Chapter 152 Lovebirds, Dying Together
A delicate fragrance, reminiscent of osmanthus blossoms, filled the entire venue.
However, few people noticed this at the moment; instead, they were astonished by what they saw.
Ouyang Rong suddenly stood up.
Shen Xisheng also frowned and stood up. Wang Lengran raised his eyebrows slightly and glanced at Liu Ziwen, whose expression remained unchanged.
Yan Liulang shoved Liu Ziwen away and moved away from the Jade Cup Fairy.
The surrounding constables rushed forward and grabbed Liu Ziwen.
The constables looked on with suspicion.
Liu Ziwen opened his arms and let them search him.
The scene fell into brief chaos, but it was quickly quelled by Magistrate Diao and his men.
Xie Lingjiang rushed forward immediately, arriving in front of the fallen Jade Cup Fairy. She then quickly pressed several acupoints on her body with her fingers.
Unblock her acupoints so she can circulate spiritual energy to detoxify.
However, the poison seemed to be very strong. The Jade Cup Fairy's face was flushed red, then turned pale, and then turned liver-colored.
The Jade Cup Fairy's face stiffened, and bright red blood slowly flowed from her seven orifices, including her nose, eyes, and mouth. Her body then convulsed a few times.
Xie Lingjiang held her down, pinched her chin with his left hand, looked into the Jade Cup Fairy's mouth and seemed to find no poison in it. Then he grabbed the Jade Cup Fairy's wrist with his right hand, frowned and remained silent, and sent spiritual energy into her body.
Even as she lay on the ground, the Jade Cup Fairy's eyes, which had been bulging like dead fish eyes, still stared at Liu Ziwen's figure not far away, who appeared to be an innocent civilian cooperating with the body search.
"Wine...wine...compared to..."
The Jade Cup Fairy's face was ashen, and she let out a final "uh uh" sound. Xie Lingjiang frowned and put his ear close to hear those words.
"Wine? A contest?"
Xie Lingjiang looked around at the Jade Cup Fairy but found no wine or other beverages.
In addition, she remained quietly in the prison all night, and the Jade Cup Fairy's food and drink were all under her supervision, with no alcohol present.
Could it be the drinks we had earlier today?
Xie Lingjiang looked up in confusion, his gaze sweeping over the surrounding crowd before meeting that of the young magistrate behind the official desk in front of him.
Ouyang Rong turned his head, squinted at Liu Ziwen, and nodded in agreement:
"Master Liu, you're amazing."
"What is the magistrate saying? Wait, does he think this was done by a commoner?"
Liu Ziwen shook his head firmly, his tone innocent:
"I'm innocent, Your Honor! You and everyone else just saw it. I didn't touch her at all. She just collapsed on her own. I don't know what illness she had. You might be framing me or faking her death to escape punishment. I beg Your Honor to investigate thoroughly."
Ouyang Rong stared at him for a while, then smiled and nodded slightly, seemingly unhurried.
Liu Ziwen composed himself, lowered his eyes, and cooperated with the surrounding constables in detaining and searching him.
Before long, the chaos on the field gradually subsided, and Yan Liulang and the others, along with Xie Lingjiang, got up and went to Ouyang Rong's table.
Yan Liulang frowned, his expression serious: "Your Excellency, I found this item on Liu Ziwen."
Looking at the porcelain bottle covered with a red cloth presented to him, Ouyang Rong silently picked it up, glanced at it, and suddenly felt that it looked somewhat familiar.
This porcelain bottle is the same as the one Liu Ziwen handed him yesterday when he was pretending to be the Jade Cup Fairy, indicating that he should use poison.
The only difference was the color of the cloth covering the bottle; yesterday's porcelain bottle had a blue cloth. He placed yesterday's porcelain bottle in the Sika Deer Garden.
Ouyang Rong glanced coldly at Liu Ziwen, then handed the small porcelain bottle to an old coroner brought up by Yan Liulang.
The old coroner bent down to examine the porcelain bottle for poison identification.
