Chapter 10 Inexplicable Guidance

Chapter 10: Unseen Guidance

Nanzhou is a very magical border city, half a vast, towering city and half a romantic riverside with charming waters.

Nanzhou City is divided by Zhuque Street. The southern part of Nanzhou is often plagued by sandstorms, but the northern part thrives around its Water Flower Market. Nanzhou City is well-connected from north to south, with frequent trade and commerce. Even Qin Jiao was amazed by its unique geography when he first arrived.

Following Xiao Nianzhang into the flower market, pushing past flowers and foliage, the group arrived at a waterside pavilion. The pavilion was surrounded by colorful flowers, as if spring had suddenly arrived.

Four people stood in the pavilion: Xiao Yue, an old man with a nervous expression, He Zhao, who was pouting and muttering in discontent, and a young man dressed in black with handsome features whom Qin Jiao had never seen before.

When Xie Nai arrived, the four, except for He Zhao, bowed to him. The young man in black also stepped forward and bowed, “Luo Yue pays his respects, Your Highness!”

Xie Nai gestured for them to rise. Luo Bei, Luo Yue… Qin Jiao thought, this man must also be one of Xie Nai’s trusted guards.

Sure enough, after everyone stood up, Luo Yue went to stand beside Luo Bei.

In the silence, He Zhao’s muttering stood out, “Hmph, showing up so late, we’ve been waiting for ages… Wonder which little fox has been keeping him occupied…”

He Zhao glanced sidelong at Qin Jiao as if Qin Jiao were the seductive male version of Daji, the femme fatale who ruins kingdoms.

Although Qin Jiao had already explained the hand-holding misunderstanding to He Zhao, He Zhao’s expression of “Go ahead, I’ll believe you when pigs fly” left Qin Jiao helpless.

“He Zhao, cut that out!”

Yesterday, when Xiao Nianzhang and Luo Bei were investigating the Water Flower Market and the canal transport, they had already experienced He Zhao’s reckless speech firsthand. So at that moment, Xiao Nianzhang wished he could zip He Zhao’s mouth.

With an apologetic look at Xie Nai, Xiao Nianzhang said cautiously, “Your Highness, pay him no mind. Please, this way.”

Xie Nai naturally wouldn’t lower himself to argue with He Zhao. Meanwhile, Luo Yue covered his face in exasperation, and Luo Bei gave him a puzzled look.

“What’s wrong?” Luo Bei asked with his eyes.

Watching Xie Nai and Qin Jiao head to the edge of the pavilion, Luo Yue whispered back, “No wonder Governor Xiao is worked up. That guy really can talk, and he never runs out of things to say.”

Luo Bei: …

I think you talk way more than him.

Luo Yue was about to ask about He Zhao’s origins when the old man’s voice interrupted them, “Your Highness, this is Puzhi grass. It grows in swamps, streams, or by paddy fields. Puzhi grass has a fragrance but the whole plant is toxic, with the roots being the most poisonous. If someone is poisoned, they will experience vivid hallucinations.”

The old man was holding a bundle of brown rhizomes, with damp soil clinging to the roots. It seemed the Puzhi grass had just been pulled from the water.

Qin Jiao kept his purpose in mind. He bowed with clasped hands to the old man, “Elder, may I take a look?”

“Of course, young master.”

Ignoring the dirt, Qin Jiao took the Puzhi grass from the old man and gave it a gentle sniff. Then his expression changed, and he looked at Xie Nai, “Although this also has a fragrance, the unusual scent at the crime scene is a bit different from this one.”

Qin Jiao felt a twinge of anxiety. Had he given the wrong lead? But before he could speak, Xie Nai waved his hand, and Luo Yue handed him a small brown box.

“Try again.”

Xie Nai didn’t specify what to try, but he took the box and gave it to Qin Jiao.

Puzzled, Qin Jiao took the box and opened it. A familiar smell drifted out.

“That’s it! This is the smell! Could it be… a compound scent?”

But if it was a compound scent, what was the other scent?

“Little Master Qin, try smelling this one too.” Luo Yue handed over another small blue box.

