Back Road

The next day is the second day of the Flower Festival. Even if something unexpected happens today, the goal set at the beginning will not change.

After finding the location of "Lu" and getting clues about the plague from him, we can intercept him. The main mission of this trip to Cang County will be completed.

Once the Flower Festival is over, it will be clear which side of the Wu Mi people "Lu" belongs to.

"Let me confirm again, Miss Jiang, have you understood all the tasks assigned to you after the Flower Dynasty Conference?"

The clues in Cang County are numerous and complicated, and all parties are unfamiliar to Jiang Nian, a newcomer.

Even if the clues are completely synchronized, the mind will be confused after receiving so much information at once in the past few days.

Jiang Nian casually flipped through the notebook on the table.

This notebook was originally used to record information to prevent omissions, but now it has become her "review questions".

After her eyes glanced over the keywords above, she was silent for a few seconds, connecting the existing ideas in her mind together, reasoning back and forth, and nodded after confirming that they were correct.

"Um."

"but……"

Before Qin Lan spoke, Jiang Nian smiled lightly.

"To prevent any misunderstanding, let me repeat it again."

—

From Pingzhou to Cangjun, the most important task along the way.

"Lu" refers to the people who provide the raw materials for this epidemic.

And the goddess is the leader of the epidemic.

She is the person among the Wu Mi people who is most likely to be able to contact "Lu".

Once we find "Lu", we can naturally follow the clues he gives and learn the detailed geographical location of the unknown plant -

In order to solve the epidemic at its source, calm the people's mood, avoid unnecessary social unrest, and solve the "supernatural events" in the mines in Qixia Mountain.

Once the mine issue was resolved, the problem of missing raw materials for the insect repellent that Jiang Nian needed to develop could also be solved at the same time.

The historical time of Huandu was unknown to Jiang Nian, and the geographical location of the continent in this era was different from the period in which she lived.

However, judging from the books in the previous library, the location of the mine in Qixia Mountain actually overlaps with the location of the mine she knew a thousand years later.

Then, if we follow this path, we might find the location of a mine that is not currently marked on the map but was discovered in later generations. Perhaps we can also...

Jiang Nian looked at the plant specimen again.

But the plant is a problem.

For some unknown reason, it is different from the purpose used in later generations.

Rather than treating patients, it can be used as raw material to spread the epidemic.

To her, the plant looked more like "mineral grass."

The point where "mineral grass" grows is near the Qixia Mountain mine.

If we catch "Lu" later, maybe we can ask him about the other locations of this "mineral grass".

After all, he is the one who is specifically responsible for transporting this plant to Donglan, so it is impossible that he only knows this one location.

Recalling that the Wu Mi people's nests in Huandu were mainly distributed next to Qixia Mountain, Jiang Nian became a little uncertain again.

Is it because she has recently come into personal contact with the strange and bizarre things that the Wu Mi people use to deal with their enemies, and even she has developed a stereotype about them?

For example, discovering and excavating mines that are unknown even to the country at this time.

…

It's just a fantasy after all.

In this era, she is the only time traveler needed.

—

Jiang Nian quickly sorted out his words, gathered his thoughts, and said seriously, "Tomorrow at the Flower Festival, I will follow the Fifth Prince like Ai did, and observe if there is anyone nearby who fits the identity of 'Lu'."

"Those soldiers who were innocently conscripted by the Fifth Prince will be led away by He's men when Princess Qingping comes to persuade the Fifth Prince again."

There is a shortage of patrol personnel in Cang County, and these people can just fill the resource gap.

The Huachao Club is guarded by Meng Yao's trusted subordinates during the day and night. The best time to "undermine" is when Meng Yao is present.

In order to protect their fragile Fifth Prince, who is neither good at civil nor military affairs, the personal guards will transform into a human flesh wall to isolate the nobles from close contact with Meng Yao when Meng Yao is surrounded by nobles.

Then again, it really does feel like a fan meeting.

Jiang Nian paused for a moment and continued, "However, are you really not going to track down the thief Ai encountered on his way back?"

Qin Lan glanced at Ai.

Ai Zhi would talk a little more in front of Jiang Nian, making him seem more like a lively person.

In front of this cheap "father", he is very frugal with words.

Not a word more to say.

Now that Jiang Nian showed some concern for Ai unintentionally, Qin Lan inexplicably felt a little sad and aggrieved.

"...Ahem." Coming back to his senses, Qin Lan tapped the table and said, "I've already sent troops to investigate. No one who appeared in the Huachao Club will be left out."

If the thieves are just making a pretext and are actually on the other side, then their hidden identities will be exposed.

Although he didn't pretend to be a doctor during the time he was in Cang County, it was still necessary to cover up this mask that could barely conceal his identity.

After a while, no matter how slow the Wu Mi people were, someone finally reacted.

Jiang Nian nodded and moved his gaze to Xiao Yingzhu.

He was leaning his head lazily at the moment, and at first glance seemed indifferent to the evening's conversation.

Such neglectful behavior has occurred many times in conversations. Those who are not aware of the situation just regard him as an insignificant marginal character, and at most make excessive assumptions about his handsome face.

Little did they know that he was the core of the group that gathered these people for the talk show.

It's just that I speak less.

It seems that he can just wait until everyone has finished reasoning before making a conclusion.

The main function is to make up for the missing content.

