After some time, the guards brought the things Chu Nanzhi had asked for to the hall and placed them on a wooden table that they had moved to the hall.
Although the county magistrate's monthly salary was not much, he could still afford a tael of gold.
As for the mercury, Chu Nanzhi had already thought of it.
This dynasty had no lack of idiots who pursued immortality, so they also believed in refining pills to extend their lives.
In the Host's memory, the young Taoist priest she had hooked up with was quite good at refining pills. That was why the county magistrate respected him and invited him to stay.
Since he was refining pills, there must be solid cinnabar or a store of mercury in his residence.
Chu Nanzhi looked at the things that the guards had brought in. Other than the few items she wanted, there was also a small but exquisite adobe ceramic pot.
Presumably, the mercury was inside.
Chu Nanzhi took the gold from the table and pinched it. The texture was very good.
This was good stuff.
When she thought about how she was now penniless, she could empathize with the way Madam Chen had clutched the silver yesterday and refused to let go.
After she divorced Lin Jinxiao, she would have to find some money for herself. This would be her first nest egg in this world.
Although the remaining silver at home had been given by the Host's mother. She really could not bear to leave the four children with no options
She glanced at the county magistrate slyly and smiled playfully. "Your Excellency, if I help you solve the case, will you give me two taels of gold?"
"You're so greedy and shameless."
The county magistrate cursed at her mildly, but after thinking for a moment, he waved his hand helplessly and said, "As long as you really solve this case, not only will this gold ingot belong to you, I will also reward you with ten taels of silver."
"It's a deal."
Chu Nanzhi happily lifted the jar lid and dripped a few drops of mercury into the porcelain bowl. Then, she placed the gold into the porcelain bowl and rolled it back and forth between the tweezers. The surface of the gold that touched the mercury immediately turned white.
Chu Nanzhi held the white gold in front of the county magistrate.
The county magistrate was dumbfounded. "It's that simple?"
"It's as simple as that. It was just a small deception. Your Excellency, you have to keep your word."
Chu Nanzhi smiled.
This kind of chemical reaction was actually not very common in her era.
Gold would react with mercury to produce a white substance that covered the gold surface.
Which caused the gold to turn white.
However, if she had not thought of the little Taoist priest last night, she might not have made this deduction.
It was evident that there were plenty of experts here.
The county magistrate was already regretting it a little. He had let someone take his money so easily.
However, he was really excited as the case was about to be solved. He beamed. "I will keep my word. Quick, go and get the silver and bring me another tael of gold. I want to try it out myself. Today has been a real eye-opener."
The bailiff soon brought over ten taels of silver and handed it to Chu Nanzhi. He also handed another tael of gold to the county magistrate.
After the county magistrate touched the gold with the mercury, it turned snow-white. Realization suddenly dawned and he asked the minor official, "County Lieutenant Liu, where did you place the fake gold, no, the real gold, that was brought back a few days ago?"
Chu Nanzhi held the silver in her hand and looked at the minor official again. Only then did she realize that this was the man who had asked Lin Jinxiao to take on his task.
County Lieutenant Liu looked afraid and stammered, "I thought that it was just some rocks, so I ordered someone to throw them away."
"Throw them away?"
The county magistrate put down the gold and glared at him with a livid expression. "How dare you? This case is not closed yet. How dare you dispose of the evidence? Hurry up and find it for me."
"Yes."
County Lieutenant Liu was about to leave in a panic, but Chu Nanzhi had already discerned his thoughts.
From the moment she entered the magistrate's office, this person had been making things difficult for her and trying to prevent her from finding out the truth. When she remembered how he had asked Lin Jinxiao take over his duty, she began to suspect that he was involved in this case.
Moreover, as the county magistrate had said, even if it was fake gold, it was a crucial piece of evidence. How could he causally dispose of such a key piece of evidence?
Unless he had a guilty conscience.
She immediately stopped County Lieutenant Liu. "I wonder if County Lieutenant is really going to find the lost gold, or if he just wants to run away and warn the others?"
"Run away?"
County Lieutenant Liu pretended to be calm. "Woman, don't slander me. Why should I run away? I have nothing to do with this case. We haven't even found the mastermind. Whom should I warn?"
After a pause, he added, "Moreover, I even pleaded for Brother Lin."
"That's good. Of course I won't forget your kindness."
