Plotting with You: The Forensic Scientist in Ancient Times!-Chapter 338 - 337: Lying Without Blinking an Eye

Seeing Yan Shu like this, it seems unlikely she heard anything either, so Zhu Yu didn’t press further.

After a while, those blank-eyed young servants came over again, rustling as they brought breakfast. Once they finished eating and the dishes were taken away, the old steward arrived with a few people, bringing some dyes and silks, along with a wooden box.

"Esteemed guests, how did you rest last night?" The old steward greeted Zhu Yu and Lu Qing warmly, "Although the Fortress Lord hasn’t returned yet, I brought some of our Immortal Castle’s dyes and silk today for you to see if they’re the finest of the finest.

If they meet your approval, please settle in patiently and wait for our Fortress Lord to return to discuss business with you.

If these aren’t to your liking, I dare not waste your precious time, and you may return home."

"Thank you, steward." Lu Qing acknowledged him with a nod, moved to the young servants, and lightly picked up a piece of silk with his fingers. Seemingly unintentionally, he asked the old steward, "Did the steward also stay in the castle last night?"

"Naturally." The old steward replied casually, not sensing anything amiss.

"In that case, did the steward hear any sounds last night?" Lu Qing put down the silk and strolled over to the dye tray, "I slept deeply but seemed to vaguely hear some sound, rather piercing, yet unclear. Maybe I misheard."

Zhu Yu observed the old steward calmly from the side, noting his slight change in expression. His eyes quickly assessed Lu Qing’s face, but Lu Qing remained composed, displaying no emotions, so he gave up.

"Ah, I usually sleep very soundly at night and didn’t hear any sounds, but we have a household here in the castle with a deranged daughter who often screams at night.

That family usually keeps her from wandering around and scaring others, so you needn’t worry!"

Zhu Yu cast another glance at the old steward, scolding him internally.

What a shameless liar!

Although she had slept deeply and thought it was a dream, the sound, upon reflection, was deep and piercing, not something a crazed woman could make.

She noticed Lu Yan glaring wide-eyed for a moment after hearing the old steward’s words, but he quickly suppressed his reaction, standing silently behind, which was a considerable effort given his famously fiery temper.

"I see, then we have nothing to worry about." Lu Qing smiled, nodding, "The silk and dyes of Immortal Castle are indeed top quality, living up to their reputation."

The old steward, hearing this, smiled with satisfaction, clapping his hands to signal the two servants carrying the wooden box to step closer. He carefully opened the box, revealing a tightly wrapped bundle of brocade, which he gingerly unwrapped to reveal a long dress.

"As I mentioned to the esteemed guests before, our Fortress Lord supplies top-quality materials from the castle to major clients in the Capital, who then turn them into exquisite garments for nobles in the Capital to wear.

But words alone don’t suffice, so today I brought a sample dress from before, gifted to our Fortress Lord by a noble, for your expert eyes to appraise and see if this is a rare treasure." The old steward lifted the dress and gently shook it in the sunny spot.

It seemed that the bag of gold Lu Qing gave the day before convinced the old steward of their genuine wealth, prompting him to bring this dress as a settling pill.

The dress was a dignified chestnut brown with golden ruyi cloud patterns. At first glance, it seemed unremarkable, but with the steward’s gentle shake, the silk shimmered softly in the morning light, its sheen like rippling water.

Zhu Yu had previously worn the Ten-color Brocade that Lu Qing prepared for her to impress at her maiden home, more vibrant and splendid than the steward’s dress, but it was evident that such quality and luster couldn’t come from ordinary material.

Such items are certainly not found in typical ready-to-wear shops or tailor stores.

But as the dress swayed, Zhu Yu seemed to catch a faint familiar fragrance, too subtle to pinpoint precisely.

She gave Lu Qing a meaningful glance, and he grasped the hint, pointing to Zhu Yu as he said to the old steward, "This is the steward in charge of fabric quality at my tailor shop. Would it be possible for him to take a closer look at the dress’s material?"

"Why not?" The old steward nodded to Zhu Yu, "But please, esteemed guest, be careful as this dress is exceptionally precious. It’s crucial not to accidentally snag the fabric."

"I understand, rest assured, steward.

We both tend to our duties with sincerity, so I wouldn’t make things difficult for you." Zhu Yu smiled at the old steward, nodded, and took two steps forward, getting closer to the dress. She gently held the hem, seemingly examining the fabric’s texture while actually sniffing the fragrance carefully.

Upon closer inspection, the faint fragrance became clearer, and she quickly concluded in her mind. She pretended to gently rub the fabric with her fingers before relaxing, nodding to Lu Qing, "This indeed is a rare material.

If we can use such fine silk and dyes to create materials like this, the noble will surely be pleased."

The old steward smiled more, folded the dress again, wrapped it in brocade, and carefully put it back in the wooden box.

"Since the esteemed guests are satisfied with our silk and dyes, please feel free to stay in our castle. When the Fortress Lord returns, I will promptly arrange a discussion with him." He gestured for the young servants to leave with the items while speaking to Lu Qing.

Lu Qing also nodded courteously, and the steward left the courtyard with his group.

Rune escorted them to the courtyard gate, intending to see them off further, but the old steward sharply noticed and, with polite words but decisive actions, sent him back inside.