Chapter 9, Judgment

Mother, no need for formalities. Please take a good look and see if there is anything unusual in this room

In the center of the room hangs a magnificent palace lantern adorned with colorful tassels. Opposite the bed is an octagonal table, covered with an exquisite Su embroidery tablecloth. On the table is a complete set of Yueqing porcelain tea utensils.

"Young master, that kind of incense cake is usually burned in an incense burner. However, there is actually no incense burner in this room." Mother Cui searched the entire room, anxious and stamping her feet.

Yan Sheng suddenly had a flash of inspiration and said, "There are no signs of a struggle. Not even the chairs have been knocked over"

"Young Master," Yan Sheng entered and reported in a relaxed tone, "I personally saw Master Xue and his party leave through the city gate. The lights have been lit at the dock, and the ship has already departed from Yangzhou."

The Lin family is exceedingly wealthy. They have long been regarded as a prime target by the powerful elite. In light of this incident, whether they can resolve the trouble depends on two possibilities: either the Lin family takes the initiative to capture the assassin and provide an explanation to the Eastern Depot, or it will depend on the appetite of the Eastern Depot supervisor in the palace.

Upon entering, two steps to the wall is a tall table, adorned with a pot of everlasting green bonsai. Beside it stands a display cabinet, showcasing a Suzhou embroidery screen and stone carvings. Opposite is a window. Beneath the large open window is a redwood writing desk, equipped with the four treasures of the study. On the desk, a wide-mouthed round belly porcelain vase holds white lotuses freshly picked from the lake.

Lin Yichuan instantly understood why Park Yinying was powerless to resist: "How long will it take to take effect?"

In comparison, he would rather assist the Eastern Depot in capturing assassins than spend the hard-earned silver to fill the bottomless pit of that Eunuch Tan in the capital

An hour has passed since the assassination. Thinking of this, he felt a sense of urgency: "Call Mama Cui. I always feel that something is off in this room."

Beneath the window lies the Lotus Lake. The slender, emerald green lotus leaves nearly reach the windowsill. Lin Yichuan伸手摸了摸窗台, feeling a faint moisture on his fingertips

Several more lamps were lit in the east wing, illuminating the room as if it were broad daylight

Yan Sheng received the order and left, while Lin Yichuan walked over to the window

Footsteps sounded behind him. Lin Yichuan turned around, and upon seeing him, Mama Cui from the Ninghua Building transformed her habitual sweet smile into a dignified and solemn expression, performing a proper curtsy: "This humble servant greets the young master."

As the moonlight shifted westward, it was indeed the darkest hour before dawn. He thought of his father's serious illness, the predatory gazes of the clan members, and the wolf-like ferocity of the Eastern Depot, and gradually, his deep-set eyes filled with worry.

In order to serve Lord Xue well, Mama Cui personally inspected the arrangement of each room in Yishui Pavilion. Upon a closer look, her expression suddenly changed dramatically: "Young Master, the incense in this room..."

The assassin killed a high-ranking official of the Eastern Depot on the Lin family's territory, dragging the Lin family into the matter. This debt is owed by the assassin to the Lin family

Lin Yichuan had already sensed the fragrance in the room. The white lotus fragrance from the vase on the desk, the faint woody scent of the sandalwood lantern, the aromatic essence emanating from the bedding, and the fragrance released by the burning incense all contributed to the atmosphere.

Seeing that the young master did not inquire about the incense used in the building, Mama Cui let out a slight sigh of relief and replied softly: "As long as one stays in this room for half an hour, it will take effect. If the time spent is short, it will only induce fatigue. If inhaled excessively, the body will become weak. This is a recipe that has come from the palace. It smells like ordinary incense, making it difficult to arouse suspicion. One cake can burn for twelve hours." This is a recipe that has come from the palace. It smells like ordinary incense, making it difficult to arouse suspicion. One cake can burn for twelve hours.

Glancing at the wide-open window, Lin Yichuan let out a sigh of relief. It seemed that the assassin had taken the incense burner with him when he left. As long as it did not fall into the hands of the Eastern Depot, that was good: "Who in the building could possibly obtain such incense cakes?"

Mother Cui paused for a moment and said: "The use of that kind of fragrance in Ninghua Tower is not frequent. I have made it sparingly and have always kept it personally."

Indeed, there were no signs of a struggle in the room. Park Eun-young was also killed with a single blow.

