. "The two children were here just now, and I didn't give you face. Who are you showing this lifeless look to? What happened?"
He drank a glass of wine and let out a long breath, "The county magistrate is not happy that I want to take the imperial examination and become an official!"
Li was immediately furious, jumping to her feet. "Why wouldn't he want to? You're more talented than him, and you've already wasted three years. How much longer does he want to delay you? He's really trying to repay a favor!"
Master Li pulled him to sit down, "Hey... why are you making such loud noises? Don't you understand that walls have ears?"
Li pursed her lips, and then tears suddenly welled up in her eyes. "Back when my father was still alive, he chose you. He said you had a bright future, that you were gentle and polite to others, and that you could tolerate my temper! But after so many years, my temper has been worn away. Where is the promising future you promised me?"
Master Li was speechless for a moment and just kept drinking.
Seeing this, Li grabbed the wine jug and poured it into her own mouth.
"What are you doing?" Master Li quickly snatched the wine jug.
"My life has been miserable. I invited the wolf into my house, and I've endured it all these years. I thought you were the one being schemed against, and I've always been kind to you. Now my parents are both gone, and there's no one left in my family. All I have left are you and Brother Yuan! Woo woo woo..."
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