In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 983 The first clues

As the sun sets in the west, the setting sun paints the Crown Prince's residence in a golden-red hue.
The evening breeze swirled the locust tree leaves, rustling them down onto the white cloth scattered on the ground.

Both groups had been working for nearly three hours and were now quite exhausted.
The Embroidered Uniform Guard's uniform was dusty, and his face showed signs of fatigue.

The hem of the Shi Yi Si guard's clothes was soaked with sweat and clung tightly to his waist.

In the center of the courtyard, five large pieces of white cloth were laid out.

The number of suspicious items above was nearly double that at noon.

Besides the previously mentioned angelica and teacups,
There were also damp poria cocos, silver chopsticks with minor scratches, and a nightgown with loose threads but subtle embroidery.

There were even a few porcelain plates that had held pastries, with a trace of pale green powder remaining on the bottom.

Du Pingping squatted on the ground and gently poked at the bit of green powder; the tip of the silver hairpin remained shiny.

He straightened up, dusted off his hands, and frowned.
"The powder is red bean paste from mung bean cakes, and it's not poisonous."

Poria cocos also became damp, just like angelica sinensis, and grew moldy after being stored for a long time. This was intentional.
It was just that the eunuchs wanted to embezzle money; they didn't replace what should have been replaced.

Lu Yunyi stood to the side, his gaze sweeping over the objects, his fingertips slightly gripping the hilt of the knife at his waist.

The guards searched every corner of the Crown Prince's residence.
They even went through all of the Crown Prince's everyday clothes.
Apart from a brocade robe with a small hole in the hem, there was nothing else unusual.

"Didn't you find any problems?"

His voice was somewhat deep, and the light of the setting sun fell on his face, half bright and half dark, making his expression particularly solemn.

"Not yet."

Du Pingping sighed, sat down on the stone bench, and rubbed her aching knees:

"Lord Lu, are you being too nervous?"
Perhaps His Highness the Crown Prince is simply overworked and stressed.

No sooner had these words been spoken than a woman in a blue cloth skirt came briskly from the direction of the other courtyard.
She was holding a gilded tray with a cup of chilled tea on it.

She walked up to the two of them and bowed slightly.

"Lord Lu, Lord Du,"

The Crown Princess sent me to inquire when the search of the mansion will be completed.

It was getting late, and Young Master Yunwen was still waiting to return to his residence to study.

The servants in the manor also needed to tidy up the kitchen and prepare dinner.

Du Pingping's face stiffened. She was about to say it would be soon when Lu Yunyi interrupted her:
"Please trouble you, Granny, to inform the Crown Princess."
We need to take the suspicious items we find back to the yamen for careful examination.

Once the test results are available, we will report to Your Highness and the Crown Princess immediately.

I apologize for any inconvenience caused today.

Lu Yunyi bowed slightly, his tone polite but leaving no room for argument.

The old woman paused, then looked at the items scattered on the floor, but ultimately didn't ask any more questions, only nodding and saying:
"Then this servant will go back and report."

After saying that, she lifted her skirt and hurriedly left.

Watching the old woman's retreating figure, Du Pingping said with a bitter face:

"Lord Lu, if we take everything with us, the Crown Princess will probably be even more dissatisfied."

"We have to carry on even if we're dissatisfied."

These things can't be found anywhere in the government office; they must be taken back to the yamen and investigated thoroughly, using every method at hand.

He paused, then looked at the guard beside him:

"Basong, have someone sort all the items, pack them into boxes, and label them."

Handle with care; absolutely no damage whatsoever!

"Yes!"

Basong immediately led his men forward and wrapped each item carefully in clean cotton paper.

Then it was placed into a silk-lined wooden box, handled with the care of someone handling a precious jewel.

Seeing Lu Yunyi's resolute attitude, Du Pingping no longer hesitated and gave the orders to the Imperial Guards:
"Give me a hand and help me put away all the documents and family letters."

Especially those few records of the kitchen's income and expenditure,

Take them all back to the imperial prison and carefully verify the source of every single ingredient!

