Chapter 136: First Volume_Chapter 136: On-Site Deduction

First Volume_Chapter 136: On-Site Deduction

Mr. Lü could only determine that the deceased had died from accidental poisoning. As for pufferfish poison, he had never even heard of it. Seeing Qin Feng so effortlessly point out the cause of death, Mr. Lü was taken aback and humbly asked, "Does Young Master Qin also study medicine?"

Qin Feng had never studied any medical skill whatsoever; his university major had absolutely nothing to do with practicing medicine or dispensing drugs. The reason he knew about this was entirely because Qin Feng had wide-ranging interests and could sit through any type of film or television production.

The matter of pufferfish toxin he had learned from a certain gourmet program. As for the knowledge of testing poison with silver needles, that was thanks to popular period dramas like "The Great Song Coroner" and "Detective Di Renjie."

Facing Mr. Lü's question, Qin Feng gave a sheepish laugh and offered no explanation. Instead, he turned to look at Ji Wang and asked with a smile, "May I ask Your Highness, how much does pufferfish poison cost per qian?"

Ji Wang frowned, hastily avoiding Qin Feng's gaze, and said irritably, "You brat, why are you asking me? Do you suspect me?"

The crowd was equally baffled, unable to understand why Qin Feng had suddenly pointed the finger at Ji Wang.

The Lady of Qiyang Commandery immediately snapped coquettishly, "Qin Feng, you truly are ungrateful. His Highness has sided with you at every turn, yet to clear yourself of guilt you would frame His Highness—shameful!"

Seeing that Ji Wang was already angry, Qin Feng hurried forward, patted and steadied the old prince's chest to help him catch his breath, and explained with an ingratiating expression, "Your Highness misunderstands. I only thought that pufferfish poison kills invisibly and is extremely rare, so it must be very expensive. Your Highness has seen much of the world and might know a thing or two."

So that was the reason. Ji Wang's expression finally eased: "The pufferfish you speak of should be lungfish. Some years ago when I traveled to Jiangnan, I did come across this fish along the way. Some call it 'chicken-hugger,' others call it 'obedient fish.' Locally it is considered a supreme delicacy; there is even a saying that this fish is worth dying for."

Just as Qin Feng had expected, Ji Wang indeed knew about pufferfish. Qin Feng hurriedly gave a thumbs-up and flattered him without reserve: "As expected of Your Highness, truly knowledgeable and well-experienced. This nephew cannot match even one ten-thousandth of your experience."

A hint of a smile crossed Ji Wang's solemn face as he said irritably, "You stinky brat, all you know is to fire sugar-coated cannonballs at me. Pufferfish poison is not as easy to prepare as you claim. Simply drying and grinding the pufferfish liver yields a very weak toxin. As for how to refine it, I know very little myself. If one has the connections to purchase it, the cheapest is fifty taels of silver per qian."

Qin Feng thought, the old prince is being far too modest. As the saying goes, imperial families have always been heartless. Pufferfish poison is practically the perfect tool for murder and robbery, an essential medicine for any household or journey. The Beixi County War Hero probably knows this kind of poison like the back of their hand.

At this point, the Lady of Qiyang Commandery had understood Qin Feng's deeper meaning. Tilting her head, she murmured thoughtfully, "Pufferfish poison is actually this expensive—fifty taels per qian. If it were only used to poison a commoner, wouldn't that be far too extravagant? Qin Feng may indeed be detestable, but he hasn't gone so far as to make such an elaborate fuss against a commoner.

"Furthermore, today is the grand opening of the restaurant. Unless his brain had been crushed in a door, he would never do something like this to smash his own招牌."

Although the Lady of Qiyang Commandery had no love for Qin Feng, she could still distinguish right from wrong and would not stoop to settling personal scores through official business.

Since even the Lady of Qiyang Commandery had spoken thus, Qin Feng's嫌疑 was basically cleared. Those scholars who had previously denounced him were all red-faced and ashamed of themselves.

The scholar who had cursed the loudest went straight up to Qin Feng, bowed deeply, and said apologetically, "Since this man died from the so-called pufferfish poison, it has nothing whatsoever to do with Young Master Qin. I was far too impulsive before. I ask Young Master Qin to be magnanimous and forgive me."

Once someone took the lead, the rest naturally had nothing more to hesitate about and one after another bowed in apology.

Qin Feng might be petty, but he wouldn't stoop to the level of these hot-headed youngsters. Besides, the true mastermind behind the scenes had yet to be uncovered.

Qin Xiaofu was quite perceptive. Knowing that Qin Feng had deliberately not explained earlier precisely to catch the mastermind in one net, he loudly shouted on the spot: "Despicable! Who exactly framed and slandered my young master! To smear Wuhu Restaurant, they didn't hesitate to use pufferfish poison to harm innocent commoners. If this person is caught, nothing less than death will appease public outrage!"

The scene grew noisy once more. Especially that squad of scholars, who had nearly been used as pawns to wrongly blame Qin Feng, were even angrier than before and one after another petitioned Qi Cheng, demanding a thorough investigation and that the murderer be brought to justice.

The panic in Qi Cheng's eyes flashed and vanished in an instant, but it was still noticed by Qin Feng.

There was no need to think about it—this matter, even if not personally carried out by Qi Cheng, he certainly knew of it beforehand. The true culprit must be among Qi Cheng and his people.

These fellows probably never dreamed in their sleep that Qin Feng, merely a mere Wanfu who had never left Jingdu, actually knew about pufferfish toxin.

Since the other side had actively handed him a knife, Qin Feng naturally would not be polite. Under everyone's gaze, he stepped over to the woman's side and asked gently, "Auntie, did your husband ever have any disputes with anyone?"

Learning that her husband had been killed by a villain, the woman cried even harder, sobbing, "R-R-replying to the young master, my husband was always kind to others and never had any dispute with anyone."

Qin Feng gave a soft "Oh," turned to sweep a glance at Qi Cheng and the others, and deliberately drew out his words: "So that means the villain harmed an innocent purely to frame and slander This Young Master?"

At these words, the scene erupted. Apart from anger and indignation, the customers present were even more shocked.

"Not to mention that Young Master Qin is the son of the Minister of War, just the fact that he was awarded the Golden Belt alone makes him a figure of great importance in Jingzhong. Who would be so bold as to dare frame and slander him?"

"Could it be that the Emperor favors Qin Feng too much, arousing jealousy?"

"No matter what, a life for a life, a debt for a debt. That scheming villain behind the scenes will surely face divine retribution!"

Seeing Qi Cheng, Gao Song, and the others with ashen faces and silent, Qin Feng was in no hurry. He simply re-examined the corpse, recalling the shallow forensic knowledge learned from television dramas, and combined it with the scientific thinking cultivated over many years at university, gradually analyzing: "First, pufferfish poison is far too expensive. The one who administered it must be wealthy. With this, the scope is narrowed by more than half."

"Furthermore, whoever deliberately framed me must be my enemy. Thinking it over, those who have crossed me are precisely these official's sons in Jingzhong..."

"Since today is the first day of the restaurant's opening, thanks to everyone's favor business is extremely brisk. Everyone is sharing tables. Why were the others at the same table fine, while this person alone was poisoned? It must be that only this person could come into contact with the pufferfish poison."

"In that case, the pufferfish poison could only have been smeared on the Chopsticks or Wine Cup. We only need to find out who touched this person's Chopsticks or Wine Cup, and we can catch the true culprit."

By this point, the faces of Qi Cheng and the others had already turned extremely ugly...