Chapter 577 Wealth, Love, and Lust
While Li Sanniang was waiting for Di Renjie in the hall, she learned from Madam Song who the woman who died in the main hall where the female guests were having their feast was, and that the woman who had caused the injury had also been apprehended.
However, because she was a woman, she was directly placed under the supervision of a female official of the Jingzhao Prefecture and was not detained with the man who had injured someone at the male guest's place.
Therefore, Li San Niang did not see who it was, but judging from what Madam Song said, there must be a reason for everything.
According to Madam Song, "The one who died was Fen Niang, the wife of the youngest son of the Liu family, and the one who did it was Qing Niang, the wife of the youngest son of the third branch of the Sun family."
Liu Sanlang, the youngest son of the Liu family, and Sun Qilang, the youngest son of the third branch of the Sun family, were from the same academy. They knew each other and had a good relationship.
Everything I've said has a reason, because," Madam Song glanced at Li Sanniang, sighed, and continued, "Liu Sanlang is two years older than Sun Qilang. Liu Sanlang got married first and brought Fenniang home."
Two years later, Sun Qilang finally married Qingniang.
In the past, at various family banquets, we occasionally heard Qingniang making sarcastic remarks to Fenniang. At first, we thought it was just a quarrel caused by the young wife's jealousy.
Nafenniang was indeed beautiful, and after becoming a wife, she became even more stunning.
However, at one banquet hosted by the Gao family, Fenniang and Qingniang got into a fight in the garden, tearing out a handful of their hair.
From Qingniang's words, we learned that Qingniang was picking on Fenniang because Sun Qilang had praised Fenniang to Qingniang at home. It is estimated that those words of praise offended Qingniang, which is why she would argue with Fenniang whenever she met her.
As a result, each family tries to separate the two people when hosting a banquet, or they invite one family but not this one.
This time, our family's banquet was to find a suitable bride for General Shi Le'an, so we couldn't leave out either family and invited both families.
But when the tables were set up, they were clearly separated, so why were the two of them still put at the same table?
Moreover, that maiden actually brought a dagger with her!
"Ugh, what a mess this is!"
Li San Niang nodded to Madam Song, thinking to herself, "This is probably a premeditated poisoning murder case."
He was carrying a dagger probably because he couldn't poison the animals, so he used the dagger instead.
Most cases in this world boil down to money, love, and lust. If what Madam Song said is true, then the case the Song family is facing this time involves two of those three things.
"Does Madam know whose son the imprisoned man is? Is he related to Liu Sanlang or Sun Qilang?"
"I……"
Before Madam Song could answer, a group of people finally arrived at the entrance of the main hall.
Li San Niang not only saw Di Shaoqing, but also the two officials, Wang Jian and Su Qi, who were always by Di Shaoqing's side.
Li San Niang couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "What kind of situation is this? Whenever a major case occurs, I always see Di Shaoqing appear."
After the people from the Dali Temple arrived, they naturally took over the case from the Jingzhao Prefecture.
Li San Niang also saw that Di Renjie and his two companions first listened to the words of the head constable of the Jingzhao Prefecture and looked at the paper handed to them by the head constable before they went to look at the more than ten corpses lying on the ground.
Soon after, the people from the Dali Temple divided the work: some performed autopsies, others looked for people to understand the situation, and they also dispersed everyone, with the officials leading them to different rooms to wait for their names to be called.
However, Li San Niang felt that this was probably useless, since they hadn't separated before, so what was the point of separating them again now?
But they are officials, and you are a commoner. You should just obediently listen to them and do as they say.
Thus, Li San Niang and Qiu Xiang were led by others, along with Madam Song, Madam Song, and Song Zhenzhu, to a room in the Song family's guest courtyard.
"Please wait a moment, everyone. If the higher-ups need anything, they will come to fetch someone."
Li San Niang noticed that Madam Song and Madam Song were visibly more relaxed. When Madam Song saw the questioning look in Li San Niang's eyes, she picked up the teapot on the table, poured tea, and explained to Li San Niang, "Although my Song family has no kinship with Di Shaoqing, I know that Di Shaoqing is very capable in handling cases. Even my master has praised him."
We have nothing to fear if we haven't done anything wrong.
With such an impartial judge as Di Shaoqing coming to the Song family to hear the case, it's clear that the Song family hasn't done anything wrong. We were just unlucky to host this banquet, which allowed the wicked to take advantage of the situation.
When the time comes, finding the mastermind behind the murder and clearing the Song family's name will be the best outcome.
Now, all we have to do is wait.
Who knows, they might not even need to question us; they might find the murderer directly.
Madam Song's apparent trust in Di Renjie amused Li San Niang.
The common people felt that having a fair and just official was a great thing, as it would ensure that the people in the area would not be wronged and would receive fairness and justice.
The fact that the Song family, a noble family, had such high regard for Di Renjie's impartiality as the matriarch demonstrates how deeply his ability to solve cases and his integrity in fair trials were respected.
Therefore, it is only right that the case of a high-ranking noble family in Chang'an City, in which more than ten people died at once, should be handled by the Dali Temple.
He had barely drunk half a cup of tea when someone knocked on the door and came in.
First, he summoned Song Zhenzhu, then after a quarter of an hour he summoned Madam Song, and after a while he finally summoned Madam Song the First.
About fifteen minutes later, Li San Niang and Qiu Xiang were finally summoned.
Upon arriving at the destination, instead of the main hall where the body had been visited, they found themselves in a normal-sized main hall. Di Renjie sat at the head of the table, with Wang Jian and Su Qi standing to his side. On the other side stood a junior official from the Jingzhao Prefecture, and behind him was the head constable.
After exchanging greetings, Wang Jian stepped forward and asked some basic questions.
Why have you come today?
When did you arrive?
After arriving, where did you first stay? And where did you go next?
After Li San Niang answered these questions, Di Shaoqing, who was sitting at the head of the table, winked at her and said, "According to Madam Song and Madam Song, Doctor Li went to the kitchen to help save people when the young lady of the Song family came to see him."
Please explain in detail, Dr. Li.
Li San Niang then carefully recounted her actions to everyone, "...That's why I was able to confirm that the girl had been poisoned."
...Later, after it was discovered that the poison was in the coriander and minced ginger and garlic in the side dishes of the braised beef, I was sent back to the banquet by the young lady of the Song family.
...and then the incident happened where a woman two tables away from us injured someone with a dagger.
When we tried to go out, we were stopped at the gate by constables from the Jingzhao Prefecture.
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