Plotting with You: The Forensic Scientist in Ancient Times!-Chapter 363 - 362: Sachet

Yan Daoxin said this, and Zhu Yu couldn’t refute it. After all, if it were her, she would probably feel the same struggle.

Although thinking back on it is a bit terrifying, after all, that hurdle has passed, and there’s no need to be overly worried.

Zhu Yu quickly adjusted her state of mind, and while Lu Yan and Lu Zhang were talking to Lu Qing, she quietly called Fu Wen and Fu Lu aside.

"When that old steward and Protector came in just now, you were both following along, right?" she asked the two brothers, "Did you notice they all had something like a scent pouch hanging from their waists?"

Fu Wen and Fu Lu immediately nodded. Having followed Lu Qing for many years, they were already accustomed to staying vigilant and paying extra attention to their surroundings to prevent anyone from finding gaps to exploit, which could endanger Lu Qing’s life.

So although they quietly observed from the sidelines under Lu Qing’s instructions, they meticulously scrutinized every person who entered their line of sight or passed by them.

They also noticed the scent pouch Zhu Yu mentioned. After all, if only the old steward carried such a thing, it wouldn’t be odd—stewards of wealthy families often imitate their masters’ elegance and carry these frivolous things, which isn’t uncommon.

But those Protectors, each a coarse, burly man, typically reckless individuals, usually consider it challenging enough to keep their clothes clean, let alone carry fragrances.

"Second Master, we did notice the scent pouches on their waists. Do you think there’s something... inappropriate about them?" Fu Lu asked.

Zhu Yu nodded, "Originally, I didn’t think there was anything wrong with the old steward’s scent pouch. But today, seeing all the Protectors wearing them, I found it a bit suspicious.

These past days, I distinctly remember those little attendants who brought us meals didn’t wear such scent pouches.

Just now, I saw them come and go rapidly, clearly unaffected by the confusing smoke, and there wasn’t any unusual smell on them.

So I suspect the confusing smoke in the incense burner by the outside wall clashes with the night operation drugs, only lit during the day, leaving Fu Wen and Lu Yan unaffected at night.

Coincidentally, the flowers in the small pond bloom at night, causing us to fall asleep due to their fragrance.

In the daytime, the incense outside makes us disoriented and unable to leave this small courtyard, turning the attendants into mindless drones, naturally not disturbed by the seductive fragrance.

The old steward and Protectors are different. They come and go during the day, patrolling unaffected, likely due to the antidote in their identical scent pouches.

But this is just my speculation; it can’t exclude the possibility that these people have taken some other antidote privately."

Fu Wen nodded repeatedly, certain that Zhu Yu already had a plan: "Second Master, what do you want us to do?"

"They were just here today and likely still harbor suspicions about us, so don’t act rashly during the day. Just stay in this small courtyard, not revealing anything," Zhu Yu instructed softly. "Utilize this time to have Yan Daoxin prepare some odorless powders for you to use at night.

Earlier, didn’t Fu Wen say the Protectors are divided into two shifts? One patrols during the day while the other does the night watch.

This way, you can find an opportunity to discover where the daytime shift rests at night and figure out a way to swap out their scent pouches.

We’re currently restricted in our actions and vastly outnumbered, so we need to solve this issue first, then control some of their people. Everything else will become much easier.

Without the support of these Protectors, the old steward, given his age, can’t stir up much trouble."

"Second Master’s plan is excellent. We’ll set out once it’s dark!" Fu Lu rubbed his hands together eagerly, clearly restless from being bottled up these past few days and eager to seize the chance to take action.

Fu Wen, a bit sharper than Fu Lu, rolled his eyes, "Second Master, if we can first execute a bait-and-switch, replacing the scent pouches of those daytime Protectors, once daylight comes, they’ll easily get lost and can be subdued. Thus, those night patrol guards resting will be captured like sitting ducks!

All we need to do is introduce some seductive fragrance into their rooms, let them fall asleep first, deal with the ones outside, and then handle them, achieving a complete capture."

"By the looks of it, I’ve been too cautious," Zhu Yu thought Fu Wen made a compelling case. "Since we’ll proceed, we should do it all in one go. I’ll discuss it further with the Prince, trying to arrange things more meticulously."

Fu Wen and Fu Lu nodded repeatedly.

Zhu Yu then slowly strolled to Lu Qing’s side, waiting for him to finish talking with Lu Yan and Lu Zhang before speaking up.

The three Lu brothers weren’t discussing anything particularly important at the moment. Initially, Lu Yan was surprised at how those people came in droves to search for that peculiar flower seedling, curious about its use.

However, Lu Qing obviously didn’t want to discuss it; after a few words, the topic shifted to Lu Yan’s solo exploration of the fortress’s layout from the previous night.

Initially, it was mostly Lu Yan speaking, but Lu Zhang eventually interjected to blame Lu Yan for his reckless actions. After all, later events proved Lu Qing’s judgment was correct, that Lu Yan’s subordinates—the tax collectors—were not with anyone else and had already perished in the dark dungeon.

In other words, Lu Yan’s venture outside was entirely in vain, even exposing himself to unnecessary danger.

Lu Zhang’s comments weren’t incorrect. His inability to contain himself was largely due to their current situation—something never faced alone before, making him uneasy. Seeing the Protectors’ fierce charge earlier had made him all the more tense.

As he pondered Lu Yan’s rashness possibly sparking further disputes, he felt even more uneasy, which led to his reminder during Lu Yan’s long discourse.

Yet saying nothing would’ve been better, as Lu Yan had already noticed his brother’s timidity these past days. If Lu Qing had been the one to speak, Lu Yan might have listened patiently, but with Lu Zhang speaking, Lu Yan’s temper flared up immediately.