While everyone was waiting, Xie Lingjiang said to Ouyang Rong:
"I don't know what kind of poison it is, but it's extremely potent. It has penetrated deep into my dantian and meridians, heading straight for my spiritual platform. I temporarily used my spiritual energy to seal off the spread of the poison, but this poison is extremely destructive within my body. I've fainted, but this is not a long-term solution. We must find an antidote, otherwise the best outcome will be paralysis, no different from being dead."
Ouyang Rong let out a long breath and remained silent. Just then, the old coroner lowered his head and pondered for a long time before putting down the porcelain bottle and stepping forward.
Under the hopeful gazes of Yan Liulang and the others, the old coroner presented the porcelain bottle again. He did not report it in public, but sighed and walked slowly to Ouyang Rong, whose face was calm, and whispered a few words to him.
Everyone was curious upon seeing this.
Liu Ziwen struggled against the constables behind him and stepped forward, saying:
“Your Excellency, Magistrate, Lord Wang, Lord Shen, this is merely a sachet that I carry with me; it is not some ferocious beast.”
After listening to the old coroner's whisper, Ouyang Rong silently took the small porcelain bottle, glanced at it with his eyes down, and then looked up at Liu Ziwen.
He didn't speak.
Liu Ziwen forced a smile, but beads of sweat were faintly visible on his forehead.
Ouyang Rong's reaction made her, who had been relaxed, tense up again.
They were afraid that the young magistrate would get angry and directly accuse him of a crime.
Just then, a slightly high-pitched male voice rang out on the field.
"Lord Ouyang."
It was Wang Lengran, the governor of Jiangzhou, who had remained silent since the start of the public trial.
He stroked his goatee with his fingers, smiled, and turned to say:
"Has the coroner made any discoveries? You can speak up and let everyone hear them. If it really was Liu Ziwen who poisoned the witness in court, then no one can protect him. This official and Lord Shen are here to stand up for him. We will not wrong an innocent person, but we will never let a bad person go free."
Xie Lingjiang frowned and glanced at the Jiangzhou governor, whose attitude and words seemed somewhat off.
She suddenly thought of a question she had overlooked before: why did the female immortal in the jade cup, who was impersonating the senior brother, choose to attack and kill the inspector Shen Xisheng instead of Wang Lengran? Or rather, why didn't they both get chopped up?
In the silence, Xie Lingjiang couldn't help but look at her senior brother, who also glanced at her. The two siblings looked at each other, seemingly thinking the same thing.
Then, Ouyang Rong nodded slightly to the old coroner, whose face looked troubled, and said, "Speak."
The old coroner bowed and spoke frankly:
"My lords, please forgive my limited knowledge, but this thing... should be non-toxic, and has a faint osmanthus fragrance. I do not know its purpose."
Liu Ziwen sighed, "It's just a sachet. If you don't believe me, you can let everyone smell it."
"Shut up! How dare you! This is a courtroom, what right do you have to interrupt?"
Yan Liulang turned and scolded him. Liu Ziwen choked and fell silent.
Outside the courtroom, among the waiting members of the Liu family, Liu Zi'an, standing at the very front, glanced at his elder brother without making a sound, and then at the fallen Jade Cup Fairy.
He recalled the farewell wine his elder brother had offered to the Jade Cup Fairy and the Chang'an Swordsman yesterday when they were all seeing them off.
The swordsman from Chang'an didn't drink it, but the fairy in the jade cup did...
Liu Ziwen is not a writer.
As Liu Zian lowered his eyes and remained silent, all eyes were drawn to the ceremonial desk. Wang Lengran nodded slightly and addressed Ouyang Rong:
"My lord, it seems that Liu Ziwen is indeed not involved. However, we hope that Lord Ouyang will investigate carefully which villain poisoned him. Poisoning a witness in court would have a terrible impact."
The governor of Jiangzhou sighed and shook his head, his brows furrowed, seemingly quite worried about the security situation in Longcheng County.
"So Liu Ziwen has cleared himself of all charges? This sorcerer called Jade Cup Fairy was about to speak when he was poisoned to death. Now, no one can argue with Liu Ziwen anymore. Are there really so many coincidences in the world?"
