The two analyzed the killer's characteristics. At this moment, figures could be faintly seen on the small path outside.
Zhong Li gazed into the distance and spotted Lin Jin and his companions, along with County Magistrate Li Kun, Tian Lianxue, Wu Hui, and a thin, frail young scholar dressed in white.
She recognized the scholar as the one Lin Jin had brought from the street earlier to sketch Zhao Jun at the scene.
Why was she here? Wasn't she afraid anymore? Zhong Li wondered to herself.
"Your Highness, Your Highness..." County Magistrate Li, walking at the very front of the group with two attendants behind him, waved enthusiastically upon seeing Lu Wuxie, his face wearing a fawning and sycophantic smile.
Lu Wuxie glanced at him, then turned and walked back into the house.
"Master... Master... *Wuwu*... How could this happen? How could this happen?"
As Lu Wuxie stepped through the doorway, Wu Hui, who had been following closely, saw the scene inside. His face contorted with shock, and he rushed to the bedside, wailing uncontrollably.
Fortunately, Lin Jin and the others had pulled him back in time, otherwise, Wu Hui might have also fallen victim to the walnut shelling poison.
"This... this... is dead?" County Magistrate Li stood in the room, his face a mask of horror at the scene, tinged with a hint of fear.
Lu Wuxie's gaze swept over everyone in the room, finally settling on Li Kun. "Magistrate Li."
Li Kun, covering his face in feigned sorrow, looked bewildered at being suddenly addressed.
"I have a few questions for you. Is it convenient?" Lu Wuxie said, then turned and walked towards the exit.
Li Kun, caught off guard by Lu Wuxie's polite tone, instinctively felt something was amiss. His legs went weak, and he nearly collapsed to the ground. Supported by his attendants, he stumbled out, trying to overcome his fear.
"Your... Your Highness..." Li Kun felt his throat dry, his tongue tripping over his words.
Lu Wuxie turned back, looking at him with a half-smile, and asked,
"Is the medicine trade in Suqing County supervised by a relevant guild?"
Li Kun, expecting to be questioned about Luochen's death, was surprised by this query. After swallowing several times, he replied, "Yes... yes, it is supervised."
Lu Wuxie raised an eyebrow but remained silent, casually scattering some huanglian he had brought from a side room onto the ground.
Terrified, Li Kun's legs buckled, and he fell to his knees with a thud. "Your Highness... Your Highness... I... I truly did not know Luochen was this kind of person."
Lu Wuxie ignored him, instead plucking a small flower nearby and examining it in the sunlight.
Li Kun, his forehead beaded with cold sweat, stammered, "Your subordinate will not hide anything from Your Highness. Indeed, the head of the Suqing County medicine guild is Luochen."
Lu Wuxie cast him a glance.
"But... but there were reasons for this," Li Kun, under the intense gaze, trembled and quickly confessed. "Suqing County does not have a large population, and the pharmacies and physicians there are certainly not comparable to those in Jincheng. Suqing County even had cases of deaths due to medical negligence. It wasn't until twenty years ago, when Luochen came to Lingshan and treated many people, curing their ailments, that these medical disputes subsided.
Before taking office, I was merely a scholar and knew nothing of medical diagnosis and treatment. Moreover, Master Luochen was a Buddhist monk, and I, having a preconceived notion, believed his character to be impeccable. That is why I entrusted the management of the guild to Master Luochen."
As he spoke, Li Kun subtly glanced at Lu Wuxie, and seeing him lost in thought, quickly continued, "If I had known Luochen was this sort of person, I would never have committed such a foolish act."
Finally, Lu Wuxie's gaze fell upon Li Kun again.
Li Kun swallowed hard, offering a fawning smile.
"Twenty years ago?" Lu Wuxie raised an eyebrow. "The eighth year of Anhe?"
"Yes, yes!"
"So, twenty years ago, Suqing County had no reliable physicians? Or none have appeared in the last twenty years?" Lu Wuxie inquired.
"Yes, of course, there were!" Li Kun answered without hesitation. "However, twenty years ago, the physician's family suffered a calamity, and almost everyone in the family died. Afterward, the physician disappeared from Suqing County."
"What was the physician's name?" Lu Wuxie asked, his interest piqued.
"Chu Mu," Li Kun replied truthfully.
"Chu Mu..." Lu Wuxie murmured, then glanced at Li Kun, who was still kneeling, before turning and walking back into the house.
As Lu Wuxie's figure disappeared, Li Kun let out a sigh of relief, slumping to the ground.
"My Lord." A young attendant emerged from the side, attempting to help him up.
Li Kun pulled a handkerchief from his robe, wiped the sweat from his brow, and then, as if struck by an idea, grabbed his attendant's arm, about to question him.
The understanding attendant, already anticipating his need, produced a small strip of paper from his robe and handed it over.
Li Kun quickly unfolded it, and upon reading the words, patted his chest. "Fortunately, fortunately!"
-------------------------------------
Luochen's body was being transported to the yamen by the people Lin Jin had brought.
Zhong Li and Lu Wuxie remained behind to finish inspecting the scene. After giving instructions to the young scholar who had been painting, they also prepared to leave the small hut.
"Does Your Highness suspect Magistrate Li was lying?"
On the way, Lu Wuxie recounted the interrogation of Li Kun to Zhong Li. Zhong Li pondered for a moment and asked.
"Otherwise?" Lu Wuxie gave her a look that suggested she should be able to figure it out.
Zhong Li turned and gazed deeply at the small hut, now completely surrounded by arriving constables.
Indeed, Li Kun's words seemed plausible at first glance, but they couldn't withstand scrutiny.
He had just stated that he was a scholar unfamiliar with pharmacology and medicine, yet the moment Lu Wuxie scattered the huanglian, his legs had gone weak, and he had confessed everything. This could only mean one thing: Luochen and Li Kun were in cahoots, or Li Kun was fully aware of Luochen's dealings.
"Then why didn't Your Highness arrest him?" Zhong Li asked.
Lu Wuxie turned his head to look at the aloof woman beside him. "If Li'er knows, why then does she ask me?"
Zhong Li said, "The price of this bait of Your Highness's is a bit steep."
Late at night, the bright moon hung high, casting a brilliant glow over the entire Li manor.
Li Kun paced anxiously in his study.
"Knock... knock knock."
Three knocks came from outside, two short and one long.
Li Kun's face lit up with joy. He quickly tucked something he held into a book on his desk, hurried to the door, and opened it.
"Why are you so late?" he grumbled at the person standing at the entrance.
"Apologies, some matters delayed me. I came as soon as I finished," the person outside replied.
"Matters? What matters could you possibly have?" Li Kun sounded annoyed.
The person outside remained silent.
Li Kun stepped aside to let him in, muttering, "What could be more important than my affairs? If you dare to do this again, I swear I will..." He was interrupted.
Before he could finish, a handkerchief was thrust over his mouth. Before he could resist, Li Kun's eyes rolled back, and he fainted.