Bait hanging hook
Following that successful gathering, the reputation of the Jinxiu Poetry Society spread like spring rain, quietly spreading through the capital's select inner circles. Lu Qinglan wasn't eager to host a second gathering, fully aware of the principle that scarcity makes things valuable, thus whetting everyone's appetite. She instead turned her attention to the investigation of the poisoned wine from her previous life.
The clues were slim, like searching for a needle in a haystack. But she remembered one extremely subtle clue: in her previous life, when Su Yueming offered the cup of wine, a faint, almost imperceptible, strange, cold fragrance stained her fingertips. That aroma, unlike the warm, sweet floral scents commonly found in the palace, carried a hint of herbal bitterness and a woody, heavy, tinge of nerves.
Drawing on her memory, she meticulously described the scent to Fu Yu, asking her to secretly seek out expert perfumers or herbal medicine shops in the capital to uncover its origins. At the same time, she quietly began compiling her memories of those close to Xiao Jingche in the final years of her past life, potentially involved in the coup. The Empress Dowager's maternal family, several powerful royal uncles, and... the mysterious sorcerer Xuanji, who had rapidly risen to prominence after Xiao Jingche ascended the throne, replacing Gu Zhao as the new emperor's trusted advisor.
This person's origins were a mystery, but he was proficient in Taoism and alchemy, earning him immense favor in Xiao Jingche's later years. In her previous life, she hadn't paid much attention to outsiders, but now, thinking about this person's strange appearance and swift rise, did he also play a dishonorable role in the purge against her?
That day, she was contemplating the list in her study when Fu Yu quietly walked in with a strange look on her face. "Miss, we've found some clues about the scent you asked me to find."
"Oh?" Lu Qinglan raised his eyes.
Fu Yu whispered, "I visited several well-established incense shops, but they all said they had never smelled such a strange fragrance. Later, through Chen Xing, I contacted an old merchant who often traveled to the Western Regions. He said... he said the smell was a bit like a rare flower called 'Ice Soul Roland' grown on the snowy mountains of the Western Regions. It's a secret ointment made with several cold-region medicinal herbs. It's extremely rare and not commonly found in the Central Plains. And..."
She paused, then lowered her voice, "The old merchant said that many years ago, he smelled a similar scent on the steward of the outer residence of a prominent figure in the capital, but he didn't pay much attention to it at the time."
"A prominent figure? Do you know who it is?" Lu Qinglan's heartstrings tightened.
Fu Yu shook his head. "The merchant was tight-lipped, only vaguely saying they were 'royal relatives' and refusing to elaborate. However, he did mention that the manager's surname was Hu and that he was missing a little finger on his left hand."
Ice Soul Roland? Royal relatives? Manager Hu with missing fingers?
These fragmented clues, like scattered pearls, couldn't be connected yet. But Lu Qinglan had a vague feeling that she had touched the tip of the iceberg of a vast conspiracy. The exotic fragrance of the Western Regions, the royal family... the forces involved were perhaps more complex and intertwined than she had imagined.
"Continue the investigation. The focus is on that Manager Hu and... the royal relatives who have had close ties between the capital and the Western Regions in recent years," Lu Qinglan instructed. "Be extremely careful. It's better to be slow than to alert the enemy."
"yes."
After finishing the business, Fu Yu presented another visiting card: "Miss, Miss Yueming from the Su family has sent a card, saying that she has long admired your talent and name, and sincerely requests an audience." The card was written in humble terms, with beautiful handwriting, and carried a sense of cautious sincerity.
Lu Qinglan looked at the post, a cold arc curling up at the corner of his lips. The fish finally came, smelling the bait.
In her previous life, Su Yueming had come into her sight shortly after she married into the Seventh Prince's mansion, thanks to a brilliant poem she'd stumbled upon and her "accidental" appreciation. In this life, her fame was beginning to rise, and she had founded the Jinxiu Poetry Society. How could someone as intelligent and determined as Su Yueming, so determined to rise up, possibly resist?
"Tell her I'll see her at Tingyuxuan tomorrow afternoon."
"Miss, do you really want to see her?" Fu Yu was a little worried. Although she had not experienced the pain of betrayal in her previous life, she could empathize with her from the occasional coldness that the young lady showed.
"Why not?" Lu Qinglan's eyes were deep. "It's better to keep her under my nose than to let her stay in the dark and not know which boat she'll climb onto. Besides... she's still useful."
The next afternoon, Su Yueming arrived on time.
Today she wore a moon-white skirt, half new and half worn, a bit bleached from washing, but perfectly starched. Her hair was meticulously combed, pinned with a single silver hairpin. She wore nothing valuable, but her delicate figure only served to accentuate her beauty. Her features, especially her autumn-water eyes, held just the right amount of timidity, admiration, and reluctance, easily inspiring pity and protective desire in others.
