Chapter 1727: Traces of Snowfall (Reward for the book friend "Yanwei who loves reading books")
She looked at County Magistrate Tang with an accusing look.
County Magistrate Tang smiled and said, "Did you see that? Snow leaves traces, and the same is true for crimes. So think carefully. Besides the needle bag being replaced, have you encountered any other unusual things?"
Manbao asked, "Does the snow you sprinkled all over my head count?"
"Yes," County Magistrate Tang said with a smile, "I'm just reminding you. This kind of reminder is unusual, so it naturally counts."
Although Manbao was a little unconvinced and snorted twice, she began to think seriously. She said, "Actually, my needle bag was touched once before, but that time they didn't change my needles or add anything else. It seems that they just opened my needle bag and took a look, then sealed it back intact."
County Magistrate Tang said, "Three people brought your medicine box over that day, but I heard from the Crown Prince that you only suspected Xu Yu. Why is that?"
Manbao thought for a moment and then said, "Feeling."
County Magistrate Tang smiled and asked, "Besides your feelings, is there any other evidence?"
Manbao shook his head, "No."
County Magistrate Tang was rather regretful. "This was your first time touching the needle bag. Did she show any abnormalities?"
"No." Seeing County Magistrate Tang looking at her, Manbao said, "Really not, she hasn't changed at all, and she's not nervous when she speaks." Even when he carried her on his back and carried everyone else on his back, she was the same as usual, without any change.
County Magistrate Tang was very curious, "Then why do you suspect her?"
He raised his hand slightly to stop her from saying anything, and said, "Even if it's a feeling, there should be some behavior or words to support it. Don't worry, no matter what you say, I won't laugh at you."
"I feel like she's secretly watching me," Manbao said, "When I first came to the palace, she would quietly walk to a place not far from my window late at night and stand there listening for any noises."
County Magistrate Tang was curious: "Did you see it?"
Koko saw it, but since Koko saw it, it was equivalent to her seeing it, so she nodded.
County Magistrate Tang asked with a smile, "You heard the noise and got up to check? Did she know you had discovered her?"
"She doesn't know."
County Magistrate Tang didn't believe it. "Did she really not know, or did she know but pretend not to know?"
"I really don't know."
She was lying on the bed pretending to be asleep, or she was in class in the classroom, and I didn't really get up to see her, so how could she know?
County Magistrate Tang nodded. "So you still suspect Xu Yu?"
Manbao nodded, "But there is no evidence. You said that evidence is needed to investigate a case."
"That's right," Magistrate Tang said. "Xu Yu was taken to the Ministry of Punishment. She claims she was innocent and knows nothing. The two eunuchs who accompanied her to deliver your medicine box that day are both dead. One committed suicide, while the other, unable to withstand the torture, confessed that they had secretly replaced your needles. Unfortunately, they died from the torture before they could reveal the person behind the incident."
Manbao opened his mouth in surprise.
"Yes, it's them?"
County Magistrate Tang said, "He said that one of them took Xu Yu out to look for you, while the other stayed behind to wait for you, making sure you didn't return to the courtyard empty-handed. Then, while the courtyard was empty, they secretly replaced the third, fourth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth needles in the needle bag. It was only halfway through that Xu Yu decided that searching for you was taking too much time, so he returned and said he'd take your medicine box with him so they could go see the Crown Princess after they found you. The eunuch who confessed matched Xu Yu's account."
Manbao opened his mouth wide, then frowned after a moment, "Not Xu Yu?"
County Magistrate Tang said, "Because you said you suspected Xu Yu, he was the first one to be arrested. The two eunuchs were only questioned, but yesterday evening, one of them committed suicide by jumping into a well. It was strange that Eunuch Wu couldn't find him when he wanted to question him again, so the other eunuch was arrested."
Manbao was so shocked that he couldn't speak.
County Magistrate Tang sat across the table from her, leaning forward slightly to stare into her eyes. "Apart from these, is there anything else suspicious about Xu Yu?"
Manbao was silent for a long time before saying, "Is it considered too normal?"
County Magistrate Tang raised his eyebrows.
Manbao frowned and said, "I think I can guess what she will say and do next, and then she really said those words and did those things, just like, just like..." Just like Koko who was being watched by the main system.
But Koko only behaved like that when the main system was watching her, and occasionally, it would not speak to her as programmed.
There is no non-living thing like Koko in this world, so how could she be more like Koko than Koko?
But she couldn't say these words to County Magistrate Tang. She could only stare at him, hoping that he would understand what she meant when she couldn't give any examples.
County Magistrate Tang laughed and said, "Just like a shadow play with a pre-written storybook?"
When Manbao heard this, he nodded repeatedly, "Yes, that's right."
County Magistrate Tang stood up and said, "Okay, I understand."
He turned to leave, but suddenly thought of something and turned back to ask, "After your needle bag was moved for the first time, didn't you ever think of checking it?"
"I checked. Bai Shan and I asked someone to look into Xu Yu's experience after entering the palace, and we also looked into her family." Man Bao said, "But if Bai Shan and I can find out, it shouldn't be difficult for Brother Tang to find out, right?"
After all, most of them are records in files.
County Magistrate Tang smiled and said, "It's not difficult."
No further questioning was given as to what they had found out.
Manbao watched him go downstairs and walk away, then he leaned on the railing with his chin in his hand and stared blankly. Wasn't it Xu Yu?
Then wouldn't she have wronged someone?
Just as he was doubting himself, Manbao heard a loud shout, "Zhou Man——"
Manbao was startled and looked down to see Xiao Yuan standing downstairs, staring at her angrily with wide eyes. "The Imperial Hospital is so busy, what are you doing here?"
Manbao asked innocently, "What's wrong?"
"What's wrong? You're asking what's wrong? Don't you know that school starts tomorrow and students will have to go to the Imperial Medical Bureau for classes?"
When Manbao heard this, he remembered what had happened and immediately ran downstairs to get busy.
Xiao Yuanzheng grabbed her and started to nag, "It's okay for you to go to the Crown Prince's Palace this morning. The little grandson is indeed important, but why haven't you gone to the Imperial Hospital since it's already past noon? Do you know that everyone is so busy that they haven't even had a bite of lunch or a drink of water..."
Manbao repeatedly admitted his mistake and followed Xiao Yuanzheng to the Shangshu Bureau. "The remaining two volumes have been engraved and printed. You need to check with Doctor Liu to see if there are any errors or omissions. If there are none, the Shangshu Bureau will print these two volumes together. If there are any, circle them and the Shangshu Bureau will come over immediately."
He said, "Time is very urgent, so you have to hurry up. The students will start school tomorrow, and we will distribute the books by the day after tomorrow at the latest."
Manbao had no choice but to agree.
Then Xiao Yuanzheng continued, "The Crown Princess has given birth, so you don't need to go there anymore. As for Prince Gong, it's just about losing weight. If he eats less and exercises more, he can lose weight like a pig. I think he's doing pretty well now. You should stop going there and slacking off. The most important thing right now is the Imperial Medical Bureau, don't you understand?"
Wrong, wrong, this is good night
(End of this chapter)
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