Jiang Yichuan's gaze cut like a blade as he stared at the stammering servant. "Who are you?"
Before the man could answer, Qi Feng stepped forward with an imposing aura that hit like a wave. "State your name!"
The servant stumbled backward, intimidated by the forceful presence. He quickly plastered on a smile. "I-I'm just a servant from Jishi Hall Pharmacy. We've supplied medicines to Taohua House for years. Today I'm delivering some valerian root..."
"Valerian?" A glint flashed in Jiang Yichuan's eyes as he slowly approached. Taking the package, his fingers lightly brushed over it. "What is this medicine used for?"
The servant, relieved at the seemingly simple question, hastily explained: "Your Grace, it's used for making calming incense. Our pharmacy has had a decade-long relationship with Taohua House. We deliver medicines monthly..."
"Give it to me." Jiang Yichuan's words were soft but his eyes were deep as pools.
The servant thanked him profusely before practically fleeing the scene.
Jiang Yichuan examined the medicine package, a sharp light flickering in his dark eyes. Though his brow furrowed slightly in thought, he remained silent.
Pushing open the vermillion gates of Taohua House, they were met with dead silence. Yesterday's bloody incident hung like an ominous cloud over what was usually a place of song and dance. In the corner, several courtesans picked listlessly at their food, the atmosphere suffocatingly tense.
"Oh, Your Grace, you're finally here!" Madame Liu rushed forward upon seeing Jiang Yichuan, her face creased with worry. "The poor girls couldn't sleep after being questioned all night. If this case isn't solved soon, we'll all starve!"
Jiang Yichuan's gaze swept across the hall before his lips curved into a cold smile. "No need to wait any longer."
Before his words faded, Qi Feng and Hu Qi shot forward like lightning, seizing Manager Zhang from both sides!
"W-what are you doing?" Manager Zhang's face contorted as he screamed, "Those Du sisters have offended plenty of people! Why arrest me? I've said it before - I never ordered Ah Qing to poison anyone!"
Jiang Yichuan's cold laugh cut through the air. "Manager Zhang, perhaps you've forgotten. The real poison wasn't in the rouge box, but rather..." He deliberately drew out his words, his gaze sharp as daggers, "on the wine cup."
"Nonsense!" Manager Zhang feigned composure, though his voice trembled. "Anyone could have poisoned the cup. Why accuse me?"
Jiang Yichuan's eyes turned glacial, his lips curling in mockery. "Ah Qing mentioned that when she entered the room that afternoon, Du Qingdai had already locked her door to rest." He turned to Du Qingdai, his voice steady but laden with hidden edge. "Miss Du, is this your usual habit?"
"Indeed it is." Du Qingdai nodded slightly.
"Interesting." Cold light flickered in Jiang Yichuan's eyes. "Since Du Qingdai had locked her door, no outsider could have entered to poison her. Unless..." His gaze pinned Manager Zhang like a butterfly to a board. "Unless someone had a spare key."
"Ridiculous!" Manager Zhang laughed coldly, though sweat had begun beading on his forehead. "So what if I have a key? Prince Jing, you can't convict someone on such flimsy evidence!"
"Who said I was suggesting you snuck in to poison her?" Jiang Yichuan suddenly flashed a chilling smile, each word like ice. "You poisoned her right under her nose, in plain sight!"
The hall erupted in shocked murmurs. People exchanged incredulous glances, staring at Manager Zhang. Some gasped, others whispered among themselves.
Manager Zhang looked as if struck by lightning, his face draining of color. He struggled to maintain his last shred of composure. "Your Grace must be joking..."
"Li Yuan." Jiang Yichuan suddenly turned to the young gentleman. "I examined that wine cup. It bore a peculiar fragrance. Yet you wear no perfume, no scent sachet. Master Li, do you usually use incense?"
"I never use fragrances," Li Yuan replied without hesitation.
Sweat poured down Manager Zhang's forehead, though his voice remained defiant. "The Du sisters and Lady Su all use fragrances. What does it prove if there was a scent on the cup?"
"Fragrances are distinctive." Jiang Yichuan advanced slowly, each step seeming to land on Manager Zhang's heart. "The Du sisters wear strong ambergris, Lady Su carries the subtle scent of osmanthus. Yet on the rim of that cup..." He paused deliberately, his gaze electric, "Why was there a trace of bitter valerian?"
"You said Du Qingdai was unwell, and you added calming herbs to her incense burner." Jiang Yichuan pressed forward, his voice frost-laden. "Was that herb valerian?"
Manager Zhang's pupils contracted violently, his face turning ashen.
"Though valerian calms the nerves, it has a unique bitter note." Cold light flashed in Jiang Yichuan's eyes. "You used the pretext of adding incense to smear poison on the cup, leaving behind the valerian scent. Quite clever!"
Before he finished speaking, Hu Qi produced an elegant incense burner from his robes and stepped forward. "This was found in Du Qingdai's room, untouched since the incident." He smiled coldly. "The residue inside is valerian powder!"
The atmosphere in the hall froze.
"Your Grace!" Suddenly, a young servant burst in, falling to his knees. "I-I have something to report!"
"Speak!"
"Before the courtesan selection banquet, I was warming food for Lady Su in the kitchen." The servant kowtowed, his voice trembling. "I overheard Manager Zhang plotting with someone, asking if the poison was reliable. The other person replied: 'Du Qingdai will certainly die!' I was so shocked I delayed serving the food, and Lady Su had to come looking for me..."
Lady Su maintained a calm expression, nodding slightly. "That's correct."
"If you'd already poisoned her, why involve me?" Ah Qing suddenly spoke up, her eyes blazing with anger.
Jiang Yichuan laughed coldly. "When he saw Li Yuan bringing wine, he seized the opportunity to frame you both. A clever plan to use others as his murder weapon!"
Manager Zhang collapsed to the ground as if all strength had left his body. He stared vacantly at the floor, his voice hoarse: "It was all Du Qingdai's fault..."
Suddenly, he jerked his head up, his eyes filled with malice: "She discovered I was embezzling money and demanded two hundred taels!" A hysterical laugh escaped him. "Two hundred taels! My yearly salary is barely anything! She threatened me daily, saying she'd report me to the authorities if I didn't pay up..."
"I've worked at Taohua House for ten years..." His smile was more grotesque than crying. "Once exposed, I'd not only lose my position but face criminal charges..."
Grinding his teeth, his eyes flickering with madness: "She pushed me into a corner, and this rage in my heart..."
He abruptly fell silent, as if realizing he'd said too much.
Lady Su lowered her gaze, her slender fingers moving slightly within her sleeve before raising her head again, her expression unreadable – whether from relief or something else remained unclear.
Soon, the Lin'an Magistrate arrived with his guards and arrested Manager Zhang on the spot. The sensational poisoning case at the courtesan selection banquet was finally solved.
Jiang Yichuan watched as Manager Zhang was led away, his gaze profound. He cast a thoughtful glance at Lady Su, a subtle smile playing at his lips.
This case at Taohua House might just be the beginning...
The complex interplay of power, revenge, and hidden motives in the pleasure quarters had only started to unravel. Like ripples in still water, this case would surely stir up more secrets lurking beneath the surface of Lin'an's glittering facade.