TRBDM -Chapter 168 The Formula for the Deadly Powder

“Where does it hurt? I’ll call the imperial physician.”

Xie Wanrou’s panic was visible to the naked eye. The moment Jiang Yuelin said it hurt, her heart tightened painfully along with him.

“No need to call the imperial physician. Just blow on it for me.”

As he spoke, Jiang Yuelin kept his eyes fixed on her, the anticipation in them almost spilling over.

Only then did Xie Wanrou belatedly realize something.

It seemed as though he might have said it on purpose.

Yet even knowing that, she still worried that his hand truly hurt. She bent down and gently blew on the wound.

A natural feminine fragrance lingered at the tip of Jiang Yuelin’s nose. He couldn’t help but flare his nostrils slightly, as if trying to hold on to the scent.

Her rosy, full lips were so close. With just a slight lowering of his gaze, he could see them clearly.

Hoo—hoo—

Another wave of fragrance drifted over him, as if carrying its own medicinal effect. Clinging to his wound, it truly didn’t feel as painful anymore.

A faint smile curved at Jiang Yuelin’s lips. He even wished time could stop at this very moment.

“Lord Jiang—”

Someone called from outside the door. Xie Wanrou suddenly came back to her senses, straightened up at once, and stepped back several paces.

The fragrance at his nose abruptly faded. Jiang Yuelin frowned irritably and looked toward the door.

“Lord Jiang, you’re awake? Does the wound still hurt?”

The visitor was one of his subordinate guards, sent by the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review to check on him.

“It’s much better,” Jiang Yuelin replied calmly. “How are the two guards we rescued last night?”

“They haven’t woken yet, but the imperial physician says their lives are not in danger. Please rest assured, Lord Jiang.”

Jiang Yuelin nodded.

The explosion had been fierce. To have survived by sheer luck was already the best possible outcome.

Catching a faint fragrance in the air, the guard only then noticed that there was actually a young lady in Jiang Yuelin’s room.

Realizing he had come at an inopportune moment, he scratched his head and said, “Then I won’t disturb Lord Jiang’s rest. Lord Feng said the case can be put aside for two days. You can resume the investigation once your health improves.”

“Mm.”

After the guard left, only the two of them remained in the room.

Xie Wanrou did not dare look at Jiang Yuelin again. She returned to the table, lowered her head, and continued organizing the white gauze.

In tacit understanding, neither of them spoke further.

Jiang Yuelin’s head still ached slightly. He lay back down, closed his eyes, and soon drifted into a peaceful sleep, enveloped by the familiar fragrance.

That afternoon, Zhao Jingheng arrived at the Court of Judicial Review with Jianxi.

“Greetings, Tenth Prince,” Xie Wanrou said, bowing to Zhao Jingheng.

“Miss Xie?”

Zhao Jingheng was a little surprised. What was Xie Wanrou doing here?

“Your Highness, I shall take my leave first,” she said, knowing they had matters to discuss and that it was inappropriate for her to remain.

A faint smile lingered at Jiang Yuelin’s lips. “Then… see you tomorrow.”

“Yes. See you tomorrow.”

After she left, Jianxi smiled and set the tonics they had brought onto the table.

“Lord Jiang, upon learning that you were injured while investigating the case, His Highness was worried and insisted on coming to see you. These supplements are from Qingfeng Hall.”

After being poisoned, Jianxi’s voice had become hoarse and grating, like fingernails scraping across broken strings.

He was only in his early twenties, yet his voice now sounded like that of an old eunuch in his forties or fifties.

But the smile on his face remained the same as before. As long as he didn’t speak, nothing seemed amiss.

“Many thanks to Your Highness. My gratitude as well, Eunuch Jianxi.”

Jianxi moved a chair for Zhao Jingheng and invited him to sit by the bedside.

“There’s no need for thanks, Lord Jiang. You were injured while investigating the poisoning at Qingfeng Hall. I’m the one who should be thanking you.”

