Dressed As a Consort in Ancient Times - Chapter 65
Gu Yun had never heard Fang Zhan mention this before. Thinking about it, such a sorrowful matter was perhaps best left unspoken.
“If his family’s bloodline is so thin, then why, at twenty-five, is he still unmarried?” Gu Yun was even more curious about this.
In this era, most men would marry and have children soon after reaching adulthood. Fang Zhan was already nearing thirty, yet he didn’t even have a fiancée. Among the noble sons who typically married young, he stood out as particularly different.
“That, I don’t know.” Jiang Libai had heard gossip about it but wasn’t too familiar with the details.
Seeing that Gu Yun had finished washing her feet, she slipped under the covers and started asking about the fire incident. “Did you find anything today? Were you able to identify who set the fire?”
Gu Yun carried out the washbasin and closed the door behind her.
“Princess, do you know of any places or people who would carry the scent of snow?” Today, at the scene where the arsonist had lingered, Gu Yun had sensed a crisp, icy scent—one that unmistakably belonged to snow.
The scent of someone who had been immersed in snowy terrain for years was too distinct. It was not something one would naturally find among the people of the capital.
And besides, it was the height of summer. There was no snowfall anywhere nearby.
“Snow?” Jiang Libai looked puzzled.
Gu Yun nodded. “Yes, the scent of snow.”
Seeing how serious Gu Yun was, Jiang Libai, though finding it unusual for someone to be able to perceive the scent of snow, still began to think carefully.
With the scorching summer heat, it was impossible for there to be snow in the capital. Not just in the capital—there was nowhere in the entire Yu Kingdom experiencing snowfall.
If not in Yu Kingdom, then…
Jiang Libai suddenly let out a soft “Ah” and quickly said to Gu Yun, “In the northern state of Yun Kingdom, the temperature remains low all year round, and snow is always present.”
Yun Kingdom?
The last time Gu Yun had heard mention of Yun Kingdom was during the rebellion of the Second Prince, Jiang Shen.
Could the arsonists in the capital this time also be connected to Yun Kingdom?
Her eyes lowered in thought, the candlelight at the corner of her eyes casting a soft glow, making her expression look tranquil and gentle.
Jiang Libai reached out and poked her cheek, tilting her head as she asked, “What is Gu Jie thinking about? Could the fires in the capital really have something to do with Yun Kingdom?”
Gu Yun took hold of her warm fingertips, absentmindedly rubbing them as she quietly recounted the strange findings from her investigations that afternoon.
In the cool and peaceful room, the gentle night breeze carried the soft sound of whispered conversation.
“…You’re saying that at the site of the fire, you smelled the scent of snow?” Jiang Libai was surprised.
But considering that Gu Yun was a celestial maiden who had descended from the stars, it seemed normal for her to have a keener sense of smell.
“So, you suspect that the arsonists might be from Yun Kingdom?”
Gu Yun was eighty percent certain that the perpetrators were from Yun Kingdom. However, whether they had been hired by someone else to set the fires remained unclear.
Seeing Jiang Libai’s uncertainty, she continued explaining her thoughts.
Now that Gu Yun had given a firm answer, Jiang Libai fell into contemplation.
“No, this is too important. Tomorrow afternoon, I’ll enter the palace to inform my mother.”
Gu Yun tucked the blanket around her and, after a brief thought, nodded. “That’s a good idea. Will you be having dinner in the palace tomorrow? I can pick you up after I finish work.”
Jiang Libai wrapped herself around Gu Yun’s arm, comfortably nestling into her embrace. “Then I’ll ask Mother to postpone dinner so we can eat together when you arrive.”
This… felt like a family, didn’t it?
Gu Yun’s heart surged with emotion. She was already deeply content with such treatment.
As she lay in bed, Jiang Libai was beginning to feel drowsy. With her eyes closed, she murmured, “Did you tell that ‘golden lump’ from the Fang family about what you discovered today?”
This case was the first major one Gu Yun had handled since taking office, and it needed to be treated with caution. Without solid evidence, it was best not to act rashly.
“No, I didn’t tell him.” Gu Yun rested her chin on Jiang Libai’s head, gently rubbing against her smooth hair. “Princess, is the Chenyang Marquis Manor… truly loyal to the Emperor?”
The question was an odd one, but Jiang Libai immediately understood what she meant.
She shifted slightly, raising her head to look at Gu Yun, her voice carrying a hint of uncertainty. “Are you suspicious of the Fang family heir?”
Chenyang Marquis had always been a loyalist to the Emperor. Because of their strict and low-profile family values, they never participated in the imperial succession struggles. This was also why their influence had gradually waned, distancing them from the center of political power.
“Did you notice something off about him?”
Gu Yun thought for a moment. “Not exactly ‘off,’ but my instincts tell me that sometimes, he seems… a little strange.”
“But I can’t quite put my finger on what’s strange about him.”
Though Gu Yun’s words were vague, Jiang Libai chose to trust her without hesitation.
“Since you think he is suspicious, it would be best not to trust him too much in the future. It was good that you didn’t tell him what you found out today. If you had, he might have started suspecting whether you had some supernatural abilities, or even directly guessed that you had ties with another country and were deliberately shifting the blame onto Yun Country…”
The first suspicion was not too concerning—claims of mystical powers were easy to dismiss. But if they were suspected of being involved in a scheme orchestrated by Jin Country to provoke conflict between Yun Country and Yu Country, then it would be difficult to clear their name.
