Chapter 574 Adding them together is poison
Li San Niang understood Madam Song's predicament. The Song family had sent out invitations to all families more than a month in advance for their Mid-Autumn Festival flower viewing banquet, and today's guests were all prominent families in Chang'an.
To halt the entire banquet simply because of the death of a kitchen maid is utterly delusional and impossible.
Even in modern society, no one cares about the death of an insignificant person, let alone in this cannibalistic feudal society?
Besides, there's the matter of finding suitable women for Shi Le'an, as Sister-in-law Gao mentioned. How can we just stop offering these services or stop offering them so easily?
Li San Niang frowned as she looked at Madam Song. She really didn't want to get involved in other people's family affairs. Even if it wasn't a matter of the Song family, poisoning was still something to be proud of.
Before Li San Niang could think of what to say, another person barged into the kitchen.
When the man came in, he was somewhat surprised to see so many old people. However, when he saw that Madam Song had also come, he quickly bowed to Madam Song and Song Zhenzhu. Then he said, "I went to find Doctor Wang at our house. When I arrived at Doctor Wang's residence, only Doctor Wang's young apprentice was there. The child said that Doctor Wang suddenly received a message from home this morning, saying that Doctor Wang's mother had accidentally broken her leg at home, and that Doctor Wang should go home immediately."
Doctor Wang was extremely worried, so he gave the young apprentice a few words of advice and then left immediately.
This was the servant that Song Zhenzhu had sent to find the family doctor. Not to mention Li Sanniang, even those who knew nothing at the scene understood that it was no coincidence.
On such an important day, the mother of the family doctor whom the Song family was supporting broke her leg.
Madam Song's expression remained unchanged after hearing this, but she was deeply worried. She knew that something must have happened!
And this is no small matter; it must be something big with some reason behind it!
However, the immediate problem is whether the food prepared in the main kitchen is actually usable.
Therefore, Madam Song looked at Li San Niang again, her eyes filled with a pleading expression.
Actually, when Li San Niang was next to the girl who was vomiting, she had already seen what was in the food scraps the girl was vomiting, and she already had a guess in her mind.
If it were Li Sanniang, in this situation, the banquet should naturally be stopped, and the authorities should be notified immediately so that the constables and coroners of the Jingzhao Prefecture can investigate. Those who had close contact with the kitchen should also be carefully questioned to find out who the poisoner was.
After all, a girl died!
That's a human life!
But just like the reasons mentioned before, all those who came were important people, and the one who died was just a girl. How could they possibly offend these important people for the death of a seven or eight-year-old girl who looked like she was bought and had signed a contract to sell herself?
Facing Madam Song's anxious, worried, and pleading gaze, Li San Niang sighed inwardly, raised her head and said to Madam Song, "Madam, please give me the menu and find the steward who drafted the menu to show me the raw materials prepared in the kitchen. I will do my best."
However, Madam, you should still go to the front and delay for at least half an hour, while also preparing for the worst; it would be best to book a table at a restaurant outside.
Madam Song bowed deeply to Li San Niang, "In that case, I'll leave this place to Doctor Li for now, thank you."
Madam Song left Song Zhenzhu behind and quickly left with her maid and servants to deal with what Li San Niang had mentioned.
The girl who was still sitting on the ground holding the large pottery jar had stopped vomiting acid and should have recovered. The little girl named Hongxing was also pointed out by the short, fat old woman to the body of Qing, the girl who had stolen food with her a quarter of an hour earlier.
Hongxing still looked listless. The thought that she had almost met her match with Qingya filled her with fear, and she began to tremble all over.
But at a time like this, where is there time to make her scared or cry?
"You are the most important surviving witness and victim in this case. Don't worry, the Song family will definitely protect your life!"
Hongxing looked up at Li Sanniang with tears in her eyes. "Alright, let's not delay. Do you still remember what was in the bowl of food you and Qingya ate?"
Before you ate this dish, did you eat anything else from the kitchen?
Hongxing knew that Li Sanniang was the female doctor who had just given her acupuncture, and she also learned from the short, fat old woman what had happened while she was convulsing and unconscious.
Hongxing didn't know if what Li Sanniang said about the Song family protecting her life was true, but it seemed that she had no other choice but to believe Li Sanniang.
Hongxing and Qingya were both sold to human traffickers by their parents and were bought by the Song family a little over a month ago.
The Song family suddenly bought people from outside simply because the banquet they were hosting was quite large and they didn't have enough servants at home, so they bought a lot of people from human traffickers.
Hongxing signed a contract of servitude, making her the private property of the Song family. Even if she died, she would simply be sent to the mortuary outside the city as a mat.
No one will stand up for her justice, just like Qingya who is already dead. The fact that she was given a thin coffin in the end is already a sign of the Song family's kindness and righteousness.
Hongxing put down the large earthenware jar she was carrying. She was helped up by the short, plump old woman and led Li Sanniang to the kitchen. She pointed out all the food in her and Qingya's bowls to Li Sanniang.
Looking at the dozen or so dishes that were being served one by one, Li San Niang first rejected a few based on their appearance, then rejected a few more based on their smell, and finally focused her attention on the cold braised beef.
This beef is rare, but wealthy people can always find a way to eat it if they want to.
Take, for example, the braised beef at the Song family banquet. It was a spiced braised beef, and the chef had excellent knife skills. The slices were not exactly as thin as cicada wings, but they were only a few millimeters thick.
Li San Niang asked the chef in the kitchen who made cold dishes, and got the answer: "This plate of braised beef can be eaten plain, but some people like to eat it with coriander, minced ginger and garlic."
Therefore, finely chopped coriander, ginger, and garlic were placed next to this cold dish. If anyone prefers a stronger flavor, they can add it themselves.
Li San Niang nodded, but what she said next was: "This dish doesn't need to be served. Don't use the knife that was used to cut the coriander, ginger, and garlic again. It's not appropriate to use it here."
Upon hearing Li San Niang's words, the burly, thick-waisted, and fierce-faced chef was so frightened that he almost squatted down on the ground. "I...I didn't poison him!"
I didn't do that! I didn't do it!
"It may not be you. There are too many people in your kitchen who have come into contact with these two ingredients. Don't panic. I believe Mrs. Song will give you an explanation."
As for why Li San Niang specifically requested this cold dish?
The braised beef is fine, as are the cilantro, ginger, and garlic. The problem is that if you eat the cilantro, ginger, and garlic together, then something will go wrong.
Because coriander and minced ginger and garlic each contain a type of poison, that makes two kinds of poison.
However, consuming either of the two poisons alone will only cause some discomfort, roughly the kind of discomfort that resolves after a couple of bouts of diarrhea.
However, if the two are mixed together, this third poison is the culprit that sent Qingya to meet the King of Hell and almost poisoned Hongxing to death.
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