No. He will not go anywhere else. Lin Yichuan quickly made a judgment, "He must be at Bailianfang. Perhaps he is right here in Ninghua Building!"

Once Mother Cui left, Lin Yichuan curled the corners of his lips and let out a cold laugh. Everyone assumed that the assassin would escape through the extensive waterway system. However, there is an insider in the building; does the assassin still need to flee into the lake?

In the room stood a young gentleman, with long eyebrows that met his hairline and an exceptionally handsome face. He was dressed in a sky-blue round-collared long robe embroidered with a hundred cranes. At first glance, the attire appeared simple and elegant. However, when illuminated by the light, the cranes embroidered with silver threads on the robe suddenly became vividly apparent, almost lifelike. A connoisseur would recognize at a glance that the embroidery alone of this long robe was worth a considerable sum.

Perhaps the Eastern Depot guards believe that the assassin's martial arts are too formidable. Lin Yichuan pondered the unusual events of the night and slowly said, "First, Lord Xue did not stay at the residence but moved to the Ninghua Building. Originally, for his safety, I planned to have the Ninghua Building close its doors and serve only him. However, Chief Pu politely declined the Lin family's good intentions. During the banquet at the Yishui Pavilion, Lord Xue was quite pleased with the arrangements here and praised the Lin family for their thoughtfulness. However, after he got drunk in the evening, the guards quietly brought him to the Lançuige where I was staying. They signaled me not to make it public. What does this indicate?"

Tonight, in addition to the Yishui Pavilion arranged for Lord Xue Gong, I will be staying at the Lançuì Pavilion. Among the nine pavilions, there are also six other guests.

In a place like the Fragrant Pavilion, it would be strange if the rooms did not have a pleasant aroma

Understanding her young master's sorrowful tone, she advised, "Young Master, are you really going to help the Eastern Depot investigate the case? Before leaving, they took our banknotes and even threatened us."

Lin Yichuan believes that mhetushu.comcom contains the assassin

Check. If a cake is missing, all the names of those who had the opportunity to take it must be reported. The remaining fragrant cakes must be completely destroyed, and the recipe cannot be kept. It must never be used again in the future. This matter must not be known to a third party. Find someone to clean this room thoroughly

The assassin entered the water, killed Park Eun-young, and then jumped into the lake to escape. How could he be so certain that Park Eun-young was residing here? Was he intending to sneak into Yishui Pavilion from the east wing to assassinate Eunuch Xue, only to encounter Park Eun-young instead? Or was it that the person the assassin was meant to kill was actually Park Eun-young?

How many people in the entire country are not threatened by the Eastern Depot? The Lin family is merely a merchant family. Lin Yichuan said self-deprecatingly, "A person died on the Lin family's territory. The news was concealed with the help of the Lin family. Can the Lin family remain uninvolved? It is likely that the people below are unable to make decisions and have chosen to leave quietly for the time being. The people from the Eastern Depot will not let this go easily. If we do not take the initiative to grasp the clues and capture the assassin, we may be exploited by the Eastern Depot, who will extract every last bit from this matter." It is likely that the people below are unable to make decisions and have chosen to leave quietly for the time being. The people from the Eastern Depot will not let this go easily. If we do not take the initiative to grasp the clues and capture the assassin, we may be exploited by the Eastern Depot, who will extract every last bit from this matter.

I shall attend to this matter immediately

The body of Park Eun-young has been taken away by the Eastern Bureau. If it were not for the collapsed bed in the bedroom and the pool of fresh blood on the floor, it would be hard to believe that a person had died here

Yan Sheng pondered for a moment and said earnestly: "Although the gates of the neighborhood are closed, an assassin with good skills can evade the patrolling guards. The low walls of the neighborhood cannot stop him. The Lianhu Lake is interconnected with various water systems; if he is a good swimmer, it would be difficult for anyone to spot him at night, and escaping into the water would not be hard. There is a significant chance that he could leave the Bai Lian neighborhood and return to his residence in the city."

Lord Xue and his party arrived at the Ninghua Building at the hour of Wei. The Yishui Pavilion was tidied up by noon. The incense was only lit after Mama Cui's inspection.

He pointed at the pile of broken wood and said, "The bed was shattered by a palm strike. Pu Yinying died right where the bed was located. The martial arts of the Eastern Depot's chief are not lacking. Since he was able to smash the bed with a single palm, why did he not raise the alarm upon discovering an assassination attempt and engage in a fight?"