While everyone was busy, Crown Princess Lü returned from the villa with Zhu Yunwen and a group of servants.

Lady Lü walked at the front, her face still somewhat gloomy, her expression carrying a hint of displeasure.

Seeing the wooden boxes packed up all over the ground,

He paused, but said nothing, only giving instructions to the eunuch beside him:
"Have someone clean the mansion thoroughly, make sure there's no dust left."

Zhu Yunwen followed behind, his gaze sweeping over Lu Yunyi with a hint of curiosity in his eyes.

He didn't say much, and followed Lady Lü towards the sleeping quarters.

Zhu Yunyi, on the other hand, was very happy to see Lu Yunyi and waved to him.
Lu Yunyi also clasped his hands and bowed in return.

Lu Yunyi watched their retreating figures, then suddenly remembered something.
I quickly caught up with the head of the dining hall, a middle-aged man with a goatee:

"Steward, please wait a moment. I wish to ask if the Crown Prince's recent menu has been kept in the manor?"

The manager paused for a moment, then shook his head and said:
"Your Excellency, the recipes were determined by the Imperial Kitchen."

Every day at Chenshi (7-9 AM), a carriage from the palace would deliver the ingredients, along with the day's menu.
The government office is only responsible for following the orders.
After it was finished, the order form was taken back to the palace by the eunuch who delivered the ingredients; we don't have a copy of the recipe here.

"Bring it back to the palace?"

Lu Yunyi raised an eyebrow:
"So, the manor doesn't even keep a record of the day's menu?"

"That's right, sir."

The manager nodded, his tone tinged with caution:

"The Imperial Kitchen has strict rules, supposedly to prevent recipes from leaking out and causing any problems."
So the orders are brought along with the daily deliveries.
After use, it should be taken back; the household dared not keep it privately.

Lu Yunyi remained silent for a moment, a strange unease suddenly welling up in his heart.

He looked up at the sky; only a pale red remained on the horizon.
"Thank you for informing me, steward. I understand."

After saying that, he turned and went back to the courtyard.

Du Pingping was directing people to load the last wooden box onto the carriage.

"Lord Lu, everything's packed. Shall we head back to the yamen now?"

"You all go back first," Lu Yunyi said.

"I'm going to the palace to ask the Imperial Kitchen for His Highness the Crown Prince's recipes."

Du Pingping was taken aback:
"Go to the palace? The palace gates are about to close. How about we go tomorrow?"

"No, it has to be today." Lu Yunyi's tone was firm.
"The sooner the better. If there's a problem with the ingredients, every day we delay increases the risk. You guys go back first."

Seeing his resolute attitude, Du Pingping shook her head and sighed, no longer trying to dissuade him, and simply nodded, saying:

"Then Lord Lu, please be careful."

Lu Yunyi responded and turned to walk quickly out of the Crown Prince's residence.

Xu Zengshou, who was still guarding the gate with the Imperial Guards, rushed forward when he saw him come out:

"My lord, shall we proceed to the palace now?"

"Okay, you take your men and guard this place."

Lu Yunyi mounted his horse and pulled on the reins:
"I'll be back as soon as I go."

The sound of horses' hooves echoed on the bluestone slabs; the streets were nearly deserted.

Only a few peddlers carrying loads hurried on their way.

The street lanterns were lit by the shopkeeper, and the warm light reflected on the road surface, so it wasn't too dark.

Lu Yunyi urged his horse on, and soon they arrived at the palace gate.
Upon seeing that it was him, the guards searched him and then quickly let him pass.

The smell of medicine hadn't completely dissipated from the East Palace's sleeping quarters.

The breeze seeping in through the window cracks made the candlelight flicker gently, casting the dragon patterns on the curtains on and off.

Zhu Biao leaned back on the soft couch covered with brocade.

He held a scroll of memorials in his hand, and his complexion was better than during the day.

At this moment, the chief eunuch strolled over and said softly:

"Your Highness, Lord Lu is outside requesting an audience."

"Let him in."

A short while later, Lu Yunyi walked in, looking travel-worn. Zhu Biao was somewhat surprised, and smiled slightly:
"What did you find? Why are you in such a hurry?"

