Lu Yuan’s expression remained unchanged. “What is it?”
Before long, the item was brought up.
It was a box of a dozen or so small incense pellets contained in a gilded cloisonné brocade case—round, exquisite, each pellet uniform in size, their surfaces covered in a thin layer of gold leaf that gleamed with opulence under the light.
Jiang Zhi stepped forward and fanned the scent toward her nose with her hand. Her eyes immediately lit up.
It truly was this—the very same scent she had smelled outside the meditation room that night!
She nodded to Lu Yuan.
Lu Yuan also took out one pellet and held it to the tip of his nose, inhaling gently. The fragrance was rich and heady, carrying a hint of sweetness that stirred the heart and parched the throat.
His expression shifted slightly. “This is…”
Madam Fu revealed a knowing smile—the kind that only those who had been through it all would understand. “Exactly the kind the young master was asking for.”
“This item is called Qiluo Xiang. In the Western Regions, where customs are open, young couples or newlyweds light this incense before intimacy to enhance the mood, to share the pleasures of the bedchamber in tender passion.”
“I take it the two of you have only recently married and are still a bit reserved in the bedroom. This is the very thing to deepen your bond, letting you harmonize like phoenixes in blissful union.”
Madam Fu then leaned in mysteriously. “But mind you, this incense is potent and its effects long-lasting. Never use more than one pellet at a time, or your wife won’t be able to bear it—and it may even harm your chances of heirs. Remember this well.”
Her words were far too explicit. Even Lu Yuan, seasoned and composed as he was, felt his fingers stiffen slightly around the incense pellet.
A wave of heat spread from his fingertips through his entire body, making his chest burn and swell uncontrollably.
This incense was truly formidable.
His Adam’s apple bobbed. Steadying himself, he returned the pellet to the cloisonné case with a composed expression.
Jiang Zhi, however, showed little reaction.
An aphrodisiac incense—she had seen plenty of those in the brothel.
But since she was not yet married, she couldn’t appear too indifferent either.
So she feigned shyness and turned away. “Does this incense truly have such effects? Who has purchased it before?”
Madam Fu said, “This incense was brought over from the Western Regions not long ago. Those who buy it are women hoping to keep their lovers’ hearts. But the two of you are the first married couple to come for it.”
Lu Yuan felt his throat parched and drained the tea beside him in one gulp before speaking. “We… as a married couple, wish to know if it truly is as miraculous as you say. Please inform us of the specific identities and names of those who purchased it.”
“This… I’m afraid I cannot disclose that, sir,” Madam Fu said apologetically. “It is the shop’s rule not to reveal any customer’s identity. Otherwise, this establishment could not stay in business.”
Lu Yuan wasted no words. He directly produced his Jinyiwei token and tossed it onto the table. “Can you speak now?”
Madam Fu’s face went pale with fright at the sight of the token, and she nearly dropped the brocade case in her hands. “Th-this, my lord, this shop runs entirely legitimate business! Our spices are all registered with the authorities with proper documentation—we have never once broken the law!”
“Precisely why I am asking you privately,” Lu Yuan said with a cold glare. “If you do not speak now, I will have no choice but to have my men come in and take you directly.”
If the Jinyiwei came in to search the place, how could she ever do business again?
How could Madam Fu dare to conceal anything now? “My lord, to be honest, this spice was only brought into the shop last month, and it is extremely costly. No respectable young lady would ever use such a thing, so only two boxes have been sold. One went to a concubine of the Zhongqin Bojue Mansion, and the other…”
Madam Fu recalled, “The other box was purchased by a young maidservant. She only said it was for her mistress’s use. I did not know her identity.”
“Was there anything distinctive about the maidservant’s attire?” Lu Yuan asked.
Madam Fu shook her head. “She wore plain clothing with no embroidery, and her jewelry was the sort one could buy from any street vendor.”
Madam Fu dealt with women from inner chambers year-round, and if even she could not discern the girl’s identity, then finding her would be very difficult indeed.
Lu Yuan pondered for a moment, then placed his index finger against his lips and let out a short whistle.
Soon, someone knocked and entered. “What are your orders, sir?”
“Have a portrait drawn according to Madam Fu’s description,” Lu Yuan said.
“Yes.”
His subordinate possessed exceptional drawing skills, adept at creating suspect portraits based on eyewitness accounts. Every criminal apprehended bore close resemblance to his sketches.
Before long, he presented the portrait to Lu Yuan based on what Madam Fu had described.
“Please take a look, sir.”
Lu Yuan took the portrait. The woman depicted had an utterly ordinary appearance, blending into the crowd—not the type one would remember at a glance.
“Have several copies made and have our agents conduct a discreet search. Do not make a fuss, lest we alert the target.”
The subordinate immediately acknowledged and withdrew.
Seeing that Lu Yuan carried himself with extraordinary bearing and must hold at least the rank of a Chiliarch in the Jinyiwei, Madam Fu could not help but harbor thoughts of currying favor.
“I failed to recognize your esteemed status earlier—I was blind to the mountain before me,” Madam Fu said with a smile, offering the cloisonné box to Lu Yuan. “Please accept this box of Qiluo incense as my apology. I hope you won’t think less of it.”
Lu Yuan glanced at the cloisonné box. “No need. I am not yet married and have no use for it.”
“Forgive my poor judgment—I assumed you two were already wed,” Madam Fu said, thinking Lu Yuan was merely being polite. “Then it’s all the more useful! When you two eventually share the bridal chamber, burn this incense to enhance passion and desire. It will surely ensure a harmonious and blissful marriage, with love lasting a hundred years.”
Lu Yuan gave her a strange look.
Jiang Zhi also felt quite exasperated. “Madam Fu, the two of us have no connection whatsoever. Please take your leave now.”
She was deeply afraid that if Madam Fu kept running her mouth, Lu Yuan would draw his blade and kill her.
Madam Fu opened her mouth to speak, but upon seeing the icy coldness in Lu Yuan’s gaze, she finally realized she had been mistaken all along.
From the moment they entered, she had seen a handsome man and a beautiful woman, perfectly matched, and had assumed they were intimately involved. It turned out they had been posing as a married couple from the very start, and she had been prattling on without any tact. Fortunately, this sir had not taken offense.
Madam Fu dared not linger and promptly took her things and withdrew tactfully.
“Now that you should soon be able to trace the assassin’s whereabouts through this incense, has this young woman fulfilled what she promised you?” Jiang Zhi asked him.
Lu Yuan’s gaze fell upon her face. He saw her eyes clear and bright, her lashes trembling like butterfly wings, and the translucent veil outlining the delicate tip of her nose—like a distant green mountain shrouded in mist, appearing and disappearing.
An inexplicable restlessness rose in his chest. He reached for the teacup beside him, only to find the tea within already drained, leaving only a pale brown residue at the bottom.
“It is still too early to speak of such things. Only when the assassin is truly captured will Miss Jiang’s suspicion be completely cleared.” His voice came out hoarse, and even his breathing had grown slightly unsteady.
The potency of this Qiluo incense was formidable—a mere light sniff had been enough to unsettle his mind even now. Fortunately, Miss Jiang had only fanned the scent toward herself and had not been greatly affected.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhi merely let out a soft sigh. “Then this young lady will await the good news from Lord Lu at the Jiang residence.”
Lu Yuan rose to his feet and said, “It’s getting late, and I have pressing official matters to attend to, so I cannot stay long. I shall take my leave.”
“Wait,” Jiang Zhi suddenly called out to him, “Would it trouble Lord Lu to give me a ride part of the way?”