I support the army through farming and business.

Chapter 206 Five-Stone Powder

"Sir, the government officials have arrived!"

Master Zhao stared intently at Madam Zhao, who was groaning in pain on the bed, completely ignoring her.

"Master!" the steward raised his voice, "An official from the prefectural government requests your presence to deliver a message!"

Master Zhao flung his sleeves and strode out the door, shouting, "Tell Aunt Zhao to come and look after Madam!"

Before long, Aunt Zhao arrived at the main courtyard, surrounded by a group of maids and servants. After exchanging a few insincere greetings, she sat down in a chair to drink tea and watch the play.

In the main hall of the front courtyard, the parched and thirsty Prefectural Magistrate Gu Gu drank a large bowl of tea before feeling fully revived.

"I was unaware of your presence, Vice Magistrate Wang. I hope you will forgive any neglect. Someone, go and fetch it quickly."

"No need to trouble yourself," Wang Shaoyin said, catching his breath. "Getting down to business is the priority."

"I have come here today because of the poisoning case of the Zhong family reported by Jingyuan County. I have reviewed the case file, which states that the victim died from arsenic poisoning. However, I have just seen the coroner's report at the county office, which clearly states that the victim died suddenly from a long-term illness caused by the failure to receive timely medical treatment due to the long-term use of a certain drug."

"The same case has such a huge difference before and after, it truly broadens my horizons!"

Master Zhao bowed respectfully, saying, "Your Excellency is wise; this humble subject truly knew nothing of this matter!"

Wang Shaoyin listened quietly to him.

“My cousin has always been in good health, and his sudden fainting startled me! I immediately asked Dr. Xu from Baoan Hall to treat him, but it was too late.”

"After examining him, Doctor Xu firmly stated that my cousin had died from poisoning. My wife then ordered an examination of all the items my cousin had used, and sure enough, they found arsenic poison in the wine jars sent by the Zhong family's winery."

“My cousin has a long-standing feud with the Zhong family’s winery. Some time ago, because the Zhong family’s Plum Blossom Immortal Wine sold very well, my cousin caused a scene while drunk. I think it would make sense if the Zhong family’s winery were to poison my cousin out of jealousy.”

"Therefore, I immediately reported to the government and asked the magistrate to do justice for my brother."

If that's the case, it makes perfect sense. However, Wang Shaoyin asked, "Why not have a coroner examine the body?"

"My lord! A coroner's examination of an autopsy requires disembowelment, which is extremely disgraceful! My brother's cause of death is not unclear, so why insist on a coroner's examination?"

"My cousin died a violent death, which is already pitiful enough. Does he not even get peace after death?"

The clerk frantically scribbled notes, nodding in agreement as he did so.

Wang Shaoyin remained silent. Preserving the body and ensuring burial after death was the mainstream practice at the time. Even if the cause of death was unclear, few people were willing to conduct an autopsy, let alone if the victim's cause of death was fully documented with witnesses and physical evidence.

Often, when the government requests an autopsy, it is met with fierce resistance from the victim's family.

As a result, many criminals go unpunished, and there are many wrongful convictions.

But then, she encountered Princess Zhaoshan, who didn't follow the usual path.

"Just as you said, the victim did not die from arsenic, but arsenic was found to be present. There must be something fishy going on here."

Wang Shaoyin said, "Bring here all those who came into contact with the wine jar that day. I want to question them in detail."

Master Zhao looked troubled.

Wang Shaoyin asked, "Is there anything wrong?"

"Your Excellency, it was my wife who discovered the poisoned wine. However, after hearing that my cousin had opened the coffin to examine the body, she became emotional and accidentally caused a miscarriage. She is currently trying to save the pregnancy."

Wang Shaoyin: . . . .

Mrs. Zhao's face practically screamed that she was guilty.

"In that case, send people to search the victim's residence and belongings, and bring in the people who served the victim. I also want to know what the real culprit who killed the victim was."

