Chapter 135: First Volume_Chapter 135: This Is What Backing Looks Like

First Volume_Chapter 135: This Is What Backing Looks Like

At Qi Cheng's command, a group of constables filed into the DaTang of the Wine House in a rush, and the situation on the scene became extremely tense. Yet Qin Feng remained as if nothing were wrong, leaning against the counter, scratching his bottom one moment, picking his nose the next, as though he had a hyperactivity disorder.

No defense, no resistance, no attempt to flee—just standing there in place, a careless, teasing expression on his face.

Qin Feng's reaction was so calm and composed that it left the surrounding patrons utterly baffled.

Could it be that Qin Feng still has some kind of backing?

Just then, Qin Xiaofu stepped sideways to shield Qin Feng and barked at the snarling constables: "How dare you! My young master bears the Golden Belt, and only Dali Temple has jurisdiction over him. How can you presume to overstep your authority?!"

Qin Xiaofu, who usually fawned and flattered like a lickspittle, had, at the critical moment, unhesitatingly thrown himself in to protect his master. This moved Qin Feng deeply and filled him with pride.

Good lad—back home, I'll give you a promotion and a raise!

Qi Cheng glanced at Qin Xiaofu, his eyes full of contempt: "Where did this lowly slave crawl out from? What right have you to speak here? Get out of my way at once, or I'll have you arrested and executed on the spot!"

Faced with Qi Cheng's threat, Qin Xiaofu's face went deathly pale, terrified beyond measure. But considering the grudge between his young master and the Jingzhao Yin, if they were taken away, they would surely be flayed alive.

Qin Xiaofu hardened his heart. Instead of retreating, he threw caution to the wind and loudly retorted: "The Sage bestowed the Golden Belt upon my young master, yet Lord Qi pays it no heed at all. Is it that he doesn't even hold the Sage in respect? Even if this homicide case had nothing to do with my young master, and even if it did, it's still not your place to punish him."

As he spoke, Qin Xiaofu bared his teeth at the constables before him: "Who dares to make a move? I'll fight him to the death!"

Qi Cheng naturally wouldn't take a Servant seriously. Just as he was about to order the apprehension of Qin Feng and his man, Ji Wang suddenly spoke in a deep voice, breaking the knife-edge tension in the air.

"A homicide has occurred in Jingzhong, and Lord Qi naturally has the authority to look into it. But to disregard the Golden Belt and directly punish Qin Feng is no longer merely a suspicion of overstepping—it is deceiving the sovereign and flouting the law!"

Ji Wang's tone was extremely heavy, and the once-noisy scene instantly fell silent.

Even though Qi Cheng was deeply unwilling, he did not have the courage to go against Ji Wang. He hurriedly lowered his head and saluted: "Your Highness the Old Prince overstates it. Even if you lent this official a hundred guts, I would never dare deceive the sovereign or flout the law. But as the Father Official of Jingzhong, with a homicide on my hands, I have no choice but to investigate."

Ji Wang naturally understood Qi Cheng's thoughts. After all, in Jingzhong, who didn't know that Qi Cheng was a protégé of Grand Commandant Gao?

Ji Wang gave a cold snort, no longer bothering with Qi Cheng. He turned to Qin Feng and said in a deep voice: "Qi Cheng is the Jingzhao Yin, and his inquiry into this matter is perfectly justified. Qin Feng, you must not resist! If this matter has nothing to do with you, this prince will absolutely not allow anyone to wrong you. But if this matter truly began with you, this prince will show no mercy either."

Qin Feng, who had just been refusing to cooperate, did an about-face of a hundred and eighty degrees. He threw himself at Ji Wang's side and, with tears and snot, poured out his grievances as though he had suffered a great injustice: "This is clearly a frame-up! I beg Your Highness to see justice done! Today is the grand opening day of Wuhu Restaurant. All the ingredients were freshly purchased at the early morning market. Even if I were a fool, how could I possibly pass off inferior goods and ruin my own reputation on a day like this?"

