With a portrait, things became much easier to handle.

“Summer of Yonghe Year Eight—all of you, recall if you’ve seen this person with a sick boy. Whoever has seen this person will be rewarded with fifty taels of silver.”

Xie Daozhi grew stern. “Anyone who conceals information will receive fifty lashes and be expelled from the Xie residence.”

The servants’ eyes lit up instantly, then dimmed just as quickly.

Everyone stared at the portrait, racking their brains trying to remember.

Fifty taels! Who would pass up money!

Yet after a full tea’s time, not a single person spoke up.

Cold tea was removed and hot tea brought in. Xie Daozhi didn’t want to waste more time and gave Steward Xie a look.

Steward Xie coughed heavily. “Has no one seen them?”

“This humble one truly hasn’t seen them!”

“This humble one hasn’t either.”

“…It’s been so many years, I really can’t remember!”

Steward Xie was delighted inside but didn’t dare show it on his face. “Miss Yan, no one has seen them. What do you think…”

“Steward Xie!”

Yan Sanhe stood up. “This isn’t a reincarnation—why are you in such a rush?”

Steward Xie: “…” Nearly choked to death.

Yan Sanhe walked to Xie Daozhi’s side and spoke coolly, “Do you dare let me ask?”

Xie Daozhi knew she wouldn’t give up so easily and generously agreed: “Go ahead and ask.”

“Since no one will speak up, I’ll have to use the ancient methods of the Lisu people of Yunnan.”

Yan Sanhe crossed her arms. “Steward Xie, go fetch a basin of clear water.”

Steward Xie saw his master nod at him and quickly responded: “Yes.”

Water was brought. Yan Sanhe took out a small paper packet from her bosom.

She walked to the water basin, opened the paper packet, and sprinkled the white powder inside into the water.

Visibly, the powder dissolved on contact with water, and the water’s color quickly returned to normal.

Xie Daozhi was shocked: “What is this?”

“Powder made from dried king cobra gallbladder, blessed by a Lisu sorceress with incantations for eighty-one days.”

Yan Sanhe spoke very slowly, practically forcing out each word individually.

“Those who don’t lie will be fine—it’s just like drinking cool water. But those who lie will first experience abdominal pain, followed by rotting intestines and stomach, and die from bleeding through seven orifices within one hour.”

“…”

Everyone was so frightened their legs trembled. What snake gallbladder powder—this was clearly deadly poison!

“How barbaric!” Steward Xie muttered quietly.

Yan Sanhe’s gaze swept over: “Let’s start with Steward Xie then!”

“Why me?”

“Steward Xie welcomes and sends off guests—perhaps you saw them?”

“You…”

Steward Xie gritted his teeth and walked to the basin. Without using a bowl, he directly lifted the basin and drank, gulping down two mouthfuls. Apart from a cold stomach, he felt nothing unusual.

“I didn’t see them!”

Yan Sanhe gave him a cool glance. “Next.”

There were eight gatekeepers in total at the main gate and side gates.

Seeing that Steward Xie was completely fine, their previously trembling legs stood straight again. Don’t do wrong and you won’t fear ghosts knocking—drink!

Steward Xie watched the first seven people drink the water and remain perfectly fine, then leaned close to his master’s ear and whispered:

“Master, just watch—this will definitely blow up in her face!”

Hearing this, Xie Daozhi’s expression also relaxed somewhat.

As long as no one came to the door, those three deaths couldn’t be blamed on him. As for how they ended up in prison, that was another matter entirely.

However, at that moment, there was suddenly a loud “clang” as the basin was kicked over and crashed to the ground.

Old Wang, the senior gatekeeper, went crazy, waving his fists and screaming: “I won’t drink! I won’t drink! I didn’t see anything!”

“…”

Xie Daozhi’s previously relaxed expression vanished completely.

He shot to his feet, fury filling his chest: “Speak! Did you see them or not?”

“Master, Master…”

Old Wang collapsed to the ground with a thud, his face turning the color of pig liver.