Qingyu Case: Female Minister of Dali Temple

The reason why Zhou Song was fearless was that Chen Shao could only find the mastermind behind the poisoning case through him.

But Chen Shao didn't even investigate the mastermind!

Zhou Song was scared, but the yamen runners were already experienced and no matter how he struggled, they dragged him out steadily.

Zhou Song's screams and begging for mercy became increasingly distant.

Chen Shao did not rush to interrogate Mr. Qian's two sons until half an hour later, when the bailiff brought Zhou Song's head back to the hall.

The bloody heads, the wide-open eyes, the frozen unwillingness and fear... each one stimulated the people at the scene.

Screams and vomiting sounds were heard one after another.

Still afraid, good. Chen Shao picked up the gavel and slammed the table hard. After letting the yamen runner take the head away, he swept his eyes over everyone. Amid the different looks of the people, he spoke calmly: "When I was at Huimin Pharmacy, I had already found out that the deaths of those eleven people were strange. After returning to the prefectural government, after the autopsy of Mr. Qian, my guess was indeed confirmed. After the Yulin Guards went to the village where Mr. Qian was to investigate, they further proved that I was right. With so much evidence, I could have convicted Zhou Song directly. Why didn't I convict him directly, and waste so much time dealing with him? I just want you to see with your own eyes that no one can play tricks in front of me, especially when it comes to human lives!"

Glancing at everyone again, Chen Shao continued: "My purpose in coming to Hongyuan County was originally just to investigate Shi Xing's serial murder case, but why did I stay here after investigating that case, and stayed for half a year? Of course it was because of you. I have said long ago that if you have any questions, you can come directly to the prefectural government to ask me. If you don't dare to ask me, you can go to Huimin Pharmacy to ask Seventh Master. I will solve the problems that you can't solve for you, but obviously, you, or most of you, still don't trust me, even if I eradicated the cancer of the Zhu family, the Gu family, and the Fan family for you; even if I distributed food, money, and reduced taxes to you; even if I opened Huimin Pharmacy regardless of the cost, just to make it more convenient for you to see a doctor..."

Chen Shao did not have the selfless idea of ​​doing good deeds without seeking fame or profit, especially when the enemy was the princeling party of the previous dynasty. Seeing that the people were either guilty or guilty and avoiding her gaze, Chen Shao paused for a moment, then retracted her gaze at the right time and looked at the two sons of Uncle Qian: "Tell me, how did Uncle Qian die."

When Mr. Qian's two sons and daughter-in-law saw Zhou Song's head, they were already terrified. When they heard her question, their teeth chattered and they couldn't utter a complete sentence for a long time.

Chen Shao waited for a moment, then turned around and told the Yulin Guards beside him: "Go to Huimin Pharmacy and bring the two older children over!"

"I, I'll tell you, I'll tell you," said the eldest daughter-in-law of Grandpa Qian. Although she was trembling badly, she still tried her best to crawl out and kowtowed, "Yes, it was Zhou Songhe and the other two who poisoned Dad. Yes, it was them. It has nothing to do with Hu Zi and Er Wa! Please, please let them go!"

"Who is Zhou Song to you?" Chen Shao asked, "And why did he want to poison Mr. Qian with the two of them?"

"I don't know who Zhou Song is," Uncle Qian's eldest daughter-in-law answered tremblingly, "It was he who came to us last night with an IOU and asked us to pay it back quickly. If we didn't, he would take Hu Zi and Er Wa away to pay off the debt. We had no choice but to agree to let him poison Dad to pay off the debt."

When the people who were watching the excitement heard this, they immediately started to curse loudly.

If they were not completely heartless, how could they not trust Huimin Pharmacy and Chen Shao?

While Chen Shao was letting them vent their anger, one of the Yulin Guards who had followed Li Tianliu to the manor quickly walked into the lobby.

"Sir, there's a big commotion over at the manor. The general asked me to come back and ask you to go over there." The Yulin Guard took a quick look at the situation in the lobby and reported in a low voice.

Chen Shao frowned, and said "I know" in a low voice, then knocked on the gavel and asked, "What IOU?"

"Two years ago, we were short of two strings of silver for building a new house, so we borrowed one string from Old Yang, a moneylender from the next village." Uncle Qian's eldest son also spoke, his voice dry and trembling, "The interest was originally agreed to be one cent, but after we got the money, it became five cents. The good fields have been taken by the Zhu and Gu families, and there is another family to support. No matter how hard we work, we can't pay back the money we owe. Last night, Zhou Song came home with the IOU and asked us to pay it back in full, including the principal and interest. If we don't pay it back, he will use Hu Zi and Er Wa to pay off the debt. We begged for a long time, and he said that as long as we..."

Uncle Qian's eldest son slapped himself hard several times before continuing to cry: "I am just a beast, please chop me up, it's me who killed my father, I am not a human being..."

Uncle Qian's eldest daughter-in-law fell to the ground with a loud cry, "It's not like that, it's not like that, it's Dad, it was Dad who volunteered..."

