Qingyu Case: Female Minister of Dali Temple

After handing the lens to Fu Jiu, Xu Guang looked at Chen Shao with admiration, "I didn't expect that you could notice even such a subtle difference."

Especially when no lens is used.

Chen Shao accepted his compliment calmly. Of course, the reason why she was able to notice it was not because she was really that good, but because there are departments specializing in handwriting identification in modern times. There are many cases that ordinary people don't know about, and the murderers were caught by handwriting.

Simply put, handwriting, like fingerprints, is difficult to completely replicate.

"The reason why I noticed these things is not because I noticed them at the beginning, but because I combined the reality with the character of the general. I first judged in my mind that these calligraphy and paintings were not his work, and then based on this result, I looked for evidence that they were not his work, and then I discovered these differences." Chen Shao said slowly, "This is the same as when we investigate a case. In the process of investigating a case, you can use various means, but when sentencing, you have to make a 'presumption of innocence'. In simple terms, we cannot first designate the murderer and then find various evidences to prove that he is the murderer. Instead, even if he is the murderer, we must first assume that he is innocent and then look for evidence of his innocence. When all the evidence of innocence is untenable, he can be identified as the murderer."

This is the presumption of innocence.

That is, as long as there are doubts, the person will be deemed not guilty even if there is a confession.

This is of course contrary to the ancient practice of using confessions as evidence to determine whether someone is a murderer.

It is difficult to correct such a concept, so she can only start with the people around her, which is why she called Xu Guang back.

Xu Guang nodded in acceptance of the instruction.

"So, these calligraphy and paintings are forged works of the great general who assists the country?" Fu Jiu concluded after looking here and there with the lens.

Chen Shao nodded, picked up the letter from the Auxiliary General and read it for a while, then looked at Li Tianliu and said, "The Auxiliary General sent Miss Gu Liu to the border guarded by the Duke of Chen's Mansion. He was probably angry that we looked down on him so much."

Li Tianliu crossed his arms and said, "This is called being a villain first and a gentleman later."

Chen Shao smiled and did not respond. He put the letter down and told Chan Yi and Quan Shu Yu, "Put them all away."

After they put away all the calligraphy and paintings, Chen Shao thought about it, took out a few more pieces of letter paper, and wrote a letter of apology to the General of the State. At the end of the letter, she mentioned a few things about the prince's party in the previous dynasty. It's not that she doesn't want to say more, but she has never met the General of the State, so she doesn't know his temper, nor does she know whether he is willing to intervene in these matters. If he is willing, she will tell him the truth when he writes back again. If he is not willing... she believes he will be willing.

After asking Li Tianliu to arrange for someone to deliver the letter, Chen Shao let out a long sigh and said, "Okay, I've been tired for more than half a month. I'm going to have a good rest for two days. No matter what happens during these two days, you are not allowed to disturb me."

That being said, the next morning, Seventh Master arrived.

It was not for himself or Huimin Pharmacy, but the owners of the pharmacies under the names of Wen, Zhu, Gu, Fan and Qi families came to him and asked him about their arrangements for the pharmacies.

"I was asked about it some time ago, but I didn't come to bother you because you were busy." Master Qi sat down, took the tea handed to him by Chan Yi, and said slowly, "When I came here yesterday, I wanted to ask you all at once, but I didn't remember it, so I remembered it after I went back. This morning, the shopkeepers of several medicine shops, such as Wankangtang and Yangshengtang, came to me again, saying that Miss Quan asked the shopkeepers of many shops to come to the prefect's mansion tomorrow to discuss the rectification. None of the shops invited were medicine shops. They were worried that you might abandon them, so they urged me to come and ask about it. I have been free these two days, so here I am again."

As the Seventh Master was talking, he ended up laughing at himself.

Chen Shao joked, "It's only because the Seventh Master came. If it were anyone else, I would have chased them out."

Master Qi asked, "What happened?"

Chan Yi smiled and said, "Yesterday afternoon, the young master said that she wanted to rest for two days and that no matter what happened, she must not be disturbed. As luck would have it, the Seventh Master came early this morning."

"Your Excellency should really take a good rest for two days. Hongyuan County has always been busy with this and that, and now you finally have some free time, so take a good rest." The Seventh Master said, and then stood up, "I am innocent today. Your Excellency, take a rest, I will come back in two days."

"I do want to take a break, but I can't take a break for a while." Chen Shao sighed helplessly, "The village is easy to deal with, and it will be over after it is dealt with. There is no plan for how to deal with the shops, houses, and many people. As for those medicine shops... I really haven't thought about how to deal with them. I wonder if Mr. Qi has any ideas?"

The Seventh Master sat down again and asked, "My Lord, do you want to keep it or give it up?"

Chen Shao did not answer but asked: "Seventh Master, do you think we should keep it or give it up?"

"If you ask me, they should definitely stay." Master Qi thought, "Hongyuan County is not big, but it's not small either. Only one Huimin Pharmacy will definitely not be able to handle it. But if they stay, we have to set some new rules for them. We can't do it like before, with the same herbs being sold at different prices in different stores."

Chen Shao had no idea about these pharmacies at first, but after he mentioned this, she suddenly had an idea. After considering for a moment and confirming that it was feasible, she said, "You can stay, but the management rights must belong to Huimin Pharmacy. In other words, Huimin Pharmacy is the head shop of all pharmacies in Hongyuan County, and these pharmacies are branches. The shopkeepers, doctors, and shop assistants of the branch shops must be selected by Huimin Pharmacy."

After a pause, he continued, "Of course, there must be a distinction between the good and the bad among the branches. The good and the bad will be evaluated in three months or one month. The branch that wins the evaluation can get 60% or even 80% of the profit earned during the period as a reward. If a branch wins the evaluation for three or six consecutive months, we can designate them as the second Huimin medicine shop and let them take charge of the medicine shops in a county. There are three counties under Hongyuan County. If the medicine shops in the three counties have the second, third, and fourth Huimin medicine shops to take charge, then in the end, the Huimin Medicine Shop will only need to manage the three of them. Of course, this is just a preliminary idea, and the specific details still need to be carefully considered."

"No need to think about it," Master Qi excitedly slammed the table and stood up, "Let's do it!"

Chan Yi nodded with sparkling eyes: "This is a good idea, sir."

"Whether it's good or not, we need to think about it again." Chen Shao also felt that his idea was good. "How about this, put up a notice outside Huimin Pharmacy and ask all the pharmacy owners in the county to come to the prefectural governor's mansion to discuss it together the next day."

Qi Ye didn't think there was anything to discuss, but since she said so, he agreed to it.

After a few words of idle chat, he couldn't wait to leave.

After Chan Yi watched him go away, she turned around and said, "I'm afraid that before noon, it will be known to everyone."

Chen Shao didn't care: "Let him spread it if he wants, it's not a secret."