Plotting with You: The Forensic Scientist in Ancient Times!-Chapter 240 - 239: Prince Lan

"Is there any other kind of ’flower?’" Zhu Yu asked.

"Earlier matters you didn’t experience firsthand, so maybe you haven’t realized, but since you married, you’ve witnessed quite a bit.

By now, many ’flowers’ have indeed bloomed, be it Dou Dajiang’s fake cinnabar or the rumors of evil spirits in the military camp of Li State, or even the young men from Shuo Country who might have become nothing but bones.

If these matters weren’t stopped in time, panic would spread everywhere, and by then, it would only take a final push to plunge the world into chaos." Lu Qing sighed gently, "When the tree wishes for peace, the wind does not cease. It forces even those without ambition to contrive for the peace of the world’s people."

Zhu Yu felt a subtle shift in her heart.

Before marrying Lu Qing, she led a simple and dull life in Shuo Country, thinking it was an era of peace and prosperity. Although Shuo Country wasn’t a wealthy vassal state, it was stable.

After becoming the Princess Xiaoyao, unable to enjoy any leisure, she realized there might be countless deadly undercurrents beneath the calm surface.

"What a pity." After a moment of silence, she suddenly spoke, "On the day of the grand marriage, I still can’t figure out what poison that guard next to Lu Zhang was struck with."

"Even if you found out, what then?" Lu Qing seemed not too surprised that Zhu Yu brought up that day’s incident, but asked casually.

"You previously mentioned Dou Dajiang, who orchestrated the incidents at the Ghost Immortal Temple, and his family’s tragedies were due to buying Blazing Jade disguised as cinnabar.

You once told me that Blazing Jade is something produced in Lan Country.

On our way to Qingshui County, we saw those abandoned farmlands, and you told me about the Ten-color Brocade.

Those farmers abandoned their fields to plant dye flowers elsewhere for more profit, in the south of Jin Country, next to Lan Country.

Previously, there were also Jie Country bandits who became kings of the mountains, using weapons made in Shuo Country to burn, kill, and loot in Lan Country.

And today, before discovering those bones, I was helping pick stones and heard older folks chatting. One mentioned that Pang Family occasionally entertained esteemed guests from Lan Country at their rarely visited villa nearby, preparing exquisite delicacies they could muster — showing just how much importance they placed.

The Three Flavors Longevity Ointment Pang Yuzhen once brought out is also from Lan Country.

So, I couldn’t help but feel curious, wondering about the identity of that guard on the marriage day, whether it might have any connections to Lan Country."

Lu Qing listened to her words, was silent for a moment, then spoke, "Among the four Vassal Kings, only Prince Lan is blood-related to the Holy Emperor.

Come to think of it, the Holy Emperor’s grandfather, my great-grandfather, and the father of the current Prince Lan were brothers born of the same parents."

Zhu Yu was a bit surprised as she hadn’t known this previously, and from Lu Qing’s words, she picked up another piece of information: "So the current Prince Lan is already quite old?"

"Yes, quite long-lived. He should be in his advanced years by now."

"At such an old age, he still doesn’t plan to abdicate?"

Lu Qing couldn’t help but laugh at her question: "Luckily, you’re not a prince next to the Holy Emperor. Otherwise, just for that statement, you’d be sent tomorrow to guard the borders, replacing the old third or fourth."

Zhu Yu paused and then realized her words were something no one in power would want to hear. She laughed: "I just think that stepping down while you still can is also wisdom.

While you still have the capacity of control, while you’re clear-minded, choose an appropriate successor, test him, help him settle, and guide him further. That would be the safest way.

If you cling to the throne until your eyes grow dim and your mind rusts away, by then, whether you can discern a suitable successor is uncertain. Enduring such prolonged wait can spring sudden changes, harmful for all parties."

"Help him settle, and guide him further... that’s quite an interesting phrase." Lu Qing repeated Zhu Yu’s words and suddenly laughed, "I could use this phrase to my advantage against Lu Chao in the future."

Zhu Yu also laughed at this.

Lu Qing and Lu Chao, although not having the same background and with marked differences in personalities, without a strong backer to rely on, quietly supported each other in such a scheming environment and became allies.

Thinking of the crisscrossed scars on Lu Qing’s body, Zhu Yu sighed silently, unable to imagine how Lu Qing endured all those years before.

Just imagining it made her chest feel heavy and nearly suffocating.

Consort Zhao, a high-ranking woman in the harem, wouldn’t go out of her way to be so cruel to the foster child of Emperor Jin, seizing every chance to put a young child to death.

Risking being blamed by Emperor Jin for inadequate care, she sought opportunities to take Lu Qing’s life, showing that Lu Qing’s existence was unacceptable to her or perhaps her maiden family.

On the day of the grand marriage, Duke Yan, not knowing who sent that guard, still tried to pin the crime on Lu Qing.

When it came to seeking quick success, this father and daughter duo truly were cut from the same cloth.

What kind of past conflict did Zhao Bi have with Lu Qing’s ancestors that made him unwilling to spare even this one surviving child...

And Emperor Jin, seeming to be extremely forgiving towards Duke Yan’s faction, when Consort Zhao almost "cared" away Lu Qing’s life, did not punish but sent him to Shanqing Temple.

On Lu Qing’s wedding day, when Duke Yan loudly demanded he be charged with poisoning the imperial heir, even after the truth came out, Emperor Jin didn’t address the matter, letting it fade away.

Later, even when Luo Yushu, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel from Zhao Bi’s faction, was implicated in the corruption and incompetence of the government in Huazhou, Emperor Jin also tread lightly, only punishing a few minor officials and not mentioning it again.

This favor towards Duke Yan’s faction is unmatched...

Hmm...

Zhu Yu, who had just closed her eyes, suddenly opened them wide—

Initially, she felt indignant thinking about the honor bestowed upon Duke Yan’s faction, but as her thoughts drifted, she seemed to suddenly understand something...