"Your Highness, the peace lanterns!"
Xuan Yi placed the peace lanterns on the table, then said, "The Ministry of Rites did not place any Zi Jin Lan on Changling Street and Yunlan Street. However, on another street adjacent to the two, a restaurant purchased several pots of Zi Jin Lan a few days ago. Zi Jin Lan, while not afraid of the cold wind, is not typically placed outdoors."
"Where were the restaurant's flowers placed?"
"In the ground-floor lobby and the private rooms on the second floor."
"Were the windows of the private rooms open last night, and which direction did they face?"
"Still investigating!"
Whether the windows were open or not was not difficult to ascertain, merely time-consuming. It required finding yesterday's guests and then proceeding based on whether they were suspicious.
Nan Shiying nodded, understanding that such matters could not be rushed. She shifted her gaze to the peace lanterns. Statistically, thousands of peace lanterns were released last night, ranging from those made by commoners to those sold commercially. At least a few dozen should be recovered for inspection. Although she had only asked for a few, the cloth bag laid out on the table appeared to contain several dozen at a glance.
Nan Shiying raised an eyebrow slightly.
Leaving aside other matters, the dark guards of the Lin Yuan royal family were truly a group of exceptional talents!
"Old man, shall we do it together?"
Nan Shiying invited Poison Elder to examine them.
Poison Elder: "..."
You just want to wear out this old man!
Finally, Lan'er carefully removed the covers from the peace lanterns. For Lan'er, who specialized in the mechanisms of the Mo family, such disassembly was as easy as pie. Before long, dozens of peace lanterns were reduced to their parts, and the candles were meticulously arranged corresponding to the removed covers.
Poison Elder and Nan Shiying began the examination. The method was quite simple: a piece of candle was cut off, ground into powder, and then added to water. Following this, a powder developed by Poison Elder specifically for identifying You Lian was added.
The process was tedious but straightforward.
Among the dozens of cups placed before them, the water in one cup by Poison Elder's feet gradually changed color.
"Which stall sold this peace lantern?"
The lampshade corresponding to this cup was exquisite, shaped like a rabbit, its eyes sewn with red silk cloth. The craftsmanship was delicate, definitely not homemade by commoners.
"Your subordinate will investigate immediately!"
Fortunately, His Highness and Her Highness were present at the scene when the incident occurred last night. Otherwise, investigating today would truly be like searching for a needle in a haystack.
Although a trigger for You Lian's onset was found in this peace lantern, the investigation into the restaurant must continue. Who could guarantee that the other party would not place all their eggs in one basket?
Confirming that last night's incident was deliberate, Nan Shiying pondered the perpetrator's intent. After Bai Zhi and the others cleaned up the mess, dishes of pastries and fruits were served, and a new pot of tea was brewed.
Seeing her brows furrowed so tightly they could trap a fly, Poison Elder picked up an orange and stuffed it into her hand. Nan Shiying looked down at the orange in her hand, then turned to look at Poison Elder.
"Stop thinking so much. If others don't make another move, you can rack your brains all you want and still won't figure anything out. So, just stop thinking!"
Poison Elder spoke with a touch of nonchalance.
He wasn't saying this simply because his own mind was slow to grasp these complexities. How many people who meticulously planned and foresaw events lived past the age of thirty? Why were they short-lived? It was because extreme intelligence often led to harm. Thinking so much was draining and tiring for the heart.
Draining the heart, dying early!
"That's true!"
Nan Shiying consequently stopped thinking.
She peeled the orange and popped it into her mouth. Indeed, the oranges from Lingnan were sweet.
"Speaking of which, is your cheap brother's wedding going to be off?"
Poison Elder ate an orange, drank a cup of tea, and the warmth from the brazier in the room made him feel cozy. In this atmosphere and setting, it felt like a waste not to gossip.
Nan Shiying's tea-drinking action faltered slightly. The teacup lingered at her lips, and she did not drink for a long time.
Lady Wang was dead.
According to Lin Yuan's customs, children were required to observe a mourning period of three years for deceased parents. After the New Year, Nan Yujin and Hui'an's marriage was supposed to be on the agenda. But now, Nan Yujin had to observe mourning for three years, meaning they could not marry within three years. If they could not marry, Nan Yujin could not be sent as an envoy to Yunan Prefecture and thus could not become the prefect of Yunan Prefecture.
Could Lady Wang's death have been intended to delay this marriage?
Seeing Nan Shiying lost in thought, Poison Elder pouted. Gossiping with her was like playing a lute to a cow, or playing Go with a rotten chess basket; it was a complete waste of emotion!
"This old man is leaving!"
Poison Elder put down his teacup and turned to leave.
Chatting with her was worse than feeding a dog!
He was going to talk to the dogs in the backyard and borrow some blood.
Before Nan Shiying could say anything, Poison Elder left in a huff, even managing to snatch a few oranges on his way out, eating them as he walked.
Nan Shiying opened her mouth slightly and drained the tea in her hand.
After Poison Elder left, Nan Shiying took a nap. When she opened her eyes, she saw a dejected silhouette bathed in warm candlelight, facing away from her.
Hearing the movement behind him, Ji Jinmo turned his head. The light fell upon him, softening the coolness and sharpness that emanated from him.
"Awake?"
He got up, walked to the bedside, and sat down, looking down at Nan Shiying.
"Awake!"
Perhaps it was because she had just woken up, Nan Shiying's voice held a hint of softness. Her fair cheeks were tinged with a flush from her sleep, and her eyes still held the lingering haze of just waking. She was like a plum blossom blooming in the early snow, pure white and delicate red intertwined, like a scroll unfurling to reveal a breathtaking painting.
A beauty like a painting, capable of toppling kingdoms and captivating cities.
Ji Jinmo's throat bobbed, his eyes as dark as ink, as deep as if they intended to swallow her whole.
Nan Shiying blinked, then suddenly scrambled up and pulled the quilt tightly around herself, watching Ji Jinmo warily, as if guarding against a thief. "What do you want to do?"
Ji Jinmo nodded seriously. "I do!"
Nan Shiying was slightly taken aback. The question and answer swirled in her mind, and then she furiously grabbed a pillow and threw it at him.
People shouldn't be so beastly. Wasn't one night enough?
The ground was tired; how could the hoe still not want to rest? Was that right?
Ji Jinmo grabbed Nan Shiying's wrist and pulled her forcefully into his embrace, asking with a smile, "You've slept for so long, are you hungry?"
Ji Jinmo's words made Nan Shiying's stomach obediently rumble.
Unable to break free from Ji Jinmo's embrace, Nan Shiying simply lay down. She leaned against Ji Jinmo, nodded, and then asked, "What time is it?"
"It's the third watch of the hour of Shen!"
"So late?"
Nan Shiying hadn't expected to sleep for so long.
When had she become so sleepy?