"I am Su Yueming, a commoner, and I pay my respects to Miss Lu." She bowed gracefully, with a very humble attitude.
"Miss Su, please stand up. No need to be so polite." Lu Qinglan sat upright in the main seat and accepted her greeting before offering her a small helping hand. His tone was gentle yet distant. "I've long heard of Miss Su's talent. Seeing her today, I can see that she is indeed elegant and refined."
Su Yueming stood up, bowed his head, and spoke softly, "Miss Lu, you are so kind. My family has fallen on hard times, and I have only a limited knowledge of literature. How could I dare to be called a 'talented person'? Miss Lu, on the other hand, is unrivaled in character, beauty, and talent in the capital, and she is also kind-hearted and skilled. I have admired you for a long time, and it is truly a great honor for me to meet you today."
Her words were sincere and her attitude was humble, playing the role of an admirer to perfection.
Lu Qinglan sneered inwardly, but kept a straight face. "Miss Su, you're being too modest. I heard you recently wrote a poem called "Ode to the Chrysanthemum." The line, 'I'd rather die embracing my fragrance on the branch than be blown away by the north wind,' is so awe-inspiring and impressive."
A hint of surprise and emotion flashed across Su Yueming's eyes at the right moment: "My humble work can actually win the favor of the young lady. Yueming... Yueming is really overwhelmed." As she spoke, her eyes turned slightly red, as if she remembered the hardships of her family's decline, but she forced herself not to cry, which made her look even more pitiful.
Lu Qinglan watched her performance quietly. In his previous life, he had been deceived by this pitiful appearance, yet concealed a strong and proud character. He believed she was a promising talent and carefully promoted her. However, he had no idea that beneath this pride, there was a ruthless and ambitious mind.
"Life is full of ups and downs. Miss Su has such talent, there is no need to underestimate herself." Lu Qinglan said in a flat tone, motioned her to sit down, and ordered the maid to serve tea.
After chatting about poetry for a few sentences, Lu Qinglan changed the subject and casually mentioned, "Speaking of which, our Jinxiu Poetry Society is in need of a sister like Miss Su who is proficient in writing and can understand the sufferings of the world. I wonder if Miss Su would be willing to come to the society in her free time to help organize some poems and record interesting stories from the gatherings? It would be a kind of entertainment."
Upon hearing this, Su Yueming suddenly raised his head, his eyes bursting with incredible ecstasy, but then quickly suppressed it, turning it into gratitude and fear: "This... Yueming is of low status, how dare I..."
"In the poetry club, talent is what counts, not background." Lu Qinglan interrupted her, his tone full of unquestionable certainty, "What I value is your talent and character."
Su Yueming immediately stood up and bowed deeply again, his voice choked with sobs: "Miss, your kindness will never be forgotten! I will do my best to live up to your high expectations!"
She acted very grateful, as if Lu Qinglan had given her great grace.
Lu Qinglan accepted her greeting calmly, her heart icy. She knew Su Yueming's gratitude might be genuine, but more than that, it was a chance to connect with the powerful and change her fate. And she wanted that same eagerness to "seize the opportunity."
After chatting for a while, Su Yueming thanked him profusely and left.
Watching her disappear at the end of the corridor, Fu Yu couldn't help but ask, "Miss, if you let her into the poetry club, aren't you inviting a wolf into the house?"
"Wolf?" Lu Qinglan chuckled, his fingertips brushing across the strings, producing a monotonous note. "A wolf in the open is always easier to control than a snake hiding in the dark. Give her a ladder that looks high, and she'll desperately climb up. But she can't yet tell who holds the other end of the ladder."
She needed Su Yueming as a tool to stir up some trouble that she couldn't personally deal with. For example, Miss Sun, whose father worked in the Ministry of Personnel and had flirted with Xiao Jingche, or the daughters of officials who relied on the power of other princes and often acted strangely in the poetry club.
To maintain his position and curry her favor, Su Yueming would naturally go to great lengths to deal with these people. She, on the other hand, could simply sit back and relax, occasionally offering a little "trust" and "resources."
"Have someone keep an eye on her. Who she contacts, what she says, and especially... whether she's secretly trying to find out about the Seventh Prince or Prime Minister Gu. Everything must be recorded."
"yes."
The bait has been dropped and the hook is hanging.
Lu Qinglan walked to the window and looked at the pomegranate flowers blooming in the courtyard. They were as red as flames, and also like... blood.
Su Yueming, in this life, you'd better be a useful knife. Otherwise, I don't mind letting you experience in advance what it means to hide the bow after the bird is dead.
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