Daishan Turns The Wind Chapter 25

The Case of the Perfumer (Part 6)

Sun Zhengmo fanned herself vigorously, creating a blur of motion. “You mean to say that the person who hid the corpse is connected to the assassination attempt on General Yang Yi.”

If there was no connection, and it was just a random person who did it for fun or some other arbitrary reason, then the world was vast, and where would they even begin to search?

Feng Yuluo said, “There must be a connection, right? Who has that much free time? Don’t they need to work and earn money?”

Sun Zhengmo nodded, pondering for a moment. “The assassination attempt on Yang Yi failed, but Yang Ye was killed. General Yang will pursue this investigation to the end, no matter what. The mastermind must know Yang Yi, and perhaps Yang Yi already suspects him.”

Sun Zhengmo looked up and sighed. “The assassins were silenced, and the mastermind is destroying evidence, but that’s not enough. They also need to divert attention. That means throwing out bait. Coincidentally, some idiot committed a blunder and carried a corpse to my Sui’an Perfumery, and General Yang immediately followed the trail here.”

Shan Wuzhou immediately considered the plausibility of this. Feng Yuluo angrily exclaimed, “So it was just to divert attention, purely using us as cannon fodder? How insulting!”

Sun Zhengmo was also angered by her own deduction and furiously agreed. “Using us as scapegoats and looking down on us too? Bastards!”

Shan Wuzhou lowered his arms and said in a deep voice, “No matter who the corpse-hider is, if it is the mastermind, diverting attention with us isn’t enough. For the matter to be concluded, just like those silenced assassins, someone else will definitely be silenced.”

Sure enough, after Feng Yuluo and Shan Wuzhou spent a day scouring the city, turning over every inch of ground, they found a bloated body in the river.

The corpse-hider was dead.

The General’s Residence was draped with white lanterns, and Yang Ye’s coffin was placed in the main hall.

Feng Yuluo brought the body to the residence. After the officials of the General’s Residence examined it, they reported back to Yang Yi that the corpse-hider also had a tattoo on his back.

Yang Yi clapped his hands in praise, his eyes cold. “Talented.”

Shan Wuzhou didn’t care about anyone’s attitude. He directly asked if the identity of the corpse-hider had been confirmed, and when the matter of the incense supply business would be finalized.

He didn’t hint at offering money to the General’s Residence, nor did he suggest digging deeper into the corpse-hider’s background. He intended to let the matter rest there; they were powerless to do more.

Yang Yi actually smiled. “I keep my word. Go back and wait for the news.”

Boss Sun waited anxiously for a day, and then the news arrived.

She read the imperial decree three times, still slightly disbelieving. “Oh my heavens, it really was just a matter of a single word. No wonder so many people fear the Great General; this is what it means to wield immense power.”

Feng Yuluo asked, “But why is it a document from the Ministry of Rites? Didn’t we say we were going to supply the imperial consorts, princesses, and county princesses, and then make the best incense for all the ladies and madams in the city?”

Sun Zhengmo was disappointed, but also felt it was acceptable. “The Ministry of Rites often handles prayers and palace events, which require incense. Although it’s not a huge amount, it’s still about ten thousand taels of silver annually. Great success comes from the accumulation of small successes. If we do this well and build a reputation, we will eventually get a share of the palace’s incense supply.”

She seemed a little dazed. “We’ve had too much bad luck recently. A piece of good news to wash away the misfortune is wonderful. Honestly, I feel like I’m dreaming right now. I’m truly afraid of another accident.”

Shan Wuzhou pursed his lips and smiled. Thankfully, they hadn’t implicated anyone.

Feng Yuluo quickly offered comfort. “We have the vast, righteous energy of heaven and earth. We don’t fear evil spirits or bad luck.”

Sun Zhengmo immediately adopted an invincible air. “You’re right. The most evil thing is already by my bedside. I’m not afraid.”

Feng Yuluo suppressed a laugh and mentioned, “This business deal is a success. Does that mean your wish is fulfilled? Can I have Yuanbao back now?”

Sun Zhengmo didn’t even blink. “By the way, does the General’s Residence really not want me to pay? It feels unrealistic for them to help with such a big matter without payment.”

“…”

People emerged from the storeroom. They were from the Ministry of Rites, here to inspect the quality of the incense and then finalize the monthly supply details.

The people who came out had angry expressions, causing the three of them to instinctively panic.

