Plotting with You: The Forensic Scientist in Ancient Times!-Chapter 396 - 395: A Powerful Background

Zhu Yu, hearing his words, clearly sensed another meaning. She turned her head in surprise to look at Lu Qing beside her. Only then did she realize that she had urgently brought Lu Qing to check on Yan Daoxin’s situation, but Lu Qing did not seem anxious. When he was answering her questions about Lu Zhang and Gu Lingyun, he was quite composed.

"Were you prepared in advance?" she asked Lu Qing.

"Yes, when we moved the Chang’e Drunk out, in the cellar, I had Yan Daoxin hide two or three separately," Lu Qing nodded. "I was busy afterward and didn’t have the time to tell you." 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"That’s not important! As long as we were prepared in advance, it’s enough!" Zhu Yu breathed a sigh of relief, patting her chest. "You were originally preparing against that Fake Castle Master, right?"

"Indeed, so we didn’t expect to have an unexpected gain," Lu Qing smiled slightly.

Yan Daoxin hesitated to speak, continuing his careful and deliberate actions. After he meticulously gathered all the black ash into the wooden box, he closed it securely. Then, he somehow pulled out a cloth to wrap the box carefully before hurrying to the two of them to ask, "What happened? What exactly was the situation just now?"

Lu Qing succinctly recounted the process of surrounding the Fake Castle Master. Yan Daoxin raised his eyebrows high.

"This Headdress and Shoes Workshop seems to have quite a background! Have you ever bought the fabrics they exclusively provide for nobles? Is there anything special about them?

If there’s nothing peculiar, why go through so much trouble to nurture Chang’e Drunk?"

It seemed he wasn’t surprised about any secret connections between Lu Zhang and the other party, but was more curious about Gu Lingyun and her Headdress and Shoes Workshop.

"You really hold me in high regard," Lu Qing was amused by his questioning. "Not to mention that, for safety, I couldn’t possibly frequent the Headdress and Shoes Workshop, which has close ties with the Duke Yan Mansion. Even if I wanted to visit, do you think Zhao Bi would allow that workshop to sell the same fabric used by his wife and those offered to Princess Consort Duan and other palace concubines to me?"

"Of course not," Yan Daoxin sneered. "That old fox is as narrow-minded as a needle’s eye. He seizes every chance to put you down. Naturally, he wouldn’t let you have the chance to wear something as grand as he does!"

After he spoke, he suddenly realized something amiss and looked at Zhu Yu: "Didn’t you give her a Ten-color Brocade outfit to make a statement in Shuo Land earlier?

Isn’t the Ten-color Brocade the most sought-after fabric from the Headdress and Shoes Workshop back then?"

"The Ten-color Brocade was indeed an original creation of the Headdress and Shoes Workshop. Afterward, it became extremely popular among noblewomen because of Princess Consort Duan.

However, later, the Ten-color Brocade in the Capital is no longer exclusive to the Headdress and Shoes Workshop," Lu Qing said with a faint smile. "Recently, in less than a year, a new shop called Yuan Ying Workshop opened in the Capital. Though it isn’t prominently placed, anything rare found at the Headdress and Shoes Workshop can soon be found at Yuan Ying Workshop, and at a more affordable price.

The most important thing is, it’s reliable and reassuring to wear."

"So you bought her a copycat!" Yan Daoxin teased Zhu Yu, winking at her, "This is truly intolerable!"

Zhu Yu, however, discerned the clue: "Yuan Ying Workshop? Yuan Ying means moon, is the boss behind it Liu Yueyao?"

"Madam is indeed smart and perceptive," Lu Qing glanced at the somewhat confused Yan Daoxin. "Unlike some people, who pretend to be clever despite their dullness and end up using their brains only for stirring up trouble and sowing discord."

"Stop being sarcastic. I naturally knew Yuan Ying means moon, but I don’t know any Liu Yueyao, so how could I catch the hidden meaning in this!" Yan Daoxin spread his hands, looking helpless.

Zhu Yu couldn’t help but laugh. She looked at Lu Qing: "So you suspected something was off with the Headdress and Shoes Workshop all along?

So you set up this Yuan Ying Workshop to secretly replicate the signature items of the Headdress and Shoes Workshop as a precautionary measure, ready to substitute if needed?"

"It’s not wrong to be comprehensive and cautious in case of any eventuality," Lu Qing tacitly admitted to this point.

The three of them packed up the wooden box Yan Daoxin held, then returned to the front, only to see Lu Yan returning furiously with his men. Behind him, several subordinates were dragging a few soldiers who were tightly bound.

From the attire of those soldiers, they should be Lu Zhang’s subordinates.

"What’s going on?" Lu Qing saw Lu Yan’s posture, full of murderous intent, and quickly stopped him, fearing that he might accidentally cause more trouble at this critical juncture.

"Brother, it’s just right you’re here! Come! Let’s go find Lu Zhang and demand answers!

If he can’t give me an explanation today, even if the King of Heaven himself comes, it won’t matter. I will personally resolve this!"

Seeing Lu Yan’s fiery stance, Lu Qing knew it would be impossible to stop him, so he said no more, nodded, and followed Lu Yan while observing the few soldiers tied up behind them as they walked.

The soldiers seemingly showed no signs of injury; except for a bit of embarrassment from being tied up, they appeared more or less intact, with nothing missing.

Zhu Yu didn’t expect Lu Yan to be so furious at this moment either. Recently, he had had heartfelt conversations with Lu Qing. Lu Yan’s actions were noticeably more restrained compared to before. He wasn’t in such a hurry to express his stance and would leave more time to think about things.

This was clearly a positive change. Yet, seeing his current demeanor was reminiscent of their earlier tense encounters, seemingly reverting to his original state.

It seemed something else had occurred during the pursuit of the Fake Castle Master.

The group hastened their steps toward the small courtyard where Lu Zhang was recuperating.

By this moment, Lu Yan was already boiling with rage, and naturally, he wouldn’t care about anything else. He rushed to the courtyard gate and kicked the door heavily.

The flimsy wooden door shattered under the impact, wooden fragments and splinters flying far and wide, startling the soldiers guarding inside the courtyard into gripping their weapons tightly, ready to charge.

When they saw that the person kicking the door was Lu Yan, they paused in confusion. Seeing their bound brothers brought in by him, they were unsure of what to do.

One of them, looking like a Colonel, was the first to regain composure, quickly stepping forward, blocking Lu Yan’s path, and respectfully saying, "Third Prince, our Prince was previously injured and has just rested. If you have any matters, it wouldn’t be too late to discuss them once our Prince has regained his strength..."