Wei Wangqing stepped out the door, only to see Chen Zhiyan waiting outside.
"You've arrived."
"Yes. I heard you came to my residence, so I came looking for you."
"What...is your relationship with the Lin family head?"
"Your Highness knows them?"
"Um."
“My father’s lineage is a branch of the Lin family. According to seniority, the head of the family should be my aunt.”
"Oh. Let's go then." What a coincidence.
"Your Highness seems troubled. May I ask for your help?"
It's good to talk about it. "I'm thinking of calling the people out to comfort them and give them hope for survival. Do you think that's feasible?"
"Of course it's good, Your Highness. What's troubling you?"
"It's nothing." Wei Wangqing smiled. That's true. Just do what you think of and don't overthink it.
"Let's go, let's investigate the poisoning first."
In front of the Li family's house.
'Knock knock knock'.
Nobody's driving it.
Wei Wangqing gave Li Nuo a wink.
Li Nuo stepped forward and called out, "Is anyone here? Please open the door. We are sent by the imperial court to investigate the plague."
Only then did someone come out and open the door.
"Is it Miss Li?"
"My surname is Li, but I am not a young lady. Ahem, please just call me Old Li."
"Could you take us to see your second young lady's room?"
"Sure, ever since... well, we haven't touched her room. You can look if you want."
Wei Wangqing and the others went inside and took a look. It was quite ordinary, with nothing different.
"Was there anything unusual about her before she contracted the plague? Where did she go?"
"Nothing's different, cough cough, just like always." The woman turned away and coughed twice more.
But thinking about poisoning, Wei Wangqing first checked the window for any holes. Good, there weren't any. The television misled me.
That's water and food.
Do you usually eat together?
"Yes, our family isn't a wealthy one, so of course we all eat together."
Then all that's left is water.
Wei Wangqing picked up the teacup on the table.
There's no water left inside, but that doesn't necessarily mean we can't find anything.
"Can we take this bowl with us?"
"Sure." A bowl isn't worth much.
Wei Wangqing thought for a moment and then asked, "Does your waiter know the eldest daughter of the Wang family?"
"We're all from these streets, we know each other, but to say we're really close, that's not really true."
"Okay, I understand, thank you."
"No, no, I can't accept that."
"Does she have enemies?" Chen Zhiyan asked.
“My second son is the most honest of all, how could he have any grudges against anyone?”
The two looked at each other, neither having anything more to ask.
Li Nuo gave the Li family a piece of silver.
The group then went to the Wang family's house.
There was nothing particularly unusual about it, so it seems to have been indiscriminate poisoning.
But why did those two die so quickly, while everyone else was able to hold on for so long?
Wei Wangqing had someone deliver the bowl to Wu Changming to see if any voodoo could be detected.
Wei Wangqing noticed that Chen Zhiyan's expression wasn't good either. Right, he'd been here for a while now, could it be...?
Are you alright?
"I feel a little unwell, but it's nothing."
"Why don't you go back and rest first? The investigation is our job, you don't need to follow us around like this."
Chen Zhiyan knew that the Sixth Princess was doing it for his own good, so he stopped insisting and nodded.
Wei Wangqing then escorted the person back to the Lin residence.
Seeing his listless appearance, Wei Wangqing thought of a common saying in modern times, "You should drink more water!"
Wait! Water!
Yes, water, why didn't she think of that before!
Chen Zhiyan couldn't help but chuckle at her excited expression: "What did Your Highness think of? Why are you so happy?"
"Is there a river that flows through the entire city of Jiangcheng, or is it the source of most of the city's water supply?"
Chen Zhiyan understood instantly, his eyes shining, "Yes, there is. Jianghe (river). Jiangcheng got its name because it is surrounded by rivers."
"That makes sense. The two people were short-lived because the poison was put directly into their drinking bowls, while the subsequent poison was put into the river. The poison was diluted by the water, which is why the people have been able to hold on until now."
"So, I arrived late, and only now are the symptoms appearing?"
"Don't worry, the antidote will be developed soon. Just wait a little longer," Wei Wangqing comforted her.
“You’re truly my lucky star. I’ll have people investigate upstream along the river, and I’m sure we’ll find the mastermind soon,” Wei Wangqing said with a smile.
Chen Zhiyan felt a little embarrassed, since it was clearly His Highness's own idea.
"Then I'll be going now. You should get some rest."
"Um."
As Wei Wangqing walked, he pondered, perhaps he could start his investigation from the City Lord's Mansion. He and his companions didn't exhibit any symptoms of poisoning; one possibility was that the time frame was too short, and another was…
Not a single person in the city lord's mansion was poisoned!
Wei Wangqing then ordered someone to fetch some river water and send it to Wu Changming, hoping it might help him.
Wei Wangqing returned to the city lord's mansion.
"Lord He, I'll have to trouble you to help me gather all the people in the city."
"What does Your Highness wish to do?"
"Lord City Lord, you've probably forgotten why His Majesty sent me here!"
"Oh dear, how could I dare!"
"Hurry up and go. By the way, please have the soldiers help carry over those who have difficulty moving. If the city lord allows his men to harm the people, don't blame me for being ruthless!" Wei Wangqing had already found the source, so there was no need to keep pretending.
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