This was precisely what Ji Wang found strange. That rascal Qin Feng had always been as clever as a monkey—how could he possibly do something so stupid?

Ji Wang immediately pressed: "But words without proof—can you prove your own innocence?"

Qin Feng had long had a strategy in mind, but on the surface he put on a timid, sheepish look, his face full of guilt: "Mr. Lü's Medical Skill is already renowned throughout Jingdu. Since Mr. Lü says this man's death was caused by a sudden illness from accidentally eating something, then it must certainly be correct."

At these words, Qi Cheng's eyes lit up, and he growled: "So you're saying you've already confessed?"

Watching Qi Cheng's impatient eagerness, Qin Feng sneered inwardly, feeling that such a crude frame-up was utterly laughable.

Qin Feng paid Qi Cheng no heed and went on, feigning puzzlement as he muttered to himself: "But I simply cannot figure it out. I have no grudge against this man, so why would I poison him? If it wasn't Poisoned, then even if he ate rotten meat by mistake, at most he'd get a stomachache. Among ingredients that can kill a person, I can only think of two kinds. The first is poisonous mushrooms."

Hearing this, the crowd stirred, because today's dishes had included mushrooms!

Especially the patrons who had eaten the mushrooms, their faces filled with terror, they shouted at Qin Feng: "Qin Feng, where exactly did the mushrooms used in your restaurant come from? Don't tell me you were greedy for cheapness and bought poisonous mushrooms of unknown origin!"

Facing the questioning, Qin Feng said with an innocent look: "Setting aside the fact that these mushrooms are non-toxic, even the most poisonous mushrooms would take at least half a day from consumption to the onset of poisoning. When has anyone ever died of poison the moment they finished eating? If you don't believe it, you can consult Mr. Lü."

Mr. Lü nodded: "What he says is true. Anyone who accidentally eats poisonous mushrooms will experience hallucinations and suffer for several days before dying. Moreover, if it were mushroom poisoning, or common food poisoning, this old man would flatter himself that I could detect at least a clue or two. But as for what this man actually ate to cause his poisoning, this old man truly finds it hard to discern…"

Realizing the mushrooms were not the problem, the crowd finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Qin Feng continued on his own: "Besides poisonous mushrooms, there is another ingredient that can take a life—a fish called 'pufferfish.' Its liver contains a deadly toxin, and if eaten by mistake, it can indeed kill a person within a short time."

Everyone present looked blank—they had never even heard of a fish called pufferfish before.

Due to the difficulties of transport and preservation, apart from the pufferfish's native waters, in other regions people had never even heard of it, let alone eaten it.

The Princess of Qiyang Commandery had not expected Qin Feng to be so knowledgeable. Beyond her surprise, she casually asked: "Does your restaurant have pufferfish?"

Qin Feng explained with great seriousness: "Within Shedynasty, there are indeed a few places where pufferfish are found, but they are all a thousand li away from Jingdu, and it's simply impossible to transport them here. Besides, pufferfish are poisonous. If they were forcibly brought into Jingdu, they would certainly be seized by the Official Residence, and one might even be charged with the crime of killing for money.

"Therefore, the only way is to dry and grind the pufferfish liver into powder and bring it into Jingdu to commit murder. If this man truly died of accidental poisoning and perished in such a short time, he must have been poisoned by pufferfish toxin. Tell me—I don't even know this man. Why would I go to such elaborate lengths to poison him?"

Hearing this, the patrons who had been in an uproar gradually calmed down. After all, given Qin Feng's status, there really was no reason for him to poison a Common People.

Under everyone's gaze, Qin Feng stepped over to the corpse, crouched down, and examined it closely for a few moments. He said in a deep voice: "There are traces of saliva at the corner of the mouth, and the face is purple—these are indeed signs of having been poisoned by a deadly toxin. The reason I believe the deceased was poisoned by pufferfish toxin is that several common poisons can all be detected by simple local methods. Only pufferfish toxin can disguise itself as ordinary food poisoning and cannot be detected by methods such as the silver needle test.

"Therefore, it is perfectly normal that Mr. Lü was unable to detect it."