Plotting with You: The Forensic Scientist in Ancient Times!-Chapter 266 - 265: Growing Stronger

Zhu Cheng’s meaning, perhaps the steward did not understand, but Zhu Yu immediately understood and quickly asked the steward to wait in the courtyard, while she hurriedly ran back to the room to find Lu Qing.

Fortunately, after returning, for the sake of convenience, she was still wearing men’s clothing and had her hair done in a male style, so Lu Qing only needed to apply fake skin to both of them, and the two of them donned the outer robes of the Prince Mansion’s guards before heading out.

The steward saw two unfamiliar people emerging and was momentarily bewildered, but when Zhu Yu spoke to him, he realized that the two in front of him were the second young lady and Prince Xiaoyao.

At this moment, he couldn’t care about other matters, hastily leading the two to find Zhu Cheng.

Zhu Cheng, upon seeing them, didn’t show any surprise at all. After all, he was somewhat used to this over the past few days.

He waved his hand, signaling the steward to leave, and had Zhu Yu and Lu Qing follow him towards the guest hall.

"Pang Yutang rarely visits on ordinary days. Yesterday, as soon as I returned, I heard that he had wanted to come for two consecutive days, but I wasn’t home and was kept out, claiming that Madam Pang wasn’t well and it was inconvenient to receive guests.

On the first day, he was sent back like that, and he came again on the second day, again told I wasn’t home, and wasn’t let in. Today, he’s here again.

I guess he isn’t necessarily here to visit his sister, most likely for me, so I thought it would be more prudent to have you both go with me."

Zhu Cheng spoke to them in a low voice as he walked.

Though he spoke softly, without any particular wording or tone, it wasn’t hard to detect a slight shift in his stance hidden in the words.

In recent days, the undeniable facts forced him to face the many situations within Shuo Country, and the inextricable ties behind these matters with the Pang Family.

He himself might not have realized yet, but Zhu Yu keenly picked up on a clue from how he referred to Pang Yuzhen.

Back when he had her marry into Jin Country by imperial edict, he told Zhu Yu, "Your mother believes you are the most outstanding among the daughters, so you being the one married off shows how much we value this imperial marriage."

Now it had become "Madam Pang."

However, she only nodded, showing no other reaction.

Thus, the three of them arrived at the guest hall, where two servants were serving tea to Pang Yutang.

Pang Yutang looked quite similar to Pang Yuzhen, about six or seven tenths alike, neither being particularly refined people, and even carrying a bit of boldness in their appearance.

He wore a wide-sleeved long robe of brocade, entirely embroidered with dark patterns, appearing quite grand. On his head, he wore a gold-threaded crown secured with a cloud-head rhinoceros horn hairpin, not very noticeable at first glance. But upon closer inspection, it was clearly a Chi pattern motif.

This attire exuded a sense of grandeur and nobility, distinctly different from the typical wealthy families in Shuo Country, resembling more the style of the influential figures in the Capital of Jin Country.

Zhu Cheng hadn’t received a summons to enter the capital in many years, nor had he stepped out of Shuo Land, or perhaps he was simply used to Pang Yutang’s pretentious dress and showed no reaction upon seeing it.

Yet Zhu Yu and Lu Qing exchanged a glance behind him.

Clearly, someone knew better than Zhu Cheng what Jin Country’s nobles currently favored in attire.

Moreover, just the Chi pattern gold-threaded crown on Pang Yutang’s head hinted at a slight degree of overstepping his status.

Pang Yutang’s complexion didn’t look particularly good; every line of muscle on his cheeks drooped down, giving him a somewhat gloomy appearance. He kept his eyes lowered while sipping tea, hiding his gaze, making him seem less at ease.

It’s unclear whether this gloominess and tension were because he felt snubbed after several visits or due to other reasons.

Upon hearing someone arrive, Pang Yutang lifted his eyes, and upon seeing Zhu Cheng, immediately adopted a friendly smile, placing his cup on the side table before rising to greet him.

"Brother-in-law, it’s been a while, haven’t you lost weight?" Pang Yutang started with an extremely affectionate tone, "I see your cheeks seem to have sunk in!

We’re all susceptible to the toll of time now; you can’t focus solely on sword forging and neglect your health!

Last time, I mentioned to Yuzhen to get some top-grade tonic for you to rejuvenate your health, but she said you don’t like tonics and that Ning’er is already preparing and brewing supplements for you daily, so I didn’t press the matter.

Looking at it now, it seems the womenfolk are not always reliable in such matters. I’ll have someone send the tonic over to you later!

For the peace and stability of Shuo Land, brother-in-law must take good care of yourself!"

For many years, Pang Yutang never used honorifics with Zhu Cheng, never addressing him as "Prince." Zhu Cheng never thought much of it, having grown accustomed to it.

Today, possibly due to recent external events making him feel uncomfortable, hearing him speak this way again, his expression became less pleased.

Especially when he mentioned Zhu Ning brewing tonic for him; he might have been fine if it wasn’t mentioned. Upon hearing this, he could vaguely smell the warm metallic scent of the antidote he drank every morning, making his feelings even more complex.

"No need, I genuinely don’t like eating such useless stuff." He waved his hand, signaling Pang Yutang to sit, "If there’s something to discuss, let’s sit down and talk."

"Business, there’s really no big deal. I just heard Yuzhen has been worried and unwell due to Ning’er’s unresolved marriage arrangements. As a brother, I’m inevitably concerned for my sister, so I wanted to come and visit. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

I heard she’s unwell and unable to meet guests, so I can’t stop worrying."

Pang Yutang, with an unconcerned countenance, spoke while adjusting his robe to sit back down.

As he adjusted his robe, a breeze arose, immediately filling Zhu Yu’s nose with a rich sandalwood scent.

She raised her eyes to look at Pang Yutang.

This fragrance was exactly the same as the one the Right Chief Historian had on him when he hurriedly returned from outside that day, albeit much fainter on him. If they hadn’t bumped into him right as he returned, it might have dissipated entirely after a while.

The fragrance on Pang Yutang, however, was much stronger—clearly an affectation, deliberately enhanced with an incense burner.

He even had an incense pendant hanging from his waist, likely filled with this fragrance.

Thus, many questions from before found answers.

Including why Pang Yutang had suddenly become so eager, repeatedly visiting in recent days.

Zhu Yu was pondering with lowered eyes when Pang Yuzhen, having received the message, came with Zhu Ning from the outer corridor.

Upon seeing his sister and niece, Pang Yutang immediately sat even more comfortably.