THE FLOWER PALACE'S SECRET

Chapter 19: New Hints at the Beginning of Winter

The sky of the imperial capital Ling was filled with white clouds. From the clouds, the fine white grains descend simultaneously to cover the entire land and turn it into a beautiful expanse of white snow. The ice was stuck in the branches of willow and wisteria trees, spruce, grass, some of which covered roads and buildings and small shops on the outskirts of the capital.

Snow in the city of Rouwu down to greet the morning residents of the city. Winter in the capital always comes earlier than in other cities and provinces. The small rivers on the outskirts of the Rouwu forest had already turned into hard and thick blocks of ice. The large stones along the river are covered with snow, so the shape resembles a doll that is not too beautiful to look at.

As the burning fireplace warmed the entire room, Lin Zian silently stared fixedly at the stack of books on which was located in front of his face. The books have different colors and thicknesses. On a blind morning like this, the little girl who bears the status of empress is already acting up and giving him a headache. Lin Zian couldn't even eat her breakfast the morning because the girl directly dragged her into the reading room.

One week ago, Shen Yanzhia came to the palace and had the Queen Mother accompany her to the palace library. There, he spent an entire day searching for the book he wanted. At that time there was only she and the Queen Mother and two palace servants who helped her.

Shen Yanzhia said that she needed some books to investigate something without telling the Queen Mother what the investigation was doing by her. Shen Yanzhia then wrote several titles and told the servant to deliver the books to the palace of the Prince of Qin's residence.

Now, the books were piled up in front of Lin Zian in a mess.

“Let me eat my breakfast first,” pinta Lin Zian. The grey hairy robes he wore dangled downwards covering the small stool he was sitting on.

“No! Help me find a good ingredient to concoct medicine from these books, or we'll lose the dying man.”

Lin Zian sighed softly. His hand grabbed the book at the top of the pile, opened it and read it carefully. Sometimes he stops to write something that might help. He also wrote down ingredients that might serve as anti-venom.

“I'll bring you breakfast.”

Shen Yanzhia immediately left the room. In the front yard of the reading room, he called Xu Chi and had the servant bring his master breakfast as well as breakfast for himself. Xu Chi asked a few things, then left after getting an answer from her question. A while later, Xu Chi returned while carrying two bowls of warm soup that could reduce the cold in the morning like this.

“Xu Chi, please bring more charcoal. The fireplace in the reading room has started to go out.”

“Good, wangfei. I'll be right back.”

“Wait!”

Xu Chi stopped his steps.

“From now on, don't call me that.”

Xu Chi was about to refuse, he objected because the name was supposed to be used. But, Shen Yanzhia's hand gesture prevented her from raising any objections, until she only left a puzzled and astonished look at the same time.

“Lantas how should I call you?”

“Nona, or it's up to you.”

"Sorry, this waiter can't. Wangfei was the consort of Prince Qin, Lord Mudaku. He must not have allowed me to call you carelessly."

"Oh yeah, you can go."

Shen Yanzhia brought the two bowls of soup back into the reading room. He then sat down next to Lin Zian who was busy opening and reading a book. The three books were kept apart beside the table, it seemed like the three books had been finished reading.

If noticed again, Lin Zian was indeed someone who was obedient. Although sometimes stubborn, but when it comes to something related to his work, he will be serious. Had Shen Yanzhia not said that the books were used to find the antidote to the poison, Lin Zian would probably not have willingly willingly done all this. Moreover, a few days ago came a letter to formally invite Lin Zian to the palace.

“You're going?” asked Shen Yanzhia.

Lin Zian nodded without distracting her from the book.

“Then, be careful if you meet Consort Duan. I'm sure now he'll get you involved to get rid of me.”

“Wangfei, are you worried about me?”

“Who is worried about you? I just warned you.”

“Really?”

Not wanting Lin Zian to speak anymore, Shen Yanzhia reflexively fed a spoonful of soup along with her spoon into Lin Zian's mouth until Lin Zian almost choked in surprise. The hot soup burned his mouth and throat. The strong ginger aroma of the soup filled his entire mouth.

“Wangfei, you want to kill me?”

“Only a warm soup alone will not make a great prince and general like you die.”

Hot soup? Is Shen Yanzhia's tongue troubled? This soup is obviously very hot. The smoke is still billowing.

Someone then knocked on the door. After being invited, a black-robed man appeared from behind the door. The man was carrying a medium-sized wooden box. After saluting, the man sat at the same table as Shen Yanzhia and Lin Zian.

“What made Detective Tang Yin visit here so early?” sneer Shen Yanzhia who was unhappy because Tang Yin's arrival this time really disturbed the atmosphere.

“Sorry, I'm here because I want to report something,” Tang Yin replied expressionlessly.

The man then opened the wooden box he was carrying. Inside was a worn-out paper scroll containing blood-red writing. Shen Yanzhia was a little afraid that the writing on the paper actually used blood.

“This is the letter I got after visiting the house of the dying man. The house was already on fire when I got to.”

“Then where did you find this box?” asked Lin Zian seriously.

“I found a basement among the rubble of that house. This wooden box is located in the corner of the basement room it.”

Tang Yin gave the letter to Lin Zian. His eyes were full of vigilance. The letter may be a new clue to uncover who is the real culprit of the lost military funds case, or it may be able to uncover other things that have been hidden.

“Wangfei, do you recognize this writing?”

