The physician and coroner looked at Wu Zhaoyin, who nodded in agreement. They then cut open the needle again to test for poison, and this time the silver needle did not change color.
Xu Yuehuai and the others breathed a sigh of relief. "Lord Wu Zhaoyin, this proves that Miss Ye's poisoning has nothing to do with our Zhenxiufang, right?"
Wu Zhaoyin's eyes flashed. "Zhenxiufang cannot be unsealed for the time being. We have to wait until the murderer is found."
Xu Yuehuai did not object: "Sir, I think we should investigate how many times the pastries passed through the hands of the Ye family after they bought them from our Zhenxiufang that day. There might be a murderer among them."
Wu Zhaoyin nodded and left with the doctor and the coroner.
...
"Prefect Wu of the Capital Prefecture has arrived; perhaps there's been some progress in the case," a subordinate reported to Steward Song.
"Yes, go and invite Lord Wu to the front hall," said Steward Song, before heading to the front hall.
After Lord Wu finished speaking, he took the pastry that had already been cut open and tested for poison, along with the doctor and the coroner, to the front hall.
"Steward Song, is Miss Ye feeling any better?" Lord Wu asked Steward Song with concern as soon as he saw him.
Butler Wu remained silent, nodding as if in response, before asking, "Lord Wu, has there been any progress in the case?"
"I've come here specifically for the case, and I need the cooperation of the Ye family," Lord Wu explained.
Butler Song frowned upon hearing this, somewhat displeased: "Isn't the cause of the case obvious? Do we, the victims, need to cooperate with the investigation?"
Lord Wu could only laugh it off: "It's just that our Ye family bought the pastries from Zhenxiufang that day. Who bought them? Could they have gone through someone else's hands?"
Butler Song was even more displeased upon hearing this: "Lord Wu, do you suspect that someone from the Ye family is harming our young lady?"
"Of course not." Lord Wu said, waving his hand. The coroner and the doctor opened the box of pastries and presented it to Steward Song.
"Lord Wu, what do you mean by this?" Steward Song asked, puzzled.
Lord Wu was not displeased by Steward Song's attitude earlier, but continued seriously, "This pastry is indeed from Zhenxiufang, but it has definitely been tampered with by someone else."
"You see, the pastry itself isn't poisonous; it's the red powder on the outside that's poisonous," he said, revealing the key point.
Butler Song frowned and began to carefully recall who the comprador was that day and whether it had been handled by someone else.
At this moment, Wang Er, who was beside him, began to panic, but pretended to be calm.
Lord Wu, who had long been accustomed to seeing all sorts of storms, could tell at a glance that Wang Er was definitely up to something.
When Steward Song saw that Lord Wu was staring at Wang Er, he also shifted his gaze. Wang Er couldn't withstand their stares and gave in immediately.
"I remember now, it was Wang Er who led the people to buy it that day, and he was the one who came to me when the problem arose on the way back," Butler Song recalled the events of that day.
"Take him away." Upon hearing this, Lord Wu ordered Wang Er to be arrested.
Butler Song did not stop him; instead, he hoped that Lord Wu could find out the truth.
Miss Ye is the apple of everyone's eye in the Ye family, and no one is allowed to harm her. If anyone dares to do so, he will be the first to not let that person off the hook.
Now that we have the evidence and the suspect, all that's needed is a trial to reach a verdict. Seeing that the truth was finally about to come to light, Lord Wu smiled.
But to everyone's utter surprise, no sooner had Lord Wu arrested Wang Er and taken him to the Jingzhao Prefecture prison than he had to invite the people from Zhenxiufang to confront him, and Wang Er died.
"Reporting to your Excellency, Wang Er has died with blood flowing from all seven orifices," a servant rushed in to report.
One reason was that the prisoner had died, and they were afraid that Lord Wu would blame them for their negligence. The other reason was that Wang Er not only bled from all seven orifices, but also bled black blood, and died with his eyes wide open, a truly horrifying sight.
When Lord Wu received the news, he was indeed quite angry, but fortunately it did not affect his ability to close the case. However, he had been running around for several days on this matter, but in the end he still couldn't vent his anger.
The incident of Zhenxiufang pastries being poisoned was a major news story in Beijing. Now that the case is closed, a notice has been posted to appease the public.
As soon as he thought of this, Lord Wu immediately had a notice written and posted.
[Notice: The claim that Zhenxiufang pastries were poisoned was a complete fabrication. The real culprit—Wang Er, a guard at the Ye family mansion—has been apprehended. Zhenxiufang has resumed normal operations. Wang Er, who plotted against his master and framed others, committed an unforgivable crime and has committed suicide out of fear of punishment.]
"Great, Manager Xu, we can open for business again." Anan had just gone out and saw a notice posted outside that the real culprit had been found and Zhenxiufang had been exonerated.
Xu Yuehuai was overjoyed to hear the news and immediately opened the door to prepare materials, planning to resume business the next day.
"Have you heard? The pastries from Zhenxiufang are fine; the problem lies with the Ye family." The passersby outside were also discussing this matter.
"I always thought Manager Xu was a good person, how could she harm others? It turns out that someone else harmed her."
Passersby outside discussed the matter, and Xu Yuehuai listened with mixed feelings, thankfully the matter was all in the past.
"Third Sister, you watch the shop for a while. I've prepared some pastries; I want to go to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion to thank them." Xu Yuehuai said, about to take the pastries and leave.
Third Sister also knew that if the Duke of Zhenguo hadn't intervened and obtained the evidence pastries for them, the case wouldn't have been closed so quickly.
"Okay, be careful on the road," Third Sister instructed her, but she was busy making pastries. Although the business had just reopened, it was even more popular than before.
Xu Yuehuai had just stepped out of the Zhenxiufang restaurant when he saw the sedan chairs of the Duke of Zhenguo and his wife already outside the gate, so he immediately went to greet them.
"Lord Duke, Madam, what brings you here? I was just about to deliver some pastries to your residence," Xu Yuehuai said as she led them into the private room.
"Let's take a look at the delicacies from this fine food shop," said the Duchess of Zhenguo with a smile. She picked up a pastry, took a bite, and was amazed by the taste. "A-Yue, your pastry is really delicious."
The Duke of Zhenguo also sat at the table, drinking tea and chatting, creating a very harmonious atmosphere.
"Have you heard? The Duke of Zhenguo went there on the first day that Zhenxiufang reopened."
"Oh my, so Xu Yuehuai is actually backed by the Duke of Zhenguo."
The news spread quickly throughout the capital, and everyone rushed to Zhenxiufang, whether to catch a glimpse of the Duke and Duchess of Zhenguo or to savor the delicious food there.
"Liu Xin, help me with my makeup and dressing. I want to go to Zhenxiufang myself." After recovering, Ye Zhenzhen, the young lady of the Ye family, heard the whole story. She was also a victim, but the matter was caused by the Ye family, and in the end, it was the Ye family who were blamed. Not only did they frame others, but they also delayed their business.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com