Plotting with You: The Forensic Scientist in Ancient Times!-Chapter 193 - 192: Rushing Back

Originally, they thought they would only have a short moment of rest, but unexpectedly, more than half an hour passed without any servant from the Prince Shuo Mansion coming to deliver a message.

Zhu Yu then put on her veil and hat, and called back the rune and talisman.

"You two should also rest, my father might not come to see us until who knows when." She glanced at the sky, "Maybe around dinner, or maybe tomorrow morning.

Since he hasn’t come for so long, there must be troublesome military matters that can’t be resolved quickly, so there’s no point in you waiting here, it will only increase fatigue, better rest well."

The rune and talisman quickly said they were not tired, such an itinerary was not difficult for them.

"If that’s the case, follow the plan." Lu Qing, who came out with Zhu Yu, said to the two of them, "During our time in Shuo Country, we may not have it easy, there might be important tasks for you later, so there’s no need to tire oneself out now."

Only then did the rune and talisman hurriedly thank Zhu Yu and went back to their room for a short rest.

To be safe, Zhu Yu didn’t linger in the courtyard for long, but moved a chair and sat near the main house door, gazing at the sky outside, lost in thought.

Initially, Lu Qing thought she was melancholic because she couldn’t visit her mother openly upon returning to her maiden home, so he didn’t disturb her, but after a while, he felt it didn’t seem to be the case.

"What are you thinking?" He mimicked Zhu Yu’s action, moved a chair and sat beside her.

"I’m thinking about where those people have all gone." Zhu Yu slightly furrowed her brows, clearly troubled by this issue for a while, "As we traveled, the farther we got from the capital, the more often we heard about strong men suddenly becoming like they were bewitched, and then disappearing.

We’ve heard about at least thirty to fifty people along the way.

So many people quietly leaving Shuo Country seems unlikely to reach other places as well.

Although Shuo Country is somewhat lax in its defenses, not everyone is blind and deaf.

If people were leaving at intervals, it would surely draw attention.

So, I think the most likely scenario is that they fell victim to some sedative or confusing smoke, were bewitched, and taken to a place that’s still within Shuo Country.

I just can’t figure out, so many of them, all strong men, not frail and small children.

Where could there be a place to accommodate so many people?"

"What do you think those strong men were taken for?" Lu Qing asked.

"If it were women and children, they might have been abducted and sold to human traffickers, but a group of strong men, it wouldn’t be like that..." Zhu Yu said and suddenly had a realization, finding that many details involved had already been collected bit by bit during their travels.

Although not verified, it could generally be speculated to outline the truth within.

"Now, there’s another issue," pondering the matter of the missing strong men, Zhu Yu suddenly developed another layer of concern, "With Shuo Country losing so many strong men, how will the channels be managed afterward?

Once Vice Minister Bai successfully opens a tunnel beneath Black Stone Mountain, it will lead the accumulated water from Huazhou to Shuo Land.

The channels on the Black Stone Mountain side should also be quickly excavated and prepared, to ensure they are promptly connected when the tunnel is opened, guiding the water into the nearby rivers.

The later channels can be slowly dug and built, but those in front of the Black Stone Mountain side are urgent.

Yet with so many Shuo Land strong men missing, those remaining are anxious and fearful... how can we gather enough workers for the construction?"

Lu Qing looked at Zhu Yu, seeing her genuinely worried about this instead of intentionally changing the topic.

"Digging the canals isn’t so pressing, as long as your father is willing to transport grain to the pass and hand it over to Vice Minister Bai and his team, there will be ample time to complete the connecting canals before the Black Stone Mountain tunnel is opened." Lu Qing was quite optimistic about these matters, "As for the whereabouts of those strong men, Shuo Country is only so large, even if we have to dig thoroughly, we’ll still find them eventually."

Zhu Yu sighed, nodded, and silently contemplated how to communicate these matters effectively with her father upon meeting him.

Lu Qing quietly watched Zhu Yu, with a hint of confusion in his eyes, but he didn’t express it.

Thus, they rested until evening, the sky turning dark, while Prince Shuo had yet to return to the Prince Mansion.

Though those in Li Garden showed little reaction, the Prince Mansion Steward, upon seeing the sky grow darker, became restless and personally went to the Weapon Supervision to find someone.

When he found Zhu Cheng, Zhu Cheng was still at the Weapon Supervision commanding several craftsmen to furiously work the bellows, striving to continuously increase the temperature of the furnace.

"Prince!" The steward hurriedly approached him.

Zhu Cheng turned his head, glanced at him, replied with an indifferent "hmm," then suddenly realized the steward shouldn’t be here, so he looked again, surprised: "Why did you come here? Is there something at the Mansion?"

"Prince, you ordered us to welcome the Divine Doctor Yan Daoxin from Shanqing Temple, it’s been almost a day now!" The steward was a bit anxious but feared speaking too bluntly would anger his master, so he had to lower his tone.

"What? It’s already been so long?!" Zhu Cheng was shocked; he couldn’t see the outside light from within the Weapon Supervision’s forge room and thought he had only just arrived, "Did the Divine Doctor get impatient and leave?"

"That hasn’t happened," the steward hurriedly waved his hand, "I temporarily arranged them to rest in Li Garden.

But, Prince, dinner time is approaching, you welcomed them into the mansion but haven’t seen them... If you drag this on, I’m not sure if the Divine Doctor will choose not to linger..."

"Hmm! Right! You make a good point!" Zhu Cheng thought about it and realized it was indeed the case; if he ignored the other party initially, it wouldn’t matter too much, but since he invited them into the mansion, then left them unattended, it rather disrespects and humiliates them, "Alright, I’ll return with you now, might as well meet him first, then come back here later!"

The steward knew his Prince’s temperament, and upon hearing this, quickly agreed and followed Zhu Cheng hastily back to Prince Shuo Mansion.