Li Qi's heart skipped a beat and he asked nervously: "Qingzhao---what's wrong with Li Qingzhao?"
Ouyang Che said: "Privy Council, please don't be nervous. Madam Li, everything is fine for the time being."
Li Qi asked in astonishment: "Then why do you still say you are not optimistic?"
Ouyang Che sighed and said: "Privy Councilor, you should also know that Madam Li has already been well-known. Even in Hangzhou, many people know her name, even far better than her husband Zhao Mingcheng. When the case just happened,
It has shocked the city of Hangzhou and attracted the attention of many people.
More importantly, from the beginning to the end of this case, there was only one suspect, Mrs. Li, and she had already pleaded guilty and was now waiting for the verdict. The verdict of this crime has been delayed, and the rumors outside are getting more and more popular.
Many people say that the lower official is shielding Mrs. Li. Murder is a serious crime, and husband-killing is morally prohibited. Today's public opinion is very unfavorable to Mrs. Li, and the lower official is helpless. If no sentence is passed, the government will
Our prestige will also be damaged as a result.”
Unexpectedly, my words about deceiving my wife actually came true. Li Qi looked at Ouyang Che with a slight reproach and said: "I said you are serious. It's not your first day as an official. Since the people involved in this case are so sensitive,
How could you make it public so early? Aren't you digging a hole for yourself to jump into?"
Ouyang Che said with a hint of injustice: "I don't think so. It was Mrs. Li who came to the government office in person to blow the drum and surrender. Furthermore, the emperor is guilty of the same crime as the common people when he breaks the law. If I conceal it, wouldn't I be letting the emperor down?"
A lot of trust.”
Sweat! I almost forgot that this guy is the same as Chen Dong, and he's not much better. Alas, if he wasn't such a person, I wouldn't trust him and hand over the economic powerhouse of Hangzhou to him.
Li Qi felt a little helpless and said: "Okay, I think I said the wrong thing. I didn't think carefully. You can sit down."
"yes."
The two sat down.
Li Qi asked curiously: "You said Li Qingzhao went to the government office in person to beat the drum and surrender?"
Ouyang Che nodded and said: "That's right. I remember it was in the evening. The official had just finished his official duties and was about to eat. The official suddenly came to report. Someone played a drum and said she was the most talented woman in Tokyo, Mrs. Li. I was still
I thought something serious had happened, so I hurried to court, but what I didn't expect was that Mrs. Li turned herself in. She said that she had poisoned her husband. I was dumbfounded at the time and thought I was in a dream."
Li Qidao: "What you said in your letter is unclear. Now you can tell me the details of the case again."
Ouyang Che said: "Actually, the whole thing started when Zhao Mingcheng went south with the Emperor. Just a few days before the Emperor returned to Beijing, Zhao Mingcheng suddenly felt unwell and could not travel far, so he did not follow the Emperor back at that time.
Beijing."
Li Qi nodded and said, "I've also heard about this. Li Qingzhao hurried to Hangzhou just for this reason. Do you know what his illness is?"
"The specific cause of the disease is unclear. According to the doctor who diagnosed Zhao Mingcheng at the time, he should have been infected with wind-cold."
Ouyang Che continued: "Later on, Zhao Mingcheng's condition never improved, and it got worse day by day. The official also visited him. Later, Madam Li suddenly came and took care of Zhao Mingcheng until a few days later.
Months ago, Mrs. Li suddenly came to the government office to surrender. Because the incident was too sudden and very strange, the subordinate did not dare to make a decision easily, so he ordered the coroner of Hangzhou Prefecture to examine Zhao Mingcheng's body. After repeated inspections by the coroner, it was confirmed that
Zhao Mingcheng did die of poisoning."
Li Qi wondered: "What kind of poison was poisoned? And what evidence can directly prove that it was Li Qingzhao who poisoned me?"
Ouyang Che said: "Actually, this poison is also a medicine, and it's called yamabana flower. According to the coroner, this japonica flower is generally used to relieve pain and make people fall asleep easily, but the prerequisite is that the dosage must be appropriate, because this japonica flower is also
It is also highly poisonous, and if the amount is not controlled properly, it is very likely to be life-threatening. Zhao Mingcheng died on the spot because he took an overdose of shank flowers, and because he was already weak. Lady Li also died on the spot.
Admit that Zhao Mingcheng died after taking the medicine she brewed."
Li Qi frowned and said, "That's impossible. Li Qingzhao doesn't need to do things like boiling medicine himself."
Ouyang Che said: "The Privy Council may not understand Zhao Mingcheng's situation at that time. Since the emperor took office, Zhao Mingcheng has been relieved of his official position. And because Zhao Mingcheng was once a prince, he has had no income and no income since he was dismissed.
No matter how much people dare to interact with him, because when he first arrived in Hangzhou, he bought some calligraphy and paintings and almost spent all the money. He lived in poverty. Before Mrs. Li came, he only had a waiter named Liu Qin by his side.
My concubine is waiting beside me.
Before Mrs. Li came, Liu Qin had always been responsible for the task of boiling medicine. However, a few days before Zhao Mingcheng's death, Liu Qin fell ill because she was tired from running around and taking care of Zhao Mingcheng. Therefore, Li
The lady and her maids are responsible for brewing medicine for Zhao Mingcheng. After all, they have to take care of Zhao Mingcheng and his concubine Liu Qin, so they cannot do it alone."
This Zhao Mingcheng really deserves it. Aren't you sincerely trying to do calligraphy and painting without money? Li Qi muttered to himself and said: "But even so, you should go to the doctor who prescribes the medicine. This medicine is
He drove it."
