Tao Wujiu Dies Horribly in the Old Storehouse; Flower-Between Pavilion Won't Clear Its Name This Time

Three questions came crashing down on him as Gu Moran listened to the soft patter of raindrops on his umbrella.

He spoke as he walked down the corridor.

" Chu Tianxing smelled it through the handkerchief; it will be tested later with the Imperial Medical Bureau."

Shen Ling'er was taken aback.

"Smell?"

"He said the sealing wax had been changed, and the cinnabar, sulfur, and lead odors were less noticeable; he could even smell the musty bitterness of the old wax."

Shen Ling'er's expression changed.

"Old wax?"

Gu Moran looked at her.

"Is there a problem?"

Shen Ling'er pulled him towards the corridor. Rainwater fell from the edge of the umbrella, dripping onto the copper clasp of the medicine box with a loud thud.

"If the sealing wax on the elixir is old, it means that this item has passed through an old warehouse, an old furnace, or the hands of an old person."

"Using old wax with new cinnabar usually only has two uses."

"To mask the smell."

"Covering the source."

Gu Moran did not respond.

Shen Ling'er pressed him down onto the bench in the corridor, opened her medicine box, and took out a clean handkerchief to wipe his cuffs.

"I want to go to the Imperial Medical Bureau."

Gu Moran raised his hand and pressed down on the lid of the medicine box.

"No."

Shen Ling'er looked at him and pouted.

"Okay, then I'll have Grandpa go."

Gu Moran closer to her.

"Good boy/girl."

Shen Ling'er didn't loosen her grip, her lips pressed into a thin line, her hand still resting on his pulse.

Gu Moran looked at the hand that was clasped around her wrist.

Small hands, but steady strength.

How is your pulse?

Shen Ling'er was unhappy.

"Oh dear, it seems Lin Qingdai has given you quite a bit of trouble."

Gu Moran laughed out loud.

Shen Ling'er closed the medicine box lid.

You're still laughing.

The two were so close that the scent of medicine, the smell of rain, and the lingering odor of pills mingled together under the umbrella, making it impossible to escape their breath.

Shen Ling'er looked at his lips; he clearly still wanted to curse, but his hand had already reached into the medicine box and taken out a pill.

"Holding in one's mouth."

Gu Moran his mouth.

She put the medicine to his lips, then quickly withdrew her hand.

"What are you doing? Even when I'm feeding you medicine, you're trying to take advantage of me? Don't kiss me like that."

Gu Moran, with medicine in his mouth, asked indistinctly, "Sweet?"

Shen Ling'er snorted.

"It's so bitter I'm afraid you'll throw up."

Uncle Fu ran in from outside, his steps quicker than usual.

"Your Highness, an urgent report from the palace!"

Gu Moran took the sealed tube.

The sealing wax is still from Gao Fu's side.

He opened it and quickly read through it.

" The Imperial City Bureau is conducting a secret investigation of the Dan Shop in the east of the city."

The Second Prince's Residence sent people everywhere to search for Tao Wujiu.

Gu Moran stepped out from under the corridor. The post-rain wind swept through the courtyard, bringing with it the smell of damp earth.

Uncle Fu followed.

Where is Your Highness going?

Gu Moran looked towards the direction of Misty Waters Courtyard.

"Go find Liu Ruyan."

"Let's see if there's any sign of trouble at the Flower-Between Pavilion."

In the Misty Waters Courtyard, Liu Ruyan sat by the window grinding ink.

On the table was a newly delivered, semi-cooked Xuan paper.

When Gu Moran entered the room, the fragrance of osmanthus flowers had faded considerably.

Liu Ruyan stood up.

Your Highness.

Gu Moran sat down in the guest seat.

Is there any news from the Flower-Between Pavilion?

Liu Ruyan looked up at him.

Gu Moran's gaze fell on the ink-colored object beneath her hand.

The ink stick paused for a moment, then spun around the center of the inkstone again.

" The Flower-Between Pavilion restaurant is always busy with customers."

"But the message hasn't arrived yet; I'm waiting too."

The only sound in the room was the soft clatter of ink sticks hitting the inkstone.