"My lord, is this really necessary?" Master Zhao said with a forced smile. "My cousin is already dead, so there's no point in investigating further. I beg you, my lord, to consider the feelings of this humble citizen and the Earl of Zhongyong, and preserve the dignity of my cousin even in death!"

Wang Shaoyin was most adept at using someone else's strength against them, and said with a faint smile, "This is also Princess Zhaoshan's wish."

Master Zhao's fake crying froze on his face.

"I will trouble Lord Wu and Chief Wang to conduct the search together." The two men accepted the order and left.

Wang Shaoyin leisurely drank a pot of tea, and the two of them, along with a pile of items and servants, returned to the front hall.

"Your Excellency, I found this item in the secret compartment of the victim's inner room."

Wang Shaoyin stood up and carefully examined the powder in Wang Bantou's hands. "Go and fetch a doctor to identify it."

Wu Yi said, "Doctor Wu from Renxintang has finished treating Madam Zhao and is currently fine."

Wang Shaoyin glanced at Wu Yier, "Go and invite him."

Doctor Wu quickly arrived at the front hall, and after careful examination, said, "Your Excellency, this is Wushi San (Five-Stone Powder)."

Five-Stone Powder?!

Wang Shaoyin was greatly surprised.

"From a medical perspective, Wushi Powder is not considered a poison, and it is even quite effective in treating diseases such as colds. However, it is also well known that Wushi Powder is toxic and addictive."

That's why the founding ancestor of the Gu family listed Five-Stone Powder as a prohibited drug.

"Master Zhao, someone in your household is stealing forbidden drugs, and you, the master, are unaware of it?"

Master Zhao cried out, "Your Honor, I truly knew nothing about this!"

"Stealing banned drugs is a serious crime, and harboring a criminal is equally serious. As a commoner who is well-versed in the laws of Chongqing, how dare I knowingly break the law?"

Wang Shaoyin had already imagined a grand drama of brothers killing each other and framing the Zhong family. "Whether they dare to do it or not, how would I know?"

With the case making great progress, Wang Shaoyin was invigorated. Then he remembered another key figure and said, "Guards, take Doctor Xu from Baoan Hall to the county government office. I want to interrogate him properly."

Wang, the squad leader, accepted the order and left.

Wang Shaoyin lifted his leg to leave.

Master Zhao hurriedly chased after him, calling out, "My lord!"

"Master Zhao, may you have good luck."

Wang Shaoyin threw down a sentence, turned around, and strode away.

Master Zhao trembled all over, gritted his teeth and ran to the backyard. He pushed aside Aunt Zhao who came to greet him, stood by the bed and suddenly asked, "Why is the thirteenth prince taking Five Stone Powder?"

Madam Zhao shook her head, "How would I know?"

Master Zhao suddenly grabbed Madam Zhao's hair and dragged her off the bed, saying fiercely.

"You bitch, you knew all along!"

Mrs. Zhao screamed in agony.

"You slut! Is that bastard in your belly the thirteenth prince's, or the child of that adulterer surnamed Xu from Bao'an Hall?"

Mrs. Zhao stared wide-eyed in horror.

"It must be the thirteenth prince's, right? Otherwise, how would you know about the thirteenth prince's use of the Five-Stone Powder, such a secret?"

"Ha! The thirteenth son is a fool too. His first wife died and he refused to remarry, but you didn't shed a single tear after his death. Instead, you came up with a vicious plan to frame the Zhong family with the thirteenth son's death!"

Master Zhao slammed his wife to the ground.

"I thought you were a fool, but I underestimated you. Fine, since you're so ruthless, don't blame me for being ruthless too!"

Master Zhao pointed at the old woman standing in front of Madam Zhao and said, "Send this old dog to the county government."

The steward waved his hand, and two burly old women stepped forward, dragged the old woman away, and took her to the county government office.

Wang Shaoyin, who was interrogating Dr. Xu, suddenly had a witness appear!