Lu Yunyi bowed respectfully, his tone respectful yet tinged with urgency:

"Your Highness, I have brought all the suspicious items in the mansion back to the yamen with Lord Du of the Embroidered Uniform Guard for careful examination."

Zhu Biao was taken aback, then shook his head:

"If you do this, the Crown Princess will definitely be angry."

"Your Highness, the situation is critical, and there is no time to worry about anything else."

Lu Yunyi paused, then continued:

"I searched the Crown Prince's residence today and found no copies of His Highness's cookbook."

"I have come specifically to request it from the Imperial Kitchen, and humbly request Your Highness's permission."

Zhu Biao put down the memorial and pointed to the chair beside him:
"Please sit down, have some tea and calm down."
Your injuries haven't healed yet, and I'm sick too. We're both patients now.

Lu Yunyi sat down, and the head eunuch quickly brought him some cool tea.

"The Imperial Food Bureau has rules regarding recipes."

"Since you're going to investigate, then I'll send someone to retrieve it."

"Your Highness, it would be best to use recipes from the past year. Some things only show their effects after long-term exposure."

Seeing his serious expression, Zhu Biao nodded:
"Okay, okay, you can have it all."

"I'm just a little curious. Both the Imperial Medical Academy and the Embroidered Uniform Guard have said that I have no lesions. Why are you in such a hurry?"

Lu Yunyi's expression was solemn:
"Your Highness, I am a general who leads troops into battle, and I hate coincidences the most in my life."

His Highness has just returned from an inspection tour of Guanzhong and Shaanxi when he encountered a flood.
There were rebellious factions stirring up trouble in the capital, and just as things were about to come to a conclusion, His Highness suddenly fainted again.

All of this is too much of a coincidence; I have my suspicions.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Biao remained silent for a moment, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes.

He leaned back on the soft couch and coughed lightly twice:

"The Governor's Office said that when you were fighting abroad, you even kept detailed accounts down to each and every person. Today I have witnessed it firsthand."

He instructed the chief eunuch:
“Go to the Imperial Kitchen and get all the recipes from the past year, then give them to him.”

"Yes."

The chief eunuch bowed and withdrew.
He quickly returned carrying a small, dark brown box containing three thick volumes of documents. Lu Yunyi took the documents, opened them, and read...
The document contains detailed records of the Crown Prince's daily meals.
From breakfast at Chen Shi (7-9 AM) to midnight snack at Hai Shi (9-11 PM)

Every dish and every ingredient is clearly described.

Even the person in charge of the cooking is clearly labeled.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

The Crown Prince smiled and reminded him:
"The palace menu has always been changed after being reviewed."

The menu is given to you today, but the Imperial Kitchen will change it tomorrow.
This is the rule; you just need to know it, there's no need to tell anyone else.

"I understand."

Lu Yunyi closed the document and bowed respectfully.

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. I will return to the yamen immediately to investigate and report back to Your Highness as soon as I have the results."

"Go ahead and get some rest. Don't overwork yourself."

Zhu Biao waved his hand, his tone tinged with weariness:

"I am fine here, so you can rest assured."

Lu Yunyi bowed again, then turned and left the bedchamber.

The sky was completely dark, and the night wind was exceptionally cool, which cleared his muddled mind somewhat.

He immediately left the palace and rushed back to the Market and Exchange Office!
The lights were still on in the Market and Exchange Office at this time.
A group of trusted confidants surrounded the wooden box, examining it piece by piece, scrutinizing each item carefully.

Du Pingping was also there, dozing in a chair to the side. Seeing Lu Yunyi return, she stood up and asked:
"Lord Lu, how is it?"

Lu Yunyi nodded and waved the recipe in his hand:

"all the best."

Du Pingping followed Lu Yunyi into the main hall, and the two of them each took a book and began to read.

Du Pingping flipped through two pages and nodded slightly:

"The Imperial Kitchen's recipes are quite detailed."

