The Ministry of Penalty was responsible for reviewing all kinds of laws and reviewing the criminal cases sent to the Ministry of Penalty. They rarely intervened in local cases, unless it was a big case or a case was handled by imperial decree.
Otherwise, with how big the Jing State was, they would be exhausted to death just by talking about the cases near the capital.
The death of the son of the Vice Counsellor of the Ministry of Rites was certainly a big case, but it was just a big case with limited influence. The Ministry of Penalty had no right to intervene.
What was more, the Ministry of Penalty had come before he arrived. County Magistrate Liu's eyes flickered. There must be some secret deal.
However, if the Ministry of Justice wanted to intervene, then let them. It was a good thing that he could extricate himself from this and avoid this trouble.
"Have you questioned him? How did Chen die?" He didn't want to get involved in the abnormal behavior of the Ministry of Penalty. He didn't even want to enter the Chen Family. He asked the constable on his way back to the county government.
The bailiff immediately replied, "The coroner has already examined the body and determined that it was death by poison. There was a spot on the arm that had turned blue, and there was a small hole in it. From it, a very fine silver needle was extracted. As for the specific type of poison, I don't remember. According to the coroner, this type of poison is extremely rare. Even a small amount can be fatal, but it won't kill the victim immediately. The poison takes eight to ten hours to take effect, and once the poison spreads throughout the body, the victim will feel sleepy and die silently in their sleep."
"Then it's easy to solve." County Magistrate Liu shook his head and said, "We just need to push back the time of his death to eight to ten hours to find out what he was doing and who was around him at that time. Then it'll be easy to catch the murderer."
He was a little regretful at the moment. He should have acted faster and solved the case earlier, so that the Ministry of Penalty wouldn't have gotten ahead of him.
Detective Zhao looked at County Magistrate Liu, scratched his head and said, "Lord Liu, this case doesn't seem to be that simple. The servants of the Chen Family didn't find Chen's death until this morning. Who knows whether he died last night or at dawn?"
County Magistrate Liu was stunned. He looked at him and said, "I've handled more cases than you. I don't need you to remind me. Can't we just arrest everyone he came into contact with yesterday? "
Detective Zhao cursed in his heart, "Why didn't you die from eating so much salt?" However, an awkward smile appeared on his face as he said, "Sir is wise!"
"Who did he come into contact with yesterday?" Lord Liu snorted coldly and asked.
The bailiff replied, "Your Excellency, Chen didn't do anything yesterday. He went to the brothel early in the morning and met up with two of his friends. After that, he went to the brothel again. Then … he seemed to have gotten into a conflict with someone because he was drinking and flirting with a woman. He seemed to have suffered a small loss. Then, he went to the brothel again …"
"Teasing a commoner girl and getting into a conflict with others?" County Magistrate Liu quickly grasped the key point and asked, "Who is he flirting with, and where?"
"It's that Willow Lane over there. That woman seems to be quite famous. She's the Goddess of Luo River or something. She's very famous in the capital."
County Magistrate Liu shook his head. It seemed that this case was not difficult. It was very likely that …
As he was thinking about this, his expression suddenly froze. He raised his head abruptly and looked at the bailiff with a serious face. He asked, "Who did you say just now?"
"Luo, Goddess of Luo River … When, when we came out just now, the Ministry of Justice had already gone to arrest her." Seeing that Lord Liu's expression was a little strange, the bailiff stuttered.
County Magistrate Liu's expression changed. He immediately ordered, "Prepare the horse, quickly!"
…
…
Ruyi and Ruyi were not at home. Li Yi and Xiao Huan were too lazy to cook, so they moved the grill out. There was no sun today, so it was cool in the courtyard. They didn't ask for anyone's help. It was just the two of them. They busied themselves for an hour and skewered the meat and vegetables.
Then, the little servant girl moved a small stool and sat beside him with her chin resting on her hand as she watched him grill the meat.
Li Yi turned the skewered meat attentively. After a while, Xiao Huan tugged his arm and pointed in the direction of the door.
Li Yi raised his head and looked over, then sighed.
In the entire capital, there were only two people who dared to come to one's house without a gift and even wanted to freeload a meal.
"It's already October. Your Kunlun Purple Melon is still so fresh?" Li Xuan ate the grilled eggplant and asked with a surprised expression.
October was nothing. His eggplant was so fresh all year round … The food for two was not enough for four people. Li Yi asked Xiao Huan to get some more.
Li Xuan and Princess Royal were here to talk about the business cooperation between the three families. In fact, there was nothing much to talk about. They were just paying and waiting for the dividends.
In terms of funds, Li Yi was actually not that lacking. However, the three heroes of the capital advanced and retreated together. If there was money, they would earn it together. If he caused trouble, the three of them would shoulder it together. As friends, he would feel bad if he didn't bring them along when it came to making money.
The two of them really didn't know much about doing business. It didn't take long for them to deviate from the topic.
As the future presidents of the Science Academy and the Women's Academy, they actually didn't have any ideas. How the academy would operate, what to learn, and what to teach were all problems.
Last time, they only talked about it briefly with Princess Royal Highness. These things couldn't be explained in detail in a short time. This time, they just talked about it in more detail. As for the more specific things, they needed to figure it out and decide on their own.
"Lord Li, bad news!"
A slightly anxious voice suddenly sounded from the door. Li Yi looked back and saw County Magistrate Liu striding in. Fang followed behind with a puzzled expression.
"Lord Liu, what's the matter? Speak slowly." Li Yi didn't know what had happened to make a capital magistrate like him so flustered. He walked over and looked at him.
County Magistrate Liu calmed down a little and immediately said, "Lord Li, Miss Zeng was taken away by the Ministry of Justice."
Li Yi glanced at County Magistrate Liu and strode out of the door. "Let's talk on the way!"
Fang had already rushed out to prepare the carriage after County Magistrate Liu said that. Li Xuan threw away the eggplant he was eating, and MIngzhu came from the side. Not long after, the three carriages set off from the gate of the mansion and went straight to the capital.
…
…
In the small courtyard, Xiao Cui walked to Zeng Zuimo with a worried expression and asked, "Miss, what should we do if that Chen guy comes again? Should we tell this to Li Li?"
"No need." Zeng Zuimo shook her head. Even if the other party was the son of the minister of rites, this was the capital. He couldn't be too presumptuous. If it weren't for the alcohol yesterday, he wouldn't have dared to do such a thing.
As soon as she finished speaking, someone knocked on the door.
"Let me see if it's Li Li." Xiao Cui ran to the door excitedly.
She quickly opened the door and saw a few fierce-looking people dressed like officials standing there. Her pretty face suddenly paled and she asked with a trembling voice, "Who, who are you looking for?"
"Who is Zeng Zuimo?" The leading official asked in a cold voice.
"I am. May I ask why you are looking for me?" Zeng Zuimo walked out and looked at these people with a slightly vigilant expression.
The official glanced at her and said coldly, "The young master of the Ministry of Rites was killed last night. We suspect that you are related to the case. Come with us."
"Chen … Chen is dead?" Xiao Cui's body trembled and her face immediately turned pale.
Zeng Zuimo stood still. After a moment of daze, she seemed to have thought of something and her expression changed.
"Take him away!" The leader of the bailiffs said coldly and turned around to leave.
Yang Liuqing walked over from a distance and waved to the people behind her. She glanced at Zeng Zuimo and Xiao Cui, then at the officials and said: "In that case, take me with you."
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