Plotting with You: The Forensic Scientist in Ancient Times!-Chapter 278 - 277: Wasting Affection

The group left the Jia Family and returned to the Prince Mansion.

Along the way, Zhu Cheng was very silent, looking as if lost in thought. Neither Zhu Yu nor Lu Qing spoke, and once they returned to the Prince Shuo Mansion, Zhu Yu went straight back to Li Garden.

Yan Daoxin didn’t specifically inquire about Zhu Yu and Lu Qing’s plans, but from their previous conversation, it seemed clear that they didn’t see eye to eye.

After returning to Li Garden, he didn’t make any noise. He directly went to help Zhu Cheng prepare the medicine that would cause Pang Yuzhen to break out in red rashes.

Lu Qing accompanied Zhu Yu back to the room. Watching Zhu Yu close the door and start packing, he couldn’t hide the smile in his eyes.

"Madam, where do you plan to go?" He asked, pretending not to know the answer.

"Leave, return to Jin Country." Zhu Yu casually folded a few pieces of clothing and piled them together. "Although my eldest brother is not reliable, my second brother is keeping an eye on the canal project, so nothing major should go wrong.

We’ve done all we could, whether for my father or the people of Shuo Land. We’ve fulfilled our duty. The rest is up to fate!

There’s no need for us to linger here further; we should return quickly to avoid unforeseen complications."

"No rush, let’s wait a bit. I feel there are still some things we can do to help here." Lu Qing walked over, sat beside her, and took the clothes Zhu Yu had packed out again.

"What are you doing!" Zhu Yu angrily held onto the clothes, not letting Lu Qing take them out. "Didn’t you see my father’s reaction today?

Surely, you don’t still hold any illusions at this point? I don’t think you’re that naive.

My father is still unwilling to decisively sever ties with the Pang Family, remaining indecisive, wanting to have it both ways, and he’s doomed not to be the kind of ally you want.

If so, why waste our emotions here?"

"Don’t be impulsive." Lu Qing held Zhu Yu’s hand along the hem of the clothes they each held onto. "I know you and I are of one mind.

You’ve lost faith in your father, but surely you still have faith in me?

If you don’t think I’m that naive, why do you have no confidence in my plans?

Your father’s decision was wrong, but he’s not entirely wrong when he says the Zhu Family and the Pang Family are deeply intertwined.

Making a clean break with the Pang Family isn’t easy.

Many things remain uncertain until the last moment.

Stay patient and positive, I know what I’m doing."

Since Lu Qing said so, Zhu Yu’s earlier anger gradually calmed down under his patient persuasion. She nodded, "Fine, I don’t trust them, but I trust you."

"Then rest well today. Tomorrow we’ll go see those people in the prison." As Lu Qing spoke, he heard a rumble, and laughed, "Your father gave us no face today, but he’ll surely make up for it elsewhere.

I bet tonight’s dinner will be quite lavish."

Sure enough, Lu Qing was spot on.

Zhu Cheng likely felt guilty for having his daughter and son-in-law do so much for him while he still protected the Pang Family in every way, leaving them cold. Whether from familial consideration or recalling his son-in-law is Prince Xiaoyao, he felt the need to save face. The dinner sent to Li Garden that evening was as sumptuous as hosting a distinguished guest.

The table was full of elaborate dishes, both meat and vegetarian, exquisite in color, aroma, and taste, even down to the finely crafted desserts.

Besides these, there was even a jar of aged wine.

But Lu Qing didn’t drink; he just opened it to smell.

Yan Daoxin poured some into his own wine gourd, keeping it to use as a medicinal guide in the future.

Yan Shu didn’t know what happened after they went out but was delighted to see the feast laid out, enjoying the meal heartily.

"Did you eat well at Prince Yi Mansion before you ran away?" Zhu Yu couldn’t help asking when she saw Yan Shu eating so contentedly.

Due to the customs of Shuo Country, nothing there was particularly exquisite, whether in food, clothing, or conduct.

So this meal may be considered a culinary masterpiece by the chefs of the Prince Shuo Mansion, fit to entertain any noble guests in Shuo Land.

But overall, it still couldn’t compare to Jin Country.

Not to mention if the chefs at Prince Xiaoyao Mansion tried their best, it would surely surpass this by far. Even the signature dishes of Yunyin Pavilion’s chefs were more impressive than these.

As Prince Yi, the most prestigious among the princes, everything in Lu Zhang’s mansion would be more exquisite than others.

Yet, Yan Shu’s satisfied expression wasn’t just because of the hardships of the journey.

"Just passable." Mentioning Lu Zhang, Yan Shu’s mood soured, "That Lu Zhang wasn’t even around, and his servants, though they dared not treat us blatantly poorly, were dismissive.

The longer Lu Zhang was away, the more perfunctory the food became.

But to say they deprived us, every meal included vegetables and meat, several types, just utterly bland and tasteless, bad enough to be inedible."

"Why didn’t you exert your authority as the mansion’s head? As the Princess Yi, bestowed by imperial decree, who’d dare challenge you for disciplining a few unruly servants?" Zhu Yu asked.

"I didn’t want to! As long as I don’t starve, food’s just food to fill the stomach!" Yan Shu snorted disdainfully. "I’ll not act under the name of Princess Yi!

A man who looks down on me and my Jie people—claiming the status of his wife is beneath me!"

Hearing this, Zhu Yu was unsure whether to laugh or sigh.

On the bright side, with the relationship between Yan Shu and Lu Zhang so poor, the Jie King might not be a staunch ally of Lu Zhang.

So while Lu Qing couldn’t gain the support of Shuo Country, Lu Zhang also couldn’t completely secure Jie Country, maintaining a balance.

But after these few days, she sincerely liked Yan Shu, finding her straightforwardness endearing.

Yet, such a woman, at odds with Lu Zhang, and bound by an imperial decree, unable to escape, was truly lamentable.

These matters can only unfold gradually.

Not just Yan Shu; aren’t they all feeling their way forward?

With this thought, Zhu Yu set aside her emerging sympathy, deciding to worry about others once she and Lu Qing were secure.