"I believe anyone with eyes can see this clearly. Moreover, the most basic logic for solving a case is to determine who benefits the most and who is the most suspicious. Lord Wang is well-fed and clothed and is not familiar with local affairs. It would be better for him to refrain from speaking and avoid misleading the people or interfering with the county magistrate's handling of the case."
Shen Xisheng turned his head and said seriously.
Wang Lengran glanced at him and snorted lightly, "I am merely offering a suggestion; it is Lord Shen who is truly concerned."
Shen Xisheng didn't look at him, but turned to Ouyang Rong and said seriously:
“Lord Ouyang, you should focus on judging the case. Longcheng County is your jurisdiction, and neither I nor Lord Wang will overstep our bounds.”
Ouyang Rong nodded silently, "Thank you, Lord Shen and Lord Wang."
Despite this, it was clear to everyone on the field that Wang Lengran was subtly supporting Liu Ziwen.
Let alone the fact that the young county magistrate was upright and honest, even if he wanted to use underhanded tricks to force a confession or forcibly frame someone, he would probably be thwarted by the governor of Jiangzhou.
Xie Lingjiang, Yan Liulang, and the others looked at Ouyang Rong with worried expressions.
Ouyang Rong turned his head and glanced at the Jade Cup Fairy, who was bleeding from all seven orifices and had fallen into a coma not far away.
As it turned out, he was still careless and negligent, or rather, his opponent was far more cunning than he was, and he was too kind-hearted. The chain of evidence linking the Liu family's bombing of Di Gong's gate and sending thugs to impersonate the county magistrate and assassinate the inspector broke down with the Jade Cup Fairy. Until the latter awakens again, there may be new evidence; otherwise, it seems difficult to pin these two capital offenses on the Liu family and Liu Ziwen.
After a brief moment of self-reflection, the young magistrate took a deep breath and then shook his head slightly at Xie, Yan, and the others, indicating that they should not rush.
Shortly after, the public trial resumed, targeting Ouyang Rong's charges of the Liu family bombing the gate of Di Gong and impersonating the county magistrate to assassinate the inspector.
Ouyang Rong released some more evidence he had collected, although it was not as compelling as the previous evidence presented by witnesses such as the Jade Cup Fairy.
However, it can be proven that Mr. Chen and other sluice gate repairmen and the Jade Cup Fairy were all previously paid by the Liu family and had a subordinate relationship.
Liu Ziwen had no choice but to insist that it was the Jade Cup Fairy. As to whether the Jade Cup Fairy or Liu Ziwen was the mastermind behind the explosion and assassination, it was impossible to reach a definitive conclusion for the time being.
Finally, the public trial lasted another hour, until the sun was close to noon, and a preliminary charge was settled.
For crimes that are not punishable by death, apart from the unavoidable caning like Liu Zilin's case last time, other forms of imprisonment can be redeemed with money through connections, and the Liu family is not short of money.
Xie Lingjiang, Yan Liulang, and most of the people in the audience who resented the Liu family became increasingly quiet as they listened.
Shen Xisheng looked up at the sun, took a sip of tea, put down his cup, and said kindly, "Lord Ouyang, it's getting late, why don't you rest for a bit?"
Ouyang Rong rubbed his face, put down the case file in his hand, and announced a suspension of the public trial and a lunch break.
The atmosphere on the field immediately relaxed.
Ouyang Rong, however, showed no sign of letting up. He turned and summoned Xie Lingjiang and Yan Liulang, bowing his head to give them instructions:
"No need to be discouraged. The charges of blowing up the gate and assassination were just icing on the cake, an unexpected bonus. Since we can't convict Liu Ziwen, let's stick to the original plan: the missing female worker at the sword shop, and the other people who accused the Liu family of their evil deeds..."
"You guys go find Ah Shan and ask him if he's ready. Also... Liu Lang, go to the Deer Park and get me a porcelain bottle. It's in... Don't be impatient. Liu Ziwen won't be able to escape in the second half."
Ouyang Rong calmly gave the order, and Xie Lingjiang and Yan Liulang, upon seeing this, regained some of their enthusiasm.
With the trial temporarily suspended, Liu Ziwen looked relieved, though his face was tired.
