Plotting with You: The Forensic Scientist in Ancient Times!-Chapter 177 - 176: It’s Prince Yi

It is unclear how long she slept, but in the deep of night, the creeping chill slowly seeped through the thin layer of clothing, causing Zhu Yu to sleep somewhat fitfully.

Half-awake, she felt as if there was a warm wall behind her. That warmth compelled her to inch closer in her sleep, little by little, until her entire back was snugly against that warmth, allowing her to drift back to sleep peacefully.

When Lu Qing woke her the next morning, Zhu Yu didn’t feel any of the expected soreness from the previous night. She quickly got up, followed Lu Qing’s instructions, and put on the oilcloth coat to find Bai Qihong. She reminded him about the issues that needed attention when leading the craftsmen to open up the mountain and break through.

As soon as Zhu Yu left, Yan Daoxin slipped in.

"How did it go?" As soon as he entered the room, he lowered his voice and conspiratorially approached Lu Qing, "Last night was such a good opportunity for you two to share a room. Did you open up to her and make things clear?"

"No." Lu Qing fastened the straps on his oilcloth coat without even looking up.

Yan Daoxin’s face full of expectation turned into disappointment at once. He nudged Lu Qing’s shoulder socket with his hand, "What’s wrong with you! Was everything I said to you that night in confidence just wasted? Are you really so determined to be self-righteous?"

After speaking, he suddenly had a stroke of insight and realized, "You old fool, are you afraid that if you tell her the reason you’re only married by name, it’s just in case your plans fail and you fall from power, she’d be able to leave without being hindered, ready to find another suitable partner for life elsewhere, and that Zhu Yu might happily accept your goodwill and leave you for good later on?"

Lu Qing glared at him, "If she were that kind of person, she wouldn’t have come out here to endure this hardship with me but stayed hidden in the inner house."

"Then why, when such a good opportunity presented itself, couldn’t you bring yourself to say it?" Yan Daoxin retorted with a pout.

"Today we’re departing for Shuo Country." Lu Qing adjusted his oilcloth coat, his expression taking on a rare seriousness, "We’ll discuss everything once we reach Shuo Country and see the situation there."

Yan Daoxin was surprised, "Are you afraid she might have some childhood sweetheart or a lover in Shuo Country?

I say, junior brother, although your medical skills can’t match mine, nor can your cultivation or looks and demeanor, you’re still the Jin Country’s Prince Xiaoyao.

Zhu Yu is the wife the Emperor bestowed upon you!

Are you really afraid you can’t compete with some childhood sweetheart?"

"Nonsense," Lu Qing looked at Yan Daoxin with a mix of amusement and exasperation, "If there were really some formidable childhood sweetheart, Zhu Cheng might not have been willing to send her to Da Jin.

Mutual affection is ultimately different from an imperial decree.

What I want is not just a wife who is married to me out of duty because of an arranged marriage."

His gaze drifted outside, where he could see the faint silhouette of Zhu Yu in the rain and mist, "If I can convince Prince Shuo this time, then the plan will be secured. By then, I will have more confidence to strive for more."

Yan Daoxin was silent for a while, then he raised his hand and patted Lu Qing’s shoulder, "Although you missed the great opportunity I created for you yesterday, seeing that you finally want to openly keep someone by your side, I, as your senior, am equally gratified!"

Lu Qing didn’t speak, but suddenly reached out to clasp Yan Daoxin’s hand resting on his shoulder. With his elbow, he sharply struck back. Yan Daoxin quickly twisted his waist to avoid that elbow and, taking advantage of the situation, punched toward Lu Qing’s face.

Lu Qing dodged slightly, and Yan Daoxin seized the opportunity to pull back his hand, laughing as he dashed out the door and ran away.

After Zhu Yu carefully explained the subsequent precautions for opening up the mountain to Bai Qihong, the other members of the group had also prepared accordingly. The five of them mounted their horses, ready to leave.

"Vice Minister Bai," Lu Qing sat on his horse and looked at the cook in the distance boiling porridge under a shed, "Eating nothing but that thin gruel, the craftsmen under you probably won’t be able to keep up. Give them some solid food."

"But..." Bai Qihong certainly knew that doing such heavy labor required more sustenance than what they were having, but a clever woman cannot cook without rice. He wanted his craftsmen to eat well, but there was no way to conjure food out of thin air.

"We’ll find a way to solve the food issue," Lu Qing said with confidence, having discussed the matter with Zhu Yu the previous night, "In five days, send a constable with an empty ox-cart to the Ping Mountain Pass, about several miles away, where Shuo Country’s stationed. If someone brings food for sale, buy enough grain and return to continue opening the mountains and digging the channels.

If no one brings food to sell within a day, stop work at Black Stone Mountain and follow the original plan to divert the route for the channel.

As for the food supply thereafter, I will find a way to resolve it, and the craftsmen will not starve."

Bai Qihong, previously vague about Lu Qing’s intentions, now understood completely.

Energetically, he stood before Lu Qing’s horse, clasped his hands in salute, and deeply bowed to Lu Qing.

"Prince! Prince is taking such a risk, all for the future well-being of the citizens. This is truly altruistic!" Although overwhelmed with emotion, he also felt a tinge of shame, as if he had once been prejudiced against Lu Qing under the influence of the Yue Family, "I will obey the Prince’s instructions diligently. Please rest assured, Prince!"

Lu Qing returned the gesture, then rode away, with Zhu Yu and the others quickly following suit, leaving the foot of Black Stone Mountain.

The five of them raced on horseback, making the most of their journey, traveling for more than half a day. The further they went, the lighter the rain became, and by evening, crossing a ridge, the sky cleared up, the path below so dry that dust rose under the horses’ hooves.

Zhu Yu couldn’t help but look back at the ridge they just crossed, marveling at the stark climate difference caused by the terrain.

After traveling a few more miles, seeing the sun setting in the west, the group was eager to move on and decided not to stop in a nearby county for the night. Instead, they found a flat spot beside the trees along the official road, tied their horses to the trees, and took a short nap nearby, munching on some dry rations they carried, resting up to continue on their journey.

Zhu Yu leaned against a large tree, closed her eyes, and dozed off for a while. She had no idea how much time passed when she was awakened by the sound of hoofbeats approaching from afar.

She opened her eyes to see Lu Qing, who had been leaning against a tree opposite her, was also awake but remained unmoving, his gaze fixed toward the direction of the sound.

By now, the sun had already dipped beyond the mountains, and the woods were dimly lit. As long as they didn’t make any significant moves, they wouldn’t easily be noticed by travelers passing by on the official road.

Even if someone spotted them, they’d probably only see a few horses, which wouldn’t catch much attention as travelers often stopped to rest on the road.

Rune crouched in the underbrush, his eyes alert, and suddenly his brows furrowed as he softly said to Lu Qing, "Master, it’s Prince Yi!"