Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Lin Qing recalled the original plot.

The original story was told from Lin Junrou’s perspective. At this point, the true heiress had already been brought back. She was timid and meek but was harassed by girls friendly with Lin Junrou, even pushed into the water. Coincidentally, a group of young nobles arrived, catching the true heiress in the water.

In a moment of crisis, Lin Junrou appeared, first saving the true heiress’s reputation, then turning the tide to preserve the honor of the Marquis of Yongning’s residence. Everyone also witnessed her kindness and intelligence.

Thus, the stigma of being a fake heiress completely disappeared.

As for the true heiress, she became synonymous with arrogance and troublemaking, being kicked out of the mansion before the banquet even began.

Later, Lin Junrou unexpectedly caught Li Chenxuan struggling with a girl brought back from the border. She learned the girl was confessing her love to Li Chenxuan. Heartbroken, Lin Junrou saw Li Chenxuan fiercely protecting his wife, speaking ruthlessly to the girl, declaring his love belonged only to Lin Junrou, and finally having the girl captured and locked away.

That girl was the doctor who had helped Li Chenxuan avoid a deadly poison attack, named Ge Yi.

Ge Yi was not a good-tempered woman. Hearing from the servants about Lin Junrou and Li Chenxuan’s affairs, jealousy grew in her heart. She secretly slipped poison into Lin Junrou’s drink at the banquet—and succeeded.

At the same time, an assassin from the previous dynasty attempted to kill the Empress Dowager. Lin Junrou blocked the dagger, getting her arm stabbed.

When the Empress Dowager inquired about Lin Junrou’s identity, Lin Junrou remained silent out of grievance. After confirming her background, the Empress Dowager immediately adopted Lin Junrou as her foster daughter and had the imperial physician treat her.

It was at this moment that the poison took effect.

Li Chenxuan discovered the poison was Ge Yi’s doing. Through coaxing and deception, he managed to obtain the antidote. This also set the stage for Ge Yi’s later descent into madness and villainy.

…

Of course, the original work is the original work, and reality is reality. Lin Qing now lived in this world, where every person had their own thoughts, not just those sketchily described in a book. The plot had changed drastically.

For example, the Marquis of Yongning’s family still denied Lin Junrou was a fake heiress or a concubine’s daughter, pushing all blame onto Lin Qing and her husband Wang Duan. Since Wang Duan and his wife were dead, the fault was pinned squarely on Lin Qing.

Also, Lin Qing had long left the rural Liu family. The Marquis of Yongning’s family failed to bring her back, so naturally no one served as a foil to Lin Junrou. Without this contrast, no one could highlight the heroine’s true kindness and beauty.

Therefore, despite Lin Junrou’s excellence, she was only one among many outstanding noble ladies in the capital. The once-powerful Marquis of Yongning’s family was no match for the rising might of the Prince Rui’s mansion.

Further, in the original story, only the Empress Dowager came to the Prince Rui’s mansion, but in reality, Lin Qing received word that the Emperor himself would also attend.

The Emperor’s travels were a major event, with defenses arranged jointly by the Imperial Guards and the Tianlu Division. The Empress Dowager’s advance visit was to check for any irregularities in the mansion.

And irregularities were guaranteed.

Lin Qing said to agent Thirty-Nine, “Have the Mu family send someone to watch. When the opportunity arises, lure someone into the hidden cellar to leak information about the former dynasty’s remnants to the Emperor’s secret guards. Just say…”

She pondered briefly. “Say there’s a traitor inside the mansion leaking the Emperor’s itinerary, and assassins from the previous dynasty have infiltrated the mansion to carry out an attack.”

“Understood.” Thirty-Nine responded and was about to leave, but Lin Qing called her back.

Confused, Thirty-Nine asked, “What are your orders, Deputy Envoy?”

Lin Qing estimated the time. In the original story, Lin Junrou and Li Chenxuan spent quite a while in a secret chamber before the banquet, and now was just that time.

She said, “Go deliver a message to Ge Yi. Tell her there’s a secret chamber in the third cave of the fake mountain in the western garden where Li Chenxuan is meeting a young lady in secret.”

It was unfair to have a refined lady like Lin Junrou caught in adultery. Better let Ge Yi do the spying.

Thirty-Nine admired Lin Qing even more. Having covertly operated in the mansion for eight years, she didn’t even know about the secret chamber inside the fake mountain. Her Deputy Envoy knew everything. “Understood!”

…

Near the south side of the Prince Rui’s mansion was a lotus pond, with a two-story pavilion connected to the shore by a stone bridge.

Since arriving in the capital, Ge Yi had lived in this pavilion.

She sat at her dressing table, staring blankly at her reflection.

Ge Yi knew she was beautiful—striking and sharp, like an eagle soaring high. But now, for the man she loved, she had donned the garments of the Great Yuan Dynasty, concealing her sharp claws and talons, sitting demurely like a noble lady in the pavilion.

Even so, she was willing, because Li Chenxuan treated her well.

