Plotting with You: The Forensic Scientist in Ancient Times!-Chapter 419 - 418: Every Step Is a Pitfall

Yan Daoxin expressed exactly one of Zhu Yu’s previous doubts; this Little Mountain Building was much larger than she initially imagined. In such a vast space, from the entrance to here, a strong herbal scent permeates throughout. Just how many people are taking medicine here, and why must they take medicine year after year?

With this thought, she hurriedly asked Yan Daoxin, "What did you feel coming over here? Can you discern the direction?"

Yan Daoxin shook his head, "If you ask me to find my way back to the entrance based on the previous path, I estimate I could manage.

But if you ask me which direction we are in, or which side of the building we’re closer to, I truly can’t say...

This Little Mountain Building feels less like a building and more like a mountain. We’ve been led around in circles, and I haven’t seen a single window; it’s indeed difficult to determine the direction."

Zhu Yu frowned.

They really hadn’t realized that this Little Mountain Building had no windows. From the outside, it seemed there were some closed windows, but once inside, they discovered they were fake, completely blocking any glimpse of daylight from outside.

Just like Yan Daoxin described, the inside of this Little Mountain Building is less like a building, and more like a wooden structure encircling a small mountain, winding and twisting without a single straight path or the typical layout one would expect in a regular building.

Including the present room assigned to them by Nanny Shi, which is spacious, divided into two sections, yet can only be accessed via a wooden staircase below, the room itself feels as if it’s built precariously on the edge of a cliff.

This structure certainly doesn’t belong in a typical house!

Moreover, the room itself greatly astonished Zhu Yu.

Before they set out, there was a deliberate discussion about what to do if they were confined separately, especially Zhu Yu.

But now, unexpectedly, they had been placed together without any defenses.

Even more absurd, the room’s environment was unexpectedly luxurious.

The room was extraordinarily spacious, and aside from lacking windows, it was fit for the bedroom of a wealthy maiden.

Little tables, a chaise lounge, screens, embroidery stands — everything one might expect in a girl’s boudoir was present.

The chaise lounge had two large, soft pillows, elegantly wrapped with satin, and judging by Yan Daoxin’s relaxed state, they were extremely soft and comfortable.

Zhu Yu checked inside; the bed was layered with thick, soft quilts, all with satin covers, feeling plush and delicate.

The texture, not to mention when she was a nearly invisible concubine’s daughter in Prince Shuo Mansion; even after marrying into Prince Xiaoyao Mansion, where Lu Qing was not particularly extravagant, the bedding was comfortable yet not to this extent.

"Indeed, these are prepared for skin as soft as condensed fat and as smooth as blown eggshell!" Zhu Yu exclaimed while touching the quilt, expressing her thoughts to Yan Daoxin, who was already seated by the tea table.

"Speaking of which... That previous musician mentioned seeing women taken away by Nanny Shi, reportedly with snowy white skin, no visible lines or wrinkles, and no spots or birthmarks." Yan Daoxin said while pulling out a wooden hairpin from his sleeve, deftly gathering his hair into a neat Taoist bun, "Judging by these things along with the herbal scent in this building, it’s not difficult to infer.

Those women should have been kept here, nourished into living medicine men."

Zhu Yu’s expression tightened, quickly joining him at the table, "You mentioned there’s an unfamiliar herbal scent mixed inside, but it’s covered by familiar supplements and can’t be discerned.

If they send us medicine claiming it’s to improve our health, do you think you can identify anything strange mixed in?"

"That’s not much of a problem, don’t worry too much." Yan Daoxin nodded confidently, "Smelling and tasting are different matters. As long as I taste it, I’ll definitely figure it out what’s inside."

"So... will it be safe to eat?" Zhu Yu asked hesitantly.

"No problem, it’s what I’m used to." Yan Daoxin smiled nonchalantly, "I really didn’t like martial arts, felt learning just enough to protect myself would suffice, no need for day-to-day, repeated practice.

My master said if I wasn’t determined to practice martial arts, such matters shouldn’t be forced and asked what I wanted to learn.

I said I wished to learn medicine. He said, curing people is easy, knowing the root of each illness and where to start is what’s difficult.

For those poisoned, understanding what each type of poison feels like, and what effects various herbs have once consumed is crucial.

Therefore, my master stated, if I desired to learn medicine, I must first taste all kinds of herbs, including poisons."

"This... Isn’t that risky?" Zhu Yu was somewhat shocked; she knew that the mysterious Qi Yun Mountain People were highly skilled and eccentric, unconventional, incapable of being judged by worldly standards, but this method of having disciples taste various herbs and poisons was quite startling.

"It’s fine. As long as my master’s around, nothing fatal. He’ll intervene only if I’m down to my last breath." Yan Daoxin seemed indifferent, as if these matters were ordinary, "He said everyone has a survival instinct, and saving oneself shows one’s true capability.

If you’ve tried everything without saving yourself, it shows a lack of talent; no need to learn medicine."

Indeed, a master is a master; teaching methods are unique!

"And what about Lu Qing..." Zhu Yu couldn’t help but ask out of curiosity.

"Him? No need to be like me; master let him adapt to the few commonly used ones, making poisoning him not easy." Yan Daoxin said, suddenly recalling something amusing, "However, master said, once he returned to the Capital, the surrounding complexities required him to be more alert than others; otherwise, one wrong move, and he’d fall into a trap, impossible to recover.

If I eat the wrong medicine, master can save me; Lu Qing’s different. If he dies, he’s truly dead.

Over those years, he wasn’t spared from master’s schemes, it could be said each step was a hurdle!"