“What are you afraid of, wangfei?” asked Lin Zian.

Shen Yanzhia did not reply and only

shaking his head while closing both eyes.

“Wangfei seems to be afraid of blood, wangye,” Tang Yin said later. Lin Zian grabbed Shen Yanzhia's hand.

But, Shen Yanzhia's body's reaction was very unexpected. Shen Yanzhia even strengthened her hand to close her eyes. Lin Zian gently grabbed it and grasped it. The hand is shaking.

“Do not be afraid. Open your eyes and take a good look!”

Shen Yanzhia dared to open her eyes. Lin Zian's hand grips were so warm that they spread all over his body. There was a new sensation that he had never felt before. For some reason, the grip of the hand made Shen Yanzhia feel comfort to the point of making her fear decrease bit by bit.

“I... I seem to have seen this form of writing in the palace,” Shen Yanzhia said slowly.

“Stana?” asked Lin Zian and Tang Yin simultaneously.

“Which part?”

“I don't know for sure because it's been a long time. You might be able to ask the Queen Mother when you get to the palace later.”

The Queen Mother cannot know this. If he knew, perhaps Shen Yanzhia would no longer be able to participate in this investigation. If Shen Yanzhia did not come along, she would not find any clue regarding the jade and not achieve her wish. If Shen Yanzhia did not get what she wanted, the woman would definitely be angry and disappointed.

He'll probably act crazier than before. If this were to happen, all investigations would be futile and everyone's lives would be in danger. Bebij well, Lin Zian found out for himself without involving the Queen Mother.

“Wangye, what did you do to that female healer?”

“Hey, he's my friend. Call Lanlan with a Physician Ru!” sergeant Shen Yanzhia.

“Alright, I will call him the Physician Ru.”

“I sent people to supervise and protect Ru Xiaolan. A few days ago he told her that Xiaolan's house was hit by the strong winds of winter. If they continue to hang in there, maybe that person will not live again.”

Tang Yin nodded in understanding.

“Then, what will we do next?” ask Tang Yin again.

“I think we should move them right away. Where is the safest place in your opinion?” asked Shen Yanzhia.

“The safest place is the most dangerous place. Wangfei, do you have any suggestions?”

“The place that attracted the least attention was my father's residence. Maybe, we can move it there.”

“What is no problem?” ask Tang Yin.

“I'll explain it to dad. I'm sure he'll understand.”

“What about your brothers? They will definitely not understand,” asked Lin Zian. He was worried that the Shen Yanzhia brothers would cause trouble because as he knew, the Shen Yanzhia brothers often bothered him. If a stranger were to suddenly enter and stay, wouldn't it invite both rudeness and commotion?

As if understanding Lin Zian's worries, Shen Yanzhia then explained that her brothers, Shen Mei Ling and Shen Zhang Qi were outside the city. Prince Yun sent them to the Wei Academy located in the southernmost province to study. They won't be back in a few months. As for his elder brothers, Shen Jin and Shen Yin Quan, the two of them would not be suspicious of anything.

Her first brother, Shen Jin, is married to Prince Duke Wu and has been living in Baindu since two years ago. He would not return except for mid-spring to celebrate the festival with the entire Yun family.

Her second brother, Shen Yin Quan, was a wandering warrior. He had not returned to the residence of Prince Yun since the past year. From the letter that Shen Yanzhia had received, her second brother was in the Yulin region, the outermost region of the Ling empire that bordered directly with the territory of the Xialin kingdom.

Even if you go home, the journey from Yulin to Rouwu takes at least six months by horse. In that span of time, perhaps Shen Yanzhia could already find the safest place for Ru Xiaolan.

One thing that Shen Yanzhia was worried about was the concubines of Prince Yun. His father had three concubines with distinguished family backgrounds. One of them was Lan Rushuang, the youngest concubine sent by the Lan family, the family of the Minister of Justice.

If until the concubine found out that the dying person was a stranger who was exposed to the Blue Grass poison, it was not impossible that he would ask and report it to his family, he said, because the poison should only be used in the Ministry of Justice.

“You're worried about Concubine Lan?” lin Zian asked as if understanding his wife's worries. Shen Yanzhia nodded in doubt.

“You just calm down. With her innocent personality, Consort Lan couldn't possibly be suspicious of anything. She's just a little concubine who doesn't know anything.”

Lin Zian tried to calm Shen Yanzhia down. Consort Lan was just a spoiled woman who only knew money and pleasure, never interested in power or politics. The concubine preferred to shop and beautify herself so that Prince Yun would feel happy and not take her out of the residence. Lin Zian could tell because before he and Shen Yanzhia got married, he had first investigated Prince Yun's family.

There was nothing suspicious about the family. Yes, even though it was an inappropriate act since Prince Yun was still a prince and the royal family. If Shen Yanzhia knew she was investigating him first, the woman would really be angry and hate him.

Xu Chi came from behind the door when Shen Yanzhia had already dispelled all her worries. Lin Zian's loyal servant put a few pieces of charcoal into the fireplace until the embers turned red again and the reading room warmed up instantly. Before leaving, Xu Chi showed a hint of doubt, like he was in a state of confusion.

“What's up, Xu Chi?” asked Lin Zian.

“It...”

“That's what?”

“Prime Minister came to visit and is now waiting for Young Master in the main hall,” Xu Chi replied hesitantly. The three people in front of him looked extremely shocked. Why did the old man come here earlier this winter?***