Chapter 10 The two had just gotten married
Lu Yuan's expression remained unchanged. "What is it?"
A short while later, the items were brought up.
It was a box containing a dozen or so small incense balls, all round and exquisite, each one the same size, and covered with a thin layer of gold leaf, which shimmered with a luxurious light under the sun.
Jiang Zhi stepped forward and fanned herself with her hand to smell it, her eyes immediately lighting up.
It really was it; it smelled exactly the same as the scent she had detected outside the meditation room that night!
She nodded to Lu Yuan.
Lu Yuan also took one out, held it to his nose and sniffed it lightly. He found the fragrance to be rich and sweet, making his heart flutter and his mouth dry.
His expression changed slightly, "This is..."
Shopkeeper Fu gave a knowing smile, "Exactly what you want, young master."
"This item is called Qiluo Incense. In the Western Regions, where customs are open, young couples or newlyweds would light this incense before making love to enhance their passion and enjoy a blissful and tender experience."
"I guess you two are newly married and a little reserved in your sex life. This item is the best way to enhance your relationship and make you love each other deeply."
Shopkeeper Fu leaned closer mysteriously, saying, "However, this incense is strong and its medicinal effects are long-lasting. You must not use more than one at a time, otherwise your wife will not be able to handle it, and it will also be detrimental to your offspring. Please remember this."
Her words were so blunt that even Lu Yuan, with his vast experience and calm demeanor, couldn't help but stiffen slightly as he held the incense ball in his hand.
A wave of restlessness spread from his fingertips throughout his body, causing his chest to feel uncontrollably hot and swollen.
This fragrance is incredibly potent.
His Adam's apple bobbed as he steadied himself and calmly placed the incense balls back into the enamel box.
Jiang Zhi didn't react much.
It was just aphrodisiac incense; she'd seen plenty of that in brothels.
However, since she is not yet married, she cannot appear too calm.
So she feigned shyness and turned away, asking, "Does this fragrant pill really have such effects? Who has bought it before?"
Shopkeeper Fu said, "This incense has only recently been introduced from the Western Regions. Those who come to buy it are all women who want to keep their lovers' hearts, but you two are the first couple to do so."
Lu Yuan felt his mouth was dry, so he drank the tea in his hand in one gulp before speaking, "We... my husband and I would like to know if it is really that magical. Please tell us the specific identity and name of the buyer."
"This... please forgive me for not being able to tell you," Manager Fu said apologetically. "Our shop rules stipulate that we cannot reveal the identity of any customer, otherwise our shop will not be able to continue operating."
Lu Yuan didn't waste any words, directly taking out his Imperial Guard badge and throwing it on the table. "Can you talk now?"
Shopkeeper Fu was startled when she saw the waist tag, and almost dropped the brocade box in her hand. "This, sir, our shop has always operated in an upright manner, and the spices are registered with the government with official documents. We have never committed any crimes!"
“That’s why I asked you privately,” Lu Yuan glanced at her coldly, “If you don’t tell me now, I’ll have to have my men come in and arrest you directly.”
If the Imperial Guards come in and search our premises, how can we open for business?
Shopkeeper Fu dared not hide anything any longer. "Sir, to be honest, this spice shop only received this last month, and it's very expensive. A respectable young lady wouldn't use this kind, so we only sold two boxes. One box went to the concubine in Earl Zhongqin's mansion, and the other box..."
Shopkeeper Fu recalled, "The other box was bought by a maid who said that her master needed it. I didn't know her identity."
"Is there anything special about that maid's attire?" Lu Yuan asked.
Shopkeeper Fu shook her head. "She was dressed plainly, her clothes had no embroidery, and the jewelry she wore was something that could be bought anywhere from a roadside stall."
Manager Fu deals with women in the inner quarters all year round, and even she can't tell their identities, so it would be very difficult to find them.
Lu Yuan thought for a moment, then put his index finger to his lips and let out a short whistle.
Soon someone knocked on the door and came in, "What are your orders, sir?"
“Draw a portrait according to Manager Fu’s description,” Lu Yuan said.
"yes."
His subordinate was an exceptionally skilled painter, adept at drawing portraits of suspects based on eyewitness accounts. Every time someone was arrested, the portraits were almost identical to his.
Before long, he presented the portrait to Lu Yuan, as instructed by Manager Fu.
"Please take a look, sir."
Lu Yuan took the portrait. The woman in the portrait had an ordinary appearance and was not the type that people would remember at first glance.
"Take these down and make several copies. Have the spies in the department search for them secretly. Do not make a big fuss, lest you alert them."
The subordinate immediately obeyed and withdrew.
Seeing Lu Yuan's extraordinary presence, Manager Fu knew he must be at least a commander of a thousand in the Embroidered Uniform Guard, so she couldn't help but want to curry favor with him.
"I was blind and didn't recognize your identity, sir," Manager Fu said with a smile, handing the enamel brocade box to Lu Yuan. "I'll take this box and the silk incense as my apology. I hope you won't find it offensive."
Lu Yuan glanced at the enamel box and said, "No need. I am not married yet and have no need for this."
"Forgive my poor eyesight, but it turns out you two are not yet married," Manager Fu thought Lu Yuan was just being polite. "Then it will be even more useful. When you two are on your wedding night, burn this incense to enhance your love and ensure a harmonious and happy married life, and a hundred years of love."
Lu Yuan gave her a strange look.
Jiang Zhi also felt helpless. "Manager Fu, we have nothing to do with each other. You can go now."
She was terrified that if Manager Fu said anything more, Lu Yuan would draw his knife and kill her.
Shopkeeper Fu opened her mouth, but when she saw Lu Yuansen's cold gaze, she finally realized that she had been thinking wrong all along.
From the moment she entered, she saw the two men, a handsome couple, and assumed they were very close. It turned out they had been faking their marriage from the start, and she had been oblivious to her intrusion. Thankfully, the official hadn't taken offense.
Shopkeeper Fu dared not linger and immediately took her things and wisely took her leave.
"Lord Lu should be able to find the assassin's whereabouts soon based on this fragrance. Has my daughter fulfilled the promise she made to you?" Jiang Zhi asked him.
Lu Yuan's gaze fell on her face, and he saw that her eyes were clear and bright, her eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings, and her semi-transparent veil outlined the tip of her small, delicate nose, just like green mountains appearing and disappearing in the mist.
A strange restlessness rose in his chest. He reached for the teacup beside him, only to find that he had already drunk all the tea, leaving only a pale brown tea base.
"It's too early to say anything like that. Only when we actually catch the assassin can we completely clear Miss Jiang of suspicion." His voice was hoarse, and even his breathing was slightly disordered.
The effects of this Qiluo incense are so potent that even a light sniff from it has disturbed his mind. Fortunately, Miss Jiang only fanned herself in the scent and was not greatly affected.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhi simply sighed softly, "Then I will wait quietly at the Jiang residence for Lord Lu's good news."
Lu Yuan stood up and said, "It's getting late, and I'm busy with official business, so I can't stay any longer. Farewell."
“Wait,” Jiang Zhi suddenly called out to him, “Could you please give me a ride, Lord Lu?”
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