Jian Zhaoxing

Chapter 20 People Not on the List

Lin Zhiqing's words were so powerful that even those who didn't believe her could not help but start to doubt themselves.

The fourth master was speechless for a moment.

As for the cuckoos in Shengjing City, he could be sure that they were non-toxic.

However, the terrain of Nanzhao is dangerous, the vegetation is dense, and various rare plants emerge one after another.

The local people pay tribute to the imperial court every year, the most famous of which is mushrooms, which taste extremely delicious.

However, there have been cases where tribute from Nanzhao caused death, and only the doctors of Nanzhao were familiar with this situation.

Thinking of this, everyone's eyes began to become complicated when they looked at the Fourth Master.

Lin Zhiqing also stared at him. There was nothing he could do. His fourth uncle was too suspicious.

"Zhiqing, what do you mean?" It was Lin Congli who spoke, his eyes narrowed into slits.

He was not defending his brother, but reminding Lin Zhiqing to pay attention to the occasion.

Lin Zhiqing suppressed his emotions.

Even if this matter is really related to the fourth uncle and the fourth master, it is ultimately the Lin family's family affair. It will not benefit the Lin family if she exposes it.

Of course, it does her no good.

She took a deep breath and looked at the East Kitchen Manager. "When I came here this morning, I asked you to compile a list of people who have come into contact with Nanzhao Dujuan in the past few days. Have you done it?"

The steward was already terrified, and when Lin Zhiqing asked about the list, he gritted his teeth and lowered his head: "Miss Zhiqing, please give me another cup of tea!"

Obviously, he didn't take Lin Zhichen's words seriously.

The Lu siblings and Jiang Liuyun all frowned, which made Lin Congli blush.

In the entire Shengjing City, no servant would dare to take his master's words so lightly.

Lin Zhiqing just nodded. She didn't expect the manager to listen to her in the first place. She already had some guesses in her mind.

Asking this question only puts his own situation on the table, allowing Lin Congli, who "values ​​etiquette", to take a good look at the current situation of the Lin family where neither the master nor the servant is in power.

At the same time, it can also make him wary of the people behind him and treat him better.

"You only have half a cup of tea." Lin Zhiqing said lightly.

The steward immediately took the order and left without delaying for a moment.

The fourth master couldn't hold back any longer: "Zhiqing, what's with that poisonous azalea you mentioned?"

This question is also what other people are curious about.

Lin Zhiqing's eyes were penetrating. "The most common azalea in Nanzhao is the large white azalea. Its flowers are sweet and its leaves are smooth. It can be used for medicinal purposes as well as being edible."

"That's right!" The fourth master stood with his hands behind his back. "What I brought back is this great white azalea."

Lin Zhiqing changed the subject: "But Nanzhao also has a species of white azalea. The two azaleas look almost identical, but the white azalea is poisonous. The accumulated toxins can be fatal."

Her voice was very clear, but the content of her words was shocking.

"Zhiqing, this... is this true?" Lu Nanyue spoke quickly, with some excitement.

Medical students have always been very interested in this knowledge.

Lin Zhiqing nodded and was about to speak when the fourth master snorted coldly and interrupted her:

"Zhiqing, you've never been out of Shengjing, so where did you learn medical skills?"

There was a sense of oppression and a hint of inquiry in his eyes.

Lin Zhiqing smiled slightly: "Fourth Uncle, although I have never left Shengjing, Nanyue and I have a close relationship. I once accidentally read her medical books, and that's why I thought of this."

Of course she was lying.

She was familiar with the name Nanzhao, but in her world, Nanzhao was called Yunnan. As a native of Nanzhao, Lin Zhiqing knew all about the local delicacies.

If it weren't for Aunt Mu's bowl of azalea and lotus seed soup, she really wouldn't have remembered the rare and poisonous azalea.

The question the Fourth Master asked just now clearly showed that he was suspicious of Lin Zhiqing.

She knew this very well and had already thought of a reasonable explanation - one she had read in a medical book.

Anyway, Lu Nanyue opened a clinic, so it's not surprising that she knew these things through observation and exposure.

No one would search through boxes and drawers for a book to verify her words.

What's more, Lu Nanyue herself probably doesn't remember these things.

This statement is foolproof.

As expected, Lu Nanyue waved her hand without giving it much thought: "Apart from anything else, I have one of the largest collections of medical books in Shengjing City."

The others didn't doubt it too much after hearing this.

No one noticed that Lu Huai in the corner frowned slightly.

Lin Zhiqing breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that no one had any objections.

After a few words, the East Kitchen Manager respectfully presented a list.

Lin Congli took it first and looked at it, but he couldn't figure out what it was, so he handed it to Lin Zhiqing in the end.

After Lin Zhiqing took it, everyone held their breath and stared at her closely, afraid of missing anything.

She quietly flipped through the booklet, her fingers running across one name after another, pausing from time to time, which made the East Kitchen Manager nervous.

Finally, after an unknown amount of time had passed, Lin Zhiqing raised his head from the booklet.

Her eyes wandered among the crowd for a while, and finally shook her head: "No, these are not the people I'm looking for."

"Your list is incomplete. Besides them, there are others who have been to the East Kitchen." Lin Zhiqing's voice was very firm.

The East Kitchen Manager subconsciously waved his hand: "Impossible, I have already sorted everyone up."

Before Lin Zhiqing could say anything, the maids and servants outside the door began to talk.

"The uncle who manages the business came over a couple of days ago and took away a jar of the best Bamboo Leaf Green Tea!"

"Xiao Cui from Miss Yangyang's courtyard has also been here and brought tea a few times."

"Have you all forgotten? That Aunt Zhao also came here, sneaking around for a long time before leaving..."

The old woman lowered her voice when she said the last sentence, but Lin Zhiqing still heard it.

She waved to the old woman and said, "Mammy Ma, please repeat what you just said."

The woman who was named showed some fear on her face, but when she saw everyone looking at her, her desire to show off suddenly came up:

"Miss Zhiqing, you don't often go out of the courtyard, so you have no idea the true colors of these rotten-hearted people. Take Aunt Zhao for example, she's so obedient in front of others, but behind the scenes, she often hangs around our east kitchen!"

As soon as she finished speaking, she received the approval of many people.

People are always like this. Once someone says something, everyone's memories will keep coming back.

Lin Zhiqing looked at the manager of the east kitchen.

The manager was in a dilemma, wanting to shut everyone up but also afraid of being wrongly accused.

The overwhelming pressure made him kneel down again. "Miss Zhiqing, please investigate this matter thoroughly. Although I enjoy a few drinks, I would never condone adultery."

He was distancing himself from Madam Zhao.

(End of this chapter)