Chapter 845 Smallpox Poisoning Case Closed
The Li family was naturally very surprised by Xu Jingzhen's arrival. Fortunately, it was the Lantern Festival, and the Li family had invited Doctor Liang and the young boy from Shaoyang to their home for a meal to celebrate the festival.
Therefore, Li's father naturally arranged for Xu Jingzhen to sit at the same table as Dr. Liang and the young boy from Shaoyang.
Because of the assassination attempt on Li San Niang half a month ago, the Li family decided not to go out to see the lanterns or anything like that this year, even though there was no curfew for the Lantern Festival.
In short, safety comes first.
After all, lantern parades can be seen every year, so there's no need to join in the fun at this particular time.
After several dishes and rounds of drinks, Li's father, seeing that everyone had eaten enough, put down his chopsticks and invited Dr. Liang and the others to sit down in the main hall for tea and snacks.
Jiang Shengnan, along with Li Sanlang and the others, Li Dasao, Li Ersao, Wu Qiaolan, Baoya, Song Fuling, and Linglan who came to the Li family for the festival, cleaned up the three tables of leftover food.
After tidying up, tea and snacks were served to the people sitting in the main hall. Bao Ya and Song Fuling then led Lu Zhu'er, Xiao Wulang, Xiao Liulang, and Ping An to play around the four dogs in the courtyard.
Song Dalang (Song Fuling's father) felt that he, as a coachman, couldn't say much to the people sitting in the main hall, so he started doing his handicrafts in the courtyard by the dim light of the lanterns and the moonlight, weaving small animals out of straw to amuse the children.
Qiu Xiang, along with Lao Shi and Lao Wu, also felt that the Li family members were going to say something in the main hall, so they didn't follow Li San Niang inside. Instead, they found a place to sit in the courtyard, just like Song Da Lang.
The three then directed Li Sanlang and Li Silang to spar with wooden swords, testing the brothers' martial arts skills.
Inside the main hall of the Li family, Li's parents sat at the head of the table, while Dr. Liang and Xu Jingzhen sat facing each other. A stool had been added next to Dr. Liang, where a young boy from Shaoyang sat.
Sitting next to Brother Li and Sister-in-law Li was Li Erlang, and opposite them sat Li Sanniang.
Xu Jingzhen turned to look at Li Sanniang, who nodded to him. Xu Jingzhen then coughed lightly and said slowly, "I apologize for disturbing you today. I came to visit you because I was worried about you, Sanniang."
Secondly, after today, once the Emperor begins to write, the two cases weighing on Third Sister's shoulders (the smallpox poisoning case of the Liu family of the Duke of Yu and the assassination attempt in the street) should be reported to the Emperor by the Dali Temple within three days, and a verdict should be reached within seven days.
Xu Jingzhen stopped after saying this, giving everyone enough time to think.
As Li Sanniang listened to Xu Jingzhen's words, she thought about the message that Mr. Bu Ke had sent her earlier. Compared to the message that Xu Jingzhen had delivered to her door, it seemed that the Bad People knew more.
Xu Jingzhen was unaware that the Duke of Yu, who was serving as an envoy in Lihong (present-day Nanchang, Jiangxi), and Princess Nanping, who accompanied the Duke of Yu, had already been reprimanded by Emperor Wu.
This matter was witnessed by Mr. Bu Ke himself, who saw the edict written by Emperor Wu.
Not only have all the assassins Princess Nanping gave to Liu Chao been discovered by the Bad People, but Liu Chao is now in the Dali Temple prison.
Because of the matter of the assassins in the hands of the princess of the imperial family, Emperor Wu also took the opportunity to order the Imperial Guards and the Bad People to thoroughly investigate the matter of assassins again among the imperial family and powerful families such as the Duke of the First Rank.
According to Mr. Bu Ke, this was exactly the time that happened, as Emperor Wu was just about to launch an attack on the imperial clan and the several dukedoms whose land holdings were seriously annexed.
Even if Liu Chao doesn't die this time, he'll be exiled a thousand miles away; he certainly won't have a good end.
