Plotting with You: The Forensic Scientist in Ancient Times!-Chapter 295 - 294: Leaked Information

The atmosphere in the room had plunged to freezing point following the earlier conversation.

Fortunately, before long, Chef Li came over with a food box, delivering breakfast.

Whether he had a moment of clarity or struck luck like a blind cat finding a dead mouse, the breakfast he delivered was enough for far more than two people, seemingly enough to satisfy all four of them comfortably.

Seeing Zhu Yu in the room, Chef Li gave a sheepish grin. Zhu Yu, however, seemed unbothered, smiling at him. Chef Li quickly set down the things and, before leaving, didn’t forget to say, "If you need anything, Miss, just let me know." 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Of course, these words were meant for Zhu Yu, as he didn’t glance at Zhu Ning from beginning to end.

Zhu Ning, unlike the Miao, wasn’t courageous; she dared to be angry but not to speak out, secretly glaring at the blind Chef Li.

With Zhu Yu accompanying her, Miao’s heart finally settled, gaining confidence.

After all, her daughter had supported her this far, and if she couldn’t straighten her back, it would be too ungrateful to Zhu Yu’s efforts.

So, she gathered her courage and sat down at the table with Pang Yuzhen to have breakfast.

It was the first time in Miao’s life that she had the chance to do so. As she ate, she couldn’t really taste the food, yet her heart felt an indescribable joy and reassurance because of Zhu Yu’s actions.

After finishing the meal, two servants came to clear the table. Pang Yuzhen took the chance to look outside a few times and noticed that those guarding them were no longer there, seemingly letting out a quiet sigh of relief.

Those people surely didn’t leave on their own without cause. The sudden release from surveillance must have something to do with Zhu Yu.

She couldn’t help but sneak a glance at Zhu Yu, wondering how she managed to do all this.

After pouring a cup of tea for Miao, Zhu Yu adjusted her posture and faced Pang Yuzhen: "Pang, let me ask you, do you know what your family intends to do this time? Are you involved in it?"

"You! What nonsense are you spouting? What did I get involved in?" Pang Yuzhen faced Zhu Yu’s questioning, both anxious and flustered, not bothering to quibble over her addressing her, "Together with Zhu Ning and your mother, I’ve been locked here. How could I know any more than you about what’s going on outside?

I don’t know what’s up with those people, or what they intend to do!

Don’t wrongly accuse me and unjustly pin a crime on my head!"

Miao, although holding some resentment towards Pang Yuzhen, knew that personal grudges couldn’t interfere in the current situation, lest it mislead her daughter’s judgment.

So she tugged on Zhu Yu’s sleeve under the table: "I was captured by Pang Yutang’s people to accompany their mother and daughter. At that time, they were already in the room, trapped inside. We’ve been clueless about what’s happening outside these days."

"So you truly don’t know what your dear family brother has been doing outside?" Zhu Yu sneered at Pang Yuzhen, unable to help but lament, thinking that Zhu Ning’s foolishness wasn’t entirely her fault, given her mother was just as short-sighted and self-serving.

They used whatever little cleverness they had on securing domestic positions, racking their brains, yet remained oblivious to the outer world, blinded by self-righteousness and vanity, easily flattered into ignorance.

"What do you mean?" Pang Yuzhen was both puzzled and somewhat guilt-ridden and wary. She hoped that this was some conspiracy by Zhu Yu, but she and Zhu Ning had been inexplicably imprisoned by Pang Yutang’s people, who also tightly controlled the Prince Shuo Mansion, clearly indicating something seriously wrong.

No matter how you looked at it, Pang Yutang remained her brother, closely related to her, and Pang Yuzhen still couldn’t bring herself to believe her family would do something harmful even to her.

"Your dear brother Pang Yutang has long been exploiting our father’s trust, colluding with others, and secretly mining Shuo Country’s Black Iron." Zhu Yu said coldly to Pang Yuzhen.

Pang Yuzhen’s eyes widened in shock and disbelief: "You’re talking nonsense!"

"Then why do you think father rushed over to inspect matters?" Zhu Yu snorted coldly, "And why do you think we took the risk to return here?"

Pang Yuzhen felt dazed, her complexion slightly blanching.

Though aware of how her family exploited Zhu Cheng’s influence to gather wealth and secretly draw in some Shuo Land officials, Pang Yuzhen pretended not to see.

On one hand, she felt entitled to procure benefits for her family as the Princess Shuo, given that Pang’s family had contributed to Zhu Cheng’s rise.

On the other hand, she believed allowing her family to act under the Prince Shuo’s name enhanced her own prestige within the Pang Family, something she enjoyed.

Yet, flaunting power is one thing, shielding her family is another, but secretly extracting Black Iron is an undeniably hefty crime!

Although the Black Iron mine was in the Shuo Land, under Zhu Cheng’s jurisdiction, it wasn’t for arbitrary disposal; large-scale mining still required reporting to the court and Emperor Jin’s approval to proceed.

This meant the Pang Family’s secret actions were substantial and egregiously beyond her imagination.

Pang Yuzhen’s heart was flooded with unprecedented fear, making her limbs cold and head tingle, feeling increasingly uneasy.

"Did Pang Yutang meet you when he previously visited our home?" Zhu Yu asked, seeing Pang Yuzhen remain unresponsive. Anticipating her silence, she speculated aloud, "He probably feigned visiting you to inquire about how many men father brought on his trip, right?

Didn’t you tell him father had mobilized quite a few troops, prompting his hurried departure?

Before that, he must have sent his carefully nurtured heir ahead, and it was after hearing you mention father’s sizeable troop that he, concerned, set off with more men, wasn’t it?"

The more Zhu Yu spoke, the paler Pang Yuzhen became. Clearly, the content of the dialogue between Pang Yutang and her, as well as Pang Yutang’s subsequent reactions and actions, matched exactly with Zhu Yu’s conjecture.

"Even with Pang Yutang behaving so unusually, you mother and daughter remained utterly oblivious," Zhu Yu couldn’t help but feel an itch to grind her teeth, "How could you stay so indifferent?

Didn’t you ever think about why he hurriedly chased after them?

It was to ensure a foolproof plan, letting his son go first, then he followed. Father and son prepared to pincer father!"