Chu Nanzhi was speechless.
She suspected that this person was not sincere in pleading for mercy. He must have put on a show in order to cover up his tracks.
She looked at the county magistrate and smiled warmly. "Sir, there's no hurry to recover the gold. Since the county lieutenant is so concerned about who the mastermind is, why don't we wait until we capture the real culprit? Then you will naturally recover the taxes."
"The real culprit?"
The county magistrate stroked his chin and asked with interest, "Who is the real culprit? How dare he scheme to take our county's taxes?"
"Sir, you saw just now that the gold immediately changed color when it came into contact with mercury. Last night, I asked my husband's colleagues and they checked the gold before sealing the box. Therefore, only those who were present at that time and who were well-versed in this technique would dare to perform this trick."
Chu Nanzhi's hint was very clear. The county magistrate was not stupid. Other than the bailiffs who were guarding the money, only he and the Taoist priest in residence had checked the taxes that day.
The bailiffs naturally would not dare to risk their lives, so it could only be the Taoist priest. He immediately instructed the bailiffs, "Bring Priest Ximen to the county office immediately."
When County Lieutenant Liu saw that the truth was slowly being revealed, he was so frightened that he hurriedly knelt. "Your Excellency, this has nothing to do with me."
The county magistrate was bewildered. "If it has nothing to do with you, why are you kneeling?"
Chu Nanzhi was also very confused. Why was he confessing when no one had pressed him?
"I'm just feel that this is unfair to Priest Ximen."
County Lieutenant Liu glared at Chu Nanzhi resentfully. Seeing that the gold in his hands was about to be lost, he scolded her indignantly, "It must be her. She must have seduced Priest Ximen and planted evil thoughts in his mind so that he tried to frame Brother Lin and have the b*tch to himself."
"I don't have the time for such things."
Chu Nanzhi remembered that the Host and that Taoist priest did not have any shady dealings. It was just that they had interacted a few times and spoken rather frivolously, which had caused a lot of gossip.
She pretended to remind County Lieutenant Liu, "Sir, you were sick at home a few days ago and not involved in this case. Why should you panic and arouse suspicion? You might as well tell us the whereabouts of the gold. If we find the gold, the county magistrate might be magnanimous. Perhaps he won't blame you."
"Yes, County Lieutenant Liu, quick, tell me where you disposed of the gold."
The county magistrate asked impatiently.
County Lieutenant Liu looked vexed. He was so flummoxed that he could not speak.
He had been in office for so many years, of course he knew that he could not dispose of the evidence before the case was closed. He had only said that to stall the county magistrate.
However, he did not expect that someone in little Luyan Harbor would uncover his trick. So the gold that had been transported back was still in the warehouse of the county office. He had not had the opportunity to move it.
Moreover, he knew very well that after Priest Ximen was arrested, he would definitely confess under torture.
After pondering for a long time, he had no choice but to confess bitterly to the county magistrate. "The bleached gold is still in the storeroom in the backyard."
"What, still in the storeroom?"
The county magistrate looked shocked. "Then why did you lie to me just now?"
"I… I…"
When the county magistrate saw that he was at a loss, realization suddenly dawned. He pointed at him and said,
"Oh, I understand now. You must be in cahoots with Priest Ximen to pocket the taxes. No wonder you strongly recommended me to exchange the silver for gold and then suggested that Brother Lin escort the money so that you could stay out of it. Looks like you had ulterior motives."
One did it for money, and the other did it for a woman. It was as simple as that.
County Lieutenant Liu knew that he could no longer hide the truth. He immediately knelt and begged for mercy. "I was blinded by greed and fell for that priest's scheme. Your Excellency, please forgive me."
"You are truly audacious. Men, take this thief away."
The magistrate was flushed with anger.
However, he felt much more relaxed after knowing that the taxes had not been lost.
When order had been restored, the county magistrate picked up the ingot of bleached gold and began to worry. "I got the money back, but I can't just send it to the prefecture like that."
As he spoke, he looked at Chu Nanzhi pleadingly. "Madam Chu, do you know how to restore the gold to its original state?"
He sounded much more tactful and polite.
"Of course I do."
Chu Nanzhi nonchalantly toyed with the gold and silver ingots.
"Tell me quickly."
"That won't do. You'll have to pay extra."