Especially since… Gu Yun was originally Jin Country’s “prince.”
The more Jiang Libai thought about it, the more she felt that Gu Yun was in a dangerous position. Her drowsiness faded, and she quickly grasped Gu Yun’s hand. “I wasn’t thinking carefully earlier. I should avoid telling my mother about this when I go to the palace tomorrow.”
If her mother found out, she would definitely report it to her father.
While Jiang Libai could convince her mother to trust Gu Yun, she could not be sure whether her father would become suspicious upon learning that it was Gu Yun who first pointed out Yun Country’s involvement in the arson case.
After all, an emperor’s thoughts were always difficult to predict.
She didn’t dare take the risk.
“It’s fine,” Gu Yun didn’t seem to mind. “Before I left, I secretly left some markers in the places where I sensed the cold, snowy scent. If those investigating are meticulous, they should notice the abnormalities by tomorrow morning.”
“What kind of markers?” Jiang Libai was curious.
The girl tilted her head upward in an adorable manner, her round eyes filled with eager curiosity.
Gu Yun smiled and tapped the tip of her delicate nose. “That scent is faint and elusive, difficult to detect. But with careful investigation, one could still pick up on the lingering traces of cold snow.”
“To draw their attention, I slightly amplified the scent in those locations.” Though this required a significant amount of her spiritual energy, it would not expose her identity or draw undue attention.
Gu Yun did not explain further, and Jiang Libai did not press for details. Gu Yun possessed abilities beyond those of ordinary people—perhaps even if she explained, Jiang Libai would not understand.
As long as Gu Yun had her in her heart, that was enough.
There was no need to overanalyze everything.
Leaving space and room for each other was never a mistake.
“Then after the report is submitted tomorrow, we will let Father make his own decision. I will go to the palace to accompany my mother and say nothing about this matter.”
Gu Yun smiled. “Whatever you decide.”
In the stillness of the night, the soft murmurs between the two gradually faded into the darkness until dawn.
Because Gu Yun had deliberately intensified the scent, the soldiers from the Five City Military Department did indeed make a discovery.
However, they could not identify what it was. After someone suggested bringing in an expert with a keen sense of smell, they quickly summoned a coroner known for his exceptional ability to distinguish various scents.
Though it seemed somewhat unbelievable, the coroner actually detected the specific nature of the scent.
“…It’s snow. Snow.” The man stroked his beard, his brows furrowed deeply.
The people around exchanged glances. “Blood? Human blood? Chicken blood? Or dog blood?”
The old coroner sniffed again carefully. “No, it’s the scent of snow from winter—not blood from an injury.”
With that conclusion, the investigators expanded their search and reported the findings.
In no time, officials who had initially dismissed this as a minor issue became highly alert.
If Jiang Libai could suspect Yun Country, then these ministers—who were deeply involved in state affairs—could certainly connect the incident to Yun Country as well.
Especially after the second prince, Jiang Shen, had previously colluded with Yun Country. They had no choice but to remain extremely vigilant.
Upon learning of this, the Emperor of Yu transferred the investigation of the arson case to the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review, ordering them to uncover the truth within ten days.
At the same time, he discreetly sent a message to the border troops in the north, instructing them to stay on high alert and secretly dispatch scouts to monitor Yun Country for any schemes.
The capital was no exception.
Following this, the Five City Military Department tightened their patrols, increased checkpoint inspections, and mandated thorough searches of all individuals entering the city. No suspicious persons were allowed to roam freely.
If anyone in the capital displayed suspicious behavior, they were to be detained immediately for questioning.
With such swift and severe measures, the previously peaceful and leisurely atmosphere of the capital vanished in an instant.
Many people were now afraid to leave their homes, fearing they might be taken away without explanation.
At the Fifth Princess’s residence—
In the quiet and elegant back garden, after releasing a homing pigeon, Jiang Ying slowly wheeled herself away.
Upon returning to her study, she placed a recently received message on the table in front of the seated man.
“Previously, Jiang Shen had already handed over a map of the capital to Yun Country. So this time, Yun Country’s secret infiltration into the capital is actually targeting you and Jiang Wei.”
Jiang Ying’s voice was devoid of warmth, sending a chill down Jiang Heng’s spine.
After reading the message, his expression darkened.
He had not expected that fool Jiang Shen to be so audacious—he had actually handed over a detailed map of the capital and information about the imperial family to Yun Country!
Yun Country had long been eyeing Yu Country greedily. Now that they had the map, they even dared to send assassins after him and Jiang Wei.
“So, the arson really was Yun Country’s doing? Was it meant to divert everyone’s attention?”
Jiang Ying tapped her fingers lightly on the table, the corners of her lips curling slightly. “Yes. Their original plan was to shift everyone’s focus toward Jin Country…”
Jiang Heng was indifferent about his own life, but he had unfinished business. He could not allow himself to be assassinated by Yun Country just yet.
“Should we inform Father about Yun Country’s intentions?”
Jiang Ying, however, was thinking about something else. She chuckled softly. “Not for now.”
“Yun Country wants to shift the blame onto Jin Country, don’t they? Then let’s follow their lead.”
For this novel one Kofi is two extra chapters. Ko-fi link: ko-fi.com/mitake55760
