I am imprisoned in Kaifeng Mansion

Three officials were killed, so the matter is serious.

As soon as Han Qi returned home, he turned back immediately.

As an important stakeholder in the case, Cui Tao was naturally brought to the scene.

Next to the prison, there are several rooms specially set up for the guards to rest. The three guards died in the east wing. They fell to the ground in different postures. struggled too hard.The table is full of rich dishes, these dishes are very familiar to Cui Tao, and they are the meals given to her by 'Cui Jiuniang' before.

The three exasperated jailers were all salivating, which is a typical symptom of poisoning.However, there are many poisons that can cause vomiting after being poisoned. In this case, it is basically impossible to infer what the poison is based on the appearance of the deceased without using modern accurate instruments to detect the ingredients.

Among the jailers who died was Sun Wu, the jailer who had delivered food to Cui Tao before.

"I said it might be poisonous, but I don't know why they still want to eat it." Cui Tao also regretted that these three lives were lost in vain.

The jailer Kong Lin, who knew the general situation, carefully explained what happened at that time.

At that time, Sun Wuben was going to throw away the food in the food box, but after being seen by Xu Xing and Huang Hao, he felt it was a pity and reluctant to part with it.The three of them discussed throwing a little bit of each dish to the dog for a try. If the dog is fine after eating it, it is naturally not poisonous.After trying everything, they were pleasantly surprised to find that there was no problem, so the three of them put the dishes on the table and prepared a big meal.

"The villain also wanted to eat together at that time. Because it was the villain's turn to inspect, he had to leave temporarily. When he left, he specifically asked them not to forget to leave some food for the villain. But it never occurred to him that when the villain came again When they came back, all three of them were lying on the ground motionless."

Kong Lin shed tears as he spoke. They were brothers in normal times, and they were alive and well one moment ago, but they died in the blink of an eye.

Leader Sun was very sad that he had lost three of his subordinates all at once, but he couldn't figure it out, "Why did the poison kill them after all these dishes have been tested?"

Cui Tao also felt a little strange, and looked around the dishes on the table again. There were steamed leg of lamb, bird's nest, roast venison, clear sauce, fried scallop, roasted chicken, roasted duck, Baiyi soup, fried quail, hand-washed crab, fresh Shrimp dumplings, and three desserts, carved plum balls, honeydew melon fish and cherry cheese.

These dishes have been passive, so it is not sure which dish is poisonous.

"Do you want to try with silver needles?" Sun Baotou remembered that Liu Wuzuo used silver needles to test poisons on vegetables.

"The silver needle test is only suitable for arsenic, and other poisons cannot be detected. Arsenic poisoning has a typical appearance of 'bleeding from the seven orifices', and they do not conform to it." Cui Tao explained.

The so-called "bleeding from the seven orifices" actually refers to the conjunctiva, nasal mucosa and oral mucosa of the deceased being congested or rotten and bleeding.

Hearing this, Prison Leader Sun looked at Cui Tao in amazement for a while, and finally understood why Officer Han would retain a female prisoner. Cui really knew a lot.

"There are so many dishes for a woman to eat. If I come to poison, I will definitely choose the dish that the other party must eat, which is my favorite dish." Cui Tao analyzed.

Han Qi then asked Cui Tao which dish he liked best.

Cui Tao went to look around the dishes on the table again, and took a breath in embarrassment, "I like everything very much, no matter the difference."

Han Qi was not surprised at Cui Tao's answer.Looking at her gluttony in daily life, it can be seen that she almost never refuses food.It seems that smashing the head will not only cause amnesia, but also make people greedy and not picky eaters.

Han Qi asked someone to bring the dog to test the poison.

Cui Tao quickly said narrowly: "Dogs are so attractive, they were poisoned to death for no reason, is it wrong?"

"We can still use the method of elimination," Cui Tao pointed to the steamed lamb leg, "Since every dish has been tested for poison, such a big leg of lamb, if some places are poisonous and some places are not, there is no way It is guaranteed that the poisonous part will be eaten by me. The same is true for venison, scallop, and roast chicken. If the soup is poisoned, it will be poisonous and can be eliminated, so the most suspicious dish is this Cherry steamed cheese!"

