Chapter 281: Chapter 281: Autopsy
281
"Little Cousin, Little Cousin, you’re finally back."
"Tongtong, you’re back!"
Zhao Zhitong nodded at them and said directly, "In our medical clinic, we keep a treatment record for every patient. We are upright and fear no slander, so what is there to be afraid of?"
As soon as she said this, the Sun Family members finally remembered. That’s right, they have records! This is their evidence! Moreover, they had always run their medical clinic conscientiously. They were upright and feared no slander. They hadn’t harmed anyone, so what was there to be afraid of! Thinking of this, the Sun Family members instantly stood up straighter.
At this moment, Sun Daqing and a few others had already rushed to find the treatment record for San Lengzi’s wife.
"The County Magistrate has arrived!"
As a voice called out, the commoners at the entrance quickly made way.
Following that, a middle-aged man dressed in a County Magistrate’s official attire, with a beard and an official’s cap, and a gentle appearance, walked in. This was their county’s newly-appointed County Magistrate, Wei Binghuai.
Today was his first day in office, and he had already encountered a homicide case. So, he immediately brought his constables to the scene.
Everyone paid their respects to the County Magistrate. San Lengzi knelt before the County Magistrate and began to recount his grievances.
"Your Honor, my wife was fine this morning. But just after taking the medicine prescribed by De Ren Tang, she soon stopped breathing."
"My eldest son found her. My poor wife, her death was so tragic! Please, Your Honor, uphold justice for me!"
Sun Kang, having composed himself somewhat, also knelt before the County Magistrate and said, "Please investigate thoroughly, Your Honor. I am innocent. It’s true that San Lengzi’s wife came to my medical clinic this morning to see me."
"She had a sore and swollen throat, so I prescribed her medicine. This medicine is not fatal. Your Honor, this is our clinic’s treatment record for San Lengzi’s wife. Please take a look."
Magistrate Han took the treatment record, glanced at it, then passed it to Advisor Wang beside him, "Advisor Wang, take a look. Is there any problem with this medicine?"
"Yes, Your Honor," Advisor Wang responded, took the medical record, and began to examine it. After a moment, he said, "Your Honor, the prescription is indeed for treating a sore and swollen throat; there’s nothing improper about it."
Magistrate Han nodded, "So, the prescription is not the problem?"
Upon hearing this, San Lengzi cried out, "Your Honor, please uphold justice for me! My wife truly died after taking the medicine. Her death was so tragic!"
Magistrate Han stroked his beard and nodded, asking, "Do you still have any leftover medicine at home?"
At this moment, San Lengzi’s eldest son, Tie Dan, suddenly spoke up, "Yes, we do, County Magistrate! I’ve brought it here, along with the dregs from the pot and the leftover liquid medicine."
As he spoke, he presented all the items.
Advisor Wang hurriedly stepped forward to inspect them. He first examined the dregs, finding no poisonous substances. He then smelled the remaining liquid medicine in the pot, and his expression changed. He quickly opened the unbrewed medicine packet and inspected the ingredients within.
Afterward, he nodded in understanding, stood up, and said, "Your Honor, I’ve found the reason."
Pointing to the medicine packet, he continued, "This prescription contains a medicinal ingredient called ’strychnos seeds,’ which can reduce swelling and treat sore throats."
"However, strychnos seeds are highly toxic. If the dosage exceeds the prescribed limit, it will cause poisoning. If medical treatment is not administered promptly, it can lead to death."
"The amount of strychnos seeds indicated in the prescription was not excessive. However, the quantity of strychnos seeds in this medicine packet is sufficient to cause fatal poisoning."
Hearing this, San Lengzi burst into wails, lunging at Sun Kang and screaming for him to pay with his life. Fortunately, others managed to hold him back.
Qiao Muchen, standing at the entrance, swept his gaze over San Lengzi and the others. He frowned in thought for a moment, then turned and walked out.
Zhao Yue, seeing his friend leave, was momentarily stunned and called out softly, "Qiao Muchen, where are you going?"
But Qiao Muchen had already left and disappeared.
Meanwhile, Bamboo, who had come down the mountain to fetch medicine for Headmaster Yuan, found De Ren Tang surrounded by a crowd. He squeezed his way in, saw everything, and quickly turned around to run back.
At this time, Zhao Zhitong was squatting beside the corpse, looking at it and deep in thought.
Magistrate Han nodded and said, "The evidence is conclusive. Sun Kang, what else do you have to say!"
Sun Kang was completely stunned by now. Hearing Magistrate Han’s words, he cried out that he was wronged, "Your Honor, I’m innocent! Our medical clinic treats patients to save lives; we would never harm anyone!"
Advisor Wang said, "You may not have intended to harm anyone, but it’s possible that the person dispensing the medicine in your clinic was muddle-headed, made a mistake, and added too much strychnos seeds."
"Now, this medicine packet is the evidence. The medicine from your pharmacy indeed has a problem!"
Magistrate Han, seeing that the details of the case were becoming clear, gave an order, "Men, arrest all the physicians and pharmacy apprentices from De Ren Tang and bring them to the County Government Office for interrogation!"
"Wait!"
Just then, a clear voice suddenly rang out. Everyone looked over and saw it was an eight or nine-year-old young girl.
She was squatting beside the corpse. She looked up at Magistrate Han and said composedly, "Your Honor, I may be foolish, but for Your Honor to draw a conclusion without even examining the corpse, isn’t that a bit too rash?"
Advisor Wang was instantly furious, "Bold! How dare you speak to the Magistrate like that!"
"Ai, Advisor, let the young girl finish speaking." Magistrate Han stretched out his hand to stop the enraged Advisor Wang and looked at Zhao Zhitong, "Young girl, what are your thoughts?"
Zhao Zhitong replied honestly, "Your Honor, the living can lie, but the dead cannot. Why don’t you ask the deceased how she died?"
Magistrate Han looked at the corpse and smiled, "This official has also heard that there are skilled individuals who can understand the words of a corpse. The young girl is right; we should examine the corpse."
With that said, he called out to an attendant, "Go and summon the coroner."
"Yes!"
The attendant acknowledged, then turned and left. After a short while, the attendant returned, bringing a burly man with him.
Zhao Zhitong frowned slightly. She recognized this man. It’s Butcher Wu, who sells pork on North Street. How did he become a coroner?
The attendant said, "Your Honor, the man has been brought. He is the most experienced butcher in our county town."
Butcher Wu knelt and paid his respects, "This commoner greets Your Honor."
Magistrate Han nodded, "Alright, go and examine the corpse first."
"Yes, Your Honor." Butcher Wu assented and went to examine the corpse.
This action filled Zhao Zhitong with doubt, "Your Honor, why not find a professional coroner for the examination?"
Advisor Wang spoke up, "Since ancient times, the role of a coroner has been undertaken by those of low status. Because they frequently handle corpses, they are considered inauspicious. Therefore, specialized coroners are extremely rare."
"Our government office does not have a specialized coroner. In such circumstances, according to the laws of the imperial court, a butcher can undertake the duties of a coroner."
Hearing this, Zhao Zhitong’s brows furrowed slightly. Although butchers frequently handle various corpses, those are animal corpses. How can they be the same as human ones? Isn’t this nonsense?
Indeed, after examining for a long time, Butcher Wu only stated, "Your Honor, there are traces of medicine in the deceased’s mouth. The deceased drank medicine before death."
Hearing this, Advisor Wang took the dregs from the medicine pot over for Butcher Wu to inspect, "Was it this medicine?"