Qin Jiao took it again. As soon as he opened the box, a strong smell of white powder burst out. Even without bringing it close, Qin Jiao could tell it was the smell of Zui Xin Flower Powder.

The raw material for Zui Xin Flower Powder is Datura. This substance is commonly used in anesthetics. As far as Qin Jiao knew, this powder, like Puzhi grass, could cause hallucinations if overused.

“That day, after the Prince discovered this white powder at the crime scene, he sent me to investigate. After checking at the medical clinic, I learned it was Zui Xin Flower Powder,” Luo Yue explained from beside him.

“So that’s how it is…” Xiao Nianzhang exclaimed in astonishment! No wonder he saw Xie Nai pacing around the crime scene several times that day—he had discovered the Zui Xin Flower Powder.

Xiao Nianzhang suddenly understood, but Qin Jiao was still puzzled, “But I wouldn’t have missed that smell of Zui Xin Flower Powder.”

Just then, the old man who had brought the Puzhi grass spoke, “Young master, you may not know. Besides being toxic, Puzhi grass has another characteristic: strong solvent property. When Puzhi grass is mixed with other drugs or pollen, it overpowers their original smell. It’s very potent.”

“I see.” After the old man’s explanation, Qin Jiao got it.

Good thing Xie Nai was observant and found the Zui Xin Flower Powder at the scene. Otherwise, if he had only smelled the Puzhi grass and gone in the wrong direction, he might have led the investigation astray.

“So it’s clear! The murderer used a poison mixed from Puzhi grass and Zui Xin Flower Powder to make that scholar Xue Lin hallucinate, then killed him and escaped. Then we just stumbled upon it. Simple as that, why all the fuss?”

He Zhao was wearing a blue-green brocade robe today, as flamboyant as a peacock fanning its tail. Fortunately, his striking looks could pull off the outfit. If anyone else had dressed so garishly, Qin Jiao would have gotten a headache from just looking at them.

He Zhao continued, “The three victims must have been killed by the same person. Let’s hurry to Liming Academy and check on that Xue Lin.”

Mid-sentence, He Zhao suddenly changed his tone, “Anyway, I’m innocent. You guys should give me the antidote quickly, or else I’ll…”

“Or else what?”

“I…” He Zhao choked on Qin Jiao’s question, then said indignantly, “What can I do! I’m just a little sparrow that’s just left the nest, can’t even flap my wings. I’ll just keep cooperating with the investigation! I’m already poisoned, it’s not like I can just run away!”

Qin Jiao: …

You’re really flexible. Just now you were so passionate, I thought you were going to go down fighting.

Qin Jiao looked down. His hands had gotten dirty from holding the Puzhi grass, and he didn’t have a handkerchief, so he had to let his hands air-dry, planning to wash them later when things were done.

“Little Master Qin, wipe your hands.” Just as Qin Jiao was thinking about the case, Luo Bei handed him a cloth.

Qin Jiao was startled. Beside him, Luo Yue glanced at Luo Bei too. But Qin Jiao wasn’t one to refuse kindness, so he took the cloth and gave Luo Bei a gentle smile, “Thank you, Guard Luo Bei.”

“You’re welcome, Little Master Qin.”

Thinking back to their first meeting, when he had been quite rude to this young master, Luo Bei felt that this small favor was a way to make amends.

But for some reason, Luo Bei felt a chill on his back.

Strange…

After Qin Jiao wiped his hands clean, he held the cloth in his hand. When he looked up, he saw Xie Nai staring at him.

The young man had a jade-like countenance, and if he looked at someone with deep affection, it was easy to get lost in his gaze. But right now, his eyes were clearly cold.

Qin Jiao: Strange…

He simply ignored it.

Qin Jiao turned to Xiao Nianzhang, “Governor Xiao, do you know where in Nanzhou the most Puzhi grass grows?”

Zui Xin Flower Powder was common, so Qin Jiao thought the case could be approached by starting with the Puzhi grass.

“As luck would have it, the place with the most Puzhi grass in Nanzhou is Liming Academy.” Xiao Nianzhang smiled, but there was a hint of bitterness in it.

Liming Academy was exactly the school where the third victim had studied.

It seemed like there was an unseen guidance, everything was heading in a predetermined direction.

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