Han Qi looked at the bowl of half-eaten cherry cheese, and it could be seen that the cherry sauce was dotted in the center of the cheese.

This dessert is very popular among noble women, and every spoonful of it is served with cheese and cherry sauce.Most likely the cherry jam is poisonous, but the cheese is not.It is likely that the three jailers only scooped up the part of the cheese and ignored the cherry sauce when they tested the dog, so the dog was not poisoned, but the man was poisoned.

Han Qi questioned Kong Lin about this matter.

Kong Lin carefully recalled the scene of the poison test at that time, and quickly nodded, "It seems so. They only took a small spoonful from the edge to feed the dogs."

But whether the cherry sauce is really poisonous needs further confirmation.

Since Cui Tao was not willing to part with a dog, Han Qi asked someone to get a chicken.

When Cui Tao heard this, her eyes widened, and she obviously didn't want to change it to a chicken.

"That's such a waste. It's a waste of a chicken. It can't be eaten. There are not only many people who can't even eat a chicken leg all year round. Wasting food is tantamount to a crime." Cui Tao muttered in a low voice.

Han Qi glanced at Cui Tao speechlessly, but still ordered: "Get a mouse."

Cui Tao was about to open her mouth, but Han Qi shot her sharp eyes.

Cui Tao chuckled and cupped her hands at Han Qi: "I just want to say that Han Tuiguan is a wise decision!"

As expected, the mouse that ate the cherry sauce died.

At this time, Wang Zhao and others who were in charge of looking for Cui Jiuniang at the prime minister's mansion returned, and Lu Gongbi and Lu Gongru followed.

Cui Tao was not surprised to see that Cui Zhi did not come with them, she never felt that Cui Zhi did this.Who would be stupid enough to use his own name openly when poisoning and killing people?

When Lu Gongbi saw Cui Tao, his lips moved slightly, as if he had something to say, but he stopped.

Cui Tao was generous, and immediately asked Lu Gongbi and Lu Gongru: "You two cousins, do you know what I like to eat the most?"

Lu Gongru was stunned for a moment, scratching his head to think, Lu Gongbi had already said it without hesitation.

"Cherry Cheese."

The moment Lu Gongbi finished answering, his eyes were full of concern when he stared at Cui Tao, but he immediately frowned and looked away, his expression was still cold and serious, as if he refused to be seen thousands of miles away.

"Sure enough." Cui Tao pondered with downcast eyes.

The woman who came to the prison to bring her meals tonight claimed to be Cui Zhi's servant girl, called Dongmei.She was able to tell the general situation of Cui Zhi, so the Yacha who was in charge of identity registration at that time did not have any doubts about it.

"Second brother and I came here specially to explain to you that there is no possibility that Jiuniang will poison Qiniang." Lu Gongru's tone was sure, and there was a reason for it, but he didn't know whether he should say it clearly, so he subconsciously looked at Lu Gongbi.

"Since yesterday, I have sent someone to monitor her, and I know everything she says and does." Lu Gongbi did not shy away from this, and told her frankly.

Lu Gongru nodded approvingly, his second elder brother suspected Cui Zhi because of his 'eccentricity', and immediately put him under surveillance.Lu Gongru was a little worried that Han Qi and the others would question him about the reason, and it would be a little embarrassing if he told it, but he never thought that Han Qi and the others didn't mean to ask.

"But there is indeed a maid named Dongmei next to Jiuniang." Lu Gongru handed the portrait he had just painted to the yamen servants, and asked them to verify that Dongmei who came to deliver the meal was not the person on the portrait.

When the clerk in charge of registration saw the portrait, he immediately shook his head and said no.

Cui Tao feels that Madam's situation is very clear now.The murderer not only knew her food preferences, but also Cui Zhi's situation.In this way, the range of suspects can be effectively narrowed down to acquaintances, either related to the Cui family or the Xiangfu.

After all, the Xiangfu and her are cousins, and the stakes are not deep.If Lu Gongbi had no intention of killing her, then the suspicion of the prime minister's mansion could basically be ruled out, leaving only the Cui family.

If the elders of Cui's family, who thought she was ashamed, would have brought a Cui Zhi in in order to kill her, that would be a bit too stupid.Now it just so happened that Lu Gongbi sent someone to monitor Cui Zhi, and he happened to provide an alibi for Cui Zhi.If there is no monitoring, it will not be so easy for Cui Zhi to clear his suspicion. If such things get out, it will definitely tarnish the Cui family's reputation.

