Chapter 53: Case Overturned 2
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
When the madams heard this, they understood why the county magistrate had invited them here. However, when they heard that the case would be tried again, they were puzzled.
Madam Zhang said displeasedly, “My lord, the fact that] Shen Ruyue poisoned me is undeniable. What else is there to interrogate?”
The county magistrate looked at Madam Zhang. “Madam, don’t be anxious. You’ll know in a while.”
He turned to Chu Qingzhi and said, “Miss Chu, I’ll leave the rest to you.”
Chu Qingzhi bowed to the county magistrate and then to Madam Zhang. “I’m Shen Ruyue’s friend. After hearing Shen Ruyue’s words last night, I felt that she had been wronged, so I wanted to overturn her case.”
Madam Zhang looked at Chu Qingzhi, who was dressed like a farm girl, and was full of disdain for her. She said in an unfriendly tone, “What’s there to overturn? She was the one who poisoned her.”
Chu Qingzhi said, “She didn’t do it.”
Madam Zhang rolled her eyes at Chu Qingzhi. “If she didn’t do it, then who did? Arc you implying that I poisoned myself?”
Chu Qingzhi said unexpectedly, “Exactly. You poisoned yourself.”
Tang Jinghong raised his eyebrows with interest.
Madam Zhang berated, “Nonsense!”
Chu Qingzhi said calmly, “Madam Zhang, don’t be anxious. Although you poisoned yourself, you weren’t aware of it either.”
Madam Zhang composed herself. “What do you mean?”
Chu Qingzhi asked confidently, “Madam Zhang, may I ask if you ate crabs the day you were poisoned?”
Crabs were not a specialty of Shuiyun County. Moreover, they were seafood that only nobles could cat.
Madam Zhang thought about it carefully. “How did you know?”
Chu Qingzhi turned around and said to the county magistrate, “Your Lordship, the case has been solved.”
The county magistrate was dumbfounded, but he maintained a calm expression. “Chu Qingzhi, tell me in detail.”
Tang Jinghong did not understand cither. She only asked a question. How was the case solved?
Chu Qingzhi glanced at Shen Ruyue. “You’ll be poisoned if you eat crabs and persimmons together. That day, Madam Zhang ate crabs at noon and ate persimmons in the afternoon. That’s why she was poisoned.”
Madam Rong scolded, “You’re full of nonsense. One is meat and another is fruit. How can eating them together be poisonous?”
“Let me explain it to you…”
“Carrot can’t be eaten with oranges, celery can’t be eaten with cucumbers, pork can’t be eaten with chrysanthemums…” Chu Qingzhi made more than ten examples in one go.
Everyone was stunned.
Chu Qingzhi took a deep breath. “If you still don’t believe me, I’ll do an experiment for you.”
She turned around and asked Tang Jinghong, “General, can you get crabs and persimmons?”
The magistrate wiped his sweat. “There’s no need to look for it. I have it in my residence. I’ll send someone to get it immediately.”
Chu Qingzhi smiled. She knew that the county magistrate had it. Last night, she smelled crabs on the county magistrate. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have come without bringing some crabs.
Upon receiving the order, the servant immediately went and soon returned with the items.
Chu Qingzhi looked at the crabs and persimmons and said, “Now, we need a test subject.”
Shen Ruyue suddenly said, “Qingzhi, let me do it.��
Chu Qingzhi hesitated for a moment and agreed. “Then eat the crabs and persimmons together. But don’t worry, I have the antidote. I’ll save you.”
Shen Ruyue trusted Chu Qingzhi completely and immediately ate the food.
Everyone looked at her intently. After a while, the symptoms of poisoning appeared.
Shen Ruyue’s face began to turn pale, and her lips turned purple. She was showing signs of vomiting, looking like she had been poisoned.
Madam Zhang looked at Shen Ruyue in shock. “She looks exactly the same as when I was poisoned.”
Chu Qingzhi quickly took out a pill from her bag. It was the antidote she had prepared and fed it to Shen Ruyue.
After taking the pill, Shen Ruyue slowly recovered.
Chu Qingzhi said to the county magistrate, “My lord, you have also seen it for yourself. Madam Zhang’s poisoning has nothing to do with Shen Ruyue.”
The county magistrate looked at Chu Qingzhi in admiration. She was an expert at solving cases. “Madams, do you have any objections?”
Everyone was shocked by the scene just now. It turned out that eating two types of food together could really be poisonous.
Seeing that no one was saying anything, the county magistrate continued, “The evidence proves that Shen Ruyue didn’t poison Madam Zhang. Therefore, I announce that Shen Ruyue is acquitted.”
Shen Ruyue clenched her fists nervously and looked at Chu Qingzhi. She was so touched that tears flowed down her face. “Qingzhi, thank you.”
Chu Qingzhi helped Shen Ruyue up. “Come home with me.”
Shen Ruyue nodded happily. “Okay.”
When Shen Ruyue was sent to prison, Madam Shen had already cut ties with this servant girl of hers. Now, she had no right to take back Shen Ruyue.
After hearing the county magistrate’s verdict, Madam Shen stood up and left with her servant girls.
The other madams also left one after another.
Chu Qingzhi said to Tang Jinghong, “Jinghong, do you know where there’s a bathhouse? I’ll bring Ruyue to wash up and change before going back.”
Tang Jinghong’s eyes were filled with admiration as he stood up. “Follow me.”
When they arrived at the bathhouse, Chu Qingzhi said, “Ruyue, go in and take a shower first. I’ll buy you a set of clothes. Let’s go back clean and leave the past in the past.”
Shen Ruyue was filled with gratitude. “Ok, I’ll listen to you.”
• •
The three of them walked to the entrance of the county.
Tang Jinghong stopped in his tracks. “I’m going to the military camp, so I won’t send you back.”
Chu Qingzhi blinked her bright eyes. “Come to my house for dinner tomorrow. I’ll personally make a feast to entertain you.”
“Okay, I’ll definitely come.” Tang Jinghong nodded with a smile. “By the way, Qingzhi, I’ll get someone to go to your house to get the ice cream bars in the afternoon.”
Chu Qingzhi nodded, “Got it..”