At Chenshi (7-9 AM), they drink sea cucumber soup; at Weishi (1-3 PM), they eat steamed clams with garlic; and at Shenshi (3-5 PM), they have carp and tofu soup. His Highness the Crown Prince certainly enjoys seafood.

Lu Yunyi was taken aback, but didn't reply. He continued to trace the recipe downwards with his finger.

From the first to the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, clams appeared on the menu for three out of the five days.

As night deepened, the candlelight in the Market and Exchange Bureau's office burned all night.

Lu Yunyi sat at his desk, with a thick stack of inspection reports in front of him.

The angelica root was merely damp and moldy; there were no signs of poisoning.
The brown marks in the teacup are sediment from the tea soup cooling down; there's nothing unusual about them.

The poria cocos, silver chopsticks, and bedding were all checked, and all were normal losses.

The eunuch's family letters have been checked; his family lives in the countryside near Suzhou.

I only moved there last year, and I have no connection with any opposition party.

The kitchen's income and expenditure accounts have also been verified.

The daily quantity and source of ingredients match the records of Shangshiju, with no trace of hoarding or substitution.

"Sir, we've checked everything, and we haven't found anything wrong."

A bodyguard rubbed his red eyes, his voice weary.

Lu Yunyi nodded:
"Go and rest first, you've worked hard."

After the guards left, Lu Yunyi picked up the report and read it through.

He hadn't slept all night; his eyes were bloodshot, yet he remained tense.
Everything is fine, so why did His Highness the Crown Prince suddenly faint?

Is it really due to overwork?
But he always felt that something was wrong.

It's like a thin veil is blocking your view, making it impossible to see the truth behind it.

As dawn approached, Du Pingping yawned and got up:

"Lord Lu, since there are no problems, why don't we send the things back to the Crown Prince's residence first?"
"Explain it properly to the Crown Princess again, so she won't overthink it."

"hold on."

Lu Yunyi said, "The Imperial Kitchen will send over a new menu today. I'll take a look."

Du Pingping was stunned for a moment, then she understood:
"You suspect the food? How is that possible?"

Although the food in the palace wasn't particularly delicious,

But everything was made of genuine materials, and the eunuchs would inspect it at least five times.

Lu Yunyi shook his head:
"It's different, just like the tricks you Embroidered Uniform Guards often use."

All words are true, but put together they become false; the same principle applies to food.

Du Pingping's face darkened, but she quickly remembered that this person was not someone she could afford to offend, so she immediately put on a smile:
"Lord Lu is too kind. The palace's research on food safety is far more advanced than that of the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

Lu Yunyi did not object to this.
The lineage of eunuchs is long and complex, so few of the eunuchs from the Yuan Dynasty remain; most have entered the current imperial palace.

Some skills and secret techniques have also been passed down.

Seeing that Lu Yunyi did not speak, Du Pingping stood up and bowed deeply:
"Then I will return to the Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters first."

After Du Pingping left, Lu Yunyi leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes to rest for a moment.

Just as Chen Shi (7-9 AM) arrived, a eunuch from the Imperial Kitchen, carrying a food box, followed the guards in.

As instructed by Lu Yunyi, the Imperial Kitchen was to deliver ingredients to the Crown Prince's residence today.

I made a special trip to the market to show him the recipe.

"Lord Lu, this is today's menu."

The eunuch bowed with both hands and handed over a bright yellow slip of paper, speaking respectfully.

Lu Yunyi took the order and quickly scanned it.
Shrimp congee, steamed sea bass, winter melon soup, stir-fried bean sprouts.

The breakfast was simple, even less lavish than that of some wealthy landowners, and there was nothing strange about it.

"Thank you, sir. May I ask if I may visit the Imperial Kitchen?"

"Rest assured, I will report this matter to His Highness the Crown Prince."

The eunuch hesitated for a moment, but upon hearing the report to His Highness the Crown Prince, he nodded.
"If His Highness the Crown Prince grants permission, Lord Lu may come and see."

"it is good!"

The morning mist had not yet dissipated, and the blue brick paths in the palace were still damp with dew, making them somewhat slippery to walk on.

