"And this too."
At this moment, Suzaku also came over with his discovery.
She was holding a pair of chopsticks, the tips of which had also changed color.
Clearly, these items must have been the tools used in the crime.
That medicine bottle probably contained putrefactive powder, and those two discolored items were likely contaminated with it as well.
However, for the sake of thoroughness, Li Chang'an still went over and carefully examined all the physical evidence.
She first opened the medicine bottle and smelled it, then smelled the winnowing basket and the tips of the chopsticks, confirming that all three items had the same sour and strange smell, undoubtedly from the putrid powder.
"The evidence is conclusive. Do you have anything else to say?"
After putting down what he was holding, Li Chang'an turned to look at Qin Xiashi and Xing'er, his tone carrying an awe-inspiring authority.
At this moment, Xing'er's back was covered in cold sweat, and her hands were gripping the hem of her clothes more and more tightly, as if she were grasping at some lifeline.
She was naturally very familiar with these things.
Because the Corruption Powder was indeed very dangerous, she deliberately put it in a black bottle when she got it to avoid confusion.
The winnowing basket was also used to dry the strips of cloth that had been soaked in water that had turned into rotten and disintegrated.
Those chopsticks were the tools she used to avoid getting her hands on the rotting, disintegrating water when she was retrieving the thin strips of cloth.
"No matter what you say, I only have one thing to say: I've never seen these things, and I know absolutely nothing about this matter!"
Qin Xia looked directly into Li Chang'an's eyes with a cold expression and answered him calmly, without revealing any flaws.
"Even now that things are at their most critical, you're still being so stubborn?"
Zhuque glared at Qin Xiashi with annoyance and couldn't help but ask another question.
Her worldview was truly shattered by these people today.
Having worked as a bodyguard for so many years, I've seen shameless people, people who pretend to be innocent, and people who are eloquent, but I really can't find anyone who can compare to the person in front of me.
"Vermilion Bird".
At this moment, Li Chang'an suddenly called out.
Upon hearing this, Zhuque turned to look at Li Chang'an, but seeing that the man waved at her, she could only retreat without saying anything more.
“If you confess to this yourself, I may consider giving you a lighter sentence.”
Li Chang'an ignored Qin Xiashi and instead turned to look at Xing'er beside her.
Upon hearing her words, Xing'er couldn't help but shudder. She then nervously swallowed and clenched her fists, just about to open her mouth to reply, when she was interrupted by Qin Xia Shi.
"Look at you! I've never seen anyone investigate things like this before. There are more than just Xing'er and me in my courtyard. Why are you only suspecting the two of us? If everyone were like you, there would probably be a long line of people crying and pleading for justice in front of the Jingzhao Prefecture!"
After hearing Qin Xia's words, Li Chang'an's expression hardened. She did not refute her, but turned to the two servants who had found the items and asked, "Where did you find these things?"
"This medicine bottle was found in the small house on the far west side."
"This winnowing basket was also found under the big tree behind that house."
After listening to their report, Li Chang'an nodded slightly, and then looked at Zhuque.
Zhuque raised an eyebrow and said, "What a coincidence, these chopsticks were also found over there, in the flowerpot in front of that house."
Hearing these people's words, Qin Xia couldn't help but reveal a wanton smile again.
Xing'er's expression changed repeatedly. She turned to look at Qin Xiashi, then at the small house where the evidence had been found, and a flood of questions and speculations welled up in her mind.
How could things have turned out this way?
Could it be...?
Suddenly startled, Xing'er cast an incredulous glance at Qin Xia Shi.
At this moment, Qin Xia met her gaze, but did not react much. She merely glanced at her briefly, then winked meaningfully before shifting her gaze elsewhere.
Who lives in that room?
Li Chang'an asked with a solemn expression.
“That…that’s Chun Tao’s house.”
Xing'er answered, her tone seemingly filled with disbelief even she couldn't quite believe it.
Upon hearing this, Li Chang'an's expression grew even more solemn. She glanced at Xing'er, who had a strange expression, and then called another maid in Qin Xia's courtyard to ask her the same question.
As expected, the answer I received was the same as what Xing'er had said.
This is truly fascinating.
A cold glint flashed in Li Chang'an's eyes, and then he looked at Qin Xiashi, who was still acting as if no one else was around.
Zhuque clearly hadn't expected things to turn out this way. She was completely confused, so she ordered two servants to bring over the maid named Chuntao.
When the person was brought there, he was holding a soap bar for washing clothes, his sleeves were rolled up at the elbows, and he was wearing a dirty apron. He was obviously brought there while he was working.
Looking at the little girl in front of him, Li Chang'an couldn't help but feel even more surprised.
This maid named Chuntao was only fifteen or sixteen years old at most. She wore very ordinary clothes made of coarse cloth. She was thin and small, and her face looked sallow, as if she were malnourished.
At this moment, she was timidly shrinking there with her head down, not daring to utter a sound. One hand was tightly clutching the soapberry, while the other hand was unconsciously gripping the corner of her apron.
"Are you Chuntao?"
Li Chang'an walked up to the man and asked him a question. For some reason, her tone sounded much gentler than before.
"Um...yes."
Chun Tao stammered a reply, nodding hastily as she spoke.
"Just answer me properly, why are you so scared?"
At this moment, Qin Xia suddenly interjected unhurriedly, and at the same time, a calculating glint flashed in her eyes.
But the implication was so obvious that anyone could tell she was implying something.
But Chun Tao seemed even more nervous after hearing her words, and immediately lowered her head and remained silent.
"Aunt Xia, it would be best if you didn't interrupt when Madam is asking questions, so as to avoid suspicion!"
Zhuque casually reminded Qin Xia Shi again, which made the other woman grit her teeth and glare at her fiercely.
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