Plotting with You: The Forensic Scientist in Ancient Times!-Chapter 347 - 346: Delivering Hot Soup

Lu Qing did not respond to Lu Yan’s words, and his face showed no emotion. He appeared very calm, as if he was pondering something on his own.

Seeing him unresponsive, Lu Yan urged again, "Brother, don’t you have anything to say?"

Lu Qing looked up at him, nodded calmly: "We must handle things step by step, and tackle one issue at a time.

Right now, we are faced with such an enigmatic Immortal Castle; our primary goal should be to unravel the mysteries here. The rest can be studied thoroughly after we leave."

This was not the response Lu Yan most desired, but it was logical. He suppressed his anger for the sake of finding the few missing tax collectors. Mentioning Duke Yan at this moment indeed bore no practical significance.

It was inconvenient for Zhu Yu to speak at such a moment, but she stood by and thought along with Lu Yan’s words, recalling her close encounter with Duke Yan due to General Cao’s nephew’s issue.

Earlier, the old steward had mentioned the fragrance on that dress, which she indeed smelled similar to on Duke Yan.

At that time, she associated it with the fragrance lingering in the Emperor Jin’s South Study Room and on that eunuch in the palace, unaware of any renowned Headdress and Shoes Workshop in the Capital.

If viewed this way, whether the owner of the Headdress and Shoes Workshop had any private dealings with Lu Zhang was truly uncertain. However, dealings between the workshop and the Duke Yan Mansion were evidently present.

But then again... was the fragrance on the dresses of the workshop solely for pleasing the taste of nobles? If so, it doesn’t really explain much else. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

If that fragrance indeed was not so simple... could it be that Duke Yan carried that scent as well, was it a form of entering the game with his own body?

Zhu Yu felt that entering the game with his own body would be a last resort selection. Given Duke Yan’s immense power and many cohorts, there should be numerous paths available for choice. Surely, he wouldn’t cling to this risky option?

However, her train of thought quickly branched out, and her gaze shifted from the people in the guest hall gradually to the courtyard, landing on the small pond.

At this moment, it was just past noon, entering the late afternoon, with fine weather and ample sunlight outside.

The water in the pond was not deep, and occasionally dragonflies and butterflies were flapping their wings around, resting on those large dark green leaves.

Earlier, the white flowers that blossomed at night seemed to hide shyly beneath the leaves, with only faint traces visible.

Fragrance... night...

Zhu Yu’s eyebrows moved slightly. Taking advantage of Lu Yan engaging Lu Qing in conversation, she quickly checked her cowhide tool bag in her embrace, then quietly got up and headed to the courtyard.

She squatted by the pond, stretched out her hand to brush aside the large dark green leaves, and looked at the flowers underneath.

During the day, these small flowers had their petals closed tightly, covering the core completely, not a hint exposed. Even this close, no fragrance could be detected.

The flowers only bloomed at night, with their cool, faint fragrance floating in the small courtyard.

All of them only succumbed to that inexplicable drowsiness at night, accidentally falling into an unconscious slumber, with the Awakening Pills being ineffective.

The previous night, among those in the room, except for Lu Zhang and Yan Shu who couldn’t hold out, Lu Qing, Yan Daoxin, and Lu Yan were almost able to withstand it without external aid.

As all three had a solid foundation in martial arts, their physiques were stronger than ordinary people.

Even Zhu Yu herself could maintain alertness by stimulating the ten vital acupoints with external means.

Yet, despite the runes and Fu Lu having superb martial skills, why did those two get trapped?

Upon reflection, the reason seemed quite evident—both brothers were guarding outside the verandah, where the air circulation was unimpeded.

Therefore... Zhu Yu’s gaze once again fell on the flower buds before her.

Plucking these flowers was not an option since the old steward would often come by to check. If they were discovered removing the buds, it would expose their suspicion of the place.

Zhu Yu pulled out her tool bag from her embrace, took out a long-handled pointed knife, squatted cautiously beside the pond, and carefully lifted the leaf, redirecting the flower stem closer to her. Then, she used the knife to penetrate a more concealed area under the flower’s base, carefully slicing it halfway through.

Once completed, she released her hold and observed, the remaining larger part of the stem could still support the flowers above it without falling, while the partially severed circle could inhibit the flow of nutrients to some extent.

In this manner, the flowers wouldn’t wither immediately, but neither could they open wantonly like the previous nights.

Checked from all angles, she felt that this handling was the best solution she could think of at the moment. Additionally, the cut position wasn’t obvious from a distance and was hard to detect.

Thus, Zhu Yu, having embarked on this course, briskly moved around the pond, working for a long time, and indeed managed to tamper with every flower in the pond.

Upon finishing these tasks, Zhu Yu exhaled deeply, straightened up, and rubbed her aching lower back.

Fortunately, this pond wasn’t large. Had it been any larger, or had there been more flowers, she really wouldn’t have managed.

Just like that, after spending the afternoon, those flower buds appeared unchanged as before. Zhu Yu checked again during twilight, and the stems she severed had shriveled and dried at the cut without miraculous healing effects, reassuring her that the plan should work.

By evening, shortly after the dishes from dinner were cleared, it was completely dark, and Fu Wen finally returned, his eyes bloodshot, seemingly exhausted from head to toe.

Perhaps due to hiding in the tree for too long, even his walking posture was slightly unsteady, but his energy was remarkably upbeat.

Fu Lu hurriedly took out the food they had specially kept for Fu Wen during dinner, but the latter ignored it, setting the meal aside excitedly, telling Lu Qing: "Master, you are right, this Immortal Castle is indeed shrouded in weirdness everywhere!

Last night, following the direction you mentioned, I stealthily went out and found that tree, hiding well amidst its dense leaves.

In the latter half of the night, it was indeed eerily silent everywhere, and being at the treetop watching below, I couldn’t help but feel as though I was in a desolate mountain forest.

The row of houses below seemed like an abandoned dwelling with no signs of life.

Come dawn, I saw rows of servants carrying large pots, delivering hot soup door to door, then those people would wake up, and in groups of threes and twos, went out to work cheerily!"