Xu Jingzhen saw no surprise in Li Sanniang's eyes, thought for a moment, and said, "I know that Sanniang is a member of the Bad People, so she must already know about this matter. I will just go and tell her."
"What you say, Mr. Xu, is truly appreciated. My third wife should thank you."
"We are truly grateful that you, out of consideration for our past friendship, have come to inform us at this time. It's no wonder you've been so nosy."
Before Li San Niang could even finish her sentence, Li's mother blurted out what Xu Jingzhen had said.
"That's right, Mother is right."
"It's a great favor that you came to inform me, and I'm naturally very grateful."
Xu Jingzhen waved his hand, seeing that Li Sanniang seemed to know more than he had inquired at the Dali Temple, he felt relieved and knew that Li Sanniang's safety was guaranteed. He then changed the subject and started talking about the lantern parade in Chang'an during this year's Lantern Festival.
Xu Jingzhen stayed at the Li family's house for another half an hour before getting up to say goodbye and leave.
As Dr. Liang was getting on in years, after Xu Jingzhen left, he was helped back to his residence in the backyard by the young boy from Shaoyang to rest.
At this moment, only the Li family members remained in the main hall of the Li family. The children had long since finished playing and were all asleep on the low couches in the side hall.
"...According to what Mr. Bu Ke said, Liu Chao will not have a good ending; at worst, he will be exiled thousands of miles away."
In this way, Qiu Xiang's injury finally found its mastermind, and the mastermind was punished.
Just like Xu Jingzhen said, I will probably testify in court again regarding the Tianhua poisoning case later. I believe both matters will be resolved within seven days.
After saying this, Li San Niang stood up and bowed to everyone in the Li family. Just as everyone was wondering what she meant, Li San Niang straightened up and said, "This bow is my way of apologizing to everyone."
If I hadn't gotten involved in this case, my family wouldn't have been prevented from going out during the Lantern Festival.
From now on, I will pay attention to these things. I have also told Mr. Keke that we have increased manpower in the vicinity of our home. After this incident, there should be very few people in Chang'an who would dare to lay a hand on me.
In this way, the safety of our family members is also guaranteed.
However, it's best to be more careful in the future. Even as an official, I'll still offend quite a few people, and who knows if some irrational person might take their anger out on you all.
After saying this, Li San Niang bowed again to express her apology.
Just as Li San Niang and the others had predicted, on the fifth day after the Lantern Festival, the case of the smallpox poisoning between the brothers of the Liu family of the Duke of Yu's mansion came to a conclusion under the judgment of the Dali Temple.
Li Sanniang also testified in court that day. Liu Chao's secret was exposed by Wang Sanlang. He used the assassins given to him by Princess Nanping before he came to Chang'an to assassinate Li Sanniang. His attempt to cover up his poisoning of his brother Liu Tong behind the scenes also came to an end.
"...The title of Duke of Yu was inherited by Liu Qi's branch of the family... Liu Chao disregarded the law, and as a member of the imperial clan...his crime was compounded, and he was sentenced to hanging to uphold the law."
No one expected that Liu Chao, the son of a princess, would still lose his life and be sentenced to be hanged.
After Li Sanniang came out of Dali Temple, the cold wind outside made her forehead feel cool, and she realized that the fine sweat on her forehead had been dried by the wind.
"master!"
Song Fuling stepped forward and helped Li Sanniang into the carriage. After getting into the carriage, Li Sanniang closed her eyes and leaned against the cushion, thinking about everything that had happened in the courtroom of the Dali Temple.
"As expected, just as Mr. Bu Ke said, Emperor Wu is going to target the imperial family and those super-rank dukes."
This is an attempt to overturn the table before land consolidation gets out of control, break everything, reduce domestic conflicts, and allow the country to go further on the road to maritime trade prosperity, thus improving domestic development.
However, in this feudal society, the will of the supreme ruler truly can influence everything. If one day we extraordinary people were to have any ideas, we might also be sent to the gallows.
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