Plotting with You: The Forensic Scientist in Ancient Times!-Chapter 241 - 240: The Lone Woman

"Do you think that person is—"

She spoke, just about to turn over and confirm the insight that had just sprung to her mind with Lu Qing, when suddenly Lu Qing reached over and gently covered her eyes.

What was originally a dimly lit vision for Zhu Yu instantly turned into a warm and dry "pitch-black."

"Shh..." Lu Qing’s voice came from beside her ear. "There’s plenty of time later to slowly sort through that person’s thoughts.

We’re still on the road tomorrow, so tuck away your lively thoughts for now, otherwise, it wouldn’t be good if you fall off the horse from fatigue halfway."

Since he said so, Zhu Yu naturally couldn’t continue speaking. She nodded, closed her eyes, and forced herself to quell the chaotic thoughts in her mind.

She didn’t know how much time had passed before she finally fell asleep.

Sure enough, the next morning she was terribly sleepy. It was through Lu Qing’s gentle calling and a splash of cold water on her face that she finally fully awoke.

The three of them left before dawn, and Zhu Feng deliberately got up early to see them off.

"Take care, Your Highness, Second Sister!" He stopped after accompanying them for some distance, cupped his hands to Lu Qing and Zhu Yu, and then said to Zhu Yu, "I have a courtyard at the northwest corner of the capital. I acquired it in private to avoid every move being under the Pang Family’s watch. Mother doesn’t know about it.

This time when you go back, it’s best to find an excuse to move Miao there first, otherwise, if anything happens with the Pang Family, Second Sister will easily find herself caught in a dilemma because of Miao."

Zhu Yu was startled. She had indeed considered finding a place to hide the Miao Family upon returning, as she had heard of Pang Yuzhen’s methods even if she’d never seen them firsthand.

She just didn’t expect Zhu Feng to consider this as well.

Seeing her surprise, Zhu Feng thought she didn’t believe him, and explained further, "Many of Mother’s actions over the years weren’t done in front of us, but after so long, many things can be guessed.

I don’t agree with what Mother has done, but I can’t change it. I can only try to prevent her from making bigger mistakes within my capabilities."

Zhu Yu nodded gratefully to him and thanked him.

Lu Qing listened silently beside them. After Zhu Feng and Zhu Yu finished speaking, he nodded to Rune.

Rune took out a palm-sized white porcelain gourd bottle from his bosom, dismounted, and handed it to Zhu Feng: "Second Young Master, this is something my lord prepared for you, just in case.

In your daily life, please be more careful."

Zhu Feng hastily accepted it, thanked him, and carefully put away the porcelain bottle.

After saying their farewells, the three of them set off. It wasn’t until the road bent and they could no longer see even a distant trace of Zhu Feng that Zhu Yu urged her horse forward to catch up with Lu Qing.

"Are you worried the Pang Family might try to poison my Second Brother?" she asked.

"Not necessarily, but judging from the Pang Family’s previous actions, one can’t rule out the possibility that this is a method they commonly use to solve problems.

After all, their uncle managed to get the Three Flavors Longevity Ointment; who’s to say they can’t obtain other things too?" Lu Qing shook his head. "Were it not for him planning ahead for your mother, I might not have considered the means of his in-laws.

Since your Second Brother is kind and honest, it’s only right for me to return the favor."

Zhu Yu nodded at this.

A favor returned for a favor, it’s fair, it’s reasonable, and it’s just like Lu Qing.

From the capital to here previously, with people and carriages alike, it took three or four days to reach Risun Ridge.

This time, the three of them traveled lightly and pressed on urgently, taking less than two days to reach a small town near the capital. They stayed at an inn for a night and continued towards the capital early the next morning.

Leaving the town and traveling for another half an hour, the three of them passed a country path and saw someone approaching on horseback from a distance.

The horseback rider was a woman, and she promptly veered off the already narrow country path upon seeing Zhu Yu and her companions, heading into the nearby woods, seemingly intent on avoiding them.

Lu Qing’s gaze fixed on the woman, scrutinizing her from afar.

The woman seemed to sense Lu Qing’s gaze as well, steering her horse deeper into the woods.

"Sir..." Rune also noticed the woman’s odd behavior.

Lu Qing nodded to him, signaling him to hold his position.

Zhu Yu had been watching the woman on horseback, too.

It was impossible not to note her, she was so peculiar.

The woman on horseback was incredibly tall, and riding on such a small horse appeared particularly unbalanced.

Her skin was a sun-kissed light tan, her long hair tied into two loose braids atop her head, with the braid ends tucked up, and she wore no ornaments.

The woman was clad in a maid’s outfit, seemingly unremarkable at first glance, but upon closer inspection, the style was not from Shuo Country but from Jin Country.

Zhu Yu also noticed an interesting detail: the woman’s horse wasn’t equipped with reins or a saddle. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

She rode directly on the horse’s back, a rope around the horse’s neck. She controlled the horse using just this rope, guiding it along her desired path.

This wasn’t something someone at her level could typically achieve.

"Can you ride as adeptly as her, without reins or a saddle, using just a rope? Can you make the horse so obedient?" she asked Lu Qing in a low voice.

Before Lu Qing could respond, the figure moving slowly amidst the hillside woods suddenly staggered. With a thud, horse and rider fell hard to the ground.

Unfortunately, the horse fell poorly, landing squarely on the woman. Yet the horse struggled to rise, repeatedly crushing the woman beneath its heavy body.

Seeing this, Zhu Yu quickly pulled the reins to halt: "Oh no, a horse weighs at least five to six hundred pounds; that girl is bound to get hurt!"

"Rune, go help," Lu Qing said, having watched the situation unfold. Zhu Yu had barely spoken before he had already issued the order to Rune.

With that, Rune received the command, dismounted, and swiftly ran up the hillside.

Zhu Yu cast a suspicious look at Lu Qing. From the moment before, he had paid extra attention to the woman on horseback. Moreover, this Fox was not one to readily offer help wherever injustice presented itself!

She hadn’t even spoken when he had already instructed Rune. Seeing this, even if the horse hadn’t fallen, he likely wouldn’t have let the woman ride away without intervention.

"That attire." Lu Qing knew Zhu Yu was staring at him without turning around. "It’s what the maids at Prince Yi Mansion wear.

I attended the opening of Lu Zhang’s estate once."