Zou Chengyi fell silent.
The topic was not pursued further.
Nan Shiying wrote down the formula for the Floating Half-Day Powder for Zou Chengyi. While the herbs used to make this poison were common, the only less common ingredient was a herb named Zisu Yi.
This herb, bitter and pungent, grew in dark, damp cliff crevices, resembling moss. It was used to harmonize medicinal properties and neutralize their potency. On its own, it had no therapeutic effect. Pharmacies usually substituted ginger for Zisu Yi, as Zisu Yi was scarce and difficult to collect.
However, if one intended to make the poison Floating Half-Day Powder, Zisu Yi was indispensable.
Nan Shiying pointed Zou Chengyi in the right direction: "Weian Mountain!"
There was certainly Zisu Yi there.
"Of course, one should visit the black market first."
There was no need for Nan Shiying to remind him. Having received the formula, Zou Chengyi asked, "Does Young Master Feng truly not wish to accompany me?"
Nan Shiying waved her hand, "No, no, I can't be bothered!"
Zou Chengyi did not press further. After bidding farewell, he left the prince's mansion with the formula.
"Sir!"
The waiting constable immediately helped Zou Chengyi into the carriage. Zou Chengyi lifted the curtain, gazing at the prince's mansion enveloped in the afterglow of the sun. The open red gates were like the gaping maw of an abyss. Only now, as his back leaned against the carriage, did the pervasive fear and the crushing pressure like a mountain pressing down finally recede. The biting wind was bone-chilling, but far less so than the killing intent emanating from Ji Jinmo.
"Go!"
He lowered the curtain. The carriage wheels pressed onto the stone path, and the sound of hooves gradually faded.
...
"Why didn't you go with him?"
Ji Jinmo set the prayer beads aside, took a book from the bookshelf, a miscellany, and handed it to Nan Shiying. Nan Shiying took the book and flipped through it casually. A cup of tea was placed beside her.
Newly brewed Taiping Houkui.
Nan Shiying took the teacup and took a sip without looking up, finding the book Ji Jinmo gave her quite interesting. However, as she read, her face darkened, and she didn't even hear what Ji Jinmo asked.
"What's wrong?" Ji Jinmo leaned closer to take a look. This page of the miscellany was introducing the twelve male consorts of Empress Nan Fengluan of the Great Yuan dynasty!
Ji Jinmo pursed his lips and asked casually, "Do you think the content in this miscellany is true?"
"True as hell!"
Nan Shiying replied without thinking, "What is all this? Marquis Wennan was gay, you know, gay. Back then he..."
As Nan Shiying spoke with indignation, she looked up. The moment Ji Jinmo's extraordinarily handsome face entered her eyes, all her words ceased. She remembered what she had just said, swallowed with a gulp, and then choked violently.
"Cough, cough, cough, cough..."
Ji Jinmo gently patted her back and handed her another cup of tea.
Nan Shiying took the teacup and drank it down in gulps.
She stopped coughing, but the atmosphere became somewhat tense. Nan Shiying lowered her head to look at the miscellany in her hand, paused, and then said, "I mean, in the historical records I read before, Marquis Wennan was mentioned as being gay, having a penchant for young men, and admired Empress Nan Fengluan's personal guard."
Ji Jinmo nodded in belief.
He said nothing, only looking at her, which made Nan Shiying feel uneasy.
His eyes were deep and dark, as if vortices were hidden in their depths, sweeping away everything and discerning everything. Nan Shiying felt a sense of exposed soul, awkwardness, and tension. She looked up at him with a hint of annoyance, her knitted brows slanted, and glared at him fiercely.
Ji Jinmo smiled and pursed his lips, took the book from Nan Shiying's hand, closed it, and set it aside.
Pastries were brought from the small kitchen: osmanthus cakes and chestnut crisps, which Nan Shiying liked, and a newly developed fresh milk coconut pastry. Ji Jinmo placed a hazelnut crisp in her palm and returned to the initial topic, "I thought you would accompany Master Zou."
Nan Shiying popped the hazelnut crisp into her mouth, chewed vigorously, and stared fixedly at Ji Jinmo, as if chewing on him. Hearing his question, she replied indistinctly, "Tired!"
Ji Jinmo looked at her.
"My lord, what if Liu Ling's death was really just a revenge killing?"
"Haven't you already cast your bait?"
The black market and Weian Mountain; Zou Chengyi would surely find something out.
"So my heart is tired!"
Nan Shiying sighed, took a bite of the fresh milk coconut pastry, and then suddenly held the coconut pastry up to Ji Jinmo, "My lord, would you like to try?"
Ji Jinmo looked at her. Coconut shreds still clung to her lips, white as snowflakes, making her lips appear even redder. He swallowed and opened his mouth to bite into the coconut pastry. Whether intentionally or not, his cold lips brushed against her fingertips.
Nan Shiying snatched her hand back as if electrocuted and glared at him fiercely again.
"It's okay!"
Ji Jinmo commented.
As if genuinely tasting the pastry.
"Then you should eat more!" Nan Shiying pushed the plate towards him, smiling through gritted teeth.
Ji Jinmo understood.
She didn't like it.
...
The Ministry of Justice's supervisor led constables to the black market and investigated all the stalls, but found no one who had purchased Zisu Yi during this period. Nor had anyone purchased Zisu Yi from pharmacies in the capital during this time.
Zou Chengyi summoned Feng Quan, the Ministry of Justice's official, from the Qingli Department.
He ordered him to investigate the underground black market.
The underground black market was dim and desolate, existing underground year-round. The people inside had skin so pale it was almost bloodless, like the dead. Feng Quan tightened his cloak, blocking the probing gazes of the black market dwellers, and headed directly for the pharmacies on North Street.
"Yo, a rare visitor!"
The ragged old man chuckled sarcastically upon seeing Feng Quan.
Feng Quan removed his cloak and took out a flask of wine from his embrace, placing it on the table. The old man took the wine flask, opened the lid, and inhaled deeply, closing his eyes contentedly. "Good wine!"
He then took a sip, savoring it.
"The ledger is behind the counter. Help yourself," he leaned back in his chair, holding the wine flask and drinking, dismissing Feng Quan before he could even speak, clearly indicating that such 'transactions' were not uncommon.
Feng Quan walked to the counter, took out the ledger, and flipped through it at lightning speed. Feng Quan did not find anyone who had purchased Zisu Yi, but he did discover a very suspicious purchase record.
"Old man, do you remember this person?" Feng Quan, holding the ledger, walked over to the old man and pointed to a record, asking.
The old man opened his narrowed eyes, glanced at it quickly, and said, reeking of wine, "Him!"
He remembered this person. Judging by his appearance, he wasn't from the black market, yet he bought common medicines in large quantities. He had paid extra attention to him that day.
He narrowed his eyes again and extended his hand towards Feng Quan.