The dregs of the medicine were buried behind the artificial hill, but they weren't cleaned properly, leaving some on the surface, which is why Dao San was able to find them by following the clues.
"Take the dregs of the medicine to Physician Sun first," Cen Xiao said.
"yes!"
Immediately, Qinglan knelt before Cen Xiao and pointed at Qinghua: "This servant saw with her own eyes that she buried this thing, but at first this servant did not know that she buried medicine residue, until just now when Third Master dug out the medicine residue there..."
Qinghua's eyes widened: "Impossible, impossible, you framed me!"
Enraged, Cen Xiao roared, "Strike! Strike hard!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Dao Ba mercilessly struck her buttocks with the stick in his hand, and Qinghua let out a scream.
"Gag her, so as not to disturb the lady's rest."
Cui Jiu found a rag and stuffed it into Qinghua's mouth, while Dao Ba continued to wield the stick.
Dao San gave the dregs of the medicine to Physician Sun, and then led people to search Qinghua's residence, where they found two gold hairpins and a packet of medicine powder.
Dao San said angrily, "Liu Dagui, the general and his wife have treated you well, haven't they?"
"Third Master, I really don't know what happened! I swear to God, I...I..."
"Heh, you should tell the general what you have to say." Dao San sneered.
Dao San handed over what he had found to Cen Xiao, and Liu Dagui knelt down with a thud: "General, I really don't know anything! General..."
Cen Xiao ignored him and said to Dao San, "I need to get her to talk. I want to know who the mastermind is."
Those two gold hairpins were not something Qinghua could afford. She and Yang Cui had no life-or-death feud. If it really was her doing, there must be a mastermind behind her!
~
After examining the dregs, Physician Sun confirmed that they contained poison.
When Cen Xiao gave the medicine powder he had found in Qinghua to Physician Sun, Physician Sun was shocked!
He said, "This poison is extremely vicious. Fortunately, the person who administered it was ignorant of medicine, otherwise Madam Cen would have been in serious trouble this time..."
"What does Physician Sun mean by that?"
"This poison can render Madam Cen unable to conceive for life at best, and at worst, it can kill her."
The words, "At best, she will be unable to conceive; at worst, she will lose her life," sent a chill down Cen Xiao's spine.
He couldn't imagine what he would do if something happened to Yang Cui.
"How is my wife now? Is her life in danger?"
"General, rest assured, the lady is in good health, and the dosage of poison was not large. In addition, the poison and the medicine I prescribed were boiled together, and their effects were mutually reinforcing and restraining, which greatly reduced the toxicity. Therefore, it will not have a significant impact on the lady's health. After a period of recuperation, it will not affect her offspring. General, you can rest assured."
Hearing this, Cen Xiao finally felt relieved.
But the thought that the other party wanted Yang Cui dead and cut off his lineage made him feel a surge of hatred.
At this time, Su Murong, Guo Zhenyu, and Chen Shaoyun, uncle and nephew, heard that Yang Cui had been assassinated and came to visit her with tonics.
The eldest grandson of the emperor and the third prince also sent their female relatives to offer their condolences.
"There's a traitor in the house, and my wife isn't feeling well right now, so I can't entertain you all. My master said he'll come to visit another day."
None of them had expected things to get this serious.
"In that case, we won't bother you any longer. If your master needs any help, please just ask."
After saying that, they left their things and departed.
………
Under torture, Qinghua confessed everything, saying that she did it, and only begged Dao Ba to stop hitting her. After saying that, she fainted.
Her husband, Liu Dagui, wanted to plead for her, but the crime of poisoning the general's wife was too serious, and besides, the general and his wife had treated them well, so he really had no face to plead for her.
Yuan Qiu and the others had been observing from the shadows. When they heard Qinghua admit it, they couldn't hold back. The four kids rushed out and gave Qinghua a good beating.
"My godmother was so good to you all, and you actually harmed her! Have you lost your conscience? Go look at other people's homes, whose servants live as well as you do?"
"Ungrateful wretch, I spit on you!"
"If anything happens to my mother, I'll throw you all into the mountains to feed the wolves!"
Dao San quickly led his men to drag the little ones away.
"Don't you all know how the General and his wife have treated you?" Cui Jiu loudly warned the crowd, "From now on, anyone who dares to betray their master will be beaten to death if caught!"
The other men were so frightened that they immediately bowed their heads and knelt down, saying, "We wouldn't dare!"
"Drag her away and continue the interrogation!" As soon as Dao San finished speaking, Qinghua was dragged away like a dead dog.
After Qinghua was dragged away, the servants on this side were dismissed.
The retired soldiers who had initially lived with Liu Dagui in the general's mansion (spending their retirement days doing nothing) surrounded him.
Xiao Wu was the first to attack: "Liu Dagui, were you involved in your wife poisoning the madam?"
"Your wife was just about to help us all make money and live a better life, and you treat her like this? What are you thinking?"
"The general didn't mind our condition and even took us in. The lady is kind and didn't drive us away. She's even willing to give us a good life. Liu Dagui, have you had enough of a good life?"
"We're brothers who've been through thick and thin together. Have you forgotten who saved you from the enemy's clutches back then?"
...
Faced with his brothers' questioning and condemnation, Liu Dagui was on the verge of tears.
"I don't know, I really don't know anything!"
His explanation seemed weak and unbelievable, given that his partner had done something so serious.
"I'm sorry, General. I'm sorry, Madam. I... I can only atone with my death." After saying this, Liu Dagui rushed towards the pillar.
At the critical moment of life and death, Dao Ba grabbed him: "You are also a suspect now. You can't die until the matter is investigated."
After saying that, Dao Ba took the person away.
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