The scent of ink mingled with the fragrance of osmanthus blossoms, and the damp paper gave off a slight woody aroma.

Liu Ruyan's hands were too steady; the veins on the back of her hands were taut, and even her sleeves didn't sway.

Gu Moran up and walked around behind her.

Liu Ruyan tightened her shoulders and back slightly, then gradually loosened them again.

Gu Moran first took her hand as she ground the ink.

"If the force is too gentle, the ink will dissipate."

Liu Ruyan said softly, "I will study it."

"I know."

His palm covered the back of her hand, guiding her to turn the inkstick half a circle towards the inkstone.

Liu Ruyan did not break free, but the temperature under her palm gradually increased.

Gu Moran was about to pull her into his arms.

There was a knock on the courtyard gate.

Three notes.

Urgent, heavy.

Madam Chun's voice came from behind the door.

" Ruyan, something's happened in the building."

Liu Ruyan stood up.

Gu Moran had already walked towards the door.

The door opened, Madam Chun came in wearing a raincoat, her hair half-disheveled, and clutching a wet cloth in her hand.

Rainwater dripped from the hem of my clothes onto the ground, quickly forming a small puddle.

She closed the door behind her and glanced at the courtyard again.

" Ruyan, do you still remember Tao Wujiu? He's dead."

The room fell silent for a moment.

Liu Ruyan gripped the edge of the table.

Gu Moran an eyebrow.

The Emperor was investigating the elixir case when Tao Wujiu died?

That's too much of a coincidence.

Madam Chun spoke again.

"There were pills next to the corpse, with the Flower-Between Pavilion's inscription pressed on them."

She held the damp cloth to the edge of the table, not daring to spread it out, first looking at Liu Ruyan, then at Gu Moran.

Gu Moran looked at the grayish-red water stains seeping from the edge of the damp cloth.

He pointed to the tabletop.

"Lay down."

Madam Chun did as instructed.

The damp cloth was spread out, revealing a broken pill inside.

The peony bark had softened from the rain, its edges had turned to mush, but the inside still retained half a fine texture.

Liu Ruyan saw the pattern, and her eyelashes fell.

Gu Moran picked up the silver hairpin on the table and used it to remove the cinnabar paste.

When the tip of the hairpin touched the edge of the pattern, he paused for half an inch.

The lines are very fine, not patterns, but more like some kind of ledger.

Would outsiders recognize these patterns?

Madam Chun sighed.

"These are old markings; only those who bought intelligence in the early days would recognize them."

Gu Moran looked at Liu Ruyan.

Liu Ruyan raised her eyes.

"I recognize the old acquaintances in the building."

How many are the old friends?

Madam Chun answered quickly.

"No more than five are alive."

Gu Moran tapped the edge of the table twice with his fingertips.

The detection panel was laid out in front of me.

[ Madam Chun: Manager of the Flower-Between Pavilion ]

[Loyalty: 100]

[Current Status: Anxious, Alert, Concealing Some Old Building Rules.]

[Potential risks: Past issues at the Flower-Between Pavilion, Liu Ruyan's safety, and the boss's orders.]

Gu Moran pressed the panel down.

"Tell me from the beginning, in detail."

Madam Chun looks up.

Gu Moran covered the damp cloth back up, carefully avoiding the cinnabar mud with her fingertips.

Where was the body found, and who saw it first?

What was displayed on site?

Madam Chun pulled down her soaked rain hat, and water droplets slid down her temples to her chin.

"The body is in the old warehouse."

"West of the back Flower-Between Pavilion, there used to be a place for storing wine. It's rarely used in recent years, and only old ledger boxes and empty jars are kept there."

"The first thing he saw was the hidden stake outside the building. He smelled bitter almonds and saw blood in the crack under the door."

Gu Moran's gaze swept over him.

"Did he disturb the scene?"

Madam Chun gritted her teeth.

"I only took this one pill."

Liu Ruyan asked, "Where is the body?"

Madam Chun glanced at her.

"Still in the old warehouse."

"Your Highness, Ruyan, the current trouble is..."

"There was a girl from our Flower-Between Pavilion next to that body."

Gu Moran asked, "Who is this young lady?"