He exchanged a glance with Wang Lengran, who was not far away, without making a sound, seemingly expressing his gratitude.
Before long, seeing Ouyang Rong calmly talking to his subordinates at the magistrate's desk and occasionally glancing over, the young master of the Liu family's face darkened again. He quickened his pace, turned around, and left the open space of the public hall. The gaze of a certain young county magistrate behind him made him feel like he was being pricked by thorns.
Outside the courtroom, the ordinary people who had formed circles around the hall instinctively made way for the young master of the Liu family.
Liu Ziwen, who held considerable power in Longcheng County, didn't even glance at the fearful and hateful faces of the lowly people around him. He rubbed his face, his tired expression showing a hint of contemplation, as if he were thinking about how to handle the second half of the battle.
Not far from the crowd, Liu Zian and Liu Zilin were leading their servants to hurry up and greet them.
Liu Zilin looked excited.
Liu Zian smiled.
The second-in-command of the Liu family walked at the front, unfolding a cloak prepared for his elder brother, and went forward to greet him.
Having temporarily escaped the perilous courtroom, Liu Ziwen saw them, walked across the path cleared by the crowd with his hands behind his back, and headed towards his two younger brothers who were there to greet him.
Suddenly, a gray felt hat fell to the ground from the crowd on both sides. A man bent down to pick it up. Liu Ziwen, who was passing by, caught a glimpse of a figure below him and frowned slightly: "Don't block the way..."
Before he could finish speaking, the bent-over man pulled a dazzling white light from his hat and thrust it diagonally upwards into Liu Ziwen's stomach.
This strike.
A white knife goes in, a red knife comes out.
"Ah—!" Liu Ziwen screamed and staggered back.
While the crowd on both sides was stunned, the man in the felt hat chased after Liu Ziwen with a blood-stained blade in hand, tackled him, and pinned him down.
Another cut.
This time it's the chest.
A red knife goes in, a red knife comes out.
"You..." Liu Ziwen's voice stopped abruptly, his mouth wide open and his eyes wide.
His hands instinctively gripped the hilt of the knife the man in the felt hat had plunged into his chest. From a distance, the two men's "sticky" posture seemed very intimate, as if Liu Ziwen had gripped the hilt and thrust it into his own chest.
This sudden change happened in less than three breaths. The crowd fell into a deathly silence, and the people all watched helplessly, without anyone stepping forward to help.
Seemingly because he missed the vital heart, the man in the felt hat suddenly drew his knife, preparing to deliver a third blow. But at that moment, Liu Zilin, Liu Zian, and the others, who were not far away, came to their senses and rushed forward.
"Big brother!"
The man in the felt hat was tackled to the side by Liu Zilin, whose face was full of grief and indignation.
The man in the felt hat kicked the third young master of the Liu family aside, and in front of everyone, he turned sharply and shouted loudly towards the direction of the ceremonial desk not far away:
"My lord, I'm off!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the man slit his own throat with a bloody blade, then collapsed to the ground, convulsing.
Upon hearing this, the constables, including Yan Liulang, who had rushed over, were all stunned. They didn't even step forward to check on Liu Ziwen's injuries immediately. Instead, they turned their heads and looked at a young county magistrate in the distance.
Ouyang Rong: "..."
The entire venue erupted in cheers.
Amidst the overwhelming noise all around.
"Big brother!" Liu Ziwen collapsed into Liu Zian's arms, the latter crying out in grief and indignation.
Two knives pierced Liu Ziwen's chest, yet his heart continued to beat. Although the wounds hadn't struck a vital spot, he clutched his chest, gasping for breath, and opened his mouth to speak. Suddenly, his entire body convulsed. Liu Ziwen's eyes widened in disbelief, and bright red blood slowly flowed from his nose, eyes, mouth, and other seven orifices—signs similar to those of the Jade Cup Fairy who had been poisoned earlier…
A delicate fragrance, reminiscent of osmanthus, still lingered throughout the venue.
The blood-stained white blade lay on the ground, its cold light gleaming.
One of the dungeon bosses died, guys, don't be so harsh (just kidding).
(End of this chapter)
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