Therefore, the person who wants to poison her to death should not be the face-saving older generation of the Cui family, but someone who hates her, and at the same time, someone who doesn't care about Cui Zhi's life or death.

Cui Tao suddenly met Lu Gongbi's eyes: "Do you want to kill me?"

Lu Gongbi slightly opened his eyes wide, and met Cui Tao's eyes, and there was a strong anger in his eyes instantly.

Cui Tao immediately withdrew her gaze, knowing that Lu Gongbi's reaction meant that he hadn't done anything.

She turned to ask Lu Gongru, "Do you know who I had a bad relationship with before?"

"This one……"

Lu Gongru scratched his head again. Most of all, he only met Cui Tao's cousin twice during the New Year's Eve. How could he know this kind of inside story?

"Your sixth sister." Lu Gongbi answered before Lu Gongru again.

Cui Tao's sixth sister is named Cui Qiao, the fourth daughter of Cui Mao, born of a concubine.Because he looks very much like his grandfather, he was raised by the old lady since he was a child. Compared with other concubine children, he is more favored and has a high spirit.

Lu Gongbi only deliberately inquired about Cui Tao's situation, as for the specific reason for the quarrel between the two, she didn't know, so I'm afraid I can only ask Cui Zhi.But when Cui Zhi heard that someone in Kaifeng mansion poisoned Cui Tao in her name, she fainted from fright. When Lu Gongbi left the mansion, Cui Zhi was still awake.

Cui Tao immediately went to the prime minister's mansion, she is not afraid of people who have not woken up, she can have many ways to wake her up.

Unexpectedly, Cui Zhi opened his eyes as soon as the needle went down, and Cui Tao put down the second silver needle in disappointment.

Cui Zhi opened his eyes and saw Cui Tao, he immediately expressed his surprise, and then he slowed down, crying and took Cui Tao's hand to explain to her that she didn't do anything poisoning.

"I have the best relationship with Seventh Sister. I would rather die by myself than harm Seventh Sister!"

"Okay, don't cry, I know it's not you."

Cui Tao comforted Cui Zhi empathetically, and patted her hand, Cui Zhi cried out in pain.

"Oh, I forgot." Cui Tao hurriedly pulled out the silver needle stuck in Cui Zhi's hand.

Cui Zhi took another deep breath in pain, and asked Cui Tao in puzzlement, "Seventh Sister actually learned medicine?"

"A person is floating in the rivers and lakes, how can he not be stabbed? I think I have been injured too much before, so I naturally became a half-doctor." Cui Tao was talking nonsense, since Cui Zhi didn't tell her the truth, she naturally wanted to Play fake with her.

Cui Zhi then angrily introduced Cui Liuniang's situation to Cui Tao: "Sixth Sister used to have disputes with Seventh Sister. She is small-minded, caressing, and always speaks ill of Seventh Sister. Her face. This time she learned that Seventh Sister has become a prisoner and is in jail. On the surface, she pretended to feel sorry for Seventh Sister, but behind her back she secretly drank to congratulate her, with a proud face. How can this be done by humans! "

Cui Tao then asked Cui Zhi what they had quarreled with, giving a few specific examples.It is not easy to make up this kind of question that is caught off guard, and even if it is made up, it is easy to reveal a big flaw.

Afterwards, Cui Tao heard Cui Zhi elaborate on the conflicts between the sisters over the competition for clothing materials, rouge and gouache.Besides, she is now a prisoner, and her life and death are uncertain in a big prison, which is enough for Cui Liuniang to be proud of, so why bother to take the risk and go to great lengths to send someone to kill her?

Thinking of this, Cui Tao suddenly realized that the person who poisoned her probably knew her recent situation in Kaifeng Mansion very well, and knew that she had "prosperous career" in Kaifeng Mansion recently. Under the killer.

Those who have a detailed grasp of this situation, apart from the people inside the Kaifeng mansion, are those Dizang Pavilion assassins who have been secretly monitoring and following her.