"Privy Councilor, please listen to my explanation." Ouyang Che said: "This prescription was prescribed by a doctor named Lei in the city. The name of the prescription is Sleeping Saint Powder. I asked several doctors with similar names in Hangzhou and they
Everyone said that Lei Langzhong's prescription was correct. Taking this medicine will make you sleepy, not aware of pain, and does not hurt anyone. I also called Lei Langzhong to inquire, and he admitted that he had indeed prescribed this medicine to Madam Li, but he
He repeatedly explained that he was well aware that the tomato flower in the prescription was highly toxic, so he was very cautious whenever he prescribed this medicine. The amount of each medicine had to be tested by him and his three apprentices for four times.
It is impossible for one person to make mistakes, and his three apprentices all testified that they weighed the medicine on the day it was prescribed and made sure it was correct before handing it over to the customer.
At that time, I also sent people to check the remaining packets of medicine, but those packets of medicine were exactly the same as those prescribed. However, in the residue of the medicine that Li Qingzhao boiled that day, it was found that it was very toxic. Apparently, it contained
There has been an overdose of tomato flowers, and all signs indicate that Lei Langzhong was not lying.
According to Liu Qin, it was because Zhao Mingcheng often couldn't sleep because of headaches, and sometimes he screamed in pain. Mrs. Li had long known about this prescription. So she went to Lei Langzhong and prescribed some medicine. Since Zhao Mingcheng took it
After taking this medicine, it really has a good effect, and Mrs. Li also admitted it."
Li Qidao: "Even so, there is no direct evidence that Li Qingzhao is the one who poisoned me."
Ouyang Che said: "It is true that no one saw Mrs. Li poisoning with their own eyes at that time, but Mrs. Li went up the mountain to pick the mountain tomato flowers that day."
Li Qi was surprised and said: "If you don't sell ready-made flowers, why is she picking these flowers?"
"It's a coincidence, because Lei Langzhong has run out of the tomato flowers, and his is the only drugstore in Hangzhou that has this medicine. And there are relatively few such flowers around Hangzhou, so Lei Langzhong usually has someone buy them from other places.
, although it is true that Lei Langzhong cannot bloom for Madam Li’s Sleeping Powder because there are no mountain tomato flowers. We have also confirmed this. However, without any evidence, we cannot judge Madam Li’s real intention of picking this flower. Maybe she
It’s really for Zhao Mingcheng, maybe she---."
Although Ouyang Che didn't finish speaking, his intention was already very obvious.
Li Qi nodded and said, "I understand this, but there is no evidence that Li Qingzhao ever went up the mountain to pick this flower."
Ouyang Che said: "First of all, this is what Mrs. Li said herself. Moreover, two woodcutter saw Li Qingzhao walking down the hillside carrying a basket. According to the descriptions of the two woodcutter, we can be sure that the contents of the basket were
It's the yamabana flowers, and she picked them back. She didn't send them directly to Lei Langzhong to make medicine, but kept them at home. We also found a large number of yamabana flowers from her house. There is another key point, that
That’s Granny Zhang’s confession.”
"Po Zhang? Who is this?" Li Qi asked in surprise.
Ouyang Che said: "Oh, this woman lives opposite Zhao Mingcheng. According to her, on the third day before Zhao Mingcheng's death, she wanted to visit Zhao Mingcheng, but she heard Mrs. Li and Zhao Mingcheng arguing at the door. She
It was also said that Zhao Mingcheng even shouted loudly, "I won't sell it even if I die."
I also asked Mrs. Li specifically about this. Mrs. Li admitted that what Mrs. Zhang said was right, but she did not explain too much. But in this way, she also had the motive to poison Zhao Mingcheng. We can speculate
Madam Li had a quarrel with Zhao Mingcheng over money matters, so she poisoned Zhao Mingcheng. All the evidence was unfavorable to Madam Li. The most important thing was that Madam Li had confessed, and she didn't seem to want to defend herself.
With all this evidence, it was actually possible to convict Madam Li. However, Madam Li did not seem to want to make too many excuses, and her confession was very casual. She was bent on pleading guilty, and the subordinates were afraid that there might be something hidden in it, so they did not pronounce the verdict.
Someone sent you that letter."
Even so, there must still be some favor from Li Qi in it.
After understanding the general facts of the case, Li Qi had no clue for a while and asked: "Where is Li Qingzhao now? You didn't put her in jail, did you?"
He had also been to this cell. It was simply not a place for people to live. Even with Li Qingzhao's thin body, living in it for a few days would probably be too strenuous.
Ouyang Che's expression was slightly strange and he said: "Not yet. I secretly ordered someone to lock her in a more secluded place."
Li Qi glanced at him and understood very well that Ouyang Che had an upright character and a clear distinction between public and private affairs. One was one and the other was two. It was indeed a bit difficult for him to pretend to be public for personal gain. Ouyang Che did this because he was doing it.
"It's really difficult for you. Let's arrange it so that I can meet with her tomorrow. Let's talk about what to do after I meet Li Qingzhao."
Ouyang Che nodded and said: "I will obey your orders."
Li Qi added: "In addition, you also know that the main purpose of my trip south is not for Zhao Mingcheng's case. For now, I don't want people to know that I am here."
Hangzhou is also one of the food and grass supply areas for this expedition. As the prefect of Hangzhou, Ouyang Che certainly knows the reason. He nodded and said: "Privy Minister, please rest assured that I will definitely take care of the relevant matters." (To be continued...)