Her jewelry was rare and precious, her cosmetics the finest in the capital.

Usually, this made her happy, but today she couldn’t bring herself to smile.

Because Li Chenxuan forbade her from appearing at the birthday banquet.

Ge Yi was obedient, but her heart was uneasy. Just then, a short arrow shot into the room, embedding itself in a bedpost along with a note.

Ge Yi snorted coldly, took down the note, and read it. Her whole body exploded with fury.

She refused to believe Li Chenxuan was secretly seeing another woman!

But considering the day’s events, she felt a strange unease.

No, Li Chenxuan treated her so well—this had to be someone sowing discord!

With a flick of her hand, a cloud of powder spread through the air. The guards outside the pavilion staggered as if drunk, then collapsed unconscious.

Ge Yi stepped out and headed straight for the fake mountain. She wanted to see who dared scheme against her.

Once Ge Yi disappeared completely, Lin Qing emerged from a nearby low shrub, casually wiping two tufts of hair from her nostrils, and strode confidently into the pavilion.

Ge Yi often made poisons herself and disliked company, so the pavilion was empty — convenient for Lin Qing.

She went directly to Ge Yi’s bedroom on the second floor.

The original story mentioned that Ge Yi’s usual place always had a hidden compartment in the wall by the bed, where she kept her poisons.

Lin Qing easily found the secret compartment. Inside was only a small square box. As she reached to take it, she suddenly noticed something in the corner.

Instinctively, she grabbed it—a pink pearl smaller than a fingernail.

Pearls were precious in the Great Yuan Dynasty, and pink pearls were priceless rarities. How did one end up in this tiny compartment?

Puzzled, Lin Qing pocketed the pearl and opened the wooden box. It contained various bottles and jars.

She didn’t open the seals but lifted each small bottle to her nose and gently sniffed. Although the scent was faint—imperceptible to others—Lin Qing smelled it clearly and could roughly gauge the poison’s potency.

The odors were a chaotic mix, but Lin Qing stopped on the fifteenth bottle.

The label read: “Fragrance of Flesh and Bone.”

The scent inside was strange, matching the aroma she had smelled from the teacup in the imperial prison.

It seemed Wang Duan had died from this poison.

“So this poison is called Fragrance of Flesh and Bone,” she murmured.

Suddenly, a voice came from behind. Lin Qing turned to see Mu Wantang leaning against the window, smiling brightly. His narrow eyes sparkled with a mischievous light that made her uneasy.

Truly a fox spirit.

“This has nothing to do with you, right?” Lin Qing said, forcing herself to look away. She shook the bottle slightly, noticing the powder inside was less than expected.

She opened the stopper and peered in; the small porcelain bottle was only half full.

She closed it and slipped it into her sleeve.

Mu Wantang watched her actions. “What did you find?”

Lin Qing smiled wryly. “Guess.”

Mu Wantang propped his chin on his hand, watching her intently. “I only came to check because I’m concerned about you. Don’t mistake kindness.”

“You said it yourself—that’s kindness,” Lin Qing mocked, sizing him up. “Are you really kind? Or do you have ulterior motives?”

Mu Wantang’s smile froze. After a moment, he dropped it and asked, “Are you still investigating Wang Duan’s death?”

Lin Qing hugged the box of poisons and walked toward the door. “Wang Duan was poisoned—not with common toxins. Coincidentally, a poison expert lives right here in the Prince Rui’s mansion, and I found the poison that killed Wang Duan in her medicine box. Coincidence?”

Even more coincidental, she had just arrived when Li Chenxuan showed up, looking like he was here to cover up evidence.

Lin Qing knew about Ge Yi, so she diverted attention to her. If she could find the poison here, Ge Yi would be the real murderer.

Mu Wantang’s eyes darkened briefly but he didn’t respond directly. Instead, he pointed at the box in her hands. “You look so thin; let me carry that for you.”

He reached out, but Lin Qing dodged.

She smiled faintly. “No need to trouble you. Since this is evidence, as Deputy Envoy of Tianlu Division, I must protect it.”

Mu Wantang’s expression changed, mocking in his eyes. “Even if you have proof, so what? Do you really think accusing Prince Rui means he’ll confess and be punished?”

Lin Qing rolled her eyes. “Who said I’m accusing Prince Rui? The killer is Ge Yi.”

Mu Wantang was momentarily speechless but not angry—just puzzled. “You have a grudge against Prince Rui, yet you’re letting this chance slip away?”

“Mu Wantang, since we know each other, let me remind you: some things aren’t human anymore, yet they still have the fortune bestowed by Heaven. The child of fortune is no joke. Without absolute confidence, don’t be reckless.”

As she spoke, Lin Qing hid the box in the grass, knowing someone from the secret service would take it later.

After finishing, she said seriously, “Also, don’t follow me around—I’m busy and have no time to babysit.”

Mu Wantang was left speechless, the faint feeling of inexplicable warmth in his heart instantly dissipating.