Jiang Nian hesitated for a moment, but still read out his name.

"...Xiao Yingzhu, is there anything else you want to add?"

It would be too difficult to call him "Duke Xiao", as it would feel awkward and pretentious.

It would be just right to call him by his full name.

How strange.

Hearing Jiang Nian calling him, Xiao Yingzhu shifted his gaze and turned to look at her.

Chen Mo's pupils are deep yet pure.

Without any emotion mixed in.

He looked as if he didn't care at all about the previous private conflict between the two of them.

But it was this careless and unpredictable look that made Jiang Nian feel more and more uncomfortable.

Because they are too far apart.

Even if she tried her best, she couldn't escape his net.

The more indifferent you look, the more resentful you become.

Jiang Nian blinked, suppressed the unhappiness rising in his heart, and maintained a gentle smile on his face.

When there are other people around, you still have to be decent.

Xiao Yingzhu looked at Jiang Nian's face for a moment, caught the fleeting stiffness, chuckled, and looked away casually.

Qin Lan, a tired worker who smelled something wrong, suddenly lit up his eyes and turned to look at Ai, with an extremely excited colon appearing on his head.

Ai received the message, looked away without changing his expression, and politely declined the gossip link.

"A fourth party will appear in Huachao."

Xiao Yingzhu interrupted some people's private desertion and said calmly: "Investigate the goddess's subordinates."

The bag of powder extracted by Jiang Nian on the table jumped for a moment due to the slight vibration from the outside world.

The blood-red color floated in the paper bag for a moment, then settled into dust.

Jiang Nian paused and looked at the bag of powder on the table.

"Weren't the people who took Miss Zhizhou away from Shichan Hall and dismissed the other nobles Meng Yao's men?"

In order to avoid lowering his credibility in front of the nobles, Meng Yao specially borrowed this underworld material that could make people unconscious from the Wu Mi people, and then ordered his men to secretly use the prefect's daughter as a shield to guard against invaders, which was also a backup plan.

This is the conclusion they just agreed upon.

Xiao Yingzhu glanced at the powder nonchalantly, tilted her head and curled her lips without any interest.

"It's just a smokescreen."

"During this period, Commander Shi Tongxi has been setting up chess pieces around the goddess. In order to find inner peace, she will naturally come to the Flower Festival."

Even after controlling Cang County for so many years, he would still be afraid that a tiny pawn would shake his foundation.

The goddess is a symbol of obsession.

Jiang Nian stared at Xiao Yingzhu's almost indifferent expression for a moment. When she wanted to catch that illusory emotion, Xiao Yingzhu's expression had already returned to its usual indifferent state.

There was no longer any gap to peek through.

The emotional stiffness between them made Jiang Nian feel like a thorn in her throat. Even though Xiao Yingzhu's words were concise and clear, she was still confused because she didn't have all the information.

In the end, I had no choice but to lower my eyes and nodded slightly.

"Understood."

The topic stopped here, and there was a subtle silence all around.

As usual, Qin Lan did not speak to ease the atmosphere as he did before. He tapped the table thoughtfully, thinking about something.

Meng Zheng, who only relied on the pendant to make connections but didn't know anything about their past, slowly withdrew his gaze and said meaningfully:

"If you are unhappy, Miss Jiang, can you change your mission and work with me?"

The eldest princess is connected with the bishop, and some of the bishop's remnants are mixed in with the Wu Mi people.

Even if it is not openly related to the goddess, various clues are intertwined, and the "epidemic" that connects everything will not change.

If we continue investigating along Meng Zheng's line, we might be able to find the "mineral grass" and then obtain the minerals.

Meng Zheng doesn't mind helping Emperor Changde alleviate some of the troubles he is facing now.

Jiang Nian only felt her eyes a little dry, and she smiled at Meng Zheng in the clear and cold fragrance.

"Thank you for your kindness, Fourth Prince. However, I also need Duke Xiao's assistance, so I dare not accept your gift."

Not surprised that Jiang Nian would reject him, Meng Zheng curled his eyes and stopped trying to persuade her. He just circled the pendant he had been holding in his hand and wrapped it around his fingertips.

I felt like Meng Zheng had something to say to me.

Jiang Nian looked away from his slender fingertips. Meng Zheng's interruption made her think of Shou Zan, who had traveled to this era before her.

Did Shouzan eventually die in this era, or did he return to his original era?

If we follow the route Meng Zheng wants to investigate, we may be able to find out some information that we cannot find from Xiao Yingzhu.

After all, compared to Xiao Yingzhu's connection with Shou Zan, Meng Zheng's connection with Shou Zan is obviously deeper.

Xiao Yingzhu would not specifically investigate Shou Zan just for the sake of her mother's friend, but Meng Zheng would.

Shou Zan is inseparable from all matters related to the eldest princess.

Qin Lan, who was sitting next to him, collected his thoughts and divided the next actions into more detailed categories.

But since the focus was on Meng Yao's patrol guards and had little to do with what she needed to know, Jiang Nian didn't listen carefully, but only occasionally took a pen and wrote a few words in the notebook.

The words on the same page gradually increased, and my mind also wandered to the sky.

If they finally got a good ending, Liangdu Pharmacy could operate normally and get back on track.

Then she has to consider whether to stay or leave.

Apart from the main task at hand, she should also look into the matter of time travel.