Chapter 144 There is something wrong with the mushroom soup
Liu Yu and the eldest lady returned to the kitchen one after the other. The kitchen staff who had been watching the excitement outside the Xianghe Courtyard returned home when they realized something had happened. They seemed to be busy with their own things, but in fact, everyone was nervous and kept repeating, "Don't involve me, don't involve me."
Liu Yu glanced at them indifferently. At this time, the people from Qinyuanju had already come to the kitchen. Under the leadership of Jingzhe, they began to test the poison of each dish with silver needles in a well-trained manner.
After trying each dish, Liu Yu's brows relaxed.
Was she overthinking? The poisoner's target was only Princess Xinyi.
But what about those three ladies?
Liu Yu's attention was not only focused on the dishes, she began to select some people to check the ingredients for the dishes.
As time passed, the chefs felt relieved when they saw that there were no problems with the things they were responsible for.
A fat cook took the lead and said, "Aunt Liu, everyone in the kitchen is watching us all the time, there won't be any problems. I think those little girls who are delivering the dishes are very suspicious."
"Those girls must be investigated, but you can't be let off either side." Liu Yu was very firm in her attitude, without blaming either side. In her opinion, if the problem lies with the dishes, then the investigation should start from the source.
Whoever is responsible should take responsibility for it.
She herself is no exception.
"Oh, auntie, aren't you wasting time? If you delay any longer in the kitchen, the person who did it might run away." Another cook stood up and said.
After something like this happens, who doesn't want to be suspected?
These cooks were most afraid of being discovered by Liu Yu, so they just went to Xiangheyuan to join in the fun.
Normally these masters would turn a blind eye to this, but if they knew something like this had happened, the people in the kitchen would have a hard time explaining themselves. At the very least, their monthly salary would be deducted, and at worst, they would be beaten or sold as punishment.
Then, one after another, the chefs stood up and advised Liu Yu to check the people in other rooms.
Even Wu was beginning to prepare to speak out.
At this moment, Jingzhe, who was standing next to the innermost stove, shouted:
"Madam, there is something wrong with this bowl of mushroom soup."
The rumor that cooking multiple types of mushrooms together is poisonous had already spread widely in the Chen Mansion last night.
At this point, the chefs looked at Liu Yu with more meaningful expressions, with their faces clearly saying, "See! I told you to leave, but you refused to leave and insisted on checking. Now you're shooting yourself in the foot!"
Speaking of mushroom soup, Wu had drunk it before and praised it for being delicious, but she didn't know whose idea it was to make the spring water mushroom soup.
She walked over and saw the soup warming on the stove. It was no different from the bowl she had eaten.
But if there was a problem, how come she was fine after eating it?
Wu turned and looked at Liu Yu behind her.
Liu Yu said confidently:
"Matsutake mushrooms can improve gastrointestinal digestion, and morels can resist fatigue. Boiling them into soup with chicken will only benefit the body and will not cause any problems." After King Qi ascended the throne in the previous life, she often made this soup to refresh him.
Wu nodded and turned to Jingzhe who was holding the soup spoon, "What's the problem?"
Jingzhe glanced at Liu Yu, and after getting Liu Yu's approval, she said:
"The taste of this soup is different from others. It has a bitter and sour taste."
"Are you sure?" Wu was surprised and asked doubtfully:
"You tried it with your mouth?"
"Yes." Jingzhe nodded.
Liu Yu explained to Wu: "Jingzhe's tongue is different from that of ordinary people. She can taste any changes."
Not all poisons can be detected by silver needles. As far as she knew, the magic powder that Qiu gave her father could not be detected by silver needles, otherwise it would not have remained undetected for so many years.
Mrs. Wu was worthy of being the mistress of the Chen family. She knew this clearly and immediately ordered someone to catch a rabbit.
"Apart from this one, have you found any problems with the other soups?" Wu asked, pointing at the other soups.
Jingzhe shook his head:
"I've tried everything else, and nothing unusual happened."
Mrs. Wu ordered her personal maid to feed the rabbit with mushroom soup.
Liu Yu did not make any move. She walked to Jingzhe and touched the top of his head. For some reason, the corners of her eyes turned red. “Why are you so stupid? Don’t take risks next time. Do you understand?”
Jingzhe scratched his head and smiled innocently:
"My wife and the others also said that this will not endanger life. It will only cause abdominal pain and diarrhea, and it will not have much impact on the body. Besides, I vomited it out and didn't really eat it. My wife, don't worry about me. It's okay." If there is no evidence, even if the person behind the poisoning is found, others can simply deny it and put the blame on my wife.
Isn't there a good excuse ready? A variety of mushrooms together can cause poisoning, and she doesn't want her wife to be wrongly accused.
Looking at Jingzhe who was smiling innocently in front of her, Liu Yu knew that Jingzhe was protecting her.
She ordered Guyu: "Take Jingzhe to find the palace doctor."
Jingzhe wanted to say that he was fine, but when he saw Liu Yu's irresistible look, he stuck out his tongue and obediently followed Guyu out of the kitchen.
Watching the two maids leave, Liu Yu felt very satisfied. It was really worth it to be reborn in this life with such a few loyal maids.
Liu Yu withdrew his gaze and, like everyone else, looked at the rabbit that was fed soup.
After a while, the rabbit, in full view of everyone, curled up into a ball, shook uncontrollably, and began to lose control of its bowels and bladder.
Wu's face looked visibly ugly.
Seeing that there was something wrong with the mushroom soup, everyone almost instinctively avoided the cook and servants who were responsible for cooking the mushroom soup.
Their faces turned deathly pale, and several of them knelt down in front of Wu. The cook who was cooking the spoon cried with snot and tears:
"Madam, this soup was really fine when we made it!"
"Then the poison was indeed found in the soup you made, so what do you say?" Wu had been in charge of the household affairs for many years, so it was impossible for her to believe them just based on their words: "You actually said that you didn't poison them, but do you have any way to prove it?"
Proof? The cook was sweating anxiously and looked around, but when the other people in the kitchen caught his gaze, they all lowered their heads.
Now that things have already happened, no one wants to get involved at this time, as this might only bring trouble upon themselves.
Seeing this, a layer of grayness appeared in the cook's eyes, but when his sight fell on Liu Yu, his eyes lit up again.
He crawled to Liu Yu's feet crying and asked hopefully:
"Aunt Liu, you were the one who selected these ingredients for us? You were watching the soup when it was being stewed. Can you help us talk to the Madam? Spare us! We really didn't do anything wrong."