Uncle Qian's second son and daughter-in-law also started crying.

"Explain it clearly!" Chen Shao asked coldly.

"Zhou Song said that as long as we let Dad drink the poison and let us drag Dad's body to Huimin Pharmacy to ask for an explanation, the debt can be written off." Uncle Qian's second daughter-in-law said while crying, "We wanted to use the house to pay off the debts, but he didn't want it. He said that we took their money in the first place, and now they just want money, and how can we get so much money... He wanted to take Huzi and Erwa away. Dad, who loves his children the most, ignored my dissuasion and agreed to let them drink the poison..."

Facing the people's contemptuous words of "Why don't you drink it?", Uncle Qian's second daughter-in-law could not hold back any longer. "What do you know? Do you think we don't want to drink the poison? He didn't let us drink it. He said that only people who have been to Huimin Pharmacy for treatment can drink it. Dad caught a cold this morning, and we brought him to Huimin Pharmacy in the afternoon. How are we not filial to him? There are no people in the village who are more filial than us."

Chen Shao looked at Mr. Qian's eldest son unmoved, "Where is Zhou Song from?"

Uncle Qian's eldest son shook his head. He didn't know him. Last night was the first time he saw him. He was bewitched and watched his father drink the bowl of poison without any reaction. Uncle Qian's eldest son felt as if a hole was drilled in his heart. He punched his chest twice in pain and couldn't help but slap himself a few times.

Uncle Qian's eldest daughter-in-law rushed over and grabbed his hand, crying and begging him to stop hitting her.

Chen Shao looked at the two coldly, "Who is Lao Yang?"

"He's just a moneylender," Uncle Qian's eldest daughter-in-law cried, "I don't know how he heard that we were short of money to build a house, so he came to our house and said he could lend us money. He said everything was fine before he lent us the money, but as soon as we got the money, he changed his mind..."

"Lead the way and bring Old Yang to the prefect's mansion!" Chen Shao ordered indifferently.

The land has been returned to them, and they have been given money and food. Whenever they encounter problems, they come to her first and she will not fail to help them solve them. They chose to save the children and sacrifice the elderly. Now they come to show pity, it is just that they don't want to die. There is nothing to sympathize with them.

Uncle Qian's eldest son was so sad that he tried to climb up several times but failed. Seeing this, the youngest son quickly stood up and said, "I know where he lives. I'll lead the way."

After the Yulin Guards followed him, Chen Shao's gaze fell on the remaining ten "family members".

With Zhou Song's death and Uncle Qian's two sons taking the lead, the remaining ten "family members" were all confessed smoothly.

All eleven families were threatened by Zhou Song. Although the reasons for the threats were different, without exception, they all made the same choice as Uncle Qian’s two sons: sacrifice one person’s life to save the lives of another or several people.

"Put them..." Chen Shao paused, "Leave one person in each family to take care of the children, and put the rest in jail and wait for punishment!"

According to the Datong Law, they should all be sentenced to death, but this case is a bit complicated, and she needs to think about it carefully before she can give a reasonable verdict. More importantly, Li Tianliu and Chanyi can't handle the matter over there, which proves that the matter over there is not ordinary, and she must go over to take a look.

The eleven families cried and argued for a long time before each of them left one person behind.

After those who should leave had left and those who should stay had quieted down, Chen Shao's gaze naturally fell on the doctors and shop assistants at Huimin Pharmacy.

The imperial guards who went to search for the doctors and assistants she designated had not returned yet. It was unknown how long it would take to check them one by one. Looking at the imperial guards who had returned from the farm, Chen Shao thought for a moment and decisively said to the Seventh Master who had followed him to the prefectural government, "The Huimin Pharmacy will be closed for three days. During these three days, check the medicine storehouse and each courtyard to see if there is any kudzu. As for them..."

Chen Shao looked at the doctors and waiters and said, "Let's bear with them for now. They will be locked up in the prison for a few days. I will release them when I find the traitor."

All the doctors and waiters changed their expressions.

Seeing this, the Seventh Master shouted, "Why are you all so gloomy? You have all seen how quickly the Lord can investigate a case! Just stay in the prison and wait until the Lord finds the spy. I will bring the rest of the people from the pharmacy to the prefectural governor's mansion to pick you up!"

After comforting them, Qi Ye turned back and asked Chen Shao: "The Huimin Pharmacy is closed, so what should they do?"

Yes, Huimin Pharmacy is closed, where can they go to see a doctor? All the people who came to the prefectural government to watch the excitement looked at Chen Shao.

Chen Shao glanced at them and said, "If they are still willing to trust Huimin Pharmacy and me and want to see a doctor, then I will arrange for them to go to Jishiditang. Tell Liu Chengxi to make preparations. If he is too busy, you can bring someone over to help out."

The Seventh Master nodded in agreement.

After making some more arrangements and sending them all away, Chen Shao stood up and asked the Yulin Guards who had returned from the manor as he walked out, "What's going on?"