If Lu Baichuan remembered correctly, there was wet mud like this next to the well in the backyard, because water would splash outside when you drew it.
Generally, only people who have been to the well will have this kind of mud on their shoes.
Lu Baichuan walked over and said, "Let him go."
The people from the Fire Cloud Division made way for him. The scholar was overjoyed, thanked Lu Baichuan, and hurriedly walked away.
Lu Baichuan said to one of his men, "Follow him and see what he's up to."
"yes!"
Lu Baichuan stepped into the courtyard and saw Lei Zi and the others standing next to Kang Xiucai with nothing to do, so he waved them over.
Several people rushed over like the wind, excitedly asking, "Third Uncle, is something the matter?"
"Hmm, do you know that scholar who just went out?"
Lei Zi nodded and said, "I know him. His name is Meng Zhang. He and Mr. Kang usually have a pretty good relationship."
Lu Baichuan then asked, "Does he have servants attending to him?"
"Yes, he does, but his servant doesn't seem to be here today; I haven't seen him yet."
Lei Zi scratched his head, puzzled. He hadn't seen Meng Zhang's servant today. Where had he gone?
"Come on, take me to see where he lives."
Lu Baichuan walked inside with his hands behind his back, already having made his plans.
The person who poisoned him was most likely Meng Zhang.
Lei Zi and the others were still relatively naive, and they hesitated upon hearing this: "Isn't this a bit inappropriate?"
Lu Baichuan said seriously, "What if he is the one who poisoned me?"
"Huh? No way?"
Lei Zi's eyes widened: "Brother Meng is in the same class as our teacher and they even live in the same courtyard. They usually have a very good relationship."
Did he make the list today?
"Ah, I don't think so..."
Lei Zi had already figured it out, but when he thought about how Meng Zhang would bring them the pastries he had bought when they came here to play before, he remembered that Meng Zhang would bring them the pastries he had bought.
They had a very good impression of Brother Meng.
Lu Baichuan wasn't surprised at all and continued, "You all say he has a good relationship with Mr. Kang, but with such a big incident happening to Mr. Kang today, did he even come to check on him? Also, where did his servant go all of a sudden?"
Lei Zi had nothing more to say, so he lowered his head and led Lu Baichuan to Meng Zhang's room.
Meng Zhang's room didn't seem particularly special, but the servant's room outside looked rather messy, as if he had rushed out while still asleep and hadn't returned to tidy up the bed yet.
Lu Baichuan stepped forward and looked around carefully, but found nothing unusual.
Lei Zi said, "Third Uncle, his package is gone. We came here before, and his package was always placed by his bedside because he said there were some things in the package that he needed to retrieve, and it would be convenient to put it here."
The others who saw this also nodded in agreement.
Lu Baichuan called Lou Chong in and ordered, "Go and arrest him."
"yes."
When Kang Xiucai and several other people who lived in the same courtyard saw this, they came over to watch the commotion, their faces filled with disbelief.
Meng Zhang usually had a pretty good relationship with them.
But today, three people in the courtyard passed the imperial examination, only he and another person failed.
Another type is from a wealthy family who doesn't like studying but is forced to by their family. They don't work hard and therefore don't react much to failing the imperial examination.
The others all came from poor families and wanted to change their fate through the imperial examinations, so they all worked very hard.
Today, since Meng Zhang failed the imperial examination, everyone secretly discussed not to appear too excited, lest they upset him.
But when they all drank the tea and felt unwell, Meng Zhang didn't come to inquire about their stomachs. He stayed in his room the whole time and just now hurriedly went out again.
The truth seems to be on the verge of being revealed.
Several newly appointed scholars who had passed the imperial examinations stood there looking at each other, unable to believe that Meng Zhang had done it. But all the evidence they could find pointed to Meng Zhang, and it seemed there was nothing left to defend him.
Kang Xiucai also looked devastated, standing there silently for a long time.
As for the yamen runners who came to offer their congratulations, they were there to celebrate, but they ended up in trouble after just a sip of tea. Now they can't leave even if they want to, and they can only wait a while to go see a doctor together.
People from other courtyards who had come to watch the commotion had all quietly left. Sometimes, getting caught up in bad gossip can bring bad luck.
At this moment, He Jiuniang arrived, holding the dog who was still sleeping in her arms.
Upon seeing this, Lu Baichuan hurriedly went over and took his son from him.
He Jiuniang shook her slightly numb hands and asked, "What's the situation now?"
"It has been preliminarily determined that Meng Zhang, who works in the same hospital, poisoned the water out of jealousy. People have been sent to arrest him, but the specific reasons will only be known after interrogation."
Lu Baichuan answered, then asked He Jiuniang, "Why did you come here?"
"After examining the patients, I learned that there were still people poisoned here, so I came to check on them, to save so many people from having to run to the clinic."
He Jiuniang sighed. This was supposed to be a good day, but it turned out like this. The person who poisoned her was truly vicious.
Kang Xiucai knew how busy He Jiuniang was usually, and seeing that He Jiuniang still took the time to come and help him, his guilt was even more palpable.
He Jiuniang pretended not to see his remorseful expression and said to the group of people who had been poisoned, "Bring me a long table to the yard, and then have everyone line up and lie down for acupuncture."
Is this about making them lie on a table in the yard and get acupuncture?
Everyone looked rather grim, but this was the only way to get rid of the poison.
Seeing this, He Jiuniang understood the awkwardness of these ancient people and said, "The light in the courtyard is good, so it's not easy to make a mistake. Please bear with it."
"It's alright, it's alright. Thank you, Doctor He, for coming here personally to detoxify us!"
One of the scholars immediately smiled and spoke up, and the others also said that it was alright, they could handle it!
He Jiuniang nodded and instructed the young apprentice who had come with her to prepare everything that was needed.
Although they were poisoned by the same poison, their constitutions and the dosage of the tea they drank were different, so the dosage of the antidote was different for each person. He Jiu Niang had to write a prescription for each person, prepare the medicine and boil it separately, and even the acupuncture points were different, which was very troublesome.
Just as they were working on the second person, Meng Zhang, who had run away earlier, was brought back.
"Let me go! Why are you arresting me? Do you officials think you can just arrest people at will?"
Meng Zhang's face was full of anger, as if he had been wronged.
But after hearing Lu Baichuan's analysis, everyone was certain that he was the one who poisoned the water, and seeing him like this, they felt no sympathy for him at all.
"Meng Zhang, we usually get along quite well, why did you poison us!"
One impatient man couldn't contain himself and stepped forward to question Meng Zhang.
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