Plotting with You: The Forensic Scientist in Ancient Times!-Chapter 321 - 320: Utter Astonishment

"From what you’re saying, this seems to be a very difficult poison to formulate, right? Impossible for the average person?" Zhu Yu asked.

"Not only is it impossible for an average person, they couldn’t even gather all the necessary toxins," Yan Daoxin turned his head, shaking it slightly. "From the speed and decisiveness with which those death warriors bit their poison pouches and died, whoever prepared these pouches must have spent a fortune!"

"So cunning!" Yan Shu was also a bit surprised upon hearing this.

"Throughout the Four Seas, such expertise in poison crafting and usage is not found in Lan Country."

Lu Qing’s voice came from behind. Zhu Yu turned around to see him striding over, clearly having overheard their conversation, followed closely by Lu Zhang.

"Naturally, Lan Country is adept at flowers and herbs, making dyes, and silk; using poison is beyond them." Yan Daoxin nodded, not even glancing at Lu Zhang. "With such precise things, even the slightest miscalculation in preparation yields drastically different results; it’s not something the Jie people, known for their brutish and clumsy nature, could manage."

Yan Shu pursed her lips, feeling that Yan Daoxin’s words, though blunt, were not inaccurate. The Jie people indeed had the rough temperament he described. They would rather solve their problems with a blade than exhaust themselves concocting poisons.

Since they could shoot an arrow through a person from a hundred paces, the Jie people wouldn’t waste time and effort figuring out poisons.

Therefore, she nodded vigorously in agreement with Yan Daoxin’s statement.

"Divine Doctor Yan speaks the truth!" Lu Zhang quickly chimed in agreement as well.

For him, proving that the turmoil wasn’t caused by the Jie people, and certainly not under the Jie King’s orders, was of utmost importance—it related directly to how much trouble he was in. Upon hearing that the poison pouches could help exonerate Jie Country to some degree, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Yan Daoxin, as if he hadn’t heard Lu Zhang, continued speaking to Lu Qing: "Everyone knows that Fan Country is the most skilled in poison crafting!"

"In that eerie land of Fan Country, there are all sorts of bizarre poisonous insects and herbs, more than anywhere else; they particularly enjoy tinkering with such things. I believe there’s an eighty to ninety percent chance that this case is connected to them.

After all, Fan Country borders Jie Country. If they wanted to disguise themselves as Jie people and cause trouble, it would be much easier than for people on Lan Country’s side, and they’d be able to mimic more convincingly."

"Fan Country..." Lu Qing pondered, intentionally or unintentionally glancing at Lu Zhang’s face.

Lu Zhang appeared somewhat uncomfortable.

Zhu Yu, noticing Lu Zhang’s expression, shot a perplexed glance at him, then seeing nothing unusual from Lu Qing’s demeanor, stayed silent.

To her knowledge, among Emperor Jin’s offspring, only the Seventh Prince, born to Princess Consort Duan, bore any traits of foreign ancestry due to his mother’s mixed heritage.

Lu Zhang was the sole child of Emperor Jin and Consort Zhao, the daughter of Duke Yan Zhao Bi, making him fully Jin Country blood with no hint of foreign ancestry.

He really had no reason to look awkward merely upon hearing Fan Country mentioned.

Unless...

Jade Snowbird.

The person who brought chicken soup to Lu Qing was Consort Zhao, and it just happened to contain Jade Snowbird meat.

It seems likely that the Jade Snowbird comes from Fan Country, indicating Duke Yan might have some private dealings with them.

Lu Zhang knew this fact, which is why he seemed so conflicted now.

Just as he glimpsed hope for clearing the Yue Family of rebellion charges, the issue of Fan Country, which related to his maternal family, arose again, making it understandable for him to feel so awkward.

"Then how can we catch the fan Country people pulling strings behind the scenes to clear the Jie people of misdeeds?" Yan Shu immediately felt anxious upon hearing this, quickly addressing the question to Zhu Yu and Lu Qing.

At this point, Lu Zhang’s gaze once more settled on her face, more confused than before.

Lu Qing glanced at Yan Shu, then around them. "Let’s discuss this inside the main tent."

Zhu Yu instantly understood, pulling Yan Shu towards their designated main tent. Lu Qing soon followed, with Lu Zhang in tow.

Yan Shu assumed going into the main tent was to facilitate discussions about Jie Country matters, but upon seeing Lu Zhang join them, she was surprised and quickly looked to Zhu Yu.

Zhu Yu patted her hand, signaling her to stay calm.

Lu Qing and Lu Zhang took seats by the low table, Lu Zhang appearing somewhat tense, seemingly speculating on what Lu Qing intended to say by bringing him over.

"We originally planned to find a more suitable time to clarify matters to both of you, but now, given the many involved situations concerning Jie Country, open discussion will benefit our investigation going forward." Lu Qing spoke calmly to them.

Lu Zhang uncomfortably shifted, while Yan Shu’s face showed growing confusion.

"Yan Shu," Zhu Yu called her name, glancing at the now visibly shocked and nearly leaping Lu Zhang, "This ’General Yi’ here, much like your ’Yan Wei,’ is a false name used for ease of moving about.

He is in fact the Holy Emperor’s second son, Prince Yi, Lu Zhang.

Your husband."

Yan Shu’s face changed dramatically upon hearing this; she stared at Lu Zhang, sizing him up in disbelief. Seeing his equally astonished expression, fury surged up, and she slammed her palm on the low table, storming out in large strides.

Lu Zhang sat in shock as well, yet he didn’t leap up in the manner Yan Shu had.

Moreover, unlike Yan Shu’s obvious anger upon learning his true identity, Lu Zhang’s expression seemed filled with worry and fear.

"You continue, I’ll go check on Yan Shu." Zhu Yu found it unwise to let Yan Shu leave in such anger, suggesting to Lu Qing before quickly heading out.

"This... What exactly is going on...?" Lu Zhang spoke to Lu Qing once Zhu Yu left the tent, his voice carrying a slight tremor, his eyes full of panic. "She is... a Commandery Princess of Jie? Why is she here? Shouldn’t she be in the Capital, in my mansion?"

Lu Qing looked at him and smiled lightly: "That question is not ours to answer.

We happened upon her injured from a fall off her horse in the outskirts of Shuo Country, and to avoid any issues and to prevent unexpected trouble for Prince Yi Mansion, we kept her by our side.

I too want to know what you did to drive your bride to venture out alone like this."