A group of people stood in a neat row in front of Li Chang'an, looking extremely respectful.
"You, come out."
Li Chang'an pointed at Qiu Yue, his face calm as still water.
Although she was a little apprehensive, Qiuyue still obediently stepped forward.
Do you recognize this?
Zhuque reached out and waved the bottle of putrid powder in front of Qiuyue's eyes, but kept her eyes fixed on the other person's face, wanting to see how she would react.
"I...I don't know..."
Qiuyue shook her head like a rattle-drum, and she did look very innocent.
"very good."
Zhuque gave a cold laugh, then pointed to the tray on the table next to him and said, "You can't possibly not recognize these things, can you?"
As she spoke, she looked in the direction she was pointing. Qiuyue was taken aback, then nodded obediently and said, "I know this. I brought it over yesterday to change Madam's dressing, but how did these fine cloths turn this color? They were perfectly fine when I brought them over yesterday!"
Seeing the puzzled look on the person's face and listening to her muttering to herself, Li Chang'an narrowed his eyes, wondering whether she was pretending or truly innocent.
But regardless of the truth, Akizuki is now the prime suspect.
Li Chang'an still had some doubts about the matter, but Zhuque, who was standing to the side, could no longer bear it. She immediately cut to the chase and said, "You really know how to pretend. It's a pity that people are watching what you do. You think you've done it very discreetly? But little do you know that the Corrupting Powder can change color!"
After saying that, Zhuque stared straight at the other person's face, trying to catch the subtle expressions on their face.
But to everyone's surprise, after hearing what she said, Qiuyue did not show any guilty conscience. Instead, a look of surprise flashed across her face, as if she did not quite understand what Zhuque had just said.
"You still won't confess! You dared to add putrid powder to the madam's medicine. Do you think we didn't do anything to you last time because you're too tough?"
This infuriated Zhuque. She felt that this girl was truly extraordinary. Although she was not very old, she was able to put on such a good show. Now that the evidence was right in front of her, she did not show any remorse for being caught doing something wrong.
Qiu Yue was immediately startled and hurriedly explained, "I really don't understand what you're talking about! What corruption powder? I've never used it!"
"You still want to deny it? You delivered the things, and you even lied to Madam that I sent you! I don't remember saying those things to you at all?"
At this moment, Suzaku was so angry that he gritted his teeth. He never expected that this person would be so stubborn.
Upon hearing this, Qiuyue immediately fell silent. Indeed, she had lied to Li Chang'an about this matter, but if she hadn't said so, Li Chang'an probably wouldn't have let her change her dressing at all.
Qiuyue is now filled with regret. She never imagined that the words she uttered in a moment of weakness would leave her unable to explain herself now.
Seeing that the other party lowered his head and remained silent, Zhuque felt that this person must have been hit where it hurt and had nothing to say. So she put on a stern face and said to Li Chang'an, "This person is really insidious and vicious. In my opinion, he should not be allowed to live."
Li Chang'an looked at the panicked Qiu Yue with a solemn expression. Although all the evidence was laid out before her, she still felt that something was amiss.
Because after Zhuque finished speaking, Li Chang'an also saw a fleeting look of surprise and confusion on Qiuyue's face.
Li Chang'an considered himself to have seen countless people, and under those circumstances, the emotions that flowed so naturally did not seem like they could be faked.
Unless this person had already prepared for the matter to be exposed and had prepared countermeasures in advance, and even anticipated how the other party would question her.
If that's really the case, then such a lowly maid is truly terrifying.
Upon hearing Zhuque say that she could not be spared, Qiuyue immediately turned pale with fright. She recalled the scene from that day when this terrifying woman threw a dagger in front of her.
Without even thinking, she knew what kind of ruthless person the other party was, and she couldn't help but feel more and more frightened.
“I’ll talk, I’ll talk. I admit I put salt in that bottle of medicine and soaked those rags in salt water… I was just angry and wanted to get revenge, but in the end, those things were useless to the lady…”
In order to save her own life, Qiuyue finally admitted to what she had done.
However, after hearing her words, it was Li Chang'an and Zhuque who were surprised.
Sprinkle salt?
What's going on here?
The doctor clearly said that the medicine and the fine cloth were mixed with putrid powder, so how did it turn into salt being sprinkled in?
Are you sure you added salt?
Li Chang'an raised an eyebrow and looked at Qiu Yue's panicked face, asking a question.
"I'm sure, I'm absolutely certain that the salt, I took it from the small kitchen, there's no mistake!"
Qiuyue nodded her head repeatedly, like a chick pecking at rice, in reply.
Seeing her trembling and fearful appearance, Li Chang'an had even less reason to doubt the truthfulness of what she said.
However, just to be on the safe side, Li Chang'an did not jump to conclusions. Instead, he walked straight up to Qiu Yue and said in a deep voice, "Extend your hand."
Upon hearing this, Qiuyue immediately panicked. She was now terrified of reaching out her hand, and even more afraid that if she did, the other person would chop off her fingers.
Seeing Qiuyue trembling and afraid to move, Zhuque became anxious and immediately stepped forward to forcefully pull Qiuyue's hands out.
"Just lend a hand when I tell you to. If you really haven't done anything wrong, why are you so afraid of me?"
As Zhuque spoke, she rolled her eyes at the other person with annoyance.
"Open your palm, I'm just taking a look, I won't do anything to you."
Li Chang'an continued speaking, his tone becoming much gentler, which eased Qiu Yue's concerns. So, as instructed, she opened both her palms.
Immediately afterwards, both Li Chang'an and Zhuque turned their gazes to the man's palm.
The doctor had said that even normal skin could peel, turn red, or even develop blisters after being exposed to rotten powder, and the two of them were here to verify this.
However, no matter how you look at it, Qiuyue's two palms are perfectly normal. They are soft and fair with clearly visible palm lines and two thin calluses, which must have been caused by long-term manual labor.
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