Plotting with You: The Forensic Scientist in Ancient Times!

Chapter 565 - 564: The Right Solution Arrives Just in Time

"So what do you think is going on here?" Lu Qing asked.

"There are two possibilities. One is that the person responsible has a sense of mockery and disgust towards the victim, deliberately not wanting to give him a quick death, making him suffer more before dying.

The other possibility is that there isn’t any truly ruthless individual in that Headdress and Shoes Workshop.

Although it is tiring, troublesome, and unreliable to kill a person by beating them repeatedly, solving it with a single stroke isn’t something just anyone can do. It requires much more courage than a group beating someone to death."

Zhu Yu already had an idea about this issue. As soon as Lu Qing asked, she spoke up: "So I suspect that besides the shop assistants, the Headdress and Shoes Workshop must have some protectors or the like. Perhaps they are just a group of hooligans who are not particularly vicious but definitely not kind-hearted either, just to do some ’dirty work’ for Gu Lingyun.

This person must have caused trouble for the workshop for some reason, so the thugs raised by the workshop ’took care’ of him."

Lu Qing nodded, showing his agreement with her speculation.

"Rune, stay in this courtyard and report any developments immediately." He instructed Rune and then said to Liu Yueyao, "Go over to our place and bring the food left for Rune over."

"Yes!" Liu Yueyao promptly responded, casting a somewhat admiring glance at Zhu Yu before leaving with others to fetch the food.

When returning to her own courtyard, Zhu Yu seemed very excited.

"This is truly like getting a pillow when sleepy." She said to Lu Qing, "When we went to the Headdress and Shoes Workshop that day, apart from Gu Lingyun’s sachet, we didn’t find anything suspicious, but it was clear that place was certainly not simple.

Now it’s confirmed; if this person hadn’t had a conflict with the workshop, how could he end up being beaten almost to death like this?

In other words, just the fact that this person got beaten like this is enough to show something’s amiss. What proper shop would secretly keep so many thugs!"

"No need to get excited," Lu Qing shook his head at Zhu Yu, fearing she might have too high expectations and end up disappointed later on, "No matter what we’ve discovered, we must not act rashly. At this point, apart from watching, we must not do anything that might alert them and jeopardize the larger situation.

Besides, today’s situation is different from before. I’m neither Prince Xiaoyao nor the Golden-faced Imperial Censor now, and unqualified to intervene in any of these matters."

"I understand." Zhu Yu nodded, "Even so, I still dislike the feeling of being bewildered by the other side.

Even if we can’t do anything to disrupt their entire plan, we should at least understand what they are secretly planning, to know them and ourselves."

That night, there was no movement from Rune’s side, and it remained quiet into the next day.

Zhu Yu went to check, and the man was still unconscious, but his wounds had stopped bleeding, and his breathing was steadier, so it seemed there was no major issue.

Indeed, by evening, the person finally woke up. Seeing him still weak, Rune fed him medicine and some porridge, letting him go back to sleep. By the next morning, the man awakened again, looking more refreshed. He then went to share this news with Zhu Yu and Lu Qing.

When he brought this news over, Liu Yueyao was reporting outside news to Lu Qing and the others. Lu Qing had Rune wait aside for a moment and motioned for Liu Yueyao to continue.

"The Headdress and Shoes Workshop has been bustling these past few days, showing off the Flowing Clouds piece to everyone every day. Now basically everyone in the Capital, unless blind, has seen this fabric, and they know that next month, Duchess Yan plans to wear a dress made from this luxurious material for her birthday."

Liu Yueyao told the two, "I found out that the Duchess’s dress is being rushed in the back courtyard of the workshop, under strict supervision, with no one allowed near.

This is quite strange. On one hand, there’s fabric displayed openly for anyone to see, yet the dress is being made in secrecy, around-the-clock. It’s puzzling."

"It’s a pity I’ve been demoted and my acquaintance with Lu Zhang isn’t deep enough. Otherwise, Duchess Yan’s birthday banquet is bound to have some interesting revelations," Lu Qing expressed with a touch of regret.

"Manager Gu has been quite busy recently," Liu Yueyao continued, "Aside from the Duchess’s dress, Prince Shu seems also to have been acquiring new items from her, as she often brings things personally to Prince Shu Mansion."

"Prince Shu?" Zhu Yu had initially made an assumption upon Liu Yueyao’s first few words. Realizing her error after listening to the end, she remarked, "Prince Shu Lu Ze? Not Prince Yi Lu Zhang?"

"Indeed, it’s not Prince Yi," Liu Yueyao smiled and shook her head, "I thought Madam, coming from Shuo Country, might not be aware of the past rumors between Prince Yi and Manager Gu. I didn’t expect you to even know this.

Gu Lingyun was indeed close to Prince Yi at one point. Not only is she stunningly beautiful, but she is rumored to have great skills, not only in embroidery but also in aromatics.

Years ago, she crafted an incense with a refined fragrance, much to Prince Yi’s admiration, leading to interactions between them.

Back then, rumors were rampant, speculating that the socially graceful Manager Gu might have a chance to become a concubine in Prince Yi’s residence. Although her status wouldn’t allow her to be a secondary wife, being a favorite could elevate her significantly if Prince Yi ascended to the throne in the future.

However, the matter suddenly went silent. Rumor has it that Duke Yan disapproved of Prince Yi’s close association with a woman of unclear background, so Prince Yi was forbidden any private contact with Manager Gu."

Zhu Yu nodded.

Through the time spent in Shuo Country and Lan Country, Zhu Yu had come to understand Lu Zhang a bit better than before.

Originally, she thought Lu Zhang and Duke Yan were cut from the same cloth, but after interacting with him, it seemed they were somewhat different. Lu Zhang wasn’t someone with particularly strong inner convictions, and his pursuit of power was more like being pushed forward, driven by external forces.

He inherently seemed more inclined towards a fondness for nature and elegance, with some talent in painting and calligraphy.

Or perhaps, what he cared about wasn’t talent per se, but rather not being bound by elaborate formalities, valuing a carefree state beyond worldly affairs.

Being captivated by a refined scent is truly something he could be drawn to.