A single spark can start a prairie fire
Zhou Yu's words were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake.
The words "Soul-Separating Grass" came out of his mouth clearly and steadily, carrying an undeniable insight. He not only knew about the palace banquet murder case, but also the details of the key evidence! This meant that this Jiangdong governor, who had come from afar, had a much deeper understanding of the undercurrents in Chang'an than they had imagined.
Yi Xing felt a chill run down his spine, but his face remained impassive. His calm eyes grew even deeper, as if they could absorb all light. He didn't immediately press for answers, but waited for Zhou Yu to continue. At this moment, whoever lost their composure first would lose the initiative.
Zhou Yu looked at Yi Xing with appreciation for his composure, which was far beyond his years. He picked up the slightly warm teacup on the small table next to him, took a sip, and cast his gaze toward the vast expanse of Qujiang Pool, as if he were organizing his thoughts.
“Yu has been learning the zither since childhood and also has some knowledge of medicine and pharmacology.” He spoke slowly, his voice flowing like the sound of a zither. “‘Soul-Separating Grass’ is extremely cold in nature. It must grow in a place where there is something blazing with yang energy to counteract it in order to maintain a delicate balance. If its pollen is separated from its roots for more than twelve hours, its toxicity will gradually dissipate. Therefore, to be able to use this poison in Chang’an, the murderer must have set up a secret base in the city to cultivate this grass. Moreover, this base must be able to simulate its native environment, which is definitely not something that can be done in an ordinary courtyard.”
This information is crucial! It narrows the search scope from the vague "source" to a specific "location" within Chang'an City that meets certain special conditions.
“A dark room may nurture poisonous weeds, but it can never imprison the spark of seeking the truth; just as darkness may shroud Chang’an, it cannot prevent dawn from arriving as scheduled.”
Zhou Yu's voice wasn't loud, yet it carried a power that penetrated the heart. His words not only clarified the direction of the investigation but also contained a righteous spirit of unwavering faith in the light and fearlessness in the face of hardship.
Yi Xing was slightly moved, sensing a certain resonance in his words. He pondered for a moment and said, "What the Governor said has enlightened me. However, with a million people in Chang'an and markets spread out like a chessboard, finding such a place is like looking for a needle in a haystack."
Zhou Yu turned around, his gaze returning to Yi Xing, his eyes sharpening slightly: "What if we add another condition? This herb requires flowing water to cultivate, and the water must be somewhat salty, like... a seaside place."
Seashore waters! Chang'an is an inland city; where would it get seashore waters? Unless…
“Unless it’s water from the Tongji Canal that has been specially treated?” Yang Yuhuan interjected softly from the side. She was well-versed in medicine and immediately thought of a possibility, “Or… it’s 'saltwater' from the ballast of some overseas merchant ships?”
Zhou Yu gave Yang Yuhuan an approving look: "Miss Yang is indeed quick-witted. That's right, that's the key. To be able to obtain this kind of 'saltwater' steadily and reliably without attracting attention, and to have enough space to set up such a hidden medicinal garden..." He paused slightly, leaving a meaningful silence.
Several possible locations flashed through Yi Xing's mind in an instant—the government warehouse in charge of the canal transport? The private residence of a royal merchant who stockpiled rare overseas treasures? Or... the embassy of a certain country with close ties to the East China Sea?
"Clues are like pieces in a game of chess. When scattered, they are just isolated pieces, but with logic as the warp and weft and courage as the playing hand, they can be connected to form a powerful force, paving the way to the truth."
Yi Xing said softly. This sentence was both a summary of the clues provided by Zhou Yu and an explanation of his own methodology for dealing with complex situations. It was full of the power of rationality and conviction.
A bright light shone in Zhou Yu's eyes. He clapped his hands and laughed, "What a wonderful 'connecting dots to form a pattern, laying out a star map'! Young Master Yixing, this is excellent!" His gaze toward Yixing had completely transformed from admiration to the respect of considering him a confidant.
“However,” Zhou Yu’s smile faded, his tone turning grave, “while the clues are clear, the perpetrators are not to be trifled with. Their schemes are meticulous, their methods ruthless, and they operate in the shadows. Young Master, being involved in this, you must be extremely careful.” He paused, then casually added, “I recently heard that among a batch of tribute sent by the Protectorate of the Western Regions, there were several strangely shaped mechanical artifacts mixed in. They seem… to have some connection to the craftsmanship of Master Lu Ban, yet they are ambiguous, exuding a sinister aura.”
Master Lu Ban? Mechanical devices?
Yi Xing's heart skipped a beat. This was yet another new direction! Could it be that the murderer was not only highly skilled in poisons but also an expert in mechanisms? This seemed to match the perfectly replicated fabric and the ingenious methods used to poison the victim!
Zhou Yu's visit today, seemingly just to play a game of chess, has inadvertently revealed several crucial pieces of information: the cultivation conditions for the "Soul-Separating Grass," the source of the saltwater, and clues about the mechanism. This "greeting gift" is undeniably significant.
"General's words today are like the sun breaking through the clouds; I, Yi Xing, am deeply grateful." Yi Xing solemnly cupped his hands in greeting. Regardless of Zhou Yu's motives, this information was undoubtedly a timely help for Yao Tian.
Zhou Yu accepted the greeting with a smile and said, "Friends are those who share the same ideals, but true friends are hard to find. I have only done my bit." He stood up and straightened his robes. "My interest in chess has waned for today, and that's all I have to say. Take care, young master. If you need anything, you can find me at the post station in Wu with this item."
He left behind a small jade pendant engraved with flame and flowing water patterns, placing it beside the chessboard. Then, he nodded slightly to Yang Yuhuan and gracefully departed, his figure disappearing into the willow shade by the Qujiang Pool as if he had never existed.
Inside the waterside pavilion, only lingering echoes remain, along with an unfinished game of chess, several crucial clues, and two proverbs that can illuminate the path of the lost.
Yang Yuhuan pushed Yi Xing's wheelchair and slowly left the open pavilion. In the distance, on a high pavilion, Gongsun Li leaped down gracefully; in the shadows of the trees, Pei Qinhu appeared and gathered around.
"Xing'er, how is it?" Pei Qinhu asked anxiously.
Yi Xing gripped the warm jade pendant in his hand, raised his eyes to look at the rows of rooftops and streets of Chang'an, his gaze seemingly trying to penetrate the layers of rubble and reach the deepest darkness.
“We have a direction,” he said softly, the autumn wind ruffling the stray hairs on his forehead, revealing his eyes, firm as stars beneath.
"Truth is never afraid of darkness, because it is itself the light that can penetrate the gloom."
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