When Shopkeeper Chen was seized by the officials, Li Shuchen's gaze was as icy-cold as if it had been tempered with poison.
Sensing his murderous intent, Constable Yan tightened his face and said coldly, "He committed a crime, and the law will deal with him."
"We'll see if the law's punishment satisfies me," Li Shuchen replied, implying that if Chen was not sentenced to death, he would take matters into his own hands.
Unfortunately, Li Shuchen was always neat and efficient in his methods, leaving no evidence. Even if Constable Yan knew he was the culprit, he could do nothing about it.
Suppressing his frustration, Constable Yan tried to reason with him, "If he doesn't confess the details of the crime, we'll have a hard time finding out what poison he put in the well at the Qi Family's Inn..."
"Not confessing?" Li Shuchen raised his eyebrows slightly, drew his dagger, and gestured towards Shopkeeper Chen. "Constable Yan seems too inexperienced. There are many ways to deal with stubborn criminals like him."
"For instance, lingchi."
His gaze, like a snake flicking its tongue, struck directly at Shopkeeper Chen.
Shopkeeper Chen trembled in terror. He didn't want to be subjected to lingchi!
It was said that during the execution, the executioner would slice off pieces of the prisoner's flesh, one cut at a time, an extremely cruel punishment.
Gripped by intense fear, Shopkeeper Chen was overwhelmed. Seeing the cold glint of Li Shuchen's dagger and his merciless eyes, he blurted out, "I'll confess!"
"After my release from prison, my family had nothing but a dilapidated house. To get revenge on Qi Huan, I sold the house and got some silver.
In prison, I met many skilled people. First, I spent part of the silver to find an ex-convict and learned lockpicking skills from him.
Then I spent more silver to find another small-time crook and bought a large package of arsenic from him. You know the rest..."
Originally, he had also met a strong killer in prison, but unfortunately, that person hadn't been released yet. He didn't know any other hitmen, so he had to take the risk and act alone.
Recollecting his thoughts, Shopkeeper Chen tried to justify himself, "Although I poisoned the well, I didn't kill anyone. Although I tried to assassinate Qi Huan, she's still standing here unharmed. I didn't commit any serious crime, you can't subject me to lingchi!"
After hearing his confession, Qi Huan had a question, "Where did you buy the arsenic? Why couldn't it even kill a chicken?"
Shopkeeper Chen didn't want to respond to her and turned his face away in silence.
Seeing his silence, Li Shuchen slapped him with his dagger and pushed him towards Qi Huan, "Answer her."
"...From a small-time crook named Jia Yao."
"Pfft!" Constable Yan generally didn't laugh, unless he really couldn't help it.
He asked Shopkeeper Chen, "Do you know why Jia Yao was in prison?"
"Why?"
"Selling counterfeit medicine."
After saying that, Constable Yan reassured Qi Huan, "The poison Jia Yao sold was mostly harmless. Once I interrogate him, we'll know for sure."
After questioning, it turned out to be true.
Producing arsenic requires a large amount of realgar, which comes from the south. Mo County doesn't have any locally, so it needs to be transported by merchant caravans, making the price quite high. Jia Yao had devious thoughts.
For the powerful and influential, he sold real medicine. For ordinary people, he sold a mix of real and counterfeit medicine. For Shopkeeper Chen, he simply gave him a bag of sugar.
He only deceived those without power or influence, so Jia Yao wasn't worried at all. Even if he was discovered, these people couldn't beat him up or dare to report him - he was fearless.
It was just that he didn't expect to be caught eventually for selling poisonous medicine!
After being locked up for half a year, he was released and resumed his old business. But due to his unlucky fate, he was captured by Constable Yan again!
Jia Yao wept piteously and argued, "Sir, I really didn't sell any poisonous medicine this time. Not only did I not sell poisonous medicine, but I also looked out for Old Chen's interests everywhere. I was afraid he would keep the silver and buy poison elsewhere to harm people, so I temporarily 'kept' the silver for him and sold him a bag of sugar instead. I'm really a good person, sir, you shouldn't arrest the wrong person."
"Good, my foot!" Shopkeeper Chen's face turned red with rage, and the veins on his temples bulged, "You scoundrel, I gave you half the silver from selling my house, and you sold me fake medicine?"
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, until he passed out from rage.
Constable Yan ordered his men to take him back to the county jail to await punishment.
After they left, Tao Su approached Qi Huan excitedly, "That's great! Heaven has opened its eyes, it was just fake medicine, we can reopen the inn tomorrow."
Qi Huan also felt very relieved.
At the same time, she was a little shaken. What if the medicine Shopkeeper Chen bought was real poison? What if Tao Su hadn't happened to see him poison the well? Would it have harmed the people who came to eat at the inn? That would have caused a huge problem.
She called over Mr. Xu and instructed, "For the inn and the restaurant, hire a worker each, specifically to keep night watch. From now on, guard the kitchens well and don't give anyone a chance to cause trouble."
"Got it, I'll take care of it right away." Xu Mingda immediately agreed and went to find suitable candidates.
After making the arrangements, Qi Huan leaned against the counter, idly toying with the abacus beads.
Li Shuchen came over, stroked her head, and his gaze softened, "I have some good news to tell you."
"What is it?"
"At the latest, tomorrow, there will be news of a nationwide pardon."
Except for treason, rebellion, and disrespecting the Emperor - the ten most severe crimes - all other prisoners will be pardoned.
Qi Huan was on the list to be pardoned.
Upon hearing this, her smile bloomed radiantly, like a flower suddenly blossoming, charming and beautiful, making it impossible for anyone to look away.
"Shuchen, I'm free, I'm so happy!"
"I'm glad you're happy."
"But why would the Emperor suddenly pardon everyone?"
"I'll tell you when we get home."
The inn was crowded, not a good place to talk. After a simple lunch at the restaurant, the two returned to the mansion in the southern part of the city.
Ensuring no one was around, Li Shuchen slowly explained the reason to her, "The Second Prince was attacked and is in critical condition. The Emperor issued the pardon to pray for his recovery."
"Will the Emperor pardon you as well?"
"No."
Hearing his firm answer, Qi Huan couldn't help feeling indignant on his behalf.
The Emperor doted excessively on the Second Prince but was so cold towards Li Shuchen, banishing him to the bitter cold of Mo County and letting him suffer...
As she was fuming in anger for Li Shuchen, he suddenly reached out, smoothing the frown on her brow, and said softly:
"Dear Qi Huan, you need not worry for me. The reason I was not pardoned is because I did not wish to return to the Capital City in the bitter cold of winter. Once the spring flowers bloom, good news will surely arrive."
"Really?"
"Have I ever lied to you?"
"That's true." Qi Huan tilted her head up, smiling at him cheerfully. "Then we can return to the Capital City together!"
After a brief silence, Li Shuchen replied, "Next spring, I will have the Yunying Caravan escort you back first."
Seeing Qi Huan's smile freeze slightly, he went on to explain, "Being with me would put you in danger, and I do not wish for you to be caught in the crossfire of blades and swords."
"Initially, I tried many ways to change the Emperor's mind, but he would not budge. So I took a desperate gamble, inciting the two princes to act against the Second Prince. Then I ordered the officials loyal to me to suggest that the Emperor issue a grand pardon and restore your freedom."
"When the time is ripe, I will have people advise again, allowing me to return to the Capital City and become a target for the Second Prince."
"Originally, I was demoted to the remote Mo County, and they all thought I had lost my imperial favor and was insignificant. But if I return to the Capital City and claim the title of 'Crown Prince,' they will surely turn their blades towards me first."
"I fear nothing, except the thought of you being harmed in the slightest."