During his interrogation of those connected to the imperial kitchen, Jiang Yuelin had obtained a confession from a young eunuch responsible for delivering dishes. Because of a stomachache, the eunuch had set the meal down casually in the corridor while he went to the latrine. When he came back out, he simply picked up the food and delivered it to Qingfeng Hall.

The poison had been added during that interval.

Jiang Yuelin immediately ordered an investigation into who had appeared there during that period.

After a long search with no progress, Nanny Ding from the Imperial Kitchen privately sought him out.

“Lord Jiang, this servant has a lead to offer.”

“Please, go ahead.”

“That day, I saw the Fifth Prince. He came to the Imperial Kitchen once.”

Jiang Yuelin fell silent in thought.

Nanny Ding had once served at Qingfeng Hall and attended Consort Shu. Her words carried weight.

“Are you certain you weren’t mistaken?”

“I am certain.”

For Nanny Ding to identify Zhao Jingrui at this moment was tantamount to risking her life. Yet for the safety of the Tenth Prince, she spoke without hesitation—proof of her loyalty.

Jiang Yuelin asked, “Have you told anyone else about this?”

Nanny Ding shook her head.

She had told only Jiang Yuelin.

She had long heard of the formidable reputation of Jiang Yuelin, Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, and firmly believed he would handle the matter impartially.

Jiang Yuelin nodded and reminded her, “Do not mention this to anyone else. I will investigate.”

“Yes.” Nanny Ding had come discreetly and left just as carefully, without drawing attention.

With this new lead, Jiang Yuelin shifted the focus of his investigation to Zhao Jingrui.

Apart from a few trusted guards, he kept the investigation entirely confidential—not even the Eldest Princess was informed.

After several days, he discovered that Zhao Jingrui owned a residence in the western suburbs, which he visited once every half month.

Sure enough, they found many things inside the residence.

There were even letters concerning General Fu Wei hidden in a secret chamber.

From those letters, Jiang Yuelin learned for the first time that the Eldest Princess and General Fu Wei had a child.

And that child might still be alive.

No wonder the Eldest Princess had suddenly asked him to reinvestigate Fu Wei’s case. Now, everything made sense.

“Jianxi, wait outside. I have something to discuss with Lord Jiang.”

“Yes.” Jianxi withdrew.

Zhao Jingheng looked at Jiang Yuelin’s hand. “How is Lord Jiang’s injury?”

“A fracture. The bandages can be removed after a hundred days.”

“You’ve worked hard.”

“In investigations, such things are unavoidable. Your Highness need not take it to heart.”

The pleasantries ended, and they turned to the main issue.

“What did Lord Jiang find in Fifth Brother’s residence?”

Jiang Yuelin’s expression turned solemn. “We found the formula for Duoming San—and a counterfeit preparation.”

Zhao Jingrui possessed the formula for Duoming San, but he had been unable to gather all the required ingredients. As a result, the medicine he produced was far less potent.

The brilliantly colored flowers he planted in the courtyard were precisely the missing ingredient from the formula.

Once the flowers matured, the toxin could be extracted from their stamens, and combined with the roots and petals in proper proportions to perfectly replicate Duoming San.

Zhao Jingheng’s brows knitted tightly. Even the counterfeit drug had been enough to ruin Jianxi’s voice—if it had been the genuine Duoming San, it might have taken a life outright.

“I have never had any grievance with Fifth Brother. Why would he try to harm me?”

Jiang Yuelin shook his head.

“The Fifth Prince is currently at the Eldest Princess’s residence. Would Your Highness be willing to accompany me there?”

“But Lord Jiang’s condition…”

“It’s nothing.”

Xie Wanrou’s attentive care earlier that day had eased him considerably.

The investigation could not be delayed. With the evidence now complete, concluding the case swiftly would put both the Tenth Prince and the Eldest Princess at ease.

“Very well. Then let us go to the Eldest Princess’s residence together.”