San Sheng carefully pried open the floor tile beneath the bed and imdiately noticed that the soil underneath bore signs of having been dug. Zheng Tianxin’s expression turned cold; she couldn’t believe soone had dared to tamper with the grounds of her Eldest Princess Mansion.
Lan Xing sent a guard to take over the digging from San Sheng. The disturbed soil was easily moved, revealing a black ceramic jar amid the silence.
"Water—" He Jin called out weakly from the bed. San Shi hurried to the bedside. "My lord, you’re awake," she said as she imdiately went to fetch water.
He Jin had been feverish and confused for two days and now found his room filled with people, which left him bewildered. He looked at San Shi, who didn’t hurry to explain but instead gave her master so water to drink first.
By this ti, the guard had already brought the black ceramic jar out from under the bed, and Lan Xing had promptly stepped in front of Zheng Tianxin to intercept any potential danger.
"Lord—" Yu Yuan looked towards Ju Nanyi.
"Lord Ju, perhaps you should take this object back with you..." Lan Xing hadn’t finished speaking when Zheng Tianxin cut him off.
"What’s there to be afraid of? It’s not like my Eldest Princess Mansion fears such a small thing," she said bravely, and moreover, having this thing here would allow the Captain of the Fire Order Squad to study it thoroughly at her mansion.
He Jin looked at the jar being held by the guard and was equally clueless.
"Prince Consort, have you ever seen this object before?" Lan Xing, keenly aware of the Eldest Princess’s intent, nonetheless braced himself to shift the topic, hoping the Eldest Princess would restrain herself in consideration of the Prince Consort’s presence.
He Jin shook his head, signaling San Shi to help him sit up. After being feverish for two days, the man’s lips were pale, and his forehead was damp with sweat soaking into his sleeves. Although He Jin did not know what was happening, seeing everyone wearing such grave expressions, his eyes turned to San Sheng.
"Of course, the Prince Consort wouldn’t know. If he did, he wouldn’t have let this item get buried there," Zheng Tianxin chided Lan Xing for being too talkative. "Just do your job without drawing attention to yourself."
"Lord Ju, do you know what this is?" Zheng Tianxin asked, her gaze landing on the man’s aloof and detached face, feeling a ripple in her heart, wishing she could reach out and touch it.
"If the Princess wishes to know, why not open it and see for yourself?" Ju Nanyi said, lifting his head and sensing an odd atmosphere in the room. He could tell Lan Xing was tense, and there seed to be sothing in the room that he couldn’t quite understand.
"Then let’s open it and see," said Zheng Tianxin with a slight smile, unhesitatingly speaking without really knowing what she was suggesting.
Ju Nanyi gave Yu Yuan a look, and Yu Yuan, too, was curious to open the jar, which by now was emitting a mist that was almost invisible.
"My lord, Master Yu Sheng found your illness peculiar, so the Fire Order Squad ca to investigate. They found this item underneath your bed," San Sheng spoke softly, himself at his wit’s end. He and San Shi had barely left the courtyard and couldn’t understand how soone had managed to bury this object under the Prince Consort’s bed. They felt deserving of death.
Upon hearing this, He Jin gave San Sheng a comforting look before watching Yu Yuan hesitantly open the jar. Everyone went silent with anticipation. The mont the jar was opened, Zheng Tianxin swiftly stepped forward and "nervously" clutched at Ju Nanyi’s sleeve, her eyes not looking at him but seemingly fixated on the opening jar as if it was a natural reaction.
However, nothing happened. In the enveloping silence, there wasn’t even a wisp of smoke erging from the jar.
Initially, all of Ju Nanyi’s attention had been on the jar, but he suddenly beca aware of a strong fragrance assailing his nostrils—a rich scent that was not cloying, indicative of a master’s craft.
Lan Xing, seeing his princess’s action, felt sowhat unable to save face, but he did not dare to say anything.
Seeing this, San Sheng huffed softly. Although the sound was faint, it was very clear in the quiet room.
Yu Yuan and the guards of the Fire Order Squad had been on high alert, their eyes glued to the jar. Now they showed looks of confusion as Yu Yuan still held the jar lid, summoning the courage to peer inside.
Ju Nanyi frowned slightly. There were more important matters at hand, and he could not afford to be distracted by the suddenly close Zheng Tianxin. As she reached out to touch his face, Ju Nanyi took a step forward, avoiding her hand and already reaching into the jar.
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