If the other party has someone in Kaifeng Mansion, she can be killed easily, such as poisoning the water tank in her small kitchen. There is no need to use the name of Cui Jiuniang to deliver food.

Based on this, a result can be drawn, that someone in the Cui family is likely to be related to Dizang Pavilion.

Then this can reasonably explain why she was associated with Di Zang Pavilion after she ran away from home.The person who met her at the foot of Cangyan Mountain was probably Di Zang Pavilion.But Di Zang Pavilion is a killer organization, doing dark and ugly dirty things.This will never be the free and unrestrained life in the rivers and lakes that a noble woman from a famous family yearns for.

Back then, she must have been lied to.

There are two types of being deceived: the first one is that she really wants to run away from home and live a comfortable life in the Jianghu. The person who lied to her told her that Dizang Pavilion is a good place in the Jianghu, and she foolishly believed it. .The second is that she doesn't want to run away from home at all. The Qingfu Temple in Cangyan Mountain is just a mess.

"What is Seventh Sister thinking? Could it be that Sixth Sister really treats you—" Cui Zhi covered her mouth in surprise, and then said very angrily, "How could she do such a thing! No matter how much she hates Seventh Sister, she shouldn't use it like this Viciously wanting Seventh Sister's life."

Cui Tao looked at Cui Zhi who opened his eyes and said nonsense, and only thought it was funny.Cui Zhi must have lied about the situation in Cangyan Mountain back then, but she couldn't figure out how much she concealed.But what is certain is that Cui Zhi must be a small shrimp, not an important person, so people think she is dispensable and use Cui Zhi's name to poison her.

Cui Tao asked Lu Gongbi and the others to stay away, and she wanted to have a chat with Cui Zhi alone.

Cui Zhi felt inexplicably afraid when he saw Cui Tao whose face suddenly darkened.She shrugged her shoulders and looked at Cui Tao cautiously: "Sister Seven, do you have something private to tell me?"

Cui Tao pulled out a two-inch long silver needle, and said to Cui Zhi, "Do you know where this silver needle comes from?"

"From...where did it come from?"

Cui Tao then told Cui Zhi in detail how she took out the silver needle from Yang's ear, "The trick of piercing the ear with the silver needle is really ingenious."

Cui Zhi was even more frightened, and his voice trembled a little, "Sister Qi can still do autopsies now? Seventh, Seventh Sister is so amazing, she seems to be able to do everything!"

"So-so, not as good as Jiu Niang's ability to lie." Cui Tao shook the silver needle in front of Cui Zhi, "I am now a death row prisoner, at most I will die, do you know that?"

Cui Zhi was even more frightened, and she rolled her eyes in horror to call out, but just as she opened her mouth, she suddenly felt a pain in her neck, and found herself speechless.

"Jiu Niang, don't panic, let me analyze a few words with you."

……

Lu Gongbi has been standing outside the courtyard, staring at the closed door, waiting silently.

Lu Gongru couldn't bear it any longer, wandered back and forth in the yard with his arms swinging, and told the servants in the yard to keep the news well, and don't let his mother know about Cui Tao's visit to the prime minister's mansion.

Han Qi and the others didn't come with Cui Tao, too many people came and went in and out of the prime minister's house, it was bound to appear ostentatious and easily attracted the attention of others.

"Why can't you hear any movement inside?" Lu Gongru listened quietly for a long while, but still couldn't figure out why, "Could it be that Qiniang was knocked out by Jiuniang?"

Lu Gongbi glanced coldly at Lu Gongru, thinking he was too noisy.

After about a stick of incense, Cui Tao opened the door and came out.

It was only then that Lu Gongru heard Cui Zhi's faint crying from inside the room.

"What's going on? What did you talk to her about?"

"It's nothing, she has a bad spleen and stomach, so I'll take care of it for her." Seeing Lu Gongru's disbelief, Cui Tao took him and Lu Gongbi into the room, and asked Cui Zhi, who was wiping tears on the couch, "Have I ever bullied you?" gone?"

"No, no, thank you Seventh Sister for helping me recuperate my body with acupuncture." Cui Zhi honestly lowered his eyes and explained in a hoarse voice.

Lu Gongbi immediately asked Cui Tao to come out with him, and asked Cui Tao what was going on.

"I sold my second cousin, and she obediently confessed."