The official from the Ministry of Rites threw a box of incense on the ground, declaring it problematic, substandard, and even moldy. How dare they supply such defective goods to the Imperial Palace? It was outrageous!

He then announced that he would take Boss Sun of Sui’an Perfumery away for punishment.

“What?”

For perfectly good incense to have such a problem, something was clearly amiss. And the culprit was obvious.

Sun Zhengmo’s legs went weak and her vision blurred. She said weakly, “I… I knew it wouldn’t be that simple. Remember to bury me in the capital!”

Feng Yuluo helped her up and shouted angrily, “Impossible! Our products are all good. This isn’t ours at all.”

The official sneered, “You mean the Ministry of Rites deliberately framed you? Am I that idle? Guards, seize them! They dare to slander the imperial court!”

Shan Wuzhou stepped forward coldly. “What nonsense are you speaking? If this isn’t our product, are we not allowed to defend ourselves?”

Sun Zhengmo regained some clarity and whispered, “I don’t know if it’s Chief Steward Liu or the Great General, but we’ve offended someone.”

“Didn’t Chief Steward Liu take fifty thousand taels? How could he do something like this?”

Sun Zhengmo thought that there were countless unethical things in the world, and anything was possible, but Chief Steward Liu would likely wait until the very end to make a move. “Then it must be the Great General. He probably resents you for letting the assassin escape.”

The official from the Ministry of Rites was displeased. “What are you muttering about? Men, take Sun Zhengmo away!”

Feng Yuluo sighed and stepped forward. “Sir, I was in charge of the incense in the storeroom. I failed to manage it properly, causing it to mold. Please arrest me.”

Shan Wuzhou felt a knot in his chest. Prison conditions were poor, and the food and lodging were terrible, but worse, he heard that offenders were subjected to severe torture. How could the Patriarch’s body withstand that?

He immediately blocked the way. “I’ll go. I forgot to close the window, which caused the storeroom to leak.”

Sun Zhengmo was stunned.

“…” The officials from the Ministry of Rites were even more stunned. He waved his hand. “Take them all back!”

Bang! The prison door slammed shut, and the iron chains were locked.

The three of them were confined to three separate cells. The cells were colder than the outside, but the air was stagnant and stuffy, filled with various odors: sour food, urine, and general stench.

From the perfumery to the prison, from the scent of jasmine to all kinds of foul smells.

Feng Yuluo’s face turned green. Worried that Boss Sun and Shan Wuzhou couldn’t handle it, he quietly called out to Shan Wuzhou to cast a spell again.

Sun Zhengmo wasn’t overwhelmed, but she stared at the skylight and said dispiritedly, “I never thought life would be this difficult. If I had known this, why did I bother? I should have just been a simple perfumer, earning five taels of silver a day. Contentment brings happiness, and a hundred years of peace.”

Shan Wuzhou surveyed the surroundings, finding it somewhat novel and somewhat unpleasant, but Boss Sun’s words made him want to laugh.

Boss Sun had a different prepared speech for every situation. How could she be so articulate? Did she prepare these in advance?

He simply used his spiritual power to cleanse all the cells.

Feng Yuluo thought, why didn’t you do that earlier? To earn money, they gave Eunuch Xu twenty thousand taels, and Chief Steward Liu fifty thousand taels. Adding up the miscellaneous expenses, they had already spent eighty thousand taels, and now they were arrested, and the perfumery was about to be sealed.

Fortunately, they hadn’t given money to Yang Yi. These people took money and still harmed others; they were shameless.

He lamented, “Boss Sun, what is your true wish? It has come to this point, are you still unwilling to tell the truth?”

Sun Zhengmo glanced at him, then turned away, looking utterly lifeless.

Shan Wuzhou, on the right, comforted her gently. “Even now, are you still unwilling to trust us? To achieve your wish, you need external help. Yuanbao’s spiritual power isn’t enough. Tell us what’s going on, and we will help you.”

Shan Wuzhou rarely spoke to comfort others with such gentle persuasion. Feng Yuluo was surprised, thinking that this kid’s rebellious phase might be ending soon.

Moved by the young man’s sincerity, Boss Sun showed favoritism again and revealed her second wish.

Yes, the second one. Getting rich and wealthy was still the main focus.

The most important thing was that she wanted to redeem a friend from the palace.

