Chapter 11: A Slap in the Face

Chapter 11: A Slap in the Face

With a portrait, things became much easier.

"During the summer of Yonghe Year Eight, think back. Who among you has seen this person with a sick young boy? A reward of fifty taels of silver will be given to anyone who can identify them."

Xie Daozhi was relentless. "If anyone conceals information, they will receive fifty lashes and be expelled from the Xie residence."

The servants' eyes lit up, then dimmed just as quickly.

All eyes were fixed on the portrait as they racked their brains for memories.

Fifty taels was a substantial sum – who would refuse money?

Yet, despite a whole cup of tea's worth of time passing, no one spoke up.

The cold tea was removed and replaced with hot tea. Xie Daozhi was done waiting and signaled to Head Steward Xie with a glance.

Head Steward Xie cleared his throat loudly. "None of you have seen him?"

"I truly have never seen such a thing!"

"I haven't either."

"...It's been so many years, I really can't recall!"

Chief Steward Xie was overjoyed inwardly, but he dared not show it on his face. "Miss Yan, no one has seen it. What do you think...?"

"Chief Steward Xie!"

Yan Sanhe stood up. "This isn't reincarnation, why are you in such a hurry?"

Chief Steward Xie: "..." He almost choked.

Yan Sanhe walked to Xie Daozhi's side and spoke coolly, "Do you dare let me ask?"

Xie Daozhi knew that she wouldn't give up easily, so he might as well be open about it. "Go ahead and ask."

"Since no one is willing to speak, I'll have to resort to an ancient method from my Yunnan Li ethnic group."

Yan Sanhe folded her arms. "Head Steward Xie, please fetch a basin of clean water."

Head Steward Xie, upon seeing the master nod at him, hurriedly acknowledged, "Yes, sir."

With the water brought, Yan Sanhe pulled out a small paper package from her bosom.

Approaching the basin, she opened the package and sprinkled the white powder inside into the water.

Before their eyes, the powder dissolved, and the water's color swiftly returned to normal.

Xie Daozhi was startled. "What is this?"

"This is the powdered gall of a cobra, sun-dried and then enchanted by a Li Li tribeswoman for ninety-nine days and nights."

Yan Sanhe spoke slowly, enunciating each word deliberately.

"I assure you, there will be no harm if one speaks the truth; it's like drinking a mouthful of cool water. But for those who lie, they'll first experience abdominal pain, followed by their intestines rotting away. Within two hours, they'll bleed from all seven orifices until death."

"..."

All present trembled in fear. What snake gall powder? It was clearly a deadly poison that would tear through one's intestines.

"Barbaric!" Manager Xie muttered under his breath.

Yan Sanhe's gaze swept across the crowd. "Let's start with Manager Xie!"

"Why should it be me?"

"Manager Xie oversees the comings and goings. Perhaps you've seen something?"

"You...!"

With a grim determination, Manager Xie walked to the basin. Instead of using a bowl, he lifted the basin to his lips and drank, gulping down two large mouthfuls. Aside from the chill in his stomach, he felt nothing unusual.

"I didn't see anything!"

Yan Sanhe gave him a cool glance. "Next."

There were a total of eight gatekeepers, including those at the main gate and the corner gates.

Upon seeing Chief Steward Xie completely unharmed, the trembling legs of the onlookers straightened as they declared confidently, "If you have no guilt, you fear no ghosts!"

Looking at the seven men in front of him who had all drank the water without issue, Chief Steward Xie whispered to the master, "My Lord, just watch – this will surely backfire!"

Hearing this, Xie Daozhi's expression eased slightly.

As long as the person didn't show up, those three deaths couldn't be blamed on him. As for how they ended up in prison – that was another matter entirely.

Suddenly, a loud clatter echoed as the basin was kicked over. The oldest guard in the gatehouse, Old Wang, went berserk, swinging his fists and wailing, "I won't drink! I don't want to drink! I didn't see anything!"

Xie Daozhi's previously relaxed demeanor vanished.

He shot to his feet, his anger boiling over. "Speak! Did you or did you not see anything?"

"Sir, milord..."

Old Master Wang plopped to his knees with a thud, his face turning the color of a liverish pig.