She merely made a simple probe, and these two became so flustered, which clearly indicated something had been added to the water. She certainly couldn't let them spoil things now; the charge of murdering a prince was no small matter!
"You've talked so much nonsense, yet I don't see you thirsty. If that's the case, then let's interrogate you directly. We'll have a drink afterward!"
With that, she threw the cup of hot tea in her hand in front of everyone, leaving only the cup of cold water she had taken from Fan Zehao.
Everyone:.....
No one expected the Princess Consort to act this way. Normal people would just swap for a cup of hot water, so why was the Princess Consort making such a fuss?
She had truly caught them off guard. Moreover, the poisoned water was now in the Princess Consort's hand. What would happen if she discovered it?
In that brief moment of the Princess Consort's contemplation, Dong Hao, despite his experience with the world, felt a cold sweat trickle down his spine when he saw the poison being presented to him to drink. He wondered if the Princess Consort had seen through their deception.
He then dismissed the possibility. To be precise, the Princess Consort knew he was in league with Liu Qingfeng, and she had just said that remark, so she was intentionally making him drink it.
Everyone present was pondering the subsequent events, while Fan Zehao glared with his bulging eyes, sweeping his gaze fiercely over them. What a bunch of scoundrels!
His mind was solely focused on dealing with these people properly; he didn't think of anything further.
Liu Qingfeng understood the situation most clearly. Having navigated the officialdom for years, he could naturally guess what the Princess Consort intended to do next.
At once, he cast a glance at a short, ordinary-looking man in the crowd. The latter quietly started to leave. Zhao Jiaqi watched the short man as if he were disappearing into the prison.
A sense of unease immediately arose in her heart. She quickly called out, "Stop! From now on, the prison is only for entry, not exit!"
The short man was also clever. He clutched his stomach, feigning distress, and said, "Your Royal Highness Princess Consort, I have an upset stomach and need to relieve myself. Please, Your Highness, be merciful and let me out. If I were to... offend your eyes, I wouldn't be able to bear it!"
Just having a bowel movement and offending her eyes?
What, after he finished, was he supposed to take it off for her to inspect?
Zhao Jiaqi's face remained unblushing, her voice steady as she directly retorted, "However you soil yourself, you'll keep it to yourself. My words are as good as the Prince's. Anyone who dares to defy me will have their three generations exterminated."
Her harsh words silenced everyone present; they dared not move.
Seeing that the Princess Consort was serious, Liu Qingfeng's expression turned grim. He turned his head and gave Dong Hao a look.
If this matter wasn't handled well, not only the prefect, but even he, the governor, would be finished. The remaining Desheng Hall would surely be confiscated.
Not only would everything be lost, but they might also end up being caught in a trap. This was purely like lifting a rock only to drop it on their own feet.
Dong Hao quickly understood the governor's look. He immediately said, "My lord, perhaps this deer does not belong to our establishment. It might be a mistake. How about I withdraw the case for now, and we can search for it again later!"
Liu Qingfeng, upon hearing this, practically adored Dong Hao. He nodded repeatedly, "Good, you go back and search. It would be my dereliction of duty if I wrongly accused an innocent person. Hurry and search!"
Zhao Jiaqi had never encountered such shamelessness in playing such a trick. However, it only provided them with more leverage.
She calmly blocked the departing man with a single sentence, "Just now, the waiter from Desheng Hall definitively identified him as the thief, and the buyer's attendant said the same thing. Shopkeeper Dong, have you forgotten what you yourself said!"
"Now, you're saying you misidentified them. Does your statement mean you've slandered the suspect of theft?"
Dong Hao's face turned red from the Princess Consort's retort, but he dared not argue with her directly, as the Princess Consort was on a completely different level than his lord.
After a brief consideration, to protect his employer and the governor, he chose the lowest risk option: admitting to the false accusation.
According to the law, false accusation was punishable by at most thirty board strokes and a fine. He knew which was more important.
He quickly said with a forced smile, "Returning to Your Royal Highness, it was my carelessness. I didn't examine carefully, which is why I wrongly accused this... this uncle. I beg Your Royal Highness for leniency!"
Zhao Jiaqi, seated on a chair, crossed her legs and looked at Dong Hao with a smile. "You, a commoner, dare to speak to me while standing? Kneel and answer!"
Her face wore a smile, but her words were as cold as ice, completely contradicting her cheerful demeanor.
Dong Hao was speechless. He lifted his brocade robe and knelt on the ground, lowering his head obediently.
"That's more like it!" Zhao Jiaqi was very pleased.
After saying this, she smiled and looked at Liu Qingfeng. "Tell me, how should this case be handled now!"
Liu Qingfeng could no longer sit still. He stood up, walked over, and also knelt to reply, "A false accuser shall receive thirty board strokes and a fine of five taels of silver!"
Zhao Jiaqi nodded slightly. "Execute it!"
Everyone:....
As expected of the Princess Consort, who actually enjoyed watching such a brutal scene? Wasn't she worried about nightmares? Clearly, the Princess Consort had no idea what nightmares were!
Liu Qingfeng kowtowed, then stood up and instructed the yamen runners to strike Dong Hao, and to do so with all their might.
Zhao Jiaqi personally observed the punishment. These yamen runners truly struck hard, hitting the mark with no deviation.
With the first strike, Dong Hao could still endure it, biting his lip until it bled, yet he made no sound. After three strikes, he was covered in sweat, his arms trembling.
Zhao Jiaqi smiled and looked at Liu Qingfeng, taunting him, "Governor Liu, do you see? These board strokes aren't powerful enough! Shopkeeper Dong shows no reaction at all. You, as governor, are failing to provide enough food for the yamen runners!"
She then stroked her chin and mused, "Perhaps I should find a stronger governor!"
Replacing his position? That wouldn't do at all! Liu Qingfeng was hopping with anxiety. He yelled at the yamen runners, "You eat more than oxen but have less strength than sheep! Strike him hard! Anyone who dares to hold back will be the next to be beaten!"
The yamen runners also looked wronged. How could they dare not strike in front of the Princess Consort? But what was wrong with Dong Hao? Couldn't he cooperate by crying out a few times?
At this point, the yamen runners performing the punishment used all their might, hitting Dong Hao fiercely. With one stroke, Zhao Jiaqi could see blood.
Especially when blood appeared through his thick cotton trousers, it was evident that the board strokes were indeed forceful.
Dong Hao endured three strikes without a sound. But with the sudden increase in force, he let out a scream. Zhao Jiaqi immediately regretted it.
Her ears were almost deafened. The sound was louder than her cries during childbirth!