The friend was named Fu Qingmu. Years ago, her family was convicted, and she was sent to the palace, where she endured much hardship. Later, she performed well, was clever and quick-witted, and was fortunate enough to serve beside the Empress.

The Empress was the mother of the nation, burdened by many complex duties. Her health was poor, and her heart was heavy with worry. In addition to developing other incenses, Sun Zhengmo planned to create a Phoenix Incense.

It would be based on lemongrass, silk tree flowers, and agarwood, supplemented by three precious medicinal herbs, to soothe the liver, relieve depression, aid sleep, prolong life, calm the mind, and regulate Qi, specifically to tranquilize and soothe the Empress.

Sun Zhengmo wanted to earn money and present the incense, hoping that if the Empress felt physically and mentally comfortable and happy, she might bestow a favor, allowing Fu Qingmu to leave the palace sooner.

This method relied somewhat on luck, but it was the only thing she could do; she only specialized in making incense.

“I promised her that I would earn a lot of money and take her back to my hometown to live a life of anonymity together.”

Feng Yuluo was suspicious. “Didn’t you say you wanted to be buried in the capital even if you died?”

Sun Zhengmo looked haggard. “Of course. If I don’t succeed, I can only be buried in the capital to keep her company. If I succeed, then we’ll go back to my hometown.”

Shan Wuzhou and Feng Yuluo exchanged glances across the three cells, communicating with their eyes.

No meaning was exchanged. Shan Wuzhou’s eyes were calm, while Feng Yuluo blinked repeatedly. Neither knew what the other meant.

No tacit understanding meant their hearts were not connected, which meant they had no fate. Shan Wuzhou quietly made a mental note of this.

After Sun Zhengmo finished speaking, she looked at her two protectors. “Why did you both rush in here? We should have left one person outside to figure things out. What do we do now?”

Shan Wuzhou yanked open the lock on his cell door.

Sun Zhengmo’s eyes widened.

Feng Yuluo panicked and quickly used a strand of hair to pick his own lock. He rushed out, picked up the chain, locked Shan Wuzhou’s cell door again, returned to his own cell, and locked his own door.

“Escaping is not allowed. We don’t break the law.”

Sun Zhengmo watched the whole process dumbfounded. “I truly hired two peerless genius employees. I’ll give you a raise when we get out.”

Shan Wuzhou said, “Then what should we do? I need to get out and find the culprit who framed the perfumery.”

Feng Yuluo had lived longer. He said, “No rush. We were arrested because of moldy incense; the crime isn’t severe. General Yang didn’t intend to kill us. He probably still needs us for something. Let’s wait.”

Shan Wuzhou looked expressionless. “Oh.”

Sun Zhengmo asked, “Do you need money? I still have some. I should have sent it earlier.”

“No. He probably wants us to investigate who the mastermind behind the assassination is.”

Sun Zhengmo was so angry she rolled her eyes. “Does he need to use such despicable tactics for just that? Shameless. Wait, are there ears on the wall?”

“No.”

“Shameless! Utterly disgraceful!” Sun Zhengmo gasped. “He has such great power and can’t even find out himself, so how are we supposed to investigate? If we find out for someone like him, we’ll still end up dead.”

Her eyes were red. “Just bury me in the capital.”

Feng Yuluo thought, the second wish is to save someone, so who does Boss Sun hate?

“Your friend, Fu Qingmu, is close to the Empress. Why didn’t you use that connection instead of taking the long route and asking Eunuch Xu for help? Look how you’ve been tricked now.”

Sun Zhengmo immediately became firm. “That won’t do. She was sent to the palace because her family was convicted, and supervision is strict. If anyone found out she was colluding with outsiders, she would be executed. Mu Mu is only a third-rank palace maid by the Empress’s side. I can’t cause trouble for her.”

Only a third-rank palace maid? Were there many third-rank palace maids by the Empress’s side?

The three of them waited for a day. Yang Yi seemed to be deliberately wearing them down, only providing one meal. The two cultivators didn’t need to eat, but Shan Wuzhou had spirit pills and gave one to Sun Zhengmo to fill her stomach.

Finally, the next day, someone arrived.

The three had discussed this: they would meet force with calm, and not show anxiety or fear, lest they be manipulated. They had to remain composed.

But when they saw the person who arrived, all three were stunned.

He wore a purple official robe, handsome and stern, with bright, spirited eyes.

Who was this?