Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
âAccording to his symptoms, heâs most likely been poisoned with a powder made from the extract of the sap leaves of a tropical tree called the poison arrow tree.
âIts effect is to paralyze the heart, coagulate blood, seal blood vessels, and finally suffocate a person to death. Its toxicity is even more potent than that of a five-paced viper.
âAs long as it touches you briefly, it can kill you.â
Gu Chengrui had just finished speaking when the old man twitched violently and kicked his leg out.
The way the two died was similar, but one was fast, and the other was slower.
âIt seems that the poison they were poisoned with came from the poison arrow tree, but in different forms.â
The Third Prince asked thoughtfully, âYou mean this thing comes from the tropics? What do you mean by tropics?â
âThe tropics are places that are very hot all year round. For example, the south of the Ming Dynasty is especially hot and humid.â
âSouth?â The Third Princeâs face turned solemn when he heard that. He looked at his general and said, âContinue the interrogation. If they donât speak, let them have a taste of this poison from afar.â
After speaking, he brought Gu Chengrui and his wife back to his tent.
When the villagers heard this, they were shocked at first. However, when they saw that the outsiders were all dead, they immediately cried and told them what had happened during this period.
About three days ago, eight men with knives came to the village and killed all the strong laborers in the village.
They would then hold the children of each family hostage to control them. If anyone disobeyed, he would kill their entire family.
At this moment, the woman who had previously refused Gu Chengruiâs request to buy groceries kneeled and said, âPlease let my child go. Heâs the only child of our two families.â
âMissus, hadnât the Third Prince had already given orders that only those who donât cooperate will be killed?? We wonât kill those who cooperate.â The general went forward to help her up.
âReally?â
âOf course, the Third Princeâs words are always true.â
âI know the situation in the village. If you want to know anything else, just ask.â The woman immediately wiped her tears when she heard that.
The young generalâs mouth twitched, and he thought inwardly, âSheâs sure good at controlling her tears.â Thus, he asked directly, âDo you know who these outsiders are?
âOr did they reveal anything?â
âI just know about the old man, and heâs the butler of the Lu family in town.
The land in our village belongs to the Lu family.â
âYes, on the surface, the Lu family appears to be benevolent, but that couldnât be further from the truth.â
âWhen the son of the Lu family sees a girl he likes, he will force her to marry him.
âIf a girl marries him, he wonât care about the girl anymore after the novelty wears off. If the girl is lucky, she can still live if she has given birth to a son or a daughter. Sheâll die or become a servant if sheâs unlucky.â
âA girl in our village was killed before. Her brothers went to reason with the Lu family, and in the end, the entire family was forced to death.â
âForced to death?â
âThatâs right. They didnât rent the land to them anymore or let them go out to look for work. The problem is that local ruffians and hooligans are repeatedly making trouble for that family, soâ¦â
âDo you know the identities of the others?â The general nodded and asked.
âIâm not sure, but the butler is quite respectful to them.â
âYes, Butler Lu seems to be afraid of them.â
The general listened for a long time, but there were only two valuable points. One was Butler Luâs identity, and the other was that Butler Lu feared those strong men.
After that, they asked the Third Prince for instructions. Ultimately, the Third Prince lets these villagers go after ordering them to keep this incident a secret.
The Third Prince and his group did not set off the next day. Instead, they sent soldiers to town to investigate the Lu, dressed as farmers..