Lu Yunyi followed Eunuch Liu from the Imperial Kitchen forward.

The palace walls on both sides rise high, and the glazed tiles on the top of the walls gleam with a pale gold in the morning light.

Occasionally, palace maids and eunuchs would hurry by carrying food boxes.

Everyone bowed respectfully upon seeing Eunuch Liu, their eyes filled with a sense of awe.

The Imperial Kitchen was in charge of the royal family's meals.

Although it was not a high-ranking department, it was a crucial department within the palace.

"Lord Lu, the outer courtyard of the Imperial Food Bureau is just ahead. Fresh fruits and vegetables are stored in the warehouse over there."

Every day at Chenshi (7-9 AM), the inventory is promptly taken into storage and then distributed to the various palaces.

Eunuch Liu stepped aside to lead the way, his tone respectful yet tinged with caution.

He knew that this Lord Lu was highly trusted by His Majesty and the Crown Prince, so he dared not neglect him.

Lu Yunyi nodded, his gaze sweeping across the outer courtyard.

A dozen or so brick and tile houses are connected together.
Wooden signs reading "Fruit", "Vegetables", "Meat" and "Eggs" hang under the eaves.

Several young eunuchs dressed in blue were carrying baskets of vegetables into the storeroom.
The basket was sealed with a red seal from Yingtian Trading Company, the handwriting neat and legible.

"Did these all just arrive today?"

Lu Yunyi pointed to the green vegetables in the basket; the leaves were still wet with water droplets and looked very fresh.

"Yes."

Eunuch Liu retrieved the inventory register and handed it over:

"Lord Lu, this is today's inventory receipt, delivered by Yingtian Trading Company."

Everything has been tested; there are no rotten leaves or bad fruit, they're all good stuff.

Lu Yunyi took the ledger, flipped through two pages,

The document records the quantity, origin, and delivery person for each type of vegetable.
Even the escort boats' numbers were clearly written down, and the name "Liu's Fruit and Vegetable Shop" could be seen among them.

"The goods from Yingtian Trading Company are always reliable."

Eunuch Liu added from the side:
"The palace has been using their ingredients for almost two years, and there has never been a problem."

The people delivering vegetables every day had to search the palace gates three times.
Even the axles have to be checked; there's absolutely no way we'd bring in anything we shouldn't.

Lu Yunyi didn't say anything, and walked around the vegetable warehouse again.
The ventilation openings in the corners were clear, and the floor was clean with no signs of mold.

"Eunuch Liu, where are the seafood?" Lu Yunyi changed the subject.

"In the inner courtyard, Lord Lu, this way please."

Eunuch Liu quickly led the way, passing through a moon gate.

A strong, fishy smell wafted over.

It has a much stronger, more pungent aroma than the vegetables from the outer courtyard.

The courtyard floor was paved with bluestone slabs, but it was still somewhat damp.

In the corner stood a dozen or so wooden buckets, each about half a person's height, filled with clear water.

Fresh clams, crabs, and bass float on the water's surface, with occasional bubbles rising from the bottom of the bucket.

"This is the Fisheries Bureau. They transport goods here daily from the Jiangnan region."
Upon arriving in the capital, they were first kept in a water fortress outside the city for half a day to purge themselves of mud and sand before being sent to the palace.

I just checked them, and they're all lively and energetic.

Lu Yunyi walked to the wooden bucket containing clams, squatted down, and examined it closely.

The clams in the wooden bucket all had thick shells, and their surfaces were covered with brown mud and sand.
Occasionally, a few would slightly open their shells and exhale a thin stream of water.

He was about to reach out and touch it when his gaze suddenly stopped.
Inside the crevices of a clam shell, a few thin strands of dark red algae clung.

It's wrapped around it like a thin thread, so you can't even notice it unless you look closely!

The color was so unique; it wasn't the common green algae, nor was it brown mud!
It was a dark red with a slightly eerie feel, like congealed blood!

Lu Yunyi's heart skipped a beat.
The knowledge hidden deep in my memory surged up instantly!

Red tide algae!!

(End of this chapter)