Noticing the faint reproach in his gaze, Yan Sheng realized that she must have been inattentive in her observations, and she began to carefully reassess the room.

"Mother is looking for evidence of the burned incense?" Lin Yichuan's expression changed. He absolutely could not let the people from the Eastern Depot know that there was an insider among the assassins in the Ninghua Tower

The timing is precise; this indicates an internal accomplice. Could it be the miscellaneous servants of the Water Pavilion who are cleaning? Or perhaps a maid who stayed behind to serve? Or could it be others who quietly entered amidst the chaos of the arrangements?

Lord Xue intended to reside in the Ninghua Building. The Lin family was eager to flatter him. The Yishui Pavilion was entirely redecorated. New carpets were laid, and exquisite furniture and decorations were replaced.

"Yan Sheng, where do you think the assassin might be hiding?"

There was no fighting, and there were no other injuries on his body. Could it be that the formidable Pu Yinying, who could crush a bed with a single palm, would foolishly stand there and let someone stab him? Yan Sheng shivered and said, "Unless he was in a different physical state at that time, unable to make a sound or resist"

Lin Yichuan raised his face to look at him and remarked, "Yan Sheng, you are also a martial artist; don't you find this room quite strange"

The head of the Eastern Factory died here. Inside the room, the kind of incense he had concocted was burned again. If the Eastern Factory were to find out, not only would the Ninghua Building be implicated, but the Lin family would also be unable to escape the connection with the assassins. Upon further reflection, Mama Cui turned pale with fear, disregarding the respect due to Lin Yichuan, and directly crossed over him to search the room.

Seeing his young master standing by the pool of fresh blood on the ground, staring intently, Yan Sheng found it somewhat strange. He glanced down at the ground and felt puzzled, thinking that there was nothing new there. He had always admired the young master's keen eyesight and curiously asked, "Young Master, have you discovered something?"

He then thought, if this incense is not burned, does it mean that the assassin is not confident in killing Park Eun-young? If Park Eun-young were to notice the unusual scent in the house, wouldn't that alert him? However, the people from the Eastern Factory are convinced that the assassin possesses exceptional martial arts skills. Are the person they want to capture and the assassin who attempted to kill Park Eun-young the same individual?

The eldest son of the Lin family, Lin Yichuan, remained lost in thought, still staring at the bloodstains on the ground

Lin Yichuan pondered, secretly admiring Park Yinying's skills. Having inhaled so much intoxicating fragrance that could weaken one's body, she still possessed the strength to shatter a bed with a single strike

Eunuch Xue hurriedly left Ninghua Tower with his entourage and the guards from the Eastern Depot. The Lin family's guards quickly took their positions outside Yishui Pavilion

The agents of the Eastern Depot acted with caution; upon discovering the body of Park Eun-young, they did not raise an alarm. The young ladies and servants who were in the pavilion have been sent away. Aside from the Lin family's eldest son, who assisted with the aftermath, and the matron of the Ninghua Building, no one is aware that another murder occurred in the eastern wing of Yishui Pavilion tonight

Lin Yichuan is a businessman. He instinctively calculates gains and losses

Mother Cui mustered her courage to speak the truth: "The girls in the building are disobedient, and sometimes they use that kind of incense... This incense is concocted by myself according to the recipe passed down from the palace. The windows are wide open, yet I can still smell a hint of it."

Yan declared clearly: "The Ninghua Building is not like the official residence guarded by soldiers. Staying at the Ninghua Building does not allow for the rejection of guests; this is deliberately inviting assassins. At night, the Eastern Factory's men have set an ambush in the Yishui Pavilion. Who would have thought that in trying to catch the wild geese, they themselves would be pecked in the eye by the geese? Their leader was killed by the assassin."

It seems that the Eastern Factory is very familiar with this assassin. Not only do they know he will come to carry out the assassination, but they are also aware of his exceptional martial arts skills. Therefore, the Eastern Factory's agents were not surprised that Park Yinying was stabbed to death. Lin Yichuan suddenly thought of something and even laughed, saying, "It is precisely because of this understanding that they overlooked certain matters. With the leader dead, instead of hastily capturing the assassin, they hurriedly left Yangzhou. The people of the Eastern Factory are just like that."